spacekowboy

I've been looking at a 92 C4 that fits my budget (under 10k). I test drove it and it felt fine. Interior and weather stripping need attention and body is great. Only thng that worries me is it has 116K miles on it. Should I hold out and keep looking for something with lower mileage? I do like this car. Also note: it would be my first vette. Any input would be appreciated.

PLRX

Cowboy, thats a decision you need to make. Use the search tool and there are many threads on what to look for on used Vettes. You are buying an use car, like a divorced woman with kids... you are buying unsolved issues.

Muffin

For that kind of money you can find some low mile garage queens. Keep looking.

navy_vette

For 10K, you can find something low mileage. Look on the forum "C4s for sale" and check some of the cars out there. Also, try Craigslist. It can be hit and miss, but let us know what you find and we can help you out with the basics.

zr1fred

That price should get you a 95-96 with less mileage (there's a red 96 LT4 in Phoenix that's been there for quite a while at $9200 - high for Phoenix - haven't looked at it). 116k is actually low mileage for a 20 year old car, many if not most C4's are over 150k and good for a lot more miles. Present condition is far more important than miles once a car gets over 10 years old.

xsalvioutlawx

116K is actually not a lot of miles for these cars. Especially a later C4. But anywhere near 10k in today's economy and car market is too much if the car needs attention in the interior etc.

You can get an older c4 with a lot less miles with a 10K budget. A garage queen if you will, of course it wont be an LT1, but if that doesn't matter to you I'd keep looking.

ps374

The C4 market is still toast. Look around you can do a lot better.You will regreat it later on if you dont.

spacekowboy

Thanks for your replies

Here is the car in question:

http://www.mancinimotors.com/vehicle...?VID=137587881

Frizlefrak

That's a nice Corvette (and it's a Polo, so I'm biased ).....and if they're cared for, the miles are no issue. The price, however, is an issue. Like the other guys said, in the C4 world, you're getting into low mile garage queen territory at that price.

Look in my profile....I bought my 95 Polo with 60K miles for $7800 last spring. There are tons of good deals out there right now.

kimmer

Don't worry about the mileage if it was properly maintained. My 92 had 108k on it when I purchased it over 2 years ago. Now the price is of concern, I paid 6k for mine and it was in great shape, 10k is way too much. Like others have said, take your time and shop around and you will find a deal. As far as a super low mileage one I wouldn't touch it unless you feel like starting to rebuild everything. After looking at the pics it looks like someone went a little heavy on the repaint on the rear bumper.

zr1fred

$8000 isn't unrealistic for that car. $7k would be better. Love the polo2 over fawn interior. But it's a tough color to sell.

motor city dave

To much IMO.

spacekowboy

It looks like an inbetweener. Non Corvette guys are scared at the high mileage and the corvette guys say you can do better for that price. Might be why its been for sale all summer.

navy_vette

I looked on Craigslist in your area. there were 4 of them listed as "C4", but one was....well.... do a search. It was in Kutztown. It's... an interesting idea.

Anyways, I like this one. It's an 85. It doesn't say it, but I would guess that it's TPI. It is running the 4+3 trans, and you can ask around about it. Some people like it, some don't. 113K miles isn't bad at all and I think 6500 isn't a bad price for it at all.


*edit*
One more thing. It comes with both a tinted AND fully painted top. That's a nice little extra!

Kmcoldcars

The car is way overpriced. I bought a 1992 this spring with 49000 miles on it for $ 8300. The asking price was over $ 11,000. The car was in excellent condition, inside and out. I drove it home, 1600 miles, with no problems.
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zr1fred

$7000 seems to be the cut off. Very nice cars are a hard sell over that price. Not so nice cars sell pretty quick under $7000 (rough under $5000). Most times a $7995 car is a lot better deal than a $4995 one in the not so long run (unless you restore them). There are a lot of people here that have gotten very nice cars ridiculously cheap, however they are the exception. Sometimes people get nice cars cheap because they are colors that are tough to sell, sometimes they hit a motivated (or desperate) seller just right. Sometimes they have the cash and wait for the special deals (and are smart or quick enough to recognize them). Not having seen the car in person, I'd say the condition is above average, and the price average for the apparent condition, and unless you get lucky, you're not likely to get a better deal off a car lot. Remember, total cost is purchase (+T&L&Int) + what it takes to make the car reliable and presentative + obvious future needs.

24695bob

Bottom Line is that 116 K on the clock is NOT a heck of a lot of miles for any NEW GM engine..

My Neighbor is a GM Factory Rep and he told me years ago that the LT1 Engines were designed to go 300,000 miles before needing attention IF it was maintained

You have to ask yourself how many miles you expect to drive the car every year (summer usage only ?? ) Most Corvettes even new ones usually get less the 3000 miles put on them in any year because they are basically toys ..

Bob G.

bluedevil99

Years ago when the market was at a peak (2005-2006) I bought a '95 in perfect condition with 50k miles for 11k. Nowadays for 10k or anywhere near it you should be getting one hell of a C4. People, dealers especially, tend to severely overprice these cars just because of what they are.

Just my opinion.

GreyGhost

My '93 has 116,300 on it. I just drove it home from South Jersey to the Lehigh Valley and had a blast. I did a few 5g shifts and loved it.

I would not be afraid of that car, only the price

Joe Madden

I feel robbed reading this thread, I paid $4k for my 1990 1 owner with 280k miles on it, the car is all original except the drivers seat. No mods, new tires and runs well. Is my first vette and I do love it. Any input on what I should look at for unseen wear and tare? I think the car is worth more with that many miles, nobody else has one!