Greetings all!

I’ve been lurking around this site for a while since I’m thinking about selling my car and getting a Corvette. This is one of the nicest forums I’ve came across. People are great!

I have a 1999 Honda Prelude which I’ve modified quite a bit (port polish, milled head, Crower cams, valves, valve train, full exhaust, intake, ECU, suspension, brakes, and much more) I am afraid to add how much I’ve spent for all the mods to get the final result of earth shattering 190 horsepower. I think I’m about done with it after my camshaft broke!.. and I’m getting too tired and old for the import scene.

I am looking to get a 2001 and newer Corvette (targa top). I’ve done some research and decided to go with this model due to engine upgrades, stability control upgrade, Z51 package upgrade (hope to find one with this package) and some options that became standard.
I’ve heard about problems with steering wheel lock, failing windshield wiper motors and failing power seat motors. This does not scare me one bit, but are there any other (more serious) issues I should look out for? What advice can you give to someone looking for 2001 and newer C5? Should I expend my search and include pre-2001 Vettes?

Sorry if I’ve missed a similar post (guess I wasn’t lurking enough) and thanks in advance for any advice.

 

Welcome to the Forum, I have an 01, have had no problems, major or minor. Can't go wrong with a C5.

 

I believe you can find all the options you're looking for on a '99. My 99 has the heads up display, adjustable suspension (is that the Z51 package??) and every other option I've ever seen on a C5. Seat motors are not a problem on these cars. There is a problem with the track that seat slides on wearing out and the whole seat rocking somewhat--but as far as I know that's common among every year C5, not just the older ones. I've also never heard of a windshield wiper motor messing up, but I've never researched it either.

I'm probably one of the few that puts serious miles on my car everyday, I'm at 166K and have already put around 15K on it this year alone. If the car is relatively stock, there isn't much major you can expect to go wrong, the drivetrain was well built. The steering wheel lock is a pain for a lot of people but a $50 bypass kit fixes that. I had to replace the slave cylinder and clutch on mine a few months ago, I've read the slave cylinders are a weak point and usually fail before the clutch in relatively stock cars.

If I were you, I'd consider 99 and up Corvettes, depending on which options you are really interested in. You can save a bit of cash this way and still get all the options you want.

 

Good luck in your search.

 

Good luck on finding a car! You'll really like the C5!

 

Good luck with your search. You will love the C5.

 

Thank you very much for your guidance. I’m definitely liking what I hear!

 

Welcome -- go forth and procure!

 

Welcome to the best forum on the 'Net! As the others have said, the C5 is a great car, and with a little common sense and good preventative maintenance practices, it will be a strong runner for many years.

Yes - there are some common "problems". Here's a link to a thread that lists just about everything you ever wanted to know about this car.....

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...7&forum_id=103

Good luck in your search. My recommendation is to thoroughly research your choice. If you post the VIN of the car you're considering, CF Member Sponge Vette, he can run a service and origination history on your car. The more information that you can gather before you buy the better off you'll be!

 

If everybody could please pause and not reply to threads I post in so I could get my stochastic modeling homework done before my test in an hour, thatd be terrific, thanks!

 

Thank you very much for that great link blacksedan87. It is very informative! You guys are great.

Hope you were able to finish your homework on time schpenxel.

 

Hope you find her soon good luck.

 

Well, I am ready for a long search. Still have to uninstall all aftermarket parts off my Honda Prelude and put it on sale. I have Chevy Cavalier as my second vehicle which I can use full time until I find my Vette (Low km, as clean as possible and hopefully with some warranty left on it). I am willing to spend mid to high 30 grand (Canadian dollars, eh).
Maybe I can get a better deal if I wait for fall/winter??

 

Hmmm...

Going from 190 hp to 350 hp? Sure you want to do this?

Good luck and have fun!

 

I did not want to mention 142 ft-ibs of torque... :o

 

Here's some great advice... Don't forget to latch the top down or you will join the club that have cost so many of us alot of money...




Good Luck with your purchase

 

I got mine in the winter (january), it was the lowest prices I had seen but haven't kept up with things, so I have no idea if they went back up or not during the spring months. For that much money you should be able to find one you want, I know I paid a lot less than that on mine..but it was fairly high mileage. My other car is a dodge stealth, compareable power to your Prelude...you'll like the 'vette

Oh, and I finished my hw and probably did decent on the test...hopefully being the first done wasn't a bad sign