Firebird

[CAP1]

Only issue is that I'm going to college in california most likely, and gas is 4.50 a gallon most places down there. If my wallet could stand that.... well, if it could stand that, it could also take the insurance.

 a v6 firechicken isn't gonna be much better. if you're worried about gas, go with a camry or an accord.

[Tank-Ace]

a v6 firechicken isn't gonna be much better. if you're worried about gas, go with a camry or an accord.

I know gas won't be great in the firebird..... but it just looks so sleek! I could care less about the horsepower, as long as it didn't feel super sluggish, I'd still take it with a V4.

[Butcher]

I know my advice wouldn't be welcome, but I drove a Ford Ranger through out high school and College, paid $2000 for it in 1999 You can buy whatever vehicle you want, but I wouldn't go over V6 and spend more then 5k, problem with sports cars is this - I had a chance to buy a 1985 Iroc-Z for $2000, problem was it was a V-8, and my insurance was $100 a month where my ranger never topped $40 a month.

More money you spend on a slick car, means less money other places. At least you are buying a used car and not an idiot and buying one and having payments.

Oh along with a house I bought, my father made me put aside all the money I WOULD of spent on insurance for the Iroc-Z plus $100 a month in gas into a savings account. He said tap into it when you are about ready to buy a vehicle. Currently looking at buying a 2013 Toyota Tacoma 4 door, I have close to 18k saved up after 12 years.

Whenever things settle down ill have my new truck =) As for my Ranger, it just popped 120k miles, 99 Sport - not a scratch on it (V4).

[eagl]

more than likely you're making a bad choice for a first car. they suck bad weather.

Umm.  Depends on how stupid the driver is.  I drove my 98 trans-am in ALL types of weather and never had a single problem.  In fact, the one time I got stupid in a snowstorm, the car actually saved my butt.  I had the traction control option and when the car entered a spin at 55mph (midnight, snowing, tried to pass a slow truck and hit some ice), the traction control had the car straightened out before I could even THINK "oh crap".  I never relied on it to save me but the one time I needed it, the TCS totally paid for itself in less than one second.

F-bodies '94 -'02 are only dangerous if the driver is BOTH untalented AND stupid.  Drive them with respect and put decent tires on them, and they drive just fine even in light snow.

As for the OP, why not just get an insurance quote?  They're free.  If they insist on a VIN number for an exact quote, just use any VIN number from the same make/model/trim version that you are interested in.  Also, I recommend going for a '98 or newer version.  If you get a decent insurance quote, consider the V8 as well.  Drive it cautiously and take a driving course to learn what to do if you get too happy on the throttle, and it'll be a great daily driver.

My '98 Trans-Am got 30mpg on the freeway and was still putting out 50hp more than advertised spec after 11 years and 140,000 miles.  So don't be afraid of the f-body cars.  Get the V6 if you need to save a bit of money but I still recommend trying for a '98 or newer model if possible.

And the traction control (TCS) was worth its weight in gold.  Highly recommended, but it's only available '98 and newer.

[CAP1]

I know gas won't be great in the firebird..... but it just looks so sleek! I could care less about the horsepower, as long as it didn't feel super sluggish, I'd still take it with a V4.

 you would be thoroughly shocked at the capabilities of the 4 banger accords and camrys. they'll run forever, get excellent fuel mileage, move those cars out decently for only being 4 bangers, and they don't honestly look half bad either.

[CAP1]

Umm.  Depends on how stupid the driver is.  I drove my 98 trans-am in ALL types of weather and never had a single problem.  In fact, the one time I got stupid in a snowstorm, the car actually saved my butt.  I had the traction control option and when the car entered a spin at 55mph (midnight, snowing, tried to pass a slow truck and hit some ice), the traction control had the car straightened out before I could even THINK "oh crap".  I never relied on it to save me but the one time I needed it, the TCS totally paid for itself in less than one second.

F-bodies '94 -'02 are only dangerous if the driver is BOTH untalented AND stupid.  Drive them with respect and put decent tires on them, and they drive just fine even in light snow.

As for the OP, why not just get an insurance quote?  They're free.  If they insist on a VIN number for an exact quote, just use any VIN number from the same make/model/trim version that you are interested in.  Also, I recommend going for a '98 or newer version.  If you get a decent insurance quote, consider the V8 as well.  Drive it cautiously and take a driving course to learn what to do if you get too happy on the throttle, and it'll be a great daily driver.

My '98 Trans-Am got 30mpg on the freeway and was still putting out 50hp more than advertised spec after 11 years and 140,000 miles.  So don't be afraid of the f-body cars.  Get the V6 if you need to save a bit of money but I still recommend trying for a '98 or newer model if possible.

And the traction control (TCS) was worth its weight in gold.  Highly recommended, but it's only available '98 and newer.

 he's a kid. we all were at one time. remember what it was like?  some of us still are. in a firebird, it doesn't matter v6 or 8.....someone's gonna try to race him. sooner or later, he's gonna give in and run. if he has the kind of luck i have, he'll get nabbed on his first time, and that'll be it for him.

 i like to pride myself on being able to drive anything in nearly anything. back in the 90's, the snowstorms we had here in nj, i could drive the ud rollback, and the superduty wheel lift easily. my chevy 2wd pickup kind of ok with tire chains.....my mustang with much effort....took a friends 85 firebird out......the thing made the mustang feel easy.it was the worst vehicle to this day that i've ever driven in bad weather.

[MarineUS]

My friend (22) pays $130 for full coverage on his.

[eagl]

took a friends 85 firebird out......the thing made the mustang feel easy.it was the worst vehicle to this day that i've ever driven in bad weather.

There was a world of difference between pre and post-1994 f-bodies, and the update in 1998 to the much lighter aluminum LS1 was another big change for the better.  Also, I found that having good all-season tires made a huge difference.  My firebird was nearly undriveable on even a light dusting of snow when wearing aggressive rain/summer tires, but it was nearly care-free driving in a couple of inches of snow when wearing decent all-season tires.  I took it up to vail with decent all-season tires and didn't get stuck once even though the roads were ALL covered with packed snow with ice patches.

[Butcher]

My friend (22) pays $130 for full coverage on his.

Damn that's cheap...... maybe just florida for me, I only pay $50 for basic "please don't hit me or hope I don't hit you" insurance per month.

[JOACH1M]

I'm looking at getting a car. One of the ones I have my eye on in particular is a '95 Firebird with the V6 engine as my first car, but...... I don't want to get hit with insurance too bad.



Anyone happen to know if nationwide would consider this a sports car?

V6? 

[JOACH1M]

My 'new' 2006 crown Vic Police package with PLPD insurance is about 300 a year for it, and my
Truck is about 1200 full coverage.

[FBDragon]

Damn that's cheap...... maybe just florida for me, I only pay $50 for basic "please don't hit me or hope I don't hit you" insurance per month.

I know what you mean, lol I pay 48 per month for "basic" insurance here in Cocoa Beach on my 93 T/A, and I'm 48 lol!!!

[CAP1]

i pay more than any of you guys mentioned.....but i'm insuring 3 vehicles, one of which has full coverage.....and i live in prnj

[minke]

Well I was looking to get an 08/09 Mitsubishi evo 10 in a few months. With 20 years of no claims its still a shade over £2400 annually for me.

[Tank-Ace]

V6? 

Still puts out a nice 200hp. Like I said, I'm not interested in it for the performance so much as for the styling.