So here'* the story. And no I'm not car shopping again.

My family has had this car for years – probably close to 10 years now. My brother drives it now. It'* a 1990 Firebird Bandit II (Limited Edition of course). It'* #45 out of 600 total ever made, with 80,000 miles. It runs fine (though my brother has done some stupid things with it), but the typical old GM paint is oxidized in many spots, the hood decal is looking rough, and it has a powerless 3.1 V6.

My brother is looking at trading it or selling it to get another car. He said he wants something reliable. His biggest complaints about the F-bird are that it needs struts bad, and he doesn't have money to spend on replacing them or anything else that may need fixing. He also says he only gets 17 mpg with mostly highway miles (he probably drives too fast).

IMO it'* a RARE car and I don't know if I'd trade it unless I got something so sweet that I wouldn't care. I don't really know if the 1990 Bandits go for a lot of money or ever will, but it'* so unique I think I would keep it (even though it doesn't have the V8 ).

The good news is that he has apparently paid attention to me since owning Bonnevilles for 6 years, and may get a 3800-powered car. He'* looking at a silver '04 Impala LS with 41K miles, cloth, no sunroof, for $11,900. The dealership only offered him $1500 for the trade. I think that is incredibly low.

I told him that he'll get great gas mileage with the Impala and he'll have very good power with potential for more. I mentioned the UIM problem, but I could change it for him while teaching him how to work on the 3800 (he doesn''t even change his own oil). I think it would be cool if he got it as I can help him out with it (though he lives in NY), but the F-bird is rare, though it needs work.

What would you do if you were in his spot? Here'* the link to his autotrader ad:

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...r_id=60851969&

Get more for the car, or get him to spend 11k on an LS1 swap with mods...

Keep the Firebird. I can never understand it when people say they can't afford to spend $500 to fix something wrong with a $3k car, so they instead go and spend five times as much on a different car.

yea, iwould have him keep it, or keep it in the family at least. because that thing could be worth some money some day. then buy a slightly less expensive car to compensate the cost of keeping it.

I like it actually!!!!

Beat some sense into him and make him buy a Bonne

me too! i would buy it if i had the cash

Hell, I would buy it if I had the cash and do a motor swap!

I have told him he should get a Bonneville. Maybe I should try and do more convincing.

I agree with Grimm though, he'* not paying a car payment right now and he doesn't have money for struts, yet he'll get the Impala and have a $280/mo. car payment (just guessing, could be $250 or less).

The thing that he likes about the Impala is that it comes with a 100,000 mile warranty. That way he won't (shouldn't) have to worry about repairs.

I can see why he'd want something that got better gas mileage, because if he'* throwing in $45 for a full tank after just 250 miles he'* wasting money. But I told him that his 3.1 should get MUCH better gas mileage than that, and he needs a tune-up.

I bought the 04 Sebring because I wanted something that was rust-free, reliable, and had a good warranty so I wouldn't have to drop $800 for struts or other repairs due to an old car. I was paying a much higher car payment and was making crap for income, but I could afford it and the car WAS reliable.

I think the Impala would be a great car, but if I were him I have a feeling I'd regret trading in an ultra-rare car for a very common Impala.

Put the money into the old car and save for another later.

Here'* a idea, tell him to keep the Firebird and buy your old SSEi, it'* already reliable! and no payments!