[PunchT37]

Originally Posted by Chief of the 60's

LOL! Yep! Absolutely WORTHLESS

There's one down here without the t tops or door decals. I think one of 55 or so like that. New condition. Always garaged.

[unruhjonny]

In grade ten (1992/1993) my friend had a 1983 V6/auto gold(?) on tan SE;
It was no powerhouse, but it was a great car;
His dad sold it just before it became ten years old (so fall 1992)...

[Drag Star Le Mans]

This was for sale for over a year in Seattle. It was a low mile (40k?) super nice but the lowly little V-6. It was cheap also, only something like $1200? Wish I would have bought.

[Drag Star Le Mans]

Ok I was off a little on the mileage as it had 60k. Still low for an 82.

[unruhjonny]

WOW!

I'd drive that!!

[455HOGT37]

Originally Posted by unruhjonny

I know I dind't comment on my percieved value, but I'd love to (if I had a garage big enough at some point) add a minty '82 with a four speed or something like that to my stable...

Some years ago a buddy GAVE me his 82 TA 4 speed he bought new. Black, straight, no rust (California car), and it ran. A buddy pulled the engine and trans for a LUV truck and after trying to sell the roller here on PY, I ended up giving it to the local wrecking yard where it sits to this day.

[unruhjonny]

I get that these cars get no love, and build quality was crap, but in minty shape, man, ah man do I like them.

[bird72]

Originally Posted by Chief of the 60's

For some reason that picture is funny as heck, and also the best answer to the question of this thread.

[mgarblik]

The base 3rd gen cars may not be worth much, but IMO was an excellent choice by grandpa for a first car for his grandson. My daughter and her 4 passengers survived a horrific accident in an 86 F-body which was hit in the A pillar area by a late model Chevy Pick-up at a Highway Patrol estimated 50-55 MPH! Everyone walked away with minor injuries, windshield cracked but still in place. Driver door still opened. Hit so hard, the back of the engine broke the console. Front bumper cover, 300 ft. from the collision point. Very strong structure. Sorry he lost interest in it. If I remember right, I bought her car in generally good condition for $1200.00.

[Elarson]

I had an '85 Firebird V6 5-speed and loved it. The V6 had more power than the lame 305 Chevy V8 option. Handling was terrific with the lighter engine in front. I sold it with 175,000 miles and the most extensive engine repair was new spark plug wires. Most extensive repair otherwise was new front struts. If I could buy another one new, I would in a heartbeat.

Eric

[Chief of the 60's]

I LOL at those that claim the build quality was s hit. Those that make that claim obviously never owned or drove one. My '87 Formula was a very tight, well handling car with excellent fit and finish. I only had 2 complaints and 1 issue with the car. The complaints were the clearcoat on the wheels turned yellow and checked which required me to have them refinished. The other was that GM didn't put enough paint under the hood making the engine compartment appear to have overspray, not color. The 1 issue I had was that the car prematurely needed valve seals which turned out to be a common issue on the V8's and was covered by GM under a recall. Other than that, the car was stellar and is one of the many cars I miss and wish I had back.

[bluebandit]

Bought a new 84 TA. 305 w/a 5 speed. Paint didn't last a year and was repainted a couple times. 14" wheels and tires, never could get comfortable driving it hard, rear always felt funny compared to my 78. Traded it for a 90 Formula, black on black, 305 TPI 5speed, freakin night and day difference, that thing felt like it was on rails and ran well for a 305. Id like to have that one back it was really fun to drive

[camerjeff]

Originally Posted by Chief of the 60's

I LOL at those that claim the build quality was s hit. Those that make that claim obviously never owned or drove one. My '87 Formula was a very tight, well handling car with excellent fit and finish. I only had 2 complaints and 1 issue with the car. The complaints were the clearcoat on the wheels turned yellow and checked which required me to have them refinished. The other was that GM didn't put enough paint under the hood making the engine compartment appear to have overspray, not color. The 1 issue I had was that the car prematurely needed valve seals which turned out to be a common issue on the V8's and was covered by GM under a recall. Other than that, the car was stellar and is one of the many cars I miss and wish I had back.

They must have made them better by the 87 Model year, my 83 T/A 305 4-speed was probably the worst new car I ever bought, it might have just been a bad example, but the interior rattled, the windows & T-tops leaked air & water from day 1, I had the drivers seat back break when I hit a pot hole, and it got about 1/2 the MPG highway of the 79 301 4-speed formula I traded in for it.
I did like the looks of the car, but the silver paint wore off about 1 month after the warranty expired, sold it and didn't buy another new Pontiac until our 1999 Grand Prix GTX.

I am glad some people had better experiances with 3rd gens.

[Mr Anonymous]

I had an 82 Trans Am with Cease Fire Injection. One those super rare occasions that it ran correctly, it was a respectable car. Those planets rarely lined up. It was hard to work on, no fun to swap a TH350 into due to the rear torque arm, and was just generally a rattly leaky POS. I sold it to a guy that had great plans for it. Sat in his yard for 5 years. I ended up with an NOS set of mid 80s T/A wheels, only got $200 out of the whole set. I loved the 82-92 F Body cars, until I owned one and had to work on it.

[Chief of the 60's]

No F body I ever owned had T-Tops and never will. Between squeeks, creaks, leaks and the structural integrity being compromised, you couldn't give me one. Although I must admit, they are a bitch to sell without them. As far as my 31 mpg..... I normally never keep track of it on a performance vehicle until I went to a Pontiac car show in Adrian, MI with my club. In the pack of cars there were your usual GTO's and Bonnevilles and an Indy Fiero. The guy driving the Fiero was road captain and pulled off to stop for gas. I asked him if he needed gas, he said not really but knew the other cars did, so we all filled up. Now an Indy Fiero is a 4 cylinder, my Formula was a Tuned-Port Injected V8 with a 5 speed so I asked him what he was getting for mileage and he said between 33and 34mpg. I figured out my mileage and it came in at 31mpg. Man I miss that car.

[FirebirdHank]

I had an '85 IROC-Z L69 5-speed that I bought in '95. Loved it. If it had been a Pontiac or a convertible (or both) I would still have it. Very few problems. No T-tops but the top had stress cracks right where the roof and sail panel meet. I had them repaired and over time they re-appeared. Not sure how the original paint held up, it had been repainted when I bought it. Build quality seemed normal for what was coming out of Detroit at the time.

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

My 89 IROC-Z 5.7/Auto was a great car. Sort of miss it sometimes.
Bought it 10 years old from original owner with a little over 100k miles.
Didn't mind beating on it since it wasn't a sacred Pontiac.

I didn't like the looks of 3rd Gen Birds/TA's compared to the IROC's - until they changed the nose in 90 or 91 on the Birds.
I liked those.

Still no pics of grandpa's orphan 87 Bird ?
You might could sell it here

[RocktimusPryme]

Originally Posted by Baron Von Zeppelin

My 89 IROC-Z 5.7/Auto was a great car. Sort of miss it sometimes.
Bought it 10 years old from original owner with a little over 100k miles.
Didn't mind beating on it since it wasn't a sacred Pontiac.

I didn't like the looks of 3rd Gen Birds/TA's compared to the IROC's - until they changed the nose in 90 or 91 on the Birds.
I liked those.

I agree, the third gen years, especially like 85 to 92 are the only years where I feel the Camaro is a clear styling winner over the Firebird. I also like the early 70s big mouth Camaros but at best they are a tie.

I owned an 86 IROC. Loved it, but it was always broke because I was trying to go fast on an 18 year olds budget, which rarely works out. Technically I still own it. I had a family member sell it for parts while I was out of town without the title. I was basically told if I pressed charges the family would not be happy with me.

Everybody has a scumbag uncle right?

[Mcronk]

Bought a brand new 1983 Camaro Z28 because i could not find a TA in color I liked. It was a dealer demo and was black with silver and orange striping and grey velour interior. Went for test drive and when I hit throttle hard hood flaps opened up. I did not know they were functional. It also had the cross fire dual throttle body which I think was the same motor the Corvette got. Car was gorgeous and for the year or so I owned it was flawless. Bank messed up my mortgage loan and I had to sell because my debt ratio was to high. Went to closing and found out they did not include my wife's income. I was pissed. Needless to say that bank folded because they were so bad. My wife drove it home off the lot and had never had a decent car before. She loved it.

[unruhjonny]

This is probably worth sharing here: