Opinions please....

[SonofaBish]

I'm kinda struggling with what to do with my recent predicament - since i know several of the people on here, thought i'd see what your opinions were...

2.5 years ago I was unfortunately forced to sell my Twin Turbo Trans Am .... 1.5 years ago I was fortunate enough to purchase my current C5 Corvette... However, I may have the opportunity to buy back my TA... but i can't have both.....

What do you guys think?

The TA was brutally powerful and the most fun in a straight line i've ever had.... but, the 'Vette is plenty fast in its own right, and an overall awesome car... not to mention, saying its a headturner is a major understatement....

My current plans are to have the 'Vette repainted soon.... and i really have no complaints about it... so i'm leaning toward keeping the 'Vette... i just can't resist the opportunity to at least CONSIDER the trade...

Any thoughts are appreciated....

*as a side note - i've polled a lot of people, and its literally split half and half... seems like if you're the "performance or nothing" type, you choose the T/A, and everyone else choses the 'Vette....

[97LaserRed]

Tough call. I would say t/a just because I know what it's like. Why not twin turbo the vette?

[SonofaBish]

Tough call. I would say t/a just because I know what it's like. Why not twin turbo the vette?
$$$
not enough of it

[venom]

Tough call. The TA was a badass car for sure. I'd imagine that the TA would require more tuning/tinkering/messing around than the corvette. I see the corvette as a get in and drive it -type car....which is still fast. I'm to the point now where I want to just get in and drive. I LOVED my 99 hardtop vette.

Freshly painted vette > TA

[Mitternacht]

Corvette. I wish I would of never got rid of my 89.

[Mater]

Depends on how the T/A was treated since u sold it!

[Seer]

I look at it this way. Re-buying a performance car is like getting back together with an ex girlfriend after she's been around the block a few times.

[SonofaBish]

Depends on how the T/A was treated since u sold it!
i think it was treated pretty good....

Same car i sold, except it now has an eboost2, some BC Smootie II's, and he replaced dual Walboro fuel pumps wiht a single Aeromotive

[venom]

I look at it this way. Re-buying a performance car is like getting back together with an ex girlfriend after she's been around the block a few times.

Those ones are the fun ones!!! Maybe not the long-term types, but wheeeew....fun

:bananabang:

[Terminated]

I saw the T/A go together firsthand (in some capacity), and I would say if you can get it back to go for it. It is something that's one of a kind to how you wanted it to be, but you can't swing a dead cat without hitting a C5 Vette.


Those ones are the fun ones!!! Maybe not the long-term types, but wheeeew....fun

:bananabang:

Amen to that.

[jaa55]

T/A for sure..............or youll just kick yourself in the ass when you see it get sold again.

[SonofaBish]

That's another very valid point... and one that i've completely fogotten about... They will always make Corvettes... its the flagship of teh GM brand, and they will always make them as long as they are in business... (ha, no comments please)

The trans am is done... and i beleive its done for good.... esepcially as an F-body.... the new camaro's aren't f-bodies... and when the new GTO's came out, they aren't the old GTO... aseome LSx cars, but still not the a part of the original blood line...

In 10 or 15 more years, it may be a bit of a collector car... it won't be one with 10K miels on it, but it'll still be a sought-after car, because they are the best T/A's ever made, and they're the last of a generation...... the last of the f-bodies...

Just throws another wrench into the decision

[bgblockelcamino]

thought you daily the vette? not sure what you would do in that situation. the TA is badass for sure but not sure if it fits your current needs. i tell people you can't daily drive a turbo car. as they seem to have a lot of bugs that need worked out and repaired frequently.

[SonofaBish]

thought you daily the vette? not sure what you would do in that situation. the TA is badass for sure but not sure if it fits your current needs. i tell people you can't daily drive a turbo car. as they seem to have a lot of bugs that need worked out and repaired frequently.
nah, i ride the bus daily...

i do drive it a lot though..... that's probably been my biggest concern with the T/A.... my wife drives our Lexus to work/school/whatever.... so if i come home, and she's at work, and i have somewhere to be, i drive the 'Vette... no questions asked.... and, i don't know that i'd have such a convenient relationship with teh T/A..

all of this is why i'm so torn.... Truthfully, I can afford both, but i don't have the garage space, nor am i daring enough to take that on... getting started building my house this summer for sure, so i can't be stupid.. its one or the other

[Stangman701]

nah, i ride the bus daily...

i do drive it a lot though..... that's probably been my biggest concern with the T/A.... my wife drives our Lexus to work/school/whatever.... so if i come home, and she's at work, and i have somewhere to be, i drive the 'Vette... no questions asked.... and, i don't know that i'd have such a convenient relationship with teh T/A..

all of this is why i'm so torn.... Truthfully, I can afford both, but i don't have the garage space, nor am i daring enough to take that on... getting started building my house this summer for sure, so i can't be stupid.. its one or the other

You're welcome to store one in my garage. I'll have some extra room once I get the new house. :pinkthumb:

[SonofaBish]

You're welcome to store one in my garage. I'll have some extra room once I get the new house. :pinkthumb:
haha... much appreciated, but like i said - i'm not going overkill... no need for both, and strapping myself whilst getting into a new house would be the dumbest thing ever... not even a consideration....

i know what your opinion on the matter is!! lol

[SonofaBish]

thought you daily the vette? not sure what you would do in that situation. the TA is badass for sure but not sure if it fits your current needs. i tell people you can't daily drive a turbo car. as they seem to have a lot of bugs that need worked out and repaired frequently.
as an example, i put 5K miles on the 'vette last year... i would suspect it would be about the same this year...

once i get into my new house, and get a beater to drive to the bus stop, that amount might even go down....

what kind of things do you think could come about?? I didnt' own it long enough last time to ever have any issues

[WHITEY7886]

Thier isin't anything like your first car, however I would stay with the vette. I would try to find a cheap T/A and build it on the side. Once you have time and money.

[Steve-0]

Trans am all the way. Like others have said, the corvette is bad ass, but you can always go get one later. Not so true with the trans am, plus you never really got to enjoy the car you put so much of your time and money into. If you can pick it up now, I would get it and never look back.:goodidea:

[Mark Aubele]

I look at it this way. Re-buying a performance car is like getting back together with an ex girlfriend after she's been around the block a few times.

So the first few rides will be incredible, then it will pretty much suck after that? :hyper:

[Cam99]

Id pick up the ta. Its alot more special of a build than the vette. Can always get another c5, they are only getting cheaper.

[RedCandyCoyote]

never seen either one but from what ive read sounds like the trans am sounds way more special and more fun

[u1arunit]

Pics of the TA Bish!! :needpics:

[SonofaBish]

Here's what it looked like with the 16" chrome wheels... the new owner put a set of 18" Boyd Coddington Smoothie II's on it, which will really spruce up the look in the wheels department... it will look a lot better with the new wheels, but it was the ultimate sleeper with the old ones

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e143/sonofabish2124/BrentsCar004.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e143/sonofabish2124/BrentsCar017.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e143/sonofabish2124/BrentsCar019.jpg

This is before i put the new hood on it, but gives you an idea of what the intercooler looks like peeking out behind the front bumper cover
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e143/sonofabish2124/BrentsCar002.jpg

[RedCandyCoyote]

after seeing the pics I really love the trans am...and they are dying out while the vettes just keep reproducing...trans am got my vote

[SonofaBish]

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e143/sonofabish2124/Shared/IMG_0270.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v683/Jaycoop/100_1972.jpg

[SonofaBish]

I think i'd rather go with the TA... but i've gotta get rid of teh corvette first... so we'll see - i'm at the mercy of the "buying public"

[street591]

I would think about a few things before I decided....

How many miles on the motor and body of each?

Whats the paint like on the T/A?



I dont know how much you could get out of your vette or how much the t/a is going for but I would take the 3 grand or so you saved to get the vette painted and put it into the t/a. If theres certain aspects of the vette you liked then use some of that money for the t/a. I.E. if you liked the seats in the vette, treat the t/a to some race seats etc. etc.

Hope that makes some sense anyways....plus I see probably 4 c5s daily but a TT trans am....NEVER!!!! :thumbsup:

The t/a looks in better condition inside also, no offense!

[412mustangz]

Trans Am! I agree with the others about the T/A being more rare and they are simply just badass looking especially with the ram air hood. IMO vettes are just blah, i bet there fast and fun to drive but theres not alot to look at in the exterior department, they all look the same..

[PaxtonShelby]

I look at it this way. Re-buying a performance car is like getting back together with an ex girlfriend after she's been around the block a few times.

Yeah - but if she's been hitting the gym and got some new boobies...

[ModularMike]

T/A because it gives me a boner.

[cwh19]

T/A because it gives me a boner.

amen

[SonofaBish]

Well, in my FS ad i stated the mileage on the motor adn body of the vette

TA has 81K miles on the body, and less than 10K on the engine/turbos/etc, etc

[SonofaBish]

Someone has to buy the vette first - and i'm not desperate to sell, so i'm not going to take some low-ball offer.... if its meant to work out, someone will find a bada$$ car in the vette, and i can get back into my old car... if not, i won't be dissapointed

[SonofaBish]

The t/a looks in better condition inside also, no offense!

I JUST posted interior pics in vette, so ? Eh, either way, they're both in great condition inside... the vette's only downside is that it has all the wiring and hoses under the rear carpet for the nitrous... and that the rear carpet has 2 cuts in it for the roll-cage...

[Killercanary]

I say keep the vette, but I am a little biased now. :)

[street591]

I JUST posted interior pics in vette, so ? Eh, either way, they're both in great condition inside... the vette's only downside is that it has all the wiring and hoses under the rear carpet for the nitrous... and that the rear carpet has 2 cuts in it for the roll-cage...


I remember seeing the pics you posted when you first got it?

But leather wise I meant the t/a seemed a little nicer and plump. Just my .02. No hard feelings here......both are super nice cars.

[SonofaBish]

I remember seeing the pics you posted when you first got it?

But leather wise I meant the t/a seemed a little nicer and plump. Just my .02. No hard feelings here......both are super nice cars.
no worries... T/A's leather has less wrinkles in the leather... that's likely because of how the seats were made... the 'Vette's leather has a much softer feel, and its also a "seat skin"... you can replace the seat covers with fresh ones without buying new seats..... T/A's leather is firmer, not as quality feeling (particularly new) and obviously the seat is the seat... can't easily replace the covering...

I have a few very interested parties in the 'vette... hopefully we can make it happen

[scott5]

really? you really have to ask? COME ON!

[SonofaBish]

welp - i got an offer on the 'Vette yesterday - and got the deposit last night.....

Also made a deal on the T/A... so, she's coming back to Pgh!! Just don't know when... lol.... 'vette should be gone on Sunday, but who knows how long their bank check will take to clear... being that a cashier's check is guaranteed money, if they will let it clear right away, i'll go get the car early next week... If they make me wait, then i'll go pretty much as soon as it has cleared... i get a feeling they're going to make me wait

[Stroked03Cobra]

Sounds like you made the decision that I would have. Congrats on everything and hope all transactions are smooth! Be sure to post some pics!

[89stang]

Congrats. I wish I had a chance to get back a couple of cars I sold. Glad you are getting yours back!

[RedCandyCoyote]

congrats man! i wanna check that thing out some time!

[Mater]

Congrats

[scott5]

congrats stud.. Why no text of the great news!

[John4cam]

Awesome man. Great news, I know how much you missed that car.

[SonofaBish]

congrats stud.. Why no text of the great news!
I'm not counting my chickens before they hatch... gotta make sure i got the money in my hand before anything is certain!

[u1arunit]

Just remember Brent that ANY check, be it personal, bank draft, teller, cashiers, or certified can be cancelled(stop payment). Not many people know this. I was informed this by my bank's manager. So of they REALLY want to stop payment, even though it costs a hefty fee in some cases, they can do that.

So.. make darn sure the check has cleared before signing over the title!

[SonofaBish]

Thanks for the heads up Mark... i would have normally just gone ahead an just swapped the title for a bank/cashier's check... but because of your comment, i did some looking, and spent all morning covering my bases and talkign with hers and my bank... (its a woman and her boyfriend buying it).... I think we're in good shape.....

I knew you got smarter when you went from a Ford to a GM! :yes:

[SonofaBish]

Welp, the new owners just picked up the 'Vette... i'll go to Scranton to get my T/A at some point this week... just have to wait for a nice day... luckily its going to be nice late in the week! :D

[Donstang86]

Late to the show but I would definitely keep the Vette. The Vette will always be a Vette and worth more that the T/A. As you grow older you will have the best of both world. Styling and performance. I know the T/A has that also but again, it's not a VETTE!

[SonofaBish]

Late to the show but I would definitely keep the Vette. The Vette will always be a Vette and worth more that the T/A. As you grow older you will have the best of both world. Styling and performance. I know the T/A has that also but again, it's not a VETTE!
Welp, i had a lot of reasons for making my decision... but one of them was definitely that C6 vettes are coming way down in price (particularly the early years '05-'06) and in a couple years i know that we will pick up another one... that was our plan anyhow, whether or not we kept ours....

[bluenotch]

pics of your new car! ???

[SonofaBish]

pics of your new car! ???
I will post some when i get it... It looks like i'll be going this week to get it - likely on Wednesday, as that's one of the cheaper days to fly out there... and it looks liek the weather will be nice on both sides of the state

[ModularMike]

bump

[bluenotch]

yeah I wanna see this beast!

[SonofaBish]

she's sittin in the garage, but gotta get some work...

got 3 good days out of her, and the clutch started to slip.... so, i have the new clutch and flywheel here waiting, just have to find the time...

However, on day 3 i did get to put a big whooping on a new GT-R :)

I'd also like to get rid of the 3.08 gears that are in it and swap them out for something the the 3.5x to 3.7x range... i always liked them before, but i'm less and less of a fan everytime i drive the car....

AND..... i bought a house a week ago, so the next month or two is going to be very crazy getting moved in and everything cleaned and painted, etc.... not a lot of tiem for the car

[scott5]

Anytime you need help bish you got my number. I havent put any miles on the bike or the TA so they need to be out and driven haha

[SonofaBish]

Anytime you need help bish you got my number. I havent put any miles on the bike or the TA so they need to be out and driven haha
ever put a clutch in a LS1 f-body?

[97LaserRed]

I'm so glad you got it back!! If I were you i would get 3.5x any more will be too much. You need Somthing smaller for those turbos to spool!

[bluenotch]

oh I see. I hate moveing hah. well good luck with your news house hope everything goes as planned

[SonofaBish]

oh I see. I hate moveing hah. well good luck with your news house hope everything goes as planned
Thanks... i'm hoping it goes fine... the better it goes, the sooner i can get the car out and make it to some late-summer meets...

[SonofaBish]

I'm so glad you got it back!! If I were you i would get 3.5x any more will be too much. You need Somthing smaller for those turbos to spool!
yea, that was the reason i wanted the 3.08's... originally i wanted a 3.23, but for a GM 12 bolt with a 4 series scarrier, it was either 3.52 or 3.08, and for some crazy reason i chose the 3.08... i'm hoping that over the winter i can get new gears installed

[Stangman701]

yea, that was the reason i wanted the 3.08's... originally i wanted a 3.23, but for a GM 12 bolt with a 4 series scarrier, it was either 3.52 or 3.08, and for some crazy reason i chose the 3.08... i'm hoping that over the winter i can get new gears installed

Wow, there's no option in between 3.08 and 3.52? I definitely wouldn't go higher than 3.52 because it might cause you to shift into 5th if you ever take it to the track. Not sure what your shift points are, but 6000 RPM in 4th with the tires you have now would be 132 MPH. I'd imagine that car will trap a little higher than that. 6500 would be 142 though so that would probably be ok.

[SonofaBish]

Wow, there's no option in between 3.08 and 3.52? I definitely wouldn't go higher than 3.52 because it might cause you to shift into 5th if you ever take it to the track. Not sure what your shift points are, but 6000 RPM in 4th with the tires you have now would be 132 MPH. I'd imagine that car will trap a little higher than that. 6500 would be 142 though so that would probably be ok.
Yea, at the time i got the gears, that was all that was available, and i think that's still the case.... If i had a 3 series carrier in the car, then i'd have had the 3.23 option, but not with the 4 series...

(i might have the series' mixed up, but i do know that i can't what i wanted)... 3.52 would def. be the route i go... and it would also make the car a lot easier to drive... the 3.08's are a PITA when pulling out with a clutch that is made to hold so much power

[SonofaBish]

and as far as shift points go, i think i could def'n go to 6500 rpms... from my old dyno sheets, the car made peak TQ at 4500 rpms but still had 600 ft.lbs at 6K rpms... Peak HP was at about 5800 rpms, but still made 620rwhp at 6500rpms, so i think it could def'n shift there... that's pretty much right where Nate would let off on the dyno as well...

the cam in the car really isn't made to make power at super high rpms, so beyond 6500 would only find diminshing returns