Buying a C5
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
From: Knoxville Tennessee
Buying a C5
I am looking at buying a C5. I have around 17G to work with. My question is this. I will want to be upgrading this car including suspension, exhaust, engine, and cpu. I just need to know this one question's answer... If I buy a high HIGH mileage C5 (around 100k), rebuild the engine (my friend does it), and then have left over for replacements. Does this sound like an OK idea to you all?
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,208
Likes: 2
From: Rochester MN
CI 5-6-7-8 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
NCM Ambassador
as a general rule you want to go with the lowest mileage/latest year you can afford. That would provide the most stable platform to build on.
PS - 100K may not be that bad if it was well cared for...
PS - 100K may not be that bad if it was well cared for...
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,549
Likes: 0
From: MDT
although many members here will advise of their good fortune with their c5s with high smiles/miles, a c5 in a real sense is not unlike any other car in that high miles, if by nothing else than sheer probability, will result in a statistically higher # of problems. that's not to say that your plan is not doable; in fact you may be quite satisfied. when we bought our c5 low miles was critical. best of luck in your search; the c5 is worth it. bub
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 15,195
Likes: 0
From: Philadelphia PA
When you say 17K to work with, does that mean you can afford a loan on 17K or that you can toss down 17K on the down payment?
It will be extremely difficult to get a vette for 17K, i am not saying its impossible but there are very few C5's out there that will be in that price range.
I suggest
1st Find out what options u want like color, Auto vs MN, Coupe, FRC, Vert, and suspension packages.
Once you find what your looking for, its all about getting the lowest milage car that fits with in your price range.
It will be extremely difficult to get a vette for 17K, i am not saying its impossible but there are very few C5's out there that will be in that price range.
I suggest
1st Find out what options u want like color, Auto vs MN, Coupe, FRC, Vert, and suspension packages.
Once you find what your looking for, its all about getting the lowest milage car that fits with in your price range.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,739
Likes: 1
From: Paris Illinois
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Originally Posted by Frizzle86
When you say 17K to work with, does that mean you can afford a loan on 17K or that you can toss down 17K on the down payment?
It will be extremely difficult to get a vette for 17K, i am not saying its impossible but there are very few C5's out there that will be in that price range.
I suggest
1st Find out what options u want like color, Auto vs MN, Coupe, FRC, Vert, and suspension packages.
Once you find what your looking for, its all about getting the lowest milage car that fits with in your price range.
It will be extremely difficult to get a vette for 17K, i am not saying its impossible but there are very few C5's out there that will be in that price range.
I suggest
1st Find out what options u want like color, Auto vs MN, Coupe, FRC, Vert, and suspension packages.
Once you find what your looking for, its all about getting the lowest milage car that fits with in your price range.
Good advice. I would add newest and lowest mileage you can afford.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Pro
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 580
Likes: 0
From: New York NY
i say go with the lowest milege overall, dont pay too much attention to year, unless you are looking for specific options like HUD or stuff like that..
think about it, would you rather buy a '98 with 30,000 miles or a '02 with 56,000 and both with the same options you are looking for?
i just bought a 2000 with 30,000 miles and it is IMMACULATE, ive seen many 03s and 04s with around 50,000 miles looking like crap
think about it, would you rather buy a '98 with 30,000 miles or a '02 with 56,000 and both with the same options you are looking for?
i just bought a 2000 with 30,000 miles and it is IMMACULATE, ive seen many 03s and 04s with around 50,000 miles looking like crap
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 6,072
Likes: 196
From: Arizona
Originally Posted by ebubman
although many members here will advise of their good fortune with their c5s with high smiles/miles, a c5 in a real sense is not unlike any other car in that high miles, if by nothing else than sheer probability, will result in a statistically higher # of problems. that's not to say that your plan is not doable; in fact you may be quite satisfied. when we bought our c5 low miles was critical. best of luck in your search; the c5 is worth it. bub
Nicely said!
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 211
Likes: 2
From: Glendale CA
Originally Posted by Vega$Vette
Save another 3K with 20K you can find some very nice y2ks
Recently got an exellent condition 02 pewter coupe with hud, sport seats, A4, 56,000 miles for 20,000
they are out there GL
Last edited by TroutFisher; Aug 16, 2006 at 04:08 AM.