The Camaro Club (UK)

Hi all!!! I need some advice as I really am struggling with a decision. I have owned yanks on and off for most of my life until my daughter was born 15yr ago. My finances have been stretched for years and finally, I am now in a position to take a risk and buy another. I managed to bag a great loan to buy my dream and i'm trying to be sensible and not allow my heart to rule my head.

I have found a gorgeous looking Camaro 3.8 V6 RS in silver only an hours drive from where I am. I went to look at the car yesterday but was quite dismayed when the guy told me its been laid up for a year to find when I looked at the properties of the photo online ( yes typical IT geek!! to find the photo was taken in 2011. Alarm bells ringing, i did a vehicle check to find that the car has been laid up since 2011!

As the car has been stood so long, although he is putting a full MOT on it and 4 new tyres, am I taking a risk buying it with it been stood? I haven't heard it running yet either as he said it drove to an auction and back but never sold and he parked it up on his forecourt with a for sale sign on with the other yanks he has but went to start it a few weeks later and it wouldn't fire. He's working on it and assures me it'll be up and running within the next week or so but my heads going to explode, do I keep looking or go for it?

It has taken me 10 yrs to convince the mrs to agree to another and I have got into debt to buy it, if I buy a car and it end up unreliable as I would like to use it as a daily driver, I know the wife will end up hating it and me for getting in to debt for a bag of crap and i'll be stuck with a £5000 debt for 5yr and a car I cant afford to throw money at as we are living on a show string at the moment.

Truthfully, I love this car! Its possibly the best looking Camaro I have seen and I really want it but am I doing the right thing. The guy has been in the American car business for years and according to my trusty pal he's a trustworthy guy but I don't know him. Can anyone advise please?

Difficult, but here is my advice for the little it is worth.

1. Sometimes it is good for your heart to rule your head - but only you can judge if it is worth it
2. Buying any second hand car especially a classic is a risk, just need to be pragmatic about it to minimise that risk
3. I wouldn't buy the car without full MOT and hearing it running. Not only do you want to hear it running but you need to test drive it too - who knows where else there might be problems
4. Secure the car with a SMALL deposit if you really have to, on proviso that it passed MOT and drives to expectations

If the guy isn't willing to work with you on the above then keep looking, there will be another car, and getting another wife will no doubt be a lot more expensive! !

My input, in adition to Oddball above,:

I'd say 5k sounds a lot for any V6 Gen 4 car, they sell for nearer to 3k or less. (there's a silver year 2000 5.7 V8 on EBAY at the moment for £4750)
If it hasn't run for 5 years, it's have a few issues from not running, cars like to be used, so many things could be a future issue.
Unless he's going to warranty it, which if he's trading a dealer he legally has to, I wouldn't even think about it, so best to clarify.

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“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.”

Thanks guys! I have found a gorgeous Camaro elsewhere and i'm not going to touch the other, as nice as it looks its far too much of a risk. I pick up the car later this week... I'm like a daft kid! I'll post pics when I get it

Thank you both for your advice