confab

My 85 is totally reliable. I'd drive it anywhere, and I often do. No worries whatsoever.

Not because I bought one that was in top shape. I bought one that was junk and everything is new now.

Even mint shape with a few thousand miles on the clock doesn't change the fact that it's all 30 years old.

But that is a much greater undertaking than one project a year.

81c3

If buying a C4, you would need to buy one that has had most if not all of the work completed and driven very little since the completion of the work.I would consider selling my 34k mile 86 for $12k. Its 100% sorted, clean inside, outside under and in the engine bay, and everything except the tape player part of the radio works... Soon that will be addressed as well... Anyway, you can get a very ,very nice early C4 for 12K.... A pretty nice well cared for late C4,,,,,, or an bagged out high mile C5 for the same money....

81c3

Ill take the Vette thanks,,,

MikeP84

I have taken my 84 on two 5000 mile round trips before while on leave. Tried for a third last year but something went wrong. If the car is in good condition it will be reliable!

mic575

Someone on here said find the best car you can for your price and add 2K to it. So for me I am figuring spending 9-10k on a car and adding another 2k in repairing and refreshing.

My luck is such that if I paid for a 12k car I am still going to have spend that 2K in repairs and upgrades and I'm not sure I would have a better car than the 10k version?

None of these are expensive or difficult but they take time and add up. I will do them myself. I am figuring things I will likely have to do because of age or repairs include:

Tires
Change transmission and differential fluid to synthetic
Coolant flush
Brake/clutch fluid replacement
Weatherstripping
Fuel Filter
Air filter

Later:
Shocks
Changing bushings throughout the suspension
Radiator maybe
Hoses
Belt
Plugs
plug wires
Vacuum tubing
Brakes

And maybe:
optispark
water pump
intake man gasket

Oh and thanks to Bob arrowsmith - clean and refresh and the ground points

BTW you all reinforced my preference for a C4. I like them.

MikeP84

Well you can find a nice 86 for around 5k or 6k and then use the rest for that money for refresher parts. Would probably end up with a cheaper and better product than a newer year car but that's just my opinion.

WW7

I would probably sell my 89 for $12,000 some day, but it's anything but stock. I've spent $22,000 on the car and upgrades since i've owned it... Click on the video below, then click on Corvette picture....WW

https://www.flickr.com/gp/153592855@N06/Q353a8
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B17Crew

Nothing wrong with that! Driving and being able to keep these advancing in age Corvettes in tip-top shape is part of the fun. Good luck with your search!

B17Crew

Edv92c4

12k is a great C4 budget. You will be able to find nice cars in both the 10 or 12k range. Look for one that has been cared for...always kept inside, etc. I like lower mileage cars but many have higher mileage cars that have been well cared for and are still trouble free. Good luck in your search...it's part of the fun! You should "know" when you hit the "right" car...many of my purchases have "spoken" to me and I don't regret any I've made.

FAUEE

With 12k, I'd go one of two ways personally. An 96 CE LT4 car with decent mileage (expect near 100k miles for a clean one, but don't be scared by the miles), or a 35th Anniversary with either transmission in great shape.

I think finding the CE LT4 car would be a lot harder. And I think I'd be equally happy with either.

Joe C

- a great starter vette, and a great finishing vette. that may sound odd, but I originally bought my 85 w/ 33K miles, back in 1995 as a daily driver. I've been through 7 corvettes since then, a C3, a couple C5's, a C6, and three other C4's - they've all come and gone, but i'm back in my original C4 and my second corvette - my two-tone silver 85. she was gone for 6 years, but I got her back a couple years ago. at 160K miles, she's still running and performing well as a DD. as far as i'm concerned, that old iron head L98, IMO, is the best all-around C4 - bullet-proof simple. it may not be the fastest, but still a fun ride. i'm coming up on 70 this year, so most likely, this will be my last hurrah -

my two-tone silver - i'm thinking this pic is from 1996

81c3

Same here Joe... Started my Corvette journey with an 89 coupe, had 6 other Vettes, an 81 C3, 92 ZR-1, 93 Ruby/ruby, 94 vert, 2 2002 Z06's and now once again own an 86 coupe.

I wanted the lowest mile, most basic Vette I could find within my budget.I wanted manual A/C, no ABS would have been fine ( but I have it on my 86)...no air bag system & wanted an automatic transmission.

The car has been great so far. I took it for a kind of maiden voyage through the Rockies last Sunday. The longest trip since I purchased it in April. What a pleasure to cruise... comfortable, plenty of power to very easily pass slower vehicles, a/c blowing cold and so much fun through the twisty turns. The most fun you can have with your clothes on IMHO

cv67

You wouldnt rather have a digisdash that flashes on off, numbers going bonkers and a cuckoo clock popping out the dash every time the CEL light comes on?

81c3

Considering how many C4's were built, thats really more the exception than the rule... my car doesnt do any of that... even my 89 had no issues with the digi dash. I think overall, the C4 is a good car if taken care of. Beat the snot out of it and wind up with a pile of junk after a while... just like any other car.

Atomic6

You forgot the headlights. Almost a certainty unless the previous owner repaired them already.
I wouldn't let forums deter you from buying a nice example. Every car forum is doom & gloom and if you thought every problem would arise in the car that you buy, you would never buy any car. Not Porsches, BMW's, Fords, or Chevy's. All the forums will give you concerns. I've owned all the cars I just mentioned. You buy a high mileage 6 owner ride, yeah, there will be problems most likely. I enjoy driving my CE very much and plan on a 300+ miles trip this Fall. I'm not concerned at all. I also owned a '96 Formula with the LT1 for 9 years and had minimal problems. These are decent cars. I personally think your budget is a little light if you want a truly excellent condition low mileage LT1 ride. You get what you pay for, even with old cars. Paying a few grand extra for a pristine one or two owner 20,000 - 30,000 miles car can pay off in the long run. You will still have the maintenance but not the major issues. Not always true but you lower the odds quite a bit. Good luck!!

drcook

I agree wholeheartedly with this statement as it is what I found out. Last year when I was searching for a car to get back into the Corvette world, I found out that a C5 that was in the condition of a really good C4 was going to be in the 25K range.

There was a 98 in the area, but when I went to the dealer that had it, he said he discovered it needed a slave cylinder/clutch and he wholesaled it off. We saw it surface again at a local mom and pop shop with exorbitant claims. At least the first guy was honest.

As I am not equipped to pull a transaxle and driveline all the way to the engine, I would have had to pay out 2K just to get it sort of usable, then add all the other money that I have put into ours to make sure the fluids, brakes etc etc are up to snuff.

If you take a well kept C4, bring it up to snuff, maybe you have 15 to 17 in it (range depends on initial mileage, low mileage cars still have a bit of a premium on them) and then add that 10 grand to bring you to the 25 for a nice C5 you will have a REALLY NICE C4. Really nice.

Just the same as you take a nice C5 and use the money over time to upgrade and end up with what a C6 would have cost you. But once again, you have a nice performing machine. ETC ETC

This year there have been a couple low mileage C5's for sale from private folks for less than 17K. Most likely the ones that upgraded to a newer model, wouldn't take the low ball dealer trade in off, thought they could sell it themselves, found out there are lots of cars just like it from folks just like themselves and then put a price on it to get it out of their wife's side of the garage.

amtronic1

I've bought three alternators since I bought my C4 new. Plus a few sets of tires.

1993C4LT1

Same

mic575

I've analysed it the exact same way. Start adding up total cost and think, hey I'm in C5 territory etc. But in the end I'm going C4, thanks to everyone here.

Everyone here gave me some really thoughtful and informative insight. Thnak you! I'll be becoming a supporting member here once I find a car.

Going to detail my bike this weekend and put it on the market.

mic575

The tires I get but I can never figure out how a car goes through three alternators? It seems like they should last.