Found:

1995 Vette with the LT1/Auto tranny. It is at a small lot so there is no History available. It has 113K on it.

The Good:
The paint is great Black w/tan interior
the seats are recovered (more later)
Nice Stereo
LT1 that fires right up and runs smooth
The tranny "seems" Ok
Tires are great
No damage to the body at all.
The Check engine light is NOT on.
Clean Title, registered until November.
Air Blows real Cold, even at idle


The Bad
The Seats were recovered with fake leather
The carpet is shot needs replacing
The interior is filthy nothing a good Saturday can't fix.
The Driver Door panel is falling off.
Some weather stripping is coming off
The Top needs paint (for some reason it is bad yet the rest is great).
Heavy Ciggerette smell.

I have the guy down around 7K for the car.

I'm waiting to see if the free carfax comes through OK

Help, this one is making me weak

 

turn the key on. Pretty much all the lights in the DIC should come on.

Make sure they do.

 

Stop you ? Go buy it !! Good luck

 

I didn't notice that they didn't...but then I don't know to look just yet.

I was trying to read up on the paperclip thing...I got the jumper pin #12 to #4 and read the codes.......but where is #12 or #4 located?

do you have a pic or illistration of that dash? This 95 is the first 95 that I have actually looked at.

 

I wouldnt buy a car from someone who smoked in it, but for 7K I just might. Sounds like a steal to me, is there a catch?

 

Sounds like a $7000.00 car

 

Doesnt sound like it was maintained too well. Sure you wanna pull the trigger on that one? Maybe if you saved a few thou more you could get something pretty clean.

 

Find a reputable shop and get a pre-purchase evaluation done. It should cost anywhere from $75 to $125 to have done. You should get a comprehensive report that will list any problems found on the car.

The lot may steer you in a direction of a shop they use, but you should get a completely independent evaluation.

Weatherstripping can be expensive to replace depending on the piece; A reproduction piece for the rear hatch window is $100 or so and the GM version is $200+.

OEM Style carpet can go for $600-750. If you want the "real" leather seats back, figure on $750 for jsut the skins or $1200 for new material with new foam.

The door panle may not be a biggie as the clips are cheap unless something is broken on the panel. Figure $300 or so for a panel less the trim pieces.

You can look at the online catalogs from the various accessory vendors to get an idea of what bringing the interior back to new (or original) will cost.

Repainting the top can be $300+ assuming it's in good shape with no cracks or trim damage. Does it have both tops??

Definitely check to see if all of the lights in the DIC come on when you trun the ignition switch to run (don't start it). Among all the lights, the SES light, and the ABS/ASR lights should come on. These can be expensive issues if they stay on.

Brakes can be pricey so it's important to make sure everything is OK there.

IMHO, you should get the best car you can find for the money you have to spend. A good well-maintained low-miles 95 can run $12K or more so you need to factor in the repairs needed or wanted against a nice car that's already in good shape. I would be looking at others for comparisons.

 

Personally I avoid the LT1 cause of the opti thing and auto trannies too
How does it look under the hood?
and are there receipts for the oil changes?

 

There are no records at all.

Under the hood looks OK, nothing really bad but not real clean either

Understand this corner lot is no larger than a small midwest gas station....it holds about 12 cars bumper to bumper with barely enough space to squeeze your knee through.

 

Just my opinion, but in my experience a car with a ratty interior is not usually mechanically well maintained. There are not a tremendous number of miles on the car but it sounds like they may have been hard miles if oil changes, etc. were not done on a regular basis. I would expect to put an additional $5 K into this car to get where you would probably be happy. I enjoy bringing back cars like the one you are looking at. I would probably buy it but I would also be prepared to put out some dollars for unanticipated but expensive repairs. Good luck either way.

 

Do you think you can sell it for 7K if you have too ??? I would go with $5.500 cash and walk away if he dosn't take it. Many more C4 deals out there with alot less miles.JMO.Good luck

 

Sounds like it may be best to look for another one. You shouldnt buy any car that you dont know the history of, especially something like a vette in that bad of condition.

 

Actually, that is what I am about. I love finding sleepers that need TLC. I love finding them cheap. I love bringing them back.

I can fix anything, I can't paint or Sew Interior pieces. So for me a good paint job and new seats are a plus. Those two itmes are just a nono for me.......

A few odds and ends don't bother me.....I would rebuild one as well....just, I would like to drive it a bit before pulling the motor or dropping a tranny. The wife would kill me If I bought something that had to be dragged home...

 

Just like the TV show, you never really know if your decision is correct until you make it. Everybody can shout out advise, but you must make the final call. I will say this, I knew nothing , not even about this forum when I bought my Corvette, and I have had some unpleasant surpirses since. But I am so glad I bought it now that everything is fixed/replaced. I saw an ad that said "Corvette, the only sports car that matters". I agree. Have it checked out and compare it to other Corvettes for sale locally. Be prepared to put 3 to 4 thousand into it over the next year or so to get it how you want it.
I notice you have an RX7 in your profile, I've had 2, fun little cars. Hopefully you can keep it also to use for when your Corvette is torn apart for new carpet, seats, door panels, weatherstriping, ect.
Lastly, don't buy an 11 year old Corvette unless you plan to learn how to work on it yourself unless money is not an issue for you. You could make 2 payments on a new one for what you will be charged to replace a heater core, brake job, or distributor, and they will probably screw up the job.

 

95 had the improved vented opti. good luck.

 

I'd pass. Keep looking.

 

Where did the price start at? You said you got him down but is there still room to negotiate?

 

Hammon,

All of us found our Corvettes with something to be fixed. Slowly, weekly and surely you will fix all those discrepancies. I would say that the heavy cigarette smell would be the worse. My first corvette had that problem and 80% of the problem is the nicotine attached to the car interiors. Simple Green, Air Freshener and driving with the windows down for few weeks will make that go away. If you do not buy that Corvette, somebody else will, we'll meet him here and you will regret it. Now, listen/read me very carefully, log off and go buy it!!!!!!

Go--------------->

 

Get busy on your computer. Check KBB and NADA for value, check auro trader within 1000 miles to see what people are hoping to sell them for.
Have the mechainc's inspection done and have them pull the oil fliter and cut it open to see if there is any metal in there. Opti in 95 is genII and pretty reliable, still expensive when it's time comes though. If it comes out good buy it, if not walk away. I am very prone to like 95's though, especially 'blacksheep'. 187,000 on mine.