I have a friend looking to get into a Corvette. His price range is $16-20,000 and I was wondering what kind of C5 would he be able to find for that kind of money without having to comb the heavens. I have seen them 97-00 with 60-130,000 miles in this price range but for some reason that kind of scares me, the mileage being so high. What kind of longevity am I looking at with a 1997-00 Corvette? I suggested an FRC for him because the glass roofs leak and the Convertibles are very common but who knows I don't think at this price range he can be picky. I know one thing, he is NOT willing to have an automatic, I think it's BS but he says that there is nothing performance about an automatic and that they are boring and girly... I beg to differ, if I found a nice color, low mileage well priced vette and it was an auto I'd be perfectly content. I was looking for a list of what to watch out for, common big issues with early model C5's and what to expect out of the ownership at this mileage, problematic? maintinence *****? expensive repairs? What cars should he stay away from and why... I am also considering buying a Corvette but that all depends weather or not I deploy (I am with an Army Dental Company) or hell, I may just save up a good chunk of change but all in all I love these cars, I love the C5... the style is amazing and my friend and I can both live with the rattles and cheapness of the domestic. I am comming from a fairly quick car that I sold for a 1998 Honda Accord so I could catch up on debt. I had a 2005 Dodge SRT-4, with the mods I had I was good for a 13.1 1/4 mile. about 255WHP 300WTQ ish. Also, what do these Corvettes put down for hp in stock form and what are the most common bolt on modifications done, and how much should I gain from them? I told my pal that these are high 12 second cars with slicks bone stock. Can we count on higher mileage Corvettes to be reliable, managable maintinence, and fun for miles to come even if bought at a higher mileage? Should that deter us?

 

Hmmm, if you find a T-Top model, let me know.

Those are rare.

 

You can find automatic C5's all day long under 20k with less than 60k miles.

The hard part is finding a 6 speed and finding one that has been taken really good care of. That's my experience anyway.

 

Oh snap... are they just glass roof targas? My bad

 

Best of luck. Check it out thoroughly.

 

Just messing with you Rich. They come in either FRC or Verts.

 

if you have a vette, the top has to come off.

 

FRC for ME .

 

That is what I thought. He sees shame in automatic cars... hell even if it were a Viper. I don't care, but he does... I mention a great car and then he finds out it was an auto, he says ew. Hell he even thinks a 900whp single turbo Supra that is an auto is a no no. I need someone to break him out of this mindset. Sure some cars are gross and un-ownable as autos but not this one I don't think.

 

Well then what were the non convertibles between 97-98 before the FRC came out... Just a glass roof? or was it a targa? I could have SWORN the center piece came out.

 

Mine is an auto/FRC and I love it. It is a cruiser for me not a racer, so I don't mind the auto. I had several people tell me "You got an auto in that?" My reply: "Yes, and I love it." "By the way, what year is your 6 speed Vette? Oh that's right you don't have one". That pisses them off everytime. Who cares what anyone else thinks? Buy and enjoy!

 

They came with a removable panel. You could get the smoked top as an option to go along with the painted top. There was no solid roof Vettes in those years.

 

from your avatar you have a coupe not a FRC. 2nd there are no Auto FRC's they call come with a MN6 unless you did a swap.

 

20,000 or less should get him a nice c5 with miles that arent very high. Look around and educate yourselves.

 

To start with, the roofs don't leak. Sometimes the window sealing around the roof isn't adjusted right, but the roof doesn't leak. You're not going to get rain in the car.

Second, 60K miles on a LS1 is nothing. Many people here are far beyond that. The C5 has proven to be a very reliable car. Matter of fact, I can make a pretty good case that if I were to sell mine today, I could've driven it for free for the three years I've owned it (excluding all the custom things I've done and spent money on).

I like the coupe because of the trunk space and the fact that I can still take the top off when I want. I do wish I'd gotten the M6 instead of the A4, but only because I don't regularly drive it to work in heavy traffic as I thought I would when I got it.

 

I stand corrected. I should've said Coupe. Oh vey. Sorry.

 

At least part of it!

 

Pics of the T-Top please.

 

I got my 2000 6-speed coupe with 43,000 miles on it for $19,000. Keep looking, you will find one.

 

So a removable panel? Meaning the center of the roof is open? Which essentially is a targa top right? Oh I am aware of the LS1 being able to run forever but the story of alot of cars is, the motors out lasts the car. What about the longevity of other expensive components, are these cars expensive to keep up with, replace for repairs... how often should you do this this and this? If you got a higher mileage one or 60+k how much is a timing belt, what else do you have to replace and around when, also what does it cost? Also how about 1997 and 1998 Corvettes? I hear they have notorious issues that cripple the drive of people to buy them.