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Going to look at a 2000 Pontiac TransAm WS6 T-Tops
A4 with 125K miles2 owner car, all original, un molested. A4 is solid and motor running string. Owner says black interior is 8/10 with typical door panel cracks but dash and leather seats are in good shape. Arctic White Paint is 9/10 with small chips and scratches. Pictures seem to verify all claims but in person will confirm. Owner says small oil leak coming he thinks from valve cover as sometimes you can smell burnt oil when A/C is on but it’s hit or miss and no oil on the ground. He’s asking $13.5k OBO. Good deal or no?
Last edited by moonjourney94; Feb 12, 2022 at 04:22 PM.
With 125K miles, the Arctic White Paint isn't a 9/10 if it has small chips and scratches. Sounds more like a 7/10
Owner says black interior is 8/10 with typical door panel cracks but dash and leather seats are in good shape. Sounds like 7/10 again to be because everything will have 125,000 miles of age & normal wear & tear.
Is $13.5k OBO a good deal, no - is it in the ballpark maybe with today's crazy prices. Does the car need tires? Any maintenance records? Rust free? Is the rear pinion seal leaking?
If everything about the car is good, you really like it, will keep the car a long time and can afford a possibility of another $2k in unexpected repairs and or maintenance it's a passable deal.
$11,500 to $12,250 would probably be more fair to you
Last edited by 99 Black Bird T/A; Feb 13, 2022 at 07:21 AM.
I can't pay that much for a car with over 100k miles. For another $5k - $6k you can get a much nicer example with way lower miles even in this inflationary used car market. It would be a better ownership experience too. Yeah, I'm throwing thousands of dollars more into the equation BUT there is no doubt you would be putting thousands into that 125,000 miles car within two years if not sooner. Spend it now or later. Different ways of looking at things. Like noted above, if you can get the car for a few grand less, then maybe if the car checks out.
If this car does not work out, good luck with your search.
Thanks all. This would be my first TA. Trying to find a deal as my budget is $15k max. And trying to find one local to Houston. If I can’t get this one at ~$11.5k maybe wait and see if the market corrects but I’m worried it might not ever come back down to earth.
Thanks all. This would be my first TA. Trying to find a deal as my budget is $15k max. And trying to find one local to Houston. If I can’t get this one at ~$11.5k maybe wait and see if the market corrects but I’m worried it might not ever come back down to earth.
Yes, it's tough to predict what the future pricing will be for these Trans Ams but I tend to believe the nicer examples will NOT be coming down in price.
I remember this thread (below) from a few months ago, and although not a Trans Am, it shows what you can still get in the price range I mentioned. I realize it is over your budget so perhaps you are right in waiting to save up a bit more. This car has 100,000 less miles than the one you are looking at with years and years of enjoyment ahead for the next owner. I'm sure the car is gone by now with that $19,500 asking price. In these inflationary times, a decent deal.
Current Hagerty value is around 15K for a good condition 4th gen TA WS6. So the price is probably fair. If you can get it for less, try. It's probably a good car if it's been maintained.
I remember this thread (below) from a few months ago, and although not a Trans Am, it shows what you can still get in the price range I mentioned. I realize it is over your budget so perhaps you are right in waiting to save up a bit more. This car has 100,000 less miles than the one you are looking at with years and years of enjoyment ahead for the next owner. I'm sure the car is gone by now with that $19,500 asking price. In these inflationary times, a decent deal.
Navy Blue Metallic SS White Top for sale is still available for the moment. He rejected a trade offer this morning. Probably a good time for anyone interested to contact and work something out.
I'd rather be into to this low mile, unique jewel above for $17,500 to $18,500 than something for $11,500 that really needs $2,000 of maintenance & $1,000 of tires, $3,000 of mods, & $1,500 of repairs with 95,000+ miles and ends up costing about the same.
Last edited by 99 Black Bird T/A; Feb 14, 2022 at 09:58 AM.
My stock black 91 RS Camaro Convertible became my #2 favorite car and a close second to my LS swapped white 91 RS. Drop top is magic 🎩 ✨️ , I never believed until owning one.
If the top is in poor or marginal condition, I could see how that would hurt price. Likewise, a soft top convertible really should be garaged to stay in good condition, even more so than a regular car. That may eliminate some potential buyers.
Likewise, a soft top convertible really should be garaged to stay in good condition, even more so than a regular car. That may eliminate some potential buyers.
This is important to consider, and is the reason I don't look at 'verts for my next purchase. I'm out of garage space but I want a 3-season fun driver, doesn't need to be a pristine show vehicle as it's going to get driven and I already have two show cars. But putting a convertible outside seems to be asking for trouble. My '02 Z28 (t-top) sat outside for about 7 years during my ownership, it actually stayed pretty nice and didn't really deteriorate other than those years when I also used it as a winter daily driver. I basically want to do the same thing again, but minus the winter driving (didn't really matter with the last one, as the previous owner had already used it in the winter anyway). In any event, I'd love to do a convertible so I could avoid the bubbling roof issue, but it's just not practical for an outdoor example IMO.
Originally Posted by NC01TA
For another $5k - $6k you can get a much nicer example with way lower miles even in this inflationary used car market. It would be a better ownership experience too. Yeah, I'm throwing thousands of dollars more into the equation BUT there is no doubt you would be putting thousands into that 125,000 miles car within two years if not sooner. Spend it now or later. Different ways of looking at things.
Originally Posted by 99 Black Bird T/A
I'd rather be into to this low mile, unique jewel above for $17,500 to $18,500 than something for $11,500 that really needs $2,000 of maintenance & $1,000 of tires, $3,000 of mods, & $1,500 of repairs with 95,000+ miles and ends up costing about the same.
Good points above. This is what always keeps me away from most "cheap" high mileage cars; they often end up needing so much work that by the time you have them fixed up you've spent the same amount you would have spent on a much nicer (overall) car with which to start, except now you still have a high mileage car with rough cosmetics and major components with tons of mileage.
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Good deal or not? 
This is important to consider, and is the reason I don't look at 'verts for my next purchase. I'm out of garage space but I want a 3-season fun driver, doesn't need to be a pristine show vehicle as it's going to get driven and I already have two show cars. But putting a convertible outside seems to be asking for trouble. My '02 Z28 (t-top) sat outside for about 7 years during my ownership, it actually stayed pretty nice and didn't really deteriorate other than those years when I also used it as a winter daily driver. I basically want to do the same thing again, but minus the winter driving (didn't really matter with the last one, as the previous owner had already used it in the winter anyway). In any event, I'd love to do a convertible so I could avoid the bubbling roof issue, but it's just not practical for an outdoor example IMO.