Looking @ 1st Vette - need advice please
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Looking @ 1st Vette - need advice please
I am finally looking to get my first Vette after years of more "practical" cars. I have been reading this forum for months and have learned plenty. The car I am looking at is a 99' coupe 6m black/black, 2 tops, 12 disk changer. The car is a one owner, 15K mile car, no wrecks, well maintained. Asking price is 21.5k. KBB lists private part retail @ much lower while NADA list low retail @ 21K. After watching the forum classifieds prices for this kind of mileage are all over the place. It will be a several hour drive to look at it. Any advice?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 940
Likes: 0
From: Surprise Arizona
It looks like you have done your homework. The forum classifieds should be a fairly good barometer as to current real-world pricing.
Sounds like the price might be just a tad high but definitely in the ballpark depending on how it is optioned. If it meets all your other buying criteria, try to talk to the owner and see what your gut tells you. You could always go check it out and offer less.
I am personally willing to spend a little on the high side for the right car, in pristine condition, especially when I get a positive vibe from the owner.
The fact that it is only hours away instead of days away is also a plus.
Good luck! If you find the right one, you will love the Vette!
Sounds like the price might be just a tad high but definitely in the ballpark depending on how it is optioned. If it meets all your other buying criteria, try to talk to the owner and see what your gut tells you. You could always go check it out and offer less.
I am personally willing to spend a little on the high side for the right car, in pristine condition, especially when I get a positive vibe from the owner.
The fact that it is only hours away instead of days away is also a plus.
Good luck! If you find the right one, you will love the Vette!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 7,207
Likes: 311
From: Lino Lakes MN
It looks like you have done your homework. The forum classifieds should be a fairly good barometer as to current real-world pricing.
Sounds like the price might be just a tad high but definitely in the ballpark depending on how it is optioned. If it meets all your other buying criteria, try to talk to the owner and see what your gut tells you. You could always go check it out and offer less.
I am personally willing to spend a little on the high side for the right car, in pristine condition, especially when I get a positive vibe from the owner.
The fact that it is only hours away instead of days away is also a plus.
Good luck! If you find the right one, you will love the Vette!
Sounds like the price might be just a tad high but definitely in the ballpark depending on how it is optioned. If it meets all your other buying criteria, try to talk to the owner and see what your gut tells you. You could always go check it out and offer less.
I am personally willing to spend a little on the high side for the right car, in pristine condition, especially when I get a positive vibe from the owner.
The fact that it is only hours away instead of days away is also a plus.
Good luck! If you find the right one, you will love the Vette!
I spent months looking for the right car, I live in Minnesota and ended buying in Vegas.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 130
Likes: 0
From: Eugene Oregon
Good deal
I bought a one-owner 99 mag red vert with every option this spring for $22,350. It had 19,600 miles. I think low miles is a huge plus (less likely to have problems and makes it much easier to sell down the road if you decide to move into some more recent). Verts are more expensive than coupes. Your deal is very reasonable. If you like the car, go for it. I LOVE my car.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,170
Likes: 6
From: Oilerville Edmonton
St. Jude Donor '08
I did all of my searching in the autotrader. You may want to search the entire country to get an idea of what those low mileage cars are going for. I also really think you should talk to the owner...you will know what condition the car is in before you get to his/her house.
I wouldn't be too concerned about the distance...it is worth the trip for the right vette...I drove mine 2900 miles to get it home.
You could ask if there is someone local to look at it for you...I did and it was the best part of my purchase.
Good luck and let us know how it goes.
I wouldn't be too concerned about the distance...it is worth the trip for the right vette...I drove mine 2900 miles to get it home.
You could ask if there is someone local to look at it for you...I did and it was the best part of my purchase.
Good luck and let us know how it goes.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Thanks for the replies. The pictures all looked good but I have learned to put little faith in pictures alone. I like the thought of a low mileage car from a picky owner. They are more likely to be well maintained, especially one kept covered in the garage. This is a dealer maintained car with full records. The skip shift is still intact even. It will be a 7 hour ride to see it but I am pretty confident in it's condition. I would never make an offer on a car sight unseen. If the car is right, the drive will be a small investment, otherwise, lesson learned.
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Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 10,030
Likes: 10
From: Prescott AZ
St. Jude Donor '04
It sounds like a really good deal. Offer 20k see where it goes. Low miles is hard to beat + black on black m6 with both tops.If you don't need both tops and there nice you could sell one for $500.00. My car is a 97 with 39k on it.
Lepus-temperamentalus
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,827
Likes: 5
From: Roswell Ga
The best advice I can offer is to read, very carefully, the sticky at the top of the page, "Weights, measurements, ratios, strengths, etc". It'll tell you all you ever wanted to know about C5's.
Like others here, I think the price is a touch high, but not completely unreasonable with those miles.
I do have to tell you though, you're going to find that a C5 isn't nearly as impractical as you might think. It has a huge trunk and great gas mileage. About the only thing I think you can say about it being impractical is that it only has two seats...but that's got its advantages too!
Like others here, I think the price is a touch high, but not completely unreasonable with those miles.
I do have to tell you though, you're going to find that a C5 isn't nearly as impractical as you might think. It has a huge trunk and great gas mileage. About the only thing I think you can say about it being impractical is that it only has two seats...but that's got its advantages too!
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I'd say that is a pretty good deal if the car is fully optioned. Best of luck if you pursue it.