Hi everybody,
I am considering buying a '99 Camaro SS.
It's a six speed car, and had the high performance exhaust installed by SLP.
It's a T-Top car. I would prefer a Coupe, but they're very hard to find.
I have not yet seen the car in person, it's about 3 1/2 hours away.

To those that own a 4th generation Camaro.....
What areas of concern should I look for ?
The mileage is kinda high (86k) but it has been garage kept.
Drivetrain ? (posi in particular ?)
Electronics ? (I know electric windows are a bad area)
Leaks ? (where to check ?)

I appreaciate any help you can give me.

Thanks

Markr

What's the price on the car? The main thing I would look for is what condition the clutch is in. Power window switches get worn out and break but they're cheap to replace. Passenger door power window seems to go out on these cars like you mentioned.

He's asking a bit more than it's worth....12.5K
But it appears to be in excellent condition and the combination I am looking for (except I'd rather not have T-Tops)

Thanks for the head up on the clutch.
What's aprox. replacement cost w/ labor ?

Is is the window switches that go bad or the regulators (motors) ?

Talk to the owner about the cars performance, track trips and street races... Use the feedback you get to try to figure out how the car has been used or if it has been abused. If the car's been raced much there is a good chance the rear end is not in the best of shape. There was a 20 something age group that bought these cars new and drove them hard (you will find an abundance of cars and parts at the salvage yard) right off the showroom floor. Dealers were doing warrantee work on rear ends like crazy until they figured out these guys were all racing their Z28's and SS' and stopped covering them.

Also ask about oil usage, the LS1 is prone to a little piston slap when cold and stick shift cars left in 2nd when driven a lot at around town speeds seemed to use oil. There was a big web presents on this problem and that is what it boiled down to in the end I believe. Dealers had a test where they sealed the crankcase and sent you on your way and had you come back in every x amount of miles to verify oil usage. I want to say a change in ring design resolved both slap and oil issues. I never heard of anyone having the dealer actually replace the rings though.

Sparkplugs are said to be an 8 hr job to change 1hr for cyl's 1-7 and 7hrs for cyl 8. I've heard stories of removing the Y pipe to get to #8, having a lift is said to be a bonus. Good thing is you don't change plugs very often in the modern cars...

You will love driving the car although your passanger may not care for the bump in the floor. Keeping it at or below 70mph on the hwy you'll get about 25mpg. I have heard others claim as high as 27mpg, my LT1 A4 '96 SS always got 24-25 on the hwy...

Is is the window switches that go bad or the regulators (motors) ?

Both the switches and the power motors go bad on these cars. The motor is an easy replacement if you get filled in on how but without shared knowledge you could go nuts figuring it out...

Both the switches and the power motors go bad on these cars. The motor is an easy replacement if you get filled in on how but without shared knowledge you could go nuts figuring it out...

Duly Noted !
I WILL ask for help here if it becomes an issue.


I do have some background on the car.
The original owner was an older guy in the military. He garage kept the car and performed all the proper maintenance. He sold the car with 70k miles to the second owner (now seller). The second owner is a foreign gentlemen who bought the car because "It was his dream car". He has owned it for 2 1/2 years. It is his weekend car. His primary vehicle is a Suburban. He, like the 1st owner, has garage kept the car the entire time he has owned it. He only takes it out and drives it on the weekends. He sounds like a car hobbyist. He really loves the car. The reason he is selling the car is his family is now moving to the states, he is engaged, and he now needs a "more practical" second vehicle. Oh...and his girlfreind doesn't like the clutch. Ahhh...too bad :D

Here's a couple of pics...

bump

$12.5K is way too high for a 99SS with 86K. I just sold my 99 SS Convertible with LS6 heads, cam, long tube headers, stainless exhaust and all stock parts for $13,000. Personally, I would hold out for a 2001 or 2002. They did away with EGR for those years, which cleans up the engine bay and those cars dyno the highest, by about 10-15 HP at the wheels. The 01-02 cars also had the LS6 intake manifold stock.

The rear axle is fine as long as you don't put on slicks, then watch out. Like others have said, the power windows are a joke and will probably go out at some point.

For that car, I'd offer no more that $9500 with miles that high. Use the "completed items" search on ebay to get an idea of what they are going for.

I owned mine for 3 years and they have awesome engines, the T56 trans is great and they do handle well.

Yeah, that price is high. I have my 96 SS for sale right now and it's a hardtop but not a 6 speed and I have 87K miles and looking to get around $8K. If you're going to spend the extra money make sure the car is exactly what you want.

Kelley Blue Book puts it at around $6500 in 100% excellent condition, fully loaded. That's non-SS trim.

A Z28 with SS trim and 86000 miles, loaded in excellent condition is around $10,000.
Edmunds puts it at about $9800.

Good point on the EGR. I didn't know that.

NADA shows this car's Average Retail w/ T-Tops and Leather at $12,100.
I still think that's high, but try to find a nice clean one for less than that around here. I guess the 4th gens are starting to appreciate ?

If anyone has a NICE '01-'02 6 spd, leather in good shape they want to sell, PM me.
I'll pay you well for it.

That's average retail.
The quotes from KBB and Edmunds are 'private party sales', which is what you're doing.
The car is worth whatever you're willing to pay for it. :)

I just got $10K for my '96 SS with 72K miles on it. Checking for Camaros around here using (SF Bay area) on www.craigslist.com Here's a search on "Camaro SS" http://www.craigslist.com/cgi-bin/search?areaID=1&subAreaID=0&query=camaro+ss&catAbbreviation=car&minAsk=min&maxAsk=max&addTwo=

Asking prices are all over the place, '98 Z28 with 90K miles for $9K and '00 SS with 50K miles for $16K.

With these cars it's all about condition, condition, condition... I wouldn't let the ERG be the deciding factor if your budget can't afford the best '01 or '02 you can find. You would be better off with a well cared for '98 than a lower priced '01 that has been road hard and put away wet...

I just got $10K for my '96 SS with 72K miles on it. Checking for Camaros around here using (SF Bay area) on www.craigslist.com Here's a search on "Camaro SS" http://www.craigslist.com/cgi-bin/search?areaID=1&subAreaID=0&query=camaro+ss&catAbbreviation=car&minAsk=min&maxAsk=max&addTwo=

Asking prices are all over the place, '98 Z28 with 90K miles for $9K and '00 SS with 50K miles for $16K.

With these cars it's all about condition, condition, condition... I wouldn't let the ERG be the deciding factor if your budget can't afford the best '01 or '02 you can find. You would be better off with a well cared for '98 than a lower priced '01 that has been road hard and put away wet...

That's what I'm thinking.
I still think the price is a bit high, but not too high.
Condition is my #1 consideration. A worn out, ragged SS is not an option.
I would be willing to pay more for a decent '01-'02, but can't seem to find one with the options I want that's not listed for a rediculous price. Apparently people listing these for $25-30K must think the collectibility is already WAY up on these cars. Uh......no.

So, IF the condition, maintenance etc. are up to par, would you be concerned about it having 86k miles, and using it as a daily driver ?

Oh...forgot to mention......

This car has been equipped (by SLP) with:

1) The LoudMouth exhaust system with dual tips.
2) The Eibach Spring and Bilstein shock package.
3) SLP Airbox Lid.

This totals over $1000 in upgrades.