I've been thinking lately of selling my 92 vert and moving up to a C5. While I really love the 92, the last couple of long (1K+ mile) trips has left me fairly sore after 6 hour stints at the wheel.

A C5 will be for long touring and Sunday cruising. I have an 87 for autocross and track days when I really want to drive a Vette on a horrible winter day. So I'm considering a C5 more for the comfort level and compared to the limited storage available in a C4 vert, more room to pack stuff. I haven't firmly decided on a body style yet but the questions I have really involves the different years.

Right now I would consider anything between a 2000 to 2002 model and my question is what are the major factors to consider between these years? Is the engine and drivetrain any less trouble-free in any particular year? Overall, is the 2000 car any better/worse than a 2001. A Z06 is also a possibility but for that, I would probably wait to see what happens to 01 and 02 values after the C6 Z06 is in full production and available.

I have a chance to get an absolutely fantastic mag red 2000 A4 coupe from a fellow club member. I know the car and it a car show trophy taker and extremely well-maintained mechanically. I have never heard any complaints about it from the owner. Although I have not discussed price with him yet, is there any reason to consider a later year car simply because this is a 2000 MY car and not a later year?

 

I have a 2000 and have been happy with it. I've had the common C5 problems (leaky driver's window, fuel gauge, battery leaking, etc...if you're not familiar with these items, do a search and you'll find them). Late 2000 models and on have an airbag cutoff switch installed at the factory. Mine was built in September 99 and didn't have the switch but I bought one from Fitchner Chevy and installed it.
I know there was an oil burning issue, I think in the 01s?
Welcome to C5.

 

Hi George!
The C5 is a great touring car and a lot of fun to drive. As you know - it was a quantum leap from the C4. Not to bad mouth the C4, but everything you love about it has been improved.

The C5 is not without it's typical problems from gas gauge to lousy skins on the seats - but overall it's a great car. I'd go after the lowest mileage car, regardless of the year. Sure there were incremental improvements each year, but if you find a really clean '00 low mileage vs. a higher mileage '02 I go with the '00!

Here's a link to a sticky at the top of the page that will tell you everything you want and didn't want to know about the C5. Good luck!

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

 

we used to have a c4 torch red coupe; sold it about 4 yrs ago. just turned the big 5-OH & snagged a silver 00 coupe. even thought there is this "vette feel" that was in our c4, could not believe how different & improved the c5 is over the c4. as someone else noted, the lower the mileage the better. good luck! bub

 

There were numerous upgrades to the C5 in 2001. Info here >>> http://www.corvettemuseum.com/specs/2001/index.htm

 

I have a 2000 Vert and loved it from the day I got it. It has so much over the C4 even though I liked mine a lot at the time, you will love it too.

 

You will love the C5! I made the move to a C5 from a C4 and the difference is significant, as others have said.

I decided on a 2002 to early 2003 because all the improvements were in by '02. New rings fixed the oil consumption problem still present on some '01 models, etc. I was not interested in anything past mid-model year '03 because of the EPA requirement that fuel filters be put INSIDE the tank. It was a running change in the '03 build year. Having had to change a fuel filter or two through the years, I recognized how expensive that would be to pull the tanks and associated hardware.

 

Good luck finding the right C5.

 

For cruising and long trips the C5 far exceeds the C4. I still miss my '89 for autocrossing, but absolutely love my 2000 Vert.

 

Had a '96 and took it on an extended 2 week road trip from Houston up through Colorado. It was a comfortable trip but could not compare with the comfort and sheer thrill of the C5. I clocked 20,000 miles in 2 years in my 2000 vert. Loved it so much that I bought a 2004 just like my 2000.
I've made day round trips from Dallas to Houston and back (about 500 or so miles) and it was a pleasant experience.