Hey everyone, found a fairly clean Trans Am for sale near where I live. Had one a long long time ago and currently have a Gen6 ZL1 900rwhp car but just wanted to get into a Trans Am for nostalgia sake haha. Seller is looking for $19k for a WS6 Arctic White, with 81K miles. It's an automatic. Thoughts on this buy? Seems a bit pricey too me and without a huge market for these it's hard to determine a price point to start at. Thanks for any help!

 

Not really enough information to tell you one way or the other. What model year is it? (2001-02 cars are usually a bit more desirable). Do you have pictures of the interior, exterior, engine bay, etc.? The car is at least 23 years old, so the mileage doesn't tell us much as it could have been a daily driver early in life and still have rust/wear from that period, or it could have been used very carefully over the last quarter century and only driven 3-4k miles per year during the nice months. Is it stock? Has the current owner had the car a long time and know the history? Tons of things could make that price seem fair OR bad. Just not enough info to tell at this point.

 

Car is a Texas car, so no salt on the roads and not much for weather issues associated with snow etc. It's a 2002 completely stock WS6. Interior is clean exterior is clean engine bay is clean. Brand new tires recently.

 

Is it the original owner? Or do you know that it's always been in TX based on a Carfax or something?

"Clean" is subjective, hard to judge without at least seeing some detailed pics, sort of like a blind date...LOL! But in my area, that asking price would be in the fair range for a rust free example at that mileage as long as there are no notable cosmetic or mechanical issues. 2002 WS6 cars are always very popular amongst 4th gen shoppers.

 

The price seems a little high to me unless it's the original or 2nd owner with all documented maintenance history. New tires mean nothing if a Chinese mongrel brand. The type of tire put on the car will speak volumes IMO. If a quality brand, that would be a good sign as perhaps other items were repaired and replaced with proper parts.
I have my similar mileage 2001 T/A 'vert insured for $16,500 if that gives you any assistance with value. Original owner with 87k miles. I would not expect $19k for my car. No rust and mostly true highway miles.

 

Well just to follow up, I test drove it and it's going to need some new struts up front, lots of clunking coming from the front wheel area, transmission shifts good, car tracks straight, no leaks that I could tell. I know the clunking could be a mix of anything but I'm pretty sure it's the struts. Car isn't as clean as the pictures showed, some minor spider webbing on the front hood, as well as the "usual" cracked door panels. Small but albeit there. I've offered him 15k see what he thinks. And to answer the owner question, this is the second owner, first was a lady that kept it in her garage. She's going through some life stuff, and sold it to her friend (now current owner) and he's trying to downsize and move out of Texas.

Another quick question, does Strano even sell shock/strut packages for these cars any more? I know that's who I went with on my 2000. I'm just so far out of the game now after all of these years I'm trying to catch up again.

 

^^ That's funny timing as I just replaced all 4 in Dec 2024, just 10 months ago. Front struts and rear shocks came to around $1,400, mostly labor intensive on the fronts. My shop did a good job for me and it made quite a difference. I want to say Monroe shocks was the company I went with, definitely not Strano. My car is all stock except for the 17" wheels.
I think your offer to the seller is very fair, knowing that you have some $$$ needed going forward. Did you ever find out about the rubber?? Curious here.... Good luck!!!

 

Sam Strano is still around, still posts here from time to time. His packages are still great.

Sounds like the car is in "average/fair" condition for the mileage, so $15k would be more appropriate given the issues (those known and likely some unknown stuff too).

The WS6 cars have a following that goes beyond any other trim level of 4th gen, I'd argue that they are more universally sought after than even Firehawks. So the price will always be higher on a true WS6 with the OEM hood still intact and undamaged vs. any other trim level of comparable condition/mileage.