2002 Camaro?

[JMD68RSSS]

I am thinking of selling my 68 Camaro and getting a 2002 SS 35th Anniversary Camaro. I have taken mine as far as can and want something I can drive more.

My question is, for those with an '02, are they reliable? Have you had any problems. I know the LS1 is, but I had a 1996 that was plagued with electrical/computer problems.

Any advice is appreciated.

[2ndgenhunter]

The 99-02 are alot better than the 93-97. I have a few of the 99-02s they are great cars. I drive a 99 T/A almost everyday. Its very reliable and it built up to 410 rwhp and still gets 24 mpg. HEHE. I have a 99 SS that has 197k miles on it and the only thing that I ever did to it was power window motors and clutch.
SutleZ28 on here has a very nice Z28 for sale at a good price with mileage in the 30's. Check it out in the for sale section.

Good luck!

[Steve1968LS2]

They are good.. Nick just got a 2001 Z28 with 109k miles.. runs great and with the right parts can really handle well.

[CamaroAJ]

i used an '02 SS as a doner car on the '67 i built and it never had a problem. just picked up an '01 SS for my new project car.

[mpozzi]

Agree with the others and aside from a sorta sticky driver's side power window motor, no other problems.

Mary Pozzi

[rockytopper]

Don't do it. Buy the power train out of one and put it in your 68 and drive the doors off of it.

[Off Duty]

I had a 2000 Z28 convertible until just recently.

Lowered it, put315x17's on the back with ZR1 wheels, added a larger diameter sway bars (Suspension Technologies), some BMR goodies and shocks, and ran the piss out of it until I sold it.

It was my DD for a while and it had 130k+ on the clock and still ran lilke a top.

The biggest problems with the 99-02's (00-01 I think were most prevelent) aside from the power window motors already noted, were the rear mains.

If it hasn't, it will end up leaking!

Also, in the 4th gens, remember the motor sits further back under the cowling. Conventional superchargers (Whipple, etc) won't fit without surgery.

Mine was fast as heck right off the used car lot....lot of fun to be had

[Ackattack]

I've had 3 LS1 F-bodies and never had any serious problems with any of them.

The last one I had was a 98 with 103k miles on it, I bought it cheap and had to fix the AIR system check valve to get rid of a check engine light. Ran great.

[srh3trinity]

I had a Y2K and miss it everyday. The only issue I ever had was with the rear end. My window motors were starting to fizzle out before I traded it. I have heard that Ford Mustang window motors were a good replacement option, but don't quote me on that.

[68 SuperRam]

My brother just sold his 2000 Z28 for less than $10K - like 34k miles on it - commuter car for schoole- had vette style wheels and Bear brakes - loved it - but was hard to use for work everyday now - only compliant I can remember was noisy going over bumps in the rear.

[MrQuick]

If you can pick it up for cheap Jeff do it. See if you can afford to have both.

Im still waiting for that black 2002 M6 WS6 to enter my cross hairs. I have a 1998 and I love it.

Vince

[graluc]

Have you looked at the GTO's? I've had a few f bodies and hands down some of the best performance for the money. But man they suck as daily drivers. No trunk room, hard to climb in and out of, and drag over every bump in the road. I lucked into an 04 GTO a couple of months ago and it's a great car. More refined, reminds me more of a BMW than a GM car. Very comfortable, quiet, more room and more accessible. Still pretty damn fast and handles like a dream. They are a little harder to find, but the prices are getting very reasonable.

[JMD68RSSS]

Thanks for all the advice guys. I have listed my for sale locally and will be looking to pick up an 00-02 once I have cash in hand.

[Rod]

I am thinking of selling my 68 Camaro and getting a 2002 SS 35th Anniversary Camaro. I have taken mine as far as can and want something I can drive more.

WHAT???

Don't do it. Buy the power train out of one and put it in your 68 and drive the doors off of it.

I agree with rocky!

If you can pick it up for cheap Jeff do it. See if you can afford to have both. Vince

and there is the best answer!!! keep the 68 and get the other one as a daily! there not that expensive that you have to sell off a 1st Gen?

[2ndgenhunter]

Try to get a 01-02. They have the Z06 LS6 bottom end. All you'll need to add is the 243 heads, Z06 cam,Z06 intake and tune and you're ready for fun. These part can be picked up fairly cheap. I got my Z06 intake with a P&P trottle body for 250.00. Just have to look around a lil. Good Luck !

[PhillipM]

I had one for years. I absolutely hated getting in and out of it. The doors are way too long. Buy maybe i'm nit picking.

[SatisTraction]

well the value of the 1st gen is going up and the value of the 4th is going down. sounds like a poor investment plan

[Off Duty]

Having had the 69 Camaro and a 2000 Z28 (see my earlier post), I have to agree with the others. Keep the 68.

If you want the extral power and such, change drivetrains.

Everyone is correct when they say they're difficult to get out of. In is easy. You fall in. Out, quite the other story. Not as bad as a Vette, but still a PITA, especially if it's lowered as mine was.

Rattle?

Yep. Everytime I went over a speed bump or heavy crack in the road, it sounded like it was coming apart in the rear! Never could find the source!

Trunk space?
I didn't have aproblem with that and I had the convertible.

It's no Cadi, but certainly sufficient for a weekend trip out of town and a DD.

I've packed for a week on the road and still had pretty decent room. Just depends on how you pack. There's always the back seat (pretty useless for anything other than t a child anyway, so why not?)

I'd keep the 68 myself

[2ndgenhunter]

well the value of the 1st gen is going up and the value of the 4th is going down. sounds like a poor investment plan

IMO, If you look at this hobby just from the investment side... It takes all the fun out of it. Buy/Build what ever you want and drive the living hell out of it.

He didn't ask if it was a good investment. The OP asked if the car was reliable. They are very reliable and fun.

[trapin]

Try to get a 01-02. They have the Z06 LS6 bottom end. All you'll need to add is the 243 heads, Z06 cam,Z06 intake and tune and you're ready for fun. These part can be picked up fairly cheap. I got my Z06 intake with a P&P trottle body for 250.00. Just have to look around a lil. Good Luck !

Not all of them will have the LS6 block (which really there's no difference other than a main journal window on the LS6 block). I think only the cars towards the end of the production run had them along with the LS6 intake, if I'm not mistaken.