Best months to sell?

[AT T 2D]

I would like to sell my 11k mile '94 ZR-1 in the near future. What are the best and worst times of the year to sell a car like this? Is it best to wait until spring?

[Kevin]

when would you rather buy a car like the one you're trying to sell

[scottfab]

Best month would be the one where you get the most bucks.
Yes, I was born a smart a$$.

[GOLDCYLON]

I would like to sell my 11k mile '94 ZR-1 in the near future. What are the best and worst times of the year to sell a car like this? Is it best to wait until spring?


Spring time

[mike100]

bought mine in January, but would have done it earlier if xmas activities etc didn't interrupt. Of course living in San Diego means no off season.

[vilant]

I heard on news radio that people will buy things depending on the weather and season. For instance convertibles sell more in the spring and hardly at all in the winter. 4x4's in the winter, less in the summer. Black cars less in the summer more in colder months. Houses w/ pools sell more in the summer than winter etc. etc.. I would put it now, just to see if I got any bites. Then take it off the market end of Oct. and try again in Mar..

[cvette98pacecar]

If you are serious about getting rid of it now is the time. Come next spring the C7 will be available, C6 ZO6 are going to be selling for less than 30k, which is going to make our cars drop to below 20K.

[tcz062]

You will not see the ZR-1 prices drop any further, they have hit bottom and are now moving upward. The 20 year mark has come for all the 375 horse cars and will soon be here for all the 405 cars. The 405 cars will appreciate faster than the 375 cars. 405 cars had fewer produced and were a 4 bolt. They have been placed on a lot of most future collectable list. I would hang on to your car if possible. Prices only drop when you take less than the car is worth.

[tomtom72]

Okay, I know this seems to be a stupid question, but with a ZR-1 is this really a mass appeal car? Ya know I think of our cars not so much as "a mid life crisis purchase" like just any old sports car, but rather as a specific buying choice.

Okay, if our cars don't qualify as a specific choice then I would say start advertizing now, and hope to sell by May or April??? GLWS!

:cheers:
Tom

[tcz062]

All Corvettes are not mass appeal cars. But the Corvette world is a huge base. Depends where you live as to when is the best time to sell. But if I were you I would stick firm to your price. These cars will go up just because they made so few.

[cvette98pacecar]

Here are some facts, Please take this information any way you want.

Paul Dehnert TT LPE sold two years ago for 42K.
at the same auction his LPE 415 sold for 35K.
91' Steel blue Convertible sold two years ago for less than 35K.
91 Black CR1 just sold in Mass for 32K
Frank just bought a CR1 for less than 35K.

Now these are some of the highly collectible cars that all have over 150,000 dollars in them. If our cars were so collectible these cars should have sold for double what they did. Our group is so small we cannot support 6500 cars. For new corvette buyers coming into the market they are looking at C5, C6 for the same money that they can get repaired almost anywhere.
To be truthful if I was not a Corvette guy and I was looking to spend 25k to 30K I would be looking at a Viper GTS.

[tcz062]

First of all you talking about selling or buying some at the height of a resession. Two your talking about a different beast. 90,91,and 92 will never bring the money of a 405. Production numbers too high. Really does not matter what after market has been added. You will see the 405 4 bolts increase steadily over the next ten years. They are on almost every collector cars list to watch or buy now.

[cvette98pacecar]

First of all you talking about selling or buying some at the height of a resession. Two your talking about a different beast. 90,91,and 92 will never bring the money of a 405. Production numbers too high. Really does not matter what after market has been added. You will see the 405 4 bolts increase steadily over the next ten years. They are on almost every collector cars list to watch or buy now.

I can see how much you know by saying the 92 was a high production year. There were only 502 ZR-1 built in 1992. And as for LPE or Callaway cars they are sought out more than any other C4 and are bringing the most money at auction or on any forum. Furthermore a 94 Admiral blue just sold for under 18K. I personally dont care if they go up or down. Any Car that you are going to drive is not a good investment.

[mike100]

Only an aficionado of LT5 cars is going to really want to pay extra for the 405hp car. A lot of people are looking for a deal and since the new cars just keep getting better and better, I wouldn't count on most ZR-1's to increase in value.

They will still be worth twice what a regular C4 is worth- pretty much forever I would think.

[scottfab]

"Be careful what you say about PERMANENT concepts"
The above is a quote from this webpage
http://www.permanent.com/infamous-quotes.html

Some of the opinions given remind me of some other absolute statement made in the past which can be found at the above link:

"Stock prices have reached what looks like a permanently high plateau."
-- Irving Fisher, Yale University Professor of Economics, 1929
(two weeks later, the stock market crashed and the Great Depression started)


"The horse is here to stay, the automobile is only a fad."
-- Advice of President of Michigan Savings Bank

"Heavier-than-air flying machines are impossible."
]-- Lord Kelvin, British mathematician and physicist

"Well-informed people know it is impossible to transmit the voice over wires and that were it possible to do so, the thing would be of no practical value."
-- Boston Post, 1865

"There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home."
-- Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp. (DEC)

[Polo-1]

I would like to sell my 11k mile '94 ZR-1 in the near future. What are the best and worst times of the year to sell a car like this? Is it best to wait until spring?

What color and options does it have. What are you looking to get for it.

[fred]

Spring (early) is usually the best time. I don't think ZR-1 prices have bottomed especially for the early cars, but later as well. I think people getting into ZR-1's in the future will spend the extra money for the 93 ups, maybe not as much as now for the average cars. I think the price diferential between the average cars and the museum quality ones will continue to widen.

[Kevin]

i think we all overestimate how many people know wtf a zr-1 is

[cvette98pacecar]

i think we all overestimate how many people know wtf a zr-1 is

I just want to know why everyone keeps putting ZR1 badges on C4 Corvettes.
I agree with you entirely.

[scottfab]

FWIW
Kelly Blue Book holds a $31k value on a 92 ZR-1 w/50k miles and good condition.
That drops to $25k for a 90k mile car..

[SteelBlueZR1]

The market is not only defined by what buyers will pay, but what amount owners are willing to sell their cars and what we owners believe is the value and inherent worth of the C4 Zr1...
It amazes me how willing some owners are to disparage the value that is inherent in a ZR1, which set a new world performance benchmark, with a hand-built engine - partially designed by Lotus, holding multiple endurance speed record for 11+ years, incorporating many modern technology firsts, and at the same time returning unbelievable fuel economy, torque and power curve, and engine durability/reliability for an exotic.
Maybe if we ZR1 owners stop devaluing our own cars on ZR1 Net Registry Forum, just maybe... buyers will also see their inherent value?:nono:

[vilant]

The market is not only defined by what buyers will pay, but what amount owners are willing to sell their cars and what we owners believe is the value and inherent worth of the C4 Zr1...
It amazes me how willing some owners are to disparage the value that is inherent in a ZR1, which set a new world performance benchmark, with a hand-built engine - partially designed by Lotus, holding multiple endurance speed record for 11+ years, incorporating many modern technology firsts, and at the same time returning unbelievable fuel economy, torque and power curve, and engine durability/reliability for an exotic.
Maybe if we ZR1 owners stop devaluing our own cars on ZR1 Net Registry Forum, just maybe... buyers will also see their inherent value?:nono:
Good point.:handshak:

[Mystic ZR-1]

The market is not only defined by what buyers will pay, but what amount owners are willing to sell their cars and what we owners believe is the value and inherent worth of the C4 Zr1...
It amazes me how willing some owners are to disparage the value that is inherent in a ZR1, which set a new world performance benchmark, with a hand-built engine - partially designed by Lotus, holding multiple endurance speed record for 11+ years, incorporating many modern technology firsts, and at the same time returning unbelievable fuel economy, torque and power curve, and engine durability/reliability for an exotic.
Maybe if we ZR1 owners stop devaluing our own cars on ZR1 Net Registry Forum, just maybe... buyers will also see their inherent value?:nono:

Agree 100%! But, you're preaching to the choir...

[ZONER 95]

The market is not only defined by what buyers will pay, but what amount owners are willing to sell their cars and what we owners believe is the value and inherent worth of the C4 Zr1...
It amazes me how willing some owners are to disparage the value that is inherent in a ZR1, which set a new world performance benchmark, with a hand-built engine - partially designed by Lotus, holding multiple endurance speed record for 11+ years, incorporating many modern technology firsts, and at the same time returning unbelievable fuel economy, torque and power curve, and engine durability/reliability for an exotic.
Maybe if we ZR1 owners stop devaluing our own cars on ZR1 Net Registry Forum, just maybe... buyers will also see their inherent value?:nono:


Very good points....its up to us, the current owners of these cars, to collectivly set the value....if not us then who?,,,,these cars have the potential of being the big block 67's of the C4 era...wake up people!

[AT T 2D]

What color and options does it have. What are you looking to get for it.

It is a torch red / torch red '94 that just turned 11k miles. It has the dual roof option and is all stock except for the Nitto tires, I still have the originals. It was one of the three cars used to write the '94 - '95 ZR-1 NCRS judging guide and scored a 98.7.

I am waiting to hear back from a couple of dealers at the moment. I would like to get 35k out of it, but not sure if that is possible in this economy. Based on the feedback here, I may hold off selling until spring.

Thanks for all of the feedback!

[scottfab]

It is a torch red / torch red '94 that just turned 11k miles. It has the dual roof option and is all stock except for the Nitto tires, I still have the originals. It was one of the three cars used to write the '94 - '95 ZR-1 NCRS judging guide and scored a 98.7.

I am waiting to hear back from a couple of dealers at the moment. I would like to get 35k out of it, but not sure if that is possible in this economy. Based on the feedback here, I may hold off selling until spring.

Thanks for all of the feedback!

Wow, an unmolested 94 with very low miles. This is a real test. It should get what you're asking and then some. And it is even the right color :)

[Blue Flame Restorations]

Why sell when you can buy another and have more than one? :handshak:

[BigJohn]

Why sell when you can buy another and have more than one? :handshak:

Now you sound like me!!!
:cheers:

[cvette98pacecar]

The market is not only defined by what buyers will pay, but what amount owners are willing to sell their cars and what we owners believe is the value and inherent worth of the C4 Zr1...
It amazes me how willing some owners are to disparage the value that is inherent in a ZR1, which set a new world performance benchmark, with a hand-built engine - partially designed by Lotus, holding multiple endurance speed record for 11+ years, incorporating many modern technology firsts, and at the same time returning unbelievable fuel economy, torque and power curve, and engine durability/reliability for an exotic.
Maybe if we ZR1 owners stop devaluing our own cars on ZR1 Net Registry Forum, just maybe... buyers will also see their inherent value?:nono:

Nobody is devaluing the price of the C4 ZR-1. I am a realist, I look at things for what they are, Not what I wish they were. It is a C4 ZR-1 that engine was designed by Lotus, Built by Mercruiser and tuned by very few highly qualified master mechanics. However the only way to control the price is own all of the cars. Ask Kurt White why he is getting 3 times the value for NOS emblems. He owns all the stock so he gets to set the price.
There are roughly 6000 ZR-1 still in the US, Our small group might own 20% to 30%. I hope you get 35K, That will only make mine worth more.

Your car is worth what you are willing to sell it for, Not a penny more or a penny less.

[Meanmyz]

Why sell when you can buy another and have more than one? :handshak:


My thoughts exactly. They ARE kind of like potato chips, aren't they?:-D

[4CAM LT5]

If you are serious about getting rid of it now is the time. Come next spring the C7 will be available, C6 ZO6 are going to be selling for less than 30k, which is going to make our cars drop to below 20K.

Very good advice. We sell Corvettes at AllVette.net throughout the year (and, it is always nice, sunny and warm somewhere in the US....so all months are good for us).

However, I do agree with the depreciation predictions.