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$2k for an 84 with 171k miles.
I've spent $145 replacing the window sweeps and TPS. $110 for serpentine, oil, spark plugs + wires. Way too much to get title, registration and emissions ($285).
Just counting the non-consumable parts I'm at 2110. I feel like I could get maybe 3.5k after some detailing and other cheap general maintenance, judging by the cars I see on CL.
But the smiles driven by all eight cylinders are priceless. This thing ain't leaving anytime soon.
I have about $12,000 in my 86. That's about what a new car depreciates in the first year. Since I've had it for 12 years, that's only $1,000 a year. Might be worth $5,000 now. Still cheap transportation for a daily driver.
You and I and several here did the same thing, but I'm stuck with it I think and don't need to sell sooo.
Last I tallied it was last october. Believe I was close to 65k. This year I have dropped another 7k so far. After race season it gets news seats, cage, harnesses, and nitrous. Paint if I have time. The end is in site.
I shudder to think what a shop would charge to do everything I have done to my level of quality.
Paid $5700 2 years ago for a nice 95 couple, 100k miles. Overall condition is good/ very good. 6M is very whiny but works fine. So far I have $300 in it plus many hours detailing little irritations. Needs AC fixed and tiny coolant leak. Door seals look tired. Tires are good but different brands. Otherwise all good. I figure I could get $9 on a good day, 8 off the front lawn. I doubt that is going to happen. I really (really) like my Competition Yellow coupe.
Last I tallied it was last october. Believe I was close to 65k. This year I have dropped another 7k so far. After race season it gets news seats, cage, harnesses, and nitrous. Paint if I have time. The end is in site.
I shudder to think what a shop would charge to do everything I have done to my level of quality.
A year or so ago I seen a car for sale here with shop receipts for 80k and less work than my car has and has, but that is a ton and he was selling for like 18k.
Another one was a shop trying to look good here like they helped a family out that wanted their Dad's c4 finished and the shop charged like 20k for an intake and exhaust etc if I remember correctly.
Yours is out of this world in a shop.
Last edited by pologreen1; 04-28-2017 at 06:48 PM.
Paid $8400 in February 2014.1994 auto, red/black, both tops, sport seats, 40234 miles. Real clean, no winters always inside, like a 2 year old car! I have it on an excel spread sheet tracking EVERYthing spent on it. All DMV fees, insurance, gas, repairs and parts, detail items, you get the picture - as of today $10,823.86. It is a blast to drive and handles great and a third of the cost of a 60's muscle car, and just as fast. Oh and it gets 22mpg+. I hope to many people don't start buying C4's and drive the prices up. Great value, looks and performance for so little money.
My buddy gave my son his 1992 convertible when he bought a new car and needed the room in his driveway. We replaced the cracked windshield, sent the dash out to Batee to be repaired, and changed a fuel injector - so my guess is around $1,000. The car has 126,000 miles on it, but runs good. We had a guy offer us $4,000 for it, but my son doesn't want to sell it.
I look at the average cost per year of ownership. Only counting my purchase and any maintenance/repairs and mods compared to my sale price. I did not include things like taxes, license, insurance, and normal maintenance like oil (and other fluids) changes, wax, etc. I estimated my current cars.
Predictably, the biggest hits on depreciation came from those I bought new or nearly new and paid more for.
I think my lower costs have to do with doing all of my own work. I also look for cars that need something that I can do, so there is a lower than market purchase price (like my '96).
When I look at costs like this, they actually are cheaper than many of my cheap daily driver winter cars.
C4's
'85 $500/yr 24 years
'87 $175/yr 2.5 years
'88 $175/yr 2.5 years
'94 $2350/yr 1.5 years
'94 $200/yr 2.5 years
'95 est $500/yr 3 years
'96 est gain $1000/yr 2 years
C5's
'99 gain $1000/yr 5 years
'99 est $650/yr 6 years
I had $30k into a $20k car, but I had it 6 years and drove it a lot. I guess there is a high cover charge for buying and keeping an LT5 car top notch.
I sold my old '95 LT1 car for $500 less than I bought it for with worn tires...win some lose some. If I had not paid top dollar and lost value on a few of the cars I owned, I wouldn't have had half the fun and experiences.
Paid $13.5k for my absolutely mint 92 Dark Red Metallic coupe with 14k miles. Put tires on ($1200...but could have been cheaper but I like Michelin Pilot Sport tires) and rebuilt 1 Bose amp ($100). I know I didn't steal it but I'm happy with what I paid for such a nice car that doesn't seem to need anything. I just get in and drive!
I agree with many others here...cars aren't investments as a whole. There are investment grade cars but I'm not really interested in them...nor can I afford them. My cars are what I consider "a depreciating asset with a residual value". Even if you didn't drive them and just stored them there is a cost to keeping them stored, running and keeping them from deteriorating. I don't really keep records on what I spend on my car hobby...money goes in...enjoyment comes out! That's my ROI...
I didn't pay the most, I did not spend the least, but I spent the most stupid.
I win!
CLOSE!!! I had the same price choice between a 1100hp 632ci or my 434... I bought the 700hp 434 thinking it would be easier
BTW:
superram, mini ram, stock intake, stock intake ported, HSR, Holley strip dominator single plane, motown single plane and carb now on motown. Still might change one more time. That is just intakes.
Injectors: stock, 24, 36, 42, 60, CARB...
Stupid money
Last edited by pologreen1; 05-01-2017 at 08:22 PM.
Paid $27,000 for my nicely equipped ‘96 LT-4 back in 1998. It was a new car, original owner bought it to drive to his local county club for his golfing rounds, it was his “golfing car”. As for what I would sell it for... that ain’t happening, I’ve had it this Corvette for this long and it’s too much fun to let go of. Although... I keep eyeing those darn C7s, then I think how nice it is being debt-free. The best Corvette is one that’s paid for!
04-27-2017, 05:56 PM
As for what I would sell it for... that ain’t happening, I’ve had it this Corvette for this long and it’s too much fun to let go of. Although... I keep eyeing those darn C7s, then I think how nice it is being debt-free. The best Corvette is one that’s paid for!
