Can somebody run a Carfax for me, also? [Update]

"LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com" (limitedtimeonly)
02/21/2018 at 08:45 • Filed to: My wife will not be amused, Corvette

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , I’m considering a new-to-me purchase. You may help my irresponsible decision if you check out VIN: 1G1YY12S735102752

My car search burner email is car2014email at gmail etc. Thank you very much!

Update (original post 2/20/2018):

I made a lowball offer, and was told by the seller that he has already turned down two offers in cash, in person, that were about where I was willing to come up to. Given that the car is pretty far away, and I was only going after it ahead of schedule because I thought it was potentially a good deal, I’m inclined to pass on it.

(My schedule concept is that I’d run autocross this year, my second season, in my GTI to hone my skills and use up my current set of tires, then switch to a Vette for 2019 and beyond. This approach may also help in !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! of my “need” to have this car.)

In addition, the seller is at least two hours away from any independent Corvette specialists, so the PPI would have had to be at the local Chevy dealer, which I would have had less confidence in !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! yesterday.

I’m going to keep an eye out for a good deal that may appear ahead of schedule, and also begin networking with autocrossers running Vettes this year. Maybe I’ll even be able to buy one of theirs at the end of the season if someone decides to upgrade - I’ve seen it happen over the past couple of years.

DISCUSSION (24)

BeaterGT > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com
02/20/2018 at 08:40

Fair to say the bug has bit?

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > BeaterGT
02/20/2018 at 08:43

Um, yeah.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com
02/20/2018 at 08:47

Z06? Nice

Monkey B > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com
02/20/2018 at 09:21

if it’s really cheap or being used to race may be worth a look. Rest of report is just title and registration updates.

Kinja'd!!!

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > Monkey B
02/20/2018 at 09:31

Thank you very much. It is reasonably priced, but not cheap.

The owner said that it had been painted, but claimed little knowledge of its history otherwise, so I’m not surprised to see the structural damage reported. Also said that it had a new clutch recently, which makes me wonder how much it was abused altogether. (That is for ME to do.)

It is 7 hours away in a direction that I travel sometimes, but I don’t have any trips in that direction coming up, so I may have to pass on this one. This may explain why it has been on Craigslist for so long.

gettingoldercarguy > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com
02/20/2018 at 10:06

I typically interpret “I don’t know the history” as “it’s shit and I’m not going to outright say that”. More times than not this has been a seller I would rather not engage.

BeaterGT > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com
02/20/2018 at 11:08

What’s the asking price?

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > BeaterGT
02/20/2018 at 13:58

$12,500, which according to Edmunds is basically market price. However, most Z06's that I’ve seen in the Southeast US are listed a few grand over what I thought was market price, making this a relative bargain, if it were not for the accident history.

As a friend pointed out, it has gone 80,000 miles post-accident, so it may be perfectly fine.

BeaterGT > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com
02/20/2018 at 14:06

That is a good point. Are you getting a PPI done? May help with negotiation. I picked mine up for 14k with 3 owners/clear title/just over 100k on the clock if you needed some referential info.

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > BeaterGT
02/20/2018 at 14:14

A PPI would be part of my process if I proceed. The next step will probably be lowballing the seller. This is Craigslist, after all, so I must uphold the proper traditions. If he is receptive to negotiating down, then I’ll arrange a PPI, particularly given the distance.

BeaterGT > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com
02/20/2018 at 15:37

Good luck, let us know how it goes. If you need any info on spots to check, you can refer to that long post from a little while back or feel free to ask.

Discerning > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com
02/21/2018 at 10:10

Steer clear of structural damage on a corvette. Sure, they are body on frame, but I’ve never seen one put back together as good as new after structural damage.

If cost is an issue, why not just get a base C5? I know it’s not as flashy as a Z06, but it takes very little work to make a base C5 quicker and more enjoyable than a C5Z, and this is coming from someone who owned a C5Z for over 4 years.

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > Discerning
02/21/2018 at 10:15

The base C5 is still an option on the table. (My side of the table, where my wife can’t see it.) I enjoyed the drive in one on Friday. But then I drove the C5Z and it just felt right.

I’d likely be happy with a basic C5, particularly if I can get it really cheap. It is just no longer my preference. And since I have been planning to run in the Street class, a Z06 would have an advantage.

Mid Engine > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com
02/21/2018 at 10:36

Can someone run my wife’s VIN? JTDKB20U167071032

I picked up a 2018 Tacoma SR5 (lease) and need to sell her car. Thanks!!

Discerning > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com
02/21/2018 at 10:54

If you plan on competing in street, then yeah the C5Z is hard to beat.

For most, the coupe is fine. Realistically, even a convertible would be fine for most. I get the preference for the Z06 though. My biggest reason for wanting one was the fixed roof and the added solid feel it provides. I didn’t drive a single C5 or C6 coupe that was completely devoid of targa squeak and/or rattle.

If not for the class racing, the coupe is fantastic and often overlooked by people when looking for an inexpensive and quick car, which is a bit of a shame really. The rigidity and weight differences are minor enough that they can easily be overcome with a few simple mods.

Good luck searching for the right C5Z. Travelling for one kinda stinks, but it’s often worth it. I drove about 4 hours away for the one I picked up. I had been searching for months and was considering going with a C6 due to how many more were available, but the right C5Z popped up one day. It was a 2003 low mile (~15K IIRC) yellow C5Z. Put a deposit down over the phone the same day they posted the ad and drove over the next day to look at it.

There are a few things I would do differently if I got another C5Z, including NOT purchasing one that has been driven roughly 1500 miles a year. The previous owner hadn’t replaced ANYTHING during their 9 years of ownership. Tires, plugs, wires... everything was original. It also meant fun issues like the eventual development of a leaky RMS since the PO never drove the thing.

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > Discerning
02/21/2018 at 11:22

How much did you pay (and when was that)?

The Z06 that I tested on Friday only had 16,500 miles, and was priced at about $24k by a large dealer (it also has disappeared from Autotrader, so maybe they sold it over the weekend). I wondered about how well things were maintained as a result of the low miles - it probably went to/will go to someone without that concern, who will be “collecting” it rather than driving it.

Discerning > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com
02/21/2018 at 11:31

It was about 4 years ago in the middle of summer. It was a one owner, had about 15k miles, and was essentially flawless. I paid about 27K, but I got a really good deal on a junk trade in that I brought along.

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > Discerning
02/21/2018 at 11:57

But the Z06 has aluminum frame correct? As well as the LS6. Anytime I can go from steel to aluminum, I’m all about it. Rust belt and all. And that LS6 is wonderful. Had one in my first gen CTS-V.

Discerning > merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc
02/21/2018 at 13:51

You are correct about the LS6 but mistaken about the frame.

All C5's have the same galvanized steel frame. The FRC and Z06 have the same bracing as found on convertibles from what I’ve read, which adds to their rigidity. The bonded on roof aids in rigidity a little bit, but not all that much since it’s bolted down with a few bolts and essentially just glued to the car.

The C6 Z06, C6 ZR1, and all C7s use aluminum frames.

Also, while the ls6 is nice, it isn’t a tremendous improvement over the ls1.

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > Discerning
02/21/2018 at 18:21

Gotcha, I was confusing it with the C6.

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > BeaterGT
03/12/2018 at 10:55

Earl, I was looking for your “long post from a little while back” for info on things to check for C5 purchase, and couldn’t find it. Link, please?

BeaterGT > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com
03/12/2018 at 11:19

Took some digging, but here ya go. Still no major issues with the car thankfully, approaching a year of ownership.

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/unpopular-opinion-id-take-a-c6-zr1-over-a-c7-z06-1821363885

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > BeaterGT
03/12/2018 at 11:20

Ah, I thought it was one that you wrote . . . thanks for the link! [Edit] OK, now I see t he lengthy comment that you made to that post, and remember still wishing I knew more details about things that you looked for when purchasing.

BeaterGT > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com
03/12/2018 at 11:24

No problem, might want to bookmark it. Our convo is buried in the comments of that article. Good luck with the search.