Ready to take the plunge...

[vettes124]

Spent the last couple of months reading and looking for my first vette purchase. I would like to get a C4 in the 90-95 range. Going to look at one today that I was hoping to get some advice on. If everything is on the up & up this is a 95 in "excellent" cosmetic and mechanical shape but has 140k miles on the orig motor for $6500. I know there can be a lot of variables that I can't answer until I've looked at it and the price seems like a bargain but am I most likely looking at a project car in the near future with that many miles. I plan to use it as a "semi" daily driver vehicle. I know that anything of that age is likely to need work all along but I don't want my "first" vette to be a nightmare either.

 

[67HEAVEN]

Good luck getting your first, and welcome to the

 

[GS Diva]

Welcome! You've come to the right place to meet some great people and to get some great information on Corvettes. It's an exciting time for you, I'm sure, as well as a bit scary! :eek

There are definitely two schools of thought about buying any Corvette with high mileage. The '95 and the '96 are probably the best of the C4 era so that's a good start. If you can determine that this car has been very well maintained and can see receipts and documentation, then I wouldn't be too leery about that mileage. If the owner doesn't have any info on the maintenance, I'd probably continue to look. That's just me, though! My feeling is that you should be looking for the newest Corvette with the lowest miles at a price that is comfortable for you.

There are thousands of Corvettes for sale. It's very easy to jump into the first one you see...I've been there so I'm guilty of that! Take your time and enjoy the "hunt"! Let us know how you make out with this one.

Elaine

 

[Toms007]

Ask about maintenance records. If the car has been properly maintained 140K probably isn't going to kill you. The LT1 engine is pretty bullet proof, and should go 200K at least. Other things to look for that are common problems are; weatherstripping, the optispark (distributor on the front of the LT1 engine, although the 95s have a better design than the 92-94s), headlight bushings (headlights are slow going up/down, grinding noises), seats and carpeting (if they are sport seats the lumbar control system seems to go out, and the bolster area on the drivers side wears/tears), FX3 adjustable shock system (shocks are pretty expensive to replace, and the servo-motors that control them can have issues; i.e. expensive to replace).

The price you quote isn't too bad for a 95 even with the miles, and the Smiles it will bring to you will be greater than the miles on her. Good luck with you search.

 

[vett boy]

Hell if your in North Carolina hook up with GM Junkie ,He's helped almost everyone I know.He's also a member so just look him up on the membership list and send him a PM. he's probibly your neighbor.

 

[rascal_rascal_99]

Welcome to CAC first off!

As for your questions, like Tom mentioned the LT1 if taken care of is a very good long life motor, mine just turned 154k miles and still runs like new...now watch it blow up tonight on me! lol Seriously though, it runs great and doesn't burn a drop of oil. Things other than what he mentioned to look for, would be the bearings under the car with that many miles, U-Joints (all six), O2 sensors, weather stripping around the windows, doors, top and rear hatch.

And as vettboy has suggested, shoot Junk a message if he doesn't chime in here, if he's anywhere close he's a great guy with an incredible amount of knowledge.

 

[XLR8]

Welcome to the CAC and congrats on your decision to track down the right Vette for you.

I'd suggest taking a look and printing a copy of this Buyer's Form for taking along when looking at prospects. Click here for Form

Good luck and enjoy the test drives.

Jane Ann

 

[gmjunkie]

I agree with all of the above!!

Except Remember!!! Nice Vettes aren't Cheep,and Cheep Vettes aren't Nice!! Miles Don't hurt them,Lack of Maintenance do!!

 

[WNH]

Except Remember!!! Nice Vettes aren't Cheep,and Cheep Vettes aren't Nice!! Miles Don't hurt them,Lack of Maintenance do!!

 

[vettes124]

Thanks for all the replies. Car was at a lot about an hours drive away and was suppose to be open till 3:30. Arrived at two and they were already closed for the day. Should have called again to make absolutely sure they were going to be there I guess. May try again Monday.

GMJunkie, I'm about 40 minutes east of Old Fort, near Hickory, so we are almost neighbors.

I have printed the Buyers Form; it's great information itself.

 

[gmjunkie]

Thanks for all the replies. Car was at a lot about an hours drive away and was suppose to be open till 3:30. Arrived at two and they were already closed for the day. Should have called again to make absolutely sure they were going to be there I guess. May try again Monday.

What do you expect?? This is North Carolina!! Probly didn't have a Sober Salesman available with a Drivers License on Saturday!!!

GMJunkie, I'm about 40 minutes east of Old Fort, near Hickory, so we are almost neighbors.

You must live around Hildebran or Longview, I have many friends in the Uni-Four!!:cool Cruzer99 lives in Granite Falls heading north on 321!! I lived and worked over there till we found this place and I built "The Barn"!!!

 

[vetwanna]

I bought my 96 from Junk a year ago and brought it home to Florida. Really glad I took some forum members advice and gave Junk a call, happy vett motoring ever since.
Good luck, you won't be sorry for taking the plunge

 

[vettes124]

Well, got to see the car in person today. Unfortunately I was ready to walk away from this one before I ever got close to it. Didn't even ask to drive it. I may be a newbie to the vette market but I could see enough wrong in general and from reading the buyer's form from here that I knew it wasn't for me. Plus no maintenance records or information available. Don't like to talk bad about anyones ride but this was an excellent example of GMJunkies "Cheep vettes aren't nice" quote.

I'll keep looking and I do have GMJunkies site bookmarked to keep an eye on it.

GMJunkie - I actually live a little north on 321 from cruzer99 in Hudson.

 

[gmjunkie]

GMJunkie - I actually live a little north on 321 from cruzer99 in Hudson.

I used to work just North of you at Rooster Bush Olds,Pontiac Cadillac in Lenoir when I first moved here!

 

[onedef92]

Do it! But be warned! These things are like Lay's Potato Chips...NO ONE can eat just one.

 

[XLR8]

Well, got to see the car in person today. Unfortunately I was ready to walk away from this one before I ever got close to it. Didn't even ask to drive it. I may be a newbie to the vette market but I could see enough wrong in general and from reading the buyer's form from here that I knew it wasn't for me. Plus no maintenance records or information available. Don't like to talk bad about anyones ride but this was an excellent example of GMJunkies "Cheep vettes aren't nice" quote.

I'll keep looking and I do have GMJunkies site bookmarked to keep an eye on it.

GMJunkie - I actually live a little north on 321 from cruzer99 in Hudson.

Smart move! There are too many GOOD ones waiting to be taken home.

While you're looking and learning, here are a couple of links that have been an excellent educational resource for me:

The CAC Corvette Tech Center is a hub to a wealth of information on various topics - including a link to the Buyer's list I provided earlier.

CAC Tech Center link

The CAC Model Center provides links for each model year from 1953 through 2008.

CAC Model Center link

Good luck in your search and don't hesitate to post questions in the different generation forums.

Lots of good people here that love to help!
Jane Ann