Advice Needed - '95 Conv. Purchase
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 12,198
Likes: 15
From: Columbia MD
Advice Needed - '95 Conv. Purchase
Hey guys, my wife and I are interested in buying a C4. Any advice you could provide would be greatly appreciated. Here's the details:
1995 A4 Convertible
Torch Red/Red Interior/Black top
32,000 miles
Corsa exhaust
Chrome saw blades
Excellent cond (paint/top/interior/chassis/motor/exhaust/brakes)
New Firestone Firehawk tires
Flaws - drivers seat a bit worn/cracked but still presentable
Passed PA state inspection
Price: $18,000
I guess what I need to know is, would you buy this car at this price? Thanks in advance.
1995 A4 Convertible
Torch Red/Red Interior/Black top
32,000 miles
Corsa exhaust
Chrome saw blades
Excellent cond (paint/top/interior/chassis/motor/exhaust/brakes)
New Firestone Firehawk tires
Flaws - drivers seat a bit worn/cracked but still presentable
Passed PA state inspection
Price: $18,000
I guess what I need to know is, would you buy this car at this price? Thanks in advance.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 16,475
Likes: 270
From: Kingman AZ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Cruise-In VIII
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Do some checking on the internet and compare prices of other Corvettes in your area. Here are some of them: www.autotrader.com www.corvettetrader.com www.carsforsale.com
Also go to www.grandsportregistry.com and go to the section on GS buyers tips. They have a nice checklist that applies to most other C4s as well.
Here is one more site that has several Corvettes for sale http://cars.com/go/index.jsp
I love the color and the low mileage is a real plus if it has been well maintained. Good luck!
Also go to www.grandsportregistry.com and go to the section on GS buyers tips. They have a nice checklist that applies to most other C4s as well.
Here is one more site that has several Corvettes for sale http://cars.com/go/index.jsp
I love the color and the low mileage is a real plus if it has been well maintained. Good luck!
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 12,198
Likes: 15
From: Columbia MD
Checked pricing from all of the above as well as eBaymotors. Not many convertibles out there for sale so comparison is a bit difficult, especially with this cars low mileage - seems to be in range though. According to the C4 Market report in Corvette Magazine, this car is priced about $2000 lower than projected. Thanks for the tips!!!!!! 
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
I agree with the above. Consideration given, however, to what ron says re maintenance. It would be good if the owner can show you/tell you that things have been done along the way disregarding the miles, i.e., changing out some fluids even though there're so few miles on it/them.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 12,198
Likes: 15
From: Columbia MD
Originally Posted by LT4CompYell
I agree with the above. Consideration given, however, to what ron says re maintenance. It would be good if the owner can show you/tell you that things have been done along the way disregarding the miles, i.e., changing out some fluids even though there're so few miles on it/them.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 6,715
Likes: 2
From: Santa Teresa New Mexico
The price on cars is like the price on housing, it depends on where you live.
I think the car is at least $3,000 over the top.
Id put it at the $14-to $15k range.
At $18k you're into the C5 range.
The dealer is trying to get "lucky", that is he buys a car at the wholesale auction, and prices it at full retail or more and hopes someone takes the bait.
Wait him out the price will come down, time is in your favor not his.
When a dealer buys at a wholesale auction hes lucky to the owners manual and little else theres absolutely no other paper work with a wholesale car.
Your buying what he bought a unknown but for more money.
Your best bet is buying from a Corvette guy with all the records.
History is important.
I think the car is at least $3,000 over the top.
Id put it at the $14-to $15k range.
At $18k you're into the C5 range.
The dealer is trying to get "lucky", that is he buys a car at the wholesale auction, and prices it at full retail or more and hopes someone takes the bait.
Wait him out the price will come down, time is in your favor not his.
When a dealer buys at a wholesale auction hes lucky to the owners manual and little else theres absolutely no other paper work with a wholesale car.
Your buying what he bought a unknown but for more money.
Your best bet is buying from a Corvette guy with all the records.
History is important.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,564
Likes: 6
From: Woodstock Georgia
Originally Posted by vetdude
Car is for sale by a small Corvette dealer. I asked about car's history and there is not much available only that car was traded in at a Ponitac dealer, then taken to the auction where he bought it. He said he has gone over the car completely. The only "strange" item on the car is what appears to be an adjustable idle position sensor located at the thottle body. Why it needs this I haven't a clue. Never put one on any of my C4s.
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Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 12,198
Likes: 15
From: Columbia MD
Originally Posted by redwing76
The price on cars is like the price on housing, it depends on where you live.
I think the car is at least $3,000 over the top.
Id put it at the $14-to $15k range.
At $18k you're into the C5 range.
The dealer is trying to get "lucky", that is he buys a car at the wholesale auction, and prices it at full retail or more and hopes someone takes the bait.
Wait him out the price will come down, time is in your favor not his.
When a dealer buys at a wholesale auction hes lucky to the owners manual and little else theres absolutely no other paper work with a wholesale car.
Your buying what he bought a unknown but for more money.
Your best bet is buying from a Corvette guy with all the records.
History is important.
I think the car is at least $3,000 over the top.
Id put it at the $14-to $15k range.
At $18k you're into the C5 range.
The dealer is trying to get "lucky", that is he buys a car at the wholesale auction, and prices it at full retail or more and hopes someone takes the bait.
Wait him out the price will come down, time is in your favor not his.
When a dealer buys at a wholesale auction hes lucky to the owners manual and little else theres absolutely no other paper work with a wholesale car.
Your buying what he bought a unknown but for more money.
Your best bet is buying from a Corvette guy with all the records.
History is important.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 875
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by vetdude
$14 to $15k range? For a prestine '95 conv. with only 32K original miles?
for lower prices than on the east coast. There is quite a
difference.
Maybe it has to do with more people trading up to C5 and C6
out here...and then just fewer buyers for the C4.
Seen so many 100k mileage C4's that start out at 10-12k and
never sell.
But as someone else said time is on your side and so
if car doesn't sell the price will have to come down 2-3k
Last edited by stax68; Aug 28, 2006 at 12:53 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 784
Likes: 0
THE VERY FIRST THING I'd do is run a Carfax, even if I had to pay a hundred bucks.
Beyond that, it sounds like a pretty nice car.
I the guy who'll probably ALWAYS advise someone to go with the convertible.
Here's hoping it's a HAPPY experience for both of you. Good luck.
(Keep us posted on the decision.)
Beyond that, it sounds like a pretty nice car.
I the guy who'll probably ALWAYS advise someone to go with the convertible.
Here's hoping it's a HAPPY experience for both of you. Good luck.
(Keep us posted on the decision.)
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,979
Likes: 281
From: Tulsa OK
I just bought a '96 CE convertible with 24k miles 2 weeks ago. $18k sounds like a fair price for the car you describe. for reference, I found a '94 convertible with a hardtop for $16k in Florida (41k miles). I ended up paying a little more and getting the CE from a local guy.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 12,198
Likes: 15
From: Columbia MD
Originally Posted by RobWilson
I just bought a '96 CE convertible with 24k miles 2 weeks ago. $18k sounds like a fair price for the car you describe. for reference, I found a '94 convertible with a hardtop for $16k in Florida (41k miles). I ended up paying a little more and getting the CE from a local guy.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 3,181
Likes: 0
From: Washington DC
Originally Posted by redwing76
The price on cars is like the price on housing, it depends on where you live.
I think the car is at least $3,000 over the top.
Id put it at the $14-to $15k range.
At $18k you're into the C5 range.
The dealer is trying to get "lucky", that is he buys a car at the wholesale auction, and prices it at full retail or more and hopes someone takes the bait.
Wait him out the price will come down, time is in your favor not his.
When a dealer buys at a wholesale auction hes lucky to the owners manual and little else theres absolutely no other paper work with a wholesale car.
Your buying what he bought a unknown but for more money.
Your best bet is buying from a Corvette guy with all the records.
History is important.
I think the car is at least $3,000 over the top.
Id put it at the $14-to $15k range.
At $18k you're into the C5 range.
The dealer is trying to get "lucky", that is he buys a car at the wholesale auction, and prices it at full retail or more and hopes someone takes the bait.
Wait him out the price will come down, time is in your favor not his.
When a dealer buys at a wholesale auction hes lucky to the owners manual and little else theres absolutely no other paper work with a wholesale car.
Your buying what he bought a unknown but for more money.
Your best bet is buying from a Corvette guy with all the records.
History is important.
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