OT: Car guys, I need your help!

[Matches Malone]

I just need to know what your thoughts on this were. In a couple weeks I'm going to be purchasing my dads 2000 Pontiac GTP (supercharged). I really like the car and it can haul some major ass. However I've had my eye on this 2001 z28 camaro thats for sale. I was just wondering what you guys would do if you were in my situation? Keep my dads car? or trade it in for the camaro? As far as I know the Camaro is faster obviously with it being a v8 but it would severely suck in the winter time. Help please!

[htr]

Given how bad and long our winter was and how bad it sukked, i would keep your father's car. But that's just me. Now in my upper twenties, speed is not as important as it was a few years ago.

[jerrod]

the winter will be tougher (could you afford snow tires?), it'll use more gas, insurance will be higher, and maintenance might be higher

but if it's not gonna make you go broke, i would say go for the one you really want

[Matches Malone]

Given how bad and long our winter was and how bad it sukked, i would keep your father's car. But that's just me. Now in my upper twenties, speed is not as important as it was a few years ago.

Being 18, speed is very important haha, but I'd be fine with the GTP. Its still fast!

[BuckFan25226]

I just need to know what your thoughts on this were. In a couple weeks I'm going to be purchasing my dads 2000 Pontiac GTP (supercharged). I really like the car and it can haul some major ass. However I've had my eye on this 2001 z28 camaro thats for sale. I was just wondering what you guys would do if you were in my situation? Keep my dads car? or trade it in for the camaro? As far as I know the Camaro is faster obviously with it being a v8 but it would severely suck in the winter time. Help please!

Here is my 2 cents. I owned a 2004 Cobra for a couple years and had a 99 explorer as my beater for the winter. I had been dumping so much money into that Cobra on performance mods it became an addiction. I plan on owning another one down the road, but right now I don't feel like having 2 car payments.

So your one option is get a beater for when the whether is bad and only drive the Z28 when it's nice or there is no snow on the ground. But if you plan on going with the Z28 for a daily driver, the only way to go is Bridgestone Blizzaks for the Camaro. They are pricey, but if you really want to drive the Camaro in the snow safely, those are next to none in performance.

I never attempted to drive my Cobra in snow, but I had a 2001 Mustang GT modded like crazy, and my first winter I tried the Blizzaks and it drove like a normal front wheel drive car, the tires are ridiculously good.

As far the GTP, it doesn't have near the power the Z28 will have, and it won't be quite as fun. But my brother owns a 2001 GTP and it's a nice car and you get a little bit of both worlds with the supercharged engine and it's much better in the snow then the Z28. But like I said, the Blizzaks can solve the winter driving


This makes me realize how much I miss my Cobra....




It also makes me realize how much I miss eating up Z28's and Vette's

[crkone]

The camaro is going to be hell for you in the winter. I would recommend the GTP, just spend some extra money on a good system that will make it stand out in another way besides speed. I had both a camaro and a formula firebird as my only cars and those were terrible in the winter. You could also get a new catback exhaust and let the supercharged engine rumble.

[Matches Malone]

you don't know how much I envy you! The cobra is by far my favorite car. You are one lucky man! If I had the money I would def get one, but me being so young and what not, not exactly an option. I use to work at Tires Plus so I know those Blizzaks are amazing. Thanks for your opinion, it will def make my decision more complicated.

[MickeyDavis]

I love Camaro's. My first car was a '73.

[crkone]

I love Camaro's. My first car was a '73.

Mine was an '83, that 305 had some nice pop for a small block.

[BuckFan25226]

you don't know how much I envy you! The cobra is by far my favorite car. You are one lucky man! If I had the money I would def get one, but me being so young and what not, not exactly an option. I use to work at Tires Plus so I know those Blizzaks are amazing. Thanks for your opinion, it will def make my decision more complicated.

Here is the best advice I can give you. If you can truly afford the Camaro, get it! Like I said, my 01 Mustang GT was TERRIBLE in any kind of rain, sleet, snow, whatever. I tried the blizzaks and I about crapped my pants with how great they were. While the GTP stock tire vs stock tire is obviously better in the snow then the Camaro, it's not that great. I've driven my brothers 01 GTP in the snow, not exactly fun.

As far as the Cobra, same here. It's amazing how 4 years later, those things used are still going for 25k-30k+ They barely make any of them so their value never really drops, truly awesome cars. I have my eyes open for another one if the right car comes along. But I'm looking to get one with the similar modifications I had on my Cobra. Smaller pulley, exhaust, suspension mods etc. I put about 4 or 5k in it before I traded it in. I don't want to buy another stock Cobra and start from scratch again.

Anyway, my vote : CAMARO! By the way, is it an LT1 or an LS1? Both very good motors and very mod friendly.

[fam3381]

I'm always torn on these types of things. If you're only 18 then you have plenty of time to get an impractical car later in life.

On the other hand, if the economics aren't a problem then I feel like you might as well get what you want. Since I graduated from college I have typically spent more than was necessary on cars, but it's never affected my ability to save money and buy whatever else I needed. If getting the Camaro means you'll be hurting for cash to go out and have fun, then I'd think twice about it.

Either way it sounds like you'll have a car that you like, which is more than what most teenagers can say

[trwi7]

Screw both cars, get a Pinto!

[msiris]

I just need to know what your thoughts on this were. In a couple weeks I'm going to be purchasing my dads 2000 Pontiac GTP (supercharged). I really like the car and it can haul some major ass. However I've had my eye on this 2001 z28 camaro thats for sale. I was just wondering what you guys would do if you were in my situation? Keep my dads car? or trade it in for the camaro? As far as I know the Camaro is faster obviously with it being a v8 but it would severely suck in the winter time. Help please!

Here is my 2 cents. I owned a 2004 Cobra for a couple years and had a 99 explorer as my beater for the winter. I had been dumping so much money into that Cobra on performance mods it became an addiction. I plan on owning another one down the road, but right now I don't feel like having 2 car payments.

So your one option is get a beater for when the whether is bad and only drive the Z28 when it's nice or there is no snow on the ground. But if you plan on going with the Z28 for a daily driver, the only way to go is Bridgestone Blizzaks for the Camaro. They are pricey, but if you really want to drive the Camaro in the snow safely, those are next to none in performance.

I never attempted to drive my Cobra in snow, but I had a 2001 Mustang GT modded like crazy, and my first winter I tried the Blizzaks and it drove like a normal front wheel drive car, the tires are ridiculously good.

As far the GTP, it doesn't have near the power the Z28 will have, and it won't be quite as fun. But my brother owns a 2001 GTP and it's a nice car and you get a little bit of both worlds with the supercharged engine and it's much better in the snow then the Z28. But like I said, the Blizzaks can solve the winter driving


This makes me realize how much I miss my Cobra....

(picture)
(picture)

It also makes me realize how much I miss eating up Z28's and Vette's )

Sweet car. My brother owns a Saleen and one like yours (same color) that he uses for racing. He races at Road America and once a year at the Milwaukee Mile. Hard to get in that car with the roll cage and all.

[msiris]

I love Camaro's. My first car was a '73.

Nice car. My Niece's husband has one in storage. But my 1st car would have kicked your butt. Just kidding. A 1971 Grand Torino Sport with a 351 Cobra Jet. Jet Black with side pipes. Got a ticket for it being to loud. Had to remove them.

[LISTEN2JAZZ]

it's never affected my ability to save money.

I'm sure it has some sort of effect . If your car payments were $150 less each month, and you earned 10% interest on that retained money, after five years you'd have an extra $12k. After 30 years, you'd have an extra $325k. I simplified the math from monthly to annual compounding, but those figures should be close enough.

Nothing wrong with enjoying your money instead of hoarding it; just pointing out that every last indulgence has some effect on your net worth.

[bigkurty]

I own a 99 GTP and I keep wanting to get a new car but this car is paid for and still runs well so I keep thinking why not just keep driving it. It is a pretty good car and it does the job. Also it does a pretty good job in the snow so I would recommend that. I have had no major problems but a few little ones. I have had the belts break but maybe thats because I always think mechanics are trying to screw me when they say I need new belts. I had the gas pump go but it was like 100 degrees that day and I was running really low on gas. That pump is submerged in the gas so if you run it to low when it is extremely hot, it can't cool down well enough. Most cars are like that though. I have had my heating and airconditioning fan go which costs $200 to fix. I had to have a guy recharge me AC. Now I did that under the table and it cost $40. Shops I brought it to told me it would be over 1000 to fix my air since I have a slow leak supposedly. Its illegal to recharge your ac in this state if you have a leak BTW. Otherwise its been a good car, has some speed, gets ok gas mileage, is fairly safe, and is much better in the snow than a rear wheel drive car so I would recommend that. Although all the donuts you do in the winter will now have to be done driving backwards.

[fam3381]

Nothing wrong with enjoying your money instead of hoarding it; just pointing out that every last indulgence has some effect on your net worth.

Absolutely...I meant to say that the cost delta was a fraction of what I was saving. Saving $1200 is always better than saving $1000, but in practical terms it's very different from saving $200 a month vs. nothing. Investing wise, $200 is $200, but in terms of how it affects your livelihood they're pretty different IMO.

I knew you'd show up in this thread eventually, Adam

[LISTEN2JAZZ]

I knew you'd show up in this thread eventually, Adam

Haha, I'm attracted to car threads because I still haven't bought one. Pretty sure I'll buy a Honda Civic if/when they offer a great financing deal, but now that I've been sitting on the fence for months and have more cash built up than I did when I started (and am a couple months closer to my wife and I having "real" jobs) I'm starting to entertain the thought of getting a Prius instead. But that's still if/when Toyota offers a great deal. So I guess while I wait for that to happen, I can start thinking about that electric sports car you once linked to as well.

I haven't heard the term cost delta, but I like it, and wrestle with it constantly. What percentage of my monthly cash flow can I spend on a given thing without feeling guilty? We all have a different answer to that, including over 100% for some folks I know.

[wichmae]

since we are posting rides here is mine and my bro's (family owned)







the car was re-done this winter with a 250 shot of nitrous of and yes it is street legal...







Truck is 800 BHP and was recently appraised at 65k has an oak floor in the bed.



Only pic I have of this runs 28 psi of boost in the turbo runs 11.80's 1/4 mile







My cousins car never been raced because he cant hook.

I have pics of my stuff too but it isnt nearly as impressive...

Hope you enjoy

[Buck You]

The Toyota is awesome.