C4 first 'vette
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
C4 first 'vette
Hi all, I'm brand new here but I was hoping that someone might be able to give me a little bit of advice. A coworker currently has a 1985 c4 that he wants to sell for $3,000. I am interested in buying it off him but I want to make sure it is a good deal or not. It runs fine but it doesn't pass smog check (California here), it has 110,000 on the engine and there's apparently some paint damage on the hood, but other than that it's in decent condition. The registration is current as well.
my question is, is this a good deal for $3,000? Or should I talk him down a bit on it?
my question is, is this a good deal for $3,000? Or should I talk him down a bit on it?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,185
Likes: 381
From: Lunenburg MA
A $3000 Corvette can quickly turn into a $7K Corvette that is worth $3000. If you're going to be paying others to work on it, I'd walk away. If you're comfortable with all things electrical and mechanical, it might be an OK deal. Hard for any of us to say without seeing it.
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
A $3000 Corvette can quickly turn into a $7K Corvette that is worth $3000. If you're going to be paying others to work on it, I'd walk away. If you're comfortable with all things electrical and mechanical, it might be an OK deal. Hard for any of us to say without seeing it.
Last edited by Burntcorpse; Oct 2, 2018 at 02:54 AM.
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 4
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The guy selling it (a mechanic at my work) said it only barely failed emissions, but he wasn't sure the reasoning since it's been 2 years since the last testing and he just hasn't had the time to fix it to pass. He thinks it's just sparkplugs, but obviously won't know until I dig into it myself.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
He cant sell it to you without a smog in his name...doubt its just plugs. Make him get a real smog then drive it. Some things can be cheap to fix, other things not
Sometimes a fresh set of cats does it...make sure the egr works properly
Many vette parts are not shared with other cars so you pay the butt tax.
How is the paint, interior, etc? 3k can be a good deal or a bad one, cant buy much for that these days.
Sometimes a fresh set of cats does it...make sure the egr works properly
Many vette parts are not shared with other cars so you pay the butt tax.
How is the paint, interior, etc? 3k can be a good deal or a bad one, cant buy much for that these days.
Last edited by cv67; Oct 2, 2018 at 08:43 AM.
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Oct 2018
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 2,024
Likes: 363
From: Central Alabama
If it failed smog 2 years ago, then he couldn't register it and it hasn't been driven for 2 years?
Lots of things don't like sitting around.
So a mechanic failed smog for what he believes is $40 worth of parts and an hour or two labor, so he parks it.?
Something doesn't sound right.
Lots of things don't like sitting around.
So a mechanic failed smog for what he believes is $40 worth of parts and an hour or two labor, so he parks it.?
Something doesn't sound right.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,706
Likes: 485
From: Everett WA
C4 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
It sounds kind of like you're going to get what you pay for. You just don't get much corvette for $3K unless you like looking at it rather than driving it.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
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From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
The mileage is not necessarily an issue. My prior 35th was bought with 95k, drag raced regularly for >12yrs and the engine didn't fail till well over 200k.
I would suggest you see and drive it, checking out all functions including A/C.
I would suggest you see and drive it, checking out all functions including A/C.