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Topic: Prospective owner - Paying too much?

in Forum: C3 General Discussion


Prospective owner - Paying too much?

Posted: 1/1/05 6:09pm Message 1 of 9
Former Member
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BURBANK, WA - USA
Joined: 12/21/2004
Posts: 59
Vette(s): 1981 Frost Beige Coupe... all original.. My SECOND Love...
I have the opportunity to buy my first vette, an 81 with 75K original miles. All original, no accidents, pretty good condition, runs and drives well. Owner has all service records and paperwork. Am I nuts to offer $7500 for this?

|headscratch|

Your wisdom will not be wasted... NuclearBob


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Prospective owner - Paying too much?

Posted: 1/1/05 6:54pm Message 2 of 9
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portland, OR - USA
Joined: 11/16/2004
Posts: 107
Vette(s): Tubbed 1977
I see a corvette as a love. If the price is close to fair, then even if you give a little too much its worth it. (if you feel this is the car for you)



http://www.fast77.com
If it ain't broke......fix it till it is

Prospective owner - Paying too much?

Posted: 1/1/05 7:58pm Message 3 of 9
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Batavia, IL - USA
Joined: 3/27/2003
Posts: 622
Vette(s): 496 big block, Dragvette 6 link, 12 bolt IRS conversion, Going for fastest Vette IRS E/T
There are a lot of unknowns for us to make a call like that. Do you know the common problem areas to look for in these cars? How long have you been shopping for one? Do you have a good idea of what a $7500 vette should look like from that year? If you comfortable to spend $7500 on it with such knowlege then go ahead, the worst that can happen is the owner says no. You realize that it takes a lot of money to own a vette, Cause you will always feel that it needs this or needs that.... The hobby of owning a vette is in my opinion a very fun and rewarding hobby. I hope you can love it as much as I do. |thumb|


Prospective owner - Paying too much?

Posted: 1/1/05 10:27pm Message 4 of 9
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Burke, VT - USA
Joined: 1/23/2002
Posts: 7315
Vette(s):
SOLD - "The Toy" - '70 Convertible
SOLD - "The Beast" - '90 ZR-1 (#682)
SOLD - "Betty" - '28 Ford Model A Tudor
SOLD - "BLKBRRD" - '78 Pontiac Trans Am
"BLUBYU" - '04 Coupe
 NuclearBob said: ... Am I nuts to offer $7500 for this? ...  

That's why we're here - WE'RE ALL NUTS about C3s...!!! |confusing| |eek| |thumb|


Jim Olson 

"The Toys"...!!!  Save the Wave!

Where I've been in a Corvette...!!!

Prospective owner - Paying too much?

Posted: 1/2/05 7:21am Message 5 of 9
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FAIR HAVEN, NJ - USA
Joined: 9/17/2004
Posts: 120
Vette(s): #'s matching hugger orange '77. flowmasters rebuilt eng & trans
Hey Nuc,
I joined this web site, like you, months before I bought my first one it turned out that I bought mine from a C3VR member I must have looked at a hundred vettes and probably asked these guys about everyone of them. They always had info. since this is your first vette make sure you know what to look for. A Corvette is a completely different animal. what you may or may not know about regular cars does not necessarily apply here.
This site offers a check list for things to inspect when buying a vette. Also make sure you know the intricate differences between all the years. You dont want to rush into a purchase then discover you like '73 rear bumber or the flat window tunnelback of earlier C3's. You really must have someone who knows vettes go look at it for/with you.
ASK QUESTIONS. have an amount to spend on car then a seaprate amount for doing what has to be done(yes there will much to be done) but that is why you have to get a solid car structurally to start with. |thumb|


|COLOR=ORANGE| |/COLOR|

Prospective owner - Paying too much?

Posted: 1/2/05 7:46am Message 6 of 9
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Victor, NY - USA
Joined: 7/12/2004
Posts: 6842
Vette(s): 2004 Commemorative Edition Coupe, Auto w/HUD. 13K miles in 2015. Sold 1982 Red Coupe
I concur with tunnel.
I looked on and off for a couple years, then seriously for a couple of months. Whenever I found something I liked, I would come back with a buddy who has rebuilt many Vettes. He would know what to look for and advise me on the price. When we looked at my '82, I had two friends look it over top to bottom. When they said it was worth what the seller was asking for it, I offered him $1000 less. We comprised on $500 less. I knew ahead of time what it needed and about what it would cost to fix. Did we find everything that was not working? No. Am I still happy with the purchase? You bet.

Bottom line... Look and ask lots of questions.


 
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Prospective owner - Paying too much?

Posted: 1/2/05 7:47am Message 7 of 9
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Syracuse, NY - USA
Joined: 8/1/2003
Posts: 693
Vette(s): ...
All original is a great find if you want to keep it that way.So for that price it is an ok price. If you plan on beefing it up with aftermarket parts. Then you will be putting a lot of more money into it , depending on your pocketbook, that is a little high for wanting to do that. Keeping your first vette all orginal is the way to go, my opinion. Even though mine isn't |cheers| |wavey| |saluteflag|


Prospective owner - Paying too much?

Posted: 1/2/05 8:43am Message 8 of 9
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Frederick, MD - USA
Joined: 2/20/2003
Posts: 548
Vette(s): Frederick County Corvette Club (Maryland) Tan 64 365 Hp Conv 4 sp Red 72 4 sp Conv ..running a '68 327 Blue 76 Coupe L 48 4 sp White 79 Coupe L 82 auto Silver 98 Conv, 6 sp 35th Anniv '88 vette
...
There are NOT MANY CORVETTES that run that can be purchased for under $5,000 ... So that is just about the lowest you will ever find one selling for...

Now you have to ask yourself if paying $2,500 more for a Corvette that both runs and looks pretty good is worth the extra money...

Honestly the breif discription you gave us of the car leads me to think the owner will tell you were to shove it...

just seems to me that you are low balling...I may be wrong BUT that is the impression I got

Bob




Bob
64,72 & 98 Corvette Ragtops
76 & 79 & qa 88 ANC Corvette Coupes

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Prospective owner - Paying too much?

Posted: 1/2/05 9:28am Message 9 of 9
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BURBANK, WA - USA
Joined: 12/21/2004
Posts: 59
Vette(s): 1981 Frost Beige Coupe... all original.. My SECOND Love...
Thanks for all of the advice!
I've gone throught he checklist that was suggested on this site and I have an appointment with my regular wrench guy to do a complete mechanical inspection (engine, emission, etc..). $7500 is the sellers asking price, and I honestly thought it was too low for a car in this condition, so I have been looking for some hidden problem.

All of you have excellent perspectives, which is why I came here first!

Thanks!


in Forum: C3 General Discussion


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