Considering a new car..

[paarman97maro]

So I think Ive finally found the car I want to get. Unfortunately, its not an fbody... I couldnt find exactly what I want for a good price. There is a 2004 GTO for sale around here, yellow on black, 56k, auto (wish it was manual) for 13k. Ive been considering it for the past couple days, I wanted to get some opinions and see what you all think about it. Heard/have any pros or cons about them?

Also, is the bolt pattern the same on GTOs as it is Fbodies?



http://img32.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscn5443.jpg

[phoenix_rising]

For $13K you can get a hell of an fbody. I have seen GTO wheels on a Trans Am however I think the guy had some type of spacer. They are really close though. Trans Am 5X120.7, GTO 5x120.65

[Lucky SOB]

04's are junk

[Derek]

I'll be the first to tell you if you are gonna shell out the cash for a car get something you really want. If you are already saying you wish it was a manual how long do you think it will take for you to want to sell it to get a manual? I'd just keep lookin around until you find the perfect car that fits your desires, cars are going dirt cheap right now you should be able to find what you want. Just might have to drive a lil bit.

[paarman97maro]

Ive been looking around for a car since February. Im really picky about what I want for a Camaro, and they are just getting too rare to come by or theres always somthing about it I dont like... For instance. I want another 97 the most. It was hard for me to even consider a 98+ because I hate the headlights/front end, I would get halos before I got the car. I only like certain colors, I want a manual, ttops, 70k or less. I havent found anything Ive liked in the few months Ive been looking.

I am aware to look for what I like... Thats why I havent sold my car yet. Ive been on and off about this for a couple years now, this is the first time Ive seriously been looking. I have always wanted a GTO, I love the way they look. An 06 is what I want above all, but I dont mind the 04. 13k is not a bad deal, its 3k under blue book and the only thing I saw wrong with it is very small paint chips on the handles, and the seams have split like an inch on the back seat. Nothing to turn me away. I dont desperately NEED a manual, I can live with an auto, Im just saying Id like to have one. It doesnt turn me off instantly because it doesnt have it.

The reason I am considering a GTO is because Camaros are getting too old to find a good loan for. Im 22 years old, I have good credit, but the truth is banks dont like to give out loans to young people for cars that "old". I love camaros and Id love nothing more than to get one, but like I said I havent found anything that stood out as exceptional or "I have to have that" yet, and Ive been looking. I need to get a different car... My car is just about to roll over 142k and I just put 950 into fixing the rear end so I could resell it. I dont want to put anymore money into it, and I only forsee more problems occuring in the future.

[paarman97maro]

04's are junk

Care to expand? I created the thread to find pros/cons so if theres a major issue with them, Id like to know to put it into consideration.

[s.reef]

Is it going to be a DD? Im buying/leasing a cobalt ss in the fall and just keeping the camaro. This market you probably wont get much for your car, although I dont know much about your car.

[mikek18]

i know its tough but dont settle. If your willing to do a GTO wait for a 06 and wait for a manual or you wll regret it. The gto is a great car. Would love to have one myself. Im looking for just the right 98-02 ws6 right now, if I dont find the right one Ill keep looking.

[1qwikSS]

I'll be the first to tell you if you are gonna shell out the cash for a car get something you really want. If you are already saying you wish it was a manual how long do you think it will take for you to want to sell it to get a manual? I'd just keep lookin around until you find the perfect car that fits your desires, cars are going dirt cheap right now you should be able to find what you want. Just might have to drive a lil bit.

X2..my first summer out of high school, i worked my ass off...saved up some money, and at that point i had only had 1 car..a 87 grand prix..(pretty much where i learned a good majority of how to fix things on cars cuz something on that sucker was breaking or going out all the time).Anyways i wanted to get a firebird, camaro, or mustang and i wanted ttops and manual. Well i ended up get a hell of a deal on a formula which was auto with no ttops. It was a nice car and thats the car that made me fall in love with fbodies, but i was tired of it after a year or so. With the market the way it is right now, you can buy what you want for less than what its worth! I say wait for something better...but your the one who has to make the decision and live with it.

[paarman97maro]

Ive looked around before.. Just letting you know this isnt the first time Ive looked for a car... Heres my situation. Ive had my camaro for going on 5 yeras now. I bought an Escort for a winter beater about a year and a half ago. My camaro just had the rear end go out, and I dont want to run into anymore problems with it anytime soon.. As far as Im concerned, 950 was 950 more than I wanted to put into it to just keep it on the road. So basically time is what Im working against right now. I thought I could continute waiting until I found the perfect camaro, but to be honest, maybe its in the future for me because Im not finding what Im looking for and I can always get one later in life when Im older and have a better chance of getting a larger loan for an older car. Just too much work right now to find the perfect car and trying to get a decent loan at my age.

Ive just been thinking about getting somthing newer and more reliable at this point. A GTO is one of my options, its not a dream car like a camaro is for me, but its somthing I have always wanted to own. Im not picky about a GTO like I am a camaro, so Im not gonna wait to find one thats a manual or anything. An auto is fine for me, I like how it drove. The price is what is the best about it, you cant find GTOs for that price nearly anywhere, at least thats the cheapest Ive seen given its condition.

[78mali350]

I think this would be a smart decision for now, I have wanted another camaro ever since I sold mine a few years back now and I am in the same boat of being to picky about it. I think it's a good idea to get a nice car now that is newer and hopefully would have less problems than a car that is over ten years old already. There was an 06' in ames for 16k so i have a feeling you could get a little better deal than that but that's just my thoughts. You have your whole life to find the perfect car, just as well enjoy a decent one while your looking rather than dumping money into an endless pit, which is why i sold my camaro.

[MP81]

Yeah, GTOs are sweet - the LS2 6-speeds, that is...

[white96TA]

04's are junk

i would have to completely disagree, ls series engine is bulitproof, that is a very solid car. but i would wait till you find exactly what you want.

of course the newer ones are faster but they are alot more $$$$$$$$$

[MP81]

Nah, the 04s are really undesirable...

[paarman97maro]

Im just curious why you guys think the 04s are bad? Can you give me some examples on your fact/opinion?

Yeah I agree an 06 6-speed is sex on wheels. Id love me an LS2. But like previously stated, you pay a lot more for those.