1997 Z28 Camaro Convertible, or 2002 Monte Carlo SS? - opinions please?
Ok so basically; my grandfather is offering to sell his Monte Carlo for $7,000.
I can sell either sell my camaro to get that, or just keep my camaro. The monte carlo has 6,000 miles on it (he never drove it hard, and bought it new), and my camaro has 100,000 miles. I've had my camaro for a year, and only have minor problems with it.
Camaro
pros
- Convertible Top (i'm 18 so it matters)
- Great Power/handling (300 hp)
- Better looking exterior than the monte IMO (red paint, beige top)
cons
- Top will need to be replaced soon ($700)
- Absolutely horrible on snow (which should be expected), it can slide on 1/4 inch of snow
- Can only take the top down for four to five months until it gets cold again.
Monte Carlo
pros
- FWD, so it'd be great for winter
- Amazing interior. All black, with black leather seats. Exterior is black too.
- Heated seats (<3)
- Slightly better MPG
- Basically, a new car.
cons
- Exterior looks mediocre. With ugly rims (would get new ones)
- V6 (200hp).. Zippy, but doesn't have the power my camaro does
Any help would be appreciated!
Comments
Many years from now you'll have fond memories of the Camaro, if you choose the Monte it'll be just another boring transportation device you owned at one time.
Get a set of rims and aggressive snow tires for the Z, and dare to put the top down at odd times of year.
Camaro all the way. The "SS" on the Monte Carlo stands for "sleepy senior"! Just because you stick SS on the side of a car, does not make it "Super" or Sporty"! Front engine, rear drive is the way to go for a really fun car. Want boring, get the Monte Carlo! The last "good" Montes' were the 87 "G" body Front engine/rear drive cars! Do not get me wrong, the 2002 Monte Carlo is a good enough car, it is just NEVER going to be a great performance car, the front engine /front drive kills it! Your Camaro, at least has potential!
Keep the Camaro. You can always buy a crate motor small block up to around 400 horse, whereas the Monte Carlo is probably a 4 door car for Grandma and Grandpa. The Camaro will only go up in value but the Monte Carlo will drop steadily.
Camaro
Keep the Camaro, spend the $700 on BF Goodrich KDWS tires and solve your sliding problem.
The S stands for snow.
Duct tape baby, all winter long, in the summer it wont matter.
Whine enough and grampa may let you make payments.
your 18 you got to stick with the z28. That v6 is nothing more than a grandmas car. Plus you got the convertable
Please vote best answer
well for you the monte carlo sounds better.. for someone like me i would definately have the camaro.. however if $7,000 is what you can get for your vehicle.. i would say get a job.. save up 3-5k and buy a used Subaru Impreza WRX.. i'll give you the security of all wheel drive in the snow.. they look great.. and they are very quick
Oh, Gawd, man. You are truly in the land of pain and sadness. The faces of passion and practicality staring you down. There's nothing worse in the world with facing the inadequacies of one's ride as its compared to the easy acquisition of a "sensible" alternative.
In short, I feel your pain.
Hopefully I'll talk you back from the edge, because I was you once. I had a 79 Camaro, and was always told to sacrifice at the altar of practicality - for all the time it was "lousy in snow", and "not what you should be driving". I drove it to the very ground, through the snow and years. And now, with a family of 5, I added a killer 95 convertible, and an 80 Z28 resto project - all not appropriate for a "family guy".
But I got to the point where I found a place to park all those cars.
Keep the Camaro. It's likely your first true sports car - keeping it, repairing it when it needs it, and carrying it forward to the days when you're older is truly a mission, and a 97 Convertible Z28 is a worthy keeper. Then, get yourself a beater "daily driver", and put the mileage on that.
The monte is a great car, but compared to the latest, its not worthy of sacrificing your convertible. Your gramps is a good man for offering it to you - but maybe if you talk to him about your vision and passion for the Z; maybe he'll cut you some slack and work with you.
I'd truly hate to see a young guy lose out a great car.
the camaro all the way. dont fall for the front drive being better in winter crap.
Keep the Camaro. You already have the more fun car. Everyone I know who's ever gotten/owned a Monte Carlo went in expecting a fun ride but quickly realized that it's nothing more than a boring sedan with some sheet metal that makes it pretend to be sporty. As long as you keep it maintained it should last until you're ready to buy a new car after college (or whatever time frame).
It comes down to which one you care about more. If apperance and performance matter, keep the Camaro. If future reliability and winter handling matter, go with the Monte Carlo, as long as you have the 8K to spend (you said you'd get new rims so thats the extra 1000).