Good Price?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: Indianapolis Indiana
Thanks,
Lots of good input, I have arranged to pick it up on Friday. It is about 2 hours away, so I will get to break her in right. What is a comfortable distance to drive a Vette, 4-8 hours? I hope to put less than 4-5,000 on it a year. I have a nice heated garage, so I guess she'll be a garage queen!!! Hope fully you all will be as helpful when I run into some problems as you have been today.
Jim
Lots of good input, I have arranged to pick it up on Friday. It is about 2 hours away, so I will get to break her in right. What is a comfortable distance to drive a Vette, 4-8 hours? I hope to put less than 4-5,000 on it a year. I have a nice heated garage, so I guess she'll be a garage queen!!! Hope fully you all will be as helpful when I run into some problems as you have been today.
Jim
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,135
Likes: 23
From: Joplin, MO, USA
Sounds like a very good price, I wouldn't be a bit afraid of the low miles-last October I bought a '96 vert with 7500 miles-like new, spent a lot more than 15 large, worth every penny. Good luck!
Racer
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 406
Likes: 62
From: Central Cal
jmmplm, it sounds like that is your vette. Don't worry about racking up the miles. You will the first year and you might hit that 4-5000 mile mark. But you have other hobbys as myself and I love to ride as much as I do driving the covette. But all the toys are just that. There to have fun with. You don't have to do it all the time if you don't want. I'm the same way with my bikes and vette. I also do life and when life throws back at me well, I just pick one and off I go. Yet it is not cheap these hobbys but should I give my money to a doctor? Naaaaaa!!! I rather put into my toys for that is the best medicine that any doctor can prescribe me...
Last edited by corvted; Jan 17, 2007 at 10:36 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
Oddly, even if some of the above is conflicting, I agree with all of the above. That isn't a bad price, just a high one. But you are paying, as you now know, for the mileage and relative unused nature of the car.
Drive it in good health!!!!!
Drive it in good health!!!!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,198
Likes: 10
From: Homestead Fl
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14
Do all your homework. Carfax or similar. Mechanical inspection by a qualified individual. No remorse............Then.........Enjoy the ride....
...................
...................
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 5,865
Likes: 6
From: Saraland Alabama
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Congrats on your pending purchase!
You will certainly enjoy your Vette. Don't worry about the mileage as the car already has such low mileage when compared to other '93s. Let's assume you put 5k per year on it. After 10 years you will have a car with less than 65k total miles. It will be 24 years old at that time. Most 24 year old cars will have 200k-300k miles on them by that age so your car will still be a very low mileage car.
Do not under any circumstances spray water on the engine as it is an LT1 with the Optispark ignition. That system began in 1992 and did not have a drain for moisture to escape and is located directly below the waterpump. I would say that the Optispark and the waterpump are the two weakest links in the later model C-4's. Do a search about optispark as it is discussed on here frequently. I would strongly recommend changing your water pump and spark plug wires whenever you have to change the Optispark so you will save hundreds of dollars in labor costs.
You will certainly enjoy your Vette. Don't worry about the mileage as the car already has such low mileage when compared to other '93s. Let's assume you put 5k per year on it. After 10 years you will have a car with less than 65k total miles. It will be 24 years old at that time. Most 24 year old cars will have 200k-300k miles on them by that age so your car will still be a very low mileage car.
Do not under any circumstances spray water on the engine as it is an LT1 with the Optispark ignition. That system began in 1992 and did not have a drain for moisture to escape and is located directly below the waterpump. I would say that the Optispark and the waterpump are the two weakest links in the later model C-4's. Do a search about optispark as it is discussed on here frequently. I would strongly recommend changing your water pump and spark plug wires whenever you have to change the Optispark so you will save hundreds of dollars in labor costs.
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Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,908
Likes: 735
From: Southwest Kansas
2022 Corvette of the Year Finalist -- Unmodified
2021 C6 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
Comfortably, I can drive mine 4 hours without any problem. But on your maiden voyage, you may want to stop a couple of times just to check things out (and just to step back and look at her and say to your self..."Is this really mine?")
Congrats on the purchase.
Congrats on the purchase.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,575
Likes: 3
From: Lowell Arkansas
I'm 6'4" and 250 lb.
The corvette is one of the most comfortable cars I have ever had.
And drive that car, it is expensive to drive any car, but you will get to drive a corvette while others pay a fortune to drive less of a car.
Lets see now, I paid $19,000 for a new dodge pickup in 2002 and it is worth $5,000 today and I still owe $7,500 on it.
Thats $16,500 I've lost on the dodge pickup.
Drive the **** out of your 93 corvette for $15,000 and push it off a cliff after you have owned it 5 years and you will still be money ahead.
The corvette is one of the most comfortable cars I have ever had.
And drive that car, it is expensive to drive any car, but you will get to drive a corvette while others pay a fortune to drive less of a car.
Lets see now, I paid $19,000 for a new dodge pickup in 2002 and it is worth $5,000 today and I still owe $7,500 on it.
Thats $16,500 I've lost on the dodge pickup.
Drive the **** out of your 93 corvette for $15,000 and push it off a cliff after you have owned it 5 years and you will still be money ahead.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 6,715
Likes: 2
From: Santa Teresa New Mexico
Whatever you pay for it its money down the tubes, but what else is money for? No matter how much money you have in savings its no fun.
The problem with a low mileage car is everyone you know will want it and someone will get it.
Drive it, forget about the price.
The problem with a low mileage car is everyone you know will want it and someone will get it.
Drive it, forget about the price.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: Indianapolis Indiana
WOW, what a great forum. There is tons of great advice in only a day. I really appreciate the Optispark advice, I love to clean cars and probably would have hosed it down to get the dust off. I pick it up tomorrow. I did run a carfax and had a mechanic check it out, so I'm good to go. I guess I'll have to add the 4 wheel therapy to my current 2 wheel therapy sessions. Definetly cheaper than a therapist. Look forward to joining the fraternity, what are some of the best events to attend? Also, any cheap engine or exhaust mods that I can make to add some additional HP?
Thanks again, Jim
Thanks again, Jim
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,143
Likes: 488
From: Leonardtown Maryland
You don't say where you live but I wouldn't worry about the miles. Since you are a Harley owner you'll probably have the same dilemma I do when it comes to driving somewhere; "Ok, bike or car today?" what a great decision to have to make!! Good luck on your Vette.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 13,348
Likes: 233
From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
Contrary to what you read in the K&N ads, there really is no such thing as cheap horsepower.
You need to figure paying about $50 for every one horsepower gain. This doesn't mean a $50 airfoil is guaranteed to give you one horsepower, though....it's an average for when you start spending real money.
How far can you comfortably drive a C4? About 100,000 miles. After that you start worrying too much.......
Larry
code5coupe
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: Indianapolis Indiana
So I see we also have a sense of humor on the forum, I like that. I thought about and exhaust change or throttle body. Anyone seen benefits from those? I know an exhaust change isn't cheap (~$1,200). I will definetly have problems deciding which to ride this summer, although the vette will probably win until the newness wears off.
Jim
Jim
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,564
Likes: 6
From: Woodstock Georgia
On the 93 LT1 there aren't really any cheap simple mods that will add much HP. Thre are lot of little things like the throttle body by-pass, K&N filter with cut lid, long tube headers, air foil (a joke), IAT relocation, and some others I don't remember. All of the above add up to no significant gains. Port the intake and heads, hotcam, maybe a supercharger and you will have a much emptier bank account, but a faster vette. Rear end ratio change isn't a bad bang for the buck, but still not cheap. I did a few of the above and muffler eliminators, but stock A4 2.59 gears and it is plenty fast for everyday street driving.
Like they say "speed costs money, how fast do you want to go?" I think you will find just stock is plenty, at least for now. Congrats on the purchase.
Like they say "speed costs money, how fast do you want to go?" I think you will find just stock is plenty, at least for now. Congrats on the purchase.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 6,715
Likes: 2
From: Santa Teresa New Mexico
In a word; no.
Contrary to what you read in the K&N ads, there really is no such thing as cheap horsepower.
You need to figure paying about $50 for every one horsepower gain. This doesn't mean a $50 airfoil is guaranteed to give you one horsepower, though....it's an average for when you start spending real money.
How far can you comfortably drive a C4? About 100,000 miles. After that you start worrying too much.......
Larry
code5coupe
Contrary to what you read in the K&N ads, there really is no such thing as cheap horsepower.
You need to figure paying about $50 for every one horsepower gain. This doesn't mean a $50 airfoil is guaranteed to give you one horsepower, though....it's an average for when you start spending real money.
How far can you comfortably drive a C4? About 100,000 miles. After that you start worrying too much.......
Larry
code5coupe
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 897
Likes: 12
From: Land of Whiskey Rebels, PA
$15,000 is a good price. Buy it. Drive it. Once you start, you won't want to park it. Trust me on that. It's addictive.
I would replace the fan belt, first thing. 13 year old rubber things are not reliable. They will fail first.
Take good care of it and it will take care of you.
AND, wave to other 'vette owners. You're in a very select fraternity, now. It's feels great when they acknowlege and wave back.
I would replace the fan belt, first thing. 13 year old rubber things are not reliable. They will fail first.
Take good care of it and it will take care of you.
AND, wave to other 'vette owners. You're in a very select fraternity, now. It's feels great when they acknowlege and wave back.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,183
Likes: 1
From: MidOhio
Rubber degrades as much from time as use, even when in a climate controlled environment. Tires, hoses (coolant, brake, gas, gas vapor), belts or anything that can shut it down or be a safety factor should be replaced unless provably done in its near history. If it were me, on the drive home I'd stop frequently to visually and hand check all the tires for ply separations, lumps, etc. and stop at any sign of roughness, shimmy or rumble from the tires. Good luck with the new baby!
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
From: Keller Tx
Well, have you picked it up? Hope you went thru with it!
I bought my 1994 with 14K on it in 2000. At that time, I paid $26.5. It now has 39K, and have loved every minute I've driven it. Even if I could sell mine for $18-20K, I wouldn't.
As yourself this, "what better overall car, or bang for the buck, could I buy for $15K?" Camaro, Stang, TA, rice burner...I do't think so. Some of these cars might be nice and fun, but nothing like a vette.
Buy the car, drive it, modify it, enjoy it. Just have fun with it!
Chris
I bought my 1994 with 14K on it in 2000. At that time, I paid $26.5. It now has 39K, and have loved every minute I've driven it. Even if I could sell mine for $18-20K, I wouldn't.
As yourself this, "what better overall car, or bang for the buck, could I buy for $15K?" Camaro, Stang, TA, rice burner...I do't think so. Some of these cars might be nice and fun, but nothing like a vette.
Buy the car, drive it, modify it, enjoy it. Just have fun with it!
Chris