vettlibito

I keep seeing C4's in decent condition for around 4-8k... any reason why people are getting rid of C4's? And these guys are legit trying to sell them.. I called and asked... yes I am currently in Hawaii

http://honolulu.craigslist.org/oah/cto/2518523610.html

http://honolulu.craigslist.org/oah/cto/2523021425.html

http://honolulu.craigslist.org/oah/cto/2500127649.html

http://honolulu.craigslist.org/oah/cto/2500127649.html

http://honolulu.craigslist.org/oah/cto/2497990781.html

http://honolulu.craigslist.org/oah/cto/2484802660.html

DaBo

Supply and demand.

Cyclical market.

Popularity.

Pizzano

Well what they advertise for and what the actual condition of the vehicle is when you see it always seems to be 2 different things.

Elephanthead

Well lets list the problems the C4 has.

1. The interior falls apart, the door cards are garbage, the Bose system is unmaintainable, the seats get worn out, the tilt loosens up, and the heater cores disintegrate. You will find these hard to fix problems on a lot of the examples you look at.

2. Exterior - the paint is expensive to get fixed as is any body damage. Did I mention the headlights stop working from wear and tear? Removable tops get damaged, a lot. The weather striping will need replaced.

3. Drive train - Can you buy flywheels for the ZF tranny now? 350 hp was fine for 1990 but is a little low for a modern performance car, this assumes you buy a lt car.

4. I don't know if you noticed but the economy is not exactly doing well. The middle class is getting destroyed. The poor only have 8k to spend and the rich would never buy a used c4 unless it had 300 miles on it.

Anyway it is a great time to buy, not as great time to sell a C4.

Vette Daddy

Simple as that.

capevettes

High miles and wings and things planted on the cars don't enhance the value. C4's are great cars if you can find low mileage, unmolested examples. They have fallen into disfavor with alot of the Corvette crowd that doesn't really understand that these are great handling, performing, fuel efficient cars that can be driven anywhere. They deserve alot more respect than they get. Really a great opportunity to get into a nice Corvette at a reasonable price. Most of the early C4's have also bottomed out on depreciation.

Dave C

Well said...

Dave

1986 Corvette 4+3/Z51 (sold)
1993 Corvette 6-spd FX3 (sold)
1986 Corvette 4+3/Z52 (sold)
looking for my next great C4

silverja

Not an easy task. Many for sale are in need of major restoration efforts which translate into big dollars. This same pattern has occurred before in the earlier generations. Survival of the fittest.

The economy is in the dumps now too. Great for those holding cash. There are some great deals if one can find them. Not as easy as one may think though.

The C4 is a great entry level Corvette for the first time buyer looking to test the waters. They are getting rare to find as you described though.

garrettsr5

4k! That's a lot!

http://boston.craigslist.org/sob/ctd/2519774469.html

http://boston.craigslist.org/sob/cto/2524706967.html

http://newjersey.craigslist.org/cto/2479295469.html

http://newjersey.craigslist.org/cto/2522887136.html

http://cnj.craigslist.org/cto/2528663870.html

Jim Rogers

Believe me, every one of those cars is well over 7K in actual price to drive. The asking price is definitely not the total cost of those dogs (or any other old car that's not been well maintained).

garrettsr5

I've heard that with a lot of cars. Alfas, Fiats and Rovers. I have never once found it to be true in my experience with those cars. I'm going to buy a dirt cheap C4 and see where it takes me.

Jim Rogers

I hope you're successful-- I love c4's and I love to hear stories of ones that are saved (or any stories that involve high mileage c4's that are still on the road).

They are just Chevy's but, as you probably know, even doing the work yourself in most cases costs *can* really add up fast (depending on how good you want them to be). Some of those you posted have nearly 200K miles *and* needed significant body work to be nice-- hard to believe those won't be money pits, but who knows?

However, I still say that, for the average person, there is no way those are going to be $2,000 cars (total cost) that their asking prices indicate.

BTW, I've done a few Fiats myself back in the day (i.e., the late 1970's) and those didn't bankrupt me either. However, they weren't in particularly great condition either and I dumped them pretty fast when I was tired of them, thus limiting my cost.

Anyway, good luck to you, and be sure to post whatever ends up happening with you!

garrettsr5

I am not concerned with mechanicals or interior. I am only concerned with the condition of the body. The rest I can do in time. The motor would not stay stock for very long so the milage is a non issue

JakeC5

I can get a C5 now for less than what I initially paid for my C4.

Ajaste

well stated

speedracer2

I agree 100% with elephanthead. Also extensive use of plastic in the interior.
I was recently forced back into a C4 because of financial wipe out,not of my doings. after stepping on my bottom lip for a while,I remembered how great C4's handle,stop turn and get 25MPG while doing all of that.They WILL put a smile on your face.

JIMBO7

michael c. volpe

am i wrong, or does that last car (i think the 87) have the square taillights?

shouldn't they be round?

Jim Rogers

Yes they were originally round. But it's not uncommon for people to change the front/rear ends of pre-1991's to the newer post-90 style. I've see that several times.

Relic

To the bank to get more money for parts.