TXGS507

Those of you who own em, tell me about em? Do you love em... reliable, simple bolt ons...? Looking at a Black on Black today with 37K miles... This thing is mint.. thinking of adding it to the collection. I have been holding out for a 96CE but this one is SO NICE. I owned a 93 12 years ago but bought it with high mileage and it was a problem. I have also owned built C5Z's ( one of my fav;s) and currently own an 08C6Z...
The 92 would be simply for cruising and just to have as a fun toy.

billschroeder5842

I have a 89 and a 91 ZR1. I find them both to be equally reliable and fun to drive. I have no issues with parts and have developed a relationship with a shop in the mid cites that can fix what I can't.

Good looking car. I say do it.

aklim

When you buy something that low mileage, it won't be cheap unless something is seriously wrong with it. Soon as you drive it for cruising and what not, you are losing some of that value. So the question is whether you are willing to buy it and keep it forever. For a cruising car, I'd buy a higher mileage one so that it is less money. If I plan to keep it in pristine shape and hardly drive it, I'd pay the premium.

cv67

Bought right why not? Theres more low mi cars coming out of the woodwork as owners pass on and their kids fire sale them.

Never "loved" my C4s...liked yes. More of a car guy that appreciates bang/buck not a vette guy. If they got pricy would lose interest fast

I look at it this way a new car costs 40k+ and are going to be junk at a certain point, so why not spend 10-20k and make something perfect that you like and can work on-screw resale its all about right now

This is good advice...we have couple older MB. I hate those pos but the other half is in love wiht them. Know a mobile guy who is fair so here they stay. gotta have at least 1 that hopefully runs. The C4 of Germany HAHA

pnewt

I recently bought a 92 coupe after having had 17 other Corvettes over the years, several specialty( ZR1, Lingenfelter, Z06, 63 roadster, 68 BB etc) and I am pleasantly surprised how much I like the 92. very easy to work on, great cruiser and looks great. Of course the price interested me as well. I don't have to worry about loss of value driving it as everyone knows, these cars are way undervalued. Mine happens to be a monster 725 hp 383 M6 which also makes it interesting to drive The pics of the car you are looking at show it to be in really good condition- go for it and have fun!

aklim

If you ever decide to get rid of it, you will be upside down and it will suck. As an example, I bought a cheap set of heads which caused my engine to wreck. I had to buy a new expensive short block AGAIN so now I am upside down for spending and will have to drive it into the ground and can't just flip it for a newer one. Now if you can say for sure that circumcisions will never change and you will keep this car till the day you die and will never sell under any circumcisions, fair enough. If not, resale value should be something one considers.

Tom400CFI

^^^It's a hobby...not an investment. If you're worried about money and resale, you shouldn't be buying Corvettes at all.





I have a '92 M6. I love it. In fact, I started (into 'Vettes) with an '06 LS2 C6 M6. I bought the '92 to fix and sell and make a few $$. I fixed the '92 (it wouldn't start b/c it had the wrong key) and drove it....and never drove the C6 again. SO, as a "fun toy"...it's more fun than a (LS2) C6. I held onto the C6 for 4 more months, then sold it and have never missed it at all.

As for reliability I've had it for 9 years/~60k miles or so (it's got about 180k now) and it's cost me about $1000 in maintenance. Never broken down on me. It's way more reliable than my wife's '05 CTS-V has been (which had 20k when bought, 155k now).

The LT1 'Vette is a lot of fun, it's easy to work on, and if cared for, very reliable. If cared for.



.

aklim

Sure. But to be clear, does the title of "hobby" mean that you could and should spend your life savings on it without consideration? Sounds more like an obsession to me you are defining, if so.

Why Corvettes? Why not antique paintings, firearms, yacht racing, etc? My wife's hobby is world travel. Should she be squandering all our money to jet hop the world or should there be some sort of balance between her hobby and real life?

Mr. Peabody

Well I think that you are showing us the difference between a hobby and(perhaps) an all encompising obsession.

Every individual's situation is different. I don't play golf so I have lots of money to spend on my hobby

Tom400CFI

^Exactly. Someone "gets it".



I said no such thing about "life savings". That would be a personal decision, but make no mistake; if you're buying 'Vettes for investment/money/retirement, etc....you're doing it wrong. It's a hobby and it will likely cost you money. The ROI on that money is enjoyment. The limit on money spent for enjoyment received is a personal decision. You can spend your life savings on your 'Vette. I'm not going to though. But I'm not looking for "resale" either.

I bought mine for $5k. If I sold it tomorrow for $250.00, I'd be fine with that, for the fun and miles I've gotten from it.

DGXR

As Tom said in post #7, the C4 is very reliable if it has been cared for. Buying any used car is a gamble but after doing some research you will know what things to watch for. If this LT1 car is as solid as any that can be found, you will enjoy it. These are excellent drivers cars, especially the 6-speed models. I have a super clean 1995 LT1 6-speed and it is a dream to drive. Right now, a solid C4 bang for the buck cannot be beat. I say go for it. Since this would be another toy in your collection, you likely won't care about losing some money if/when time comes to sell, especially considering the joy of ownership. These base cars will eventually rise in value but not for many more years.

pacoW

If you don't know what you're doing don't by it as an investment, it's a hobby.

I've made money on classic cars including vettes, I'm no genius, it can be done. Have had my '71 LS5 for 11 yrs, bought it for $7.5K, worth more than double now. Sold an '87 grand national last year I had for 5yrs and made a boat load on that, and an '87 IROC before that. Right now rare C4's are starting to pick up, ZR1's, GS, LT4's. Regular production C4's, not so much. Give it another 7yrs give or take and the values on C4's should jump nicely as long as they're kept up well. Hobby & investment, it can be done.

aklim

A couple of friends I had were doing very well until something changed. I believe one had the husband leave with everything but the hobby. Can't remember the other one other than there was a liquidation and a suicide. Common point was they were "Cash poor, hobby rich". It's OK when things are good. When things go south and what was, isn't anymore, well........ Better hope you are GM and deemed "Too Big To Fail".

IF your situation never changes, more power to you. In my case, my cash situation is ok but I have too much sunk in to financially justify tossing it for something newer.

aklim

Not "likely". It "WILL" cost you money. IMO, resale should be a PART OF the decision just in case it needs to go for whatever reason so you don't have a bloodbath. Again, if you are confident it can never happen where the object in question has to go, no worries. Spend all you want.

I bought it for $8k, spent a bunch more on the extras so now I'm stuck with it "till death do us part", motor dies or I die. Unless the trunk were full of cocaine for the new buyer, it will be a major loss selling it. I've had to pass up on a couple of smoking deals on a C6 just on principle. If I hadn't had a couple of motors and transmissions and rear end among other smaller items stuck into it, I'd have sold it already and be with something else already. I'm not the government, I can't throw my perfectly functioning old toys away because something shiner and newer is there.

TXGS507

Aklim.... What are you like F***ing Chicken little, sky is falling ney sayer?
I have been trolling the C4 section reading up on these cars attempting to re educate myself on this particular generation. As I previously stated, I have owned one.




I don't need a lecture regarding investments.. I have a 401K, and play the stock market for that and a 30 Yr pension from the US Army. My current stable houses an 01 C5Z.. (414 Stroker w a 250 shot of nitrous) an 08 C6Z heads, cam, bolt ons, an 02 Heads cam pulied Lightning an 07 6.0 TB SS AWD and a 99 Camaro SS..
I ASKED about the 92 6 speeds and their reliability, ease to mod, and whether or not they were decent cars to own as a fun cruiser. I have money... A C4 is not a true investment unless perhaps it is a nice low mileage ZR1... I have bought and flipped more cars than I can count and guess what.. Made a profit on all of them.

Nobody likes a F%&^&ing know it all... Stick to the POINT... I don't need to hear how the world was created according to Aklim...

Thank you to the guys who provided some insight rather than spewing BS and feelings..

Carry on....

JimLentz

I bought a 92 with around 41,000 miles and did have some minor issues. The Radio/speakers didn't work so I fixed the Bose speakers and put in a touch screen receiver with backup camera, Bluetooth, etc. I had my ECM go bad, but it never stranded me. Cost less than $200 dollars to send out and have it rebuilt. Overall I really like the car and over time I have been changing thinks like O2 sensors, wires, coolant, gear oil in differential and M6 transmission, etc. Overall I really like the car and it is a lot fun compared to my daily driver. You also can get really good support with these cars right here as there are a lot of knowledgeable Corvette owners on this site.

aklim

Fine. Good luck with your investment portfolio. You want to mod it? As long as you don't tune it, you are limited. Fewer and fewer people want to tune it. Settle for "guess a tune" or be prepared to bring it to someone farther away. Support isn't what it used to be in the aftermarket. Support from GM is limited to a specialist or two who are specialist because nobody incl9them want to work on it. Reliable until it breaks. After that you spend time screwing with it or find someone expensive. Good that you have invested well.

PS. Don't care who doesn't like me since I'mnot running for office.

FAUEE

I have have. 92 lt1 6 apeed. I bought it to use as a track car that I could throw away for less than a front end repair to my C6 gs. But as others have mentioned... they just drove so well that it has turned into the car I drive more.

That said, the best 25 year old car is still a gamble. The c4 is fairly easy to work on, but if you're not a diy type, it can get expensive quick.

pnewt

OH8Z06 Most of us have answered your question as best we can. None of our cars are daily drivers and mostly used for fun and maybe some therapy! Like you I have had every version of the Corvette and sometimes had 3 or 4 at a time. I never looked at them as an investment and every car is going to need $$$$ spent on it anyway. Having been away from the C4 for a long while,when I found mine for play money,I jumped at it and really enjoying it even though its winter here. With the cars you already have,I'm sure you know some mechanics if needed which should eliminate that concern. So what if it loses on resale if you have fun with it while its in your garage. Enjoy life- its too short anyway

TXGS507

Dude... I live smack dab in the middle of DALLAS TX!! Not BFE WI.... where there is a a pub on every other corner..

How do you think I built my other cars.?? I "know" somebody! I have had 1 pair of hands build all of my cars AND TUNE them... Ok, maybe two sets of hands to build em. I could hit a golf ball to a number of Well Known Corvette shops here in the DFW area who specialize in LSX,LTX and everything in between. It is true that not a lot of people can tune these cars.. Ever hear of Lloyd Elliot? His shop is about 40 mi from my house... LG Motorsports? AMP? 21st Century? G Speed? True Street Motorsports? Quality Motorsports are ALL local to me and I know all of them ... and they know me.

I am a novice mechanic... headers, basic bolt on stuff. I have done an Opti, Water pump install years ago, plugs, wires, etc... Just not a fan of digging into the engine.

Head on back down to the pub for a brew and some shepherds pie and relax... Take a break from the forum Bro... Nobody said anything about liking/disliking you....