I spend my days either doing basic and mundane taskings around the house, researching and writing stories to keep the bosses happy, or I’m busy running around the house trying to control two clawed furballs that have no grasp whatsoever of the word “no”. When I’m not sleeping or keeping the cats from swinging from the chandelier, my mind is automotive 24/7. It’s scary.
One of the things I found myself thinking about was a situation I found myself in at the beginning of 2004. At that point in time, I was a young soldier in the Army, stuck with the worst vehicle I have ever owned to this day, a 1999 Chevrolet Blazer 3-door. I had chosen the truck since it was a respectable size, had decent options, and was a price that was responsible compared to my paycheck. What I didn’t anticipate was seventeen warranty visits over the course of 2003. Name the malady, it happened. So when I took the truck to the dealership to have the brakes checked for pulsation, it came as absolutely no surprise that the freaking spindles were in pieces. By the sheer grace of luck and nothing more, the tech who was working on my Blazer was a guy I had helped out at the dragstrip a couple of weeks prior. He patched the Blazer back together with enough JB weld to patch the Titanic and hinted that I should trade the truck in, like now. I don’t have to be told twice.
After perusing the car lot for the better part of the afternoon, the choices had been narrowed down to two vehicles: a 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 5.9, and a 2000 Chevrolet Camaro SS in black. The ONLY reason I didn’t get the Camaro that night was due to an insurance quote. No joke, I was quoted $860/month to insure that car, at the age of 20. There’s high, and there’s absolute insanity. The salesman put the woman on speakerphone and had her repeat the quote. You should’ve seen the faces…
Back then, I would have done awful, unspeakable things to have that Camaro, or a hot Firebird. Keep in mind, this is 2003. The GTO hasn’t been mentioned yet. We were just getting over the shock of having 300 horsepower pony cars again. The Camaro SS, Pontiac Firehawk and Mustang Cobra were the end-game. After that it was Dodge Viper. So to find a Camaro, in black with red trim, without T-tops and with the six speed…I was in heaven.
Except hindsight is 20/20. I’ve driven a fourth-gen F-car since then. Plasticky, uncomfortable and there is no room for my huge frame. I will say that if all you care about is the horsepower, to jump on one, because that’s probably the cheapest way I know to get a good dose from GM before tuning. But everything else about the car is a turnoff. And that’s a shame, because I like the way they look, the handling is impressive, and as for a V8 and the way that car delivers power…you feel it. Yes, it’s only 300-320hp, but the Camaro and Firebird communicate to the driver. But there is no way I’d own one.
What about you? There has to be one car that has all of the appeal in the world to you, yet there’s a snowball’s chance in Hell of one actually appearing in your driveway. Let us know below what it is and why.
I gotta agree with you on 4th-gen F-bodies. Not a fan of the Camaro’s styling but the Trans Ams sure look mean. I wasn’t impressed with the plasticky interior though and the ergonomics are near non-existent. It’s makes zero sense that my 6’3″, 220lb ass fits better in my Miata than my friend’s 2000 Firebird.
My ’02 Z-28 was the only thing that kept me sane when I used to commute 70 miles daily, even in rush hour traffic. I loved rowing the 6 speed, and it sounded GREAT. Heck, it even went pretty good in the snow (unless you needed to get up a steep hill…). Were there things I thought could have been better about it, sure, but it went like stink and NEVER left me stranded. Overall one of the favorite cars I’ve ever owned.
ok mines a bit weird…I very nearly made a snap decision to buy a Purvis Eureka…you might want to google that…..I think they may have been called something else in the states. Basically its a VW based kit car but no doors – the entire roof goes up on 4 gas struts and they look all sporty n shit…anyway, it was on a car yard, 3 grand and looked good – screw it, I’ll buy it I thought. only problem was I’m 6 foot 3 ” ….I sat in it to take it for a test drive, the guy goes to shut the roof which goes straight down – it gets to a few inches away from latching and hits me on the head. Sensing a sale that looked certain but now was in doubt, the salesman nearly broke my friggin neck trying to force the roof down!!
Oh, and heres another one – a big ol Plymouth station wagon, late 50’s, no idea what model ( I was 16, with my parents, looking for my first ` good ‘ car ) – so we went for a test drive, and in Australia at traffic lights they have a turn lane designed for Aussie cars, not bloody huge wagons – so I go to turn into it and the salesman freaks out and goes no! you cant turn here, it wont fit!! He then proceeded to give us a short list of the few roads it would actually fit down so I had to pass…..
I know its a bit off base but I learned to drive stick in an old Toyota pickup and when i found myself working at a Toyota dealership at one point I was considering something new and could get a good deal on a new Tacoma, but that’s where the pleasantry ended I was very disappointed in the new truck and nothing felt like what the older more clapped out one did. I cant say much to the idea of comfort though I am a Jeep owner and been one forever so in most peoples eyes i wouldn’t know comfort if someone told me what it was
I got a fat signing bonus when I joined in 2008, but I also got a bunch of extra pays for my MOS, so like any responsible 19 year old with $14K (more money than I’d ever had) I bought a 2002 Trans Am WS6 Navy Blue Metallic with the Camel Interior Six Speed, T-Tops. It was my dream car and it was bitchin. I put a full SLP exhaust Longtubes and everything it was loud and I loved it. It was completely impractical but that didn’t stop me from driving it everyday. The Speed mixed with that LS exhaust note was intoxicating. But then all the 4th Gen F-Body problems happened at once about 2 years later. So I did everything I could to sneak all the problems past a dealer when I traded it in for my truck. I miss that car. I break my neck every time I see one going down the road. I named it Jean Claude Trans Damn….. I want another one.
“But then all the 4th Gen F-Body problems happened at once about 2 years later”
What are the 4th Gen. problems ?
I am thinking about buying a 4th Gen body car, what should I be looking for ?
Thank you in advance.
Overall, the cars have a good rep, just watch out for used and abused V8 models. My issues stem from me being large-by-huge and not being able to tolerate over 30 minutes driving one before I need a chiropractor and ice for my knees.
Bryan I understand your issue with the 4th Gen.
My question is what are the typical 4th Gen issue’s that Taylor Phillips is referring to when he say’s “But then all the 4th Gen F-Body problems happened at once about 2 years later”
What are the 4th Gen. problems ?
I am thinking about buying a 4th Gen body car, what should I be looking for ?
Thank you in advance.
A lot of my problems are specific to the standard transmission cars. The T56 in stock form while great transmission in other forms in other applications has internals made of chinese pot metal in the F-Body cars. Your door panels and dash will crack and the T-Top seals will most likely start leaking. The 10 Bolt rear end isn’t very strong and mine started leaking fluid down the axle shafts and it was getting on my rear brake discs. The LS1 can start getting blow-by and burning oil but a lot of the time a simple Catch Can will help alleviate that. It happened really hast for me when one day the low oil light came on so I topped it off but 3 days later it did it again. I thought maybe the sensor was bad, but it wasn’t it was a quart low again. And just like that I was burning a quart a week. All this including the transmission being on its final leg happened within a month and half or so. Still with all that said I would buy another one
Brian, you are unhinged. Everything is a compromise. I’ll chalk it up to your youth and poor memory. I still have my 1994 Formula. It’s got 225,000mi on the original long-block (save for camshaft, timing chain, rockers) that hasn’t been out of the car. Yes, we went through some transmission rebuilds, but that was mostly my fault and that of the transmission shop that did the first rebuild. That car took my wife and I on our honeymoon out west (grand canyon and back) was my daily-driver for over 10 years, served as a bracket racer, competed in SCCA Solo II, and did the occasional burnout contest. It hauled a 7ft Christmas tree home once, regularly carried all my tools and race tires, and could scale the huge hills where we live with about 4″ of snow on them. It was and is a do-it-all car. the seats are quite comfortable, but it is not the easiest car for ingress/egress if you are over 6ft/200lbs like me. The car took a serious pounding under my right foot on a daily basis and asked for more. It won me autox trophies, ran high-12s, and with the T-tops out was the most awesome road car. It sits in the shop waiting for my attention. There’s been talk of selling it, but I am not sure I can turn the car out to pasture after all its done for us as a family. I knew going into it what to expect and I got all that and more. It’s a modern-day muscle car with compromises. the only thing I would have ever traded it for would have been a M3 which would be cost-prohibitive and strictly for the ride and handling.
Here’s the truth, something I didn’t actually address: I can deal with a lot of the plastic. The absolute deal-killer for a 4th Gen F-Car is it’s livability. For short blasts of fun, it’s fine. But if I have to be in the car longer than 30 minutes, there’s no way. Part of that is due to knees that have both been injured.
Brian….I hear ya, but its all in what you can tolerate. VA tells me I have two bad knees. One has already had work and the other needs it. Both shoulders are messed up with three surgeries between them and one needs it again. I feel your pain…, but its not the car’s fault. You just sit more comfortably in something else. Plastic…? Dude almost anything is anymore. We pay way too much for flimsy garbage or stuff that looks/fits better but is still garbage. And…I got issue with your Blazer rant too. My ’97 4dr 4wd has 220,000 miles on it and is still kicking. Like anything, it needs some TLC now and then, but I beat the snot out of it and it comes back for more.
Had a 1995 Lt1 6 spd loved it. Tons of fun, wrung 367 rwhp out of it thru top end build, then some kid made a left turn in front of me and totaled it. Collected 35000 from suing his insurance Co. banked 15000 and built a 73c10 big block th400 street/strip. Much happier now, screw smog checks.
i owned a 96′ stang in that wild orchid colour..car was amazing for speed and such..but i’m 6’2″ and it was the most cramped uncomfortable car i’ve ever been in..and no matter how i adjusted the seat and wheel..at no time was i able to drive that car without experiencing pain after a short while..luckily i still had my 94′ 6.6 thunderbird i had purchased new which fit like a glove.so sold the stang and just poured the cash into making the thunderbird a street terror..lol
4.6..this page needs an edit button o.O
I had an ’01 WS6 for about four years a while back and miss it every day. Best car I’ve ever owned by a lot.
a very well documented (on bangshift) 2006 Pontiac GTO – what an unmitigated and complete and utter piece of sh**
I had a 96 Z28 and think of that car everyday I wake up. I miss it so much. Its also the most comfortable late model I’ve ownen (and I’m 6’5″!). It had so much more room that my 03 Mustang GT and way better seats.
Maybe I’m just weird…