Hello, as you can see, I'm new here. I'll give a brief introduction before I proceed with my question:

I'm a high school student who just recently (about six months) got interested in 'Vetts. The C3 particularly catches my eye, I believe it is the most beautiful car design ever conceived.

At any rate, I am wondering how this would work for me. As you can imagine, I'm on a fairly limited budget. I can't afford to have two cars, but I would love to drive a C3. Provided I spend around 8k on a car, and get a a good deal -I'm not terribly picky, I could accept any C3 provided it's in good condition- would I be able to use it as my main car without too much hassle? I know that driving a car of this age would present a few problems, but those can be delt with. I just don't want to dig myself into too deep of a hole with this. So, will it be a C3 or a Honda Civic? =P

Advice would be appreciated greatly, thanks everyone.

The Honda will be less trouble and more ecomonical to drive. Honda 1
The C3 looks fabulous 1
The C3 is more fun 2
The C3 is.....you get the idea

If you get a good C3 it can be fairly reliable. They were a very reliable car years ago. BUT, any thing that age is going to have it's share of problems. Nothing that can't be delt with. Once it's in shape it should be just as dependable as any Chevy. It all comes down to what you buy in the first place. Have it inspected by someone who first is a good mechanic, and second, knows Corvettes. If you buy, or repair, a good one I see no reason you could not drive it every day. Just expect to spend more than you planned when you first get it. There will always be a few unplanned and unforseen events. After that it's just maintance.
One more thing. Being a high school student check on insurance before you buy. That may suprise you.

Ken Styer

|UPDATED|3/10/2004 3:50:46 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

Yeah, I checked the insurance. It's fairly high, but not overly bad. Insurance is pretty low in Wyoming, I get the 15% drivers ed discount, 15% gpa discount.. etc. It's a bit(Haha) higher than what I'm paying now, but it's a small price to pay.

High school = I live with my parents = they pay for everything other than my car. My job is all profit at this point

In your case, I would choose the C3. Just make sure it's a good one, or you can afford to fix it.
That's just me.

Ken Styer

Heh, one more thing. What kind of gas milege can I expect with something like this: http://www.corvettetraderonline.com/corvettes/listings/l0064.html

just get the vette, search for the best deal they are out there and enjoy if you ever sell a corvette dont put in local paper you will get calls you wont belive but rember corvette not chevette

The vette has mods to that engine. Your gas mileage might be around 14city to 20hwy. Can't tell until you keep a record every time you fill the tank!

Make sure you get 93 octane for that year and engine with Mobil1 synthetic oil.

IRON 82

i just recently graduated high school, and i would definitely love to drive a c3 every day. My big block gets far too low of mileage, but if i had one that got 15+ i would definitely drive it everyday.

______________
|IMG|http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid142/p29edeeda980a8aa16c5a61f6cbacf25e/f6a6be42.jpg|/IMG|

Heh, I won't buy that Corvette. It was used for an example, but it should be something in that range.

At any rate, why we're here... sorry for the newbie question(s) but what are the advantages of going with super unleaded over regular in the long-term? 93 octane vs. 89. Would the 93 octane preserve the engine components better? Or is it strictly a this-time-the-car-will-drive-better with no lasting effects?

Dude-get the vette. I had to wait until I was 30 to get mine, but I wish it was waaayyyyyy sooner than that. Oh well, that's life. What it all boils down to is, ALL cars are machines. And ALL machines eventually break. Fortunately for the C3's, the parts and restoration companies are everywhere. All you need to do is shop. I needed a radiator support for my 77 L-82, a big name resto company had one listed for over $300.00, (not)
I shopped around a bit, and Bair's had the best price, over $100.00 cheaper that the first. You just need to do your homework.
Plus, the cool factor is higher in a vette. Being a high school age dude, which car do you think a girl would like a ride in? A Honda or a Vette? Go for it!!!

P.S. THEY DON'T WRITE SONGS ABOUT HONDAS!!!!

Later

Think you're asking the wrong guys for an unbiased opinion. The closest one you'll find here is Ken's, but he's been a teacher for so long he can't help himself. I still think about the 61 I wanted to buy when I was your age. Took me another 30+ yrs to get my 79. If you have the chance now, go for it. Just take your time and shop, shop, shop. Get the best you can for the money you have to spend. And, understand that because of it's age you will have to spend more. Search the archives here and read some of the problems the rest of us have encountered and what it took to fix. Look for them in the cars you're considering to purchase. Know what you're getting into. Getting off to a good start will make it easier to cope with the eventual problems. Good luck.

Hank I try very hard to be equal and fair. Now if you want my biased opinon.....

ARE YOU NUTS??? Of course you want the VETTE !!! Nothin is as COOL as a C3!!! I wanted one for THIRTY YEARS and now I have it. I been married for 29 years so I don't care about picking up chicks, BUT YOUR IN HIGH SCHOOL! You'll never lack for dates!
GO FOR IT!

Now back to your normal mechanic/technician/College auto instructor.......

Ken Styer

|UPDATED|3/11/2004 10:15:22 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

The thing is, since I want the 'Vette... I don't really want a totally un-biased opinion. But, there was some useful advice scattered through out the cries of "'Vette!"( Not that I don't like those, it's why we're all here)

Thanks Ken, and everyone else.

the other main thing to consider is appreciation vs depreciation. Think that Honda will ever be worth as much as you pay for it now? Keep that vette up, and the value should stay there. If reselling it isn't a factor, than what would you rather have setting in the garage 10 years from now?

______________
'82 CE

I want to cast my vote to get the vette also. However, one thing to keep in mind with you living in Wyoming, you may want to drive this car from spring to fall and try to save enough $$ to buy a junkier car in the fall to drive in the winter months. Vettes are fiberglass, but they still are not rust proof. Just something to think about.

______________
Corvette..........Enough Said!!!

Ken,
Good to see you let loose. Cabin fever, huh?
Hank

get that Vette, you can see most of us here had to wait till we were older, even my wife for hers!
whoops you must still be underage, lucky you!,ha,ha

Well, I'm going to be the lone voice in opposition to getting the Vette . Don't misunderstand, I certainly love my Corvette, and it sure would have been fun to have it in high school. But, if you were my son, I would recommend a different AMERICAN car (Corvette lovers never buy ricers ). You said you don't have a lot of money so why would you want to buy a car that costs $8K? How are you going to support this thing? There won't be any extra curricular activities like being on the football team, or being in band, etc... because you'll be working your butt off trying to pay for the gasoline, car payments and insurance. And, even worse, when it's time to take your girlfriend out, you'll be broke. And what about saving for college? But, hey, that thing would look good setting empty in the driveway !

______________
Why do I always get blamed for everything I do? |URL=http://www.1-4u-computer-graphics.com/trent77.jpg||IMG|http://www.1-4u-computer-graphics.com/trent77a.jpg|/IMG||/URL|

If your parents will help out. I would get a Vette. I worked through high school and had a car - '69 Z28. I got stupid later and sold it, but I have always had old Camaro, Chevelle, or something, currently a '76 Vette.

I had a good freind in high school who had a red '70 Vette with side pipes. We hardly ever road in the Vette. We would take his mom's station wagon so we could all hang out together. Go figure...

Find a good driver that is original. If it is your only transportation, it has to be dependable.
Good Luck!

______________
sstanford '76 L48

I am 21 years old And I bought my vette in june 2003. It was a rough, rough car. spend the extra money and get one in good shape. 8000 should find you a good 75-81 vette. Mines a 1979. I am sinking a fortune into this car but I am not simply maintaining it. I am modifing it greatly. 400hp smallblock, 700r4 trans, hotrod air a/c, brand spankin new paint job, all new interior. I try to save as much as I can in bargin hunting and doing all my own work but I'll have sunk 16 grand into this car when I'm done. I have not been able to really enjoy the car yet because I started immediatly upon its arrival. I'll report back in a few months in the spring how I like the fun and attention. (HAHA) The things I am fortunate to have is a good paying job, cool parents who love this car too and are helping me with it. living at home. I took a year off college to do this and relax from engineering courses. Ill be going back to college with it soon.(Cant freakin wait!!) GO FOR IT MAN!! (p.s. learn mechanics so you can save yourself a bundle.)

I won't buy a Honda. That was used an an example as well, the... other extreme. I drive American, of course.

At any rate, I never had any interest in football/band and so, extra curricular activities? All of that stuff, team work... socializing, etc. can be done at a job as well as in a band class. Except I get paid.

The job pays well, 7.75 an hour, and I have a couple thousand in the bank... It'll be a while before I'm able to buy the car, next fall or thereabouts probably. But my parents are willing to lend a hand, and with an income of close to $175 a week, I doubt I'll have trouble with the car or with paying for a girls movie tickets.

But, it all amounts to this: I really want to get a Vette, and I expect I'll regret it later if I don't. It's not for everyone, but whenever I picture myself behind the wheel, those inhibitions go away.

don't normally pipe in. iam 43 just bought in sept. of 2003 my first dream, whined alot and got it.. 1970 LT-1 convertible... It is just great, not perfect nor is it a trailer queen or trailer trash.. I drive it when the rain isnt pounding down to washington coast... The think i want to share is buy the vette only when you can truely enjoy everything about, the drive, the history, the stress of the breakdowns, the high cost of parts, gas, everything.. It truly is a great driiving car, hell it ain't no car it's a vette.. be smart wait 24 hours before you make any decisions...

hi,

i usually don't put my 2 cents in either but here goes. i have a totally different point of view because you never know what life throws at you, some good some not so good. i got my first vette when i was 21, 1979 black bueaty. it was a headace from the beginnning, but worth every penny i spent. at 21 driving down the roads and getting tons of looks made the trouble worth it. i sold it years later and regretted it many times. obviously i have another now but waited many years, not close to 21 anymore. buy the vette and get a taste of real fun. be smart when you buy the car to help avoid mech problems if possible. if you can afford it now do it, tomorrow might bring problems where your not in a position to buy one.

|UPDATED|3/12/2004 3:26:19 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

Good luck with whatever you choose!
. . . although I'm sure it'll be the vette

As another Newbie here, i would just like to chime in with "Buy the Vette!". I had the chance back when i was in high school, had a unexpected kid, and waited 25 years to finally get the last one out so I could fulfill my dream. If you havent noticed, a lot of us have waited, Vette Fever is something you never loose, so get it before life changes and you end up possibly decades later fulfilling that dream

______________

Lifetime Member #36

click on any image for a larger view

At 22 I had a chance to buy a 71 from the original owner in great shape for $7,000 and I had the cash. Parents talked me out of it saying I needed a truck (while I love my truck(s), it is not a vette!) What I should have done was buy that vette and buy a junker truck instead of waiting to get my vette.

Buy that vette and get a junker rice burner if you can't afford to drive the vette daily.


Just my opinion from a sore butt - 14 years of kicking!!!

Notice the true common thread here is the passion for the car. All the logic in the world does not replace the passion. Just approach the passion with logic. Sooner or later you will own a Corvette. None of us said wait 30 years to get married. Most of us could not afford that either. But we did it. Life is better when you are happy. Not when we are doing the "right thing" in someones elses mind. If you can do it now, I would. If you have the passion, you will never regret your choice. If you don't, it's the wrong car for you.

And Hank, yes it's killing me not to be able to work on my Corvette. There it sits in the driveway all covered up. I think I hear it crying! No wait, that's me.

Ken Styer

|UPDATED|3/14/2004 8:27:48 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

Thanks for the advice everyone. I'll probably go with Corvette, although it may not be a C3. After looking around, I could get a '92 for about the same price. Although I love the C3 body, as I said it's about the best looking car ever made, the C4 is still a Corvette. They are still beautiful cars. And, performance wise, they are much better, aside from getting some decent gas mileage. I still want to own a C3, and I will someday, but for now, I believe th1 '92 is more in my league.

Save the wave!

i think u should get the vette unless your going to put alot of miles on it. that is the last thing u want to do to a vette(especially if its a c3.)so its up to you really.

BUY THE VETTE,I waited till I was 51 to get mine,wanted one since I was 15,never got out of my head,every time I saw one it made me nuts.two years ago it finally happened,love at first site,now that silver 78 is mine.sure they can be a lot of work,and they can empty your wallet with a wink of a retractible headlight,but the great feeling you get from working on it ,driving it,showing it off,is worth it all. C3s are the best ,The SHARKS RULE CORVETTE , NUFF SAID

______________

C3VR Lifetime Member #93