Ok, I've loved C5's since before I can remember and now that I am almost 17 I want one. But my parents think that it is too much power and that I would kill myself. What my parents dont realize is that I know that if I get caught speeding while I am 17 I will have to sell my car because of rediculous car insurance costs. So I have a few questions:
1) My parents said I could get a 1999 Mustang GT Vert 5 speed, how noticeable is the power difference between a plain, non Z06 C5 and a GT? I drive a 5 speed 2005 Dodge Neon that my parents pay for right now and I havent had any trouble. Does a C5 have such a rediculous amount of power that I am gonna kill my self driving it at normal speeds?

2) I would ideally like any 6 speed C5, how much will it cost me in reality? I am about to get a new job that I will be making about $150-200 a week during the school year and my parents are requiring me to put $2000 down on any car I buy. Right now my parents pay for all of the insurance except for $100 a month which I pay and we have an 05 mini van, an 08 dodge avenger sxt, and an 05 neon. If i get a car they will be getting rid of the neon and mini van and getting an suv of some sort. So that will leave me paying whatever difference there is in insurance if i got a vette.

3) How bad is the gas mileage? I drive to school and soon to work (I could ride the bus to school if it would be too bad on gas), will the gas prices be extreme? And how much is upkeep generally?

4) I would probably only drive this car or about a year and a half and sell it before I go to college, how much would I lose reselling it?

5) How much attention do these things get? Do any owners on here have problems with jealous people keying or vandalizing their cars? I might drive it to school once or twice a month if gas is bad but would I have to worry about jealous kids keying my car while I'm in school or at work?

I appreciate any answers, but please dont tell me that my age is a problem with me owning one. I may only be 17(technically 16), but lets face it. There are a lot of irresponsible adults out there there would be less careful than me, only because they can get away with it. Thanks

 

Sorry to burst your bubble - but at 17 you don't have the skills to operate a high powered car, including a Mustang GT. Wanna see what happens when inexperience mixes with too much power.....

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...recked+my+baby

If you were my son - you'd be driving a 4cyl something with less than 100 hp. You would also be sent to a high performance driving school. I know this is going to start a whole flame war - but 17 year olds lack the maturity and the experience to drive a high performance car....ANY high performance car.

Let the flaming begin....

 

I went from a 1986 chevy pickup truck to a 1999 coupe.

All my money the only thing i got was a co signer.

You'll be fine as long as you totally respect the car. I got too comfortable with it and ended up sideways really quickly. Just because you are young doesnt mean u cant handle it just always remember the kind of power u have under your right foot.


PS get a red one

 

I wouldn't park it at school period. I am a student at UT Arlington (working on masters) and the first day I took the Z06 to school ($400.00 per semester parking garage) it was keyed. There are a lot of jealous people out there and most of them that are willing to vandelize property are of the younger breed.

Also a 99' Mustang GT is a dog right out of the box (stock). I would expect low to mid 14 second quarter mile times, versus low to mid 13's with a stock (non Z06) 6-speed C5.

 

17 and you are moving from a dodge neon to a corvette??? damn wish i could of done that. mustang gt conv. or c-5??? where in the country do you reside??? are you going to drive car in winter to commute??? comparing a neon to a corvette is like comparing a f-22 raptor to a cessna!!! have you ever driven anything with over 300 ponies??? the real question is how mature are you??? the car will stick out like a sore thumb believe me when i tell you. as far as people keying and vandalizing your car no matter what age you are people are gonna do what they want. i can't imagine what the insurance would be for a 17 year old full coverage on a c-5. perhaps you could afford it. a few tickets or accidents you would be lucky to put full coverage back on neon. if you decide to go for vette. please use your head when driving. and be smart. for a young driver that just got their license it is alot of car.

 

Kingsey and silent fright, thanks for the positive feedback. I'm glad to hear not everyone on the planet thinks of high school students as wreckless street racers like my parents and neighbors.

blacksedan87, I appreciate your feedback and even though I dont agree with everything you say, I can see where you are coming from. Being almost 17 I come in contact with the irresponsible kids you mentioned every day. I like to think that I am a little more mature than those kids but I respect your opinion.

Now that I've been reassured that I could handle the power, I really need to know if I can afford it. I can put $125-150 a month into this car, would that be enough to maintain and buy a C5?

 

Since you said that you would only be driving it for about a year or so I would wait until after college, learn how to drive a high performance car, and then get a Vette. JMHO

 

bugsas99, I live in North Carolina and the town I live in hasnt had real ice or snow in about 4 years. Any snow we get melts as it hits the ground so hitting ice isnt really a problem. As for driving a 300+hp car, I honestly dont think I have, if I really needed to find out if I could handly it my neighbor has an 02 Mustang GT. I have however driven my neon in soaking wet conditions with bald tires. I dont know if I can compare that to a C5 but bald tires in the wet requires a lot of babying the throttle and clutch. Also, my dad just pointed out to me that every car I have driven is fwd, how much of a different experience is driving fwd vs rwd? Thanks

 

150-200 a month doesn't cover the cost of ownership unless your parents will pay for the depreciation that the car will encounter...

I pay $300-400 in gas alone a month...

I am sorry but while making 150-200 a week the only thing you can afford is what you're driving now... save yourself the money and do something fun with it instead.

There is no point in driving the Vette when you're 17.

 

I started out driving a FWD car... you gun the throttle and point... car will go whereever the wheel is pointed... with RWD prepare for some nice 360/180 action...

 

For those of you that dont think I could afford/handle a C5, what other cars would you recommend if I want a little more power and a little better looks? To be honest the neon is not exactly the best looking car ever and I dont wanna supe it up because I dont like the ricer look (even though the neon is american, lol). I really like the vette more for its looks than the power it offers. I want something that is low to the ground like the vette, but something manegeable. And to get a better perspective of what I could afford, a kid that already works at the place I'm gonna get a job at owns a 2003 Mustang Cobra Vert, and another one owns a 1993 Toyota Supra. So, any suggestions on a better car would be appreciated.

 

your better off to keep it simple for a few years...

 

get the mustang gt, that's what i did. they have tons of upgrade possibilities and the mustang community is great. I am getting ready to sell the GT this summer and upgrade to a z06.

 

I like Mustangs but I really dont think the Mustang GT compares to the C5 in the looks department. There is really no way I'm gonna keep the Neon, I'm gonna get something else, it is just a matter of what I'm gonna get. I cant stand the manual locks and windows of the Neon.

 

The 4th generation F-bodys are among some of my favorite cars (97-02 Camaro Z28, SS & Firebird TransAm, Firehawk). My previous car was an 2002 Camaro SS and I loved it. Just look for a 98 and up to get the LS1.

Also, just because you have a powerful car does not mean you have to abuse it. Hell my 20 year old sister drives a 2001 SS Camaro (325 hp w/1LE suspension package) and she handles it fine. Get what you can afford, but also get something you want.

My old 2002 SS:

 

What is the longest used car loan you can get? I heard it was 60 months and with that length I think I should be able to get a C5 for $300ish a month. My dad will be cosigning on whatever loan I get. I also considered a C4 but I only really like those with the C6 rims. Does anyone have a picture of a C5 or C4 with C6 rims? I really want a white C5 with black C6 rims and a chrome lip. Thanks

 

First off, The c5 doesnt go through all that much gas mine gets about 28 mpg average, and 25-40 bucks a week if im really stepping on it or just cruising I have my moments. Second, I still have the almighty feeling of invincibility when behind the wheel at 21, we all do at a certain age. We get some power and want to show it off, or destroy some one on the street, and with this car there are TONS of opportunities.
If you get the car you will probably scare your self into respecting the car, make a mistake and get you/others hurt, or be the .001% of kids that get a car, love it, and keep it close like a best friend. The car is the most amazing car that I have owned (00black vert), but I also miss my first power plant car a 2001 Trans am. There are other great cars out there. Open your eyes to a new world when you start looking at grade "A" performance. I would probably do some searching and test drives. I set a goal for myself to have a vette before the age 25, and look where I am at now. When you turn 21 c6's should be where the c5 is at now, I would say give it time, and let that do the talking.

Ps They would only do three years on my 00, I toldem I would only need a two year loan...I hate loans, oh and it cost me $970 a month in my name, probably a lot less in your parents.

 

well that one good thing you won't be driving on bad roads. sit down and figure out the price of the car you want. the cost of insurance. if you ever need tires they will cost you a pretty penny. most people that get into accidents or wrote up by local police it is the drivers fault. not the cars. if you heart is set on a c-5 go for it. please just use your head. be smart. the difference betwwen neon and c-5 i can't express enough. let us know what you decide. be carefull out there.

 

I compliment you on your goal of achieving a C5. Unfortunately, your income and taste don't pencil out -- there's not enough income to support a Mustang much less a C5. Wanting, needing, and qualifying are all separate issues to consider. At 16, you have a lot of time ahead of you, and an admirable goal of owning a C5. Have patience, get good grades, earn a college or trade school education, save your money, and earn your C5. That's how most of us obtained ours. In the meantime, welcome to the forum, good luck, and Merry Christmas!

 

Jacks02, how much do Mustang GTs cost where you live? I live in an area where Mustangs and Corvettes are pretty common and I can get about a 2000 Mustang GT for around $8500, and a decent C5 goes for $17500.