Where are the Trans Ams?

Why don't I ever see any fourth gen Camaros or TAs at open track days around here? Particularily the later LS1 equipped models? I've driven a few on the street and they are pretty potent vehicles...

They had to run out to Texarkana for some Coors?

^ I approve this message.

because I'm stuck working as a tech for Honda with very few weekends off so my racing is limited to drags and autox :) But it's setup to do pretty much anything and getting a few upgrades soon too!

DirtyBird222 wrote: because I'm stuck working as a tech for Honda with very few weekends off so my racing is limited to drags and autox :) But it's setup to do pretty much anything and getting a few upgrades soon too!

How does it fair in autox? I love the look of a red WS6, and the power is definately there, but I haven't really been able to safely push it to its limits around a corner on the street.

I'm primarily interested in it as a weekend toy / street car that will see occasional track day duty. I'm not too worried about being real competitive. Being a street car,a nice stereo, AC and an overabundance of power and torque are the main priorities. It's just for fun, but I also don't want another car as squirrely as my fox body was... How are its on track manners? I'll probably keep my miata when I autox seriously.

Every see the price of one? A decent DD is 7-8k plus. On top of that, the ones available for sale are autotragics. Even the v6 models are priced high vs a BMW/Miata/Mustang.

Brian

You don't see them because they've all been disassembled to use as donors for other cars.

In reply to DirtyBird222:

Are those CCWs? They look so good . . .

Ranger50 wrote: Every see the price of one? A decent DD is 7-8k plus.

8k seems very reasonable to me for great looks and a 300+ hp motor that can make as much power as you'll ever need while still staying reliable shrugs

yes they are CCWs and with the proper suspension mods they fair really well. Talk to Sam Strano and he'll lead you in the right direction. I have allt he tubular control arms front and rear, sub frame connectors, sway bars, koni adjustables, strano springs, big cam, headers, intake, upgraded brake lines, rotors, and pads. Also removed a lot of stuff from the interior. If I could get my A/C to work consistently I'd drive it everyday lol.

How does it fair in autox?

Better than most people would expect and much better than a Mustang of similar vintage. Fun too, power oversteer on demand.

That said they are big, heavy cars and will never feel at home on a tight course. They get around decently but thats more due to big horsepower and big tires than any sort of finesse.

Here's mine. LT1, Autotragic and scheduled to make an appearance at the 2011 Challenge. With a few suspension bolt ons it's really neutral on the autocross course. It's WORLDS better than my Fox Mustang in the handling dept.

yea a big sway bar, sub frame connectors, springs, shocks, and tires with stock power, it's a blast on the autox course. Loud exhaust is necessary to annoy the people who love the buzz of a 4 cylinder.

having been forced to drive the camaro version... those are my least favourite models of the camaro/firebird/transam family.

I do bet they handle fairly well with some simple bolt ons though, after all they are better balanced than the equivilant Mustang

They were gas guzzlers, kinda ugly, poor build quality, ill handling (dial in more factory understeer),dealers didn't want them, not inexpensive, and thought by many as a mid-life-crisis/insecurity machine. And try to insure one. ..

In short, an overpriced, gas guzzling relic that didn't sell well. Those that were bought were flogged to within an inch of their life, and then handed down, or sold to owners who continued the tradition.

I see I've gotten the attention of some of you...

nate_birner wrote: Why don't I ever see any fourth gen Camaros or TAs at open track days around here? Particularily the later LS1 equipped models? I've driven a few on the street and they are pretty potent vehicles...

I've seen several 4th gens out at the tracks at HPDEs. I think the new people who want a track car see them as a bit too expensive to buy AND set up. Very rarely do I see any F bodies as old as my Firebird. I've given up inviting the Pro Touring/G-Machine crowd to track days. More of them have started auto X-ing but not very many get out to full size tracks. Here's my ole bird at Sebring.

Ditto re the cost to get one in decent shape. When I add up the purchase price of my LT1 camaro and the money I've spent on the basics, i.e. konis, springs, bars, cat back still in thier boxes + Maintenance xTime x Frustration, I could have bought a decent S2000.

Unfortunately, these were primarily purchased by those drivers with poor driving skills and/or poor "wrenching"skills.

IF, you really want to find a Trans Am, I suggest looking south of the Mason-Dixon line, as a lot of folks with the "Smokey and the Bandit" mindset live there. And look in cities with large numbers of the "fashion challenged".

It's just my opinion, but T/As as they progressed through the generations, got styling that was...more? aggressive? Look for T/As in areas where that is considered to be a plus.

I tracked a 94 Z28 - stripper with 6 spd LT1. With suspension upgrades (~$1k) it was turning low 1:21-22's at Roebling. A minivan at a redlight put it in an early grave. It was a dominant T1 car in its time.

I see very few vintage cars at track events - but some did show at VIR in July and NASA-SE is pushing hard with its Vintage Class.

integraguy wrote: It's just my opinion, but T/As as they progressed through the generations, got styling that was...more? aggressive? Look for T/As in areas where that is considered to be a plus.

I would prefer to say that the styling got more "interesting"

triumph5 wrote: They were gas guzzlers, kinda ugly, poor build quality, ill handling (dial in more factory understeer),dealers didn't want them, not inexpensive, and thought by many as a mid-life-crisis/insecurity machine. And try to insure one. .. In short, an overpriced, gas guzzling relic that didn't sell well. Those that were bought were flogged to within an inch of their life, and then handed down, or sold to owners who continued the tradition. I see I've gotten the attention of some of you...

Oh really? That's why I managed 29mpg highway in my LS1 before I threw a big cam in there...and I still get around 21 with the cam....I will agree with you that interior build quality isn't that great...window motors and t-top seals suck too, but the drivetrain makes up for it.

I've got a 2nd gen myself (1979 with the WS6 package) and someday I will track it. Right now, it needs some more resto work though, but I would love to track it when its all done!

triumph5 wrote: , kinda ugly,

To each his own, but I consider them better looking than the Mustang of the same era, and the 3 series of the same era... Heck, IMHO, they're one of the better looking cars of the nineties.

triumph5 wrote: They were gas guzzlers, kinda ugly, poor build quality, ill handling (dial in more factory understeer),dealers didn't want them, not inexpensive, and thought by many as a mid-life-crisis/insecurity machine. And try to insure one. .. In short, an overpriced, gas guzzling relic that didn't sell well. Those that were bought were flogged to within an inch of their life, and then handed down, or sold to owners who continued the tradition. I see I've gotten the attention of some of you...

Gonna have to disagree on a few things here myself. I drive a 98 LS1/M6 Camaro everyday and while it may not be the nicest looking car it does not guzzle gas, or cost much to insure. I knocked down 29 mpg highway last week, my focus svt could barely match that on the exact same route. As in it rarely broke 30 mpg with half the power. And as for insurance, I cross shopped for rsx's, wrx, mustangs, etc all cost at least $100-$150 more to insure than the camaro.

Dollar for dollar I could get more performance from a camaro compared to a mustang for much less $$. And more durability than the subaru's in the same price range.

that is the beauty of the muscle car. it comes from the factory fairly fast and pretty understressed.. it does not take much to make more power.. and you do not need to mortgage your house to make silly power