OK here it goes, I have the opertunity to buy my first Vette. I have been trying for a long time to try to trade or sell a john deere compact tractor for a street bike. I got the call on saturday morning and the man seemed very interested in buying my Deere and then he said "your listing said you would take trades" I was thinking then here we go another weirdo wanting to trade some junk for my prime condition Deere. He said he has a '92 Vette he has been trying to sell. Now here is the deal....my tractor is listed at $5500 and he listed his vette at $6k. He has pretty much told me bring him the tractor and drive home the vette. Now i have not seen it yet and i have been researching the vette for the last 2 days. I am waiting on pics in my email as soon as i get them ill post. He has been upfront with me. Its white with red leather and black interior. New model z06 wheels 315s on the back and 265s on the front all newer. said it runs out strong and i have talked to him on the phone while he was driving it. now here is the hitch. 178,000miles! the drivers seat he said is showing foam through tears in the seat, the carpet is rough. The paint still shines, painted targa. stock motor and pipes.

Now I ask what am i getting myself into here? am I going to be pulling this motor out soon and puting a new short block in? My local bumper to bumper clames they can order the short block all together for $995 i Dought it but maybe.

And last question for now has anyone seen this color combo before?

 

A 178,000 mile LT1 engine is going to need a lot of general maintenance and a complete tune up at the very least. To replace the LT1 engine and all the accessories that go with it will be well over $4000 (if you install it yourself).

I'd keep the Deere to sell because you can buy a nice street bike for $5500.

 

That's a lot of mileage.

You should expect to do a lot of regular maintenance and repairs. New hoses, new belt, new plug wires, new plugs, new pads, rotors, replace all fluids, pull the radiator to clean imbedded garbage in fins, etc. Torn seat, bad rugs, sounds pricey for the condition and the mileage. See what other 92 or later vette's with 100K are out there in your area and compare but I wouldn't be at all surprised if you could do better. Unless you're into doing your own restoration work, BUY THE BEST USED VETTE YOU CAN AFFORD. There are a lot of vette owners who strive to keep their vettes in as mint condition as possible, even with 178K miles.
One more point. It's a vette. If it doesn't run strong, run, don't walk, away from it.

 

Welcome, where do you live?

It being a 92 is good, seat covers are @$200 at Iggee and carpet is @ the same.

Just check it out to see if he maintained it well or took shortcuts.

 

that is a boat load of miles. You should ask him if he has documentation of work that has been done on the car. Personallly, I would not buy any car, any make with that high of mileage....just to much work and too much worry.....rings, valves, rockers, pully bearings(PS, Idler, AC compressor, ALT), Opti, WP, bushings, wheel bearings, U-joints, tranny...... ad infinitum

just be smart if you go through with this deal......Good luck

 

If you trade for this car do it with the expectations that you will need motor in the near future. If you are not equipped to do this pass on the deal.
Simple like that.

A SBC well maintained could run for another 100k so if it keeps running than you are way ahead

 

Thank you for the advice. Im going to wait for a better deal to come along, or a better vette. After checking some local cars out c5s are as low as 14k with 80,000 and alot of good c4s in th 6k to 85k range. So to find another vette i go.


btw i live in southwest Missouri

 

Be advised that driving corvettes is very addicting. Im an addict. It gets in your blood! Buy a different vette. You will have a BLAST!

 

I think you may have made the right choice...you have to get a Vette that's right for you..the newer and better taken care of the better.

Lots of people that have dreamed of getting a Vette see the pricing drop and want to jump on it without knowing what they are in for...Most end up hating Vettes..hence the famous quote..."I had a Vette once, years ago and it was the biggest POS I ever owned"

The C4 Vette is getting to the point where the cheap ones are going to require owners that want a project car/hobby, do the work themselves, have the funds, albeit little by little, have time and don't care that they are spending more than they will ever get back but get a ton of satifaction after getting it the way they want.

The other folks in the C4 market are the people that take alot of time finding a really well kept C4 and can afford the higher end of the pricing as in maybe over $10K and even up to and over $15K depending on the models. These cars, even with higher milage, will have all the maintenace done and/or documentation and it will show upon close inspection of the car. These owners will have the least headaches but spent more cash...

If the Vette you where considering was in great condition..even with 172,000 miles...If you get it cheap enough there are always options for a motor, such as Golen engines..you would still end up spending over $12k total (car included) but have a fresh zero mile motor...

Good luck.