Would U Buy C4 With C5 Conversion Kit?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: Communist Colorado
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2009
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From: ALL governments are legalized mobsters, so doesn't matter where I live :(
For $4000 the kid will learn what a PITA it is to be cursed with a car that is constantly consuming all his $$ in repairs.
I remember my first car. $4200 for a 1986 Camaro base model V6 with 32,000 miles on it. It was cherry, only 4 years old. My dad co-signed the loan. My payment was $125 / month.
By the time it was paid for it had a 5.7 V8 under the hood, was a different color and had different wheels and tires on it. Basically unreconizable as being the same car I originally bought.
If it was a Corvette, there is no way I could of afforded all the fun I had with it. The insurance alone would of killed me.
How do you plan on a kid affording all this Corvette fun? Unless you plan on writing all the checks. What will your son learn from that?
I remember my first car. $4200 for a 1986 Camaro base model V6 with 32,000 miles on it. It was cherry, only 4 years old. My dad co-signed the loan. My payment was $125 / month.
By the time it was paid for it had a 5.7 V8 under the hood, was a different color and had different wheels and tires on it. Basically unreconizable as being the same car I originally bought.
If it was a Corvette, there is no way I could of afforded all the fun I had with it. The insurance alone would of killed me.
How do you plan on a kid affording all this Corvette fun? Unless you plan on writing all the checks. What will your son learn from that?
. All I'm saying is that if it met the criteria I posted then I vote yes.
Le Mans Master
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 2008
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From: Oak Hill Virginia
In my opinion:
The only c4 to c5 conversion kit I have ever seen in person was professionally installed and painted and still looked a little off just sitting by itself. Parked next to my C5, it looked like $hit. I'd recommend buying a C3 for cheap and working on it with your son. IMO the c3 looks worlds better than a c4 and should be a little easier to work on. The c4 just doesn't have the "cool" factor that the c3 does... Just my opinion. Either way it's a vette. Good luck.
The only c4 to c5 conversion kit I have ever seen in person was professionally installed and painted and still looked a little off just sitting by itself. Parked next to my C5, it looked like $hit. I'd recommend buying a C3 for cheap and working on it with your son. IMO the c3 looks worlds better than a c4 and should be a little easier to work on. The c4 just doesn't have the "cool" factor that the c3 does... Just my opinion. Either way it's a vette. Good luck.
Safety Car
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From: Madison Wi
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Drifting
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Plano Texas
St. Jude Donor '08
No way. You mentioned it should be worth something with the cost that the conversion kits, tires, wheels, etc cost, but that isn't all that determines value. I would consider the car worth less due to all the changes, possible mechanical, body, electrical issues that this could EASILY face, and will likely face. So take your cost of what those parts are worth and subtract the cost of the high risk you'll be taking that this car will have problems, and it's just not worth it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: Communist Colorado
They set world records, 5 to be exact and held the records until 12 years later. Every LT5 engine was hand assembled by Mercury Marine with tolerences that were so precise even a cam that was .0002 out of spec was trashed.
Theres plenty of them still running around that have never had a problem at all. Some with 200k + miles. The engines were pretty much bullet proof.
Why did I sell mine and not my Z06? Because I couldnt get as much for my Z06 as I could my 92 ZR-1 & I needed the money. They were only over priced if you couldnt afford one. You really need to educate yourself before spouting off at the mouth.
Now, go find me a low mile ZR-1 in nice shape for "cheap" There were over 3000 90's made a couple thousand 91's and from there only 502 92's and 448 for 93,4 & 5. 90 through 92 are less expensive, but nice, original, low mile examples are not less than $20k 93-95's are from $25-55k even today.
And, no, you still have no clue what your talking about regarding ZR-1's. Now STFU... Oh, & Im sure I wouldve spanked your 01 convertable in my 92Z
Last edited by 81c3; Sep 2, 2010 at 11:49 PM.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Arlington Texas
You are obviously clueless, commenting on something you know nothing about. Unless you've been living under a rock for the last few years, you would realize that cars in general are going for cheap. Have you priced the C6 ZR1s? Those prices are dropping like bricks too. Does that make those any less badass, of course not. If you have ever driven a C4 ZR-1 you would know what the fuss is about.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Arlington Texas
You'll never buy a nice C5 for $7000 as the body style was WAY to popular for anything but totally trashed models ever getting that low. I don't see low mile cars getting much below $15k and high mile cars much below $10k. I never really liked the C4 body or interior. The market agrees and that is why They got low for a time. I don't see the C5 market doing that.
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If you want your Corvette to look like a C5, go and buy a C5 Vette. Those kits are heinous and not cost effective.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
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From: Longmont Co
First, why do you assume it hasn't had the engine swapped out? Everything else has been modified. Maybe it does have a 427.
Back to the question, it sounds like a money pit to me (especially if the engine is not original). Personally I think an early C4 would be a great entry into the Vette world for your son (from the posts here I would say C4s are definately underappreciated), but I would run away from that car. I don't see that car ever going up in value, but it's your money.
Back to the question, it sounds like a money pit to me (especially if the engine is not original). Personally I think an early C4 would be a great entry into the Vette world for your son (from the posts here I would say C4s are definately underappreciated), but I would run away from that car. I don't see that car ever going up in value, but it's your money.
Safety Car
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From: Utah
