Discussion
hi guys, thinking of buying an american car because i want something with character 
Got about 4-5k to spend and want something thats generally reliable and has oodles of character! Got a supra at the moment and im fed up with its blandness (is that a word??)
-oh yeh has to be comfy too
any suggestions? thought of the camaro and thats about it?!
Got about 4-5k to spend and want something thats generally reliable and has oodles of character! Got a supra at the moment and im fed up with its blandness (is that a word??) -oh yeh has to be comfy too
any suggestions? thought of the camaro and thats about it?!
Dont forget the mid '90's Mustang...great car with either a good V6 (if there is such a thing) or the V8. Might be stretching the budget for a V8 on a later model Mustang.
One like this would be good,...
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?VISuperSize...
Currently on Fleabay for £5500.....
Really depends on what you are after. Do you want a fairly modern motor or a classic....???
Look at Mustang/Camaro / Trans Am / and even the Pontiac Fiero etc...
For fun, try and get hold of a GMC Cyclone...;) or even a Buick Grand National.....shhhhh
Kevin
One like this would be good,...
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?VISuperSize...
Currently on Fleabay for £5500.....
Really depends on what you are after. Do you want a fairly modern motor or a classic....???
Look at Mustang/Camaro / Trans Am / and even the Pontiac Fiero etc...
For fun, try and get hold of a GMC Cyclone...;) or even a Buick Grand National.....shhhhh
Kevin
Edited by KevF on Friday 7th August 17:01
Edited by KevF on Friday 7th August 17:02
My first American car was a Camaro but being the V6 model it was gutless. Then had a 85` Corvette TPI, then a 95` Corvette LT1. If I had your budget I would go for an early 90`s Corvette.
www.classic-american.com
www.classic-american.com
For best bang for buck a 5.7 LT1 powered camaro or firebird IMHO. If you can stretch the budget a LS1 powered model, I think these are from 1998 on. The mustangs in your budget would be a 4.6 GT or cobra up to 1999.
Before you buy get a ride/sit in them. They are totally different and that may help you choose. Once you have got a make/model join/post on the club forum such as Mocgb.net or a chevy/pontiac one. Get advice/opinions/what to look for etc; from owners on these sites.
Will make owning a yank a much easier/better experience.
This was my old 97 Mustang Cobra. A fine, reliable car with all mod cons. I got it from a member who had it from new with history and researched what model suited me. Dont rush and buy the 1st yank you see...take your time...find out as much as poss about the model you want, it will pay dividends. Good luck & keep asking questions.
Before you buy get a ride/sit in them. They are totally different and that may help you choose. Once you have got a make/model join/post on the club forum such as Mocgb.net or a chevy/pontiac one. Get advice/opinions/what to look for etc; from owners on these sites.
Will make owning a yank a much easier/better experience.
This was my old 97 Mustang Cobra. A fine, reliable car with all mod cons. I got it from a member who had it from new with history and researched what model suited me. Dont rush and buy the 1st yank you see...take your time...find out as much as poss about the model you want, it will pay dividends. Good luck & keep asking questions.
Wow thanks for all the replies guys! the problem with the supra was that it was just lacking in any power at all..AND no character adds up for one boring drive! Think I might hold out for a v8 camaro (will be my first ever v8)
I know this is a sore subject but what kind of mpg.can I expect? The.supra is slow and only manages 22mpg avr ...wouldn't mind dipping into the high teens as long as the performance is there!
I know this is a sore subject but what kind of mpg.can I expect? The.supra is slow and only manages 22mpg avr ...wouldn't mind dipping into the high teens as long as the performance is there!
On a run I'll stick on the cruise control on the Camaro (2002 LS1 car) and let it do its own thing and its returned an average of 31.6 mpg. Round town in traffic and on and off the gas with a heavy right foot I don't want to even think of checking the consumption, but I do know it has cost me as much to drive 7 miles through town to my mums as it does to run up the coast to Bridlington on the coast 30 miles away on open road.
1998-on LS1 Camaro Z28 or Trans Am although a clean low-mileage unchavved earlier version is not necessarily a bad thing provided it's been looked after and serviced. The earlier ones come with the iron-blocked LT1 with Optispark distributor which can be problematic if not looked after. Good ones are, unfortunately, becoming harder and harder to find, since they last made them in 2002 and they either come in lower-spec US version or higher-spec Euro version (2 foglights in rear bumper).
They respond well to modding and are fairly peerless in straight-line performance and reasonably adept in the bends.
I would also suggest you look at C4 Corvettes but with a very critical eye as the interiors on early cars can be fragile. My choice would actually be a 1991 car which has the facelift curved redesign and updated interior which dispensed with the computer graphics dash. This one year retained the old 250hp L98 iron block engine with normal distributor before they changed over to the 300hp Optispark LT1. I'm not saying the optispark models are troublesome but they probably need more experience if they go wrong and your average garage will look at it in an odd way.
Don't think 250hp is inadequate either. The C4s don't weigh a lot and score about 9/10 in the fun stakes especially with a loud grumbling exhaust.
The quandary is that the earlier manual had a 4 speed with overdrive on 3rd and 4th and thatgearbox is not the best and the later six speeder is better but autos are great fun too. Luckily, the '91 got the 6 speeder.
http://www.motorera.com/corvette/1990/vet91.htm
They respond well to modding and are fairly peerless in straight-line performance and reasonably adept in the bends.
I would also suggest you look at C4 Corvettes but with a very critical eye as the interiors on early cars can be fragile. My choice would actually be a 1991 car which has the facelift curved redesign and updated interior which dispensed with the computer graphics dash. This one year retained the old 250hp L98 iron block engine with normal distributor before they changed over to the 300hp Optispark LT1. I'm not saying the optispark models are troublesome but they probably need more experience if they go wrong and your average garage will look at it in an odd way.
Don't think 250hp is inadequate either. The C4s don't weigh a lot and score about 9/10 in the fun stakes especially with a loud grumbling exhaust.
The quandary is that the earlier manual had a 4 speed with overdrive on 3rd and 4th and thatgearbox is not the best and the later six speeder is better but autos are great fun too. Luckily, the '91 got the 6 speeder.
http://www.motorera.com/corvette/1990/vet91.htm
Edited by LuS1fer on Monday 10th August 20:10
xmax said:
Wow thanks for all the replies guys! the problem with the supra was that it was just lacking in any power at all..AND no character adds up for one boring drive! Think I might hold out for a v8 camaro (will be my first ever v8)
I know this is a sore subject but what kind of mpg.can I expect? The.supra is slow and only manages 22mpg avr ...wouldn't mind dipping into the high teens as long as the performance is there!
I'll also say Camaro.I know this is a sore subject but what kind of mpg.can I expect? The.supra is slow and only manages 22mpg avr ...wouldn't mind dipping into the high teens as long as the performance is there!
3rd Gens look great and seem to be picking up money at the mo, so would be good investment.
Performance is ok from them and quite tunable.
A 4th gen LT1 (1993-1997) these are great value at the mo. Probably a little bit left to loose money wise before they level out and then start to appreciate like the 3rd gens.
These are good cars and pretty quick. 150mph+ and 0-100mph in 14 or 15 sec.
If you hunt around you might be able to get a 6 speed manual.
mpg should be ok 20-22mpg and better on a run.#
The latter 4th gens (facelift) 1998-2002 use the newer alloy LS1. These are even more powerful and faster. I've got one with an auto and it does 22-24mpg all day any day.
Think the LS1 might be slightly out of budget though.
Mustangs are nice, but for some strange reason they are pricey in the UK.
Even the last sn95 Mustang (2004) was slower than a 1993 Camaro. That said they are nice cars and few mods can really make them shift.
Other cars to consider might be something like a Thunderbird. Bigger and more luxury than a Mustang but upto 1997 are RWD.
You can get them with a V8 or as a 3.8 supercharged V6. £4k would buy a real nice tidy one.
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