99 Trans Am value?
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Mar 2011
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99 Trans Am value? Found a local 99 TA, ttops, with unknown long tube headers, magnaflow exhaust, 115k, no issues (per the owner), clean/clear title, stock chrome 5 star OEM wheels. Has two dents on the hood that are not creased, about the size of a tennis ball. What is a fair offer? The interior is in pretty good shape, there is a slight tear in the driver seat bolster, about 5".
What say you, LS1Tech?
What say you, LS1Tech?
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 158
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TECH Junkie
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,914
Likes: 676
From: Western North Carolina
That $6,850 seems to be about right provided no serious issues once you get to see the car. It allows for some repairs or needs without going overboard. The dents should be able to be removed for a few hundred dollars by one of those special body guys. One thing you didn't mention was tires. Would you need them right off the bat? If so, you are now talking an extra $600+ along with your purchase price. I would use that as a negotiating tool to get the seller lower. The 5" rip in the seat would bother me too and I would be negotiating that angle as well. 4 owners isn't that great either.
Also, you are not likely to be 2nd in line to buy the car. That is
90% of the time.
Also, you are not likely to be 2nd in line to buy the car. That is
90% of the time. Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 158
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That $6,850 seems to be about right provided no serious issues once you get to see the car. It allows for some repairs or needs without going overboard. The dents should be able to be removed for a few hundred dollars by one of those special body guys. One thing you didn't mention was tires. Would you need them right off the bat? If so, you are now talking an extra $600+ along with your purchase price. I would use that as a negotiating tool to get the seller lower. The 5" rip in the seat would bother me too and I would be negotiating that angle as well. 4 owners isn't that great either.
Also, you are not likely to be 2nd in line to buy the car. That is 90% of the time.
Also, you are not likely to be 2nd in line to buy the car. That is
90% of the time.As for the other guy, it's CL, so I know the game. The "other guy" was driving 2 hours each way, cash in hand to buy it if it was as described. I actually was calling the owner to set up a time to look at it when he was talking to the other guy. Well, the owner called me last night and said the other guy never showed, but would know by this morning. blah blah blah. I just said I've got cash and transportation, but no looking to waste my time.
Thanks for the help all. Only other LS powered car I've owned was my GTO, which had to replace the rear end literally 300 miles after purchase. Looking to avoid a similar situation. Any advice on the piston slap or lifter issues? Should I be wanting to hear the car from a cold start? Or is it a non-issue as long as it drives OK?
Edit: Car is black/tan interior if that makes any difference, although, I'd imagine that is a VERY common color combo.
Last edited by mild83; Jun 21, 2013 at 09:42 AM.
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Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Mar 2011
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Actually, it looks like it had 6 prior owners. Hmmm. Current owner has had it for 18 mos, only driven 2-3k miles. He said the rear tires are good, the fronts are ok, but definitely not a performance tire. He said that he keeps it in the garage, there are no leaks/spills and he isn't aware of any issues. Said that he works 2 miles from his farm and only lives 5 miles from town. Selling because he doesn't drive it enough.
The mileage thing I get, I only drove my GTO 3k in the last 18 mos I had it. Dunno, just a lot of prior owners.
Carfax also decoded it to a formula, but I"m guessing that's just the V8 default for carfax. Autocheck noted formula/Trans am.
The mileage thing I get, I only drove my GTO 3k in the last 18 mos I had it. Dunno, just a lot of prior owners.
Carfax also decoded it to a formula, but I"m guessing that's just the V8 default for carfax. Autocheck noted formula/Trans am.
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Verdad Gallardo TECH Junkie
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Western North Carolina
Wow, 6 owners is alarming to me 
for a 14 year old car, like 'what is wrong with this car that nobody wants to keep it more than 2+ years??'
Your prior bad experience with the GTO is possibly going to re-occur with any car with 100,000+ miles on the odometer. Many of these F-bodies are beaten or not maintained well. I'm sure there are some nice 100K miles cars, with just 2 owners or so, with all records kept, but those are tough to find. If this price range is all you can afford, then so be it, but there is a better than 50-50 chance of a car having issues. even decent low mileage rides can have problems. Let's face it, these cars are getting old, with the newest one now 11 + years old. Hard to believe. Best of luck with this T/A, or if your search continues.
for a 14 year old car, like 'what is wrong with this car that nobody wants to keep it more than 2+ years??' Your prior bad experience with the GTO is possibly going to re-occur with any car with 100,000+ miles on the odometer. Many of these F-bodies are beaten or not maintained well. I'm sure there are some nice 100K miles cars, with just 2 owners or so, with all records kept, but those are tough to find. If this price range is all you can afford, then so be it, but there is a better than 50-50 chance of a car having issues. even decent low mileage rides can have problems. Let's face it, these cars are getting old, with the newest one now 11 + years old. Hard to believe. Best of luck with this T/A, or if your search continues.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 158
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Wow, 6 owners is alarming to me for a 14 year old car, like 'what is wrong with this car that nobody wants to keep it more than 2+ years??'
Your prior bad experience with the GTO is possibly going to re-occur with any car with 100,000+ miles on the odometer. Many of these F-bodies are beaten or not maintained well. I'm sure there are some nice 100K miles cars, with just 2 owners or so, with all records kept, but those are tough to find. If this price range is all you can afford, then so be it, but there is a better than 50-50 chance of a car having issues. even decent low mileage rides can have problems. Let's face it, these cars are getting old, with the newest one now 11 + years old. Hard to believe. Best of luck with this T/A, or if your search continues.
for a 14 year old car, like 'what is wrong with this car that nobody wants to keep it more than 2+ years??' Your prior bad experience with the GTO is possibly going to re-occur with any car with 100,000+ miles on the odometer. Many of these F-bodies are beaten or not maintained well. I'm sure there are some nice 100K miles cars, with just 2 owners or so, with all records kept, but those are tough to find. If this price range is all you can afford, then so be it, but there is a better than 50-50 chance of a car having issues. even decent low mileage rides can have problems. Let's face it, these cars are getting old, with the newest one now 11 + years old. Hard to believe. Best of luck with this T/A, or if your search continues.
If the car hasn't been tuned, anything to look for while driving it? Or will the ECU be able to make the adjustments for headers-only without affecting it's driveability?
Thread Starter
On The Tree
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Well, lets just say the ad and pics sent to me were a bit less forthcoming. He said two soft dents on the hood, but it had a nice amount of hail, scuffs, and chips in the paint. Interior bits were missing. ALOT of noise, a ticking noise on acceleration that I never heard in my gto. It's the first fbody I've actually driven....maybe I should've kept my goat, lol.
TECH Junkie
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,914
Likes: 676
From: Western North Carolina
Well, lets just say the ad and pics sent to me were a bit less forthcoming. He said two soft dents on the hood, but it had a nice amount of hail, scuffs, and chips in the paint. Interior bits were missing. ALOT of noise, a ticking noise on acceleration that I never heard in my gto. It's the first fbody I've actually driven....maybe I should've kept my goat, lol.
A lot of these sellers (owners) would be stunned to ride in a low mileage 'stock' example, and see how nice they actually are.