Need Opinions

[mfi]

MY 92 convertible is starting to show multiple problems. I got it for $5500.00. New top and seats, 80000 miles, polo green. The tranny needs replacing, the ac clutch stopped working, and it needs a paint job. If I do the tranny, $1500 to $1900, redo the weatherstripping, another $800, and some other stuff. I'm up to about $9000.00. A paint job would be another 4to 5K. Am I exceeding the value. I don't have a garage so I might not want to do the paint. What do you think it would be worth without a paint job. I might want to sell it and get one in better shape. It runs pretty good otherwise, but I'm afraid of it becoming a money pit.

 

[tigmaned]

whats your problem again?

you have a 1992 convert and only paid $5500 for it!!!! no one can really tell you how to spend your money, but if you still like the vette fix it, if not sell? its your passion, or not? value is only what some other guy is willing to pay. daliy driver don't need to be cherries just put a smile on your face and forget every thing else in life!

 

[G Winter]

whats your problem again?

you have a 1992 convert and only paid $5500 for it!!!! no one can really tell you how to spend your money, but if you still like the vette fix it, if not sell? its your passion, or not? value is only what some other guy is willing to pay. daliy driver don't need to be cherries just put a smile on your face and forget every thing else in life!

I agree tigmaned. You could spent 15k on something diff and still end up with issues . Any car is a money pit , just the way it is. Depends on how long you drive it and what you can get back at the end of that period of time. I always feel if I can own a car for $1500 a yr including repairs I got by like a bandit. Do your math on it. If you drive it for 4 yrs and then sell you would likely get more than you paid cause it would be in better shape. I think right now a 92 in decent shape would bring 11k .



I think you got a buy on that vette, figure what a top and seats cost.$$$$$$ If you were close and I had the cash I would take it off your hands for what you paid for it any day.

 

[blakbox]

Had I not just bought one, I'd have given you $5000. for that car w/80k mi. I'd skip the paint, fix the rest, and enjoy the hell out of it! You could too...

 

[G Winter]

Now that I think about it, maybe I should sell mine and buy yours.:W

 

[C4Tom]

I'm thinking if you do most of the work you are capable of doing then farm out the rest you could save some $$$$. It only has 80K on it, so if it hasn't been beaten too hard, it's still a good car. I'd leave the paint alone and make it a good, clean driver that you can enjoy. If you decide to keep it, do the paint. The paint is for others to see... the interior is for you to see. Then again, like the others said, you need to make the decision.

 

[DAVZKAR]

My 96 coupe has over 140k now. Burns no oil and everything works. She goes to the body shop to repaint front bumper boo-boo. Lately I have been thinking about selling her and getting a vert. Can't decide what to do. Also thought of putting in a stroker motor and drive it another 140k. I think that if you like your car I wouldn't worry about the money. Any used car is going to cost you some money here and there. And most of the time unless you stole it and it needed nothing you won't get your money out of it anyway. So enjoy it and make it what you want.

 

[mfi]

Just got back from one of my mechanics. The ac started working again so that's ok. He couldn't find anything wrong with the u joints so it looks like it needs a tranny. I like the car and it's my first convertible. The thing that scares me is the complexity of it. My 72 GTO was a piece of cake. I dropped 3 motors and 2 trannies in it my self no prob. I'm used to the old ones, real easy to fix. It was a bargain though. The guy went to jail and his mother held the title. She sold it cheap to get back the money he owed her. I think I"m going to keep it a while, get a tranny, fix up the interior and blast around with it. It came with a kicking stereo, so much the better. Thanx for the input, I needed a little positive thinking. The wife hates it by the way, and lets me know it.

 

[vett boy]

I think i'm number seven with the advice to repair as you can.

 

[mfi]

I've been working on cars for about 25 years so I can do a lot of it. The electronics is the hard part. I need a shop manual for this baby. Going to order one ASAP. Weather stripping is next.

 

[DAVZKAR]

Sorry to hear your wife hates your car. I can relate to your concerns about working on the vette. Pick up a GM manual for your car it will be money well spent. I too did most of my own work. I had two 77 Trans - Am's. Put a 69 400 HO ,3:73 rear , and a ATI 3500 stall. There was nothing I couldn't do to those cars. But they sure are not at all like the C4 vettes. The first time I drove a C4 I was hooked. Good luck with your car.

 

[mfi]

It's funny, she drives a 50K SUV, but hates my 6K vette. I tell her to get over it every time she starts in. She didn't hate it when she went blasting around in it for 4 hours when I first got it though. All her friends tell her to leave me the hell alone about it. I work 60 hours a week, if this is what I need, then tough luck to her. I don't ***** about the $470.00 a month payment on her truck.

 

[DAVZKAR]

Maybe she see's the car as competition. Some women are like that. I know first hand. My vette's are still around. Vette's 1 woman zero. I found a woman who really digs the cars now. She loves to drive the 96.

 

[mfi]

I think it's a money issue. She's afraid of it turning in to a money pit. I haven't owned a sports car in 10 years, spent all my money on the house. Time for me, me, me. My boat eats up a lot more money than the vette though. Six to nine hundred bucks every year just to put it in the water and maintain it. And it only a 4 cylinder. And we only use it about a dozen times a year. I think the vette's a bargain compared to that.

 

[DAVZKAR]

There's that old saying," The only difference between men and boys is the price of their toys." And ,yes boats do take alot of money , time ,and work. I spend alot of time on the cars but I love it. My friend Jeff told me I was a different person when I stopped messing with cars. He got me into the vette's. Now he is working on his three 70 SS chevelle's.

 

[vett boy]

Women think different. As my wife states:do you think the world revolves around you? and it's one of the few times i say -yes dear ! Be strong it's all about you.Self centered is an asset.

 

[DAVZKAR]

The woman that hated my vette's said the same thing. She thought the world was suppose to revolve around her and she was not going to share the spot light with no car. My cars were a greater threat than other women.:eyerole

 

[tigmaned]

woman aren't car people, well most of them and why the car companys make maitas!! a real chick car!!! i told myself i am the main bread winner and i want another vette, i am not taking food from my kids or cloths off there back, well there girls so that never ends!!! but hey them and the wife will all be doing the pms thing soon and man i am going to need a place for me and that one reason for the vette, get me out of the house!! i just wish i had a garage!! but luckly the base has a auto hobby shop with eveything you could need.
thats a great year you have and a great price to start with, after taking the targa top off a few times be happy you have a vert!!!! you have the LT1 with more horses too. remember condition changes bring your resale up to.
some don't like eBay but theres alot of good sellers there and save alot too. i got a manual for my 86 for only $35 bucks and alot more stuff and saved even over for sale stuff here.

 

[John Robinson]

It's all relative

Lets see if I can put some perspective on the subject about wifes and Corvettes.

In the last year my wifes 99 Olds has had an alternator $300.00, Rear brakes and rotors $140.00, Crank sensor and plugs $305.00, New tires $400.00, Steering shaft lubricated $50.00 plus oil changes and gas. I also replaced a broken front sway bar and lower ball joints along with the struts for $750.00
Lets see that comes to $1945.00 for repairs. This car only has 80K on it.

The wife does not have a problem with this kind of expense for her car.

Now as for the vette I have had to replace the top radiator hose and add some antifreeze in the last week for a total cost of $30.00.:confused

I have been told at least 50 times since then how she just knew it was going to be a money pit and I should never have bought it.ad The car has 76K on it and I have put 10K on it this year so far.:crazy

I may have to put new front brakes and rotors on it this year and maybe? I will change the plugs and wires or maybe not. Even if I do these things I wont have spent near what her car has cost me this year. I wonder who has the money pit for a car.:argue I have been with the wife for 43 years so as you can see I make long term committments. and I have made that committment to my vette. Her car is a different story. As soon as she agrees to it it's gone. :bash

 

[mfi]

I thank god her truck is a lease, no money spent on repairs, ever. She just wants her way, always, forever. Not happening this time. I need a fast car, period. Plus it's my money to spend, I make most of it. She will get over it, or not.