Im a proud owner of a 1988 iroc z28 camaro. However i must sale/trade it for gas mileage purposes.
Someone offered me a 1996 3.8 V6 camaro.5 speed and another offer of the same car but automatic and no ttops. they look good but i have a few questions for you guys who know much more than i do:

1. Would it really be that much better on gas than the 305 V8 iroc?
2. How much slower would it be?
3. Whats the differences between auto and manual transmissions? is a manual much better on gas and faster or are they same? what are the pros and cons of each type of tranny?
4. Should i just wait untill i can sell it or should i trade? (its been on the market for 5months)

Thanks ahead of time! I really need to decide soon.

 

1. yeah itll be better on gas, by prolly 5-8 or so mpg

2. slower in what sense? top speed will be about 40 mph less, 0-60 prolly around 1.5-2 seconds slower, and 1/4 mile, maybe 3 seconds slower

3. Really? one you shift, one shifts for you? the manual will help by a few mpg for gas, an auto requires alot less maintenance

4. thats up to you, id never get rid of a v8 stick for a v6 auto

 

Does the 4th gen 3.8 get that much better gas mileage? My 91 RS got 27 mpg on a road trip, with me averaging 80 mpg (I would go 90 when I had a rabbit ahead of me). So I spose I could have even done a little better than that. My 305 was TBI, and the Z28's 305 is EFI, but I can't imagine the two being all that different in gas mileage.
And....the IROC is going to always hold a better value than the 96 will.

 

The IROC's are getting harder to find these days, In the long run it would be worth more than a 96 v6........1SG

 

like i said id like to keep it but i have to get better gas mileage. ill be going to college and would be driving a lot.

 

I agree with everything that has been said. The IROC will definitely hold its value better than the V6 Camaro. If you think that you'll regret the trade after, then don't do it.

 

I have a 96 5 speed I drive daily. It has a lower miles 02 engine in it and a few upgrades. I can hit 30+ on the highway. Heck if your car is in decent shape I would trade you.

If 25 MPG is a problem is 30 MPG the solution?

 

Keep your car and just drive it nicely. Change out your rear diff gear then you'll get better Mileage. The 3.8s aren't much better. Your 305 would kill it in highway driving. Keep the iroc and buy a cheap little Honda for a dd.

 

So then, then the gas mileage gap isn't that big at all. Like I said, I got 27 mpg with my 91, driving it with a slightly heavy foot. I know it would have easily hit 28 if I kept it at a more moderate speed. My vote is still to keep the IROC, it's more of a unique car. The value of the 96 will keep dropping, as the IROC value will go up.

 

Thats why I said I would trade him . Most times there is a trade one guy is getting the short end end of the stick.