magnanpi

****....im real close to buying this LS1 98 T/A A4 Lth, 66,000 miles for about 9,700

About 205 a month financed for 5 years and 350 for insurance (full coverage)

But my gf thinks i should get a car i can drive all year round (aka FWD or 4X4) basically not a sports car. (Massachusetts winter time sucks and my work is about 25/30 miles away up 95

However i just found a blue 94/95 LT1 Z28 100K A4 T-tops for $2,500

I make about $350 a week and soon to be paying about $100 or $150 a month rent

I could either A) save lots of money on insurance by paying cash for the LT1 (not full coverage) and either 1. Blizzacks and Sand Bags or 2. Get a nice car or 4x4 as well as the LT1

or B) Say screw it and buy the LS1 for a shitload and either 1) Blizzacks and Sand bags or 2) beater.

The LT1 is cheaper. The only two cars ive ever owend is a 92 Pathfind and a 94 Accord EX automatic 4 cyl

Basically the fastest cars ive ever driven were

94 Dakota Sport V8 (once)
99 Benz Slk230 (twice, while my dad was away lol)
93 Nissan Maxima (V6 190 hp)
99 Benz C280 (dads old car lol)
00 Grand AM GT (drove this a bunch)

Yah so the fastest car ive ever driven was probly the Grand AM (3400 175 hp) Pretty sad

Well the HP diff matter a lot between the LT1 and LS1, cuz either one will be the fastest thing ive ever driven in my life. What would you do?

Sorry for the long post!!!!!!

Cliff Notes (+ 150 rent & 100 storage plus beater (or 800 blizzacks/sand bags)
95 LT1 100k $2500 (cash)?? probly about 200 minimal insurance
98 LS1 66k $9800 (finance) ?? 205/month plus 350 full coverage insurance
Massachusetts= snowy winters
Make $350 per week approx 25 miles away
Thanks!!

OneMeanZ

iTrader: (2)

LS1, you won't regret it.....I that's a hell of a deal for the LS1 too

68birdls1

iTrader: (46)

i say get the lt1 and another car. the lt1 is just as good as the ls1. and with you being up in snow country you might need that low end torque that the lt1 has to get out of some spots lol. i have owned both lt1 and ls1 and while they both have there ups and downs, people cant argue when i say that ls1 parts are much more expensive!

hourang

iTrader: (6)

in your area i would get the lt1. if its your first real sports car yeah. drive it in the winter a bit and see if you can get away with it, i drove 3 years in michigan weather with my old lt1, pita. that insurance is gonna kill you. its nice to have the ls1 but to be making payments for 5 years like i am, it would be nice to have no debt to mod my car. if its the best performance your looking for get the ls1

blkZ28spt

I would ALWAYS recommend an LS1 over an LT1, all esle being equal. It is a newer, better, stronger engine. I wouldn't want to drive a car of this type year round in MA though. I drive mine year round in the midwest, but we dont usually get all that much snow at once. (okay, sometimes we do )
It sounds like the LS1 might be a bit of a stretch financially at this point in time, and you'd hate to then have something happen during the winter due to all that snow.

demonspeed

iTrader: (7)

For your situation, I'd go with the LT1 and a 4wd. You have no experience with a powerful car and you'll be even worse in the winter time with it. Get the LT1, play with it for a year or so and then get a LS1 when they are even cheaper. Trust me, you'll be happy you did it that way.

ActionJack

DMNSPD is right. For your situation I would definately go LT1 for price factors.

2000LS1Z28

Ummm...You might want to actually consider what kind of shape both of the cars are in and not just a price vs price thing.

I dunno, I would have no problem paying $200/month on that '98 LS1 with only 66k on the clock (assuming it's in good shape, runs good ,and doesn't really need anything). But paying $350/month for full insurance? OUCH! That's over $4,000 for a full year. If that is what it is going to cost to insure an LS1, just wait until you're older (21+) and/or are out of college and have a fairly-good paying job.

So I'd recommend an older LT1...Although watch out because $2,500 seems awfully low for a '94 w/ 100k. Probably needs a lot of work. I bought my fairly nice '95 Z28 w/ 109k for $4,400 this past fall. And while it runs great (knock on wood!), it has needed a lot of stuff that adds up fast (new CAI system, new optispark, new antifreeze, new tires all-around, new brakes/rotors all-around, a fuel/intake system flush & clean, a vacuum leak was fixed, transmission leak fixed, & a front main seal oil leak fixed). Since I don't really do any of my own work, that all has ended up costing me a LOT on top of the price of the car! Keep in mind this has all been in the 6+ months I've owned it too...

All I'm saying is expect that kind of stuff to happen on a 10+ year old car with a lot of miles. Chances are, at least some of that maintanence will be needed. If you don't have a descent amount of money set aside for it, then forget it right now IMO (because it will be hard to drive a car you can't really afford to fix). Either way though, make sure the motor and trans are healthy and won't need rebuilt anytime soon. So I'd personally recommend the lowest mileaged (under 50,000 if possible) LT1 you can find that is still within your price range. Shouldn't be too had to find a nice one like that for 6 grandish...

FelixIlka

Don't buy something you feel you can't afford. Get a car that your car payment would be higher than your insurance. I wouldn't have bought my LS1 if the insurance would have been over $100 a month, that's just too much to pay for a car only driven 6-8 months out of the year. Save your money, buy a 93-97 intrepid ( I've had good luck with mine and it is great in the winter ) for about 1-2g then after you get money saved away, pick up an LS1. That's what I did, so now I have an Awesome summer car that the wife and I both love and a winter car/grocery getter that I don't have to worry about someone banging their door into at Wally world. ( plus you get a bonus, multiple car discount on auto insurance ).

30th droptop

iTrader: (-1)

Don't get in over your head! Like you said, the LT1 car will be plenty fast, and, when taken care of, those motors run a LONG time (except for the opti in wet weather!). Of course, you'll want to have it checked by a mechanic. Assuming it's in OK condition, I'd jump on it at that price! Spend some money making it look nice, and you'll probably always be able to sell it for about what you paid for it.

Then spend some fantasy time building your ultimate LS1. When you get some money in the bank and the prices come down a bit, you'll save a lot of money. Hell, I'm 44 years old and only just got my first LS1 last year. At least you won't have to wait that long!

Cerebrex

iTrader: (20)

For your situation, I'd get the LT1.

jrp

iTrader: (16)

i'll go against the grain and say get neither. i'd look into maybe something like a DSM where it can be driven all year around (4WD), has a great aftermarket which you can take your car in any direction you see fit, there relatively cheap for initial purchace, insurance, and gas.

CaptUSA

iTrader: (5)

Nothing is worse than being in over your head on something. It's suffocating. Go cheap and reliable till you're able to get what you want. F-body in the snow sucks big time.

Good luck!!!

Swang

iTrader: (3)

id say wait til you can afford it. but if youre going to get one, id say get the LT1. they seem to last a lil longer and can take a lil more abuse just due to iron vs aluminum. as much as people on here play down an lt1, make no mistake, itll thrust your happy *** back in the seat.

blkZ28spt

Actually LT1's feel as quick as LS1's to most people. They have damn near the same torque and make very nice lowend power, better than LS1's.

Swang

iTrader: (3)

true statement. my dad had a 00 LS1 Maple Red T/A A4 vert and he raced me in my 95 LT1 T/A vert a4 and id jump him off the line near every time. I'd get near raped at high rpms, but down low, id beat him stoplight to stoplight, i would win.

PontiacTA99

I would not pay 350 a month for insurance no way. I would go with the LT1 and a 4X4 since money is an issue. Hopefully the LT1 is running good for 2500 thats very cheap. The LT1 will be very fast for you too especially since you have never had a fast car beore or drove one. I had a 93 Trans Am A4 it was pletty fast I liked it alot.

demonspeed

iTrader: (7)

Um....

magnanpi

thanks for the replies. i found a way ill pay under 200 insurance and pay under 270 a month payments (4 years) for a car up to $10,000.

Oh and I found a couple new cars...

so its either....
98 T/A 66K $10,000
94 Z28 100K $2,500 (hardtop)
98 Z28 45K $8,995 (hardtop)
98 T/A 100K $7,300