humptydumpty321

Trying to get a C4 for fun times before it warms up too much and prices rise. But I don't know the proper pricing. These local listings vary in price, are these good deals? I was looking for c5s and c6s but thought I would expand my search to the one of my childhood ... These ones are convertibles

https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/...281814174.html

Another similar one that is much cheaper,
https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/...285505295.html

COUPES: is this fair market value? Says heater core not connected but brags about condition otherwise.

https://upload.facebook.com/marketpl...code=undefined

And love this smurf color (as the miata guys call it);
https://upload.facebook.com/marketpl...code=undefined

Are these fair deals? Will prices be going up much in April? I checked the forum listings but there are only so many and most far away, and most seem to be souped one versions I don't need.

Nomake Wan

We're still in the midst of a pandemic (as much as some people seem to think otherwise), and the market is volatile like mad right now. You can find people high off their **** asking $14k for a molested '94 convertible with almost 100k miles, and you can find people asking $3500 for a '94 6-speed coupe. All on the same day. There's no stable pricing and there won't be for a year or two. If you want a C4, your best bet is to just lurk Facebook and Craigslist like a hawk and have cash on hand ready to go. Jump the moment you find one that matches the year and features you want and is in your price range.

humptydumpty321

Excellent, I will try that but "lifes like a box a chocolates". Also the two red convertibles seem to be the same exact car when I looked again at the listings, bizarre and possible one is legit and the other scam listing ...

FAUEE

There is a lot of that. Very tough to actually judge. Tons of people will make fake listings to try to negotiate a lower price.

The other thing to consider is that at this age, condition is a HUGE deal. Probably the biggest driver of price. And condition is about more than just how it looks, what has been replaced, what hasn't, etc.

Heater core being disconnected is common because it's a pain in the *** to replace. Doing it over again, I would not buy a car with a disconnected heater core. That says "I didn't care enough to fix this", so what else did they skip on because of challenge or cost? Unless I was buying a total project, a bypassed heater core is a deal breaker for me. And I replaced my heater core, lol.

Fiberbundle

As Nomake Wan stated prices are all over the board right now.
The $11,500 convertible is dreaming especially since it needs a new top.
The other red one seems like a scam since the photos appear to be screen shots.
The others have a lot of mileage for the price.

Download the CorvetteDNA app. It is free and will tell you all the options available for each year and a ballpark adder for some of the options. They list prices but reality may be more or less. Do not rush into buying, take your time, expand your search area, and do not be afraid to offer a low price. These are not investment opportunities, they are fun cars to drive and an owner who really wants to sell will recognize this. There are a lot of cars out there at high prices that do not sell for as long as the ad is up. It is called fishing for a sucker!

FAUEE

At the same time, a seller who prices their car at what is worth, vs trying to price themselves cheap may have it longer, but will find the buyer who gets it.

When I was selling my mini, I had a lot of people offer me half price and say "well these other cars are cheaper". Cool, buy those cars, they have issues and no upkeep. My car had been kept up well and was in great shape. I sold it to the first guy who drove it for my fair asking price ($4500 - lot of car for the money tbh), and all the people who offered by 2k or 3k I didn't even waste time with.

Now I'm not saying there's not overpriced cars out there. But I also don't think you can judge the market based off the Facebook cars, they tend to be of lower quality and thus lower price. The buyers there are too, but the quantity is the benefit.

Fiberbundle

I agree with paying an owner what a car is worth and holding out until that price is reached. There are a lot of beat cars overpriced, well sorted cars that are reasonably priced, and a lot of owners who are way out of line in pricing. Two local examples are a clean 1990 convertible auto with less than 10,000 miles for $28,500 and a well sorted 96 Grand Sport (#321) with 69,000 miles for $23,000. I have to believe one owner is fishing and in no hurry to sell, and the other is more than reasonably priced.
Used, well maintained cars with documentation on everything, that need nothing should always bring top dollar and the owners should recognize that and hold out until that price is reached. Just too many beat cars that owners over price and gullible buyers that have not done their research.

93torchy

Prices are all over the place. I bought mine in december for $4000 with 95,000 miles. I didn't want to pay more than $5000 and looked for months until I found one that was 1: under budget 2: not completely trashed. There are a lot of reasonable ones but there seem to be more trashed cars that are way over priced. They'll say, Well it's a corvette! I'll answer, you're asking top dollar for a rolling **** pile.
I would say hold out, you'll find what you want.
Edit, that second link you posted is a scam. those are pics of the first listing.

humptydumpty321

Thank you for the advice; FYI Scam car now on facebook marketplace; reported. https://upload.facebook.com/marketpl...code=undefined

snlshow

Scammers suck. May they burn........you know where!!!!,!

JP365

I traded my 71 mustang and $6500 to get my LT4 in May 2020. “One owner” car with 72k miles and a two inch binder of receipts. Mostly stock (upgraded exhaust, intake, wheels, stereo). Probably could have bought a cheaper car, but I put almost 5,000 miles on it before the snow started to fly. You can never pay too much for the right car, but you can definitely pay too little for the wrong car. One owner in quotes because the two owners of a local electrical supply house titled the car in the name of the company and both drove it. I’ve had minimal maintenance costs thus far. Fluid change, fuel sending unit, extra set of wheels and tires so I could drive it when it got below 60 degrees. (It came with SEC wheels with 285/40/17 fronts and 315/35/17 tears. Eagle F1 summer tires) I hope that paying more for a well maintained car keeps the long term costs down.

DGXR

Agreed 100%. These cars are usually toys and not DDs, and as disposable income, it's definitely worth a little extra money to get the car you really want, and worth taking the time to find "your car." Lots of people get caught up in Corvette Fever and bring home something they didn't research properly.

JCSZ51

Between covid and the stimulus checks the entire toy market is on its head (look at side by sides). I bought a blown up 94 6 speed and 95 auto in need of a trans for $2k a piece. I even had a few more on standby at the same price. 6 months later I don't see anything like that for sale. My advice is find something you like and pay what you think is fair. Most of the cars will need the same parts regardless of mileage based simply on age (weather-stripping/interior/suspension/tune-up/reseal).

humptydumpty321

Is this overpriced? $6500 for 95 coupe, 98k.

https://upload.facebook.com/marketpl...code=undefined

FAUEE

Not at all. That's cheap, especially for a comp yellow car.

new2me92

I bought a 92 convertible with 17000 miles two years ago for 12500.00 drove it 1200 miles home to Louisiana. Last summer we went to Colorado on 3500 mile trip with no trouble. It’s been two months Since driven last, pulled it out to clean the other day and power steering started leaking but that could happen to a new car. The red car is same condition as mine. Not a investment but not a bad price for such a nice car.

humptydumpty321

Seats look ragged; Any suggestions for fixing up the interior, can an upholstery shop do it or is that cost prohibitive at this point?

Last one: Is the convertible cited above, like this, overpriced just because of the roof (im guessing $1600 to replace at a shop?) So worth more like 10k or less? https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/...281814174.html

Nomake Wan

For a molested stripper '95? Absolutely. That thing will be a basket case guaranteed. I wouldn't pay over $5k.

EDIT: Hahaha, I just noticed that in the first photo, he's got the car on but the digital dash is shot. Confirmed, that thing is a total and complete basketcase. You'll spend thousands just to get it back into decent shape and then spend another few thousand afterward slowly finding out what the previous owner(s) screwed up.

Fiberbundle

If the way the owner kept the interior is any indication of how the car was maintained and treated I would not touch this car.

new2me92

Another thing that is costly is replacing all the rubber seals, my car was garaged it’s whole life rubber was in good shape.