Thinking c4 to c5 ?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,160
Likes: 10
From: Nashville TN
Thinking c4 to c5 ?
I have a 93 LT1 Coupe 6spd that I am thinking of trading in for a 99 Convertible 6spd. I built a 383 for my '93 a few months ago that has about 1k miles on it. The question is, should I expect any more on a trade-in for having a 383/new motor in it? I know mods don't increase worth too much, but a 6k motor hopefully retains some value?
I want a vert, and I want a newer car and my c4 is paid off, and I'm really tired of working on it and the longer I have it, the more money and time I spend on maintaining it rather than driving and modifying. Heck, I only got to drive the car for 3 months this year since the rest was spent in the garage.
I'll try and not become one of those c5 a-holes that come up so frequently. I was surfing through some of their forums, what a bunch of a-holes in there. A bunch of great guys too, but man, there are some a-holes.
I want a vert, and I want a newer car and my c4 is paid off, and I'm really tired of working on it and the longer I have it, the more money and time I spend on maintaining it rather than driving and modifying. Heck, I only got to drive the car for 3 months this year since the rest was spent in the garage.
I'll try and not become one of those c5 a-holes that come up so frequently. I was surfing through some of their forums, what a bunch of a-holes in there. A bunch of great guys too, but man, there are some a-holes.
Last edited by kman0066; Aug 20, 2004 at 04:37 AM.
Elite Torch Red Member
Joined: Sep 1999
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From: Exit 89 GSP,Lakewood,NJ The Land Of Mojo
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CI 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 Vet
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St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
C4 to C5 
But C4+C5 would be OK.
Why trade in a better car?
Like Rich said, you'll get killed on a trade in and a sale wouldn't get you much more. You are better off keeping the '93 and just buying the C5. That's what I'm going to do if I ever decide to buy another car. There is no way I could part with the two I have now.
Although a C6 looks more likely than a C5 at this point.
But C4+C5 would be OK.
Why trade in a better car?
Like Rich said, you'll get killed on a trade in and a sale wouldn't get you much more. You are better off keeping the '93 and just buying the C5. That's what I'm going to do if I ever decide to buy another car. There is no way I could part with the two I have now.
Although a C6 looks more likely than a C5 at this point.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 16,950
Likes: 0
From: Stafford, Virginia Kittah, Kittah, Kittah...
Originally Posted by RichS
I'd say you are better off selling it privatly, or to maybe a Vette dealer who can market a moded Vette. Otherwisw you may get killed on a trade-in. 
That $6K motor would be lucky to get an extra $1K in trade value... Our cars are very poor financial investments but very good emotional investments...
When I was younger I had grand dreams of sinking lots of money into my Vette to make it faster... Just seeing the low value placed on mods, and my getting older and a feeling a little more mortal, I've changed my line of thinking...
My cars have always seemed to be worth more in trade when I could return them to stock condition before trading... Otherwise, you'll have to find a private buyer who's willing to pay extra for your mods and sees the value in them...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,214
Likes: 0
From: Miami FL
Originally Posted by RichS
I'd say you are better off selling it privatly, or to maybe a Vette dealer who can market a moded Vette. Otherwisw you may get killed on a trade-in.
You may get something extra for your Vette if, you have all of the documentation on the parts used and can show it was done by a reputable shop (if not yourself), if you have the oem parts to sell with the Vette. Like RichS stated, only a specific buyer that knows what's into your Vette will pay a little more to get a nice performance boost without having to spend the cash or go through thee trouble. It may take some time to sell it in this manner. Good luck. Let us know how you did.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 16,475
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From: Kingman AZ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Cruise-In VIII
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
I have been a hot rodder since age 16. I have spent a fortune on mods over the years and while I enjoyed most of them I really never got my money back when I sold the cars. Kinda like stuffing cash into a stripper's G-string. Seems like the right thing to do at the moment but you are just throwing it away! 
Follow Mojo's advice if you can!
Follow Mojo's advice if you can!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,947
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From: North Aurora Il
You'll regret selling your c4 later in life. I've been looking at c5s to, but I don't want to get rid of the c4, and I don't have a parking space for another car, so I'm thinking 4 post lift....
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,160
Likes: 10
From: Nashville TN
Well, I don't have the money for a c6 or a second Vette. Being only 25, insurance on one Vette is enough pay for another car. I got to sit in a few C5 verts this weekend and I loved them. The only thing I didn't like so much was how dark it was in there versus my coupe with glass top. It was like night time with the top up and doors closed.
Only prob, they were all automatics, every last one of them in the entire Phoenix area. Argg. It looks like I'll have to sell mine on my own and buy from a private seller. I'm sure I can sell it to someone, I hope. In the end, there's always Ebay.
Only prob, they were all automatics, every last one of them in the entire Phoenix area. Argg. It looks like I'll have to sell mine on my own and buy from a private seller. I'm sure I can sell it to someone, I hope. In the end, there's always Ebay.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,648
Likes: 1
From: Denham Springs Louisiana
Definately sell it to a private party. I was going to trade mine in one time and they were going to give me $6500. They told me it needed a little body work. 
I told them that I had a new nose piece and repainted at THEIR bodyshop! I told them that the car was a CORvette...not a CHEvette. Needless to say...I didn't trade her in and I backed out of a 15K deal I made with a private party. I just couldn't do it! MORAL: Never trade in a Vette! 
I told them that I had a new nose piece and repainted at THEIR bodyshop! I told them that the car was a CORvette...not a CHEvette. Needless to say...I didn't trade her in and I backed out of a 15K deal I made with a private party. I just couldn't do it! MORAL: Never trade in a Vette!