Thinking about buying a truck, would you?

[Finkledbody]

I just bought a 2001 z28 camaro and I'm loving it. 344hp/350tq 12.01@112 in the quarter but shes just a real nice ride. T-tops, monsoon stereo, z06 corvette rims. But now thats shes put away for the winter I'm wanting something else new. Something new for the winter time. Right now I drive my 98 Pontiac Firebird with the 6 banger around during the winter. I'm going on my 4th winter with this car and its starting to show signs of those 3 previous winters. Shes starting to rust on the rear quarter panels and paints chipping every where. She was a florida car before me bringing it to maine in mint condition with no rust. It hurts seeing her in ths condition even though I remember everything and why shed looks the way she does.

Well I'm thinking about spending about 8-10k dollars on a new truck now to prolong the life of the body of the firebird. Basically in the long run, I would like to make my v6 firebird into a 408 v8 monster to turn into a drag car. She currently has 115k miles with alot of life left in her. Shes runs perfect and is relatively mint aside from the rust and paint chipping. All that I can take care of myself.

My 01 z28 is in storage til april or may (depends when it starts raining to get the salt off the streets) and I plan on keeping it my show/street car.

Well like I was saying about the long run. The firebird I would love to make into a drag car. Stock v6 looking f-body with a swaped out v8 ready to kill. Almost like a sleeper but has a sexy body ;)

So the question is. Would you buy the truck to prolong the body of the firebird now to make it a nice drag car or just keep using it as a DD/winter beater? Wait and Restore the firebird piecing the parts together and do the v8 swap in 2011 with the extra 8-10k on the project? Then using my 91 ford escort wagon as a winter beater instead of the firebird. Or get the truck and park the firebird for 2 or 3 years in the garage and then eventually get to the modifications to make her a drag car?

PS. Escort does AWEFUL in the snow. Worse than the firebird.

What would you do? :rock:

[stevethepirate]

Re: Thinking about buying a truck, would you?

Honestly, the firebird isn't worth ****. High miles- inevitable issues. Rust.... not even worth it. I would drive the **** out of it and just find another drag car if you really want one.

[flamingchicken]

Re: Thinking about buying a truck, would you?

^x's 2, they really arent worth that much being a v6, and high miles...

[ssms5411]

Re: Thinking about buying a truck, would you?

I would get rid of it since you have a LS1 running great times. I will pick up a truck this next year probably a 00' GMC 5.3 since I have the Hptuners lic. for it already and not too expensive around $5000-6000 right now in great shape, so I hope they go down to around just $5000 this next year since they will be 10 years old.

[StrtRacer98]

Re: Thinking about buying a truck, would you?

Buy a fuggin s10, I picked up a 2001 extended cab v6 2wd s10 with 110k miles on it for $700, use it for whatever I dont want to use my other vehicles for, plus it was a deal I couldnt pass up.
Not in bad shape either, needed some maintenance, brakes- wheel bearings- radio didnt work, but that's it....


Why spend 8-10k on a truck just cuz your trying to keep your fbird's body in better shape.

[sac2165]

Re: Thinking about buying a truck, would you?

A truck would be the most practical second vehicle you could get.

If you've got bad winters, I would also look into getting a 4x4.

[Finkledbody]

Re: Thinking about buying a truck, would you?

Honestly, the firebird isn't worth ****. High miles- inevitable issues. Rust.... not even worth it. I would drive the **** out of it and just find another drag car if you really want one.

Good point.

^x's 2, they really arent worth that much being a v6, and high miles...

The worth of the vehicle to most is nothing. But to me I love that firebird more now than the day I bought it. Its worth it to me to keep it and mod the crap out of it. If i wrecked it on the strip. It wouldn't be to bad for me cause I've already used this car day in and day out for 3 years. The current condition shes in is perfect to turn into a drag car.

I would get rid of it since you have a LS1 running great times. I will pick up a truck this next year probably a 00' GMC 5.3 since I have the Hptuners lic. for it already and not too expensive around $5000-6000 right now in great shape, so I hope they go down to around just $5000 this next year since they will be 10 years old.

The camaro is a really nice car, but if I wrecked it going down the drag strip. It would be DEVASTATING to me. Insurance doesn't cover for that. Even if I didn't wreck it, The car beside me could lose it and hit me.

Buy a fuggin s10, I picked up a 2001 extended cab v6 2wd s10 with 110k miles on it for $700, use it for whatever I dont want to use my other vehicles for, plus it was a deal I couldnt pass up.
Not in bad shape either, needed some maintenance, brakes- wheel bearings- radio didnt work, but that's it....

Why spend 8-10k on a truck just cuz your trying to keep your fbird's body in better shape.

I need a truck for Maine winters. I also need a v8 to tow my boat and could use a large bed to work on my paintball field. So a s10 is not the way to go for me. But spending less is probably the right idea. Everytime I get a new vehicle I find myself spending that much because I hate cheap vehicles cause I hate doing repairs. I HATE doing repairs :) But like smss said, I could get a half way decent truck for $4-6k and it still be a full size V8 4X4 truck.

A truck would be the most practical second vehicle you could get.

If you've got bad winters, I would also look into getting a 4x4.

4X4 FTW!!

Thank you everyone for your replies.

[cam98aro]

Re: Thinking about buying a truck, would you?

115k is high mileage for a 3.8l?

seriously, most members on this forum have over 120k on their cars, so most people here drive piece of **** cars, and we should all beat them to hell?

[Opontee]

Re: Thinking about buying a truck, would you?

115k isn't high mileage at all. HIgh mileage doesn't start until around 200k.

http://forum.camarov6.com/showthread.php?t=98750

And it's only a 3.4. Guess it's tome to change the oil again.

[StrtRacer98]

Re: Thinking about buying a truck, would you?

I bought this, 00' chevy silverado 2500, 6.0L 120k miles, 4x4, 6" suspension lift and 35" tires brand new, for $4,000.

[ssms5411]

Re: Thinking about buying a truck, would you?

I bought this, 00' chevy silverado 2500, 6.0L 120k miles, 4x4, 6" suspension lift and 35" tires brand new, for $4,000.

B@stard theres my truck(have it shipped already I'll paypal you $5000) LOL, I'll have one next year, either black or deep blue.

[StrtRacer98]

Re: Thinking about buying a truck, would you?

I bought it, now my buddy drives it and makes monthy payments to me cuz his credit is bad, and he cant get a loan...

[VF1Skullangel]

Re: Thinking about buying a truck, would you?

How the **** is 115k high miles?

Most cars are just breaking in 150k id say its pretty much a used car but thats it.

I could understand 215k or even 315k but not no 115k.:banana:

[stevethepirate]

Re: Thinking about buying a truck, would you?

The only reason I said 115,000 is high miles is that *most* people looking to buy a used car look for under 60,000 miles. What I mean by this is not us... I'm talking about the regular people (not enthusiasts) who have one car. They buy a used car to skip the depreciation of a new car. 115,000 is not high when looking at the life of a car, but rather in the marketability or liquid value of a car.


If you truly do intend on converting it into a drag car, good luck.

I would personally garage it so as to avoid unpredictable costs. The longer it sees snow/salt, the more it rusts. You know that window you love to roll down? Yeah... the motors ****ing dead and you need to replace it. All of this is money that you will have to spend when you get to modding it fully. If you got a [cheap] truck, it would PROBABLY have less issues, and you wouldn't have to worry about random surface rust or whatever. Its just worth it to get the firebird protected if you plan on having it be in prime condition at a later point in time.


Just my .02