Price of GTS???

[vette2viper]

Please help! What is a ballpark price range for a low mileage 96 or 97 GTS in blue with white stripes? This would be for either stock or minor mods like catback system, smooth tubes and filters, factory or aftermarket wheels. Also, would like to know where the rear speakers are for these two years. Today I saw a full speaker and a tweeter in each door, but nothing in the back between the seats like in an RT/10. The factory specs list it as having six speakers.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Mike in NC

 

[Gerald Levin]

Mike, A b/w 96 or 97 GTS in great condition with low mi (5k) will cost you $50k +/-.

 

[Blazin' Blue Viper]

Just purchased mine with minor mods and 14k miles for 47k.

 

[Toby]

high 40's to 50K for the good ones with low miles.

 

[Gavin]

Mike - the 96's had quite a few technical service bulletins and a couple recalls.
When I bought my 96 I bought a car that had this work done or was still elegible to have the work done.

In your situation you need to find a car that had all that work done, otherwise you are buying some potential expensive problems.

Warning - watch out for low mileage cars that have been mostly tracked. Thats one set of issues
Then a low mileage car that has not been driven much can leak like a seive.

Now I can't leave you at this point - hopefully not discouraged.

Pay the money for a car that has had the following work:
Time chain gasket replaced
Intake manifold gasket replaced
Alarm system, door glass and seals and door uprights replaced with 97 units
Side sill replaced with 97 units
Find a car that has not had the two recalls for the chassis (rear) and steering box bracket done - they butchered those cars and the work was necessary only if the car was tracked. I put a lot of track miles on my car, did not have these recalls done and my car passed a detailed inspection at the beginning of every track season.

How to tell if this work was done:
If a 96 GTS has more than 10K miles it will have had the timing chain gasket and Intake manifold gasket replaced - OR the originals are fine and should not give a problem if they have lasted that long.
Alarm system - 97 unit flashes the lights instead of tooting the horn when you turn it off
Door seals - look at the top of the uprights - if the seals are in one pcs you have the 97 fix - if theseals have come apart - that work was not done.
Side sills - replacement units have bolts instead of rivits forward of the door

Recall on steering box bracket - fix was to bolt in supports
Rear Chassis - pull up the carpet in the trunk - particularly the vertical surface forward of the spare tire - If that work was done they cut a great big hole in that surface.

What would I pay for the right car $45-50K
Hope this helps
Luck

One final tip - if you have any thoughts of putting a GTS on the track - buy an ABS equiped car - 2001 or later had ABS - its a huge advantage
If you want to know more - email me your phone number
Gavin

 

[vette2viper]

Thanks all for the pricing info. That really helped.

Gavin...WOW...a wealth of knowledge in your response!!! Sure appreciate your efforts there.

Finally, can anyone address my last question about the six speaker location in the GTS?

Love being retired...have lots of time to read all the great posts on here. For years, I enjoyed the corvette forum, but I must say...you guys seem to be a different breed...more friendly and helpful than any I've encountered.

Thanks to all...can't wait to get that first Viper (and the second)...hey, if I can't make up my mind, why not buy two or more? Then I don't have to comprimise my desires/choices.

Mike in NC

 

[Hisserman]

Mike --

The two other speakers in a GTS are in the back wall of the rear hatch facing toward the driver and passenger. They are the same size as the bigger speakers in the door.

 

[vette2viper]

Thanks Bruce!!!

 

[genXgts]

Hey Mike,

Do a search on 96/97 and check out the differences between 96 and 97, there is some differences on them, minute, but differences (besides the obvious omission of rear plate stripes on 97).

97 was second year run at a brand new factory (Connor Ave in Detroit), might get a bit of a more sorted out car, although the recalls and TSBs are around the same, if not more on the 97.

96 may hold some sort of value benefit in the long term being the first year as well to collectors.

judging from the mods on your old corvette I don't think orginality is your desire, haha, get the 97!

good luck,

 

[speedshftr]

i have a real clean all original 96 gts coupe in b/w.7100 miles and looks new.i need 48500/for a fast sale.its going back to ebay tonight.