BlueSix

Hypothetical question. 1998 Formula WS6, 6 speed, hardtop, cloth interior, black, around 30K miles. Possibly a manual window/lock car. What would you pay?

austin21

19,500

burnzilla

iTrader: (3)

19,500.. Youre kidding right?

Thats a near 7 year old car, but it does have low miles.
Edmunds says the car is only worth 5K to 8k.
But considering Firebirds are sought after now, he will want alot more. Its amazing how much people pay for a car because they think its worth alot.

I wouldnt offer much over 12K

Im a car dealer so that has something to do with my cocky outlook on this, but I paid 4400 for my Z when the lowest source i could find said it retailed for 9200.
So sorry if my opinion is somewhat biased, but I dont buy my cars off lots.
I go to the same place dealers buy thier cars, and that Formula at an Dealers Auction wouldnt clear $8000

BlueSix

I ask because i might know of a car matching that description. I test drove it several years ago. The lady was asking around $18K at the time and said if she couldn't get what she wanted she'd just keep it. I'm thinking of seeing if the car is still available.

Keep the opinions coming.

Burnzilla- keep in mind only 221 formula WS6's were produced in 1998. This car isn't going to follow book values.

Boostaholic

iTrader: (4)

12,000

Its a 98 fbody - not much more to it. Some will say **** that thing has low miles, or it has been owned by a old lady, but how much of that can't be fixed for 6k if it REALLY bothered you.

blue99SS

I wouldn't pay over 13000.00

BlueSix

OK, if it is a manual window/lock car then it's worth every penny she wants.

If it has power windows/locks what would you pay?

BlueSix

Different scenario...

2000 WS6 Formula with 45K. Hardtop/cloth/6 speed car.

Pricing the rare cars is so hard.

'Trust'

iTrader: (24)

Thats a realatively rare car, but still, not more than 13k

SSinisterTX

iTrader: (2)

Yup no more than $12,500 and it would have to be pretty much flawless.

BlueSix

The 2000 is listed for $14,900.

Don't know if the '98 is still available.

mikerulzu

iTrader: (2)

Yeah, you know why it's rare? Because no one WANTED manual windows/locks with cloth and a hardtop. Just because it's rare doesn't mean it's more valuable, and sometimes things are rare for a reason. I wouldn't pay more than $12k for it, and that's IF it was flawless.

RPM WS6

iTrader: (3)

$12-14K seems fair, but actual in person condition will have a big effect on what I would pay, personally. Keep in mind, I'm VERY picky.

Also, IMO, the intended purpose for the car makes a big difference too. If it's going to be a race car, condition/rarity is less important to me; meaing I won't pay more for low build number cars or a rain/snow free stored showpiece. For a daily driver, condition matters more, but little blemishes or minor wear spots aren't too big of a deal, and ultra low mileage won't mean much either considering it's gonna see rain/snow/salt + expressway commute. For a perfect weather only weekend crusier/show car, condition, low mileage and/or rarity are worth a lot, and I'd be willing to pay a great deal more for a SPOTLESS (and I do mean spotless) ultra low mileage car.

I think some people feel that I paid a little too much for my '98 back in 2004. But those are people that never saw the car. It had 11,000 miles and was stored in a heated garage always, never saw any bad weather, was an original owner car with every scrap of paperwork, pristine condition in all aspects. Nobody ever beleives how mint the car is until they see it in person; details like wheel wells, lenses, glass, rubber, trim, etc. condition just don't show up in pics. Not a rare car, but it was exactly the color/option/trans type combo I was looking for and the sort of condition that could only be duplicated by a car that just rolled off the assembly line. Since I planned to use the car as a weekend cruiser only, all those details/extras were more than worth the extra $2,200 I paid over Blue Book value.

Anyway, I'm getting off track here... Point is, intended use of the car plays a big role in what I'll pay, personally. Other important factors are:
1) how picky you are
2) how bad you want a certain car (options/color/combo, etc.)
3) what your financial picture looks like. Personally, an extra couple grand either way won't stop me from buying a car if it's EXACTLY what I want, in the condition I want, at the time.

Hope that helps in your decision....

My1st Truck

iTrader: (8)

That seems fair to me. I live in the PNW, cars are pricey here, I would have jumped on it for that price out here.

My1st Truck

iTrader: (8)

Concur people will say I paid too much for mine, but around here it was good deal...2000 WS6 loaded 19,000 miles 17,200 last July. Beggers can't be chosers, they don't make them anymore.

BlueSix

If i get another f body after my GTO sells i want something less common. WS6 Formula's are the least common of the f body's. The hardtop/cloth/no option cars are 1LE cars...total of 34 1LE formy's made in 98/99. I'm looking for something to stick in the garage and drive like twice a month. Creature compforts aren't important to me, i've always liked the stripper cars. If the 98 is still available it holds sentimental value to me. It was the first LS1 car i ever drove.

RPM WS6

iTrader: (3)

Sounds like me.

If that is the case, then I'd say it's worth paying more than "book" value if the condition is spotless and the car is exactly what you want....

My1st Truck

iTrader: (8)

My 94 Z is Stripper, except, weird, it has t-tops, I love it!
Book is always good to pay, but around here, you will pay over book at a stealership, no matter what.

RPM WS6

iTrader: (3)

Sounds like the dealers around here. Any time the car has a WS6 badge on the back, they think the car is worth $20-26K even if it's 6 years old with 80K miles and plenty of wear on it.... LOL....

BlueSix

That's why i try to avoid dealerships. But i'll sometimes check them out. They don't always know what they've got on their hands.