4th gen Camaro 3.8L advice?

DarrenWS6

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Yeah, its a sharp car, but is the V6 (which isn't all that bad) and an Auto (5spd = more fun).

A Malibu would be a much better vehicle for hauling people/stuff. This will have higher insurance too.

Plus, it seems like its too cheap to me.

Insurance would probably be high for a 10yr old V6 Camaro? Dang, can't ever win, its not like it is a 2010 SS :lol:. I would prefer automatic for a general daily scooter.
Sorry, I only know of an 18yr old having a LT1 Camaro and paying $1k+/yr in insurance. I'm just use to being nailed for being young.

I can see this car getting 25mpg depending on the axle ratio, tire size, and RPM's.

With my truck I pay $1,500 a year by itself, not on full coverage, $100 deductible. The young age insurance does suck lol. It would be a few bucks over $2k with the Malibu. Being as this car is way older and V6 I would hope it would be equivalent to what a new Malibu would be at.
 

Zembonez

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Daughter had a late 90s Firebird 3.8 AT - T tops (basically the same car you are describing). The basic drivetrain is bulletproof, but you'll need a big plastic container to put all of the trim stuff that falls off of it in. I rebuilt the doors more than once. Could not keep power windows and locks working with a prayer. We called it the Exxon Valdez because it leaked every possible fluid. I made her park in the street. It never stopped running but it was a total piece of shit build quality wise.
 

nubuilder

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Yeah, its a sharp car, but is the V6 (which isn't all that bad) and an Auto (5spd = more fun).

A Malibu would be a much better vehicle for hauling people/stuff. This will have higher insurance too.

Plus, it seems like its too cheap to me.

Insurance would probably be high for a 10yr old V6 Camaro? Dang, can't ever win, its not like it is a 2010 SS :lol:. I would prefer automatic for a general daily scooter.
Sorry, I only know of an 18yr old having a LT1 Camaro and paying $1k+/yr in insurance. I'm just use to being nailed for being young.

I can see this car getting 25mpg depending on the axle ratio, tire size, and RPM's.

With my truck I pay $1,500 a year by itself, not on full coverage, $100 deductible. The young age insurance does suck lol. It would be a few bucks over $2k with the Malibu. Being as this car is way older and V6 I would hope it would be equivalent to what a new Malibu would be at.
My truck, with me on it, would be $500-700/yr with only liability.
If I add a second truck, it only goes up to $600-800.
With my mom on the Silverado and dad on the S10, I pay $400/yr IF I kept coverage on both truck all year (which I don't so I pay more like $250-300/yr).
 

DarrenWS6

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Daughter had a late 90s Firebird 3.8 AT - T tops (basically the same car you are describing). The basic drivetrain is bulletproof, but you'll need a big plastic container to put all of the trim stuff that falls off of it in. I rebuilt the doors more than once. Could not keep power windows and locks working with a prayer. We called it the Exxon Valdez because it leaked every possible fluid. I made her park in the street. It never stopped running but it was a total piece of shit build quality wise.

So the interior and possibly body itself was junk your saying. I never witnessed such error with my 2002 Trans Am WS6, but I do recall the cheap plastic feel of the dash and door panels. And I never liked those door handles, my dad's '98 Blazer had similar ones and I recall when he bought it new "Might get stuck inside here if you pull too hard" :lol:.

Going to look at it in a few if it is still there, can't hurt to :dunno:
 

Boilerup15

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Never have been a fan of that body style either. If you are wanting something for a DD, which I assume means better gas mileage then I think a malibu or something similar to that would be better off. I have just never understood why they put a V6 in a muscle car, even though the newer model V-6's have some impressive number. Personally If I am buying a muscle car, it's going to have a V-8 and sound nasty.
 

NMRam

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The 3.8 is a good solid motor, and it will deliver some pretty good fuel economy if driven reasonably, BUT it does have the typical GM intake manifold gasket problems. If they have not already been changed, it WILL (at some point) leak antifreeze. I have had several 3.8 GM's, and they have been very dependable cars otherwise, and have always gotten 26-30 mpg in mostly hwy driving.
 

Zembonez

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Daughter had a late 90s Firebird 3.8 AT - T tops (basically the same car you are describing). The basic drivetrain is bulletproof, but you'll need a big plastic container to put all of the trim stuff that falls off of it in. I rebuilt the doors more than once. Could not keep power windows and locks working with a prayer. We called it the Exxon Valdez because it leaked every possible fluid. I made her park in the street. It never stopped running but it was a total piece of shit build quality wise.

So the interior and possibly body itself was junk your saying. I never witnessed such error with my 2002 Trans Am WS6, but I do recall the cheap plastic feel of the dash and door panels. And I never liked those door handles, my dad's '98 Blazer had similar ones and I recall when he bought it new "Might get stuck inside here if you pull too hard" :lol:.

Going to look at it in a few if it is still there, can't hurt to :dunno:
No. The body was fine. I tend to forget that my dark assed sense of humor doesn't come through in print. The whole car wasn't a piece. The interior trim bits and power accessories had issues, but they were fixable. The drivetrain never so much as missed a beat. She has something like 150K on it when we sold it. It did leak oil and power steering fluid from every orifice possible... but the trans / rear end were OK.

It was a reliable vehicle beyond the poorly executed trim.
 

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The reason you were seeing 23 in the Ls1 is because of the 6 speed manual. I would say in a 3.8 auto you should expect about the same. That being said I understand why you like the car, I love me some F bodies too, I just dont think you will be happy with that 6 cylinder, I dont think i would be anyway, especially after being used the the 5.7.. just my $0.02
 

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