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If you aren't even getting calls or offers, after say 2 weeks, then that does tell you something.
Also try www.craigslist.com
and there's also
www.corvettetrader.com
C4s are tough to sell and there's a lot of them out there. But you are in the "realistic realm" so yeah, it's probably the economy that's stalling your sale.
This thread is a number of months old so you may have solved this problem already.
The problem you mention is most likely the motor on one or both of the headlights. The gears are plastic and strip after a few years. I went through 2 or 3 motors in my 2001 coupe before I sold it. There was actually someone selling brass gears and instructions on how to replace them on eBay due to the high number of failures. The failure mode is exactly the symptom you describe.
I loved my Corvette when it worked but after 5 years it was just a hassle to keep running. I'd like to get another one but I need reliable transportation. Maybe the current C6 is better.
Thanks, kms34655, you are exactly right; in fact, I had stopped monitoring this site or I would have responded sooner. It took me a while to isolate the problem, because the car is parked in a garage, the headlights were set to come on automatically (which they did whenever I started the car), and the noise only happens when the lights go off and retract. Oddly enough, the mechanism still raises and lowers the lights. Anyway, thanks for nailing the problem down to the gears; at least I'll know what to tell the mechanic to do.
2009 BMW 335i, 2003 Corvette cnv. (RIP 2001 Jaguar XK8 cnv and 1985 MB 380SE [the best of the lot])
I just bought a 2004 Twin turbo Corvette C5. I was just wondering if anyone else on this forum had modified their vette...and what their experience and issues were ?
I have some small issues with noise from the tranny.
Some fuel system problems.
AC leak due to AC hose touching the hot exhaust.
ANyone else have these problems ?
track day. I had one power steering issue over about 4 sessions in my C5 and it
was related to plumbing for an after market oil cooler. Other than that the C5 was
a work horse over 5 years and well over 100 track days. Modified cars are best
loved by those that enjoy the work on the car more than the driving. IMHO
One or both of these are getting 'weak'. Cold weather also effects them, especially if you park outside and winter is coming.
These might be replaced with non-Chevy parts from a parts store. My guess is about $30 apeace. Who knows what Chevy wants for them. I would guess this is a $150 for both at Chevy.
Easy on/off, just a bolt or two, but you might need a piece of lumbar to support the hatch while you work.
mbd
I own a '07 coupe and haven't noticed anything wrong with the "stowable" top. Mine seems to be fine.
Curious if owners who have experienced the reported seperation problem, if there are symptoms that would warn the owner prior to a disaster while driving. The thought of having it seperate while driving at highway speed; and the associated liability gives me concern.
In other words, do they show signs of "partial" seperation, noises, leaks, etc. before complete seperation ????
Also, anyone have problems with the "see through" panels ????
Thinking that might be a better way to go.
Will GM notify owners ????
Chevy has pretty much been fixing these tops for years, if the owner just goes in and asks. The first fix was some kind of 'foam' adhesive. Many people that had this done seemed to think it did not work very well. The next fix was a total replacement of the top with a different design (material) top. I think some of the hardware might be moved from the old to the new top. And, of course, the new top must be painted to match. It took some time to get the replacement, since so many people wanted it, and it first went to production of new cars, but they did get caught up, probably in mid- 2007, with replacing the tops rather quickly, when someone asked for it, or their top developed a problem.
In early 2007 models the change to the new top was made. I have a 2007, with a VIN number in the low 6000 range, bought in October 2006 and it has the new top.
A lot of tops totally flew off before anyone noticed a problem. More failed in hot climates. I've seen pictures where the top at the front center could be raised up what looked like an inch - a guy had his finger poked thru there. There were some creaks, water leaks, etc.
What's the VIN number of your 2007? If it's later than mine, I would almost guarantee it has the new top. Iff you have an earlier VIN, there is a way to tell a new top. Pry up a small area of the inside liner on the side/front. If there is a white color under the liner, it's a new one.
I purchased my '07 coupe in mid July '07. Mfg. date was in March '07.
When you mention VIN # later than "low 6000", do you mean the last 4 digits ?
If so, mine is above 8000.
So, if mine is a later '07 model, does that mean that the "new" tops (like ours) are not included in the recall ???
Thanks again for the response.
Recalls are done using the state's auto registration files. This allows them to be as up to date as possible to get to the current owners.
The investment in a car like that can be upwards of 20,000 dollars or more so I began to realize that a older Corvette in the age group of 1995 to 2005 would be a good daily driver and still get decent gas mileage and at a price of $20,000 or less and still be a car that if it is damaged or just gets worn out that parts are usually available.
This kind of car is still popular at car shows and can be upgraded to some fantastic power levels if a owner wants to do that.
Now that I have a 2003 Corvette the desire for a classic car is gone because in my lifetime this car will also be a classic.
I myself being a first time buyer am 68 years young and retired for 5 years, my wife is also retired, we own our home and also the cars we drive.
This may be something of a prerequesit for most Corvette buyers that they have incomes that allow this type of spending.
One of my wifes relatives bought a 2005 GTO and had a altercation with a concrete statue that did front end damage to his car, he had to wait several weeks for the parts shipped from Australia to fix his car.
There may still be some of these cars still available today at very good prices but be aware that it could be a hassle getting repairs done on them.
I wonder if the GTO and G8 are available from the Holden car co. of Australia.
Yeah I think income has a lot to do with it. Back when, the early Corvettes were much more affordable. A hard working kid could buy one. Now it's a bit pricey (although still a lot of bang for the buck).
While these are fantastic cars, I think they make far too many of them these days for them to ever become classics. The older Vettes, especially given the myriad engine options back then, are far rarer, and more perishable. Aside from the interiors, and collision damage, the C5s and C6s are likely to last forever. There must be hundreds of thousands of them still on the road, so rarity is going to take a very long time indeed.
If I owned one (and I may yet) I'd just drive it until it wore out. It wouldn't pay off to sock one away for 20 years. You'd lose big time. Look at 25 year old C4 prices.
Today the security systems on 'Vettes are much better but so are the thieves so my question is what is the best way to keep your 'Vette secure from those who also love 'Vettes but can't afford them?
I store my 'Vette away for the winter and am in a warmer climate for a few months before getting back home, My son stops by my home once in awhile to check on things but he can't be there all the time but usually there is a lot of snow on the ground during that time so this might make stealing a 'Vette a little harder although flat bed trucks and winches can do wonders for dedicated thieves.
Can anyone tell me what they do in instances like mine?
For instance a new 1969 Dodge 2dr HT with a 383 V8 and a 4 speed could be had for about $2995.00 and a 1969 Corvette for about $1000.00 more.
But just wait until you talk to your insurance agent, this is why a lot of younger people didn't have these kind of muscle cars until the insurance companies deemed you a grownup person of at least 35 or older and a crystal clear driving record and it helped also to be married with 4 kids so you can get the picture.
Remember when there was a penalty to pay on your insurance if the car had less than 10 lbs per HP (Lighter cars with more HP) or even if you had a car that looked fast.
I paid a penalty on my insurance for a 1984 Dodge Charger with a 2.2 liter engine because it looked fast.
(years ago, CA allowed you to avoid car insurance if you put an $80k bond in escrow instead of having insurance.)
A newer Corvette now has the look and even the power of many Ferraris but at a price that is 1/3 that of a Ferrari and best of all the economy of operation.
Sometimes I think that owners of these cars just collect them and put them on display for others to see how wealthy they are.
Give me a Corvette of any year to take out and drive it as much as I want without being afraid of breaking something and costing me a years salary.
But you are certainly correct in that most Ferrari buyers don't have the skill or the inclination to push the car to its limits. Which is why they are often seen on TV wrapped around telephone poles. :P
It's like joining an exclusive club, and Ferrari milks that for all it's worth. They are brilliant at marketing.
You can be sure if this happens it will be Government regulations that might kill the Corvette and threats to GM to discontinue all performance cars.
The Volt is a good electric/gas sport car but is still a long ways from being a 'Vette
Not very long ago a driver of a new Bughatti Vehron which I understand can cost over a million dollars lost control and went into a salt water swamp somewhere in Florida.
I hope he had good insurance because salt water will total a car.
I had a 1955 Ford V8 a long time ago and had a lot of problems with oil leaking at the rear seal, I believe it may happen when in hard acceleration the V8 engine which was a 272 cu in. raises up and presses down on the rear seal and after awhile the seal begins leaking.
I then had a 1989 Mustang GT with the 302 V8 engine with auto trans and guess what? it also developed a rear seal leak.
My son fixed a 1977 Mercury V8 that also had a rear seal leak, has Ford finally fixed these problems in the newer models of their V8's
I remember the early Fords had their V8 engines supported by (2) motor mounts on the side of the engine block and (1) motor mount in the front right under the crankshaft pulley and the rear of the engine was supported by a mount under the transmission that the engine was bolted to, I wonder if this type of mounting is the same today in the newer models, this is one of the reasons I shy away from Ford Mustang V8's.
A Corvette is a serious "sports car" in the true sense of the word.
I currently have a 2006 C6, and have greatly enjoyed every one of the 26000 miles that I've put on it. Although, I must formally say that I have NEVER exceeded any speed limits!
PS: The top speed of a C6 is about 186 mph.
As I'm sure you know, the HP required as the speed goes up, requires exponential calculation, not linear.
You are absolutely correct about the exponential function of course. I think the threat of jail and vehicle confiscation is a great speed limiter regardless of the top speed potential of any one of these three cars.
His engine is stock and I don't think it's really built for that level of extreme use.
One of my other favorites was the Plymouth Prowler that I believed could have been a great sports car if it had a bigger engine and a smaller price.
The Pontiac Solstice was another (I had one) but lacked the room for luggage for trips.
The Dodge Viper has an excessive engine (V10) they should be able to do with 8 cylinders what they are now doing with 10 cylinders after all Corvette has been doing that for years.