pada

I'm looking for my first Vette

I have about $6k to spend, so a small C4 project is what i'm looking for. It will be used just as a cruiser. I know of the 84 and how is has 'misfire' injection and such, and how 85 brought much needed changes. But, my parent's friend offered me a

1984 Corvette for $3000

It is red on gray, sorry for no pics. The panels are all good, paint just needs a buffing. The wheels, brakes, and tranny are good. The engine has a lifter problem causing ticking on cold starts. It has a bad battery. The LCD panel doesnt work at all. The radio needs to be hooked up. The engine and tranny are original to the car, with 75k miles. I drove it, and the throttle response was really slow, maybe partly to the battery and cold (were in Michigan). Overall, it looks nice and I know the history. The current owner doesn't drive it much but knows what he is doing when he maintains his cars. It is an automatic. The t top is good, no leaks. I know a good mechanic that could work on it with me, and get it done quick. Everything that I didn't mention works.

My question is, I know there are better Vettes out there I can buy with $6k but for $3k, I was questioning whether I should pass or take this deal. I'm a car guy, so I know I can maintain it. I'm sure many people are thinking that the 85 can run a second quicker 1320, but it the 84 that slow? Should I buy it?

Thank you! Love live the Vette

pada

I forgot to put, the interior is in good shape.

F22

For $6K you can get into a late C4 that has waaay more performance than a 1984 TBI car and needing the same amount of work. You'll spend the extra $3k and then some, believe me, that's the way Corvette's are. You didn't tell us what condition the interior is in either and that's a big question. Interior parts are expensive. (you answered that just now. Glad you did. That's a plus, but read on)

Heck, just about anything Corvette except for the common engine and transmission parts are far more expensive than their Camaro-Malibu-Cruz counterparts.

The two scenarios I see that aren't good are either your parent's friend that's interested in selling it to you, or you've fallen in love with the 84 and want to buy it. Project cars are that and you have to factor in your time too. Keep doing the research. The C4 family is basically split into two, with early C4's (1985-1991) and late C4's (1992-1996). The 1984 is an early C4 with it's own engine, thus the reason I left it out.

The early C4's are great cars, but you should know all the associated gremlins that can crop up with these cars and there are many. A Corvette with problems or a project will suck the money out of your wallet faster than just about anything. Be knowledgeable and go out and look at a wide variety of C4's before you even think of buying this 84.

Vette Daddy

Buy the best car you can for $6k.

FOURSPEEDVETTE

$3000.00 for an early C4= needs work.
$6000.00 for a late C4 = needs work.
For that little money to purchase it, just be prepared to spend close to twice your initial investment to make all things good with it. Just simple facts.

dukeallen

BUT

Really?

Some of that could be hard and/or pricey to deal with.

I'd pass and find something better. And be patient while you save up more for that better one.

kleptopigdog

Slow down ! Get the best late model C4 you can find .Your already Well on your way with the amount you have .Good luck
phillip

Voxego

Buy the lastest model you can with the 6K. You're liable to spend a great deal of your 3K extra for a LCD rebuild, battery, lifter ticking (because you'll never fix JUST the lifters), and fixing whatever the slow throttle response problem is.

QCVette

I agree with some of the others that it will cost you quite a bit to bring the 84 back.

I would look for a better condition later year car. I would also suggest at least an 88 car to get the later suspension and choice of wheels, also at least an 89 car if you want a manual because I like the 6 speeds.

Have fun with your search, and good luck.

pologreen1

Walk away with your money and you are money ahead.

Frizlefrak

Bit of a contradiction, isn't it?

Unless you're just a glutton for punishment, pass on it and keep shopping. We've all been there....wanting to rehab a broken winged bird. Those of us that have done it....well, few of us want to do it again. There's a reason for that.

Buy the car you really want to begin with. Keep shopping. $6K will get you a nice early C4. A couple K more will get you into a decent LT1 car.

rithsleeper

I didn't even finish your post and can tell you to pass. Just as a benchmark I bought my 89 for 4500. Only needed a clutch and it is a 6 speed. 5k miles later with track days and autocross I've upgraded tons and the car is definately mine. Still runs like a tank. This is my third c4 and I can agree 100% with the others. Pass pass pass. I would give you 2k for the car you discribe and then turn it into a dirt track car. Not even close to worth it. Look in the for sale section and watch it for 3 months. Then see if you stiill thhink that 84 is worth it. Its not. I see beautiful and solid cars for 6k go all the time. Don't buy a money pit you wont be satisfied with. Things will keep going wrong and eventually you will get frustrated and end up hating it.

Caboboy

I'm thinking all these experienced Vette owners can't all be full of beans. Why don't you camp out in the for sale section for a while & let your money earn some interest so you can get familiar with the market.

corvetteronw

What part of Michigan?
I agree on saving a bit more and buying a better one. Spring is just around the corner and a bunch of them will be on the market soon.
For now you need to lurk on this forum and others such as www.corvetteguru.com and www.corvetteactioncenter.com along with the auction sites, craigslist and Auto Trader, etc.
If you search craigslist Grand Rapids, Detroit, and Chicage and just plug in "Corvette" in the cars for sale slot and search for cars between $6,000-$10,000 you will become an expert in C4 pricing in no time.
When it is time to buy then take a knowledgeable C4 owner along with you to check the car out.

corvetteronw

Here are a couple:
http://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/cto/2864253845.html
http://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/cto/2859486844.html
http://swmi.craigslist.org/cto/2807340380.html

camario

as an example i bought my 89 6spd for 6k and in good mechanical shape and decent paint and interior, 89000 miles. it doesnt need any work on it except for the routine maintnance

FWC

I agree with everyone here, drop back and pass. Besides, half the fun is going out and test driving as many as you can until you find " the right one" for you.

96 Vette CE

Heck, there was an '87 in the for sale section here a week or 2 ago and the guy was practically begging for $3,000 for it and it needed very little.

Keep looking.

professorX

Hi if you have ever heard the old addage if it sounds to good to good to be true it prob. is I think you should listen here 3,000 sounds a little suspicious even if it is a family friend. I just traded my 83 collector camaro for a 85 vette last spring with the intent of restoring so I wasent out any cash seeing as how they did a straight up trade but anyway if I were you I would go with a 85 -89 LT1 are junk all an LT1 is a over glorified tuned port anyway and if all you are looking for is a cruiser go with the the tuned port just my 2 cents good luck.

abdo

I guess I'll be the sole contrary voice here. You didn't get any posts from '84 owners so that may mean something. I have an '86 Coupe purchased new, in very good shape.
The '84 will have a stiffer ride and the cross fire engine is not as good as the turned port, and it doesn't have the ABS system, but $3000 for a fairly decent '84 is not a bad price for a C4 of any year (I paid $27K for my '86 new).
But having said that, I would definitely look around and drive a few other C4s before you decide to buy.