1980 trans am or 99-04 mustang?!?!?

Question

I have a 1980 trans am pace car right now, and there are some things wrong with it and I would like to restore it, but it just takes too much work, time, and money. For the same money to fix up my car, I could just get a 99-04 mustang. I've been thinking about this for months. What should I do?!?!

Answer 1

Go for the Mustang, let someone else have the hassle of fixing the Pontiac :)

Answer 2

Ultimately, this will be an emotional decision if you choose to restore the T/A. I myself have a '78 Chevy pickup that's been in the family since new that is awaiting my restoration.

But the Trans-Am and Mustang comparison is an apples-and-oranges one, because to do it correctly you'll need to park the T/A. You can't do a proper resto and hope to drive it at the same time. So, if you go that route, figure on buying another cheaper car to drive while you're doing the restoration.
If you're thinking of doing the restoration, you need to ask yourself some questions:

Do you have the ability to do all the needed work? (Welding, bodywork, painting, engine rebuilding? Do you have the space? Restorations take a lot of room; I have a 24x30 shop/garage and would say it's merely adequate for tearing a vehicle apart and doing a frame-up restoration.

Or, if farming out the work, have you or the shop(s) included all necessary work and parts? You can easily get into more money when you tear into the bodywork and find more rust than you thought you had, as an example. Or, you go to redo the engine and find you need a new head or a bad crank journal.
The little things can quickly add up, too, if the car is not complete. There are not that many later model second-generation T/As running around.

Insurance would be an issue; agreed coverage (get it appraised) is available from specialty hobby insurers, but many require that the vehicle be garaged and they specify how many miles it can be driven each year. Having adequate coverage for a completely restored, daily driven classic might be tough. You don't want some uninsured driver hitting your car into which you have sunken $20,000 and only be offered a few hundred bucks for it.

The advantages to driving a restored T/A would be that it is unique; how many nice examples of the old 'birds do you see around these days, or even at many car shows? On the other hand, those 'stangs are everywhere.

The advantage to the 'stang is it is easier to insure, you could make payments on it (although you can pay as you go with most restoration shops or do it in stages), and the fuel economy is better than any older T/A could hope to match. probably even with a fuel injection and overdrive tranny retrofit. I'll bet the Mustang is more comfortable, quieter, and actually easier to get it worked on at a shop these days. The T/A would be simpler for you to work on yourself, though.

Costs will be easier to estimate for the newer Mustang. Even if you had the bad luck of buying someone else's thrashed example or get a lemon, I would say this is true. Many shops won't (and can't) estimate bodywork on an older car very accurately since they don't know how much rust they'll encounter. The little things add up, too, so even if you do a comprehensive list of all needed work and parts, figure on at least a 10-15% cost overrun. My guess is the cost to have a very-good quality (as in, 90 percent perfect) restoration would exceed that of a clean, average-or-low-mileage example of a Mustang.
So, do some soul-searching and ask yourself what your long-term plans are. In five years, will you be kicking yourself because you let the T/A go away? Or will you be glad that you saved yourself the blood, sweat, and tears that go into rebuilding a car from the ground up?

Answer 3

If you want to sell the T/A Cheap email me.....

T/A might be Cool but GT Mustang parts are easier to get...

I would stay with the 2002 2003 2004 models if you can afford them. Unless you find a GT from 99 to 01 thats already got some models done. Like Headers, exhaust, Cool air intake, SuperCharger? something....

MOst Pace Car's were 301 Turbo's and just plain gut less...
If you keep it Stuff a 455 HO or SD under the hood...

Happy Hunting....

Answer 4

Okay, I am assuming the body and interior is okay. Here goes. If you live in a state where you dont have to have a pipe test during your annual inspection, BUILD the PONTIAC,,,,Here's why,,,,HORSEPOWER = SPEED = embarassing a mustang. In Texas once a car reaches 25 yrs of age, the pipe test is dropped. then you can REALLY build power in the engine. If you live in Cali,,,,go with the stang, just because of the costs to keep the car emissions legal. You can buy a 400HP engine from Summit Racing and put in this vehicle and have a KICK Butt time

Answer 5

I had a 1979 firebird vey similar to the trans and ive had a 2003 mustang gt, resoring is a pain and hard work, you'll get more bang for your buck with the pony prob only 8-15000 gs to pick one up now depending on year

Answer 6

pace car could probably buy the stang allready -i just got this weird feeling the the bottom is fixing to drop out of the mustang market again -and the old ta is only got get worth more i personally know of 5 mustangs that are gonna turn into camaro's in late 08-market wil be flooded with used stangs so their value will be bad

Answer 7

surely. the dazzling thing approximately procuring a base mustang is you do no longer would desire to apply the GT hood. you ought to use a Steeda, Carbon Fiber or something you pick. Fog Lamps, Spoilers and different products all will in high quality condition on the backside bodies. the three.8s are gaining in acceptance and extra velocity kit is turning out to be obtainable. Subframe connetors, suspension mods and you're able to have one candy experience; easy and nimble. procuring a GT kinda locks you in on that seem -- enhancing them isn't something it is completed. you're able to have a blast with the backside Mustang. alter, drill holes, replace, do it lower back. Your motor vehicle will in uncomplicated terms get extra useful.

Answer 8

In the age of $3 gas, a 1980's resto-wreck might not be in your best financial interest. Simple formula:

investment needed > the actual value of the car x the inefficient fuel systems of the early 80's = a potential financial drain to anyone not naimed Trump, Hilton, Spears, or Richie.

Answer 9

keep the trans am, a better car, more character, more style, and if I see one more Mustang of that body on the road Im going to shoot my self. Pluse GM is WAY better than F***ked Over Rebuilt Dodge.

Answer 10

Having the GM initials tattooed on my butt...lol...kidding....I'd stick with the Trans Am...Mustangs are like cel phones...every body has 1.