mustangslayer86

OK. So here I am about a month ago absolutely amazed that I found a third generation Camaro for purchase with just over 100,000 miles and in great shape. I was excited as I could ever be. I felt like the luckiest person in the world, but since then some things have changed.

I still love my car, but why are so many people insisting I made the wrong decision? It's 22 years old with the original engine still. Everytime I get in and start it up I'm actually excited to drive... anywhere. A bunch of people keep telling me it's too old or it doesn't have much left in it, but it runs amazingly well.

Basically, what I need is for someone to provide me with some wisdom. Anyone who can tell me my 1986 Camaro Z28 TPI with 109,600 miles was the right choice, that it will last me quite a while, and that it is overall a reliable car. Just base your facts on experience. Provide me with some statistics or anything you can to comfort me because now I'm starting to second guess myself. Not for buying a Camaro, but for thinking I'm going to have to put an extreme amount of work into this particular one.

Perhaps I'm somewhat of a "worry wart", but I just have a lot on the plate and don't want to have funds pop up on my car when I'm just about to make any type of payment. I don't have a back-up car as of right now. Can't really get one either.

Provide me with your wisdom fellow Camaro drivers.

Thanks,
Justin

1fastam

iTrader: (1)

justin these are very reliable cars i have a 91 transam 243,672 miles runs like a top same engine yours has.i just have 4:10 gears in the rear. do a search on how reliable is your third gen youll be amazed at the answers. im not the only one that has over 200,000 miles on theirs

Spitzfiya

Well I have a 1985 Firebird S/E with the original non rebuilt Carb 305 and im a crazy driver, never babied this car, donuts at every empty parking lot i find...burnouts at most stop lights...all i needed to replace was the water pump seals after time cause it was leaking rad fluid...other then that 305 are tough as hell and simple engines to work on. My car runs GREAT *knock on wood*

I dont drive like that anymore lol...but i did when i first got it (Had to break her in!)

Btw... my firebird has 270,000 on the odometer

That camaro has a long life my friend

mustangslayer86

Geez guys. Point taken. You pretty much just cleared my concious there.

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

Berlinetta #2 (now taken apart) has 301k miles on the clock, reportedly on the original engine.

Regular preventative maintenance (oil, filters, tranny fluid, tune-up, etc.) does wonders.

ladyjynx

I have a 91 camaro rs 3.1 v6. It now has over 500,xxx miles on the factory engine. The people I bought it from 5 years ago claimed they had it rebuilt but every mechanic that has ever looked at it says no way. I have always felt that this has been a good investment. Maintenance isn't that expensive and though I have had to fix it a couple times over the miles it usually turned out to be something easy once I got it diagnosed. Not knowing much about cars in honesty I have found it to be easy to work on even when it was something more.

I can promise you though that when they designed it, they did not intend it as a family car. However having 3 kids it has even been good to me in that regard. I would definitely buy it again.

GT150

I just purchased an 88 IROC with a 305 TPI and a 5-speed. I also enjoy this car more everytime I drive it. Mine is in excellent shape and needs only a few minor paint fixes. I plan to keep mine for a long time and keep it as original as I can. Good luck with your ride............They dont make them like that anymore.

mike

darkride86T/A

My '86 Bird has 202,543 miles on the clock, original 305 and has never been rebuilt. I'm on my 5th 3rd gen now(my Iroc), and I have to say that out of the 20+ cars that I've owned in the past 16 years, all of my F-Bodies are in the top 5 for reliability and dependability. And that's including my '89 Iroc, 115,000 miles.

joshh44

the cars are awesome. gotta love chevy if it was a ford. then you might have problems haha.

anyways parts for these cars are everywhere. and there cheap to.
i find them cheap anyways. new cars and there parts are more expensive i find to.
you can pretty much pay $500 or so replaing worn out parts and it will feel like a new car. thats how i find it was anyways. i bought all brand new steering parts and break pads and calipers, and afew engine parts for under $500. car feels safe and runs amazing. i say you got a good deal.
and the engine is easy to work on to.
can pretty much rebuild it in a weekend if your good at engines. rebuild kits are cheap as well.

im in the process of restoring my car and i wont be able to finish it this summer. so im bumed i wont be able to drive it till 2009

ladyjynx

I have to agree with Josh. I replaced my transmission and rear end for $300.

joshh44

ebay has some amazing deals sometimes. somtimes so amazing you dont even need that part but you buy it anyways type of deals haha.
theres alot of websites and even at your local autostore will even have the parts you need. they had everything in stock for what i needed. they didnt have to even order the parts in or anything.

92RS702

These cars are very reliable,the car I have now is my second camaro and I just love it,sure 305s are weak but parts for these cars are every where and like they are telling you parts are cheap.Camaros,firebirds are very easy to work on,if you need help on something,well that's what this site is for,people on here enjoy working on their camaros,firebirds and are always willing to help out.Just enjoy your car it's an AMERICAN V8 not some noisy import.Have fun with it.