Bernie

I am looking at purchasing a 2003 coupe.
Looking for some opinions. This is coming from a local Chevy dealer.

http://www.capitolchevy.com/VehicleD...-TX/2647887163

Interior is in good shape and clean, buttons are not worn down on any of the control surfaces. Seats are in good shape.

Paint is shiny can't denote any defects.

Right and left underside of rocker panel has scrapes. Left is worse than the right side as it's all the way through the paint. It would have to be replaced to look good again.

I assume all 2003 have active handling versus traction control as standard, I could not find an RPO code for it. This car does have it as I turned it on and off and held the button down and it went into competition mode on DIC.

Tires are new but not EMT's

No curb rash on the rims.

Miles: 60,717
Trans: Automatic
Color: Gray
Interior: Black

Options:
1SB - HUD, Electrochromic Mirrors, Driver Mem Package, Twilight Headlamps, Power Telescoping Steering Column

B84 - Body Side Moldings

C2L - Dual Roof Panels - Glass top has some peeling around the edges.

QF5 - Forged Wheels

UN0 - Delco Bose CD

U1S - Remote Compact 12 Disk Changer


Thanks for any assistance.

Bernie

Mike98SilVert

The price sounds good for a dealer. Is it at a Chevy Dealer? Do they offer some kind of warranty? It has nice options. I would want to have the rockers repaired and repainted for the price.

Here is a good source of info on that model year: http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/...003/index.html

jjaaam

Yeah, I think that's a good price. NADA for clean retail with almost 100,000 miles is around $18,350 IIRC.

I know because my 2003 has 96K on the clock and I just checked the other day.

And the rocker damage might be an easy DIY fix depending on the location of the scrape and how deep they are. I fixed mine last summer and it was a lot easier than I ever thought it would be. It's not a 100% perfect repair but if I never told you it was done you would never know it.

Here's the thread about it: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-i-bother.html

Look at the pics in the first post and the pics once repaired on page 3. I'm telling you...if I can do it anyone can.

Bernie

Appreciate the feedback and source info!

It is at a Chevy dealer. No warranty though. Not sure they will do more to the car had to fight just to get them that low.

The rocker damage is underneath so you cant see it unless you look under the car. Looks like speed bump scrapes.

Mike98SilVert

Still a good price for a well optioned '03 as long as it has a clean title and no issues. How handy are you? Since the damage is underneath the rockers and not visible you can probably repair it yourself pretty inexpensively with some JB Weld, sand paper and a spray can of Duplicolor and a roll of blue tape and newspaper.

Bernie

I'm pretty handy so probably could repaint it myself. I worked at a body shop way back in my youth. Still have my hvlp gun.

Vetteman Jack

Sounds like a good price to me. The rocker panels are glued on so taking them off and repairing them is no easy task, but a good shop should be able to fix it just fine. Good luck in whatever you decide.

jjaaam

This all begs the question: if the rocker panel damage is literally under the car and can't be seen at all...then is it really worth fixing up? I mean...you can't see it, and it's not like it is going to rust out on you!

Of course you want your Vette to be nice (I do too but mine is not a show car)...but normal driving may just get them battle scarred again - heck, I just nailed a speed bump a few weeks ago. I have a ton of scrapes on the absolute bottom of the rockers that I have no intention of fixing. I only fixed the area shown in my thread because it was so deep and visible.

If you drive 'em at all, that kind of stuff is gonna happen.

Mike98SilVert

I agree. I would repair the existing rockers on the car and not attempt removing the rockers.

Mike98SilVert

After you repair them you could install A&A rocker rails or Elite rocker rails to protect them from further damage. My rockers are pristine and I have installed the Elite rocker rails as a precaution. Have not scraped them yet.

jjaaam

Good point...

Mike98SilVert

http://www.eliteengineeringusa.com/c...nd-mtg-screws/

I installed the Elite Engineering Rocker Rails on my car. Using Race Ramps and raising up the rear provides enough space to work with a drill. Using a couple of hydraulic jacks to hold the rocker rail flush to the frame makes the installation much easier. I put a dab of blue locktite on each SS screw.

https://store-581ad.mybigcommerce.co...structions.pdf

Bernie

[QUOTE=Mike98SilVert;1591073608]http://www.eliteengineeringusa.com/c...nd-mtg-screws/

I installed the Elite Engineering Rocker Rails on my car. Using Race Ramps and raising up the rear provides enough space to work with a drill. Using a couple of hydraulic jacks to hold the rocker rail flush to the frame makes the installation much easier. I put a dab of blue locktite on each SS screw.

Great information really appreciate the feedback!

Here is the car. I'll update my original post with the link.

http://www.capitolchevy.com/VehicleD...-TX/2647887163

Mike98SilVert

Looks like it was well kept, a nice car. The damage could have happened at the dealership. Usually does.

Bernie

Well pulled the trigger and picked her up on Wednesday. She is in pretty good shape and from what I have been able to see unmolested in every way except oil change and brakes. She drives great and loads of fun.

Not without needing to slap myself afterwards though. I checked the car out as much as I could and didnt check the headlights. I should have known better owning a C4 and sure as could be the gears are stripped when they go down. Ordered the new metal gears already.

I did some additional homework and she is a local car, for about 42k miles she was serviced at a local dealer where I get other work done on my other cars I have had. They looked up the service history for me and the owner had the oil changes done there. I am the 4th owner, looks like the first and third didn't have her very long based on the car fax.

The next day she stranded me, the bushing at the transmission was gone. Luckily I was at Oreillys when it happened. Tow truck came I asked him if I could look under the car to check the cable, went in spent 8 bucks on the bushing put it on and drove off.

Ordered some preventative items just to be safe since it will be my DD.

New master cylinder as the brake fluid was black even after I siphoned it out, stuff was in the bottom and floating around, don't want to damage the ABS. I'll flush the lines as well.
Serpentine belt.
Coolant reservoir and cap.
T-stat plus housing.
Replaced the air filter with K&N.
Trans cable, probably don't need it but cheap insurance at $60.
In the process of changing out all the fluids and doing some general maintenance.

Thanks for the help and this forum has already saved my rear again!

Mr Russ

FYI for the headlights. Here is the short term fix until you get/install the brass gears:

Disconnect the lift mechanism link from the motor/gear shaft, rotate the motor by hand 180 degrees (from the other end of the motor, there's a ****) and reconnect the lift link. The mechanism inside the motor/gear only uses half the plastic gear inside. This allows it to use the unused half to raise and lower the headlights.

Remember to disconnect the motor power while doing this.

Here's a write up with lots of pics to install brass gears (good info for the short term fix also):

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/...orialized.html

Phanni

Make sure the title is 'good'.
Ie. not a salvage or rebuilt title.

Big Jay E

I have the same car. Love it. Bought it new. My first Vette. Had to do the tranny at about 100,000. Has about 160,000 on it now. Alternates as my DD with my C6.

Tuco

Holy crap Bernie.

BestToyYet

Congratulations on your new purchase.

Post some pics of your car.

Link to the dealership doesn't work, they took your car off their site.