Why are C4 prices so low?

[silverja]

I am looking for other's C4 owners opinions on what is going on with C4 pricing.

Please click here to participate in a short 5 question survey

After I gather your opinions, I am going to write an article for my Corvette web site next month using your feedback about the current pricing situation.

Thank you for your feedback.

 

[silverja]

Thanks to all so far that have participated in this survey. Here is a link to the many excellent comments already received:

Click here for excellent comments so far

Thanks again for your valued input.

 

[koolaid117]

I love my C4 and wouldn't trade it for any C5 or C3. Of course those owners probably feel the same. We're all just one big happy family.

 

[tigmaned]

yeah same here, i had a 1975 vette about 6 years ago and C4's are 100 times better car, or should i say way ahead of there time and can still compete with some cars out there today. low price good for us to get one i say. i know i'll never be able to get the year i would really like, 63 split window but i can still say i own a vette! and when i am driving my black 86 i feel different?

 

[vett boy]

My wife had an 87 and loved it. They really are a decent car.The 90 on was very well built and not a lot of problems.Price wise there a bargin

 

[Chris Kennedy]

Frankly, I hope the prices stay low, and this survey worries me as when word gets around prices could start going up (I can see it now: "Is the C4 the next C2!!" articles in the magazines, etc., then places like "Pro Team Corvettes" start contributing to the run up with their hype, etc. and "buy now before it's too late" stuff)---I am interested in a real car, not an "investment", and when prices start going up everything about owning the car becomes more expensive, too, and other C4s you might like someday get more expensive. It reminds me of people and housing prices: I don't own a house, but all my friends who do get real excited when the prices on THEIR house start going up, yet they then complain about property taxes, insurance etc. Then, when they want to move, the houses they want to move to are more expensive, too!

/s/ Chris Kennedy

 

[DAVZKAR]

I like most Vettes any year they are cool cars. But as far as performance and looks they are well rounded great cars. But we are kinda stuck in the middle as time goes. Prices may go up as the number of cars start to decline. The fewer there are the and as demand increases so does the price. Just look at other makes and models of cars that are desirable.

 

[AdvancedAutoCC]

Value is relative

Considering the supply at the moment is relatively plentiful, and people are modifying them, of course the market value is low. Once more and more are modified, the remaining true unmolested low-mileage models will appreciate in value. As to the "Is the C4 the next C2", I kind of doubt that. The exception, of course, are the ZR1, GS, and Callaway cars. Any low-production model will be worth more than the average model, regardless of make.

Now that NCRS is judging 84-91 models, watch for an uptick in values on those years, especially Top Flight judged and documented examples. This isn't to say a plain-Jane '86 coupe is now worth 30K, but it will be worth more than an average '86 coupe. This fact alone will drive up prices of original parts, especially discontinued pieces. It's a harsh fact of life, and yes..will probably ultimately drive most owners who've "scraped" into a C4 right out of them. Will it happen soon? Difficult to say, but I doubt it. However, some people will jump into restoring a C4 simply because C2s are now priced beyond the average Joe, and C3s are getting there now. Not to worry... for now just enjoy your Vette that way it was intended, being DRIVEN.

 

[Tuna]

I hope the NCRS brings in the 92 soon so I can raise the price on my car and the spare parts I have laying around for it.

 

[tyrel]

Sigh. I hope people aren't buying corvettes while worrying about retained value. A car is not an investment, it's a thing to be driven and enjoyed, or at the very least a thing to commute to work with. Who cares if its appreciating or losing value, when all is said and done, it's only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

 

[Edmond]

Sigh. I hope people aren't buying corvettes while worrying about retained value. A car is not an investment, it's a thing to be driven and enjoyed, or at the very least a thing to commute to work with. Who cares if its appreciating or losing value, when all is said and done, it's only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

There are a lot of people who do that. They did it with the ZR-1's. They bought them and locked them up, thinking that they'd be worth more than what they paid for them a few years down the line. They probably never thought that Chevy would actually come out with future Corvette's.:L:L:L

I see the same thing with guitars. People are always asking, "Which model should I buy that will appreciate in value?" I say if you want an investment, go about it in an investment and financial way, not with a car.

Back in the muscle car era, no one ever thought those things would be worth the money they are today. Everyone back then had a muscle car.

 

[wildbill486]

Just saw a frame up restored 70 hemi cuda go for $250,000.


My 87 coupe gets looser and cheaper daily cause I drive the sh!t out of it.

 

[Edmond]

My 87 coupe gets looser and cheaper daily cause I drive the sh!t out of it.

Yeah but you're having a lot of fun with it so it's worth it.

 

[wannavette]

You could ask the same question about the C5's. I am seeing their prices falling like crazy. I'm starting to see 97-98 models under 18k!

 

[vulcanfi]

C4 prices are "low" probably for many reasons one of which is the fact that jobs are abundant and money is flowing freely. Those who could not afford a new(er) car are now buying so why buy "old" when you can buy "new"? C4's are truly great bargains when they are going for 7-8-9K. I'm quick to point out to co-workers and friends that a used 15 year old the Vette is a lot more car at 8K than a new tissue paper thin import at 30K.

Personally, I still prefer the squared off rear end styling of the 80's vintage C4's over the curvy late C4's and C5's. So why did I recently upgrade to a '98 C5 and not a mid-90's C4 you ask? I liked the idea of the transaxle drive train in the C5 and is significantly easier to egress for me and my ladyfriend partner who has difficulty getting out of my C4's. All things considered, the C5's are terrific cars "better" than their previous models as will be the C6.

In the end, you either own and drive a Corvette or you don't.

PS: What took Chevy so long to go with a transaxle?? Garden tractors have transaxle drive trains going back into the 70's and they work great.

 

[Edmond]

significantly easier to egress for me and my ladyfriend partner who has difficulty getting out of my C4's.

Really? I just find that as the perfect reason to help her out by giving her a firm push (wish both hands) on the butt.:L:L:L What? I was only trying to help you get out of the car!

 

[Chris Kennedy]

A lot of people on this thread have summed-up very well something that I feel: That is, that there is a real and fundamental distinction between the type of person who enjoys and uses their C4 (and other Corvettes for that matter), and those who are concerned about "investments", NCRS and similar things. I feel that those of us who are using the cars are, as they used to say, "part of the solution", whereas the trailer queen crowd are "part of the problem". You can fill in whatever you want for what's the solution and what's the problem, but I would sure prefer to be part of the solution.
Someone posted a comment about a Hemi 'Cuda that had recently been sold for $250K. I used to subscribe to a magazine called "Sports Car Market" before I wised-up, and it followed all these auctions. What was interesting was that not only were first tier muscle cars going out of sight, but second and third tier ones were following (e.g., cars like Dodge Darts, Falcons with v-8s etc.). It all sort of reminded me of the period in the later 80s and early 90s when Ferraris were going through the roof. Then, things crashed big time, and it was like a game of musical chairs, and the person without a chair was always trying to get you to feel sorry for them. It will be interesting to see if there is a re-play of this with muscle cars.

/s/ Chris Kennedy

 

[B17Crew]

Hold on, the C4 depreciation wave is going to go lower.

Not all C4’s have bottomed out yet. Maybe the ’84s and ’85s have, I’ve seen low mile ’84 and ’85 cars at affordable prices. Expect to see prices go lower, depreciation is the natural cycle. Even the mighty ’90 ZR-1 is still coming down in price -- as is just about every other C4, all but for a few exceptions. Mint ’96 Grand Sports are holding their value, other GS’s with miles are depreciating none the less. The percentage is low compared to other Corvettes, but they are still coming down in price.

My ’96 LT4 is depreciating, doesn’t bother me (too much). It’ll be a while before it bottoms out and then painstakingly starts to gradually rise in value as most well kept Corvettes do. Just a thought... I’ve seen low mile ’79s bring respectable money, and that’s one of the Corvettes largest production runs to date.

I just hope my dream car (’95 Competiton Yellow ZR-1) drops enough so that I can one day own one.

B17Crew

 

[Kevin Doyle]

I'm with Tyrel .I really enjoy driving my 96 LT4.Its fun ,fast and looks great.If you think c4s are drepriciating take a good look at new cars.Kevin.

 

[iron cross]

About the same as 74-82`s, 12 years of the same basic body style allows buyers to pick and choose.