LMontana

Okay...I am a first time owner of a Trans Am...I bought one off of a guy for $3000.00. It does need work....it needs a radiator, a paint joband some new seats...oh and some music...all of which are pretty minor. The kicker comes in where the guy I purchased it from told me that there might be a problem with the transmission....sigh! The only thing I noticed when I drove it was that when it shifted from 1st to 2nd gear there was a, smooth thrust forward....I'm not sure if that is a problem.....I need some advice from the vets....

Mr Phil

Idk the history of the car, but personally I never would have spent that kinda money on a car with possible trans problem without going to a mechanic first. But I hope its just a simple trans filter cliff or something

DrEvyl

iTrader: (5)

For the price he paid for the car, he could buy a brand new transmission and still be doing okay.

Mr Phil

Really? I didn't know they held value that well, I bought my 98 T/A for 2700 lol

Sickness7

The 97s had the lt1 no? The LS1s seem to hold their value a tad better from what I noticed usually a good one here goes for 9 grand +

DrEvyl

iTrader: (5)

Blue book value on a private party sale of a '98 Trans Am (non-WS6) in fair condition with 150k+ on the odometer is about $4500.

By most people's standards on here, a car in blue book "fair" condition is a bit beat. It could have dents, be missing parts, leak oil, etc... In excellent condition it could be worth twice that.

DrEvyl

iTrader: (5)

If you go on a site like autotrader, the cheapest LS1 F-body listed on there is around $4500.

Mr Phil

So I got a good deal then lol. The only thing I've done is replace fuel pump and wheel bearing. Other than that full leather electric seating, no dents or rust

Sickness7

http://www.autotrader.ca/a/pv/Used/P...97%2c2002&st=1

The car is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it no 99s but the cheapest in Canada a 2000 for 7900$ with 203k When I was looking for a 99 the best deal I found here in Winnipeg was a 150km non WS6 for 9900$ and I did not buy because I did not want one in red. If they go for 4 grand in the states I regret buying one here now lol.

Mr Phil

Why were u looking for a 99 specifically if u don't mind me asking

Sickness7

Was looking for a ls1 trans am and all that was for sale were insanely expensive 2002 ws6s and 1999 ws9s. I Didn't know about this forums classifieds had always bought cars from this province. What brought me to look for a trans am in the first place is my previous car was a 2002 40th aniv. GTP coupe and I found out the firebirds came with a rwd 3800 series 2. My uncle also bought a 96 3800 firebird about a month before I had written off my GTP and I loved the look of it. Then I found out it would be more worth while to buy the v8 in the long run. I still love the 3800 like a lover though. But this thread is kinda going off topic.

I think he got a good deal on this car I am only owning my first also though so I may be misinformed.

Mr Phil

Well my thing is why didn't you look for a 98 as well if all u wanted was an ls1 lol

Sickness7

As I said in my previous post all that was literally for sale at the time were 1999 ws9s and 2002 ws6s I took the cheapest route available at the time I needed a car. Read the post hell... it was right at the beginning.

DrEvyl

iTrader: (5)

Personally, if it weren't for going after an oddball color, I wouldn't buy a '98 again... simply because of the ECU change between '98 and '99. If you're screwing with the tune on a '98 with HPTuners or something, you HAVE to edit that specific car's program. You can't do something like get a tune from another car and put it on yours... whereas with a '99-'02, you can, because it has a different computer. Tuning a '98 is just more complicated.

Then if you go into later models, the '01-'02 F-bodies got the LS6 intake on them from the factory... so you can save a little money upgrading that stuff, too.

Cyberdragon1997

Did anything ever come of the transmission shifting quickly from 1st to 2nd? I also just bought a Trans Am (2002) for about the same price in roughly the same condition and mine also shifts from 1st to 2nd with a strong thrust. The weird thing is mine doesn't do it when you I put my foot down just when I drive it sedately.

Mr Phil

Come to think of it, mine does too, I like it though cuz it chirps going into second if I'm WOT

Cyberdragon1997

I don't mind it to be honest. I'm just a worry-wort...