Requesting First Purchase Advice
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 801
Likes: 1
From: Orland Park IL
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Requesting First Purchase Advice - Just Bought!!
Always a Corvette dreamer, never an owner, but with your advice, that should change shortly! 
I've been shopping for the last month, and have decided on the following, but want to be sure that the experts here feel that this is a fair deal:
1996 CE, automatic with 37K miles
- 100% stock/no mods
- excellent condition in and out
- both tops
- brand new brakes, newer tires
- Only issue I know of is the keyless entry opens only the hatch and not the doors. (which was the case for a few of the Vettes I looked at)
Price: $14,400
Based on my shopping experience, this seems to me to be a very good price. Do you agree? If not, I'll reply back with details of my second choice -- a 94 with 83K.
Thanks to all!!
**************************************** ***********
It's now official! Thanks for all of the advice!
I've been shopping for the last month, and have decided on the following, but want to be sure that the experts here feel that this is a fair deal:
1996 CE, automatic with 37K miles
- 100% stock/no mods
- excellent condition in and out
- both tops
- brand new brakes, newer tires
- Only issue I know of is the keyless entry opens only the hatch and not the doors. (which was the case for a few of the Vettes I looked at)
Price: $14,400
Based on my shopping experience, this seems to me to be a very good price. Do you agree? If not, I'll reply back with details of my second choice -- a 94 with 83K.
Thanks to all!!
**************************************** ***********
It's now official! Thanks for all of the advice!
Last edited by Illini Al; Sep 12, 2010 at 10:17 AM. Reason: Update.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 73,568
Likes: 33
From: Somewhere in Mo
St. Jude Donor '09-'10, '14
You "might" find a better price. I would prefer 12K myself but you can't go wrong with this car and price either. I saw a 99 C5 today with about 70K for 16K.
Is that the lowest they will go? Is it a dealer or private seller?
Is that the lowest they will go? Is it a dealer or private seller?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 801
Likes: 1
From: Orland Park IL
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Dealer. I may be able to get a couple hundred lower, but the $14,400 was after our negotiations. Thanks.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 801
Likes: 1
From: Orland Park IL
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 193
Likes: 2
From: York Pennsylvania
The C4 market is almost nonexistent out west they have trouble giving the cars away, people have devalued this generation so much when they trade in so they can have a newer vehicle. So a lot of it comes down to how much the car is worth to you and how much you like it.
Always offer a dealer less than asking, try to get a deal.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 338
Likes: 0
From: Kansas City Missouri
I think it may be a little high.....I had mine advertised with only 20k nukes on it, and a 6 speed for 14k...over 6 months I only had 4 people even inquire about it...no sale....market is very slow this year, and the C5's are about to drop like the leafs this fall
Racer
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 345
Likes: 0
From: Sicklerville NJ.
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15-'16
Seems like a fair price for low milege well kept car. Get vehicle history check & enjoy it . I recently spent 4 months looking for the right 96 Vert & found to get a decent low mileage clean car it is more a few dollars more. 
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,376
Likes: 111
From: Cherokee National Forest TN
Kelly blue book:
Excellent $17,325
Suggested Retail Value Assumes Excellent Condition More Close
Suggested Retail Value
This value assumes the vehicle has received the cosmetic and/or mechanical reconditioning needed to qualify it as "Excellent". This is not a transaction value; it is representative of a dealer's asking price and the starting point for negotiation.
Close
Poor
Excellent (Selected)
"Excellent" condition means that the vehicle looks new, is in excellent mechanical condition and needs no reconditioning. This vehicle has never had any paint or body work and is free of rust. The vehicle has a clean title history and will pass a smog and safety inspection. The engine compartment is clean, with no fluid leaks and is free of any wear or visible defects. The vehicle also has complete and verifiable service records. Less than 5% of all used vehicles fall into this category.
Excellent $17,325
Suggested Retail Value Assumes Excellent Condition More Close
Suggested Retail Value
This value assumes the vehicle has received the cosmetic and/or mechanical reconditioning needed to qualify it as "Excellent". This is not a transaction value; it is representative of a dealer's asking price and the starting point for negotiation.
Close
Poor
Excellent (Selected)
"Excellent" condition means that the vehicle looks new, is in excellent mechanical condition and needs no reconditioning. This vehicle has never had any paint or body work and is free of rust. The vehicle has a clean title history and will pass a smog and safety inspection. The engine compartment is clean, with no fluid leaks and is free of any wear or visible defects. The vehicle also has complete and verifiable service records. Less than 5% of all used vehicles fall into this category.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 801
Likes: 1
From: Orland Park IL
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,058
Likes: 2,159
From: Schaller Iowa
astepup said that
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,165
Likes: 5
From: Coast MS
I just paid 14.8 for an LT4 with 32,000 miles. Everything checked as excellent, with the Chevrolet guy who checked it telling me that the car was one of the best examples of that generation that he'd ever seen.
That price is under book. If it's exactly what you want, then it's not bad. If you're compromising for something or it's not the color you want I'd pass. If you're at the top of what you want to pay, you should be getting exactly what you want.
That price is under book. If it's exactly what you want, then it's not bad. If you're compromising for something or it's not the color you want I'd pass. If you're at the top of what you want to pay, you should be getting exactly what you want.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,355
Likes: 2,280
From: Central Maryland
Premium quality specimens are worth premium prices, within reason. You won't regret dishing out a few extra fun tickets for a top-notch car. Negotiate as much as you can with that dealer, and if you like everything about the car, settle for the best price you can work out. If you really want a six-speed, or a convertible, keep looking. Make sure you end up with a car you'll truly love, rather than one that's not quite what you wanted.
The 1996 Corvette was one of the most refined, best-sorted-out Corvettes ever built.
Best of luck with it.
Live well,
SJW
The 1996 Corvette was one of the most refined, best-sorted-out Corvettes ever built.
Best of luck with it.
Live well,
SJW
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,444
Likes: 0
IMHO it's a tad high. I don't feel the CE's automatics are all that collectable. I'm not bad mouthing CE's, they are more desirable than the average coupe, giving like condition, etc...
I'd either find a better priced non CE that fit's your needs. My choice would be an LT4 with ZF 6 speed for less $$$ or add a few extra bucks and get a Grand Sport which is the same but much more collectable.
I'd either find a better priced non CE that fit's your needs. My choice would be an LT4 with ZF 6 speed for less $$$ or add a few extra bucks and get a Grand Sport which is the same but much more collectable.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
From: Wilmington NC
Seems fair
My first Vette is a 96 CE LT1 coupe I bought at Bud's in Ohio in September 2008, (see their ads on the forum). It was a one owner, originally purchased at Bud's, 26K miles, great condition, and I paid $16,100, and never looked back. At the time Bud's was asking $16,900 for the car, so they came down a bit, and were really great to work with. If it's the car you want, go for it, it's not a bad price, and I have been really happy with my CE.
Last edited by NCMike; Sep 7, 2010 at 11:47 PM. Reason: grammar
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,706
Likes: 485
From: Everett WA
C4 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
My first Vette is a 96 CE LT1 coupe I bought at Bud's in Ohio in September 2008, (see their ads on the forum). It was a one owner, originally purchased at Bud's, 26K miles, great condition, and I paid $16,100, and never looked back. At the time Bud's was asking $16,900 for the car, so they came down a bit, and were really great to work with. If it's the car you want, go for it, it's not a bad price, and I have been really happy with my CE.
Remember the objective is not to get a car for the lowest possible price .... the idea is to get a good quality vette that is going to make you happy. If you intend to keep the car and drive the heck out of it then $1,500.00 one way or the other makes little difference in the long run.If it's in excellent condition with both tops and good tires thats a fair deal.