The best C5 year?
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 10,295
Likes: 4
From: Downers Grove IL
St. Jude Donor '15
They're all good! If something from a particular year is a problem, chances are there have been a million posts on the forum about it. If you're buying, the lowest mileage, cleanest car is the best C5. 
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 13,348
Likes: 233
From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
Originally Posted by dataporter
No doubt in my mind 99 is/was the best year. No brag, just fact. No bias just the truth. No prejudice, just actuality. No lies, just reality. Took GM two years to get the bugs out, and then trying to improve on perfection, they put some in.
Hmmmm...let me guess:
You have.................................... ...................a '99?
Larry
code5cope
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,133
Likes: 0
From: Cumming, GA
'97: first year
98:'first year of the vert
'99 introduced the hud, active handling and several other tweaks.
2000: Active Handling standard (?) No more pass side key hole.
2001 added more HP but some have experienced the "re-ring" issue. Introduced the Z06
2002: worked out the re-ring. Z06 went to 405 hp
2003: 50th. A few minor tweaks as well. Plus the cool little block located by the seat belt pulley that baffled many for months. Fuel syste improvements in the later in the year
2004: Last year, a few tweaks. Z16
IMHO: I would say a 99 or later IF you like the HUD and active handling, your chances are great to get them in the 2000+ years. I wouldn't be afraid of any year as a whole. check the individual car's service record through GM. If there is a HUGE list of issues, I may stay away... Again, JMHO.
Good luck!
98:'first year of the vert
'99 introduced the hud, active handling and several other tweaks.
2000: Active Handling standard (?) No more pass side key hole.
2001 added more HP but some have experienced the "re-ring" issue. Introduced the Z06
2002: worked out the re-ring. Z06 went to 405 hp
2003: 50th. A few minor tweaks as well. Plus the cool little block located by the seat belt pulley that baffled many for months. Fuel syste improvements in the later in the year
2004: Last year, a few tweaks. Z16
IMHO: I would say a 99 or later IF you like the HUD and active handling, your chances are great to get them in the 2000+ years. I wouldn't be afraid of any year as a whole. check the individual car's service record through GM. If there is a HUGE list of issues, I may stay away... Again, JMHO.
Good luck!
Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 394
Likes: 0
From: New Jersey
A wise and sagey forum member that was extremly helpfull in getting me into my C5 ... Told me over and over and over then over again ...
"A C5 is a C5 ... period! Get over the whole "what year is it" thing. They are all nice and you will enjoy any year you end up with."
It was good advice then ... and it's still good advise today! Find yourself a solid, clean C5, and get over what year it is!
"A C5 is a C5 ... period! Get over the whole "what year is it" thing. They are all nice and you will enjoy any year you end up with."
It was good advice then ... and it's still good advise today! Find yourself a solid, clean C5, and get over what year it is!
Last edited by Cruisin'; Mar 14, 2006 at 05:33 PM.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 838
Likes: 0
From: Illinois/Ca
I think the best year C5 is the car taken care of by its previous owner(s) and not abused. You'll have some good and bad in every year regardless if it's a corvette, porsche, etc.. A lot has to do with how the previous owners took care of their car.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 349
Likes: 2
From: Rockbridge OH
Guys! Guys! & Gals! (oops - don't want to come across as sexist) 
We all know that the best year C5 to own is whatever year you have!
It doesn't matter - Vert, FRC, Coupe, Z06, mods, no mods, IT'S ALL GOOD!
Can life get any better than this?
We all know that the best year C5 to own is whatever year you have!
It doesn't matter - Vert, FRC, Coupe, Z06, mods, no mods, IT'S ALL GOOD!
Can life get any better than this?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,420
Likes: 5
From: "This is not a psychotic episode, but a cleansing moment of clarity."
Originally Posted by JCFILM
I think the best year C5 is the car taken care of by its previous owner(s) and not abused. You'll have some good and bad in every year regardless if it's a corvette, porsche, etc.. A lot has to do with how the previous owners took care of their car.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,706
Likes: 5
From: Toronto Ontario
When I decided to get mine, I searched and searched for info in trying to determine the best year. When all was said and done, I concluded that the 2001 (or newer) would be the way to go. They was a lot of little things done that year that made it for my the best way to go as far as options and price go. Power went up and the second gen AH came about - two important reasons for me.
If you're looking for a Z06, go for the 02+
There was a great link that someone posted not too long ago when someone else a similar question that specified every change that occured year-by-year. Hopefully someone who remembers it can re post the link. I printed it out and have it somewhere - I just can't remember where. Definately worth looking over.
If you're looking for a Z06, go for the 02+
There was a great link that someone posted not too long ago when someone else a similar question that specified every change that occured year-by-year. Hopefully someone who remembers it can re post the link. I printed it out and have it somewhere - I just can't remember where. Definately worth looking over.
Last edited by Polar Jet; Mar 14, 2006 at 04:19 PM.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
From: Wasilla Alaska
Thank you everyone! I'm sorta flipping back and forth between buying a good C4 outright or making payments for 4 or 5 years on a C5 or C6, I have seen for what a down payment would be for a new car I can get a C4, so I'm kinda leaning towards the C4 forums, after I pay off my truck then I will look at a newer Corvette, beside in my family we have two of everything.
Thanks for the honest advice!
Thanks for the honest advice!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,123
Likes: 3
From: Orland Park Illinois
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
Originally Posted by mhdi22
Well.....Consumer Reports guide....shows that a 98 gets highest customer feedback. 
And we know they've never been wrong, correct??? Hey, wait a minute, I've got a '98...........
