TheDEfan

I paid close to 18k for my 2001 back in Sept. of 2014. I paid top dollar for it because was in perfect condition with 45k miles on it. I think KBB value then was close 17k Now KKB value is 14,200.00. I'm thinking that maybe the C7 is driving down the C5 and C6 prices?

sfc rick

andrec10

Its Kelly Blue Book...Ignore it!

WillItFloat

Try to find a similar car for sale at that price. I don't think you will.

95rtturbo

Is yours a base, vert, or ZO6? If you paid 18K for a base with those miles, even then, that would be on the high side.

The doubt the C7 is driving down prices on the C5 much, if at all. Time is.

Bill Vett

You got that right Rick, every 6 months

Black 02

It's a 14 year old car that has two newer generations available. What do you expect? Just drive your car and enjoy it and stop looking at the book value.

TheDEfan

Yeah I did pay top dollar for it. The bank was willing to loan 18K+ on it based on KBB 6 months ago. I'm trying to sell it now, so the KBB is what most base their offers on. Felling a little hosed right now. I don't need to sell it, so I guess I'll just hang on to with the notion of it's always for sale for the right price.

Corvette#2

I think KBB just did a recent adjustment.

I ran my car back in February. And just checked again and the Excellent private party value dropped about $1500. But I'm not selling it, so it's of no consequence.

mackey

blue book is good for one type of car. a family sedan. eg accord, camry, prius, etc

otherwise i'd take their suggestion with a heavy grain of salt.

a good starting point is craigslist, autotrader, or completed listings on ebay.

if i just picked up a C5 less than a year ago, i'd drive the hell out of it and sell it for 10-12k. it doesn't seem like they're dropping much further than that. if you keep it clean, maybe a little more.

Macleod52

Most banks use NADA. I priced my 2001 w/88k last week and NADA said Private Party would be around $16k.

ronwc

Over the last 30 years or so have owned 7 different Corvette's. I didn't have one for the last 3 years and recently started looking, had a $10k bill burning a hole in my pocket. I live down here in the Tampa Bay area, Corvette's are plentiful on CL.

Really wanted a C5, so started looking. I was surprised how cheap some were. Low mileage almost perfect for $12k, looked at a few below $10k, I ended up buying a very nice black 97 with 139k miles for $7500. Runs and drives great, has 2006 Z06 wheels, new tires, everything works.

Bottom line, although I think the C5's are great cars, they are getting old, they are not the most reliable, expensive to fix and very few know how or want to work on them anymore. The best advice already given above, just drive it and have fun.

Vetteman Jack

Even the newest C5 is 11 model years old. They depreciate just like any other car, but KBB to me is not a great source for finding the value of a car. I would use NADA and see what they list.

Best advice has been mentioned already - don't worry about the value (cars are not usually good investments) and just get behind the wheel and enjoy a nice long drive.

Daddie O

I bought my 2002 Z06 with just 8600 miles on her for $26,500 last year, and don't feel I overpaid. I paid half price of new, and it still smells new! Miles and condition were the deciding factors.

MotoJB

Wait, you obviously didn't buy an investment grade C5????? LOL

strand rider

in my southern California area, the Kelly Blue book regional area includes Guam, yep the island. I wonder what they throw into other areas. I consider it a financial tool for insurance and banks, and reflects those users needs.

jackthelad

I have run my '98 through KBB, Edmunds and NADA. NADA has the highest prices. And that's what the dealers seem to use (and more) for retail.
Fact is, these cars are now getting old (I will have had mine for 18 years by September), the C7's are available, plus early C6's are also coming down in price.

Like real estate, the value is what a willing buyer will pay - and bears zero relationship to what the seller may have paid for it.

racebum

no one uses kbb besides dealer who offer trade in. a few years ago kbb ran high, now they run quite low, i would assume dealers put pressure on them to do so since it allows they them to pay less for a trade.

nada is the only book that follows actual prices paid via manheim

you can also look at ebay to see where bidding is. most the time it's around nada clean trade

Black 02

If it's a clean, low mileage example then put whatever price you want on it. Kbb value is typically meaningless on older specialty cars anyway since condition is everything when it comes to a 10+ year old vehicle.

Also, I feel your pain on depreciation. Unfortunately, it's part of vehicle ownership. Just be glad you didn't pay the original 45-50k like many on here

Roddy13

Its relative. Not all vette's are equal, there are some amazing ones out there that I would pay for... and then there are mile'd out ones that have been rode hard that I wouldnt touch for a fraction of the price.... KBB doesn't know what is up anyway