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Hi folks, been lurking a while, finally making a first post here.
Been researching for what feels like a decade, looking to get into my first corvette (wooo). I found an excellent 1996 LT4 car and was seeing if anyone had an opinion on pricing. I have been trying to find recent threads on value opinions, but haven’t had any luck
The car is mint. Almost showroom. 37,300 miles. Paint is silver, charcoal interior. The dealer is asking $24,900. I haven’t seen any history on the car or anything yet. Assuming that history checks out, is that a reasonable price? Seems a bit on the high end to me, but the car is in pretty remarkable condition. Any advice would be appreciated. Excited to be here!
I just bought what is likely a similar car: '96 Collector Edition, LT4, 39.5K miles, in October. Mine was an auction car. You're right, the price you're looking at is a little on the high side, like $7k high. But if you can get that price right-sized it would be a great car. Presumably you've driven it--my recent experience is that suspension might need some rework, the factory bushings are pretty much toast by now, as are the factory shocks. If you can do that work yourself, it's like $700 in parts, but if you have to pay for labor it will get pretty expensive. Others with more experience may chime in. Good luck with it, my '96 is my forever-car, hope you get to snag one!
Tip: Check BringATrailer and CarsAndBids to see what C4 'vettes are selling for at auction. Some of these are a little rough, but many are nice cars. You can see history. BaT is particularly useful--more volume, and they have a great tool to see prior auction results.
So here's my take. If that's the car you want, specs, options, colors, etc... who cares? They're not making more of them, and you might not find that car again. Could it be cheaper? Sure. I personally.wouldnt buy it at that price... but I wouldn't buy it at any price cuz I don't like tan interiors. It's worth it to buy a very nicely.sorted vehicle at a premium compared to getting a bargain on a car and finding out it needs work, especially if you can't do that work yourself. You just gotta put your plans for.it.into perspective. If it's your dra car you'll never sell, it really.doesnt matter. If it's just a flavor of the week you want to try and get out of in a few mo ths without losing money, thats not the sort of car id be looking at. Also, i wouldnt put much faith in BaT or Cars and Bids. CnB is Doug Demuros knock off of BaT, and inconsequential. BaT has never really valued Corvettes as much as the rest of the market has. They're into brown, manual, wagons from Europe more than anything American.
I can't argue with the sentiment that runs something like, "If you love it, then buy it." But I beg to differ on the relevance of sites like BaT. Every black circle below is a C4 that sold on BaT. Mine was one of them. I'm not saying that's the only place that matters, but it might be the only place you can get a fair look at what people are actually paying on particular cars. Every one of those can be plumbed to see the specifics of the particular car, and what buyers and sellers were saying about them as the auction progressed. I think that's a valuable tool for valuation, if someone is concerned with knowing what others are actually paying.
I have been watching prices since 2016 (curious, too much time) at the current time, prices are up A LOT, in some cases $10,000 up for what the cars cost a couple years ago. The dealerships are really inflating prices.
Keep in mind, GM only sold 6359 LT4s in 96. That really reduces the number for sale at any given time. I only see a few currently listed here on the forum and they may already be sold. Dealers are asking crazy prices right now for most C4s. If you must have an LT4 be prepared to pay top dollar. Any year C4 6 speed cars only comprised about 25% of total sales. Good luck with your search.
Interesting topic. I have been watching prices a little too and it seems like the last couple years prices have really jumped. I don't have a good idea any more of what pricing is.
I am glad I bought my '96 CE LT4 about 6 or 7 years ago. Prices are a lot higher now.
For 25k I would buy something a whole lot newer and a whole lot better performance. C5, and C6 come to mind and even newer Camaros. The only C4 I would even think about for that price is a ZR-1 or Grand Sport
For 25k I would buy something a whole lot newer and a whole lot better performance. C5, and C6 come to mind and even newer Camaros. The only C4 I would even think about for that price is a ZR-1 or Grand Sport
True. Its good you said that.
These 2 are better value for that amount, and they are not that far mileage wise from the one the OP mentioned. So I used the Zipcode from that car as the center of the search.
These 2 are better value for that amount, and they are not that far mileage wise from the one the OP mentioned. So I used the Zipcode from that car as the center of the search.
and if he wishes to do engine work the options are endless. The LT platform he is dead in the water
Not true. Just not as easy as newer technology. Lots of companies still making performance parts for the LT platform.
Take that LT4, have the heads worked over by Elliot Port works, put a LT4 Hot Cam in, and a set of headers. It will be impressive and more than enough to kill you. Maybe need to upgrade the injectors.
Convert it to C.O.P. either via the Bailey LTCC box, or a complete swap out to a new ECM and you have a pretty decent engine.
HOWEVER, $25,000 is too expensive to start with. By the time you add 4 or 5 thou to that comes no where even close to 4 or 5 thou added to a LS platform, or the price of the car (30,000 starts getting into the Z06's) there are just better options.
Unpopular opinion. IF you're going to mod, an LT4 is a waste, you should buy an LT1. An LT4 is an LT1 with the mildest porting of heads and intake, and a slightly more aggressive cam. If you decide you want to mod, both of those things will get changed out, so you gained nothing with the LT4. If you're keeping it stock, the LT4 is a great way to get a bit more oomph.
1,000 of those were Grand Sports, so only 5,359 LT4 in other 96s.
5,412 CE of 20,536 1996 produced (not including GS) is 26%. 1 in 4 make the CE not particularly "rare" in itself. Interestingly, the 6-speed (non GS) is also 26% of production. Straight line math: 26% of 5,412 is 1,407 CE with LT4/MN6. The actual number of CE LT4 is probably higher.
There used to be a data-base on here for the colors and major options for the 96 model year. I'm sure the CE combos of CE, LT4, red interior, F45, coupe or convertible are included. I haven't seen it for awhile, and didn't search for it.
Here's a link to production breakdown of '96s. Doesn't list Z51 for non-GS but exterior/interior/engine/FE1 or F45, anyway. I also have a book by Robert Casey that does breakdown Z07 and Z51 cars.
Honestly, 6000 cars isn't that many. Especially if you figure they're 25 years old, so few are low mile, then you've got color breakdowns and options and interiors... It's a pretty easy to realize the car you like today could be one of a handful in thr country like it.. who knows if Amy kf the others will be fornsale.
@Creature97 Looking thru the photos posted on Auto Trader, the car has both tops. Depending on who you talk to, that is an easy $600 to 750 value, if you can find one.
1996 LT4 Value
