I used to be on this forum, owned a 96 lt4 vette, now I am looking at getting back into a 2001 vette that has 20k or so miles, its an auto with the performance axle,does have a cd player, and is pewter colored, has original tires so will need tires, this car has been stored outside in a car port for last 2 years and has been covered,2 owners known, no accidents, there is no price, its someone the family knows that passed away, I would rather have a 6spd z51 due to I autocross and do track events, but I thought if I could get it for a decent price maybe this would be the way to go. What would you offer for this car as is? thanks ahead of time for any opinions.

 

I'd offer 13 or 14K and hope to get it for 16K or less.
Needing new tires (and probably a battery) is a bargaining point for you, and so is the fact that it hasn't been driven enough to convince you it was maintained properly while in hibernation. Expect to spend $1000 on tires $100+ on a battery and another $500 for a complete fluid change etc.

Good luck.

 

I would offer 10k maybe go to 13 depending on total condition. Remember you can always negotiate up...but, not back down. It's almost always better to get them to price it first... just sayin

 

Fact: I recently was offered $16,500 for my 04 coupe with 57K on the clock. This was a trade in value against a heavily discounted C6, so the offer was legit. If you can get that car with that very low mileage for less than $17K, you're doing real well. Check autotrader.com, and cars.com and allow for some negotiation with a dealer. Also check ebay. If you check KBB, be careful because entering the mileage to get the correct number can be a challenge. NADA may be a better source but I find all those books to be suspect.

 

What part of the country is it in? If it's in mint condition it's worth 17K to 19K.

 

I'd say $17-18K would be a good price.

 

I'd rather have one with higher miles that was driven and maintained with care. This car's been outside for two years???and, what sort of maintenance records do they have?

Get the car thoroughly inspected by a mechanic who knows corvettes and can put the car up on a lift, and take you on a tour of EVERYTHING on the car. Otherwise Don't buy it for more than $12,500-$13,000.

 

If you do track days and autocross events I wouldn't even consider buying that car because of the auto. You said yourself that you prefer a Z51 6-speed. Deals are too easy to come across on C5's these days to settle on something you don't really want...

 

I would pay a little more and get a 6 speed.

 

Why buy something to keep that you really don't want?

 

I agree with both, unless of course you're going to flip it?

 

I'd offer 13k and tell them, it needs new tires which if it was me I would show them the OEM Goodyear RunCraps lol which cost like $1600 haha and I would point out it would need a tune-up fresh fluids, battery etc....

work all of that into the price I wouldn't pay more then 15-16k because of the need for new tires etc...but that car with new tires and everything working ok is worth 17-18k all day.

 

Why does everyone assume it hasn't been maintained? A mint 2001 with 20K miles is worth a heck of a lot more than 13K. It's a 14 year old new car.

 

Because it was stored outside for two years, and it is being sold as as estate settlement, which means it pretty much has gone unattended for the two years.

 

Sure it may have been left alone, but a good detail, fluids changed and a set of tires and no one would know the difference...

I agree with the OP, a 14 year old new car!

 

ok so you are saying...that you'd be willing to pay the 18k for this car in the condition it is in??

remember a good new set of tires will run you $1,000 (hopefully not getting RF's) plus you'll need to change all fluids and give it more then likely a new battery...Plus who knows what other gremlins will pop up on a car sitting for 2 years, I would assume I would be dumping an immediate $2,000 dollars right off the bat no questions asked and that would be in repair and maintenance work alone...all of which is making the car worth not a penny more then the 18k (give or take a little bit due to location)

So now you're 20k in a car worth 18k, now i'm assuming you have to pay taxes, plate, reg fee etc you're talking an easy extra $1,000 so you're 21k in a 18k car....now lets assume you bought it for 18k no negotiating at all, you just got done spending $21,000 dollars

Now lets say you offer 13k

They come back with an offer and after haggling pointing out all the issues that are present or could come up you agree on 15-16k (a price I personally would pay for this car and agree it's worth due to tires etc.)

after your new tires taxes maintenance fluids blah blah blah you're at 18-19k....

that's why you offer 13k...you can always go up and lets face it people love meeting in the middle you cannot go in an offer 16k on an 18k car because they will want nothing les then 17k then...

I'm not saying I'm right but this is my logic at least, a mint 2001 20k mile car is worth $18,000 all day!!! but it's not mint...it needs tires etc...

ALSO!!!

How does someone drive a car for 14 years on the OEM runflats is what I want to know....those things must be like rocks!! mine are 7 years old and are unbearable (can't wait for my new tires this spring lol)

 

Depends a lot on the care and maintainance done on it before it was put away. Maybe all the fluids had been changed in the past and the battery was out of it. In a carport under a cover isn't much different than an unheated garage. It's going to need tires for sure but that's 600 bucks.
I would need more to the story before slashing it's value.

 

We really don't know much about it's condition. We don't know what it needs. Tires are not that big a deal. A good set is 600 bucks.

 

For what its worth (and I may have gotten lucky here) I bought my Z06 in June 2013 with only 5,000 miles on it. It hadn't left the original owners garage for 5 years. The only worn/bad parts I had to replace was a wheel bearing and an idler pulley. I also changed all the fluids. I put maybe 500 bucks into it and it has been perfect since.

 

Goes to show that super low mileage cars are not the nightmare people make them out to be. They are like any used car. Except they are cool as hell.