values on corvettes going down?

[Edmond]

The early C3's are on the rise, due to the fact that they are smog exempt in all states. JMHO, but I think it will be a long time before we see any real gains in the C4 & C5 era cars. Drive em like their meant to be driven! Have fun!

Not to mention the C3's with the last big blocks will always have a place in most hearts.

 

[Aurora40]

One interesting thing I've noticed is the huge disparity between asking prices and transaction prices. When you look at ads, or especially on model-specific sites (like zr1.net, grandsport registry, etc), you get a feel that the cars are really holding their value well. But when you look at cars that actually sold, or people who just bought one and mention what they paid, it's a whole different ballgame.

Also, ZR-1's and Callaways do seem to be affected in the same way, it's just that their initial price was so much higher. I've seen many 1990 ZR-1's for around $20k for sale, and I've seen several Callaways that have been for sale for over a year due to the high asking price. I don't know what a 1990 ZR-1 asking $20k would sell for, but probably less than that, so if it sells for ~$18k, and a regular 1990 sells for ~$8-9k, then the ZR-1 is about twice as expensive, while they were twice as expensive when new too. However, it seems they do hold up a little better as a 1990 would actually probably sell for $7-8k or so, and I'm sure some 1990 ZR-1's go for mid $20's and possibly higher for a real mint/desirable one.

 

[jsteezy129]

i think the c5's are still going for some dough, look on ebay 97's are still going for upper teens or lower 20's. when i sell mine thats what i will buying if not a c6. how do you load pics up in a forum so i can show you guys my car

 

[kingman]

Getting real!!

Hi

The biggest problem is that when a person puts a vette up for sale they do not get real when it comes to pricing.

They think they have gold and when you try to educate them they get upset. In fact they think you are trying to low ball them.

If a vette is fairly priced it will sell.

All of the new and used car dealers that have a used vette on their lot probably paid too much for them and they want you to pay their price to make up for their bad purchase.

Most dealers add at least $5000 to the sticker price so that they can come down a little and some add even more.

The reason is that when you ask them the price and they see you flinch they come back with," I'll tell you what l will give you you a terrific price for about what l paid for it".

Do not be fooled becasue this is a tactic that side tracks you to forget everything except the price. What he wants you to do is forget the high mileage and several imperfections that you can't miss. Forget about the things that you missed and the warranty is worthless and if they say we will fix it next week, forget it.

Do not take del of it until it is right and only leave a small deposit on a credit card only.

It's a tough world out there.

Alan

p.s. Do not finance through a dealer because it will only cost you more in the end. And do not mention how you are going to pay for it until you agree on price and yes have the vette checked out by some one else. The salesperson could care less about anything except making the sale and getting his or her commission.

 

[garycr14]

Also, ZR-1's and Callaways do seem to be affected in the same way, it's just that their initial price was so much higher. I've seen many 1990 ZR-1's for around $20k for sale, and I've seen several Callaways that have been for sale for over a year due to the high asking price. I don't know what a 1990 ZR-1 asking $20k would sell for, but probably less than that, so if it sells for ~$18k, and a regular 1990 sells for ~$8-9k, then the ZR-1 is about twice as expensive, while they were twice as expensive when new too. However, it seems they do hold up a little better as a 1990 would actually probably sell for $7-8k or so, and I'm sure some 1990 ZR-1's go for mid $20's and possibly higher for a real mint/desirable one.

I agree, the ZR1's esp have lost a higher percentage of value. When you consider that they cost 2 times what a vette went for new. So an LT1 that went for 32k, vs a ZR1 for 64k, vs today the LT1 goes for say 12k, the ZR1 22k, sounds to me like you gave up 20k for using the LT1 for 10 years, vs 42k for the use of the ZR1 OUCH! But if you were buying a used 10 year old car today, the ZR1 looks like a pretty darn good deal.

 

[MRANT212]

At this point in time I couldnt care less about pricing of Vettes. After most people took a dumping on their investment portfolios they realized they cant drive stocks,funds bonds etc!!!! Any Vette over a time will probably give you a decent return. I always view the amount of smiles per mile I get when driving mine!!! Check out todays Wall Street Journal. In the personal section their is a front page article on collecting muscle cars. If you plan on holding your cars for sometime the values of Vettes generally rise. If not it almost trades like a stock so enjoy the ride!!!!!

 

[garycr14]

I couldn't agree more, that's why I own two. Lotsa varity, lotsa fun!

 

[KANE]

i have a 95 2 dr coupe six speed manual, 92k,zr wheels and its in prestine condition. i recently went to a vette show and to my suprise people thought i was asking to much 12500....

Depends on what show you went to- remember, not everyone will give you "the real" price. Your car will fetch as much as someone is willing to pay. Selling your car as a total package may get your more- who drove it (adult), who maintained it (regurlar service intervals), meticulous recod keeping (a folder full of reciepts), and then anything else.

i had people saying you can get that year on ebay for like 10 k and im like ya right until i go home and look. you can get them cheaper than that. whats the deal i thought a 95 was worth like 15k?

Ebay is the best way to LIQUIDATE an asset. It's not the best way to sell or buy a car because of the associated mess- sketchy buyers, dead beat bidders, lowest-value-driven sales, and of course the fact you are buying an item through an image... not the experience of seeing it with your own eyes. You can't tell if the car pulls to one side (brakes or alignment), makes a chunking noise from gear to gear (tranny or rear end), if the windows operate slowly (motor failure), burns in the harness from billy-bob repairs (stereo installs and removals). So, that being said- you won't get top dollar. You will get rid of it quickly, if that is what you want.

LIST IT AND SELL IT LOCALLY. Let someone see how well you have taken care of that car.

 

[KANE]

I was pricing C5's today, they are getting real cheap. The 97-99 are going in the mid to high teens, and you can pick up a nice Z06 for around 28k. The C3's do seem to be on the rise, but the regular C4's (2D coupe) look to be falling off rapidly.

I bought my C5 right at the begining of the year. It has DROPPED several thousand from what I paid for it. Why? The C6 is out.

However, NO ONE can believe it is a '97. 60K (50K in January) , no scratches, perfect rubber, no stains in the carpet, no wear in the interior.... it looks more like a 2004.

So, what did I buy it for? THE FACT IT WAS 3 YEARS NEWER IN APPEARANCE!!!

Its an automatic, has the better seats, CD player, dual climate control, no heads up or active handling (I didn't want the last two options- they seemed like just some other expensive add-ons to break).

 

[SHADY80]

resale

I know what your goin through!!!I bought my 80 4-speed 5 years ago for 10 grand.top shape;I'M THE SECOND owner;and the car has only 51,000 miles on it;some guy offered me 14 grand last week;but to be honest,I didn't buy it for an investment.I guess what i'm trying to say is hold on ,because THEY told me at the time I bought it, that later c-3s were dogs on the market.Just drive them and have fun;to me it's one of the last true pleasures!!!!

 

[bossvette]

i think the c5's are still going for some dough, look on ebay 97's are still going for upper teens or lower 20's. when i sell mine thats what i will buying if not a c6. how do you load pics up in a forum so i can show you guys my car

To post pictures so they show up in your post first you need to have the pictures on the web I use a photo hosting service:
http://www.villagephotos.com/index.asp
is one of many. Click on the IMG button in the area above where you type your posting Then you copy the URL of the photo to the Dialog box (be sure there is only one http) by using the links under the photos in blue, just click where it says "copy URL to clipboard" in blue.

Your picture should show up in your post


you can also use the "manage attachments" box below the text entering area to upload from your computer

Good luck

 

[Eightysix]

To be perfectly honest, I don't care what my Vette's worth either. Many people selling fourth generation Vettes are unrealistic about their worth, they seem to act as if the car is rare or has investment potential. I looked at many Vettes, most of them dogs, and kept going back to the one I own based on it's condition and milege. The car is in exceptional condition. The fact that the overdrive was intermittently not working allowed me to purchase it for thousands less than any other car I looked at . Fortunately the problem was a broken wire at the O/D switch and a $17 relay so it was a great deal. I was in high school when the C4's came out and I said to myself "I'm going to own one of those someday" Here it is almost 20 years later and I finally own one that I plan on keeping for a while. That said, enjoying it on a nice weekend afternoon with my son is the real reason I bought it, not it's potential value fifteen or twenty years from now. Resale doesn't matter to me because if I buy another Vette it'll be parked next to my '86 !

 

[Vette_Newb2]

I think you could get an even better deal in a few months on the C5's with winter coming. Are you going to jump into a 97-99? It is very tempting! Though if I did it, I would have to go 02' or beyond Z06.

No, I doubt I will get a C5 anytime soon. I am pretty well set on a ZR1.

 

[jsteezy129]

sold it

well i finally sold it for 12,200 heres a pic of it, now im ready for the c5

 

[Robert]

I am new to the forum and new to Vette ownership.

I just bought a 1984 with 98,000 on it and needs a few things..... Air pump, two front tires, an alignment, paint needs fixed on the hood. I paid $4000.00 for it and figure I can get that out of it 5 years from now.

It is the 7,442 C4 made and has Z51 suspension, heated mirrors and a few other options.

I am hoping to have it all done by October to look at the leaves with the top off!!!

Robert

 

[brimis]

Good luck with the vette!