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95 base coupe, Admiral blue over tan, 97K miles. Paid 3750.00
Admittedly it was a bit of an inside deal: I had a good friend who worked for a title pawn outfit that repo-d the car. Had a broken rear spring and tempermental Optispark. I now have about 4300.00 in the car and turn heads everywhere I go.
In addition to generally being in good shape, one of less than 300 build that year with that color combination! Right place, right time, and bought with my lovely wife's blessing! (That's her in the drivers seat of "her" Corvette!)
.....cant imagine decent C4s going below 5k bc even 5k will barely get you an old decent DD sedan in socal.....
I always look at Corvettes for sale and lately I have been looking for a new winter beater. I see the winter beaters for about the same prices as some of the cheaper nice C4's.
I am struggling with this because I do not want a winter beater and I would rather have a C4 even though it may not be what I need. I keep rationalizing that I might as well get a C4 for my daily even through the winter since it is a lot better car. I am pretty sure that my wife would be a hard sell to get another Corvette, so I doubt I will get another as a winter car even though I have driven a couple of them all year round for a few years.
Enough about my dilemma on a winter car.
The C4's have to be pretty near the bottom of their pricing and they are some of the best bang for the buck cars out there.
Last year I picked up a 40k mile LT4 CE really cheap. Mine had some repairs needed, but even after repairs I still see comparable cars going for 2 or 3 times the price. There are some great bargains out there now. It is a great time to be a buyer. (Just kind of tough choosing which one).
I always look at Corvettes for sale and lately I have been looking for a new winter beater. I see the winter beaters for about the same prices as some of the cheaper nice C4's.
I am struggling with this because I do not want a winter beater and I would rather have a C4 even though it may not be what I need. I keep rationalizing that I might as well get a C4 for my daily even through the winter since it is a lot better car. I am pretty sure that my wife would be a hard sell to get another Corvette, so I doubt I will get another as a winter car even though I have driven a couple of them all year round for a few years.
Enough about my dilemma on a winter car.
The C4's have to be pretty near the bottom of their pricing and they are some of the best bang for the buck cars out there.
Last year I picked up a 40k mile LT4 CE really cheap. Mine had some repairs needed, but even after repairs I still see comparable cars going for 2 or 3 times the price. There are some great bargains out there now. It is a great time to be a buyer. (Just kind of tough choosing which one).
I bought my beater/DD before my C4 if not I would have honestly ended up w/ 2 C4s
I totally get your way of thinking. It doesn't make sense to have a beater sedan/car when you can get a pretty good C4 for that price. So Im kind of in the position youre in but reverse.. I already bought the DD beater lol I'm just now debating selling the beater sedan and getting that 2nd C4 or... get an older M3 Their market is starting to bottom out and its such a sports car
See that just doesn't make sense, you could easily part the car out for a lot more than that.
Yes... you could do that if you wanted to prioritize your time, had the extra space... and didn't mind doing all the work it takes to get it done.
Then, you have all the marketing time involved... add to that "the negotiation" on prices, Then do all the packing and shipping... been there, done that...
and still waitng for the last one ( 1991 ZR-1 with 28,808 miles ) to clear out from 2013.
95 base coupe, Admiral blue over tan, 97K miles. Paid 3750.00
Admittedly it was a bit of an inside deal: I had a good friend who worked for a title pawn outfit that repo-d the car. Had a broken rear spring and tempermental Optispark. I now have about 4300.00 in the car and turn heads everywhere I go.
In addition to generally being in good shape, one of less than 300 build that year with that color combination! Right place, right time, and bought with my lovely wife's blessing! (That's her in the drivers seat of "her" Corvette!)
Not sure what a wife's blessing is mine must not go to the same church. As a matter of fact pretty sure I saw horns and a pitch fork when I asked for another vette. Anyway that's one hell of a deal love that color please any more repos put me on speed dial. It will be worth the pitch fork.
I have owned 3 different C4 coupes over the years. I just bought a C5 on August 1st. I'm already getting ready to pull the trigger on a '94 coupe with 104k miles. Asking is just under $7k. I think I could get it for closer to $6k. It's white with black leather. It might satisfy that late '80s Miami Vice white Testarossa itch I have had since I was a kid.
Last edited by Randy_in_MD; Aug 31, 2016 at 05:01 PM.
I am struggling with this because I do not want a winter beater and I would rather have a C4 even though it may not be what I need. I keep rationalizing that I might as well get a C4
Why would you spend money on a car you don't even want?
I'm also a bit puzzled at all the wives with horns and pitchforks.
Yes... you could do that if you wanted to prioritize your time, had the extra space... and didn't mind doing all the work it takes to get it done.
Then, you have all the marketing time involved... add to that "the negotiation" on prices, Then do all the packing and shipping... been there, done that...
and still waitng for the last one ( 1991 ZR-1 with 28,808 miles ) to clear out from 2013.
I understand, was just making a comparison. You wouldn't need to get rid of all the car to make the same amount, just some main parts. I looked around a few years ago for a daily driver, 4 cyl, decent MPG, etc, and could hardly find anything under $10k.
There are always low price C4s on CL around here. Average asking prices are $5-8k for 100k+ mile cars. Z28s, IROCs and TAs go for more money. I looked at a few, then picked up my 91. 150,000 very well maintained miles and appears to require the least amount of work, though it needs tires =( It has new paint, brakes, radiator, msd, has flowmasters, very clean interior. Couldn't resist the black on black. Always loved that combo.
I understand, was just making a comparison. You wouldn't need to get rid of all the car to make the same amount, just some main parts. I looked around a few years ago for a daily driver, 4 cyl, decent MPG, etc, and could hardly find anything under $10k.
Since we are on the subject I might as well leave the link to the parts.
I ended up splitting the parts with another reseller... this is whats left from my half... plus a few other parts I had already.
There are always low price C4s on CL around here. Average asking prices are $5-8k for 100k+ mile cars. Z28s, IROCs and TAs go for more money. I looked at a few, then picked up my 91. 150,000 very well maintained miles and appears to require the least amount of work, though it needs tires =( It has new paint, brakes, radiator, msd, has flowmasters, very clean interior. Couldn't resist the black on black. Always loved that combo.
What year ( appears to be a LT-1 car unless its a 91 ) is it? Stick or auto? Price paid? I like these cars for the money!
I have owned 3 different C4 coupes over the years. I just bought a C5 on August 1st. I'm already getting ready to pull the trigger on a '94 coupe with 104k miles. Asking is just under $7k. I think I could get it for closer to $6k. It's white with black leather. It might satisfy that late '80s Miami Vice white Testarossa itch I have had since I was a kid.
I'd pay $6-7gs to scratch an itch that's been around from childhood! One of mine is to go into space. I probably can't even get a NASA astronaut boot for $6k lol
What year ( appears to be a LT-1 car unless its a 91 ) is it? Stick or auto? Price paid? I like these cars for the money!
You're absolutely right, a lot of car for the money. Mine is a 91 auto and has the 3.07 rear gear. I test drove a 92 or 93 auto 2.59 gears, that felt a little stronger on the highway, but was nowhere near in as good condition and was asking $5500. I paid $4,000, seller was asking $5k, but because it needed tires...
Why would you spend money on a car you don't even want? ...
Because I need something that I can park anywhere without worry of damage, can drive through the salt in the winter, take to my in-laws farm with gravel and animals (long story) in short, I need a car that I don't care about for all the times I don't want nice car ruined.
Originally Posted by the kid C6
....I'm also a bit puzzled at all the wives with horns and pitchforks.
I can't put my wife in that category. We have 7 cars and 3 of them are Corvettes. She like cars too, but at some point it might be too many.
There are always low price C4s on CL around here. Average asking prices are $5-8k for 100k+ mile cars. Z28s, IROCs and TAs go for more money.
Wow! I need to come your way if you are seeing prices over 8K for IROCs.
I'd like to think both cars are going up in value, but around here there are still too many backwoods beaters to make that case!!
I'm in no hurry to get rid of either one, so monetary appreciation is not a real concern. We enjoy taking the to shows and cruising in the nice weather. Neither is a DD, so we can pick and choose when to take them out.
I'm the original owner of my '84 with 26,000 miles. I'll probably pass it on to one of my sons and they can reap any 'profit' when it appreciates at some point. It could probably hit $15,000 eventually given the low mileage and being the first year of the C4, but who knows? The '84 is definitely the bottom feeder, but they sold a ton of them when new so many of us thought they were something special at the time. I've had five new Corvettes since the '84 but I still have an attachment to that car and don't plan to let it go.
Originally Posted by jay23ls View Post
.....cant imagine decent C4s going below 5k bc even 5k will barely get you an old decent DD sedan in socal.....
Its about demand and popularity
I cant find a decent Silverado of any year under 8k minumum
Heaps of crap get 5k all day long
Can find a real sweet sub lower (under 100k) mi E320 or E430 Mercedes for way under 5k
A beaten to death 300k+ mi toyota gardening truck gets 4-5k easy
C4s just arent in demand, only by a C4 enthusiast pretty limited market
Why isnt it Ok that they are cheap? If they increased in value by 1000 or so its it going to change anyones life, no wasted energy worrying about it. Just drive it
"Collector" cars are not bought for 5 and 10 grand typically
Try not to look at your car as a savings account if ya need to probably best to own something more cost effective
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (appearance mods) 2019
Originally Posted by cuisinartvette
Its about demand and popularity
Let's add: age, condition, model, etc...
When you see cars go for the big bucks on Mecums/BJ, they are way more rare. They are in excellent/restored condition.
Who, asking this question of value, is sitting on a really low mile GS/ZR1? Probably no one. So why ponder your car's value? If you are selling, start at the high-end (of reasonable value) and work your way down!
Now...if you're asking whether the price of C4's are going up...because parts are getting higher? Then maybe you have a point!
Just the other day I popped into a thread asking about head gaskets. Those really good, expensive ones HAVE gone up.
So yes, the price of C4's is going up!!! To KEEP/MODIFY one!
If anything, the price to maintain/own ANY car is what you're probably seeing/thinking is driving the bottom-line.
Their market is starting to bottom out 
and its such a 
sports car
