What is it Worth? Use this forum to get feedback on vehicle prices - for selling or buying

Buying used and price help

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 15, 2025 | 01:48 PM
  #1  
clg82's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
15 Year Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 143
Likes: 1
From: Texas
Default Buying used and price help

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!
Reply
Old Sep 15, 2025 | 02:10 PM
  #2  
RPM WS6's Avatar
LS1Tech Administrator
20 Year Member
Shutterbug
Community Builder
Community Influencer
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,643
Likes: 2,571
From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
Default

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.
Reply
Old Sep 15, 2025 | 02:15 PM
  #3  
clg82's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
15 Year Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 143
Likes: 1
From: Texas
Default

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.
Reply
Old Sep 15, 2025 | 02:41 PM
  #4  
RPM WS6's Avatar
LS1Tech Administrator
20 Year Member
Shutterbug
Community Builder
Community Influencer
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,643
Likes: 2,571
From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
Default

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.
Reply
Old Sep 17, 2025 | 08:51 AM
  #5  
NC01TA's Avatar
TECH Junkie
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Liked
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,917
Likes: 676
From: Western North Carolina
Default

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.


Reply
Old Sep 17, 2025 | 11:01 AM
  #6  
clg82's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
15 Year Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 143
Likes: 1
From: Texas
Default

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.
Reply
Old Sep 17, 2025 | 03:41 PM
  #7  
NC01TA's Avatar
TECH Junkie
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Liked
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,917
Likes: 676
From: Western North Carolina
Default

^^ 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!!!
Reply
Old Sep 17, 2025 | 03:43 PM
  #8  
RPM WS6's Avatar
LS1Tech Administrator
20 Year Member
Shutterbug
Community Builder
Community Influencer
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,643
Likes: 2,571
From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
Default

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.

Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-1

Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-5

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-8

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:25 AM.

story-0
Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

Slideshow: We take a close look at the ONE and Artidiag 800BT2 diagnostic tools from Topdon and the reasons to buy one over the other.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 11:05:11


VIEW MORE
story-1
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

Slideshow: The controversial Ferrari F6 swaps its original flat-12 for a Corvette Z06-derived LT4 V8 and sends power to four rear wheels through a custom-built drivetrain.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-26 18:23:54


VIEW MORE
story-2
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

Slideshow:These GM engines didn't just make huge power, they survived abuse, boost, track days, and six-digit mileage with a reputation for refusing to quit.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-21 16:45:27


VIEW MORE
story-3
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-4
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-5
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-8
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-9
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE