ColinOpseth

Title says it all...

Basically, it's a 34k mile Vette. Six speed, targa top. What should I be on the lookout for?

Also, what ballpark price is fair? I know price is always what the buyer will pay. He's asking 15. Too high?

Thanks,
Colin

Frizlefrak

Looks like a nice car from the pic. Look for the following stuff first....it's the expensive stuff to fix; Glass, paint, and interior. Beyond that, it's 20 year old Chevy stuff. As I tell everyone, the acid test of whether or not you should buy an old C4 (which is all of them) is can you do your own wrenching? If yes, they can be kept running correctly forever for a very reasonable sum. If you have to farm it out everytime it hiccups (and it WILL), the car can and will bankrupt you. Even low mile garage queens will need stuff fixed from time to time.

If it starts, runs, brakes, and drives correctly, and the expensive stuff is good, go for it. I think his asking price is very high....you can get into low mile C5's for that. I'd say $10-$12K is more reasonable.

At $15K I hope he likes the car, because he's going to have it for a very long time. There are a ton of C4's (nice ones) on the market right now. I say you make him the above offer.....if he balks, keep shopping.

Good luck

enventr

It seems to be on the high side.you can prob get a 95 or 96 with low miles for alittle less. Look at the for sale section of this forum.some C5 are going for that with higher mileage.add alittle more money and you could find one with lower mileage.There are many sites to look at.I'm sure some other forum members will answer your questions and give you the sites to look at.Good luck

ColinOpseth

Great advice. I won't be driving it much. I drive my v8 Vega quite a bit. Turning wrenches is cake. I have a '93 LT1/T56 in my '72 Vega hatch.

I was thinking around $12-$13, too. Not a fan of the styling on the C5 at all. Personally, I think he is pricing it high to deter lookie-loo's. Have cash in hand so maybe feeling some will whet his palate, lol.

Is that gray pretty rare?

PLRX

$15,000 is too high for a 91. The Vette looks good in that picture.

What to look for?
The list would be long for a 21 year old car but:

Cooling system condition
Look inside the engine thru the oil cap
engine oil leaks
ZF smooth gear shifting
Look underneath the seats
Headlight motor condition
Brakes
Radio and antenna functionality
Emergency brake
AC
weatherstrip

dont be shy, kneel down, get underneath for a visual inspection of the spare tire area and ensure the radiator shrud is clean.

ColinOpseth

Good tip on the headlight motors...hadn't thought of that! They should have some pretty good service records, too. Are synchros weak in the ZF? Supposedly has a ZR1 brake upgrade and Z51 sway bars? Possible?

I'm going to fine-tooth comb it for sure. I vaguely remember that the valve covers discolor. Is that true? Did most coupes come with two tops?

vettestrings

total coupe production in '91 was 14,967

5031 dual roof panels

835 steel blue metallic



looks nice

1Asterisk

It looks to me like the rear wheel is on backwards...

15k is zr1 and low mile LT4 territory. When I purchased mine last year I had a local dealership check it. It cost me 100 bucks but they put it on a lift and checked all the things that would be hard for me to do from across the country.

Kmcoldcars

3 years ago I bought a Steel Blue Metalic 1991 coupe with 43000 miles on it, in excellent condition, for $ 7900, in Stockton, California. Therefore, I would say the price is a LOT too high.
The only thing I would say against a 1991 or earlier is that the stock L98 engine does not make the power of the LT1 engines and have less acceleration. That is why I sold my 1991. I wanted more power and bought a 2002 Z06. I bought a 1992 Black Rose Metallic coupe with 49000 miles on it last year for $ 8300. It has the 3.07 ratio rear end in it and has much better acceleration than the 1991 did.
Do some more looking. Drive L98 and LT1 cars. Figure out what is important to you and then go get the one you want.

Frizlefrak

The best advice I can give you is to drive as many C4's as you can get your hands on, particularly low mile specimens. Few things suck worse than plunking down that kind of money and finding the car you really wanted a week later for $5K less. Very sick feeling.

If this were a low mile LT1 car, I'd say he was closer, but still high. For an L98 car, he's quite high. I agree on C5 styling, not my cup of tea.....so for another example, that kind of money will get you into a mid-mile ZR1. Plunk down another $5K, and you can get into a nice low mile ZR1 nowadays.

Keep us posted on what you decide.

[edit]

Check this car out....it's only 6 hours from you.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4s-...s-9-900-a.html

Frizlefrak

Also check out this one.....Low miles and LT1 for less than what you're looking at. Been for sale for a while....make the buyer a cash offer and he might wheel and deal.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4s-...100-miles.html

GKK

Look for an Oil leak or drip at the rear of the engine block or underneath the oil pan, this is usually a rear intake manifold leak very common on all L98 engines.

Also, the stock Multec fuel injectors will need replacing sooner or later due to them not being compatible with today's ethanol in the fuel which eventually wears away the coil insulation and shorts out the injectors, contact member FICINJECTORS for replacement.

tnz5106

No one has even asked the question "does it have the Z07 suspension option". On '91-'93 corvettes, the Z07 was a rare option that offered the stiffest suspension and best handling of that era. It also was a 2045.00 option. The FX3 was a 1500.00 option but did not include the larger brakes and stiffer spring rates.

I would advise you to spend 30 bucks and pick up a corvette black book. They are very helpful and I have never seen an error in them.

I love L98 engines and this being the last year for them, and if the car does have the Z07 option ( only around 800 sold), I think it would be a car worth buying. Especially being that nice. If you could get him down a grand or 2 it would be a great buy with the Z07!! IMO..........good luck

mike100

You are getting into ZR-1 pricing almost. I wouldn't personally spend big $ on an L98 car.

The ZF is real strong, but ham fisted wanna-be racer powershifting idiots can and will destroy a ZF synchros. Less so on the slower revving engines-much more so on a ZR-1.

broken radios, bad weatherstrip, and a cracked clear hardtop will cost as much as any mechanical repair just about- these kind of things are the hidden C4 costs you don't much think about during the passion of buying a new toy.

65Z01

For that price it should look & smell like a new car, all should be imaculate; still it seems high.

While looking for my 2nd 35th Anni last month I saw one with 36k miles asking $10.5k, little later I saw it in a dealer's ad asking $16.9...

Later I found my current 35th asking $8.9k, took $8.2k. Paint, interior & glass are perfect but there are many other "fixits", including weather strip.