should I
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,456
Likes: 29
From: Wichita Falls Texas
should I
there is a 96 corvette conv. that has a crack and paint chipping on the back corner nutin to bad but the interior is in good condition and runs good and i was wondering if buying it for 9000 is a good deal
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,841
Likes: 19
From: CLT, North Carolina
Not enough info provided to advise but if the car is in average condition with a clean previous record this is a buying opportunity. You would be buying a convertible at a price that would even be low for a coupe.
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Racer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 269
Likes: 1
From: Anniston BAMA
Last edited by OTS_UFN; Jul 15, 2007 at 11:22 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,841
Likes: 19
From: CLT, North Carolina
Carfax comes two ways if they are still the same; one month unlimited or one time only for a lower cost. What's a one shot Carfax when you are trying to decide whether to spend $9K or not? A freebie CarFax is not available anymore due to widespread abuses. You could at one time buy a Fax for yourself and use it to look up cars for whoever you wanted but they put a stop to it because they are a business and not a charity organization.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,786
Likes: 0
From: Minneapolis MN
Good price if no big issues.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,383
Likes: 4
Just some random thoughts:
It's a 9k car that seems reasonably sound.
Buying it is not risking 9k.
The risk is that if something turns out to be wrong with it how much will it cost to repair or how much would you have to reduce that 9k price to sell it on to someone else with the problem exposed.
So what is worst case?
A blown engine or tranny?
There are many people here who know the cost of engine rebuild to OE spec or tranny rebuild. But I would guess that either one is less than 2k. That would bring the car up to 11k. And that is still not too much money for a 96 'vert.
I honestly think that you could buy that car, drive it for a year, and sell it on for the 9k you bought it for.
I hope either this car works out for you or you find one that does.
It's a 9k car that seems reasonably sound.
Buying it is not risking 9k.
The risk is that if something turns out to be wrong with it how much will it cost to repair or how much would you have to reduce that 9k price to sell it on to someone else with the problem exposed.
So what is worst case?
A blown engine or tranny?
There are many people here who know the cost of engine rebuild to OE spec or tranny rebuild. But I would guess that either one is less than 2k. That would bring the car up to 11k. And that is still not too much money for a 96 'vert.
I honestly think that you could buy that car, drive it for a year, and sell it on for the 9k you bought it for.
I hope either this car works out for you or you find one that does.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,841
Likes: 19
From: CLT, North Carolina
There's an old saying in the Corvette hobby:
The junkers and fixer-uppers always sell for too much and the nice cars never bring enough.
This convertible is possibly a good example of that. On the surface it appears to be a good deal but of course one would need to swing into action with the usual 19 point multi-check. You would look into the oil filler cap to see how thick if any the sludge is, look inside the radiator cap to see what's in there, look underneath and count the oil leaks. It's prolly gonna need seats, carpet, door panels and a new top. If it has power seats the seat tracks are probably both busted. Power windows probably have at least one broken window guide. Weatherstrips are probably shot, Will most likely need brakes and tires. Figure about 4-5K to make it whole again. Just guessing, you will have to crawl in and out of it, try all the switches and controls and slide underneath with a flashlight and start counting the cost. If it passes scrutiny then it's a buy.
The junkers and fixer-uppers always sell for too much and the nice cars never bring enough.
This convertible is possibly a good example of that. On the surface it appears to be a good deal but of course one would need to swing into action with the usual 19 point multi-check. You would look into the oil filler cap to see how thick if any the sludge is, look inside the radiator cap to see what's in there, look underneath and count the oil leaks. It's prolly gonna need seats, carpet, door panels and a new top. If it has power seats the seat tracks are probably both busted. Power windows probably have at least one broken window guide. Weatherstrips are probably shot, Will most likely need brakes and tires. Figure about 4-5K to make it whole again. Just guessing, you will have to crawl in and out of it, try all the switches and controls and slide underneath with a flashlight and start counting the cost. If it passes scrutiny then it's a buy.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,954
Likes: 2
From: Obama=death for America
Unless anything major is wrong with the car, it is definitely a good buy. I don't know how you feel about the car being an auto as opposed to a 6-sp. If you would rather have a 6-sp, then don't buy it because you'll only wish that it did and will have buyers remorse. If you don't care or would rather have the auto, then it's a no brainer. Just do a careful examination in, under, around (etc.) the car. Look for any rust, hard rubber, smell the fluids, jack the car up (or better, put it on a lift) and look around for leaks. Ask for a maintenance report. When did he change the oil and the other fluids? Even though the car is more than 10 years old, you don't want to buy trouble. What you save in the cost of the car, you don't want to make up in repairs.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,791
Likes: 3
From: Maine
Just some random thoughts:
It's a 9k car that seems reasonably sound.
Buying it is not risking 9k.
The risk is that if something turns out to be wrong with it how much will it cost to repair or how much would you have to reduce that 9k price to sell it on to someone else with the problem exposed.
So what is worst case?
A blown engine or tranny?
There are many people here who know the cost of engine rebuild to OE spec or tranny rebuild. But I would guess that either one is less than 2k. That would bring the car up to 11k. And that is still not too much money for a 96 'vert.
I honestly think that you could buy that car, drive it for a year, and sell it on for the 9k you bought it for.
I hope either this car works out for you or you find one that does.
It's a 9k car that seems reasonably sound.
Buying it is not risking 9k.
The risk is that if something turns out to be wrong with it how much will it cost to repair or how much would you have to reduce that 9k price to sell it on to someone else with the problem exposed.
So what is worst case?
A blown engine or tranny?
There are many people here who know the cost of engine rebuild to OE spec or tranny rebuild. But I would guess that either one is less than 2k. That would bring the car up to 11k. And that is still not too much money for a 96 'vert.
I honestly think that you could buy that car, drive it for a year, and sell it on for the 9k you bought it for.
I hope either this car works out for you or you find one that does.
You run the same risk of finding hidden problems with the engine or transmission whether you buy a $25,000 C4 or a $9,000 one. Fortunately the most expensive items to be replaced can easily be assessed visually or by trying them out. Frame and body, paint, weatherstrip, tires, interior, electronic components. And these items often cost more than installing a whole new engine or transmission. Buy a regular car and engine fails and its considered a lemon and you're on the phone with the attorney general. Buy a corvette and engine fails and its a great excuse to drop in a new LT4 or 383. I love this hobby. 
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,456
Likes: 29
From: Wichita Falls Texas
well im going down to purchase it tomrrow the dude wanted 11000 but i talked him down to 9000 so if everything goes well ill have a 96 vert
DOES ANYBODY KNOW A GOOD MECHANIC OR VETTE MECHANIC NEAR WICHITA FALLS TEXAS
DOES ANYBODY KNOW A GOOD MECHANIC OR VETTE MECHANIC NEAR WICHITA FALLS TEXAS