Whats up? I'm new here... I've owned a few c-3's and i'm looking to buy another vette. Maybe a c-4 or a c-5. I'm looking at a 92 with 144,000 for around 6k. The sport seats could use covering but other thahn that its in great shape. I'm not to worried about a rebuild in a few years. I hope i'd get a few more miles out of the motor. How reliable can are the 90's c-4s? Would I be better off buying a c-5? I like the look and affordablity of this 92 but just want to know what I might be looking at as far as the problems with c-4s?

 

With 144000 miles there seems to be many things that will have to be either rebuilt or replaced new.... Among but not only: the trans......the Optispark.....heater core.....plugs and wires....brakes/rotors/pads/M/C
power assist....radiator....injectiors....shoc ks....suspersion kit....F&R wheel bearings....for starters. I think I should have stopped before this.
Just kidding, good luck and welcome to C-4 CF.

 

Buy something with lower miles. There are a lot of C4s for sale out there. Here is a good place to find them.
www.corvettetrader.com
Having said that, if you buy from a Corvette nut who overmaintains his/her car then mileage does not mean that much. Chances are that they have already replaced/rebuilt everything that might need fixing.
You will love the C4 compared to the C3. Better fuel economy, stopping, handling and a quieter ride.
Oh yeah, buy a vert. There is nothing like cruising with the top down!

 

The vette may need a few things like tune up pts, etc.,seats arent cheap,but...for 6k You cant go wrong! Grab and enjoy your new toy! I personally think the 92-96 c4s are the best looking ever.Welcome

 

If your worried about repairs on a used car I suggest you buy new

Being serious any thing used has the previous owners problems with it. A wash job and wax cover up a multitude of sins. It is kind of like marrying a woman who has been married before a couple of times. You inherit the faults the other two guys put in her. That said think of the fun you will have trying to get it right

I bought my 93 this July and two weeks after I got it the water pump left town. This before I had found any catalogs for parts so I took it to my mechanic and paid 508.00 big ones for the repair. Never again. The best thing I did was the next weekend I drove to the NCM and back. The cost of the water pump is almost forgotten. The car vindicated itself on that trip. If you think vettes are expensive this last weekend I drove my Olds Intrigue with 73,000miles on a trip of about 500.00 miles on Sun. Today it is the garage getting a new front sway bar ( It broke in half) front tie rod ends and ball joints and new struts all around. Wished that I had taken the Vette

 

I've seen cars with 144k miles in better shape than cars with 60k miles. Find out as much as you can about what has and has not been changed and report back. Specifically ask about the water pump, optispark distributor, universal joints, and wheel bearings. At 6k it's hard to go wrong, but still possible. Also check the carfax for flood damage or accidents

 

For that price, I'd say it's hard to pass up...but you have to consider *that* exactly in the deal. Yes, it's high mileage. Yes, the market is down on C4s/C5s now with the new generation's release. However, I'm sure you already know that there must be some "gremlins" to sort out with the vehicle for the new owner.

The good news is, this section (C4) is a Highly mechanically inclined group of owners. There's not many problems/issues I've seen yet that haven't been able to be diagnosed by fellow members in little time. Parts can be had three ways (and I'm sure you're probably already familiar with this): 1) Dealership = $$$$$ 2) Eckler's/Mid America = possibly less $$$, more discontinued parts (not that there are many on C4s), 3) "Insider tips", for example, Superior Chevrolet in KS/MO sells water pumps for $153...your dealer will charge you $275.

So that's that - these cars are extremely robust - several members over 200k on the clock. The biggest expenses will be (in no particular order): Tires, Optispark distributor, weatherstripping, Bose headunit repair/replace (very prone to failure), interior pieces. Other than that, it's not really that different from any other contemporary vehicle on the road today. With your prior ownership experience, you're already familiar with the "vette tax", or the premium we pay on parts/labor. If you can turn your own wrenches, you're already that much better off. Invest in a set of GM Service manuals (avail. on eBay - about $75-120 for the set) right off - they'll pay for themselves in the first repair you do yourself.

I say go for it!

 

6k......for 6k you can't hardly get anything let a lone a nice vette.

pass on it and put another 10k with it bc 15-16ish will get you a nice coupe c4.

ah what the heck up the price a few more $k and get a vert!

honestly, like I said a $6k dollar vette will be nothing but trouble pass it up

 

Yes, the price is telling on the car! Do not buy this vette or you'll be sorry. I just paid 10K for a 95 coupe with close to 100K and I have had to replace some items but overall it is a sound vehicle. It only needed some routine items: tie rod, coolant flush, tranny drain and refill with filter, and oil change with filter. It has no problems and I love the car! It is also a Z07!!!! I was happy to see that code on my RPO sticker. I have no warning lights on and the bose cd/cassette stereo (knock on wood) is great.

B.

 

I bought my '85 with 111,000 miles on it. It has 132,000 on it now and still runs fine. The only major expense I've had was having the transmission rebuilt. Don't let the mileage scare you. It's how the car has been maintained that makes the difference. Check the car out carefully and have a carfax run on it. The one I got on my car even showed when it flunked and emissions test way before I bought it.

 

 

Yes, sometimes theyre cheap for a reason, but if its maintained fairly well....Picked up my '89 for 5k;one owner w/records down to the window sticker and spare key in the little bag. Paint still flawless @123k miles. So it needed an EGR, steering wheel recover and seats redone. Still worth it! There are good deals;you just have to be patient. Every 96 c4 I looked at needed too much for the money. Good luck. Let us know what you picked up!

 

Miles mean nothing. All depends on previous maintenance. Mine is a 1989 with the fx3 select ride and the six speed in good shape. Paid $6000 for it. Don't regret it at all. runs strong. Had it for 2 years now. Just turned 130000 miles.This time of year the dealers want to off load the used vettes off their lot and get the 4 wheelers out there for the winter crowd. Good time to get a deal on a vette. I know I did. Good luck with your purchase.

 

<------------ has a 1992 with 144k on it.... I love it!!! She has a few bugs in her but I get to fix them and know that they are done to my standards. I paid $8500 for it 2 months ago, I plunked the cash down without batting an eye. I have an 89GMC with a 5.7L and it has over 300k on it with its original timing chain and it gets an oil change every 30-40K miles whether it needs it or not. 5.7 is bullet proof.

 

I hope you mean every 3-4k!!!

 

89 with a six speed for 6k? I hate you. 'Kiddin-89 6 speeds are impossible to find out here or beaten to death. Good Find!

 

No... its not a misprint its says 30-40k miles, thats its oil intervals.
I wouldn't recomend that to anyone but this truck is a beast, it still has the original timing chain too.

It may not be that far apart but definitly close... it gets 2 oil changes a year and we put an average of 40-60k a year on it. I change the oil in it out of guilt because I treat my Vette and 2003 HD GMC like they are my children.

 

Right here on the forum there are so many Great deals on Corvettes. There is one that seems to stand out, under a 94 Corvette "TORQUEM" Looks very clean and a heck of a price. Check them out.Good Luck.>George