Hi everyone. Great board. I've been reading for a year and now it's time to join!

I am very actively searching for my first vette. Decided on a 92 6spd coupe. (Main reasons are: collector insurance qualification, have an LT1 in my Roadmaster and really like it, and no front airbag so I can drive my small kids in it)

There are a couple that interest me and it has brought forth some questions for the group.

1. One 92 I called about had about 30,000 miles and the seller said "manifolds have been done" as though it was something every car needed. Is there a specific issue with 92 LT1 manifolds that needs to be addressed?

2. Found a candidate in my home town and had my best friend do a test drive (I live 5 hours away). He's more of a BMW-Audi fan, while I'm more a RWD Buick-Cadillac guy. Car has about 50,000 miles. He reported that car looked nearly perfect but didn't drive well. Not just rattly like a hatchback, but some engine hesitation in the mid-revs when he floored it (no check engine light). And just a general feeling that the car felt loose like it had been driven hard - but paint and interior would make us think otherwise. We are trying to figure out if all vettes are like that and he's just used to his tight 5-series bimmer, or if this one has problems. Any thoughts??

3. Just checking. Option GM3 (3.45 axle) is nothing special right? All 6 speeds have it?



That's all for now. I'm sure I'll have more questions. Great board!

 

Yes, no idea what #1 is, intake or exhaust, don't know why they have to be "done". Done what? Done to? No idea. Ask him.

#2- def not as "tight" as a new B or some other cars. But......I don't know what he means by general looseness, either.

#3 pretty sure that's correct.

I'd say, wadr to your friend, have him find a local Corvette shop or an experienced (worst case) Chev dealership tech who knows Corvettes and have them drive it.

No matter what, my recommendation is not to buy it sight unseen, and undriven and un-tech/mech on a lift, not even if it's $2K.

PS just communicated with a fellow who's looking at a creampuff '96. Said seller was very sincere. However, on doing a carfax, fraud on odo. Don't forget: carfax and autocheck are not infallible and the end-all, but it doesn't hurt to check and use them.

Note: yes, it would help if you filled out your profile a bit more, such as city and state, first name at least, etc.

 

Where are you located? Maybe there's a forum member familiar with C-4's that can test drive it..

 

Lt4compyellow has some good advice, have it checked out and always do a carfax. I own a 92 and thoroughly enjoy the car, 6 sp vert lt1 with fx3. Your beemer budy needs to be aware his car is more of a luxury touring car than it is a sports car, and they will not feel/drive the same.

I don't have a clue about the reference to the manifold.

 

Thanks guys.

Yes I agree about the mechanical inspection. Step 1 was to have my friend check it out, as he knows I'm (like him) fussy about nice interiors, scratches, dents etc. Step 2 would be make my offer subject to inspection by GM dealer. But vette specialists is a good idea CompYell I'll see if I can find one.

I like the car. Weird combo of "lack of options": 6spd, cloth seats, no auto climate control, no pwr passenger seat, no CD. Price too high but after they sit on it awhile they may change their tune. On that note, is basic desirable in any way? Or are most people looking for leather and full load? I'm wondering if it will be a slow seller.

Re: the manifolds. I thought I heard somewhere that 92 LT1s were more prone to manifold leaks than other years so wanted to check. Glad to hear you guys never heard of it.

Oh and sorry about no profile. I was in a rush to make my first post!

 

Ahhhhh, THAT manifold issue. Yes, there are/have been reported oil leaks, so if that's "done" that would be good. Others will chime in on that issue.

As to low-option car, not all bad. May, as you say, sit awhile but my take on it is, low-option means lower price. Lower price means more "affordable". More affordable means larger pool of potential buyers.

The biggest low-option, or no option in this case, is cloth seats. Very unusual; I know. I tried to get them in '93 and couldn't so I "settled" for leather.

As to the other things, frankly, more options equals more things to go wrong. There is enough that will go wrong anyway. If you can drive a Corvette without all the options, you won't be too sorry without the eventual problems, I think.

As a comparo, my car is a low option car: it has only the Bose CD radio. That's really it. No automatic climate control, no power driver seat, no power passenger seat, no sport seats.

I never knew I could adjust my own a/c to my liking. I never knew I could move my seats all by myself. I'm being facetious, but really, I don't miss those items of all-electronics all the time, at all.

And this is coming from a person who previously had climate control and power seats.

Hope this helps you.

And btw, that wasn't a blanket, take-it-to-any-GM-or-Chevy-dealer. It was a specific, check-them-out-and-make-sure-they-KNOW-something-about-servicing Corvettes, or pass them by just like you might pass by a great Jaguar mechanic who's never seen a Corvette. Yes, there are things in common with a Jag to a Corv., but a lot of things are not necessarily in the same ballpark. And as much as anything, you're paying for their experience and "instinct" in feeling whether the car's right or not.

 

Just something to compare yoru experience to... I just test drove a 92 stock coupe 2 nights ago for a friend (also about to buy). Nothing real rattly about it, nor any engine problems evident. There's some small expected issues for a 14 year old car , but in general it was solid and responsive with 80,000 miles.

 

Just to add a little bit to the confusion, 93's don't have passenger side airbags.

 

Thanks jrz. Yeah I realize that, so 93s are a close second choice. I can get collector insurance for about $300/year if car's 15 years old. So for a 93 I'd have to get regular insurance for a year then switch. But having said that I wouldn't pass up a nice 93.

Got a 68 Caddy on collector insurance for $102 per year! Even made a claim last year and they paid up.