Hey everyone, after doing a lot of research, I think I've come to the decision that soon (in 1 month, I'm on a 45 day pay delay) I will be buying my first Corvette.

I think I've decided on an '89 because of a few different reasons. First, I prefer the look of the older rear end style with the round headlights and more angular bumper. Secondly, I love the star wars display dash. Third, I believe that I'll be more likely to find cars with the L98 more cheaply than those with the LT1, although if so, I want the G92 performance rear axle. I am open to manual or auto. I prefer more neutral colors, but I really like anything other than yellow although white is kind of boring. Having a leather interior is also a must.

Right now my biggest problem is that I will have only $8,000 to spend on the car before sales tax, license and registration, etc. Do I have any hope of finding a car in very good condition with around 85k miles or less in that price range?

My second issue is that I live in Colorado. It seems most of those for sale are located way east of where I live. Should I consider buying sight unseen and shipping the car?

Does anyone know of any deals, or where I should look for this car? Am I being way to picky? Can you guys think of anything I've overlooked that may make a difference on the year I think I've decided on?

Thanks for your help guys, I've only posted a little, but read a ton.

-Nathan

 

You should have no problem finding a 89 (or an 88, they are almost identical) for under $8k. Now finding one in very good condition is a little more difficult. Prices are high now (relatively, but most aren't selling)) but will start coming down after Sept. with the onset of cold weather and the realization that they will probably have to drop their prices if they have any hope of selling. Prices seem to be cheaper out west, generally. Condition is more important than mileage, as these cars can get expensive to fix/restore. Make an honest appraisel of your abilites before you buy.

 

Thanks for the info! I've noticed that prices have actually seemed to come up a little since the beginning of May. I am going to be sure to look for good paint and good quality leather in the interior. I also plan on making sure the dash works well. I really prefer a clean engine bay. I've got some mechanical skills, but nothing too advanced. I've replaced alternators, valve cover gaskets and the like, but nothing with the engine pulled and what not.

 

I think you're definitely in the ballpark. It will probably take some searching to find just the right '89 in good to excellent condition for $8,000, but I think you can do it.

I wouldn't be too strict on the mileage requirement because I think condition and maintenance mean just as much or more than mileage. I wouldn't turn down well a maintained car that is everything you want at the right price with 100,000 or 120,000 miles. The low mileage cars are still 23 years old, so you'll be working on them too. And a well maintained higher mileage car may have a lot of work done already.

I don't think I would buy a car sight unseen. There are just way too many horror stories, and in the time these cars have been around, a lot could have happened to them. If you have to buy long distance, I would at least have someone check it out. Contact local Corvette clubs and post here in the C4 forum and on the regional forums on this site to find someone to check out a car.

Buying long distance is often the only way to find just the right car. I would keep checking ebay, usedcorvettesforsale.com, the C4s For Sale forum here, and especially craigslist in all the cities around you. Colorado is actually a good central location because you can look for cars in Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Dallas, Albuquerque, Kansas, and even California, as well as Denver and the rest of Colorado. Any of those places is a pretty easy flight out and short road trip home.

You're definitely not being too picky. Decide on what you want and don't settle for something else. It might take some time to find it but when the right one comes along you'll just know it. If you buy a car you don't really want you'll never be truly happy with it. Besides, the hunt is half the fun! Good luck!

 

Thanks, that is good advice about having someone local check it out for me. There are a few for sale around here, but most are bubba'd with and I don't want anything other than stock wheels which makes it hard. Also, I've seen a bunch with brown/rust colored valve covers. Are these prone to rusting or something?

 

You're looking at 23 year old cars. There are a few, a very few, that have been kept totally stock and in excellent condition. However, many have been modified in some way. Almost all of them have been driven quite a bit and have had work performed.

Education is very important when you're shopping. You're doing the right thing by reading the forum. Check out as many car ads as you can, look at cars for sale, and go to shows and club meetings to talk to owners. The goal is to learn how to critically look at a car... what are some of the common issues that these cars have? Which problems are easy do-it-yourself fixes and which problems should make you walk away? For instance, wheels are probably the most common item to be changed and they can easily be changed back to stock. Stock '89 wheels are readily available here on the forum and would probably cost less than you can sell most aftermarket wheels for, so definitely don't pass up a car just because it doesn't have stock wheels.

The dash lights are a common problem that you can fix yourself (there are threads here on the forum). Even if you buy a car with working dash lights, unless the bulbs have been replaced recently, there's a good chance they'll burn out and you'll be replacing them anyway. So dash lights are not a terribly big consideration, although it would be a plus if a car just had them all replaced.

Yes, L98 valve covers commonly get that brown discoloring. It's not rust, but I believe the magnesium discolors over time and with chemical cleaners. I'm not familiar with that problem because I've never owned an L98, but I'm sure you can find answers here.

Don't be afraid of a few issues with a car. Almost all of them will need something, and perfect or almost perfect cars will be expensive. You can actually use the problems when you're bargaining on the price. What you want to avoid is major (expensive) problems, and cars with so many little problems that it tells you they haven't been maintained.

 

One thing I'll mention, check on the condition of the tires. A new set for an 89 can easily run $700-$1000.

 

I found mine in the town I live for $5,500. L98 1990 with literally all the options. Fantastic condition with 100,000 miles. All receipts since new with the car. The problems were the a/c doesn't work. Rear bose speaker amps are bad. Antenna didn't work, it was stuck up. One very small tear in the drivers left seat bottom bolster. Left headlight needs bushings and tranny due for service. Good tires although not the best brand. Mufflers rotted internally, look new on the outside.

You can find one but like the other said, don't buy if you can see and drive the car. It's just too risky.

 

Nathan, you've received some excellent advice (especially from blackbird z07 )

I'll add this - be sure you can live with the condition of the paint on the car you choose. For me, paint issues would be a show-stopper on an early C4. It will cost more to prep/paint than the car is worth. The interior can also be expensive to fix.

I agree that a car with 120K miles that had been maintained wouldn't scare me at all. You know that many of the systems (eg, water pump, etc) have likely been replaced anyway.

Good luck!

 

Excellent points! Paint is very important as a good paint job will cost as much as you're paying for the car (i.e. I had to repaint the nose and hood last year on my 85 and to match the factory style of the paint already on the car it cost $4000). Interior is also important, but at least you could find used, low mileage parts for replacement (i.e. I picked up a near perfect set of leather standard seats in the color I needed complete with buckets for $400, way less than new foam, covers, installation costs, etc.).

A higher mileage car should not scare you if the paint and interior condition are acceptable to you. I've had more problems with low mileage cars than with ones that were driven. If you're buying the car for enjoyment and not to put it away in a time capsule, mileage means nothing IMO.

 

Your expectations are very reasonable, good luck acquiring your first C4.

One thing, absolutely DO NOT buy sight unseen. Condition will vary widely with the older C4's and everything will look like a million bucks in the ad photos. To me it would be like the equivalent of getting a mail order bride that I'd never seen a picture of.

 

Thanks for the tips guys, I'll widen my search a little to include higher mileage cars that are in exceptional conditions. That should also give me a little more money left over for repairs etc.

I can't wait to be part of the 'vette ownership club, and i'll be sure to wave!

I am also not set on an '87, I love them all. That said here are some that I'd like to go look at. What do you guys think? Anything you can see wrong with em that would cause me to eliminate them from the list and save myself a trip?

http://boulder.craigslist.org/cto/3041207314.html

http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/3144283317.html

http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/3139767434.html

http://cosprings.craigslist.org/cto/3046213437.html

http://fortcollins.craigslist.org/cto/3133880313.html

 

The red 91, blue 92 and the red 96 all look great.

For color, the blue would be my first choice. I question the 96 ad because I thought that the Z51 option wasn't available then, but I could be wrong.

The red 91 looks good and it has the smoked top which is nice. I'd bet that if you have cash you could get it for under 7K. If it has the sport seats, G92, etc., then you'd have less room to negotiate. Keep in mind though - times are tough and cash talks.

Also, check out www.searchtempest.com You can use that to search all of craigslist for however many miles away from you you choose. MUCH easier than searching area by area manually.

 

I would take a couple of hours annual leave and drive over to Fort Collins with my checkbook in hand. Ask to see all the paperwork. If that 1996 really is a one owner car and garage kept since new, give him a deposit with a contingency on mechanic inspection.

 

I bought my 1990 Corvette a few weeks ago and I love it! The antenna won't go down and the stereo amplifires are shot, but other than that it's like new! The guy only drove it 5months out of the year and never in the rain.

http://boise.craigslist.org/cto/3076642183.html

 

I called both of the numbers for the red 96 and one was a wrong number, and the other went straight to a voicemail saying the party you wish to reach is not available. Wonder what's going on...

 

Simple. He's at work. Keep possitive vibes.

 

Nathan-
You've gotten some GREAT advice here (and will receive MUCH more if/when you need it!).
Keep in mind craigslist is also a venue for some "less-than-honest" folks, just say'in.....
I like the 88' anniversary car, but I'm a early C4 fan!
Buying sight-un-seen is nerve racking, but the forum has a list of folks (me included) who are happy to check out a car for folks from out of town. If you find one that looks good to you, ask here, I'm sure someone will be happy to look at a Corvette for you!
Happy hunting!

 

I'd be looking at that 1996

 

Go here. http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4s-for-sale-wanted-54/