Hello:
I'm normally over in the C4 section but recently have been toying around with the idea of purchasing a C5. I was hoping to get everyones input on what they like and don't like about their cars. The model year I was looking at was 2003. What should I be looking for in terms of potential problems? What options should I be looking for, Z51, Magna Ride? The one I looked at today was a black 6sp with HUD and base suspension. It was nice but I noticed a lot of road noise, it seemed to still have the factory tires on and the passengers side power lock did not work. I thought it was priced a little high at 36,000 with 25,000 miles. Does changing tires help reduce the road noise, I thought it was a lot louder then my old 88? I look forward to your suggestions, I would really like to try and pick out a newer vette for next spring.

Thanks, Ethan

 

Price seems high to me too, but I don't know the market right now. I wouldn't pay that with any issues, make em fix it first.

Oh, my car is base susp., black, and 6 speed.

 

I'd surf through C5s for sake and eBay (sold listings) to get a feel for prices. The stock runflat tires are known to be noisy. I think you have to move to non tunflats to find quiet, but some other runflats have been reported to be quiter, at least when they're new.

 

Run flats can be noisy on concrete roads -- better on asphalt surfaces.

That price is too high. I'm in Minneapolis and a dealership is offering a 2004 Commemorative (special interior color [shale] and options package) coupe with 12,500 miles for $32,488. It's an automatic and does not seem to feature the Mag Ride option but does have the HUD.

God luck with your search!

 

Thanks guys for your input. I thought the car was definitely over priced, I think I can pick one up for around 30 if I look around. My biggest concern was the noise I thought the road noise was excessive. My wife liked the car until she drove a brand new one. I have to say the brand new ones are unbelievable but I'm not sure that they are an extra 20 grand over a 03 or 04. Those of you that have driven new ones do you think they are that much better? I'm really leaning toward an 03, I just like the 50th badges. Are there any options you guys have that you are glad you got? Has anybody bought a car from Kerbeck, how are they to work with?

 

Your 88 didn't have runflats. My 02 has non runflats, very quiet. I rode in a C6 that had the new series runflats and it was noisier than my car and didn't ride as nice.

 

I saw a major improvement in road noise and ride quality (and handling) when I ditched the GY runflats and went with the Kumho Ecsta MX's non-rf tire. Much cheaper tire too.

 

The Z51 suspension in my opinion is the best factory offered option. The F55 Magnetic Ride is spectacular engineering that is basically on a base suspension car. In other words - the F55 magnetic shocks with the FE1 (base) springs and swaybar diameters.

It really depends on your intentions with the car - do you ever plan to drive it in autox or HPDE? If so, IMHO - the Z51 car is a better starting point with it's power steering cooler, higher rate springs and shocks along with thicker diameter sway bars. If you're serious about these activities, some of these parts would get changed out anyway - but you have a factory installed power steering cooler. With the F55 - the car rides and handles great. But I've heard that the Magnetic shocks are extremely expensive to replace, though I don't remember reading about anyone that has actually done it yet.

If I were buying a newer car like an '03 or '04 - I would most definitely get a Z51 car instead of an F55 car.

The noise you're hearing is most likely runflats with 25K miles on them. They tend to get noisier as they get worn. The car is pretty quiet overall - remember it's not a Cadillac - and changing the tires to non runflats or even brand new O.E.M. runflats will make the car less noisy.

For an '03 Coupe with 25K miles - I would think you would be in the high $20's or very low $30's. Keep looking - good luck!

 

I would say that is a little ridiculous. You could buy a Z06 or add 5k and get a c6 for that price.

 

Definitely high. Keep looking. Good luck.

 

I will probably never take the car out to an autocross event, but the Z51 sounds like a good option. I was leaning toward the F55, but when I drove one with it I didn't really notice any difference. Are the any different brake options on the car that I should look for? Any problems that occur around the 20,000 mile mark I should be aware of? Does anybody like their glass top or is the solid one better? The car I drove had a glass top I don't know if I liked it, seemed to make the car hot.

Thanks all for the information.

 

agree

 

Here's a great article on the F55 suspension that explains exactly what it is, how it works and what it does....

http://corvetteactioncenter.com/kb/q....php?qstId=503

As far as brakes - there were no optional brake systems on the C5. Even the Z06 had the same brakes, except that the calipers were red.

I don't think any thing magical (like turning into a pumpkin) occurs at the 20K mark - I bought mine with 37K on the odometer. As long as the car was given routine maintenance and not beaten to death - these cars should be good well beyond 100K.

 

Thanks for the link.

 

We paid 38 for a loaded pristine 03 millenium yellow with 3k miles on it, 6spd, vert.....Just to give you an idea