Buying a Used Chevy Corvette in Waverly, OH: Everything You Need to Know

A customer with their used Corvette at our dealership in Waverly, OH

Last updated May 29th, 2023
The Chevrolet Corvette is an iconic car that defines the "muscle car" for many Waverly residents, and Corvette owners always turn heads. The two-seat classic is always in high demand on the car market - especially older models that epitomize what makes the Corvette such an American icon.

As with any iconic vehicle, the popularity of the Corvette as the Sports Car of America often results in used Corvettes being somewhat expensive, and buying one can be tricky. After all, you'll find folks out there trying to sell a lemon for you to pay a lot just because it's a Corvette, and even a broken down Corvette doesn’t come cheap.

Ultimately, owning a Corvette is an excellent opportunity to join the Corvette community with other Corvette owners with a passion for high-quality sports cars.

Great Financing Options The Hometown Advantage Warranty

Inspecting and Learning about the Vehicle

To start a conversation about purchasing used vehicles, it's important to remember that many experts recommend having a certified mechanic look at a car before you buy it, but this is especially true for a used Chevrolet Corvette.

In the case of a Chevrolet Corvette, the mechanic you choose will have to be the right person: they'll have to understand the specific Corvette they're examining and be familiar with Corvettes in general.

This can be a difficult qualification to find, and since finding a highly qualified mechanic is essential, you'll have to do your research. Ultimately, a trusted mechanic will help you get the best value for what you pay.

Generally speaking, you might run across a few broad categories of used Chevrolet Corvettes. The first is a run-down vehicle with most (if not all) of its original parts and will become a project car. These are fun for many Beaver drivers, but a project car is only for some.

Another option is a restored Chevrolet Corvette. Some will be faithfully reconstructed with original parts, but others might have non-Corvette bits in them. The National Corvette Restorers Society and Bloomington Gold both issue certificates that mean that people who know Corvettes have investigated the car and that it's a faithful reproduction: these are something to look for! You also want to view a vehicle history, if possible.

Dealerships will provide these for you, while private sellers may not. Dealers like Hometown CPO of Ironton also usually provide great warranty coverage that will not be available in a private sale.

Another customer with a used Corvette in Waverly, OH

Chevrolet Corvette Through The Years

The C6

Probably one of the purest expressions of the modern Corvette, the sixth-generation Chevrolet Corvette rang in the 2005 model by including the most powerful standard engine in Corvette history, a 400-horsepower 6.0-liter LS2 V8. 2008 saw the introduction of 430-hp 6.2-liter LS3 V8 on Corvette coupe and convertible models, while 2009 featured a supercharged 638-hp 6.2-liter LS9 V8.

The C6's sharply designed exterior featured the first exposed headlamps since the 1962 Corvette Stingray. Other features came into play in this rendition of the Chevrolet Corvette, including infotainment technology such as navigation, OnStar, and SiriusXM radio, as well as keyless access.

The 2005-2013 Chevrolet Corvette also came in several body styles, including hatchback, coupe, and convertible, and features a variety of improvements and upgrades over the years.

The C7

In 2014, Chevrolet introduced the next model in the lineup: the seventh-generation C7, marking a drastic change for Corvette in styling, performance, and technology.

The 2014 Chevrolet Corvette was the sleekest the company yet, offered as a coupe or convertible and backed by a 6.2-liter V8 generating 455 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. Drivers could choose between a 7-speed manual transmission and a 6-speed automatic transmission. In the 2014 model, a driver could reach 60 miles per hour in only 3.7 seconds for an acceleration that is fast and efficient.

The following year, a new 8-speed automatic transmission replaced the previous 6-speed automatic transmission, and Chevy also added a supercharged 650-hp version of the 6.2L V8.

Later, in 2017, Chevy introduced the wide-body Grand Sport trim level that featured Brembo brakes, magnetic ride control, the 5-position Drive Mode Select, and various other improvements like upgraded infotainment systems. Throughout the years, there were several special editions offered, but the 2019 year marked the last year of the C7.

The C8

2020 was the first year for the new mid-engine C8 Chevrolet Corvette, which is rare to find on the used car market, and you can expect to play close to MSRP if you do manage to find one.

The Corvette you choose to pursue will ultimately come down to a few factors outside of personal preference, such as availability and money in your budget. Classic Chevrolet Corvettes, such as those in the C3 generation from 1968-1972 will be more expensive due to it being the last production run for chrome bumpers and the end of the high-horsepower era.

If a C3 from these years is too pricy, C3 Corvettes made from 1973-1982 will yield a lower price tag and still provide great value.

Reliability

When exploring used Chevrolet Corvettes, it is generally a good rule to avoid the first few model years of any new generation since the first few years of new cars generally have some kinks or other issues that are ironed out in later years.

For example, when looking at the early C5s, you can find problems like bum TPMS sensors and key fobs that malfunction. Many of those bugs have been fixed when you shoot for a model, such as a 1998 model or later.

Thankfully, these issues and others are typically easily solved. Parts for the Chevrolet Corvettes, especially in this era, are inexpensive and relatively easy to come by. In fact, other popular used cars from General Motors often share parts with the Corvette. This makes the cost of Corvette ownership relatively low for a sports car.

Which Chevrolet Corvette Is Right For You?

Everyone should test drive any used vehicle before they buy it. During a used Corvette test drive, you should pay attention to some specific things to avoid hefty maintenance costs down the road, which means less money in your pocket.

Does the clutch work well? If it's sticky, that could be a potential problem. What is the mileage on the car? This can tell you how much use the engine has seen. You want to make sure the car wasn't driven hard and not taken care of, or it could mean more grunt work on your part.

As you search for a used Chevrolet Corvette, make sure that it's the vehicle you want. Research the evolution of the Corvette throughout the years to see which era you find the most appealing. Most drivers will generally want to stay away from 1984 model year Corvettes since, as a redesign, those vehicles end up having many issues with the mechanical components that were later ironed out for subsequent model releases.

If you plan on driving your Corvette regularly, many experts recommend a Corvette coupe or a convertible. The Corvette coupe makes for a great 2-person getaway with 22 cu-ft of cargo space in the C6 and 15 cu-ft in the C7, which is avmore spacious interior than most sedans.

They also offer a nice balance of crisp handling and comfort. You can also get good fuel economy for a sports car, with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimating 24-26 miles per gallon on the highway.

The convertible is a soft top that looks fantastic, whether it's up or down. The engine in one of the convertibles lets you have some fun on the road and feel the wind in your hair as you push its limits and test out what it's capable of.

The Tremec 6-speed manual with a handy short-throw shifter is an excellent way to exercise the V8, but let it be noted that the gearbox in early sixth-generation models had a skip-shift feature that can be annoying in some situations, forcing a 1-4 upshift under some circumstances. Regarding automatics, go for a later year with paddle-shift manual control and six speeds.

The 2005-2013 Chevrolet Corvettes come well equipped with standards features such as:

Leather-upholstered interior
auto dual-zone air conditioning
a leather-wrapped tilt steering wheel and shifter
cruise control
a power driver's seat
auto headlamps
a theft alarm
7-speaker AM/FM/CD stereo
StabiliTrak, a limited-slip differential
the Active Handling system (which uses the car's brakes to reduce understeer)

The 2014 model year saw a total redesign in the C7 but kept many of the standard features of the C6, such as the leather interior with leather seating and a leather-wrapped steering wheel, automatic climate control, and so forth. The standard audio system in the C7 is a 9-speaker Bose system.

Buying a Used Chevrolet Corvette at Hometown Chevy

If you're looking for a race car inspired vehicle that is reliable, fun to drive, fuel-efficient, performance focused, and maintains its value, the Chevrolet Corvette is the vehicle for you. You have various years, styles, price points, and more to choose from.

While many of the things you should keep an eye on when buying a used Corvette are the same as any old cars or used vehicles- vehicle history, condition of the vehicle, low mileage vs. high mileage, the previous owner, etc. - there are a few things that are specific to Corvettes to look out for. Many of these potential hiccups are mechanical, so it's essential to have someone to help you who knows Corvettes.

Here at Your Hometown Chevy, our maintenance team is well-versed in all Chevrolet cars, so you can rest assured that any used Corvette you find with us is in good shape. It's also important to ensure you find the right used Corvette for you - and avoid the 1984 model year! Keep in mind generation, the year that it came out, key features, key issues, and price range.

Your Hometown Chevy is the area's premier vehicle dealership. We sell a wide variety of new and used vehicles, and we have financing options that work for everyone. If you're interested in buying a used Corvette, stop by to take a look around or give us a call.

Talk to a member of our team today to take a vehicle out for a test drive. We look forward to working with you at our Waverly, OH, dealership soon!

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