Hey everyone, I can't believe it took me this long to find other people who are just as crazy about Corvettes as I am! I am not currently a vette owner, but I have been in love with Corvettes since I was 11 years old in 1984 when you know who made its appearance (ok, technically it was 83 but humor me :) ) and I have wanted a vette ever since.

I am finally in a position to buy a Vette and I am in the process of looking. I am very picky, and I want a ultra low mile 96, preferrably with the LT-4 engine. I like to think I know a bunch about C4 Corvettes, but since I haven't actually owned one yet (technicalities, technicalities...) I thought I would defer to the experts on a couple of questions.

What should I look for as problems areas on the 96 model? It should be the best of breed and with low miles (I'm looking at under 15,000 miles) I'm hoping it won't be an issue. I'm considering buying from a large vette dealer like Rogers Corvette Center, Holt Auto Sales, etc. Anyone have any experience buying a vette from out of state?

Finally, did any of you experience any feelings of hesitancy or guilt when buying your vette?? I love the car more than anything and I know I can afford it (I think) but my logical side keeps trying to talk me out of it. I just hope I'm ready to finally do it after all these years. Any suggestions?

Thanks for indulging me everyone! :D

 

I had to throw out all sense of logic before I could put down the money on my car. The way I justify it, is that if I followed logic, I would have ended up behind the wheel of a 4 cyl Corolla. I would also have spent many weeknights studying instead of risking my health and meeting interesting people.

There's a Harley commercial, where the old man is in the rocking chair on the porch , talking with his grandchildren about his dreams cruising down the highway on his hog, without a care in the world. One of the kids asks him if he ever got one, and he regretfully replies, "I spent the money on aluminum siding instead."

I felt a little more guilty about buying my Vette than I did when I spent my college loans on a 120" projection home-theater system. I also spent 3 months telling everyone I'd buy a Vette, and no one believed me, or had anything good to say about Corvettes. Of course now these same nay-sayers are bumming rides off me.

Welcome to the forum. This site will save you plenty of headaches. Every car has problems, but they don't all have support groups like us!
:flag


[Modified by CentralCoaster, 10:52 PM 10/1/2002]

 

First, welcome to the Forum and GO Chiefs! :D All 96' 6-speed's will have the LT-4 engine. If you are going to purchase low miles there really shouldn't be any significant faults. I would imagine that cars purchased from Vette dealers would be in fine shape. If possible I'd look into an extended warranty. They are well worth the investment in my opinion. I'd also make sure the tires are in pretty decent shape.

I never experienced any quilt when I purchased my Vette. I had always wanted one and all I can say is that you will never look back. :cool:

 

Same here! Noone believed I would get one except like 2 close friends, and most people I talk to said Vettes are unreliable, etc.?? :confused: only repairs I've had in a year 1/2 are heater core and a new battery.

Buy an LT4 and you will have absolutely no regrets. they are great cars and the General had all the C4 bugs worked out by 96 :chevy

 

That is a nice 95 you have there! I can't wait to finally get a vette of my own. I have been waiting 18 years!!!! :cry

 

Welcome to the Forum. :flag

 

Welcome to the Forum, I too have had no regrets since finally buying mine 3 years ago. Best car I've ever bought and I've had quite a few :D

 

Welcome :cheers:

Don't forget to :seeya
:flag

 

Don't waste a single day. Buy one as soon as you can you will love it. I wish I hadn't waited as long as I did. Oh yeah welcome to the forum. :seeya

 

The biggest bit of advice I would give you is dont let yourself get rushed. Dont fall victim to "Corvette Buying Fever". Take your time, even when you see one that looks perfect all the way around sleep on it first and think it thru. Youll probably think of some more questions to ask or more things to look at. Im embarassed to say I didnt even open the hood on mine before I bought it. I had stopped and looked at it several times at a car lot and when I finally test drove it I fell in love. Luckily the engine was as clean as the rest of the car and in as great shape. If you buy from place like Rogers you will pay a premium price for it rest assured.

As for the guilt...yeah, it took a long time for me to convince myself it was ok to indulge myself this way. I too had wanted one all my life and now at 46 with only 1 18 yr old kid left at home I felt it was time. Hell, I STILL feel guilty about it but all I have to do is strap on that rocket powered backpack called a C4 and I have no doubts.

Welcome to the group and welcome to the one addiction youll never need a cure for. :blueangel:



[Modified by DarkHalo, 4:03 AM 10/2/2002]

 

:cheers: Welcome to the forum...the only guilt I feel is when I can't drive her :D

 

welcome aboard. I only feal bad when she gets a little dirty :seeya :flag :seeya

 

Welcome Jeremy to the best corvette forum on the net.

There were some negative issues with Rogers Corvettes posted here on the forum about a week ago. Maybe someone will remember where it was and give us the link.

Anyway, good luck in your hunt for the dream car.

:seeya from Florida

 

:seeya :seeya

 

Welcome to forum! :cheers: If you're willing to spend some money go for the LT4. It's a great market to buy right now. If you buy from a dealer you'll pay more, but the bigger dealers check out & service them before they sell them. That's where some of the extra cost is incurred. If they offer it go for the extended warranty. Peace of mind is a beautiful thing. As far as guilt goes, when you find the right one there should be no guilt. I looked at quite a few that were good canidates for several months. When I found "the one I was looking for" I knew it. I'm glad I waited, though it seemed like forever while I was. Good luck finding what you want. The people on here are great about helping with info. I had so many questions before I bought mine they helped me so much. Now I just have to get to some events so I can meet some other Vette nuts. Enjoy the forum. :cheers:

 

Welcome! :flag

Shop wisely, and you will not regret it! (Unless you spend too much time washing and waxing it... :D )

:cheers:

 

:seeya

 

Welcome Jeremy. You will really love it here. I know exactly how you feel. I have loved the Corvette since "Route 66". Guess that tell you pretty much how old I am. But my first Corvette is my 1996 LT1 convertible. I made the purchase from Rogers Corvette. My wife and I bought a one way plane ticket and drove it back to Texas. I think there are more positive comments about Rogers than negative. They treated me great. Good luck on your quest. Be sure to put some pics up when you do.

 

I bought my 96 LT1 from Holt Auto Sales. He is a little high on some of his prices but not to the point of gouging. I, and a woman I work with, bought vettes from Charlie at Holt. They do offer an extended warrantee of sorts. I believe it is accessible on their web site. I live about 15 minutes from Holt Auto and if you see something on the web site that you are interested in I would be glad to go down and take a close look for you (send me an IM). Without checking I know he recently had a couple of GSs. Both a vert and a coupe and both very low miles. They may be a little more then you are looking to spend but check it out.
As for the 96 itself the optispark issue had been cleaned up by the General for that year. I have had no problem with mine and love driving it. Again mine is an LT1, the LT4 guys will probably be better on transmission issues.
And never, never, never forget to :seeya :seeya :seeya

 

First welcome to the forum fellow missourian. And future congrats.

I had pampered the idea of buying a vette for many years and always talked myself out of it. When 9/11 happened it made me realize life is short andyou should do what you want when it is possible. Then i started looking at vettes but still was apprehensive about it and couldn't justify the purchase. Finally when Darryl Kile died ate age 33-34, that put htings into perspective. (Pitcher for the STL Cardinals for those who don't know). After he died i thought it was time. And here I am a proud owner of my first and hopefully not last corvette at age 27. I could die tomorrow or even today but die happy because i reached one of my dreams.

Good luck on finding that perfect vette.