96 price's dropping????

[kingman]

HI

Up until three weeks ago the price's for C4's from 92-96 were steady. This is for mint condition and an average mileage of 8,000 per year.

Now, for some reason the price's are not only sagging, but a lack of interest on the 96.

l have also noted that the Forest green and the purple color are the weakest of the colors and bring less money, while the red and yellow bring the most. This is followed by the black and the white.

What is going on?

Could it be just pure dollars and cents? The barrier on the C4's seems to be $15-16,000, not including the ZR-1 or Lt4's.


At the dealer auctions there are very few C4's in decent condition,
but C5's everywhere.

Thanks

[Edmond]

I'm guessing that with the introduction of the new model year, quite a few people are upgrading. I think it trickles down from people having later C4's going up to early C5's, etc...

No doubt that the ZR1 will hold it's value over time.

[vigman]

take your time & pick one off! It's supply & demand and free cash.. there is nothing wrong with the 96 as opposed to other of it's C-4 bretheren.



Vig!

Believe me, I've noticed! I'm trying to sell my '96 so I can get into a C5. I am a couple of problems here. 1-The car is getting close to it's bottom value in terms of their age. 2-Its not a Corvette season. Being in the middle of winter is going to drive down sports car prices. 3. Sellers are letting them go for less in order to get into other vehicles. This is partly due to what lending institutions are willing to loan on the cars and for the terms. I've discovered I can order a 2003 coupe and pay less than $100 per month more than what someone can purchase my '96 for. This is because most lenders will not go beyond 36 months on a vehicle this old, regardless of what kind of vehicle, yet you can get 84 month financing on a new one, plus lease and ballon options drop payments down signigiciantly. If I was looking to buy a Corvette for the first time and was faced with the decision of owning a used '96 and paying upwards of $500 per month, or being able to order a 2003 and paying $500 or a little more per month, and get a full factory warranty! I know where I would be spending my money!
Of course, when you consider bang for the buck, you can get into a late model C4 for about 15% of the cost of a new one.
Did I mention mine is for SALE!!!! WILL NEGOTIATE!!!! IT HAS A WARRANTY!!!

[*89x2*]

Prices for most C4's will drop as more and more C5's (and soon will happen to those when the C6 comes out) Keep dropping...

My friend just sold an LT4 coupe for 14 and some change... had about 60k on it...
At some point, it becomes a matter of condition and overall options over who's got the newest C4 for sale when it comes to pricing.
I know I would rather have a CLEAN high option 89 over any other C4, and would pay a "premium" for that... (look at the C3 market and thats where C4's are heading soon)

[safety_match]

[i]
Of course, when you consider bang for the buck, you can get into a late model C4 for about 15% of the cost of a new one.
Did I mention mine is for SALE!!!! WILL NEGOTIATE!!!! IT HAS A WARRANTY!!! [/b]

How much, how many miles, etc?

84k miles
I'd like to get $16,500 for it.
I have it posted in the classifieds section here on the CAC

[Corvette-Pilot]

Yup,
Supply and demand at work again.
My initial search was for an 85 or so since they are at the bottom of the price scale for C4s. This past Sept I stumbled across my 94 for $12k. I think it was partly the end of the season and color.

I personally like the "purple" car. It is metallic so it sparkles big time in the sun and seems to fade into a black at night. I would have loved to have found a yellow one but there weren't many made so that helps keep the price up there. I allways liked the off colors just because the stand out more, like the orange C3s.

Another factor is layoffs.
Cost of insurance.
Like LT1Vettepilot said, the cost to finance. I had the cash on hand to buy mine but most kids don't so it becomes harder to sell the car thus the price has to drop to move it.

I don't know why a 96 in particular would drop more than much else other than it has farther to drop?

But this should be good news if you're looking to buy

Come on spring, I'm sick of this snow !!
Another 4-5" of heavy wet stuff falling now

[kingman]

Hi Pilot

Your 1000% right, the yellow C4's bring top dollar. For some reason the black rose did not sell well in the northeast (ny area) and it's rare that one comes up for sale. Down the road your car could be worth more due to the color!!!!!!!!

As far as the weather, it's 45 degrees right now and the ice and snow will be a thing of the past, for at least 5 more days!

As far as the 96 price, it's just a 95 with a different year on the title. But there were upgrades that most people ( including l )
are not aware of.

[bogus]

the other thing effecting C4 prices is the impending release of the C6.

That will kill the value of the C4 like the release of the C5 did to the late C3's.

It is sad... but think of the performance bargin we are privy to!!!

Keep it a secret! we don't want unworthy's getting in on our fun!!!

A couple of years ago, Grassroots Motorsports did a story on the C4... and they elected it the "Hotrod of the 21st Century".

and they were so right!!!

Originally posted by kingman


As far as the 96 price, it's just a 95 with a different year on the title. But there were upgrades that most people ( including l )
are not aware of.

Changes to the '96 included
Automatic transmissions had improved friction materials for the intermediate clutch and front/rear bands, improved shift quality, and more durable torque converters.
Engines had a new throttle body
Selective ride control changed from FX3 to F45-There were substantial differences. Most notable, the system used wheel travel sensors mated to the computer. This allowed for individual changes to all for corners (previous system adjusted all the shocks identically and at the same time) and improved the reaction time, making adjustments every 10-15 miliseconds (or every foot of travel at 60mph)
Z51 performance package was reintroduced.
On board diagnostics increased in sophistication-From the previous 60 codes to 140 codes.
And of course a couple options released only in '96-Collector's edition and the Grand Sport. Plus the first time engine option has been available on the Corvette since the C3s-The LT4 which was available ONLY with a 6-speed manual. All Lt1s had automatics.
For tuners, one change was a cause for disapproval. You can't just "rechip" the '96's computer. It has to be reprogrammed, which I haven't kept up with, but as of last summer the codes were still beyond being broken-'95s were easier to tune.

Most of this information came from my Corvette Black Book Tuning information came from my the Corvette specialist at my local Chevy dealer.
LT1/LT4 and mated trans information is mostly common knowledge.
I believe that covers giving credit where credit is due!

Oh yeah, I almost forgot. I believe there was a change in the optispark unit to allow for better drainage alleviating a serious malfunction from when the system got wet, either from road water, engine washing, or waterpump leakage/failure. I don't remeber the facts about it though, my mechanic told me about it when my water pump went out last year.

[Chetzki]

I wanted a C5 but more importantly I wanted a Vette! My wife talked me into getting a late C4 as a "Starter Vette" and then we could move up to a C5 later. After the first weekend with my LT4, I told her I don't think I can ever let this car go!!!

It was hard getting a good rate and term on the loan, but I'm paying about $400/mo. including insurance. I'll pay it off as soon as I can anyway. Unfortunately, I bought through a dealer so it was high $19.5k with < 45k miles. Makes me to see these other prices. I should have listened to her and bought in August.

Pilot - I wanted the black rose metallic above anything else. I got three degrees through Kansas State University. I wanted to get purple and a personalized tag "3X Cat". I think it would have been lost on people here in South TX though. OL

I will never regret getting this car, unless I'm one of the 3-4000 jobs my company is cutting this year.

chetzki

[kingman]

Hi

Thanks Vette Pilot, l knew l could count on you for the details.

Chetski

As far as paying too much for your Torch Red corvette, when you bought it, you paid a fair price, and Torch Red and Comp yellow, brings a premium. Just enjoy it for a couple of years before you move up to a C5. The C5 is going to drop enough in a couple years to make up the difference.
Right now until the Spring, the C5's are flooding the wholesale and retail markets. Check cars.com and you will notice that 70% of the cars are C5's.


Don't get me wrong the C5's are light years better then the C4's.

When l had my first vette it was a 64 and then l moved up to a 68 and then a 76. Each time l thought l died and went to heaven.

My next Vette is going to be a C4, because of bang for the buck.

[Edmond]

kingman,

Definitely agree with your statement about C5 prices dropping in a few years. I was looking through the local automobile trader paper and saw 2001 Z06's going for ~$34-36K. That's still not cheap but considering what you're getting...

[kingman]

Hi Edmond

If that is like autotrader.com, then the price's border insane. On Auto trader the price's of late model C4's are in line with 97-99 C5's.

The best place to find a corvette is from a private individual period.

l have the ins where l can get a vette wholesale, but not even a carfax can tell you who owned the car before as far as taking care of it and how it was driven.
Only an eye to eye meeting will tell you how the car was taken care of.