unsure about vette purchase

[esterling]

I am in the process of purchasing an 85 vette coupe,automatic transmission, with 32000 miles on it. The car looks almost brand new. I drove the car and it ran just fine I think. I have never owned a corvette before. I have been looking at the posts on the problems vette owners have had and I am finding myself questioning if I'm doing the right thing. This car will be a daily driven car and not stored at all. Do corvettes tend to have more problems mechanically? I am not very mechanically minded and don't want to be buying something that I will always have in the shop. Thanks for your input.

 

[GusVette]

HI,
As a former 85' owner I'll just go over a few problem I had with mine. You did not say if its and auto or 4+3 manual.
I purchased mine with about the same mileage you are talking about.
1. New Battery, tires, tune-up, valve cover gaskets. EGR Valve
2. Dash led replaced at 38k ($500.)
3. Transmission and overdrive re-built at 45k ($3k)
3a Also did the clutch and universals at the same time.

I think that covers most of the repairs.
Bottom line is Do You Really Want the Car. You will have repairs on any car you purchase. Difference is you wil own a Corvette. If you can afford it I would choose a newer C4. They get better as you get into the later years.
Hope this helps alittle.
Oh would I do it again. NO! I would start with the newest Corvette I could afford. Now I have one, best choice I ever made!
Just my $.02
Gus

 

[JJU]

I'm about to purchase my third Corvette. The third will be my second "used" Corvette.

If you keep up regular maintence on the car, it will last you as long as any other car. How do you feel about buying a car that is 18 years old?

So, the question becomes, do they need more "regular maintenance" than any other car and does that regular maintenance cost more?

I would ask your favorite mechanic. If you do most of the work yourself, get the maintenance manuals (from Ecklers or Mid-America)

 

[Yoda]

esterling,

Even though a couple of C4 owners offer advice, I moved this into the C4 forums and you'll probably see a few more insightful posts

Bud

 

[livinez]

Just bought a 85

With 80,000 miles, auto, leather, loaded with options, Greenwood rear spoiler(wing) and side skirting.
It has sat three years so I have many tasks to sort out and probs to solve.
Found a large vacuum leak from the charcoal cannister and the intake manifold. Melted lead to oxygen sensor, bad plug wires, wasted cap and rotor.
So fixed the leak, replaced the sensor, cut the wires out of the wiring loom(they where IN there tight & appeared to be the orginals!) and replaced them and cap/rotor.
Car still runs rich and idles rough. Old plugs were wet from short idle time before changing and it cleans up with higher RPMS so it leads me to think that I still have a vacuum leak. Heater/AC controls dont work so it might be in there,. Also have a ticking injector so willbe doing work there also. Should have a OBD1 diagnostic tool coming Monday UPS so this willbe of great help in getting car running right.
When I have wheels off to replace tires, I will be repacking or replacing wheel bearings, disassembling, cleaning & inspecting brakes. The braking isnt what I would expect so might also find leak in that vacuum booster.
A complete brake fluid change and hopefully no master cylinder work!
Checking and lubing Ujoints and everything else on rearend. Including changing the rearend lube and limited slip additive.
Hopefully all the bushings back there are good for a year or so, The shocks will have to wait too.
By this time next year I figure to have another $2-3,000 in my $5,000 Deal! And thats conservative figures, because I will do much/all of the work myself and will do all the prep work for paint.
And hopefully nothing really spendy needs replacing!
This web site is a treasure trove of knowledge and will spare me much expense and headaches by using the search mode....,alot.
Many experienced owners and very knowledgable automotive writers (like Hib Halverson) to leanon and learn from.
So in answer to your question, I have a question. Are you ready to go to work? All used cars need at least some time and money invested in them. Corvettes are just worthy of it!
Your "find" sounds great!
I'm excited about mine and I have over twice the miles. There aint nothing like driving a Vette!
I've raced road and MX bikes, piloted 100 ft. commercial fishing boats, ran a Trucking co. and drove a shape looking classic semi for a few years. Flew a small plane and downhill skied nasty double black diamonds.
Starting that Vette is just as good a rush!
But then I waited 30 years for my first 1!

 

[Robertwav1]

I would probably buy the car if it wasn't an everyday driver. Sounds in good shape...but it does have age. IMO.

 

[mike weyman]

vettes aren't made to be driven everyday winter and summer, its a sports car, for that sunday drive with your honey (or wife), or just to look real good parked in town.maybe a few rice hunts or something. it sounds to me like you need a minivan or a suv or something.
I have 15000$ spent in parts only on my 75, and havent heard it run in a year, and it will be next summer(hopefully) before i drive it.
mechanics will eat you alive for repairs, they are diffrent from any other car in many ways and most mechanics will spend the first $40. hour just gazing at the undercarriage.
BUT, AND I MEAN BUT....go through town with a 5 litre rustang, and then again with a nice vette, count the heads that turn and you do the math lol.
these cars start out as a touring car,or sunday driver, but soon turn into your metal mistress. make sure honey doesn't mind the competition, cause once you have it in the garage, you'll spend more time with it , than with the wife.

 

[3sacrwd]

I bought my 87 with over 124,000 miles on her and now have 142,000. This car was pretty much a daily driver when there was not snow and ice on the ground. I have not put much money into it......$700 for the dealer to replace the manifold gasket and clean the injectors....(That was before I knew better). I also had to have the tranny re-built for about $1,200. Besides the normal oil, plugs, tune up items, that is about it. I have spent alot more time improving or just learning about my car than money.

I would wait another 6 months to a year and maybe buy a later model such as a 92 or above. It may be worth it in the long run.

Good luck.

 

[livinez]

I bought my 87 with over 124,000 miles on her and now have 142,000. This car was pretty much a daily driver when there was not snow and ice on the ground. I have not put much money into it......$700 for the dealer to replace the manifold gasket and clean the injectors....(That was before I knew better). I also had to have the tranny re-built for about $1,200. Besides the normal oil, plugs, tune up items, that is about it. I have spent alot more time improving or just learning about my car than money.

I would wait another 6 months to a year and maybe buy a later model such as a 92 or above. It may be worth it in the long run.

Good luck.

Hmmm..., as one who doesnt know better yet what would have you done?
I have a ticking injector and a overly rich reading on all the sparkplugs. My recently purchased 85 had sat 3years. I have printed acouple articles on injector removal and trouble shooting and see that many owners have seen easier starting and smoother running by Having theirs rebuilt.
Also have signs of gasoline leakage on intake manifold (weeping from fuel rail o-rings?)
Am waiting for a OBD1 diagnostic from Summit before getting serious about tearing into the injectors and other potental causes.

 

[barefootskier]

I agree with Gus, when looking for my 95, I found that a low mileage 84-90 was in the same price range as 93-95 with 80-90k miles on it. The newer the car, the better the technology in design and quality, mechanically and cosmetically. Im a mechanic at a new car dealer and will be doing repairs myself, but still bought an extended warranty since prices on major components can be up there.
Good luck in your search.

 

[drcorvette]

I bought an 85 approximately 9 years ago. I was new to the Vette World and would only drive my car on sunny weekends. Cost me an arm and a leg to keep it on the road.

Just said screw it and started using it as a daily driver. No more repair problems since!!! Just regular mainenance!!

These cars were made to be driven!!!

 

[caddy]

Just want to give my 2 cents......I have a 94 and like everyone else I just wanted a corvette and I have always liked the C4 body style, now the one I bought had about 130K miles on it, that's alot of miles, however I got it at a very very good price, and now I pay the price....
1.) I have bought 4 new tires ($800)
2.) New Brakes and rotors ($300) did this myself
3.) A/C repair ($900)
4.)Brake booster & tune-up($500)
5.)Water pump, Opti Spark unit, & coil and module($1300)
6.)6 speed transmission oil and change ($50)
for a total of $3850

Is it worth it?????????? it depends! For me.....YES! I love the car
I love the way it drives and it's mine......and most of all
IT'S A CORVETTE! America is GOD'S country and the CORVETTE is GOD'S car, would I do it again..??? IN A HEARTBEAT!
I would honestly rather have a new one, but I just don't have $50K laying around.
We Corvette owners are an elite group....we own the only true American made sports car.
GOOD LUCK ON YOUR DECISION!

 

[Rogue]

Just want to give my 2 cents......
Is it worth it?????????? it depends! For me.....YES! I love the car
I love the way it drives and it's mine......and most of all
IT'S A CORVETTE! America is GOD'S country and the CORVETTE is GOD'S car, would I do it again..??? IN A HEARTBEAT!

Good way to put it.

 

[GusVette]

Is it worth it?????????? it depends! For me.....YES! I love the car
I love the way it drives and it's mine......and most of all
IT'S A CORVETTE! America is GOD'S country and the CORVETTE is GOD'S car, would I do it again..??? IN A HEARTBEAT!
I would honestly rather have a new one, but I just don't have $50K laying around.
We Corvette owners are an elite group....we own the only true American made sports car.
GOOD LUCK ON YOUR DECISION!

Yep, I agree Say's it all!

Hey..Welcome aboard barefoorskier...Must be water not snow!
:s
Gus

 

[vettered91]

Just want to give my 2 cents......

Is it worth it?????????? it depends! For me.....YES! I love the car
I love the way it drives and it's mine......and most of all
IT'S A CORVETTE! America is GOD'S country and the CORVETTE is GOD'S car, would I do it again..??? IN A HEARTBEAT!
I would honestly rather have a new one, but I just don't have $50K laying around.
We Corvette owners are an elite group....we own the only true American made sports car.
GOOD LUCK ON YOUR DECISION!

I just couldn't say it any better!

 

[B17Crew]

Is it worth it?????????? it depends! For me.....YES! I love the car
I love the way it drives and it's mine......and most of all
IT'S A CORVETTE! America is GOD'S country and the CORVETTE is GOD'S car, would I do it again..??? IN A HEARTBEAT! I would honestly rather have a new one, but I just don't have $50K laying around.

We Corvette owners are an elite group....we own the only true American made sports car. GOOD LUCK ON YOUR DECISION!

 

[B17Crew]

Caddy,
I have to tell you, after I read your above post (see above) I had to do a standing ovation in front of my computer!

B17Crew

 

[drcorvette]

Just want to give my 2 cents......
Is it worth it?????????? it depends! For me.....YES! I love the car
I love the way it drives and it's mine......and most of all
IT'S A CORVETTE! America is GOD'S country and the CORVETTE is GOD'S car, would I do it again..??? IN A HEARTBEAT!

GOOD LUCK ON YOUR DECISION!

Couldn't have said it better myself!!!!

I love my C4 and would buy another Corvette in a second!!! Would never drive anything else!!!

 

[drcorvette]

Just want to give my 2 cents......I have a 94 and like everyone else I just wanted a corvette and I have always liked the C4 body style, now the one I bought had about 130K miles on it, that's alot of miles, however I got it at a very very good price, and now I pay the price....
1.) I have bought 4 new tires ($800)
2.) New Brakes and rotors ($300) did this myself
3.) A/C repair ($900)
4.)Brake booster & tune-up($500)
5.)Water pump, Opti Spark unit, & coil and module($1300)
6.)6 speed transmission oil and change ($50)
for a total of $3850

Is it worth it?????????? it depends! For me.....YES! I love the car
I love the way it drives and it's mine......and most of all
IT'S A CORVETTE! America is GOD'S country and the CORVETTE is GOD'S car, would I do it again..??? IN A HEARTBEAT!
I would honestly rather have a new one, but I just don't have $50K laying around.
We Corvette owners are an elite group....we own the only true American made sports car.
GOOD LUCK ON YOUR DECISION!

 

[drcorvette]

See ... I got so excited that I accidently sent the message twice!!!

:eek