Buying a C4
06-20-2012, 04:23 PM
#1
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Buying a C4
Greetings, I am new to this site and hoping to be a new Corvette owner soon. I've owned a number of sports cars over the years, MGs, Triumph, Porsche, Etc. but have never owned a Corvette.
I have always liked the looks of the later C4s and the prices seem so reasonable I've started looking in earnest recently. A couple of questions:
I found a 1994 coupe with a 6-speed. It has low miles (<60k) and appears to be in terrific shape with the original white paint looking like new and the gray leather interior very clean with no tears, just some small warping of the dash plastics (up near the defroster vents) and a few rattles, which I take as "normal" for C4s. The car drives great and I don't think the targa top has ever been off the car (the wrench/tool is missing). Is there anything apart from the obvious (accident damage, fluid leaks, non-operating options) one should look out for in particular on a car like this with low mileage?
Porsche owners are fanatical about getting a professional pre-purchase inspections. I've been around cars long enough to know what I'm looking at, so would you recommend this precaution with a Corvette or are they simple enough that a general look-see and test drive can tell the story?
Most of the photos I find online show the '94s with some fairly flat-looking smooth seats. This car has deeper buckets with pronounced bolsters. Were "sport" seats an option in '94? They certainly don't appear to have been swapped out given their match and general condition. I haven't been able to find any mention of these in this forum or online. The seats are very comfortable, just curious is all.
Thanks!
I have always liked the looks of the later C4s and the prices seem so reasonable I've started looking in earnest recently. A couple of questions:
I found a 1994 coupe with a 6-speed. It has low miles (<60k) and appears to be in terrific shape with the original white paint looking like new and the gray leather interior very clean with no tears, just some small warping of the dash plastics (up near the defroster vents) and a few rattles, which I take as "normal" for C4s. The car drives great and I don't think the targa top has ever been off the car (the wrench/tool is missing). Is there anything apart from the obvious (accident damage, fluid leaks, non-operating options) one should look out for in particular on a car like this with low mileage?
Porsche owners are fanatical about getting a professional pre-purchase inspections. I've been around cars long enough to know what I'm looking at, so would you recommend this precaution with a Corvette or are they simple enough that a general look-see and test drive can tell the story?
Most of the photos I find online show the '94s with some fairly flat-looking smooth seats. This car has deeper buckets with pronounced bolsters. Were "sport" seats an option in '94? They certainly don't appear to have been swapped out given their match and general condition. I haven't been able to find any mention of these in this forum or online. The seats are very comfortable, just curious is all.
Thanks!
06-20-2012, 08:07 PM
#4
Heel & Toe
Member Since: Jul 2011
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I bought my 95 Convertible about a year ago. 25,000 km and immaculate. Nevertheless I took it to an independent garage for an inspection before purchase. In the words of the mechanic, the car was "pristine" then he told me of the several problems he found. They were not serious, did not stop me from buying the car and haven't been a problem, but at least I was aware of them and not surprised. It was worth whatever I paid (bad memory) for the peace of mind. Your call. Johnny.
06-20-2012, 08:09 PM
#5
Le Mans Master
Porsche owners are fanatical about getting a professional pre-purchase inspections. I've been around cars long enough to know what I'm looking at, so would you recommend this precaution with a Corvette or are they simple enough that a general look-see and test drive can tell the story?
Post the RPO codes of the car if you can and we'll tell you all about it. They are generally located behind the passenger seat in the storage compartment. It sounds like the seats are an add on option from GM which I believe were produced by Lear Jet.
06-21-2012, 08:03 PM
#6
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Thanks
Thanks, everyone, for your advice. I decided to follow it and found a mobile mechanic who will go out and check the car for me tomorrow at the owner's workplace. It's not a Corvette specialist, but it was just hard to coordinate a trip to the nearest Corvette specialty shop (about 25 miles away) between the owner's work and mine. I'll let you know how the inspector worked out.
I ran the Carfax and it confirmed the mileage and local ownership history the owner told me. I trust Carfax about 50% when it comes to accident records and the like, but it's a good first step, nevertheless. I also got it for free, so the price was hard to beat.
As for the seats, the car has dual front power seats but NOT the detailed adjustable lumbar and side bolster controls on one side of the console that I see in some online photos. I suspect what I'm seeing is actually the base seat option. She didn't have the original window sticker in the car but I'll ask if it's available with her other records. The car appears to be fairly basically equipped other than Bose and automatic climate controls (or were those standard?). No optional clear top or adjustable suspension, which is probably good from a long-term ownership cost perspective in my mind. It's about 105 and sunny here in the Central Valley of California during the summer so I likely wouldn't use the glass roof much anyway.
I had an adventure with an older Mercedes convertible with a power top that blew a hydraulic cylinder, so when I look at older cars I tend to like fewer power options. These Corvettes were obviously pretty well equipped even in base form but I don't want to know what the adjustable suspension costs to repair as they age.
I'm excited to join the world of Corvettes. You seem like a passionate bunch!
I ran the Carfax and it confirmed the mileage and local ownership history the owner told me. I trust Carfax about 50% when it comes to accident records and the like, but it's a good first step, nevertheless. I also got it for free, so the price was hard to beat.
As for the seats, the car has dual front power seats but NOT the detailed adjustable lumbar and side bolster controls on one side of the console that I see in some online photos. I suspect what I'm seeing is actually the base seat option. She didn't have the original window sticker in the car but I'll ask if it's available with her other records. The car appears to be fairly basically equipped other than Bose and automatic climate controls (or were those standard?). No optional clear top or adjustable suspension, which is probably good from a long-term ownership cost perspective in my mind. It's about 105 and sunny here in the Central Valley of California during the summer so I likely wouldn't use the glass roof much anyway.
I had an adventure with an older Mercedes convertible with a power top that blew a hydraulic cylinder, so when I look at older cars I tend to like fewer power options. These Corvettes were obviously pretty well equipped even in base form but I don't want to know what the adjustable suspension costs to repair as they age.
I'm excited to join the world of Corvettes. You seem like a passionate bunch!
06-22-2012, 07:09 AM
#9
Le Mans Master