|
|
Since C4 production stopped in 1996,
any purchase will be of a used automobile, so assume its condition
is suspect. Because of the Corvette's mystique and the C4's drop-dead
good looks, it's easy to get caught up in the moment. Because
of this, some unfortunate C4 purchasers have later found themselves
owners of fiberglass basket cases. Although it isn't possible
to list everything you should check, here are some general guidelines
to follow when purchasing one of these wonderful automobiles. |
Records |
The very best defense against buying a carload of
trouble is to ask for its service records. If the automobile only
had one or two owners, you may be able to get its entire history.
If there has been a whole host of owners, the last owner should
have kept the receipts from the present service history. If he
or she cannot or will not produce them, it is a red flag.
All GM dealers conduct their business via computers and if you
approach a dealer to do a pre-purchase inspection, you may be
able to persuade them to print out any records related to the
VIN number. Although these records are purged from time to time,
it is worth asking.
If the seller will disclose the shop or dealer who maintained
it under their ownership, you can approach them with your questions.
If no records or leads are available, you must thoroughly check
everything on the vehicle. Most sellers will seldom pick up costs
of a pre-purchase inspection. But lets be optimistic and assume
you have found a low to moderate mileage C4 that appears to be
in good shape. |
Appearance |
Every dealer and person selling an automobile knows
it is the appearance that first gets a potential buyer's attention.
If the visual pleasure is great enough, the buyer can be rendered
unconscious to the defects present in the automobile. This is
particularly true in the case of the Corvette. Beware of this
fatal mistake! |
What to look for |
Normally, a savvy seller will have the automobile
"detailed" prior to placing it on the market. A detail
shop will steam clean the engine compartment to make the motor
appear fresh and well cared for. They also will apply wax based
interior products to the dash, seats and plastic trim. The shop
thoroughly washes and waxes the exterior with a high gloss wax
and applies protectant to the tires. Many detailers use products
to hide swirl marks and minor scratches in the finish making the
appearance as pleasing as possible.
A prospective buyer should look at the exterior finish in bright
sunlight. Although the vehicle has been detailed, you then should
be able to pick up scratches and paint problems hidden under the
wax. Another detailer's trick is to apply Armor All to the actual
paint. This technique hides problems with chipped clear coat and
will make the front of the C4 in particular---where stone chips
take a heavy toll---look better than it actually is. Also look
carefully at the entire weather stripping on the car. It is almost
certain that some of it will be cracked. If all the strips are
in bad shape, it will cost several hundred dollars to replace
them, even when you do the work. |
|
|