Early C5's ???
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Sorry about your '96. If totalled, hope they give you a good settlement. For $25K, you should be able to find you a really low mileage 97-99 or even a decent mileage '00. Prices for C5's are generally down a bit, and now is the time to get one.
Best of luck in finding a nice C5.
Best of luck in finding a nice C5.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 7,156
Likes: 154
From: The Arid Sunny Desert
Originally Posted by 2young2driveavette
my 97 is running strong over 90K on it. Only problem was the washer fluid motor went out. It's a strong car and i put the 00 rims on it and people think it's a brand new (well 04) vette.
Vettes have washer fluid motors???? Haven't checked the level in 3 years
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 6,772
Likes: 1
From: Tampa FL
Originally Posted by blacksedan87
I don't know why you would stay away from the 97's and 98's. The only issue I can think of is that those two model years did not have HUD available, and the '97 did not have A/H available - but those issues in themselves aren't a good enough reason to a lot of people (including me) to condemn two model years.
I have a '98 that is just fine with A/H, but no HUD. It doesn't burn oil, it has the CLB installed and runs like raped ape.
Best advice I can offer is to buy the latest model, lowest mileage car your budget will allow - regardless of the vintage!
I have a '98 that is just fine with A/H, but no HUD. It doesn't burn oil, it has the CLB installed and runs like raped ape.
Best advice I can offer is to buy the latest model, lowest mileage car your budget will allow - regardless of the vintage!
motor aside, you have think about wiring issues, wear & tear .. etc etc.
not all corvette owners take as good of care as most of us do.
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 15,324
Likes: 2,080
From: Guelph, Ontario
I think the 97s and 98s have better engines in them, at least in terms of piston slap and oil consumption. My 98 burns no oil at all (I'm 5500 miles into this interval and the level on the stick is unchanged!) and no piston slap at all. I owned a 98 Formula which also did not burn oil or have piston slap. I just think the LS1 engines were built better in the first couple of years, and the quality control went down in the later years, which is why you hear of more oil burning/piston slap problems with them.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 1,063
Likes: 0
From: Long Island, New York
undefined
glad everyone made it out ok.
97 & 98, i think are ones to stay away from ($0.02) but 99 and up are all fine.
WRONG!
I have a 98 with about 50k on it and haven't had a single problem since day one!
And if you are interested its for sale! going for the 6th
Glad your OK
Originally Posted by Neablas
glad everyone made it out ok.97 & 98, i think are ones to stay away from ($0.02) but 99 and up are all fine.
I have a 98 with about 50k on it and haven't had a single problem since day one!
And if you are interested its for sale! going for the 6th
Glad your OK
Last edited by C5Coup; Feb 8, 2005 at 08:59 PM.
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Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 4,772
Likes: 343
From: SIOUX FALLS SD
Cruise-In II Veteran
Cruise-In III Veteran
I had a 98 for 2 years and the only thing I had to replace was the brake
rotors. I currently own a Black 97 with 47,000 miles. I have the usual
fuel pump whine and the driver seat rocks a little. Watch out for wrinkled door panels on the 97 and 98's. I have new ones for the 97
but have not installed them yet. I took the 97 in to dismantle the
column lock issue under the factory recall and I never had a problem
with it locking up. These cars are built very strong but I would recommend getting the G92 PERFORMANCE AXLE. Good luck with
your search.
rotors. I currently own a Black 97 with 47,000 miles. I have the usual
fuel pump whine and the driver seat rocks a little. Watch out for wrinkled door panels on the 97 and 98's. I have new ones for the 97
but have not installed them yet. I took the 97 in to dismantle the
column lock issue under the factory recall and I never had a problem
with it locking up. These cars are built very strong but I would recommend getting the G92 PERFORMANCE AXLE. Good luck with
your search.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,346
Likes: 5
From: Mustang OK
Sorry to hear about your 96 CE, but good to hear you are OK. Good luck with the insurance settlement. 
As for things to check for on a C5, here's another thread currently going around in C5 General that has a lot of good info in this regard:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1010390
As for things to check for on a C5, here's another thread currently going around in C5 General that has a lot of good info in this regard:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1010390
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
From: Litchfield Park Arizona
I have a 98 with over 90K on it. Absolutely no oil usage at all. I never have to add oil between changes. In fact, I have never seen the oil dip below normal. It is my daily driver so I'm very impressed with the quality of the engine (knock on wood). I've had one electrical problem that cost me $300 to fix. Everything else has been of my doing (burn clutch, worn synchros, brakes). I bought it used so it wasn't all my doing............bj98 
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
From: Newark Ohio
Bought my 99 FRC with 32k mi. eighteen months ago for $25,000 That was in Ohio prices, which is the trade-off for putting her to bed 3 months of the year 
Come on spring
Best of luck in your search.
pb
That was in Ohio prices, which is the trade-off for putting her to bed 3 months of the year Come on spring Best of luck in your search.
pb
'97's rule!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 8,356
Likes: 832
From: Naples Florida
I have a 97 with 92K on it and it is still running like a champ. The few things that I have had to replace on it was the harmonic balancer, new Kumho tires, and brake pads. I have had the column lock up on me but I had the CLB installed so I got rid of that. The only major thing with my car now is that it is dripping a little oil when I park the car due to a leaking rear main seal.
Dont let some people scare you away with the early LS1's. They are made very durable and built to last. Good luck on your search.
Dont let some people scare you away with the early LS1's. They are made very durable and built to last. Good luck on your search.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 722
Likes: 8
From: N.Canton Ohio
Originally Posted by Patman
I think the 97s and 98s have better engines in them, at least in terms of piston slap and oil consumption. My 98 burns no oil at all (I'm 5500 miles into this interval and the level on the stick is unchanged!) and no piston slap at all. I owned a 98 Formula which also did not burn oil or have piston slap. I just think the LS1 engines were built better in the first couple of years, and the quality control went down in the later years, which is why you hear of more oil burning/piston slap problems with them.
This issue of oil consumption on 99-02 models really kept me away from them..especially since it is hard to detect until after you own it awhile..
found another 98,$10k less than most of the newer models I had been looking at,,added Y2K wheels,HUD and it looks/feels like new.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,923
Likes: 5
From: San Antonio TX
I just picked up a clean loaded 99 vert with 75k miles on it for $21k, I would have had no problem with a 97 or 98 except that you cant get hud on them and the verts were not made in 97. but with $25k you can get a clean low mile 99-01 down here in Texas. you might get into a 2001 z06 if you look hard.
I'm glad no one was really hurt and good luck
More Than Zero
I'm glad no one was really hurt and good luck
More Than Zero
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 4,303
Likes: 347
From: yardley, pa 19067
I bought a 99 5 months ago with 20k miles from the original owner for $23k...Make sure you run the VIN of the car your interested in to see if it had these common C5 problems fixed: gas gauge, leaky rear seal, column lock, rocking seat....Mine has a slight seat rock and a leaky rear seal but I will get it fixed under my extended warranty..The C5 is light years ahead of the C4 so get one and you'll love it!!
