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It's been awhile. How many original owners still here??
Just curious how many of us still remain. I have zero intention of selling mine. Of course life happens but I have sold a Porsche 911, 2 Corvettes and quite a few other cars while keeping my T/A all these years.
Here it was 'new' in my driveway with it's Charlotte NC area inspection sticker (not needed where I live) and the Goodyear tires on 16" rims. The second photo is 80,000 miles later taken a few months ago with it's new 17" rims and BFG G-Force Comp 2 tires. All still 'stock' other than rims.
Mine now has 23,xxx miles and counting. I purchased it on 9/4/98 after looking for one for 8 months. Its a late '98 build. Mods are listed in my sig. I'm on a waiting list for a Z06 and have probably a 3-4 year wait. By that time I'll be retired and won't need two "winter beaters" for my wife and I, so selling one will allow me to keep the WS6.
Late 2018 after paint correction and ceramic coat.
Purchased new in February of 1999 at Dick Keffer Pontiac of Charlotte, North Carolina. Currently ~168,000 miles.
My 99 T/A is a pretty toxic car for the typical would be buyer between racing, theft recovery, 168,000 miles and mod's in sig. Something, I dont know what, seems to always scare prospective buyers away...
The car remains fun to drive, basically issue free and reliable despite the hard life, must be a keeper.
Also original owner of a white 91 RS, that's now LS resto-mod'd.
Last edited by 99 Black Bird T/A; 10-04-2022 at 09:37 AM.
checking in, but cars appearance and performance are no longer original....
owned it since I was 18 managed to keep it ever since despite some hardships and hobby changes over the years. Also owned my share of sports cars but managed to stick with this one.
I bought my 2002 Formula brand new on August 8, 2002. My Dad had to consign, but I still have her with 17,000 miles. My other Firebirds were purchased used and are driven more than the garage Queen.
From: Central Indiana Honors: 4th grade spelling bee contestant
Purchased December 8, 1999......turned 145,000 in August. My first new car at age 25. Daily drove it the first 5 years racking up 125,000 of the current mileage. The first car I drove down a dragstrip, and I've put nearly 200 passes on it. The next owner, if there is one, will take possession after I'm gone.
Original owner - purchased my 2002 TA WS6 (bright red - manual) on 4/25/2002. Still have it with just over 35,000 miles. Lots of changes made with many of those miles from a long haul on the Hot Rod Power Tour in 2010. My one claim to fame is I've driven it at least once a month for at least 10 miles with the t-tops off and windows down. And who would drive with the tops off and windows up? That may not sound like a great achievement but living in Iowa, you need to find a decent day in the winter months when the snow has been cleared off the roads and you won't freeze to death driving in the open air. It's a long story but I just kept driving with the tops off once a month that first year and after I made it through one winter, it became my routine. It sometimes takes planning like when I needed to replace the rear end with a Moser 9" or when I rebuilt the engine with almost everything new just because it was something to do. It's still my favorite car although we currently own 6 others and have had over 30 different vehicles since this was new.
More memory lane stuff, I trade a 1992 Toyota Celica for the Trans Am. These were taken by my father, who is no longer with us, in August of that year.
Interesting. I realize the traffic is slowing down on forums as a whole but there are not many remaining original owners here apparently.
I know the rest of you probably feel the same way as I do, the years roll by so fast when it comes to car ownership. 20 years for last model year 2002 owners?? No way!!!
Interesting. I realize the traffic is slowing down on forums as a whole but there are not many remaining original owners here apparently.
I know the rest of you probably feel the same way as I do, the years roll by so fast when it comes to car ownership. 20 years for last model year 2002 owners?? No way!!!
I remember back in the early '80s after the purchase of my first car, a '68 Cutlass (which I still own and is my other fair-weather toy), wishing for it to become 20 years old so it could be classified as a "classic" and be eligible for lower-cost plates. I thought that day would never come! Now, my '98 T/A is 24 years old and that time-span seemed to fly by. I guess that supports the theory that each new day is a smaller portion of your entire life than yesterday, so it seems like it goes faster.
I remember back in the early '80s after the purchase of my first car, a '68 Cutlass (which I still own and is my other fair-weather toy), wishing for it to become 20 years old so it could be classified as a "classic" and be eligible for lower-cost plates. I thought that day would never come! Now, my '98 T/A is 24 years old and that time-span seemed to fly by. I guess that supports the theory that each new day is a smaller portion of your entire life than yesterday, so it seems like it goes faster.
I was thinking about this same concept earlier this year when I bought my '74 Cutlass. This is the first time since 1997 that I've owned an Oldsmobile, so it brought back a lot of old memories. Back then I had a '71 Cutlass, which was obviously 26 years old at the time. That car seemed old to me then. Now, my '98 Z28 is about to turn 25 years old (and will be AV-plated; IL switched from 20 years to 25 years for antique plates back in 2004, IIRC) but it still feels like a relatively modern car...probably because I bought two of them brand new, but much of it also has to do with your bolded statement above. Perception of time is most definitely impacted by duration of overall time lived.
Now, my '98 T/A is 24 years old and that time-span seemed to fly by. I guess that supports the theory that each new day is a smaller portion of your entire life than yesterday, so it seems like it goes faster.
I get what you're saying. When Indiana BMV suggested my 91 RS get plated as an antique vehicle, I wanted to argue there's no way it's an antique - I bought the car new still seems modern enough to me...lol
I don't have a photo easy to post at the moment, but I bought my '98 Z28 around Sept '98, IIRC. It's been a daily driver except for 2-3 years in the 2000's (and when it was in the shop). About 217K on the body but it needs to be painted. I'm pretty good about keeping all except the paint in good condition, except when parts are no longer available.
I'm an original owner as well. 1998's are my favourite. Don't worry about door or dash cracks or the sail panel bubbling. I've had a 2002 and loved it. They are just great cars that give you feedback, maintenance is not hard and you don't see them everyday.
10-04-2022 | 08:05 AM
It's been awhile. How many original owners still here?? 
Still hear 
