Possible new guy
Thread Starter
1st Gear
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1
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Possible new guy
Im thinking of getting a vette.ive had muscle cars all my life never a vette. I have an opportunity to get an 87 conv. Auto with 133,000 mi. Im a little leery about the miles but it looks like its been taken care of. If i ever need tires is that gotten take my first born? Its not gonna be a daily driver. Any advice
Racer
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 289
Likes: 0
From: NY
How much are they asking. 133k miles is alot for anything over 4grand. Trust me patience is everything. The perfect car for the perfect price will show..
I waited about a year to get my vette constantly searching.
Finally found that One car with that miles/condition to price ratio.
68k miles perfect condition. $7000
Patience!
I waited about a year to get my vette constantly searching.
Finally found that One car with that miles/condition to price ratio.
68k miles perfect condition. $7000
Patience!
Last edited by TheDudeMatt; Mar 18, 2010 at 03:07 PM.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
From: morrisville nc
i guess it will depend on price, when i purchased mine the prices were high (12k, 4yrs ago), but i took the plundge, it had only 50k very clean miles. I have done very little and now it has 55k miles on it
(own five other cars)...If you plan on driving it like i do miles should not matter --non DD)...Also plan on doing some of your own work to save on money!!
(own five other cars)...If you plan on driving it like i do miles should not matter --non DD)...Also plan on doing some of your own work to save on money!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,057
Likes: 2,159
From: Schaller Iowa
I agree with Matt. Take your time and most people here say don't grab the first one you look at/test drive although that can work out. I too spent a lot of time looking and finally found my 94, 29K miles and in great shape but it did need tires then naturally a new opti. Tires are like anything else, you can spend a lot for the really high performance ones. I put Khumos on mine and have been very happy. Quiet solid ride and I think a pretty good value.
What's your budget? You can buy cars now for thousands less then the same car would bring 2 years ago. Definately a buyers market out there.
What's your budget? You can buy cars now for thousands less then the same car would bring 2 years ago. Definately a buyers market out there.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 73,568
Likes: 33
From: Somewhere in Mo
St. Jude Donor '09-'10, '14
How much are they asking. 133k miles is alot for anything over 4grand. Trust me patience is everything. The perfect car for the perfect price will show..
I waited about a year to get my vette constantly searching.
Finally found that One car with that miles/condition to price ratio.
68k miles perfect condition. $7000
Patience!
I waited about a year to get my vette constantly searching.
Finally found that One car with that miles/condition to price ratio.
68k miles perfect condition. $7000
Patience!
I agree with Matt. Take your time and most people here say don't grab the first one you look at/test drive although that can work out. I too spent a lot of time looking and finally found my 94, 29K miles and in great shape but it did need tires then naturally a new opti. Tires are like anything else, you can spend a lot for the really high performance ones. I put Khumos on mine and have been very happy. Quiet solid ride and I think a pretty good value.
What's your budget? You can buy cars now for thousands less then the same car would bring 2 years ago. Definately a buyers market out there.
What's your budget? You can buy cars now for thousands less then the same car would bring 2 years ago. Definately a buyers market out there.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
Likes: 26
From: El Paso Texas
Years back, somebody imparted this little bit of "widsom" unto me...."The two best days in a Corvette owner's life are the day he gets it, and the day he gets rid of it". What an utter load of crap. After 12 years of owning my 84, I may get rid of it some day....but only to make room for another one. 
Don't buy the first one you see.....shop around, and you'll find the car you really want. Once you do that, buy it and never look back.
Don't buy the first one you see.....shop around, and you'll find the car you really want. Once you do that, buy it and never look back.
Roadster Madness. 😠
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 6,291
Likes: 2,361
From: Ventura Co Ca
SoCal Regional Events Coordinator
St. Jude Donor '13, '20-'21
Check every tire place in your area. About five years ago I did that and found a little hole in the wall that found my Michelen Pilots for the rear for $155. They were new and not seconds.
While I had it up, I asked them to check the spare. It of course was low, so they took it out and remounted it, no charge. I gave the guy five bucks and everybody was happy
While I had it up, I asked them to check the spare. It of course was low, so they took it out and remounted it, no charge. I gave the guy five bucks and everybody was happy
Last edited by Vette Jockey; Mar 18, 2010 at 05:19 PM.
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Pro
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 730
Likes: 0
From: LaGrange Highlands IL
I shopped around on the internet and got a feel for pricing and mileage. The car I bought was the first car I looked at and it was in really nice shape. I put $100. down and bought it a few days later. So far it's been a good car, but I just bought it last November. So in certain cases I would say if the car meets your expectations and seems fairly priced buy it on the spot before someone else does. I bought a 93 6 speed which are harder to find and with 65,000 miles on it. My first vette a 1970 I bought was the first one I looked at and that was a big mistake, it needed way to much work done to it. I remember years ago looking at old pick-ups with my dad and the first one we looked at was the best one. I kept looking and they were all not to my liking. I called the owner of the first truck I looked at a few days later and it was sold to my dismay.
Joe
Joe
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 8,041
Likes: 2
From: EOF ★ Kaliforniastan ★
St. Jude Donor '10
That's the same thing somebody told me about a boat 
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,794
Likes: 64
From: Roanoke Va
Im thinking of getting a vette.ive had muscle cars all my life never a vette. I have an opportunity to get an 87 conv. Auto with 133,000 mi. Im a little leery about the miles but it looks like its been taken care of. If i ever need tires is that gotten take my first born? Its not gonna be a daily driver. Any advice
If so that's nothing on a 350.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
Likes: 26
From: El Paso Texas
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4,328
Likes: 15
From: Jacksonville FL
I paid about $3500 for mine. Naturally with a performance car, odds are the one your looking at is well used. My car had about that mileage when I bought it. As long as it was taken care of, you should be fine. My 85's PO had spent tons of money on restoration parts but very little on mechanical so I am working thru these issues a little at a time. The advice of checking around is good tho, see what vettes are going for on lots and the paper in your area, on eBay and Craigslist.
As far as new shoes for your ride. Sumitomo is the absolutely cheapest I have found by a good margin. Decent but faster wearing. Kumho's are next. Then on up from there. You can spent a lot of money on tires and if you dont drive it a lot, you will still need to replace them before they wear out. You dont want a tire coming apart at highway speeds cause its dry rotted. Check the date stamp on the inside of the tire before you buy to make sure its not already a few years old.
Good luck!
As far as new shoes for your ride. Sumitomo is the absolutely cheapest I have found by a good margin. Decent but faster wearing. Kumho's are next. Then on up from there. You can spent a lot of money on tires and if you dont drive it a lot, you will still need to replace them before they wear out. You dont want a tire coming apart at highway speeds cause its dry rotted. Check the date stamp on the inside of the tire before you buy to make sure its not already a few years old.
Good luck!
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 16,838
Likes: 341
From: Database Error Indiana
PAINT . Look for a car with great paint. It is the most expensive part of the car, if you cant do it yourself. Mechanical stuff is not too expensive but stripping and repainting is.