1995 coupe... purchasing advice needed
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,092
Likes: 5
From: Fayetteville Arkansas
1995 coupe... purchasing advice needed
Hello all,
Im a long time member of the forum but do not have a lot of experience with the C4, I own a 2000 and a 1972. My God-father has been searching for a vette for some time now and sent me this info on the 1995 red ext/ black int auto coupe. It has 56,000 miles on it and needs new rear tires. It is for sale at a dealership and they are asking $10,900.00 OBO. I asked for a car fax report on it and it showed up as having 5 previous owners and mileage is accurate, but it does show that there have been two previous accidents. One in 2000 with another vehicle that was reported as moderate damage and a second in 1995 that was a collision with a stationary object where the airbags were deployed. I am going to try to upload these pics I have of it and I would really appreciate your thoughts on the car and it's value. Also what are the usual things I should look at closely and inspect on a C4. Any pointers would be great!
Thanks,
Sully
Im a long time member of the forum but do not have a lot of experience with the C4, I own a 2000 and a 1972. My God-father has been searching for a vette for some time now and sent me this info on the 1995 red ext/ black int auto coupe. It has 56,000 miles on it and needs new rear tires. It is for sale at a dealership and they are asking $10,900.00 OBO. I asked for a car fax report on it and it showed up as having 5 previous owners and mileage is accurate, but it does show that there have been two previous accidents. One in 2000 with another vehicle that was reported as moderate damage and a second in 1995 that was a collision with a stationary object where the airbags were deployed. I am going to try to upload these pics I have of it and I would really appreciate your thoughts on the car and it's value. Also what are the usual things I should look at closely and inspect on a C4. Any pointers would be great!
Thanks,
Sully
Last edited by Sully1882; Jul 19, 2008 at 04:27 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,092
Likes: 5
From: Fayetteville Arkansas
here's the carfax link if anyone else wants to read...
<http://www.carfax.com/viewEmailReport.do?a=deGZMjL93XTx%2BCoC% 2BBC9YNIwYFinyQN3oExwkvISsPaqiBvP4td3Knx krGrCZjrf&language=EN>
thanks again,
Sully
<http://www.carfax.com/viewEmailReport.do?a=deGZMjL93XTx%2BCoC% 2BBC9YNIwYFinyQN3oExwkvISsPaqiBvP4td3Knx krGrCZjrf&language=EN>
thanks again,
Sully
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,092
Likes: 5
From: Fayetteville Arkansas
pictures
any thoughts on this please share, as I said before my experience lies with a C5 and a C3.... so any help here is greatly appreciated...
thanks in advance,
Sully
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 9,933
Likes: 103
From: Peoria Arizona.. Resident Gold Cylon
Air bags deployed hitting an object? Id walk away. Good mileage but id insist on seeing the receipts for those repairs, if its at a dealership I doubt they have it. You can find a better car in my HO.
Last edited by Goldcylon; Jul 19, 2008 at 04:22 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,564
Likes: 6
From: Woodstock Georgia
I have a 95 and love it, but I would more about the history on that one.
The paint looks good, interior ok, aftermarket radio but otherwise it looks all stock. Stock seats and drivers seat only power seat? You will find the RPO codes under the compartment door behind the passenger seat. How does it drive? Run it thru a carwash and see what leaks. Does everything work, including PKE, cruise, weatherstripping, etc.? Still priced too high by a couple thousand, but let's assume they will drop the price and put on new rear tires to make it attractive.
The paint looks good, interior ok, aftermarket radio but otherwise it looks all stock. Stock seats and drivers seat only power seat? You will find the RPO codes under the compartment door behind the passenger seat. How does it drive? Run it thru a carwash and see what leaks. Does everything work, including PKE, cruise, weatherstripping, etc.? Still priced too high by a couple thousand, but let's assume they will drop the price and put on new rear tires to make it attractive.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 298
Likes: 1
From: Escondido CA
I agree 100%, if the airbags were deployed I would bet that the frame has been straightened. The car looks pretty nice, but what is with the yellow door jambs?
As much as I hate to say it, Nice C4s are a dime a dozen anymore...
Please look into a different car!
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,493
Likes: 94
From: Westfield MA
If it wasn't for the accident history, I would say it is a "good" buy, I paid just under $10K for a 95 with 60K last winter, my car doesn't have any known accident history, it isn't mint, but is very nice. So $11K from a dealer is ok, but no steal. On one hand, these are not new cars, an accident is no big deal as long as it was repaired properly, but on the other hand, if you found it, others will. Someday you will want to sell the car and the next buyer will be on here posting the same question and you will be faced with trying to explain it away. The dealer won't discount the car enough because sooner or later someone will come along who hasn't done their homework and pay him his money. As someone before me said, there are plenty of nice C4's out there right now, no need to compromise.
It does look nice though, well except for those yellow door jambs!!! Are they really yellow or is that just the way they came out in the picture?
It does look nice though, well except for those yellow door jambs!!! Are they really yellow or is that just the way they came out in the picture?
Last edited by skybolt31; Jul 19, 2008 at 05:24 PM. Reason: spellin
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,092
Likes: 5
From: Fayetteville Arkansas
Sully
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,616
Likes: 5
From: Sandhills of North Carolina
Just to many other better ones out there to be messing with this one. 5 OWNERS! That's a lot...........No telling what might have been done to this one.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 6,314
Likes: 508
From: South-central Missouri
I wuz kinda on the fence - IF the car included new rubber. But, that yellow door jamb... I agree w/ others: for that money you can find one that is clean and w/o the history.
As far as price goes, C4s have a wide range. Depending on the true condition, I've seen 95s w/ A4s for $8k to $1450 w/ 70k M6 (what mine sold for this spring).
Last month I saw a spotless, one-owner white/black 90k mile 94 M6 w/ good rubber, both tops and clean as a hounds tooth go for $9.5k on a small dealer's lot...just for comparison's sake.
P.
As far as price goes, C4s have a wide range. Depending on the true condition, I've seen 95s w/ A4s for $8k to $1450 w/ 70k M6 (what mine sold for this spring).
Last month I saw a spotless, one-owner white/black 90k mile 94 M6 w/ good rubber, both tops and clean as a hounds tooth go for $9.5k on a small dealer's lot...just for comparison's sake.
P.
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
I agree 100%, if the airbags were deployed I would bet that the frame has been straightened. The car looks pretty nice, but what is with the yellow door jambs?
As much as I hate to say it, Nice C4s are a dime a dozen anymore...
Please look into a different car!
As much as I hate to say it, Nice C4s are a dime a dozen anymore...
Please look into a different car!
Here's an example of my Red interior where the exposure is for the shadowed areas of the seat. I can assure you that my seats are not yellow.
Last edited by teebee; Jul 20, 2008 at 09:08 AM. Reason: added picture
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,168
Likes: 17
From: Iowa
If your God Father is looking for a keeper ( us older people tend to keep things longer), not one of the last five owners thought this car was one. I understand maybe trading up once and awhile, but I think some one would have hung on to it if it was a great car. Five people had extended seat time in this car and no one kept it? I'm guessing it cuts tires or something. Thats a yellow door jam with red overspray on the weather stripping. I couldn't live with that alone (hack job on the color change). Might be just fine for a high school kid that was just going to beat it up any way. I vote that you help your God father find a car He'll be proud of. It might cost just alittle more, but it's cheaper to buy a good car than to try to make one out of a bad car. I've learned that lesson the hard way. A guy I work with says it best, you can polish a turd all you want but its still a turd.
Last edited by tixeon; Jul 20, 2008 at 09:48 AM. Reason: sp
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,214
Likes: 0
From: Miami FL
I would check it out thoroughly. If the frame was damaged you may see signs of repairs in the front frame sections that go to the front bumper. You also have to drive the car and see how it tracks. Check how the wheels line up with the edges of the fenders front and rear.(though many non-accident C4s spacing is sometimes slightly off from one side to the other) See how all of the body panels and hood line up. This is not an easy task on a C4. Have someone drive the car as you follow it and make sure the body is lining up straight with the road. (sometimes frame damaged cars have an allighnment that tracks the car with no pulling to either side, but the car may appear crooked when driving down the road.) If everything looks good, you may be able to knock a couple of grand off the price and still have a nice low mile vette.
You never know..It may have been repaired very well with no ill effects on the car as a whole and get it for around $8K.
I see guys buying trashed C4s that have never been wrecked then spending thousands just to get them running and looking right. If this car is low miles with low wear and a good repair job from the accidents, you may get a bargain.
You never know..It may have been repaired very well with no ill effects on the car as a whole and get it for around $8K.
I see guys buying trashed C4s that have never been wrecked then spending thousands just to get them running and looking right. If this car is low miles with low wear and a good repair job from the accidents, you may get a bargain.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 13,348
Likes: 233
From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
Not anything wrong that I can see.
It doesn't take much to set off airbags and Torch Red looks pure yellow on photos taken in direct sunlight...at certain angles.
If you like the car, and it checks out with no major malfunctions, then by all means get it.
Larry
__________
not easily impressed.....
It doesn't take much to set off airbags and Torch Red looks pure yellow on photos taken in direct sunlight...at certain angles.
If you like the car, and it checks out with no major malfunctions, then by all means get it.
Larry
__________
not easily impressed.....
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 805
Likes: 3
From: Waco TX
I bought my 94 last year for 10,800...and before the economy really went down the toilet. It was a little more than I wanted to pay, but I love it. Mine was a 4 or 5 owner and had one wreck. A finder binder...said mine hit a parked car. Carfax guaranteed the frame had never been touched an that the airbags never deployed. Mine had 77k on it. 100% bone stock, down to the radio.
The fact that your car has been wrecked twice and that the airbags deployed makes me think you should look elsewhere.
Airbags deploying would be my deciding factor-those usually don't deploy unless it's a serious wreck involving frame dammage.
While I was Corvette shopping, I ran across one that had a really shady carfax. The car was a 1992, two wrecks, and was never bought new until 1995. That was a red flag to me. Makes me think the car must have been issued two titles or something.
The fact that your car has been wrecked twice and that the airbags deployed makes me think you should look elsewhere.
Airbags deploying would be my deciding factor-those usually don't deploy unless it's a serious wreck involving frame dammage.
While I was Corvette shopping, I ran across one that had a really shady carfax. The car was a 1992, two wrecks, and was never bought new until 1995. That was a red flag to me. Makes me think the car must have been issued two titles or something.
Last edited by CStewTAMU; Jul 20, 2008 at 07:12 PM.