New Member--Looking to Purchase a ZR1

[Billyg]

Hi--I am a new member looking to purchase my first ZR1. I previously owned a 1972 and a 1977 Corvette. I saw two cars that I am interested in. One is a 1995 listed for sale by Corvette Mike in Anaheim, California on Ebay. Link is: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/95-ZR...item588ee31c21

and the other is a 1990 also listed on Ebay. Link is: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1990-...item43a84737f7

I know you are all well versed ZR1 owners and I thought you might provide me with some insight and thoughts about these cars before I make a decision. Thanks for any help and advice you can provide me.

[tomtom72]

Hi and welcome to our corner of the asylum Bill!

That's a tough choice between those two cars.....I'm partial to the 90's myself, but that 95 is just the cat's whiskers!

Both are new car clean...or even better. What would you want to do with either car? NCRS thing/ shows or just drive and use up what the original owners never used? Or a combo? That 95 had me thinking that if I could unload mine and roll over into her I could think of worse places to be! The 95's interior kind of makes my 90's interior look dated. She would be the "best of breed" for sure with all the best bells & whistles.....but then there is something about the 90 cars that is a bit raw...you know they don't have any 'driver aids' unless you count the ABS. The only draw back to the 90 is that you will have to do the injectors when they quit if they haven't already been done.

Okay brass tax: you know the numbers so the 448 cars will always be worth more in the end, JMHO, so the price of entry will always be higher. That's about all I could say. I love my 90 fwiw, and she has given me 42k miles worth of smiles since 05 so I can't say anything negative about "Mistress". You presented a tough choice. There's not a hair's width between those two cars....sorry it's got to be a personal choice on you! I'd just say that if I didn't have mine I'd sure like to give that 95 a go!

Good luck & good hunting!

Tom

[mike100]

I've had a 95 coupe (non ZR-1) and it was definitely ergonomically improved and the last of the C4's so it was fairly refined- I'd be partial to that, but there are some deals out there if you can live with a car with 30-40k miles on it.

[Z51JEFF]

If you have the cash and only need to make a decision Id be all over that 95...........depending just how much it goes for.Im not a fan of the red cars but I do like the metallic red on these.I like the interior a little more on the 95s but dont like the shape of the top of the dash,just picking now.As stated that 90 will need the injectors replaced,no getting around that but the 95 works for me.I checkout Fleabay a few times a week,just to see if any of my Brothers have missed something and left a crumb for me,and looked at that 95.Just looked at the 90 listing,Ive never seen this type of listing before,is it new?

[USAFPILOT]

I vote for the 95

[HIZNHRZ]

The mileage on my 20 year old 91 is still low enough that it still feels and drives like a new car. I can't imagine you feeling any different about either of the two cars you picked out. As a matter of practice, I'd always buy the lowest mileage but newest model year I can afford. The good news is you win regardless of what decision you make. Best of luck with your decision.

[ZZZZZR1]

Billy,


Tell us more...


What do you want to do with the car? Drive it less than 500 miles a year?

3k miles a year?

Upgrade the car? (HP and tasteful mods?)

Are you a small guy or big guy? (smaller seats in the early models)


When I first bought my car I drove it less than 500 miles a year and now I drive it every chance I get. I've put 2,500 miles in the past 2 months.

A quote we all like to say is "DRIVE IT LIKE YOU STOLE IT" (the car is made to take it)



David

[902066]

I like the 1 year only old style front end, and the seats of the 90 better than the 95, [don't care for the Polo Green color]. The pics. of the 95 are nice, and I think they make the 90 look really dated. I have an 11,000 mile 90 ZR-1, but between the two I'd much rather have the 95. Tires on 95 should be changed if it is to be driven.

[Billyg]

Thank you all for your advice and insight. I will probably shoot for the 95 depending on how the numbers shake out. I am looking for a car to drive on weekends and maybe go to a few shows now and then.

Planning on having the car checked out mechanically before I move on it. EBay offers this service for something like $129.00 and provides a detailed report with photos. I heard and read good things about Corvette Mike and the car appears to be in very nice shape. Your views on the car confirm my feelings.

I have a few years left before I retire and I would like to get into this hobby and learn as much as I can. I am glad I found this site as there is a lot of good information available to help troubleshoot problems should they arise.

David--I am a medium size guy with a little extra cushioning around the waist so I do not think seating will be an issue for me. I may drive the car 500-1000 miles a year. The 90 ZR1 Ebay listing is different that the others but I emailed the owner who promptly provided me with his telephone number. So I will probably take a look at the car at some point in the future for comparrison purposes.

Thanks again I really appreciate your prompt response to my questions. Bill G.

[Billyg]

I forgot to ask in my previous post--I noticed a rattle type sound in the video showing the LT5 engine running in the E-Bay auction for the 1995 ZR1. Is that sound normal for the LT5 or indicative of some type of mechanical issue.