# Walk away from a 2001 Pontiac Firebird with a history? **URL:** \ **Category:** Buying/Selling\ **Tags:** pontiac, firebird\ **Created:** [June 15, 2018, 4:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/walk-away-from-a-2001-pontiac-firebird-with-a-history/119249 "2018-06-15T04:50:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Vince11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Vince11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Vince11)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 4:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/walk-away-from-a-2001-pontiac-firebird-with-a-history/119249/1 "2018-06-15T04:50:13Z")
I’m looking to buy this car but it has a rebuilt Ls1 engine because he blew a rod through side of engine. Is the car reliable and will it have more problems in the future or should I walk away? thank you ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 9:30am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/walk-away-from-a-2001-pontiac-firebird-with-a-history/119249/2 "2018-06-15T09:30:40Z")
Some engine rebuilders produce engines that are equal to, or better than factory motors, some rebuilts are junk. But, if the prior owner blew a rod there is the possibility the car was either abused or did not have proper maintenance performed. But I do see it as a positive the seller is being honest about the engine. If you want this generation Firebird/Camaro do some internet shopping, who knows what you may find. ---
**Author:** ![ledhed75](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f6c823/32.png) [@ledhed75](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ledhed75)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 12:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/walk-away-from-a-2001-pontiac-firebird-with-a-history/119249/3 "2018-06-15T12:54:35Z")
If you have doubts… take it to a mechanic for a pre-purchase inspection. If the seller won’t let you take it for an inspection… that’s a red flag on its own. Walk away from the deal at that point. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 1:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/walk-away-from-a-2001-pontiac-firebird-with-a-history/119249/4 "2018-06-15T13:33:56Z")
Even if you don’t have doubts, take it to a pre purchase inspection. There’s no way of knowing the quality of the rebuild, the quality of the install, or the condition of the rest of the car over the internet. You need to get expert eyeballs on the car to discover that stuff. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 1:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/walk-away-from-a-2001-pontiac-firebird-with-a-history/119249/5 "2018-06-15T13:39:41Z")
I nominate the reply by Mr. Shadowfax above for all posts asking ( should I buy this vehicle ) . Why someone expects an accurate assessment of a vehicle that can’t be seen or driven is beyond me. ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 1:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/walk-away-from-a-2001-pontiac-firebird-with-a-history/119249/6 "2018-06-15T13:40:27Z")
We can at least tell someone looking at a used Yugo to walk away from the deal. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 3:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/walk-away-from-a-2001-pontiac-firebird-with-a-history/119249/7 "2018-06-15T15:08:56Z")
Yes to the above. The fact that a car like a 17 year old Firebird has a replacement engine isn’t an automatic no-go in my book. But nothing more can be said without an inspection by an expert. ---
**Author:** ![eddo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/eddo/32/2594_2.png) [@eddo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/eddo)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 3:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/walk-away-from-a-2001-pontiac-firebird-with-a-history/119249/8 "2018-06-15T15:35:38Z")
walk? or run?? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 3:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/walk-away-from-a-2001-pontiac-firebird-with-a-history/119249/9 "2018-06-15T15:37:51Z")
Doesn’t matter. Not like the Yugo driver will catch you either way. ---
**Author:** ![eddo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/eddo/32/2594_2.png) [@eddo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/eddo)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 3:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/walk-away-from-a-2001-pontiac-firebird-with-a-history/119249/10 "2018-06-15T15:38:52Z")
I dunno. I’ve seen some European bodybuilders that could probably push a Yugo faster than I can run… 😁😁 ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 3:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/walk-away-from-a-2001-pontiac-firebird-with-a-history/119249/11 "2018-06-15T15:39:28Z")
Customer: Can I get a gas cap for a Yugo? Counter guy: Sounds like a fair swap… ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 4:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/walk-away-from-a-2001-pontiac-firebird-with-a-history/119249/12 "2018-06-15T16:14:11Z")
The Yugo had heated rear window so your hands would stay warm in the winter while you were pushing it. ---
**Author:** ![FoDaddy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/fodaddy/32/717_2.png) [@FoDaddy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/FoDaddy)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 4:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/walk-away-from-a-2001-pontiac-firebird-with-a-history/119249/13 "2018-06-15T16:31:59Z")
> [@Vince11](#): > > it has a rebuilt Ls1 engine because he blew a rod through side of engine. A rebuild won’t fix a block with a chunk of aluminium blown out of it. You’re talking engine _replacement_ at that point. > [@Vince11](#): > > Is the car reliable It’s a 17/18 year old GM F-body built before the bailout. It’s not going to be the most reliable vehicle in the world. > [@Vince11](#): > > will it have more problems in the future see prior response > [@Vince11](#): > > should I walk away? What are your expectations? Is this going be a weekend cruiser/hobby car? If so then it might not be a bad choice. If this is going to be your sole means of transportation that you depend on to get to work or anywhere else, then I would pass. ---
**Author:** ![BillRussell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/billrussell/32/3179_2.png) [@BillRussell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BillRussell)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 4:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/walk-away-from-a-2001-pontiac-firebird-with-a-history/119249/14 "2018-06-15T16:46:10Z")
It’s all about price. A clean well maintained car of that year and model will sell for x dollars. Every item such as a new engine, rust spot, etc, subtracts from that. The argument is over how much to subtract for each negative item. ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 5:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/walk-away-from-a-2001-pontiac-firebird-with-a-history/119249/15 "2018-06-15T17:02:42Z")
> [@FoDaddy](#): > > A rebuild won’t fix a block with a chunk of aluminium blown out of it. You’re talking engine _replacement_ at that point. I took OP’s statement to mean “he blew a rod through the side of the engine and so they replaced it with a rebuilt LS1” ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 11:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/walk-away-from-a-2001-pontiac-firebird-with-a-history/119249/16 "2018-06-15T23:06:21Z")
The 4th generation Firebirds and Camaros are known to be solid, reliable cars. However (and there’s always a however…,…) the car is 17 years old any one of a 100 things not related to the engine that could cause it to quit at any time. There is simply no way on God’s Green Earth of knowing. If the fuel pump is original and needs to be replaced that will be a job. The exhaust will need to be cut off and the rear axle dropped for starters.