89 vette
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 21
Likes: 2
From: Winston-Salem NC
[QUOTE=Dascorpio2;1604637962]Is 89 vettes good? I'm looking at a 89 . convertible ..good condition with 132k. For 6500.00.......good deal?[/QUOTE
Hi, I own a 89, bright red, all the bells and whistles. I paid $13,000 for mine, was originally 16,000. Qualifier, it had 6,000 orginial miles, absolutely mint. Spent it’s entire life stored inside. Came from a collection. Do I feel I overpaid, not at all, love it. I would start. Bargaining at 4000 , easier to go up.
Hi, I own a 89, bright red, all the bells and whistles. I paid $13,000 for mine, was originally 16,000. Qualifier, it had 6,000 orginial miles, absolutely mint. Spent it’s entire life stored inside. Came from a collection. Do I feel I overpaid, not at all, love it. I would start. Bargaining at 4000 , easier to go up.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,102
Likes: 2,511
From: ...tearing up the highways, one state at a time™®©
I’ve owned three 1989 Corvette, they’ve all been great cars. One of them I’ve owned since it was new, 33 years ago. To answer your question, you need to post pictures to help clarify what little description we have. Way too many variables, but it sounds pretty cheap right out of the gate
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 183
Likes: 41
From: N.E. Ohio
Here's my thoughts on it. If you look around longer and spend 2 grand more, you can find one with less than half the miles and better overall shape of what you're now looking at. I see too many guys buy a cheaper high mileage car and then try to smooth out the rough spots in it and have it turn into a money pit. Any upgrade or restoration of a Corvette isn't cheap. Set a budget and search until you find the best car, finally don't insult the seller with ridiculous low ball offers.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 308
Likes: 79
From: Orange CALIFORNIA
I own an '89 vette as well and can tell you from the inexpensive project car point of view I would have bought a more expensive already restored choice. I had to repaint, buy new seats, and replace a couple interior plastic pieces which I believe are the most expensive items to restore. I did do all the door/window seals and drive-line joints and bearings but those are inexpensive if you can do it yourself. Even engine is relatively inexpensive (if DIY) compared to paint/seats.
My next must have mint condition: you guessed it by now...paint and seats.
I would guess that at $6500 and 132k miles seats are probably worn but maybe most sections salvageable (total seat replacement usually $1200). Paint will run $2k for bare minimum crap to $5k for multi-base/multi-clear coats.
My $0.02 opinion.
My next must have mint condition: you guessed it by now...paint and seats.
I would guess that at $6500 and 132k miles seats are probably worn but maybe most sections salvageable (total seat replacement usually $1200). Paint will run $2k for bare minimum crap to $5k for multi-base/multi-clear coats.
My $0.02 opinion.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,709
Likes: 328
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Unmodified
Here's my thoughts on it. If you look around longer and spend 2 grand more, you can find one with less than half the miles and better overall shape of what you're now looking at. I see too many guys buy a cheaper high mileage car and then try to smooth out the rough spots in it and have it turn into a money pit. Any upgrade or restoration of a Corvette isn't cheap. Set a budget and search until you find the best car, finally don't insult the seller with ridiculous low ball offers.
Now, that's for a car sitting with little maintenance. Some low mileage will get careful, good maintenance, though again, rubber is still the common problem. Same could be said for a higher mileage car with little maintenance. So, a good thing to ask from the previous owner is maintenance records. Just changing the oil regularly is not enough.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 183
Likes: 41
From: N.E. Ohio
I have to go the opposite, if looking for a car to Drive, not just sit and look pretty. Cars age period, whether moving or not, especially in terms of certain materials, such as rubber. Rubber may look good when buying a car that's been sitting for years, but it will start to crumble when put in action.
Now, that's for a car sitting with little maintenance. Some low mileage will get careful, good maintenance, though again, rubber is still the common problem. Same could be said for a higher mileage car with little maintenance. So, a good thing to ask from the previous owner is maintenance records. Just changing the oil regularly is not enough.
Now, that's for a car sitting with little maintenance. Some low mileage will get careful, good maintenance, though again, rubber is still the common problem. Same could be said for a higher mileage car with little maintenance. So, a good thing to ask from the previous owner is maintenance records. Just changing the oil regularly is not enough.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,709
Likes: 328
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Unmodified
A low mileage that's been sitting in a barn, etc. A high mileage where the owner went to town, new paint, engine etc.
In general, maybe low mileage, though I tend to think no, since low mileage will need work unless it's going to sit some more.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 183
Likes: 41
From: N.E. Ohio
I understand where you're coming from, just keep in mind "high mileage" and "rougher shape" don't always go together.
A low mileage that's been sitting in a barn, etc. A high mileage where the owner went to town, new paint, engine etc.
In general, maybe low mileage, though I tend to think no, since low mileage will need work unless it's going to sit some more.
A low mileage that's been sitting in a barn, etc. A high mileage where the owner went to town, new paint, engine etc.
In general, maybe low mileage, though I tend to think no, since low mileage will need work unless it's going to sit some more.