Paul L

A red 1988 convert with about 80K miles with the L-98. Traded in where I work. Very clean but with sun-faded but intact black interior. Nothing that dye will not cure. I have seen the underneath and it is very clean. Just put the original exhaust with cat cons back on to get the straight pipes off. This was needed for emissions. The straight pipes come with the car. Came with a HyperChip of some sort but now has been re-programmed to GM specs. It did 13.5 and 110 so for an L-98 it is (or was) hyped up.

The motor has been checked out by the GM technicians and is in A+ condition. The owner was a GM Tech. The top has just been re-done and the weatherstripping will come in this week and be replaced. New Michelin Pilots go on tomorrow. Interior will need some dye work and the paint is 8 of 10. It has obviously seen some highway miles as the front bumper has stone chips. I would get the front bumper painted but that is all. Any thoughts on this car? I will have pics tomorrow. Thanks!


[Modified by paul79, 8:54 PM 8/20/2002]

A C

Sounds like a nice car, assuming the price is right.

AC

MikeC

You are gonna miss the curves of the '79!

Go for it but make sure if ya gotta sell the 79 make sure that car gets a good owner!

corvettemaster

I say buy the 88, and keep the 79. It would be nice to have a C3 for a weekend driver, and a C4 for a daily driver :yesnod:

SuperFast80

You will find that the L98 is a very good engine for the type of driving you do. Just open the console compartment door and check the codes and make sure it is not a Z51 but an FE1 or Z52. You will not like the ride of the Z51. :nono:

Also if it is a 4+3, have it checked out thoroughly. Notoriously hard to find anyone who still knows what they are doing with that tranny. Better to find a 700R4.

Paul L

Believe me, I will ask for references for the buyer! Too much blood, sweat and tears went into this car over the last 15 years. Through the local Corvette Club I believe I can find a responsible new owner.

Paul L

To be quite honest, I am semi-retired now and cannot afford both. C'est la vie. It is a difficult decision, believe me.

Paul L

Thanks, Flav. This is a big one for me, as you can imagine. Those C3s do tug on your heart-strings.

It is an automatic not the notorious 1 skip to 4. I do not know on the suspension. Good point. I will take pics tomorrow so people can help me with this one.

As a member of the C3 area for so long I really have mixed feelings about this.
But to be trite, sometimes we have to move on....


[Modified by paul79, 9:46 PM 8/20/2002]

Paul L

The asking price is about $10,000US.

gdh

If I hadn't found my vert. I would have bought a C4 vert. I think that you will really enjoy this car if you decide to purchase it. My decision came down to a 90 black vert with silver leather and about 70km or the 72 vert. After driving the vert. I wouldn't ever consider a coupe and I am sure that the C4 will more than fulfill your needs. Just don't forget us on the C3 forum while you are cruising the C4 one. You should be able to pick it up for a good price as the peak season up here is nearly over.

mrvette

Paul79, don't touch it with a ten foot pole...
for instance all I could get for my '87 red convertible was 12 grand US in the high dollar Wash d.c. area...back around 6-7 years ago....and prices are WAY down from that these days...way down...that's a 6 grand car....
and the car is unreliable...I spent more time fixing my ~60k mile '87 than driving it...those cars are all cheap plastic and cheap electronics sloppy built...and if you think a C3 contertible leaks...you aint seen nuttin yet...

weatherstripping is silly expensive, and unreliable...it actually absorbs water...
various parts of that car including the door panels are prone to fall apart, mysterious electrical gremlins abound....

GENE

Paul L

Thanks for your comments. Frost may be here in two weeks as well as a frost on Corvette prices. That is my tack.

bamavettes

Paul79,
I'm with mrvette. I hate to say anything negative about any Corvette, but I have owned four C-4's, and when I wanted to sell, I could not give them away. I will never buy another one. They are everywhere for sale on every lot, but you can not find a good C-3.

Just my opinion but I would much rather have you C-3. I would say today your C-3 is a better car, and in 10 yrs. I bet it will be worth twice the value of the C-4.

terryrudy

All personal opinions aside, if you do get it, I sure hope you come back and give us your impressions on what you thought of it good/bad compared to your nicely restored C3. I, too, would someday like to get a C4.

The only thing I can offer is: are you sure you want convertible? Removable roof is still fairly open-air feeling. Sorry, I have done convertible once and would not do it again. To each his own though.
-terry :cheers:

SuperFast80

Paul, you've owned that '79 for what, 16 years now? Do you anticipate the same sort of long-tem ownership with the C4 (all things considered)? If so, who cares about resale? If you are not looking to flip the car in a year or three, buy what makes you happy. I will miss that '79 in here but you will have to drive it.

Look at the wheels though. 1988 has a one year only 16" wheel that IMHO is not as attractive as the blender blade style of 1989-1990.

Also for L98s, those dual tipped exhausts are fake. The outer tip is a flow through while the inner ones are for show. Lots of guys I know drill holes through the back walls of the mufflers in the inner tips. While it helps with airflow and sound (mainly sound) exposed ungalvanized steel erodes more quickly. Check to see that the exhaust, if still original style, are clean in the inner tips.

kenincanada

Paul, keep the 79 Just my opinion :yesnod:

SuperFast80

Paul, to illustrate my point about the wheel style:

1988


1989


I just think that the 1989 look is so much more attractive that it is a must-have. Plus, its the advantage of 17" vs 16" and the much wider (but more expensive) selection of high performance tire available in the bigger size.

Jons79

Definitly sounds like a personal choice thing. You have always been a real source of GREAT info for us C3'rs and expecially those of us w/79's. Hope you will still impart some of that to us from time to time if you move on to a C4.

DMONSVETTE

I just picked up a 79, had a 76 back in the 80's. Currently have an 87 also.
Seems to me that the 79 is alot more fun to work on and there are
alot more after market parts that can be put on to make the car
look nice. Plus the 79 has more of the Vette look then the 87.
Just my too sense.
:D :seeya

kennycarpenter

I've pondered the same question about a newer vette generation and have decided I'll wait until I save the money for a C5 and keep the '73. As most of us have invested more than what they are currently worth, those looks and curves ended with the C3. Less electronic malfunctions, easy diagnosis and repair, cheaper tires etc. are my reasons.