thegodfather899

iTrader: (1)

This is what got me thinking is that my friend got an sti for 15K and has less power than my Z i got for under half that price.

MasterTomos

iTrader: (15)

Depends on what kind of cash you're looking to spend on the car to begin with IMO.

If youre looking for a clean, (obviously used) great performing bang for the buck performance car, these vehicles are all on my list:

$3-7k LT1 Fbody
$7-12k LS1 Fbody
$12-15k C5
$18-22k C5z06 or Terminator
$28-32k 07-09 GT500
$35-40k C6 Z06

Obviously there is a lot of different variables, and im refering to vehicles in stock form, but these prices seem to be about the norm.

99VetteFRC

I'm not sure where all these F-bodies are found so cheap, I looked for months and all they were very coparibly priced with c5 of same year and similar condition and miles. I paid $13,800 for my c5 with 70k miles in very good condition. It only needed tires, got them and c6 wheels off Craig's list for $1000. I love my Vette and have been an LSx fan for years, this year I finally got my first two. Fan For life!!!

senicalj4579

iTrader: (41)

+1 for 11s!

MasterTomos

iTrader: (15)

I totally agree. Not to butt hurt anyone, but I think LS1 fbodys are pretty overpriced for a low mile/clean example. I couldnt convince myself to spend much over 10k on one when I could have a clean c5 for $14-15k.

9802TransAm

My thoughts exactly.

Starz T/A 17

iTrader: (6)

When people are talking about cheap F bodies they mean ones with higher miles. Since these cars were typically DD's the majority of them have higher miles on them. Usually the ones selling for more are the ones that were garage kept with lower miles and fitting a different type of buyer. Although if you look around you can find them anywhere between 5-8 K with 100-140 k on it, which isn't horrible now a days.


It all comes down to what your looking for in a car. Offroad or auto X a STI will kill a F body any day of the week. Even at the track STi's make around 300 HP so its not too far off from a F body (especially at the track with the AWD).

19kiloz28

Some people like my self prefer the raw muscle car feel of a camaro/TA over a corvette....

Zlow28

iTrader: (11)

i think you just have to find the right one. I bought my lt1 for $2500 cus "something was wrong with the transmission." After checking it out, it only needed a transmission mount. After around $15 and maybe an hour, it was good as new.

And i agree with OP, i cant really think of another car that runs the same times, and costs around the same as ls1 fbodies

thegodfather899

iTrader: (1)

of coarse an f body with 20k miles on it is going to be a bit pricey. i was talking about your average car that isnt garage kept for most of the year.

yes the sti has about the same power as an ls1 stock for stock but my point was if you spend the extra money you would spend on a car like that on mods for an f body, you would have a mean machine. that is what i meant by best bang for your buck

MasterTomos

iTrader: (15)

I dont disagree at all, two totally different cars. I was just in reference to performance aspects.

SM105K

iTrader: (3)

this is the correct answer!

murphinator

iTrader: (2)

I have bought 2 ls1 f bodies with decent mods ( see sig) for $3200 & 3800 respectively this year and they are a great bang for the buck , the pewter m6 car went 11.9's for previous owner .

another platform i have owned many of is w body regal GS & Pontiac GTP both come with the supercharged 3800 and they can be bought and modded for dirt... yes i know they are fwd but i have bought a 13.3 @102 car for $600 ( came with bolt ons) and a guy on one of the forums just went 11.9 @117 with under a grand including price of the car and mods - its a gutted out rat but still pretty cool.

I had a real nice gtp I had $4,000 into that ran 12.2 @118 for me and my 217,000 mile daily driver regal with bolt ons has run hundreds of low to mid 13 sec passes for me over the years.

my daughters regal ran 14.4 @96 for me box stock , I put a couple hundred in mods and tuned it before she started using it and i am sure its a solid hi 13's car

gtp: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpk6a...eature=related

daily driver regal:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRPflDVLy04

99VetteFRC

I bought a '95 LT1 camaro off the wholesale lot at work in '05 for $2k... It was an auto car with 56k miles on it and I drove the wheels off it. It had 150k Miles on it when I traded it in on the wife's SRT8 Challenger. I missed the car so much that within 6 months I was looking for an LS1 Camaro or T/A. Again I wanted something with reasonable miles and descent shape. It was to be my daily driver. C5's were the same price for a camparable shape and milage. The Vette is an American Icon of automotive history, and in normal conversation you say to anyone you own a Camaro or Trans Am and they have a story of their own. You tell them you own a Vette and they say they always wanted a Vette and you are rich!!!!

DarkFox118

iTrader: (7)

these must be "like new" prices with perfectly running engines.

If I had to sell my Z now, no way I'd get $7k for it. More like $4500-5k.. what I paid for it and BEFORE I put ~$2k into it in repairs.

I guess it should also be mentioned, our cars are great deals, but they're not for everyone. You have to be a bit of a wrench head to own them. Most "it goes because I mash the pedal" types wouldn't appreciate these.

linemupz28

And on top of the bang for buck performance wise our cars hold their own in the looks department very well if you ask me, even though looks are subjective 4th gen f-bodies don't look dated next to newer cars.

1998flamedCamaro

iTrader: (4)

+2 for 11s!

Should be 10's come spring !! (Have less than $1500 in mods)

blk/slvr02ss

iTrader: (21)

Yes my 2002 Camaro SS W/ Bolt-on's & a 150 Shot would have ran mid to high 10's !!!!

1998flamedCamaro

iTrader: (4)

Yea the only thing holding me back is the stock converter. Luckily I purchase a 3600 a few week ago and will be putting it in over the winter. All I need is for the 10bolt and stock tranny to hold up

Speaking of the Grand Prix GTP and Regal GS's, I have always wanted a regal GS. Ultimate sleeper IMO. The only problem is that I can't find one for under 3 or 3500.

9802TransAm

Sadly, not where I'm from. They're pretty much dead on price wise around here.

Went to the public auto auction in Nashville a few weeks ago. Had a 97 v6 bird in white. Busted quarters, no t-tops, unknown mileage, no front end, headlights didn't work, interior torn to hell....it brought $2300. Used market is insane right now for cars...