Your opinion
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
From: Chesapeake City, Maryland
Your opinion
Just getting ready to close on my 1st Vette: one owner 96CE/LT4/6spd. Getting it through a Dealer. Been awhile coming and at the moment, I'm pretty happy to have met up with the car.
The thoughts include: original tires are on the car. I'm thinking Dealer throwing new rubber in shouldn't be unreasonable. Feel the same way about plug wires, etc: for the price (couple of grand off of the Kelly high and for good reason: really excellent condition), should come out fresh in the wiring area.
Any other thoughts you Folks might offer?
Thanks.
The thoughts include: original tires are on the car. I'm thinking Dealer throwing new rubber in shouldn't be unreasonable. Feel the same way about plug wires, etc: for the price (couple of grand off of the Kelly high and for good reason: really excellent condition), should come out fresh in the wiring area.
Any other thoughts you Folks might offer?
Thanks.
Advanced
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
From: knox. tn.
I bought my first vette in Feb. of this year , it also is a CE LT4 with the Z-51 sus. option with 53,000 miles.It was totally stock & tires had half tread on them other than the tires on a scale of 1 - 10 it was a 8.5 & I paid 16,800 out the door from a dealer.You will love this car & really like the power of the lt4!!!!!GOOD LUCK...
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
depending on mileage, the wires don't need to be changed unless there is a miss or something of that nature. the factory GM wires were of very good quality... I can't say the same thing for their replacement parts.
tires, for sure. ask... the worst they can do is say no... I would replace, tho, regardless. If you can get the new Goodyear F1s, do it. I hear they are da bom, yo. Car and Driver rated them #1 in a recent test. And I don't normally recommend Goodyear.
I do recommend Kumho. for the street, a great value.
tires, for sure. ask... the worst they can do is say no... I would replace, tho, regardless. If you can get the new Goodyear F1s, do it. I hear they are da bom, yo. Car and Driver rated them #1 in a recent test. And I don't normally recommend Goodyear.
I do recommend Kumho. for the street, a great value.
Large Impressive Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 65,811
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From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Sounds like a sweet car. The only down side to the dealer replacing the tires is that it's doubtful they'd install tires of the caliber such a car should have to achieve it's full potential. Congrats and keep us posted. I always enjoy hearing of the first impressions of a new owner of these great cars. The LT4 is an awesome C4. 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,510
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
Originally Posted by bogus
I do recommend Kumho. for the street, a great value.
I recently got a set of Kuhmo Ectsa's, and I love them. Dealer won't have to cough up a huge chunk of change to outfit your car with these..... How many mile on the car???? Tell the dealer that 10 year old rubber makes you real nervous, and that this is very important to you..If you are paying what they asked, then they are making money, period. A set of $500 Kuhmo's thrown in by the dealer, and they are still making money...Be persistant, but if this turns out 2b a deal breaker, and you really want this car....tell a family member that you hope for a set of tires in your Xmas stocking..... 
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
From: Chesapeake City, Maryland
27,000 miles on the car.
I've got a lot to learn: last set of tires I bought was a set of Coker whitewalls for my 54 Belair 3 years ago. Don't have a good feel for tire prices or 'best' brands.
Glad to hear the ignition wires should still be OK after 10 years. But I am going to chat with him re: 10 year old tires.
Thanks for the replies. And I'l let you know re: 1st impressions.
Regards.
I've got a lot to learn: last set of tires I bought was a set of Coker whitewalls for my 54 Belair 3 years ago. Don't have a good feel for tire prices or 'best' brands.
Glad to hear the ignition wires should still be OK after 10 years. But I am going to chat with him re: 10 year old tires.
Thanks for the replies. And I'l let you know re: 1st impressions.
Regards.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 2,830
Likes: 20
From: Las Vegas Nevada
Originally Posted by bogus
depending on mileage, the wires don't need to be changed unless there is a miss or something of that nature. the factory GM wires were of very good quality... I can't say the same thing for their replacement parts.
tires, for sure. ask... the worst they can do is say no... I would replace, tho, regardless. If you can get the new Goodyear F1s, do it. I hear they are da bom, yo. Car and Driver rated them #1 in a recent test. And I don't normally recommend Goodyear.
I do recommend Kumho. for the street, a great value.
tires, for sure. ask... the worst they can do is say no... I would replace, tho, regardless. If you can get the new Goodyear F1s, do it. I hear they are da bom, yo. Car and Driver rated them #1 in a recent test. And I don't normally recommend Goodyear.
I do recommend Kumho. for the street, a great value.
Especially about the wires. I'm sure they would say "OK" to a new set of wires - then call down to the local parts store and order up a pair of $29.95 specials to keep you happy with "new" wires. The new wires will be of much worse quality than the GM wires that are on the car and probably still in very good condition. Good Luck and be sure to post a few pic's of your new ride!
Brian
VTvette
Last edited by VtVette; Nov 21, 2005 at 12:30 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 7,354
Likes: 2,279
From: Central Maryland
I wouldn't ask them to do any work to the car.
Unless they have an expert Corvette tech on staff who really cares about what he's doing, you're likely to be worse off than if they never lift the hood. If the car runs fine, the wires are fine -- at least for now. As others have noted, you may get poor quality parts installed if they replace them, and there's no telling how they'll do the job. Plug wires on LT1 / LT4 engines are a queen royal bitch to replace, and it's highly likely that the average tech will cut corners, break stuff, route wires incorrectly, etc in his haste to get such a nasty job over with.
I also wouldn't ask them to replace the tires, for pretty much the same reasons. Only a true Corvette specialty shop, or the very best wheel & tire center in the area will ever put new shoes on my baby.
Suggestion: Negotiate a cost reduction that is roughly equivalent to the price of new rubber, wires, etc. Pocket the cash, drive the car as-is for a little while, and see what you think. If the rubber has hardened to the point where traction is compromised, find a shop that you can really trust to do the work, and pay them the $ you pocketed earlier to do the job. Same goes for the wires.
Good luck with your prospective purchase.
Be well,
SJW
Unless they have an expert Corvette tech on staff who really cares about what he's doing, you're likely to be worse off than if they never lift the hood. If the car runs fine, the wires are fine -- at least for now. As others have noted, you may get poor quality parts installed if they replace them, and there's no telling how they'll do the job. Plug wires on LT1 / LT4 engines are a queen royal bitch to replace, and it's highly likely that the average tech will cut corners, break stuff, route wires incorrectly, etc in his haste to get such a nasty job over with.
I also wouldn't ask them to replace the tires, for pretty much the same reasons. Only a true Corvette specialty shop, or the very best wheel & tire center in the area will ever put new shoes on my baby.
Suggestion: Negotiate a cost reduction that is roughly equivalent to the price of new rubber, wires, etc. Pocket the cash, drive the car as-is for a little while, and see what you think. If the rubber has hardened to the point where traction is compromised, find a shop that you can really trust to do the work, and pay them the $ you pocketed earlier to do the job. Same goes for the wires.
Good luck with your prospective purchase.
Be well,
SJW
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
From: Chesapeake City, Maryland
Dealer has been doing more or less only Vettes for 30 odd years. Good rep and reputable service.
Seems like good advice, SJW. Personally, I don't have problems doing the wires and tune myself. Haven't done a Vette of this vintage but...anyhow, I'll learn.
Already expressed my ignorance on tires but a negotiation re: price difference sounds like a good idea.
From northeastern Maryland myself, SJW.
Regards.
Seems like good advice, SJW. Personally, I don't have problems doing the wires and tune myself. Haven't done a Vette of this vintage but...anyhow, I'll learn.
Already expressed my ignorance on tires but a negotiation re: price difference sounds like a good idea.
From northeastern Maryland myself, SJW.
Regards.
Last edited by 96CEwGEARS; Nov 21, 2005 at 10:04 AM.