Brand new and need some advise..... - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

fredj · 01-16-2008

Guys,

I have just entered the market for my dream car....a zr1 corvette. I have had my head on a swivel since 1990 (at 17yrs old) looking for that tell tale "zr1" emblem on the back of my favorite model american sports car....the corvette. As a new dad, it was a tough sell to my wife, but she is officially on board. I have never even sat in a corvette. I am as newb as a newb can be. The first place I looked was on the Bay, and there it was---------
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1991-...em170185772438 . After talking to the seller (sells 300 cars a month), I'm thinking it will take 23k. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Hope its ok to post the link and thanks in advance.

01-16-2008

Fred, first Welcome to the forum.

There are lots of ZR-1's for sale. The one you picked first is a nice clean example, and has a nice exhaust system on it.

I would suggest though that you take some time, do a little research and try to go for rides and some drives in ZR-1's. We've got a few members in GA who would be more than happy to assist you.

I'd also suggest looking for a car closer to you so you don't invest a lot in travel to look at a certain car.

Good luck in your search and ask plenty of questions.

fredj · 01-16-2008

Glad to be here Jeff. I'm getting the "cool your jets" vibe from your post, and that probably is the best way to go. I will read read read, and then read some more. Just don't want to miss a chance at a great car.

01-16-2008

I hear ya. But I will say there are plenty of these cars that were stashed away in hopes of being the next L88. There have been several with under 100 miles pop up in the past year alone. Plenty of nice cars out there.

Z Factor · 01-16-2008

Hello and welcome to the forum.

Jeff is giving you sound advice. While that ZR-1 you linked might be very nice, you should consider several others before making a decision. You should also test drive one to get a feel for it.

Then you need to decide if you want one that is stock, or if you will want to add mods. If it is the latter, you are probably better off buying one that already has most of the mods you want to save yourself some time and money.

Have you looked in the Registry for sale section yet?

http://www.zr1netregistry.com/ZR1_sale.htm

http://zr1netregistry.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=10

Remember, when you buy from a dealer you are paying a markup. However if you cannot afford an outright purchase and want to finance, you can still avoid a dealer by getting a home equity loan or financing through a credit union type source.

Feel free to ask questions as you will find many of our forum members very knowledgeable and eager to help.

GOLDCYLON · 01-16-2008

Welcome if I also may suggest cool your jets.

Look here http://www.zr1netregistry.com/ZR1_faq.htm

Look also at our for sale section and look at the what to look for when buying a used ZR-1. We all understand youe excitement. But take the time and find the right car for you. GC

flyin ryan · 01-16-2008

welcome Fred

, i agree with Jeff especially when it comes to shipping. your in a good area, lots of population & year round driving, so don't get into shipping if you can help it. you'll save save money & sleep better. trust me.

Hammer · 01-16-2008

Fred,
TAKE YOUR TIME. I didn't, and I ended up getting a car that has/had a lot of problems. Not mechanical, just bad paint, glass and other items that wear out are having to be replaced. I didn't take the time to learn about the things to look for and have thus paid the price. The car however has been sound mechanically.

Some common things to look for:

The paint was sandblasted (best description) and the wheels were pretty bad as was the windshield (just replaced). I have replaced the wheels and buffed the paint to where it looks much better now. Be sure to look at the car under lights, not direct sunlight and get down on your back to look at the rocker areas and front.
Just replaced the windshield with a standard C4 as there are no new ZR-1 windshields at a reasonable price available. There are used ones, but you can't find anyone to guarantee an installation.
The hood and gas door emblems show wear and are being replaced.
Left front stereo speaker and cd player weren't working. these are common problems. I was lucky and a local guy here in Boise was able to fix them.
All the gas struts are being replaced.
The engine on the right side is stained. This is a very expensive problem to take care of because it requires major (for most) disassembly and you might as well plan on porting and powder coating the pieces so you don't have the problem again.
The drivers side carpet is worn down in the footwell area.

I paid a good price for this car and it's my fault I bought it in the condition it was in. It was the third car I tried to buy and I wish I had waited and done exactly as you are doing. I didn't even know about the ZR-1 Net Registry or I think my car would be much nicer than it is for the money.

On a bright note though, this is a buyers market right now and there are some very good buys available. Enjoy your search and keep us all posted. We are here to help you anyway we can.

tomtom72 · 01-16-2008

Fred and welcome to the asylum!

Some great advice from the guys here.....take a deep breath & hook up with some of the local GA Z owners...check out the Peach State Possie. I'm sure you will find the local GA guys more than willing to lend a hand. They're top notch people who will share the light with ya!

Yes, you need to look over at the netreg site for the FAQ's and the for sale section is bang on...plenty of loved Z's there!

Good luck in your quest!

Tom

Paul Workman · 01-16-2008

Welcome to the group!

I'm a newbie to the Z. I had some concern about maintenance and advice. But, that was before Z Factor invited me to this forum and the super folks that reside here - and my worries have disappeared.

If you have never jumped into a Corvette seat before, you are in for a real treat - I owned a '95 LT1 for 5 years prior to getting the Z, and I'm still on cloud 9!. Anyway, jumping into a Z will definitely spoil you!

There is a lot to like in Corvettes, and far beit from me to discourage you from getting your Z. However, as some others said, I would make it a point to drop into the seat of a few in your price range - including a Z - and see what you like. If nothing else, you will gain a first-hand appreciation for what the Z is and can do!

The C4 ZR-1 with it's LT5 is not just a stellar performer, but is very unique - making it a total "package". That "package" is what attracts me and many others to the Z. But, one has to keep in mind that expertise is usually not to be found at every dealership anymore (if ever!). The cars are getting older and parts will take a little more hunting. So, with that in mind and the Z is what you want after driving a few other Vettes, you would be in the best of company.

For your research and reading pleasure, I recommend the book

"The Heart of the Beast" available on Amazon.com. will give you a good insight into the history, what the Z was designed to do, and how it has performed.

Good luck!

P.

01-16-2008	#1
fredj Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: georgia Posts: 4	Brand new and need some advise..... Guys, I have just entered the market for my dream car....a zr1 corvette. I have had my head on a swivel since 1990 (at 17yrs old) looking for that tell tale "zr1" emblem on the back of my favorite model american sports car....the corvette. As a new dad, it was a tough sell to my wife, but she is officially on board. I have never even sat in a corvette. I am as newb as a newb can be. The first place I looked was on the Bay, and there it was--------- http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1991-...em170185772438 . After talking to the seller (sells 300 cars a month), I'm thinking it will take 23k. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Hope its ok to post the link and thanks in advance.

01-16-2008	#2
Jeffvette Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Brand new and need some advise..... Fred, first Welcome to the forum. There are lots of ZR-1's for sale. The one you picked first is a nice clean example, and has a nice exhaust system on it. I would suggest though that you take some time, do a little research and try to go for rides and some drives in ZR-1's. We've got a few members in GA who would be more than happy to assist you. I'd also suggest looking for a car closer to you so you don't invest a lot in travel to look at a certain car. Good luck in your search and ask plenty of questions.

01-16-2008	#3
fredj Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: georgia Posts: 4	Re: Brand new and need some advise..... Glad to be here Jeff. I'm getting the "cool your jets" vibe from your post, and that probably is the best way to go. I will read read read, and then read some more. Just don't want to miss a chance at a great car.

01-16-2008	#4
Jeffvette Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Brand new and need some advise..... I hear ya. But I will say there are plenty of these cars that were stashed away in hopes of being the next L88. There have been several with under 100 miles pop up in the past year alone. Plenty of nice cars out there.

01-16-2008	#5
Z Factor Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: S. Florida Posts: 2,667	Re: Brand new and need some advise..... Hello and welcome to the forum. Jeff is giving you sound advice. While that ZR-1 you linked might be very nice, you should consider several others before making a decision. You should also test drive one to get a feel for it. Then you need to decide if you want one that is stock, or if you will want to add mods. If it is the latter, you are probably better off buying one that already has most of the mods you want to save yourself some time and money. Have you looked in the Registry for sale section yet? http://www.zr1netregistry.com/ZR1_sale.htm http://zr1netregistry.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=10 Remember, when you buy from a dealer you are paying a markup. However if you cannot afford an outright purchase and want to finance, you can still avoid a dealer by getting a home equity loan or financing through a credit union type source. Feel free to ask questions as you will find many of our forum members very knowledgeable and eager to help. Last edited by Z Factor; 01-16-2008 at 11:45 AM.

01-16-2008	#6
GOLDCYLON Join Date: May 2007 Location: Peoria, AZ Posts: 9,155	Re: Brand new and need some advise..... Welcome if I also may suggest cool your jets. Look here http://www.zr1netregistry.com/ZR1_faq.htm Look also at our for sale section and look at the what to look for when buying a used ZR-1. We all understand youe excitement. But take the time and find the right car for you. GC __________________ GOLDCYLON - 91 ZR-1 #2014 GOLDCYLON - 90 ZR-1 #2794, 4L60e (Formerly Schrade's) GOLDCYLON - 11 CTS-V Arizona State Director 91 WHITE/BLACK #2014. 380 P&P&PCed,Ported Heads, Jeal Long tubes, Corsa Exhaust/FIKSE FM-5s /LED TLs, LED Headlights, Front Wilwood 6 piston narrowlite calipers and rear Wilwood caliper street shop mod,CNCed Coolant Pipes,TPI Cvr,Filter cover,Stainless Bolts, DRM/DOM PROM /ZFDOC mod build #102,DRLs,BMAD with stainless Debris Screen,Coplan Air Blaster, Pioneer APP Radio 4,Brey-Krause HB,Sub Bar,Fire extinguisher seat mount,DRM Coilovers,LEDs everywhere,Compass mirror (orange),V1 DIC hidden display, Homelink sun visor, Carbon Fiber top x3 and APSIS Carbon Fiber interior, APSIS CF Steering Wheel/NAPA Leather, Banski trailing arms, Guldstrand front suspension,urethane bushings from Prothane (total suspension) ZFDoc drive shaft safety loop, raptor shift light (orange),AO engineering louver front plate, Console seat cushion, 96CE seats with black custom Sheepskins, ss billet catch can,Viper remote entry/alarm,Cragar Rear Louvers,LED side louver lights, Dewitts Radiator with SPAL fans and a Woods 160 T-Stat 90 RED/BLACK #2794. 4L60e Automatic Stage V by RPM Transmission, TCI Dedicated TCM, OBX Stainless Headers, Corsa Exhaust, SAN Secondaries and Haibeck PROM, Exotic Muscle Coil overs, LED Interior Lights, LED Tail Lights, LED Headlights, 94 Sport seats with black custom Sheepskins , Cragar rear louvers, GS Front calipers, Banski Trailing arms, APSIS Carbon Fiber steering wheel, Front and Rear Baer Eradispeeds, DRLs, Guldstrand front suspension,urethane bushings from Prothane (total suspension), Dewitt's Raditor with Dual SPAL fans and a Haibeck 170 T-Stat 11 RED/GREY CTS-V

01-16-2008	#7
flyin ryan Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Edmonton, Alberta or Phoenix, Arizona Posts: 2,741	Re: Brand new and need some advise..... welcome Fred, i agree with Jeff especially when it comes to shipping. your in a good area, lots of population & year round driving, so don't get into shipping if you can help it. you'll save save money & sleep better. trust me. __________________ There are no limit's mans ingenuity, just as mans ingenuity will never conquer the forces & behavior of this planet...Smokey Y.

01-16-2008	#8
Hammer Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Ideho Posts: 2,653	Re: Brand new and need some advise..... Fred, TAKE YOUR TIME. I didn't, and I ended up getting a car that has/had a lot of problems. Not mechanical, just bad paint, glass and other items that wear out are having to be replaced. I didn't take the time to learn about the things to look for and have thus paid the price. The car however has been sound mechanically. Some common things to look for: The paint was sandblasted (best description) and the wheels were pretty bad as was the windshield (just replaced). I have replaced the wheels and buffed the paint to where it looks much better now. Be sure to look at the car under lights, not direct sunlight and get down on your back to look at the rocker areas and front. Just replaced the windshield with a standard C4 as there are no new ZR-1 windshields at a reasonable price available. There are used ones, but you can't find anyone to guarantee an installation. The hood and gas door emblems show wear and are being replaced. Left front stereo speaker and cd player weren't working. these are common problems. I was lucky and a local guy here in Boise was able to fix them. All the gas struts are being replaced. The engine on the right side is stained. This is a very expensive problem to take care of because it requires major (for most) disassembly and you might as well plan on porting and powder coating the pieces so you don't have the problem again. The drivers side carpet is worn down in the footwell area. I paid a good price for this car and it's my fault I bought it in the condition it was in. It was the third car I tried to buy and I wish I had waited and done exactly as you are doing. I didn't even know about the ZR-1 Net Registry or I think my car would be much nicer than it is for the money. On a bright note though, this is a buyers market right now and there are some very good buys available. Enjoy your search and keep us all posted. We are here to help you anyway we can. __________________ [I][FONT=Comic Sans MS]John Boyd[/FONT][/I] [I][FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=1]Ideho[/SIZE][/FONT][/I] [FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=1][I]2015 ZL1 [/I][I]Camaro #1121 BLACK/BLACK 6 SPD (540 RWHP)[/I][/SIZE][/FONT] [I][FONT=Comic Sans MS][SIZE=1]1991 ZR-1 #458 [COLOR=red]RED/[/COLOR][COLOR=black]BLACK 72[/COLOR]k miles ([B][COLOR=red]SOLD[/COLOR][/B]) 1991 ZR-1 #473 [COLOR=red]RED/[/COLOR][COLOR=black]BLACK [/COLOR]37k miles ([B][COLOR=red]SOLD[/COLOR][/B])[/SIZE][/FONT][/I]

01-16-2008	#9
tomtom72 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Jacksonville, FL USA Posts: 4,645	Re: Brand new and need some advise..... Fred and welcome to the asylum! Some great advice from the guys here.....take a deep breath & hook up with some of the local GA Z owners...check out the Peach State Possie. I'm sure you will find the local GA guys more than willing to lend a hand. They're top notch people who will share the light with ya! Yes, you need to look over at the netreg site for the FAQ's and the for sale section is bang on...plenty of loved Z's there! Good luck in your quest! Tom __________________ 1990 ZR-1, Black/grey, #2233, stock. ZR-1 Net Reg Founding Member #316 & NCM member Last edited by tomtom72; 01-16-2008 at 07:05 AM.

01-16-2008	#10
Paul Workman Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Squires (near Ava MO in the Mark Twain N'tl Forest) - Missouri Posts: 6,493	Re: Brand new and need some advise..... Welcome to the group! I'm a newbie to the Z. I had some concern about maintenance and advice. But, that was before Z Factor invited me to this forum and the super folks that reside here - and my worries have disappeared. If you have never jumped into a Corvette seat before, you are in for a real treat - I owned a '95 LT1 for 5 years prior to getting the Z, and I'm still on cloud 9!. Anyway, jumping into a Z will definitely spoil you! There is a lot to like in Corvettes, and far beit from me to discourage you from getting your Z. However, as some others said, I would make it a point to drop into the seat of a few in your price range - including a Z - and see what you like. If nothing else, you will gain a first-hand appreciation for what the Z is and can do! The C4 ZR-1 with it's LT5 is not just a stellar performer, but is very unique - making it a total "package". That "package" is what attracts me and many others to the Z. But, one has to keep in mind that expertise is usually not to be found at every dealership anymore (if ever!). The cars are getting older and parts will take a little more hunting. So, with that in mind and the Z is what you want after driving a few other Vettes, you would be in the best of company. For your research and reading pleasure, I recommend the book "The Heart of the Beast" available on Amazon.com. will give you a good insight into the history, what the Z was designed to do, and how it has performed. Good luck! P.