NeFloridaC6

I guess I'm a bad influence. I have owned a C6 for 6 years now, since my daughter was in 6th grade. Now she is in her first year at the local community college and needs a car. She wants a c4. I'm not against it, she would likely drive 20 miles a day doing easy driving.

Is it possible to get a decent c4 for around $5k? I told her as with any older car you need to consider repair costs. I've seen some junk and some nice overpriced cars but wanted to ask you guys and gals who drive them.

Nice down here in the C4 section, might have to stop by more often!

Patsgarage

Just my .02, but I would look for something else. If she just wanted a weekend cruiser, fine, but a young girl in a 25+ yr old DD is a recipe for disaster.
The C4 market is all over the place, you could find a halfway decent driver for $5k, but it would probably have cosmetic needs.

randy ransome

I would think, down in Florida, you can find a decent C4 for $5,000.

Buy the newest C4 you can get for the money. Usually a higher milage car is cheaper. I would try to find one that maybe has high miles but has been maintained properly.

Good Luck

ls777z

It may take a little searching and a few trips here and there but they're out there. I drive my 84 all over but it took a few $$$ to make sure it was dependable. My only concern is she the type that with all the warning lights on would she keep driving it until it stopped moving? If not, I'm sure it will make her drive everyday a little more exciting...

bac22

You shouldn't have a problem finding an early year C4 for $5k. Mechanically the cars are fairly sound. Best thing to do is find some you're interest in and post them here for advice on what to look out for.

One thing all C4's do suffer from is crappy weatherstripping, not hard to replaced, but the price of decent weatherstripping is about $500. And the Atari like dashboards on the pre-1990 models do have some electrical gremlins mostly because of age of the components...but they can be repaired.

jmgtp

Probably could find a C4 for $5k in decent enough condition but it will surely need work. These cars are old and need attention. Many of us have rebuilt suspensions, brakes, engines, etc. On top of which literally anything can go wrong with them at any time, they're old cars.

Are you ok with that risk? Is she? It's easy to get googly eyed for a Vette. Also consider age vs Corvette vs insurance cost. If she's set on a Vette, a high mile C5 may be worth a look as well though I don't think you'll find a good example for $5k. You could probably buy her a solid Accord or Camry for that money. It'd be more practical, more reliable, more fuel efficient, and less expensive to repair. And safer for a young driver both in terms of less power and front wheel drive and also general vehicle safety improvements since the C4s time.

81c3

Why not spend $10k and get one that needs nothing? Those are also out there. Like mine for example.... Been sorted and is 100% safe. Everything works like it should, save the cassette player... Miles are very low at 35k. One way or another you will wind up spending a few grand on repairs for a high mile $5k car. Youll be up to $7 or 8k in no time... Whats the old saying? Pay me now or pay me later...

ghoastrider1

Don't be surprised if most of the mid 80s C4s have peeling clear coats. Seems GM really screwed that up on most all of their lines of cars. Paint jobs for Vettes are high buck. They want 6 grand to paint mine.

biggiefl

Make sure she dates somebody who owns a tow truck and repair shop. I bought my 1st vette at 20yrs old but I had a backup(CJ7) and knew how to turn a wrench....would have been nice if my girlfriend owned a tow truck and a shop is all I can say.


Then again is a $5k vette any less or more reliable than a $5k Kia?

Kevova

just make sure she knows there's a dress code. C4 does present a unique situation entering and exiting car. Finding a nice inexpensive C4 takes patience. IDK you are looking for a car at least 21 years old, so some expenses should be expected.

NeFloridaC6

Great replies so far, thank you for the input. I'd rather she save some more for something that would be a better daily driver. I have been talking about how any car that old requires $$ to keep it going. I'm concerned about the extra $$ to repair since its a vette. Heck that applies to my 07 c6 as it ages and will need a clutch, etc.

FAUEE

It depends what you mean by decent. You won't get a car with nice paint, a good interior, and a solid powertrain. You could probably get 1 of the 3. But as others have mentioned, even the best 25 year old car can and will.have issues.

That said, it's not going to be that much different for any other 5 grand car. So i figure at least you've got a car that's pretty easy to fix.

Silver85

My $.02 since I have thought about this a while with my son turning 16 soon.

1. If you pull the trigger get a later model with dual air bags and ABS. (94-96) Also has the later Opti so double bonus.
2. Not sure that a beginning driver will fare well with a light weight, rear wheel drive car with tons of torque and limited feedback on when the edge is being reached.
3. There will be maintenance and always something that needs to done. C4 systems might be a bit more complex and pricy than others though. If you DIY I don't think you will have a problem. Parts seem readily available and plenty of knowledge on here to get you through most anything.

jmgtp

To add to the above post, the later C4s also have ASR (traction control). It's probably the first thing most of us shut off when starting our cars but if driven in wet conditions it's a valuable feature. I believe that was implemented with the introduction of the LT1 for model year 92.

FAUEE

Just to add, I think it's an absolutely terrible idea to get them a lt1 car. They are 16, they will be young. I know what you're thinking "well my child is a responsible kid, a good stufemt, etc". Let me be clear, I was all those things, but I'm young enough to remember what it was like at that age. They will race EVERYONE, they will do stupid things drivong, and a lightweight rwd 300hp car will get wrecked, and them hurt or even killed.

For those of you with sons, it's even worse. Because there is 2 major motivation at that age, girls. They will do anything to try to impress them and maybe get a little affection. They will drive way too fast, do burnouts, slide the car, race Billy with his mustang, and do anything they can to try to see some *****.

Obviously, the decision is yours. But take it from someone young enough to remember what it was like at that age, it's is a VERY VERY BAD IDEA. Get them a Corolla or Cobalt, they will get themselves into enough trouble with that.

PatternDayTrader

I don't think 5k will buy you a corvette reliable enough to send your daughter driving off in. I would look to spend more if the car is to be used for daily transportation. Seven is about the floor for a car that everything works properly with high mileage.

biggiefl

I agree but semi disagree....my first car was a 71 nova that i droppeda 355 sbc in after 2 months while my parents were on a cruise. Never even put a ding on it. At 20 i bought my 1980 vette as a college graduation gift to myself.....still own it. Today a f'n camry is almost as fast as an l98 vette but handles worse. Good thing is no back seat

cv67

Just saw a nice paint debugged 89 go south of 5 sounds like. Neighbor bought a flawless black 96 6 spd for a little over 7k..3 yrs ago. are they all priced low, nope lots of roaches to sort through of course

They are around you have to look. If you can put together a few k you can get a perfect one with 40-60k mi all day long.
If it doesnt run hot the ac and electronics are decent whats to worry about? A kid can hurt themselves in a KIA.

OP if I was you get one that is bone stock and super well maintained or lots of rebuilt stuff
They still have the vette tax but nothing like your newer one. Parts are plenty...and cheap.

The practical answer is to buy a 5k camry but that will be a high mi car too and boring as hell. She will only be young once..but hammering on your wallet for yrs

TorchTarga94

There's nice ones out there to be had for 5k-8k here in FL. Just buy one from an OCD weirdo like one of us and it will be sorted.

FOURSPEEDVETTE

I wouldn't buy ANY car for only $5K and expect it to be much. Especially ones over 20 years old. Certainly not for my daughter to drive everyday.