Buying a 98 Vette
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 12
Likes: 2
Buying a 98 Vette
Hi everybody. I think i am going to finally pull the trigger and buy a Vette since someone totaled my T/A I really dont want to spend a bunch of money since we are also trying to buy our first house.... so i fouund a 98 Vette for under $20k with under 40k miles. Is there anything i should know about these Vettes before i buy? Should i stay away from the earlier LS1's? I know that they changed some things in the later years. Is there going to be any problems in modding this car as compared to the later modles?
-Loftin
-Loftin
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,937
Likes: 21
From: Waldorf MD
107,000 miles on my 1998 with only 2 minor problems (oil pressure sensor and one headlight gear).
No 98's had HUD (you can install but need an HUD instrument cluster also) and only last half year had active handling as an option (all have traction control).
Even 1997 C5's were as reliable as any later year. They did an extensive and effective pre-production engineering development progam.
Hope you have many miles of smiles !
No 98's had HUD (you can install but need an HUD instrument cluster also) and only last half year had active handling as an option (all have traction control).
Even 1997 C5's were as reliable as any later year. They did an extensive and effective pre-production engineering development progam.
Hope you have many miles of smiles !
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,545
Likes: 17
From: Bartlett Tennessee
89,000 on my 98 Coupe. Changed out the oil pressure sending unit and a/c and spark plugs and wires other than that everything works fine.I'm adding new exhaust this month since the stock exhaust is TOO QUIET !!! If you have the factory spark plug wires I'd recommend changing them out at sometime because they are spring loaded and the spring pops the boot off the plug just enough and it does't make good contact with the spark plug tip.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 21,473
Likes: 356
From: Palmdale, Ca----- 2009 Cyber Gray 4LT A6 F55 452 RWHP 422 RWTQ- RIP 1998 C5 734 RWHP & 585 RWTQ-----
I wouldn't worry about modding it one bit see sig below!
Plus my ProCharger is going on in the next month!
No problems!
Thanks,Matt
Plus my ProCharger is going on in the next month!
No problems!
Thanks,Matt
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
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,415
Likes: 24,798
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Sounds like a good buy to me. Just look the car over carefully (check especially for rear differential seal leaks, rocking seats, and the battery area - acid leaks). Good luck.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,195
Likes: 25
From: Tacoma WA
Yeah - Get a GM Service History report on it... see all the work done to it while it was under warranty...
Check Carfax too - although it may only be marginally helpfull
Ask the dealership if there is any way they can fwd a message from you to the previous owner - and if they will, ask the previous owner for any tips, or problems he had on the vette. He may or may not be willing to help ya...
Watch for leaks - check for any damp or water damaged carpet.
Pull the codes from the DIC - there are instructions for this on the forum - and understand what each code means...
Basically - just do like everyone says and get the car a thorough looking over... Read the stickies on this board for common problems, and look for those...
Good Luck!!
Dan
Check Carfax too - although it may only be marginally helpfull
Ask the dealership if there is any way they can fwd a message from you to the previous owner - and if they will, ask the previous owner for any tips, or problems he had on the vette. He may or may not be willing to help ya...
Watch for leaks - check for any damp or water damaged carpet.
Pull the codes from the DIC - there are instructions for this on the forum - and understand what each code means...
Basically - just do like everyone says and get the car a thorough looking over... Read the stickies on this board for common problems, and look for those...
Good Luck!!
Dan
