first car
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2
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first car ok im probably getting a 1996 firebird. mint condition, new tires. 67k miles. paying about 3500 for it.
this is going to be my first car and i really dont know much about this car at all. most people ive talked to have just been telling me that it has bad suspension. can you guys help me decide weather its a good buy or not?
pros, cons?
what to upgrade first?
that sort of thing
thanks
this is going to be my first car and i really dont know much about this car at all. most people ive talked to have just been telling me that it has bad suspension. can you guys help me decide weather its a good buy or not?
pros, cons?
what to upgrade first?
that sort of thing
thanks
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,798
Likes: 16
From: St.Charles MO
Depends on what you are looking for in a car. (looking from a performance perspective will be different than looking from a car "to get you from point A to point B" perspective)
$3500 sounds like a really good deal if it is a mint car with that many miles. Make sure the headlights and window motors (if you have power windows) work. If the car has t-tops check for leaks. Other than that check the generic car stuff, like other leaks, noises, signs if it has been in a wreck, etc etc.
I wouldn't upgrade anything personally seeing that its just a V6 fbody. GM basically takes a TransAm, takes out the engine, transmission, various suspension parts, and brakes, and throws on cheap stuff for a base car to sell for cheap. Don't take offense, it will be a great first car and fun to drive but it would be cheaper to find an LT1 car if you want something with a little bit of speed rather than modding the V6.
$3500 sounds like a really good deal if it is a mint car with that many miles. Make sure the headlights and window motors (if you have power windows) work. If the car has t-tops check for leaks. Other than that check the generic car stuff, like other leaks, noises, signs if it has been in a wreck, etc etc.
I wouldn't upgrade anything personally seeing that its just a V6 fbody. GM basically takes a TransAm, takes out the engine, transmission, various suspension parts, and brakes, and throws on cheap stuff for a base car to sell for cheap. Don't take offense, it will be a great first car and fun to drive but it would be cheaper to find an LT1 car if you want something with a little bit of speed rather than modding the V6.
the 96 has the 3.4 right? For a first car it will be good if you dont plan on going crazy with mods. Just for a fun DD it will be fine. If your looking to go real fast...then keep looking for a lt1, ive seen allot of z28s popping up with low prices and low miles 
TECH Regular
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 492
Likes: 0
From: Indiana
Maybe I can help you out. My first car was also a 1996 Firebird. Mine was silver.
The 1996 Firebird has the 3.8 Liter V6. (6 Cylinders, displaces 3.8 Liters). If you look on the engine, it will say 3800 Series II, which means that its the second generation 3800 V6. The 3.4Liter is the V6 engine that was in the 93-95 Firebird. Your car has roughly 200 Horsepower, and 200 foot pounds of torque. If you have 1 tail pipe, the car most likely has the 3.08 rear end drive ratio (better gas mileage), or if it has two, it most likely has the 3.42 rear drive ratio (better acceleration). The LT1 was General Motors "Letter Designation" for their fuel injected 350 cubic inch (5.7 Liter) V8 engine that came in the Firebird Trans Am and Firebird Formula models from 1993-1997. Hope this helps a little bit. I'm also sorry if I offended you with information you already knew.
Good luck and congratulations.
Ed
The 1996 Firebird has the 3.8 Liter V6. (6 Cylinders, displaces 3.8 Liters). If you look on the engine, it will say 3800 Series II, which means that its the second generation 3800 V6. The 3.4Liter is the V6 engine that was in the 93-95 Firebird. Your car has roughly 200 Horsepower, and 200 foot pounds of torque. If you have 1 tail pipe, the car most likely has the 3.08 rear end drive ratio (better gas mileage), or if it has two, it most likely has the 3.42 rear drive ratio (better acceleration). The LT1 was General Motors "Letter Designation" for their fuel injected 350 cubic inch (5.7 Liter) V8 engine that came in the Firebird Trans Am and Firebird Formula models from 1993-1997. Hope this helps a little bit. I'm also sorry if I offended you with information you already knew.
Good luck and congratulations.
Ed
Trending Topics
"DD" = Daily Driver
"V6" = 6-cylinder engine (V8= 8-cylinders, V10= 10-cylinder, etc)
"mods" = modifications
"Z28" = a model of the Chevrolet Camaro which came with the LT1 or LS1 engine, depending on the year of the vehicle.
"GM" is an abbreviation for General Motors
"LT1" is a v8 engine. GM used the LT1 as a performance engine while still getting pretty good gas mileage and reliability.
"LS1" is a v8 engine, GM used the LS1 to replace the LT1.
"etc" is short for "et cetera"
"V6" = 6-cylinder engine (V8= 8-cylinders, V10= 10-cylinder, etc)
"mods" = modifications
"Z28" = a model of the Chevrolet Camaro which came with the LT1 or LS1 engine, depending on the year of the vehicle.
"GM" is an abbreviation for General Motors
"LT1" is a v8 engine. GM used the LT1 as a performance engine while still getting pretty good gas mileage and reliability.
"LS1" is a v8 engine, GM used the LS1 to replace the LT1.
"etc" is short for "et cetera"
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Sounds like an ok buy. Good first car before you move into the LT1/LS1 ranks. Honestly I would not go any further than appearance stuff on a V6 FBody. Overlay decals for the side Firebird emblems, maybe window tint, and possibly wheels. If there's anything in specific you're looking for use the search function and you should find what you're looking for.