Im looking to buy a c5 coupe or vert , are there any things I should be aware of or look for when Im looking at these cars ?
are there any major diffrences in the 1997-2004 vettes,
I know nothing about these cars except I really want one !
so any info you give me would be greatly appreciated.
thanks Bill

 

Check front bumber cover "Bottom" for cracks as it is the most damaged part of the car when it is not looked after...
look over the car inside and out for damage and mis use....Im sure you will find a good one...

Good Luck

 

they are all good cars but alot of upgrades took place in 01, oil consumption issues on some early 01's is something to watch for, column lock affects all c5's (while parked, never heard of 1 while it's driving at least not documented) buy the newest and best condition car you can afford, check this out, http://www.corvettemuseum.com/specs/...erformance.htm

 

The only differences I'm aware of performance-wise is the LS6 intake that came on 2001's and up. If you mod down the road, you'll probably be buying one on an older Vette, but they are less than $400 used, so that probably won't be an issue when considering between a cheaper, older Vette and an '01 and up. In my opinion, there isn't enough of a difference to matter; if you are tight on budget, there's nothing wrong with a nice older one. My '99 is a great car! Good luck!

Edit: 2001 and up also had a little bit better exhaust manifolds; not that it really counts for much.

 

Welcome to the forum Bill, good luck in your search for your Corvette.

Make sure you read the sticky thread at the top of C5 General called Weights, measurements, ratio's strengths etc found here:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=984927

Here are some details on the differences to look for through the model years:

:. Miscellaneous .:

All of this information is variously collected from the Corvette Forum message board, so do not take it as absolute gospel. However, it should be somewhat close. Sources: 1,
________________________________________
1997
• Completely new, redesigned Corvette. Base (FE1) and Z51 (FE3) suspension packages.
• All Z51 cars include: Power Steering Cooler, xx, xx, ??
• 97-00 C5 LS1's produce 345 HP @ 5600 RPM and 350 Ft Lbs of torque @ 4400 RPM.
________________________________________
1998
• Convertible becomes available
• Active Handling becomes available late in year
• The two slots of a 1998 (and possibly late 1997s) curve toward the rear at the bottom. (versus straight down)
________________________________________
1999
• 26# injectors substituted for 28#
• Fuel pump revised to reduce noise
• FRC "Fixed Roof Coupe" aka the hardtop, becomes available. All FRC's are MN6 (6-speed) cars with the Z51 suspension package, and are about 60lbs lighter than coupes.
• HUD introduced
• only one line in driver's side fuel rail cover (no fuel return line?)
• Power telescoping wheel becomes an option
• ? Steering hardware changed to combat wandering
• door sill trim plates added
________________________________________
2000
• Millennium Yellow available
• ? "Thin Spoke" versus "wagon wheel" design wheels become standard.
• Pup cats added to CA models for LEV emissions requirements (5hp loss relative to 97-99)
• Steel swaybar endlinks instead of plastic on Z51 equipped cars
• Z51 swaybar diameters grow (25.4/21.7 to 28.6/21.7 to 28.6/23.6 (note: new rear same as Z06)
• No keyhole on passenger side doorhandle
• Passenger airbag 'off' switch added to console (light by TC/AH button)
________________________________________
2001
• return to 28# injectors for all models.
• Second Generation Active Handling
• Nassau Blue discontinued
• Alternator 'clutch' pulley added on A4 cars
• New soundproofing + foam in all cars
• Smaller keyfob
• electrochromic dimming rearview and driver's mirrors
• lighter AGM battery
• Thickness + Material in vert change
• Chrome exhaust tips for coupe + vert
• 85MM MAF with integral temp sensor (versus 74mm with separate plug for IAT)
• LS1 cam profile changed to: .500/0.500, 198/208 on 115.5LSA (From: 0.472/0.479, 202/210 on 117)
• All Corvettes now have the LS6 intake manifold
• All Corvettes now have the LS6 engine block (windage passages in block), which includes a beefier oil pump.
• LS1 changes result in new output of 350 HP @ 5200 RPM and 375 Ft Lbs of torque @ 4400 RPM (MN6)
• Hardtop/FRC discontinued
• Pup cats added to all models
• Stronger synchros in all transmissions
• Exhaust manifolds revised (5hp regained) - thin wall cast replacing SS manifolds
• metal valvestem caps (late year)
• Torque Tube changed from metal-matrix composite to aluminum alloy 6061, increased in dia from 55 to 63 mm.
• Driveshaft couplings have also been upgraded on manual-equipped models for additional strength and durability
• Introduction of the Z06, which has as differences:
o hardtop body style
o rear brake ducting
o screened inlets on front fascia, without foglights
o F1 supercar tires 265-17 front, 295-18 rear, on 17x9.5 and 18x10.5 (one inch wider, respectively
o new LS6 top-end with new style head design (10.5:1 compression, 64cc chamber), LS6 cam (0.525/0.525, 204/211 on 116) - 385hp
o M12 transmission with shorter gearing (1-2-3 analagous to MN6 with 3.90 rear diff
o Titanium exhaust system
o lightweight windshield
o New, stronger clutch with redesigned master + slave cylinder
o Stronger rear differential (shotpeened ring gear)
o Red brake calipers (otherwise identical)
o Trans overtemp warning light on DIC
o 6500 redline gauges with special checkering + Z06 font
o redesigned PCV system to help combat oil burning
o Red LS6 Fuel Rail Covers (FRC's)
o FE4 Z06 suspension - uprated springs, bars (30mm/23.6mm), shocks (note front spring and rear bar same as Z51)
________________________________________
2002
• Z06 Changes:
o Z06 LS6 cam changed to: 0.551/0.547, 204/218 on 117.5
o Less restrictive intake airbox lid
o Descreened MAF
o Removal of pup-cats (total with changes = 405hp)
o Z06 shocks revised with less rebound for better launching
o Z06 brake pads revised for better stopping (generate more dust)
o Lighter, sodium filled valves w/ stronger valvesprings
o higher tension rings installed to prevent oil burning problems
o slight piston redesign *
o clutch strength upgraded.
o HUD available on Z06 (not avail '01 model year)
o Wheel supplier changed to Speedline, moved from forged to cast. Weight nearly identical
• Electron Blue color offered
• Steel endlinks changed to aluminum
________________________________________
2003
• Late model-year new fuel system design from C6's
________________________________________
2004
• Z06 shocks further refined. Accompanying upper front control arm bushing, and rear swaybar bushing changes.

Information courtesy of http://www.jakelatham.com/c5/misc/differences.shtml

These are awesome cars. The best advice I was ever given was to research the car throughly here on the forum. Buy the newest, lowest mileage C5 you can find. They are great performers with strong motors, very comfortable to drive and great on gas. I owned a '97 for 5 years. It was easily the most problem free car I've ever owned. You can find winners and losers in all the years. Just take a careful look at your choices and post for advice here on the forum. The collective souls here have literally been there, done that when it comes to all things Corvette.

Paul

 

My best advise is to go to Auto Trader first and do a search on ALL Corvettes '97 - '04, any distance, any price range. Print out the first page.

I found over 5000 cars (including a '98 for $189,770). This is important. Every time you find yourself saying "well, it doesn't HAVE to be a 6spd", or "it doesn't HAVE to be a convertible", go back to that printout and look at it again.

Way too many folks on here that say, "if I could do it over....". We all get VERY excited when looking at cars. If you compromise, you will certainly wish later you hadn't.

Don't worry about buying a car in California if you're in Vermont (by the way, fill out your profile, it will help us all help you), there are members on here everywhere that can help you "look" at the car before committing to it. Many on here have saved big bucks and gotten exactly what they wanted by buying, flying, and driving it home.

Good luck, and welcome to the family.

 

The Red ones seem to be the fastest ones.....

 

WOW , thanks for all the info so far, What is a column lock issue?
Bill

 

Basically, there was a problem with the column lock malfunctioning and leaving you stranded with your column locked. Some are able to get it unlocked by banging it back and forth with the key off. It happened to me, and I had to have it towed in to a dealership, where they performed the recall for no charge and covered the tow. Most people will suggest getting the bypass you can purchase at Texas Speed. From what I have read, you are better off installing the bypass on your own than having the recall performed, but if you can't get it unlocked, you have no choice but to have the recall performed. There's a sticky at the top of the C5 Tech forum that beats this subject to death. http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1015483

 

Yeah, and watch out....some of these cars came from the Factory with the tranny in the REAR of the car, don't let them slip one of those by you!
Good luck on your search, just like with any used car, get as much info about what you want up front 1st, then have your ride checked out 1st.
Mag Red has best overall Value, gets the most looks from the opposite Sex.

~Maverick

 

Buy the latest model year you can afford. I would rather have a newer model with more miles(within reason) the an older model with less miles.

 

Found mine at www.cars.com

Good Luck

 

If you locate a car of interest in a distant city, ask here on the forum if someone is willing to check it out for you. Many of us will do that. Some might want to charge you a six pack of beer. Just buy the six pack after we are through driving the car you might like to buy.

Seriously, just ask, and we will assist you (even going down the street to drive a car for you).

Ed

 

I have a few Word documents that may help you in your buying process. I'd be glad to send you a copy if you PM me your e-mail address.

 

When i was looking for mine i wanted something that was completely unmolested. I wanted to know that everything that was there was like it was when it came from the factory, no messed up performace installs that way i knew that i was starting with a clean slate. But.... as soon as I got it home i MOLESTED the heck out of it. Whew... comeing out about being a molester makes me feel better.

 

 

 

And why would that be? I look for a car that has been treated properly vs. a car that someone has drove into the ground. Mileage is fine, but ONLY if it can be shown that the car has gotten the proper treatment. Age means little with todays seals, oils, etc. Low mileage is NOT a bad thing, unless it was treated poorly. Condition is FAR more important than what year it is, there are C6's for sale already, affordable too, if you don't mind 60k-80k miles...I'd take a 10k mileage C5 over THAT any day....and for ALOT less.
~Maverick

 

It has to do with resale value. The value of moving up model years > the rate at which excess mileage devalues a corvette. Condition is important but it can be passed off on noob-moderately experienced buyers with minimal reconditioning and elbow grease. For example I can vacuum, wash, polish, wax, clean, armoral, rain-x a car and impress a buyer. Deep cleaning a car's carpets and then buying a new floor mat set and armoraling the interior is a cheap value added way to make a good impression.

Think of it like this: It will harder to convince a buyer that a 1998 vette is more valuable than a 2001 vette than it would be convince the buyer that the high mileage 2001 vette they see before them was maintained to a T with all service records, by telling them how important the car was to you and how seriously you took care of it. You would tell the customer that the reason for high mileage was easy freeway use in 6th gear taking long trips since you are a salesman traveling for work. These easy "freeway miles" did not put stress on the engine and you changed the oil every 3,000 miles "whether it needed it or not". The customer may buy into the fact that the high miles were not stop light to stop light use.

Another aspect is competition. 2001 vettes demand a higher price than the average of 98 vettes. If you have a 98 vette with only 20k miles you are competing at a price point shared with 2001 vettes (harder to convince your buyer to spring for your garage queen verses moderately or even "clean" 2001's.

Another reason is that a buyer may see your 2001 vette with excess mileage and buy that instead knowing he/she will not be putting much miles on it thus allowing the mileage value hit to "even out" in a few years.

 

Damn! I never looked at myself in that light before. But you're right! I AM a "molester." It all started with CAGS and then,,,,,, Well you know