Can I afford a C3?
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Realistically? $4500 is not likely to get you a car you can safely drive 3-4 days a week. $4500 will get you a C3 you can work on seven days a week.
Keep saving. You are going to need money for parts.
Good luck.
Keep saving. You are going to need money for parts.
Good luck.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,485
Likes: 7
From: Peekskill NY
Probably not, but start checking craigs list, ebay, vett sales sites on line, various vett resellers and see what's out there. Education is your wisest investment regarding a vett purchase. Do searches here regarding the most common rust problems vettes have. Keep in mind repair costs. Can you do the bulk of the repairs, or need a mechanic do it. They are fun to drive, but have a harsh ride, can get very hot in the cabin unless you have AC or the carpet has been replaced and some kind of heat barrier was installed. Lot's of things to consider.
Good luck, Glenn
Good luck, Glenn
Racer
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 419
Likes: 4
From: Lewisville TX
I agree (Been there, Done that, and have lot's of grease/oil stained T-shirts!)...
4500.00 will get you a fix-r-upper, but depending on your expertise, it's worth it! Most problems will be brakes, electrical, and suspension - IF the engine is running Ok.. Then plan on replacing all hoses & fluids right from the start. Interior items will probably need replacing/refurbishing up too. But in all, you will have an experience working on the car. It will be 100 % yours too! Oh.. and if your lucky, you'll find one that has a decent paint job.
4500.00 will get you a fix-r-upper, but depending on your expertise, it's worth it! Most problems will be brakes, electrical, and suspension - IF the engine is running Ok.. Then plan on replacing all hoses & fluids right from the start. Interior items will probably need replacing/refurbishing up too. But in all, you will have an experience working on the car. It will be 100 % yours too! Oh.. and if your lucky, you'll find one that has a decent paint job.
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8th Gear
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
It will cost less $ in the long run to save up for a year and spend $9000 on a vet that will not take big $ to get road ready. AND buy the year that you like and want-not just the one that you can afford NOW. You will love a vet that is nice looking and reliable.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,992
Likes: 56
From: Antioch IL
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 872
Likes: 3
From: Cortlandt Manor New York
I agree the likelihood of getting a safe, dependable driver for $4500 that is more than 30 years old is very slim. You may get luky if you bring an experienced mechanic with you to inspect the car. Make sure he is honest and dependable because you will be bringing the car to him often if you don't do the work yourself.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,456
Likes: 10
From: Somerdale NJ
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-‘17-‘18
Save some more and wait - study up and find the right car for you.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,363
Likes: 0
From: Canton Ohio
Very sound advice!
Race Director
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 10,956
Likes: 409
From: California
the cheap part is to buy it, then you have to keep paying for it for the rest of you life...hey.... isn't that like a wife????
whats a C4??
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
If you need reliable transportation and will be a 'one-car' owner, you would do better to buy a used Corolla. I know, I know...I'm gonna get beat up. But you can not expect to get a reliable C3 for $4500. You might be able to get a well-used C3 that is not beat up; but it will need some significant work to make it SAFE, road worthy, and reliable. That takes additional time and money, and it sounds like you don't have either...right now, anyway.
Keep your dream alive and continue to search for the car you want. Do so without any real intent to buy one right now. Use your search time as a learning tool to find out what is available and what the condition of various price ranges of cars will get you. In general, you will get your best "bang for the buck" by purchasing from a private owner, not a dealer. A private owner...who knows what he/she is doing...will keep their car in good, SAFE condition and maintain it properly; a dealer will buy up a 'beater' cheap, then polish the 'TURD' so that it looks good. But it could be a pig-in-a-poke and will usually be priced way too high.
Keep your dream alive and continue to search for the car you want. Do so without any real intent to buy one right now. Use your search time as a learning tool to find out what is available and what the condition of various price ranges of cars will get you. In general, you will get your best "bang for the buck" by purchasing from a private owner, not a dealer. A private owner...who knows what he/she is doing...will keep their car in good, SAFE condition and maintain it properly; a dealer will buy up a 'beater' cheap, then polish the 'TURD' so that it looks good. But it could be a pig-in-a-poke and will usually be priced way too high.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 3,079
Likes: 315
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Neighbor kid just bought an '84 POS for $3500. I found him laying underneath it (scissor jack only) trying to adjust the linkage on the Doug Nash 4+3. Had him show me what it was doing, sent him over to the local vette shop where they told him to get rid of it. He spent $2300 somewhere else fixing the tranny. It is still a POS becasue the FI was replaced with an old carb setup. Sometimes you get what you pay for, sometimes you don't.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
From: Covington VA
I can't see getting a decent driver for $4500.00 You will find some good project cars in that price range though. I bought my '79 last year for $7500. The car has a solid engine, no rust issues and no brake or suspension issues. The paint is about an 8 out of a 10, real nice driver paint job. The interior is about a 7. One year later i have spent at least another 2500.00 on the car. New tires, water pump, drivers side door latch, thermostadt, and turn signal switch as far as needed repairs. To improve the cars appearance I replaced the wheel trim rings, rocker panels, grilles, nose emblem, and assorted interior parts. I could easily think of another $1K worth of stuff that I would LIKE to do to the car now, but do not really have to do. Besides, something will break on it next month. Bottom line is even at $7K to $10K do not expect it to end there. You will get a nice driver in that price range, but you WILL still have to spend money on the car. I have learned a lot in the last year on this forum. The newest C3 is 28 years old. These are fun cars, and parts for the most part are not a problem. But you will have to work on these cars, and they do like to eat money. But they are still the most fun cars in the world and I wouldn't trade mine for anything.
