Hi All.

As mentioned in my "New Member" post a few minutes ago, I am presently in the market, looking to buy a C4.

I was wondering if anyone might have anything in the way of comments or concerns on what to watch out for, or problem areas to be aware of. Though I am not mechanically incompetant, I am not super familiar with this generation of vette, and would love to hear what you guys, the experts, have to say.

At this point, I was planning on later in the generation (say '90 - '96) as I really prefer the dash in the slightly newer C4. I am however certainly open to discussion.

I am looking for the car to tinker on, and am completely comfortable with the idea of rebuilding the engine, transmission, doing suspension and brake work etc...

My goal is a weekend driver that is fun, without breaking the bank.

Thanks in advance.

 

do not buy a non running one

 

C4's and not breaking the bank does not go together my friend,but they are fun cars. I recommend that you stay in the 94 to 96 year. 93 is a transition year for the auto,ECM and many other parts that would be unique and sometimes hard to find. Buy the newest and best condition you can afford, fixer uppers cost a lot more than the cost of car in good condition.
Good luck!
93cruiser

 

I bought a Torch Red '94 with 139K miles and a ragged out interior for $4000 - it was a definite fixer-upper. I later discovered it needed a water pump, Opti, and a set of shocks. Thanks to ebay and the many vendors on here, I have a car nice enough for my wife to drive around in for $5500, total. Car could use a paint refreshing (scuff & shoot) but after washing and fresh wax it still turns heads.

I recently purchased a Black Rose '96 LT4 with 93K miles, one owner, for $8500. This car has a loaded option package. It was well maintained but has a little wear and tear for a car that old, but runs strong and I love driving it!

So now I've got 2 C4s in the garage for less than 15 grand...is this a great country, or what?

I do most of my own wrenching, but my bro-in-law likes to pitch in and help with some of the mechanic work (Corvette owner and mechanic, he'd rather get fed than get paid).

 

I have a 1993 C4, i made a mistake of no asking about it, and it was one of the cheapest, cost me about 6500$. i got it because it was a manual car, so i wanted to learn on a corvette instead of anyother car. check the gears and engine for any aftermarket fixes. check the fuse box and make sure it has not been tampered with. make sure the slave and master cylinder work. and if there is a chance, find out the emotions of the car, if they are high.

 

, but don't rule out a pampered, early model c4's, either. i would stay away from fixer-uppers unless you have deep pockets, a great toolbox, and a really understanding wife!

 

I have an 84 Vette that 100% original and in excellent condition. I paid $8,500 for it, and have had to do nothing to it since other than what I choose to do. You should be able to get a good condition 85 - 89 for a similar price.

I echo the sentiments of others - buying a fixer upper is NOT the way to go unless you have a load of money to spend. Here is an example, I changed the seats in mine for new ones - $1200. Roof liner - $160. Console components - $300. Carpet for the rear only - $300. Carpet for the front - $300. Add that up and you have another $2260 on top of whatever you will buy a fixer upperer one for. Then add the cost of any mechanical repairs and a probable repaint and body repairs - another $3000 - $4000. Before you know it, your $4000 C4 becomes a $12 - 14,000 C4 and that is a little over the top for your average ORIGINAL C4.

When buying one though look for some of the following that WILL cost you money:

1. Cracking or fracturing around the cross piece, especially near the drivers and passenger doors

2. Hood locks

3. Rear window shock absorbers/openers

4. Rear wheel bearings

These are just a few of the things that the C4 is susceptible of having problems with. Also, the mileage. The higher the mileage the less the car is worth. You should be able to get one with around 30 - 40,000 for the price indicated above.

Although I only have the one at the moment, I am looking at buying a 2003 Z06 manual in the near future. That car has only 38,000 on it, has just been rebuilt from the ground up and will only cost me $13,500. I am buying this from a collector who has around 12 Corvettes, all original and from a 1955 to a 2010, so he really does know his Vettes.

Cheers and hope this helps

Wombat457

 

I imagine that you're picking out the C4 as your first Corvette. Congratulations, you'll love these cars, whether it's the early C4 or the late C4. Drive and experience both. Research what they're going for and be patient in your search. My fiance acted as the cautionary brake and helped me in my search. IMHO, the best Corvette are the ones that are Original Owner, reasonable mileage for the age, upscale area and it's been loved, garaged and babied all it's life.

Finally, tinkering is in interesting term, that I'd apply to working on older cars or hot rods. Corvettes can be really tough cars to work on and demand patience. Don't drop anything in the engine compartment, that you don't want to see again, because if you do, you'll be lucky if it hits the floor. Double lucky if you find it. Get a Factory Service Manual and learn how to use a multimeter and read the codes, especially with the early C4's. And all C4's require a regular diet of money as well. They are not Honda Civics. They are high performance cars that need TLC to run their best and you will enjoy the experience, because there's few cars like it.

Best of luck in your search and come back and show us what you got.
A really great and recent thread on this very subject.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-g...post1577816268

 

With a '90 & '91 you get the latest L98 engine; newer will likely be the LT1 motor.

Main thing is to drive a few, check out some options and enjoy the experience...

 

I have a 1985 Greenwood Auto with 66k miles on it Needs painted but runs and drives perfects. Digital all works. Hot and cold ac/heat. Wood dash and 7" jensen dvd player.

I want... $6500.

 

An automotive oxymoron if I ever heard one.

 

I'll be the contrarian relative to the C4 breaking the bank. C4's are relatively inexpensive high performance cars to purchase. They can also be comparatively inexpensive to insure and register (less than $600.00 per year for both for my '86). For a performance car, they also get pretty good fuel economy on the open road (low to mid 20's).

I do agree with all who have said that you should buy the best car you can afford and, if you cannot afford a "good" car, stay away from Corvettes. Corvette peculiar parts, e.g. trim, can be expensive. Also, invest in antiseptic and bandages as the cars can be a "pain" to work on (10 pounds of stuff in a 5 pound bag).

Steve

 

I would think C5s would be a relatively far more expensive option. And remember, a corvette IS a luxury item. My rationale for that is its utility factor is very low. I did not buy one until I knew I could afford something that was in good shape to start with. Any luxury item selling relatively cheap is bound to be riddled with problems.

 

I've got 2 C4 corvettes. I love the car and the design of them. I've completely restored both of them. One is a 1986 (sweet driver) and a 1990 (pro-street).

The c4 is a money pit if you want to mod (mine at least), so if you want respectable performance, go 1992 or newer. The Lt1 engine is a great running engine, and will keep a smile on your face...for a while. The l98 is a great engine and all, but if you want to mod, get ready to do major heads, intake, and exhaust changes costing several thousand.

I have a wonderful wife who has the patience of a saint!

So...take your time and really look the c4s model years over. I bought a $2500 '86 and after new paint, wheels, interior, zf-6 speed, 4:10's it's a $13500 bargain. Still love-em though.

Good luck!!!

 

It also helps when one of the Vettes is hers to drive...

 

I find that the "super glue" bandage in the tube works best...bandages don't stay on when you're sweating in Mississippi heat.

 

I discovered that too awhile back. The glue also seals up the wound so less chance of infection, dirt getting into it, etc.

 

Thanks everyone for all your help and insights. I am now leaning towards a 94 - 96, w/ LT1 and ideally a 6 speed.
Hoping to spend under 8k, but would stretch that if necessary for the right car.
If anyone comes accross something let me know. Im in Ottawa, Ontario Canada, but willing to travel for the right car.
I am leaving on vacation Saturday for a week, but plan to really start searching when i get home. Hopefully test drive a couple over the next few weeks.

Oh, and I am okay with the idea of a rouch interior if the car is mechanically sound.

 

Research Ecklers, MidAmericaMotorworks and others for Corvette Interior parts. They are quite expensive and you should factor this in the price of the car. Door Panels are $500 each. Seats can be recovered for as little as $400 the pair for 'economy' and up to $700 the set for standard leather. Of course, if you're willing to search Ebay and the Forum parts for sale, you might find used parts for much cheaper, but you should be armed with this information before you buy.

 

All very true, but.....

Maybe you are one of the lucky owners who hasn't had to replace or repair many parts, but at some point 20-yr-old parts can and will fail. This isn't unique to Corvettes -- I've had a few money pit "classic" motorcycles, too.

It's a cost of ownership that most of us are willing and able to bear, but prospective owners should not be lulled into thinking the purchase price is all they will pay to own and operate one of these cars.