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Old May 15, 2005 | 03:54 PM
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Default Test Drive Outcome.

Just checked out an 02' Coupe. Everything sounded alright... but the fact that the black color had swirels all over.. is that fairly normal even if you garage it? and another thing is a growling i hear comming from the rear when im in first just starting it sounds like its comming from the rear differential not sure is that normal?
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Old May 15, 2005 | 04:09 PM
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Black is the worst to keep looking good but is the best when it is right. Growl in the rear stay clear
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Old May 15, 2005 | 04:12 PM
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Originally Posted by gogo4
Just checked out an 02' Coupe. Everything sounded alright... but the fact that the black color had swirels all over.. is that fairly normal even if you garage it?
Black shows swirls worse than any color. Don't think Vettes are any worse than any other car for that. You have to be very careful when you wash and dry the car or you'll get swirls. Probably get some even if you are VERY careful. Most of the swirls can probably be buffed out unless they are really deep. Takes some time to do. You need a good buffer, not the $30 walmart specials. Or you can probably get it buffed and detailed for $200 or so.

I'm not an expert on the mechanical side, but six speed cars almost all have a bit of a rattle in the tranny in low when you first take off. It usually goes away just after you get moving good. Don't know if that's what you are hearing or not. If it is, consider it normal.

Good luck with the black if you buy it. Looks great when clean, but difficult to keep that way.
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Old May 15, 2005 | 04:20 PM
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ok so its possible to get those swirlls out of there? cuz it looks lil nasty when the sun shines at it and all you see is circles. Man the guy didn't even know how to pop the hood!!! haha he got all the oil services done though which is importand. But the growl comming from take off only and at low speeds its allmost like a clingin rattle at low rpms.
I payed attention the car seems to idle around 800 or so it stays cool around 200F and oil pressure is at 50 i belive. I will be the 3rd owner. hes letting it go for 29.5 needs new tires oil change and its 27k on the odo. what you guys think?
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Old May 15, 2005 | 04:51 PM
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27k $ and put your own tires on. do the oil chg, lube and check all fluids and be happy. good luck
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Old May 15, 2005 | 05:45 PM
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yeah but i need to know if that sound is normal or not? plz help so i know wheather to buy it or not?
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Old May 15, 2005 | 05:49 PM
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Was it a 6spd?

If so your description is that of the infamous "marbles in a can" transmission sound, and yes, it's normal to hear when driving slowly in 1st gear.

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Old May 15, 2005 | 06:05 PM
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Sounds nice, but prepare yourself for the "BLACK CAR" quandry. If you are obsessive about it looking immaculate all the time, black will be a pain. They look fantastic when kept up with.
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Old May 15, 2005 | 06:27 PM
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Originally Posted by gogo4
yeah but i need to know if that sound is normal or not? plz help so i know wheather to buy it or not?

Get it checked over by a qualified Corvette mechanic. To do anything less with a used car is asking for trouble. Black is tough but when clean and clear...gorgeous.
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Old May 15, 2005 | 06:36 PM
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27k and it needs new tires? Does that sound right? Man my car has 22k and nowhere near needing new tires.
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Old May 15, 2005 | 06:43 PM
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Assuming the swirls aren't too deep, yes, you can get them out with a LOT of elbow grease. And you better be ready for what it takes to keep a black car looking good. As someone said earlier, black's not a color, it's a career.

That noise in the rear scares hell out of me, but I'm an A4 owner, what do I know? I'd get someone to check it out.

I'd offer $27k.
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Old May 15, 2005 | 07:19 PM
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Originally Posted by racecar2001
27k and it needs new tires? Does that sound right? Man my car has 22k and nowhere near needing new tires.
I have about 13K on my Z06 & will be ordering tires by the end of the month.
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Old May 15, 2005 | 07:22 PM
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Originally Posted by Y2Kvert4me
Was it a 6spd?

If so your description is that of the infamous "marbles in a can" transmission sound, and yes, it's normal to hear when driving slowly in 1st gear.

If so, we've all got it. Do a search on "marbles in a can" it is normal, and common among all C5 6 spd's. As to the swirls, if you can't catch a nail in them you should be able to buff them out. The swirls can happen in any auto's paint, the black just makes it stand out.

Paul
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Old May 15, 2005 | 07:32 PM
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If everything else checks out, then go with a little lower offer and take it. Black is so much fun washing it everyday, at night, in the garage, after one cruise around town.... grab yourself a CA duster. And get use to buying tires...10k on mine and they're toast.
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Old May 15, 2005 | 08:39 PM
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Steer clear of it if it has noise in the rear end. Black looks great, but it is a chore to keep it that way.
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Old May 15, 2005 | 09:02 PM
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If you dont mind washing it after every time out than get it. If you want to keep it showroom clean thats what you got to do.As for price it seems a little high to me make him take off for the rubber..... good luck
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Old May 15, 2005 | 09:17 PM
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It sounds like the rear end noise is the normal "beans in a can" noise that is inherent to the C5. Like the others stated above. The swirl marks is another story. And again like the others above have stated they are easy enough to deal with if they aren't to deep. And you have about $200 to spend on a Porter Cable buffer and some products to get the swirls out. Mind you I have a white C5 and I still bought the equipment. If you love the car you'll buy the stuff it takes to keep it looking great. Good luck with your purchase. If at all possible take someone who knows cars and paint to check it out. They'll be able to tell you right away whether or not the swirl marks are to deep or not. There's my .02 I hope it helps. You did find the right place to ask the questions.
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Old May 15, 2005 | 11:16 PM
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Man you guys are amazing!!! Thanx for all the help !!!

Yeah The tire tread is still semi there but it will be needing them pretty soon.
Is there a 30k mile service on this car? and if so what needs to be done and how much does it cost?
This is a 6sp btw and the guy didnt' know how to pop the hood. we then got it open and the engine was dusty boyyyyy o boyyy but he had the oil changes up to date so that was a +. Man it looks like im going to be in to be asking for some labor if i get this baby huh?!

How can i find out if it burns oil? well w/o buying it first? lol...
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Old May 15, 2005 | 11:43 PM
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Originally Posted by tmjvett2004
Black is the worst to keep looking good but is the best when it is right. Growl in the rear stay clear

That pretty much covers all the bases
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Old May 16, 2005 | 12:47 AM
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Originally Posted by gogo4
Man you guys are amazing!!! Thanx for all the help !!!

Yeah The tire tread is still semi there but it will be needing them pretty soon.
Is there a 30k mile service on this car? and if so what needs to be done and how much does it cost?
This is a 6sp btw and the guy didnt' know how to pop the hood. we then got it open and the engine was dusty boyyyyy o boyyy but he had the oil changes up to date so that was a +. Man it looks like im going to be in to be asking for some labor if i get this baby huh?!

How can i find out if it burns oil? well w/o buying it first? lol...
If it is an '02, you shouldn't have an oil burning problem unless the car has been beaten. The years that I have heard having oil consumption issues are some '00s and '01s. If you take it to get a compression test, that should limit any worries of an oil burner.

UT-Driven
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