Lone Ranger

Have we bottomed out yet?

Pete K

I am pretty sure my 87 is as low as it could go, value wise.

*89x2*

...I have said it once, and will say it again ~ C4's values depend upon the following: Options, Condition, Mileage, then possibly the year.



A highly optioned 1988 coupe for example, should bring more $$ than a low option 1990 in the same condition.

An automatic 1985 w/ most popular options w/ low mileage, should bring more than a 1994, with high miles and/or no options.



This is the way it is, fact of reality.

toroguy

Definately weird!

Im seeing 5.7L Pontiacs selling higher than L98 Vettes?

The supply of Pontiacs is less than Vettes.

I look at it as a buying opportunity...

All mid to late 80's cars are dirt cheap! Im looking for something fun - cheap.

j3studio

From what I've seen, early C4 values have essentially bottomed out but late C4 values are continuing to slide down ...

Wayne88

Especially condition.
How many C4s are in excellant condition.

A friend had an 'exc cond' '88 with 100K miles.
He ran it on Ebay twice, asking $8500. It didn't sell.

He put it in a newspaper classified add [run untill it sells type add].
He sold it for the $8500. The buyer told him that all the other Vettes he looked at were in terrible condition.

So, you never know.

zr1fred

CentralCoaster

You say it like it's a bad thing. I'm glad the prices are in the toilet.

I wish the price on 60" plasma tv's were in the toilet too, then I'd have one.

JrRifleCoach

Our day will come. The C3's finally started rise in price recently.

CrvtBB

I plan on driving mine into the ground anyway which is of much more value to me than what I'd get selling it.

I've done the trailer queen and value monitoring routine with my '71 Z28 and in the end, while I made a good chunk of change when I finally sold it, I didn't have as much fun as I should have had with the car. It's no fun when you worry about every turn of the odometer and every stone chip in the rocker panel.

RRT vette

This is very true.

redwing76

1989 convrt 91,500 miles, $6,700 www.craigslist.org bay area.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/car/256168433.html

93 LT1 $6,500 http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/car/256437385.html

rocco16

Once your car is 20 years old, it has pretty much reached it lowest value.
The '84s and '85s are coming up, my '96 is still dropping (and will for another 9 years or so...)

Larry
code5coupe

redwing76

The bottom of C4 prices is yet to come.
The C4 is still what it has been for many years the best bang for the buck. Its the cheapest Corvette out there.
Here 84's start at $4k
A good 86 with less than 100k is less than $5k.
A 91 convrt with 50k miles is $8,500.
LT1's start at less than $9k.

Not much is selling here not even real estate.

rocco16

I don't think I can agree with that.
For one thing, there just aren't that many options on the C4s; auto or manual being the only major option I can think of.
No engine options (LT5 was not an option, per se, it was an entirely different model), suspension options were not that different from one another, and that leaves colors as the only remaining significant options.

A well-cared for 80K mile '94 would sell for more than a well-cared for 30K mile '85, in my opinion.

That's my opinion, remember....

Larry
code5coupe

Frizlefrak

"Value" is a relative term. Sometimes silly things like sentimental reasons come into play. If you went to your high school prom in a ratty '73 Vega with a cute little coed 3 decades ago, and have been happily married ever since to the love of your life, and you found the EXACT same ratty car that you regret selling sitting in someone's yard for sale with a $5000 tag on it....you might just buy it. Everyone else would scoff at it....but you might be very tempted.

Yes, I speak from experience. No, it wasn't QUITE 3 decades ago...maybe 2 and a half. No, the car wasn't a vega. No, I've never found the car. But it I ever do.....You get the idea.

On the other hand...to a lot of folks, your pristine 86 corvette is just another 22 year old used car....that came from that horrible, decadent, greedy decade. It's so Reaganesque.... (no wonder I own a C4....I loved the 80's.)

I've said it before, I'll say it again.....I don't drive my mutual funds, and I don't invest in old cars. My old cars exist for one reason only....for me to extract as much gratification as possible. With few exceptions, old cars aren't investments. If my neighbor doesn't think the car is valuable, fine....I don't like his High UHHNNN Die Sonata either. Let's allow my Corvette and his Sonata to ripen for another 10 years and see which will sell for more.

The low C4 prices just allow more folks to get into a really cool, fun to drive car. And you don't sweat it if you scratch the thing....you can always repaint it without killing the "value".

The only time the vehicle's worth is even an issue is if you're planning on selling it. Or if you suddenly feel like you just paid too much for your new toy and have a case of buyer's remorse.

Enjoy your cars folks....life is short, and the clock is ticking....

Grease Monkey

i got my '84 2 years ago for 3,600 and it was in great shape... execpt for the carpet

trulytex

I think that the body style has a bearing on price also. With the change in the dash of 1990, but more so with the change in the rear facia of 1991 (excluding ZR1's - an animal all their own). It seems like the updated body of the '91+ cars demand a higher price. That's what I saw when I was looking 9 months ago. I looked at a '92 Aqua Vert with 193,000 miles asking $12,000 and I purchased a '90 Polo Green Vert with 75,000 miles for $8,000. And the '90 had an auxilary hardtop! IMO, the convex rear facia with the rectangular tailights makes the pre-'91 cars look more dated and therefore comands a premium in the market. Just my observation.

gabezC4

I think that with time will come an increase in price. Think about it, a 50 year old car will get money and so will ours in time. A 1955 Bel Air will get a good chunck of cash. A 1969 camero will get a good chunck of cash and a 1988 Vette in 2018 will be A LOT of money. Just wait, but yeah, that means you probably won't drive the car and how much fun is that? Remember back in 1969, you loved that '69 Camero and it was expensive, but know where near as inexpensive a price of it 10 years later. Then another 10 years later and its '89. They are staring to get a little more pricier than they were ever; upward trend. Then '99 rolls around and the '69 is 30 years old. Even more expensive, now it 2007 and the '69 is almost 40 years old. Some of those cars are $100,000 at auction. Maybe the '88 won't get that, but I'll tell you when its 30+ years old, it will be more than the $6500 I payed for 3 months ago. Maybe they never will get expensive, but I'll take yours off you hands if you don't think they are worth anything! I love free Vettes

MDred85

Hello,

There was a time when early c3s were less coveted than later ones. I also remember when people joked midyears. The car market is fickle and at the moment, where you live could also affect value. C4s are begining to be rare on the street. Nice ones are even more so. If you got your car within the last few years and keep it a few more years owners will likely not lose more than normal depreciation.

In the mean time ,ask your self "would you be in the car if it cost what you now think its worth?"


MDred85