LS1 Shopping
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 329
Likes: 1
From: Tomball, TX (home) Kaneohe Bay, HI (work)
LS1 Shopping What are some good questions to ask and good things to look at when shopping for an LS1?
I am getting tired of wrenching on the LT1 every other week and have started looking for a good LS1. I am looking for around $10k with under 100K miles. Some good ones have been found on AutoTrader, and I am going to drive one tomorrow evening, but I don't really know what common problems can be found on these cars or anything like that. I am looking for a Z28 or SS, preferably, and as close to stock as I can find. I have also looked in the classifieds on the forums and found some nice ones, but they are out of my price range. Keep in mind, I am paying for this my 17-year-old-part-time-working-high-school-student self, no help from mom or dad. I can afford payments on a small loan (have about 5K to my name already) and I guess I will part out my car to help out a little bit because it is probably worth more in parts than in whole.
I was going to wait until the summer to buy an LS1 car, but now I might want to try and get one earlier since my car is taking a fat crap on me. Any help is appreciated.
I am getting tired of wrenching on the LT1 every other week and have started looking for a good LS1. I am looking for around $10k with under 100K miles. Some good ones have been found on AutoTrader, and I am going to drive one tomorrow evening, but I don't really know what common problems can be found on these cars or anything like that. I am looking for a Z28 or SS, preferably, and as close to stock as I can find. I have also looked in the classifieds on the forums and found some nice ones, but they are out of my price range. Keep in mind, I am paying for this my 17-year-old-part-time-working-high-school-student self, no help from mom or dad. I can afford payments on a small loan (have about 5K to my name already) and I guess I will part out my car to help out a little bit because it is probably worth more in parts than in whole.
I was going to wait until the summer to buy an LS1 car, but now I might want to try and get one earlier since my car is taking a fat crap on me. Any help is appreciated.
Originally Posted by djfuzzy
What are some good questions to ask and good things to look at when shopping for an LS1?
I am getting tired of wrenching on the LT1 every other week and have started looking for a good LS1. I am looking for around $10k with under 100K miles. Some good ones have been found on AutoTrader, and I am going to drive one tomorrow evening, but I don't really know what common problems can be found on these cars or anything like that. I am looking for a Z28 or SS, preferably, and as close to stock as I can find. I have also looked in the classifieds on the forums and found some nice ones, but they are out of my price range. Keep in mind, I am paying for this my 17-year-old-part-time-working-high-school-student self, no help from mom or dad. I can afford payments on a small loan (have about 5K to my name already) and I guess I will part out my car to help out a little bit because it is probably worth more in parts than in whole.
I was going to wait until the summer to buy an LS1 car, but now I might want to try and get one earlier since my car is taking a fat crap on me. Any help is appreciated.
I am getting tired of wrenching on the LT1 every other week and have started looking for a good LS1. I am looking for around $10k with under 100K miles. Some good ones have been found on AutoTrader, and I am going to drive one tomorrow evening, but I don't really know what common problems can be found on these cars or anything like that. I am looking for a Z28 or SS, preferably, and as close to stock as I can find. I have also looked in the classifieds on the forums and found some nice ones, but they are out of my price range. Keep in mind, I am paying for this my 17-year-old-part-time-working-high-school-student self, no help from mom or dad. I can afford payments on a small loan (have about 5K to my name already) and I guess I will part out my car to help out a little bit because it is probably worth more in parts than in whole.
I was going to wait until the summer to buy an LS1 car, but now I might want to try and get one earlier since my car is taking a fat crap on me. Any help is appreciated.
https://ls1tech.com/forums/showthrea...62#post2399562
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,326
Likes: 1
From: NW Houston/Nacogdoches, Texas
You won't have a prob. finding an cheap Z28 in Houston. If you're not picky about color, trim or tranny (unlike me), you will have the easiest time. And remeber that mileage has sooo many variables, it's not an accurate way to gauge a car's livelyhood. Look/talk to all the local dealers frequently and check online listings. My friends dad is a dealer, so he has access to the illegal-ish, genuine NADA book. If you need, I can tell you what a car is REALLY worth, both loan price, retail, etc. Good luck on your hunt, hopefully it won't be as stressful as mine was!
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 329
Likes: 1
From: Tomball, TX (home) Kaneohe Bay, HI (work)
That's the thing. When it comes down to it, I am damn picky. It has to be one of three colors: black, silver, or NBM. Has to be auto tranny: going to San Diego next fall and don't want to drive stick in the traffic. Has to have charcoal or ebony interior: tan interior makes me gag. Can't be modded: I want to do that myself. If it is a 2000+ model Z: I have to have different wheels immediately 
. Also, can't have any dents, dings, etc. Interior must be in excellent shape without any discoloration or rattles and squeaks. No stains in carpet is a huge issue with me, it just looks so trashy. I would like the motor to look very nice under the hood, it shows the owner at least took initiative to clean it once. I know mileage is not a prime factor, the SS I am going to test drive tomorrow has about 94k on it, which is decent for a 1999. There is tons of other crap that I am picky about on cars, but I won't go into it. 
Steven, if you could get some pics of your car that would rock. Sounds pretty good, plus like they said in the other thread if you take those mods off you can get a little extra cash and I would be even more interested.
Thanks for the replies, guys.
. Also, can't have any dents, dings, etc. Interior must be in excellent shape without any discoloration or rattles and squeaks. No stains in carpet is a huge issue with me, it just looks so trashy. I would like the motor to look very nice under the hood, it shows the owner at least took initiative to clean it once. I know mileage is not a prime factor, the SS I am going to test drive tomorrow has about 94k on it, which is decent for a 1999. There is tons of other crap that I am picky about on cars, but I won't go into it. Steven, if you could get some pics of your car that would rock. Sounds pretty good, plus like they said in the other thread if you take those mods off you can get a little extra cash and I would be even more interested.
Thanks for the replies, guys.
