That would be true of any C4
Poor 1990 vettes
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 859
Likes: 1
From: Fairfield County Connecticut
Vettes should be bought to be enjoyed and driven. They retain there value well but do depreciate. Eventually it will probably appreciate again but don't worry about the value. Just as every other Corvette, there is a bottoming process. C4's are depreciating slower than they did and are closer to the bottom. The fun you have with the Vette is your return on investment.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 18,341
Likes: 101
Actually, other than the ZR1 models of the era you're absolutely correct. Doesn't say much for the potential of any C4 to hold value. 
Tires for this car vs something from the 1960s or 70s are only the beginning of differences in maintenance costs. Computers, fuel injection and a bunch of other little and not so little items just cost more and making matters worse they are often outside the abilities of the DIY crowd to fix without professional help.
1990 may not be the most current or advanced of all Corvettes but as compared to cars from the pre-computer, fuel injection and emissions era they are very complex. It's not at all unlike comparing the cost and complexity of the latest fiber optic communications equipment to two cans and a string.
And why would a '90 cost any more to fix than any other MY?
1990 may not be the most current or advanced of all Corvettes but as compared to cars from the pre-computer, fuel injection and emissions era they are very complex. It's not at all unlike comparing the cost and complexity of the latest fiber optic communications equipment to two cans and a string.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 96,443
Likes: 9
From: Fort Knox, KY
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Unfortunately there isn't much to say about the car. It's not especially desirable yet and there really is little indication, right now anyway, that it ever will be.
Desirable Corvettes are either classics with high resale vs the costs of repair and maintenance or NEW........... 1990 just doesn't fit either category so it's destined to be a driver of little dollar value.
Things get sticky when you realize the costs concerning maintaining a 1990 when things start to really go wrong.
It can very quickly become a losing proposition to keep a 1990 Corvette going if it's been neglected. That first really major repair could spell the end of the road.
Desirable Corvettes are either classics with high resale vs the costs of repair and maintenance or NEW........... 1990 just doesn't fit either category so it's destined to be a driver of little dollar value.
Things get sticky when you realize the costs concerning maintaining a 1990 when things start to really go wrong.
It can very quickly become a losing proposition to keep a 1990 Corvette going if it's been neglected. That first really major repair could spell the end of the road.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 6,518
Likes: 1,304
From: Windermere FL
My 90 is just considered a 20+ year old used car. With the vette tax, cost of shoes, hard to find discontinued parts, and the sucky economy where prices of new vettes are depressed, I can easily see why people part them out. Sad, but just economics.
Unless you are a great wrencher, with lots of free time, and can do your own painting and interior work, one could easily dump 3 times the values of the current values of these cars to make it nice again.
On the plus side, if you have one that is in nice shape, and keep up with maintenance and repairs, the cost of depreciation isn't too bad. At this point in time, I calculated the depreciation at $1150 / year so far. (not including the cost of maintenance and tinkering I admit). The last new truck I bought and kept for 8 years the yearly depreciation was $3800 - almost triple.
Unless you are a great wrencher, with lots of free time, and can do your own painting and interior work, one could easily dump 3 times the values of the current values of these cars to make it nice again.
On the plus side, if you have one that is in nice shape, and keep up with maintenance and repairs, the cost of depreciation isn't too bad. At this point in time, I calculated the depreciation at $1150 / year so far. (not including the cost of maintenance and tinkering I admit). The last new truck I bought and kept for 8 years the yearly depreciation was $3800 - almost triple.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 18,341
Likes: 101
Hi!
I don't make it onto the forum as often as I used to.
Super busy all the time lately. Markets and trading in general just move faster these past couple of years than in the past.
It not only has me monitoring things more closely but a lot of "hand holding" is required too.
I don't make it onto the forum as often as I used to.
Super busy all the time lately. Markets and trading in general just move faster these past couple of years than in the past.
It not only has me monitoring things more closely but a lot of "hand holding" is required too.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 96,443
Likes: 9
From: Fort Knox, KY
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Hi!
I don't make it onto the forum as often as I used to.
Super busy all the time lately. Markets and trading in general just move faster these past couple of years than in the past.
It not only has me monitoring things more closely but a lot of "hand holding" is required too.
I don't make it onto the forum as often as I used to.
Super busy all the time lately. Markets and trading in general just move faster these past couple of years than in the past.
It not only has me monitoring things more closely but a lot of "hand holding" is required too.
Still, it's good to say "hi" to a familiar presence. Take care!
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
