Hello. First off, Id like to say this is my very first post on CamaroForums! So, here it goes. Last year i bought a 95 Camaro base model. I thought i got it for a good deal at $900. Turns out, I was wrong. It needed way too much work for me at the time. So i got rid of it & now that Ive done more research on the 4th Gens, id like to get another one. Ive loved the 4th gens since i was a kid. Anything in particular I should be looking for in the 4th gens when i go & look at one? Ill be shopping for any model, Base, RS, Z28, etc. I wanna get one for a summer driver, (wont be driving it in the harsh winters we get here)not a project car. & obviously i know im going to do some traveling to find one. Here in Western New York the 4th gens are super rare to find. Thank you to all with any additional info!

 

first off you need to decide if you want a 93-97 style/model or 98-02. next is do you want v8 or v6. i would say imo 96-97 are favorable and 00-02 in the later style.

 

Agree with Craby,
Decide on 1st, 2nd, and 3rd choices,
Drivetrain, looks of course, and how well she runs.

If you want a V8, start with a Z/28 - don't buy a V6 then later decide to swapout a V8.
Not as it can be done, lots of work and money - most simplest way is swap out the front subframe w/eng & trans onto the other body.

I prefer the '98-'02 style.
Check all accessories for working condition.
You know the rest of buying a used car.

 

If you buy a V6 model and think you might be back here in a short time asking the popular question "what mods can I do to give my car more power", then just go for a Z/28. Not bashing, but I've had both, and wouldn't go back to a 6 banger.

 

A agree with everything above but I would add, find a trusted mechanic to check out the car before you buy or make an offer. You need someone with a lift and can spend a half hour looking the car top to bottom. In most cases the mechanic will find things that need attention and you can use that to get the price cheaper. At car lots they have detailers, IMO a detailers job is to make the car LOOK well maintained and in great condition. Their work has no effect on how good the car is just how it appears. A decent mechanic can see past the shine.

Because most people are not thorough when buying a car a well maintained car sells for about the same price as their unreliable unmaintained brothers, you just need to find the well maintained gem in the sea of turds that are out there.

I am a former mechanic and I check out cars for friends. I can remember one guy selling a car (in excellent shape with maintenance records) when I told him the cat was shot the water pump was leaking and the AC system did not work (it was winter) and there was 2 oil leaks there was no look of surprise or argument, I could tell he knew of the issues, he said I have 3 more people coming to look at it and he went back in the house. I know he was hoping one of them did not bring a mechanic. The funny part was that it was well maintained, I would guess these issues where recent development his mechanic gave him a quote and he decided to dump it instead. In many cases people just don’t know and I point out issues and some people don’t believe me. In some cases the cars are so bad I just shake my head and we leave with no offer.

Budget will be everything. You can find V8's cheap but many of them are not well maintained or have issues. You can find some very well maintained 3800's these days for around 2K. I would expect a LS1 in that same condition to be closer to 5K with the LT1 more like 3-3.5K. You just need to find the GEM expect to look at a lot of turds.

In Spring the prices always go up, the sooner you can buy the better.

 

Thanks to everyone for all the input! I got a few Camaros ive been scoping out on Listingallcars.com. Theyre all located within a few days of traveling.

First ones a 96 Camaro base model with the 3.8, manual trans, & only about 80k miles. Price says $5563. This one is the closest to my location. 1996 Chevrolet Camaro - Erie, PA

Second ones a 94 Camaro z28 with 32472 miles. Priced at $9995. 1994 Chevrolet Camaro - Wilkes Barre, PA

& the third is a 95 z28 with 35562 miles also for $9995. 1995 Chevrolet Camaro - Antioch, IL
I like this one & the first one a lot because they both do not have the t-tops. Do you guys think the 2 Z28s are overpriced?

 

I assume you are looking for only 93-97s? I think I paid $5500 for a 2000 Z with 45K last summer. When I asked for maintenance records she said he just does what the dealer tells her she needs done, we drove to the dealership, they knew her by name and brought up all the records right on the computer.

There is some value in buying a car from a dealer in PA, they are bound by some laws an individual is not but at those price you could by 2 cars and have one for a backup.

There is a plus side to buying a 98-2002 Z28, That is the LS1, It adds value to the car plus on paper the LS1 and LT1 are not much different but the 285hp at the crank rated LT1 will Dyno between 235-250 RWHP the LS1 is rated at 305 HP at the crank but normally Dynos 305-325 RWHP. That mean the engine is really closer to 350 HP at the crank. I believe they get better fuel mileage also.

If I had a budget of 10K I would be looking for a 2002 SS 6 speed with under 50K on the clock that spent most of its pampered life in a old man's garage.
http://harrisburg.craigslist.org/cto/5450573555.html

 

Thats a geat history report! & speaking of a budget, im looking to spend no more than $20k. I would like to buy from an actual dealership. This way, i can drop a nice down payment on one, & hopefully work out a great financing deal. I have the $$ for a good down payment & have a great credit score so this should be no problem. Preferably 93-97s yes. I actually like the salad shooter wheels, the front fascia & the jet-fighterlike dash. But if i find a nice 98-02, i will be sure to keep that info in mind & not rule it out in my searchings.

 

yep i dont like the front of the 98-02 either. on the other hand the ls1 is much more advanced than the lt1 and powermakers for it are easily found. lt1 stuff is getting harder and harder to find.

 

i wouldnt worry too much on miles under 100k. if maintained 4th gens will go for 200k no problem.