Help!
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: KS
Welcome to the forum Jennifer!
The question is what generation would he be happy with that's within the budget?
Late model C3's and C4's are probably the best bet.
If you keep an eye on the C3 and C4 for sale sections - you will get an idea on the prices. The benefit is most of the members have realistic prices and tend not to think the cars are worth more than they really are. (a common problem with some other sources - private sales and car dealers, etc.)
Some questions are: what body style do you think he would like better? manual transmission or automatic? Is he mechanically inclined and likes to work on cars? (If you farm out all the work - it could get expensive) If he likes to work on cars - he could get enjoyment out of working on the car and save money.
A friend of mine who restores Corvettes and other collectible cars as a hobby and flips them - told me that generally most guys want the Corvette they couldn't have when they were in high school - and when they get into their 40's they buy it when they have the money. (Don't know if that's true for everyone, but it sounds right.)
The C4 is a good car and a lot of people tend to bash it - my C3 turns more heads and gets more attention - but it is not a comfortable car on long rides. The C4 is more comfortable for long rides but doesn't get as much attention. Obviously, you can renew/upgrade the suspension and re-do or replace the seats on a C3 and make them more comfortable. The late model C3's at this point have a better chance of appreciating in value. But realize that you will probably put more money into any generation than you'll get back and you spend time/money to have the car the way you like it and not for an investment.
Good luck in your search!
The question is what generation would he be happy with that's within the budget?
Late model C3's and C4's are probably the best bet.
If you keep an eye on the C3 and C4 for sale sections - you will get an idea on the prices. The benefit is most of the members have realistic prices and tend not to think the cars are worth more than they really are. (a common problem with some other sources - private sales and car dealers, etc.)
Some questions are: what body style do you think he would like better? manual transmission or automatic? Is he mechanically inclined and likes to work on cars? (If you farm out all the work - it could get expensive) If he likes to work on cars - he could get enjoyment out of working on the car and save money.
A friend of mine who restores Corvettes and other collectible cars as a hobby and flips them - told me that generally most guys want the Corvette they couldn't have when they were in high school - and when they get into their 40's they buy it when they have the money. (Don't know if that's true for everyone, but it sounds right.)
The C4 is a good car and a lot of people tend to bash it - my C3 turns more heads and gets more attention - but it is not a comfortable car on long rides. The C4 is more comfortable for long rides but doesn't get as much attention. Obviously, you can renew/upgrade the suspension and re-do or replace the seats on a C3 and make them more comfortable. The late model C3's at this point have a better chance of appreciating in value. But realize that you will probably put more money into any generation than you'll get back and you spend time/money to have the car the way you like it and not for an investment.
Good luck in your search!
He drove a Pinto for at least part of high school, so I know he'll be pretty excited about a Corvette. (I drove a Mustang II, so I can't really make fun of him about the Pinto.)
He really isn't picky at all about body style, transmission, or anything else. I imagine I'll need to find one that he can tinker with, but he generally doesn't have a problem taking a car in if necessary.
Personally, I like the body style of the 70s Corvettes but I don't think I would ever turn my nose up at any car as long as the price was right!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,456
Likes: 10
From: Somerdale NJ
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-‘17-‘18
BEFORE (paid $2,500) 78K miles auto with matching #'s
AFTER (put about 3K into the car so far) almost finished
(paid $11k) put about 6K into it so far, also almost finished.
My '86 (bought it in '88 - so someone else took the depreciation hit)
There are bargains especially now that it's a buyers market. If you're patient and bring someone who knows Corvettes and will show you what problems to look for that are specific to the generation you should be able to find a nice Corvette within your budget.
Here's another site (other than the Corvette Forum) I check often: http://contes.com/en/for-sale
Last edited by JW3101; Jan 26, 2013 at 01:22 AM.
Enjoy while you can.
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 18,234
Likes: 3,361
From: 10th District Court OHIO
Ohio Events Coordinator
2025 Corvette of the Year Winner - Unmodified
2024 C2 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
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2019 C2 of Year Finalist (stock)
St. Jude Donor '14 thru '26
The older the corvette, the more you should have it inspected by an expert. You are buying a used car and there is a lot of junx out there. Good luck.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: KS
There is a Corvette club in our area. Maybe I could contact them and see if somebody in the club could tag along at purchase time??
Seriously...you guys rock! I sincerely appreciate the warm welcome and advice.
Seriously...you guys rock! I sincerely appreciate the warm welcome and advice.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 10,777
Likes: 5
From: Wichita Ks
Actually there are two Corvette clubs in Wichita. I think both meet at Davis Moore Chevrolet on West Kellogg but on different nights. I'm sure there would be members that would be more than happy to help. When I was looking for my vette most of cars I found in this area were either over priced or in rough condition. I found mine on e-bay from a seller that had perfect feedback and a long selling record. I didn't know about the Forum and didn't think about the Corvette clubs for help. Your on the right track and miles ahead of where I was when I started looking.
Last edited by mrmtrtrnd; Jan 26, 2013 at 06:22 PM.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: KS
Actually there are two Corvette clubs in Wichita. I think both meet at Davis Moore Chevrolet on West Kellogg but on different nights. I'm sure there would be members that would be more than happy to help. When I was looking for my vette most of cars I found in this area were either over priced or in rough condition. I found mine on e-bay from a seller that had perfect feedback and a long selling record. I didn't know about the Forum and didn't think about the Corvette clubs for help. Your on the right track and miles ahead of where I was when I started looking.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 1,049
Likes: 1
From: Wisconsin
Welcome to the forum! Great gift idea. I would steer you towards a later model C4 '94-'96 and one for sale on this forum or a high volume Corvette dealer of a shop that specializes in Vettes. The later C4s are plenty fast and your husband sounds like the kind of guy who might like to tinker and there are plenty things available in the after market to make them go faster.
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Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: KS
Welcome to the forum! Great gift idea. I would steer you towards a later model C4 '94-'96 and one for sale on this forum or a high volume Corvette dealer of a shop that specializes in Vettes. The later C4s are plenty fast and your husband sounds like the kind of guy who might like to tinker and there are plenty things available in the after market to make them go faster.
