Hi all.

I'm new to the forum and new to Corvettes. Always been a fan, but only now thinking of getting one. I looked at a 94 LT1 today, but the owner wouldn't let me drive it and it left me with a question.

I'll try to set the scene...

It's done 157,000 miles. My research suggests that shouldn't be a problem if well looked after.

The owner drove it like an old man (no offense to those old man Vette owners out there!), pootling along at 30 mostly. He did get it up to 70-75, but never under hard acceleration.

It was hard to know how much he was accelerating, but he said not much and at no point did I feel any real acceleration.

So to my question - going up hill I could hear the engine revving, like it was trying hard, but there was no real acceleration. Then when the road levelled out it changed up (it's an auto box) and the revs dropped. Is this because the car was struggling to get the power through the transmission, or is that normal when barely tickling the accelerator? Could it be the clutch/torque converter having problems (I don't know what I'm talking about with auto boxes, so please do educate me).

I don't think the owner was intentionally trying to hide anything, he was pretty honest about everything else on the car, I think that's just how he drives.

So, hopefully that makes some sense. Any info or help is appreciated.

Cheers

 

If he wants to make a sale then he has to allow a serious penitential buyer that has valid drivers license the opportunity to take the car for a spin. Think of it this way, if you went shopping for a new car would you just sign the papers if the dealer said sorry you can't drive it, but I'll take you on a spin around the block. Did you come across to the seller as a serious buyer?? If he thought you were just a tire kicker I can see the seller not letting you in the drivers seat.

 

Oh I totally agree and get it. If he wants to sell, he should let me try it. I think he did take me seriously, but has been burned with previous potential buyers. At first he was asking if I "could handle a car like that" - I can, I've had sports cars before and done a little racing. Then he questioned the insurance. I offered to show him my paperwork, but he said "then they won't pay out when they find out it was a Corvette". He was just nervous about someone else driving his car. Ironically, at the end of the test drive he drove it into the back of my car!! (that's a whole other issue!)

But I'd just like to understand what I was hearing and experiencing in the car. Is it normal behaviour, or does it sound like there'll be transmission or other problems?

 

Tell him that you've driven a late model Camry....so you can definitely "handle a car like that".

Yeah, if he wants to sell the car....he gotta let people try it. Period.

If you don't get to a high enough speed, the torque converter will slip and IMO it can make a car feel like it's laboring up a hill. When cresting the hill, of course RPM would drop if you're coming off the throttle to maintain speed, b/c its a fluid coupling. At higher speeds (above ~40 mph?) the converter should lock up and it should behave and feel like a stick shift car.

 

What you're describing sounds like what I saw. Definitely less than 40 going up the hill. If it was a manual I'd have said the clutch was slipping, so saying the torque converter can slip in those conditions makes perfect sense.

 

I don't buy a pair of shoes without trying them on. While I appreciate a seller's caution, but there is no way I would buy a car without driving it. I would expect the seller to ride along. You need to control the acceleration, brake heavily from speed, and see how it handles. A C4 test drive is a lot more involved than a your basic family sedan. If I was seriously considering a car, I will spend close to an hour making sure everything works as it should before I make an offer. Have fun shopping.

 

Puttering around at 30 mph for 157,000 miles is really gonna wear on the 1st and 2nd gear clutches. Id bet the tranny is gonna need a rebuild.

 

Funny you should say that, he messaged me earlier today. Driving it back to his garage it lost all drive and had to be towed!

(to be fair, this guy's had it less than 18 months. Most of the miles aren't his)

 

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(to be fair, this guy's had it less than 18 months. Most of the miles aren't his)[/QUOTE]
I wonder why the quick sale. 18 months ago the used market was no where as strong as today. Is the guy a flipper?

 

The impression I get is he's pretty genuine. I think he just uses it less than he expected and just has no need for it.

 

Id say that was the reason he wouldnt let you test drive it, bet he knew something was getting ready to go.