Help explain some things to a noobie.
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Joined: Dec 2007
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Help explain some things to a noobie.
Hey guys,
I am planning on buying a blown C5 in January or so. In my research I am constantly coming across examples like this one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2002-...QQcmdZViewItem
The ad says he spent over 80K in mods and I do not see where. There is no ICE, no blower, etc. Don't get me wrong it is a beautiful car and in no way am I saying he did not spend the money. I guess I just need an education on what mods cost for the C5.
For reference, if someone spent 80K on an e46 M3 it would have a 750hp turbo kit, carbon fiber everywhere (widebody, hood, trunk, sideskirts, bumpers. etc), 19 in. wheels (HRE, DPE, or iforged) and some sick ICE. All that would probably only be 55K by the way.
Thanks in advance for the education to come.
One more question. Why would someone want to "build" an engine rather than just put on a blower. It seems quicker and cheaper. Is it for longevity reasons or is there differences in drivability and performance?
I am planning on buying a blown C5 in January or so. In my research I am constantly coming across examples like this one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2002-...QQcmdZViewItem
The ad says he spent over 80K in mods and I do not see where. There is no ICE, no blower, etc. Don't get me wrong it is a beautiful car and in no way am I saying he did not spend the money. I guess I just need an education on what mods cost for the C5.
For reference, if someone spent 80K on an e46 M3 it would have a 750hp turbo kit, carbon fiber everywhere (widebody, hood, trunk, sideskirts, bumpers. etc), 19 in. wheels (HRE, DPE, or iforged) and some sick ICE. All that would probably only be 55K by the way.
Thanks in advance for the education to come.
One more question. Why would someone want to "build" an engine rather than just put on a blower. It seems quicker and cheaper. Is it for longevity reasons or is there differences in drivability and performance?
Pro
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 577
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From: Southern California
Often times people build up to the mods they currently have in the car. For example he may have added rims/tires grown tired of them then added new rims/tires etc.... People very rarely get back what they put into a car in regards to mods.
Intermediate
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From: san diego ca
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From: Lake Elsinore, CA
I see a few things immediately that would warn me off that car. First, his exhaust tips are badly misaligned, plus, they're dirty. Not a sign of a well-maintained car - especially one with only 22K on the odo. The photographer has avoided any rear shots that would obviously show that.
Second, new tires with only 22K also makes me wonder if this car has seen a lot of drag racing. Third, the interior is a lot dirtier than a car of that level of modification and attention should be, IMO. Most guys I know who put that kind of money and time into a car are pretty good about keeping it looking sharp.
Fourth, I'd want a lot more info about the suspension. Lowering like that can easily be done for just a few bucks on a C5. Remove the front bolts and put longer ones in the rear and you're good to go. Fifth, I'm not very impressed with how they outfitted the engine bay. Spend all that money on LG hardware but put a low-end CAI on? Doesn't cut it, IMO. It doesn't look bad but it doesn't look like $30K in mods either. If you include all the body work and wheels/tires, then, yes but I would have done a lot more than that with $30K.
The seller is a dealer who doesn't seem to prep his offerings particularly well and that alone would steer me away. Judging by his descriptions of the Z's features, I'd guess he's not especially familiar with C5's. He doesn't give any details of the diff ratio or level Dynatech built it to. As far as the money invested, hard to say what someone may have put into it not knowing if they did the work themselves or had it done. The motor mods list is an impressive one but you'll never know who installed them and if it was done properly.
This is JMHO so take it or leave it. Ask anybody who knows me, especially my wife, and they'll tell you I'm OC to a fault about my vettes. I bought my second '02 coupe this spring and it was almost perfect with 6700 on it - it had to be for me to buy it.
Best of luck in your search.
Second, new tires with only 22K also makes me wonder if this car has seen a lot of drag racing. Third, the interior is a lot dirtier than a car of that level of modification and attention should be, IMO. Most guys I know who put that kind of money and time into a car are pretty good about keeping it looking sharp.
Fourth, I'd want a lot more info about the suspension. Lowering like that can easily be done for just a few bucks on a C5. Remove the front bolts and put longer ones in the rear and you're good to go. Fifth, I'm not very impressed with how they outfitted the engine bay. Spend all that money on LG hardware but put a low-end CAI on? Doesn't cut it, IMO. It doesn't look bad but it doesn't look like $30K in mods either. If you include all the body work and wheels/tires, then, yes but I would have done a lot more than that with $30K.
The seller is a dealer who doesn't seem to prep his offerings particularly well and that alone would steer me away. Judging by his descriptions of the Z's features, I'd guess he's not especially familiar with C5's. He doesn't give any details of the diff ratio or level Dynatech built it to. As far as the money invested, hard to say what someone may have put into it not knowing if they did the work themselves or had it done. The motor mods list is an impressive one but you'll never know who installed them and if it was done properly.
This is JMHO so take it or leave it. Ask anybody who knows me, especially my wife, and they'll tell you I'm OC to a fault about my vettes. I bought my second '02 coupe this spring and it was almost perfect with 6700 on it - it had to be for me to buy it.
Best of luck in your search.
Lepus-temperamentalus
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,827
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From: Roswell Ga
USMC (retired)
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,268
Likes: 7
From: Wimauma FL
I see a few things immediately that would warn me off that car. First, his exhaust tips are badly misaligned, plus, they're dirty. Not a sign of a well-maintained car - especially one with only 22K on the odo. The photographer has avoided any rear shots that would obviously show that.
Second, new tires with only 22K also makes me wonder if this car has seen a lot of drag racing. Third, the interior is a lot dirtier than a car of that level of modification and attention should be, IMO. Most guys I know who put that kind of money and time into a car are pretty good about keeping it looking sharp.
Fourth, I'd want a lot more info about the suspension. Lowering like that can easily be done for just a few bucks on a C5. Remove the front bolts and put longer ones in the rear and you're good to go. Fifth, I'm not very impressed with how they outfitted the engine bay. Spend all that money on LG hardware but put a low-end CAI on? Doesn't cut it, IMO. It doesn't look bad but it doesn't look like $30K in mods either. If you include all the body work and wheels/tires, then, yes but I would have done a lot more than that with $30K.
The seller is a dealer who doesn't seem to prep his offerings particularly well and that alone would steer me away. Judging by his descriptions of the Z's features, I'd guess he's not especially familiar with C5's. He doesn't give any details of the diff ratio or level Dynatech built it to. As far as the money invested, hard to say what someone may have put into it not knowing if they did the work themselves or had it done. The motor mods list is an impressive one but you'll never know who installed them and if it was done properly.
This is JMHO so take it or leave it. Ask anybody who knows me, especially my wife, and they'll tell you I'm OC to a fault about my vettes. I bought my second '02 coupe this spring and it was almost perfect with 6700 on it - it had to be for me to buy it.
Best of luck in your search.
Second, new tires with only 22K also makes me wonder if this car has seen a lot of drag racing. Third, the interior is a lot dirtier than a car of that level of modification and attention should be, IMO. Most guys I know who put that kind of money and time into a car are pretty good about keeping it looking sharp.
Fourth, I'd want a lot more info about the suspension. Lowering like that can easily be done for just a few bucks on a C5. Remove the front bolts and put longer ones in the rear and you're good to go. Fifth, I'm not very impressed with how they outfitted the engine bay. Spend all that money on LG hardware but put a low-end CAI on? Doesn't cut it, IMO. It doesn't look bad but it doesn't look like $30K in mods either. If you include all the body work and wheels/tires, then, yes but I would have done a lot more than that with $30K.
The seller is a dealer who doesn't seem to prep his offerings particularly well and that alone would steer me away. Judging by his descriptions of the Z's features, I'd guess he's not especially familiar with C5's. He doesn't give any details of the diff ratio or level Dynatech built it to. As far as the money invested, hard to say what someone may have put into it not knowing if they did the work themselves or had it done. The motor mods list is an impressive one but you'll never know who installed them and if it was done properly.
This is JMHO so take it or leave it. Ask anybody who knows me, especially my wife, and they'll tell you I'm OC to a fault about my vettes. I bought my second '02 coupe this spring and it was almost perfect with 6700 on it - it had to be for me to buy it.
Best of luck in your search.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 69
From: Hanover MA.
He should have spent a little more time with the exhaust tip alignment. With something so obvious, I would wonder how much time was spent installing some of the unseen mods. Personally, I would stay clear of this one.
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 55
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I see a few things immediately that would warn me off that car. First, his exhaust tips are badly misaligned, plus, they're dirty. Not a sign of a well-maintained car - especially one with only 22K on the odo. The photographer has avoided any rear shots that would obviously show that.
Second, new tires with only 22K also makes me wonder if this car has seen a lot of drag racing. Third, the interior is a lot dirtier than a car of that level of modification and attention should be, IMO. Most guys I know who put that kind of money and time into a car are pretty good about keeping it looking sharp.
Fourth, I'd want a lot more info about the suspension. Lowering like that can easily be done for just a few bucks on a C5. Remove the front bolts and put longer ones in the rear and you're good to go. Fifth, I'm not very impressed with how they outfitted the engine bay. Spend all that money on LG hardware but put a low-end CAI on? Doesn't cut it, IMO. It doesn't look bad but it doesn't look like $30K in mods either. If you include all the body work and wheels/tires, then, yes but I would have done a lot more than that with $30K.
The seller is a dealer who doesn't seem to prep his offerings particularly well and that alone would steer me away. Judging by his descriptions of the Z's features, I'd guess he's not especially familiar with C5's. He doesn't give any details of the diff ratio or level Dynatech built it to. As far as the money invested, hard to say what someone may have put into it not knowing if they did the work themselves or had it done. The motor mods list is an impressive one but you'll never know who installed them and if it was done properly.
This is JMHO so take it or leave it. Ask anybody who knows me, especially my wife, and they'll tell you I'm OC to a fault about my vettes. I bought my second '02 coupe this spring and it was almost perfect with 6700 on it - it had to be for me to buy it.
Best of luck in your search.
Second, new tires with only 22K also makes me wonder if this car has seen a lot of drag racing. Third, the interior is a lot dirtier than a car of that level of modification and attention should be, IMO. Most guys I know who put that kind of money and time into a car are pretty good about keeping it looking sharp.
Fourth, I'd want a lot more info about the suspension. Lowering like that can easily be done for just a few bucks on a C5. Remove the front bolts and put longer ones in the rear and you're good to go. Fifth, I'm not very impressed with how they outfitted the engine bay. Spend all that money on LG hardware but put a low-end CAI on? Doesn't cut it, IMO. It doesn't look bad but it doesn't look like $30K in mods either. If you include all the body work and wheels/tires, then, yes but I would have done a lot more than that with $30K.
The seller is a dealer who doesn't seem to prep his offerings particularly well and that alone would steer me away. Judging by his descriptions of the Z's features, I'd guess he's not especially familiar with C5's. He doesn't give any details of the diff ratio or level Dynatech built it to. As far as the money invested, hard to say what someone may have put into it not knowing if they did the work themselves or had it done. The motor mods list is an impressive one but you'll never know who installed them and if it was done properly.
This is JMHO so take it or leave it. Ask anybody who knows me, especially my wife, and they'll tell you I'm OC to a fault about my vettes. I bought my second '02 coupe this spring and it was almost perfect with 6700 on it - it had to be for me to buy it.
Best of luck in your search.
And thanks to everyone else for their input and well wishes on my search!
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,333
Likes: 6
From: Louisville Kentucky
I see a few things immediately that would warn me off that car. First, his exhaust tips are badly misaligned, plus, they're dirty. Not a sign of a well-maintained car - especially one with only 22K on the odo. The photographer has avoided any rear shots that would obviously show that.
Second, new tires with only 22K also makes me wonder if this car has seen a lot of drag racing. Third, the interior is a lot dirtier than a car of that level of modification and attention should be, IMO. Most guys I know who put that kind of money and time into a car are pretty good about keeping it looking sharp.
Fourth, I'd want a lot more info about the suspension. Lowering like that can easily be done for just a few bucks on a C5. Remove the front bolts and put longer ones in the rear and you're good to go. Fifth, I'm not very impressed with how they outfitted the engine bay. Spend all that money on LG hardware but put a low-end CAI on? Doesn't cut it, IMO. It doesn't look bad but it doesn't look like $30K in mods either. If you include all the body work and wheels/tires, then, yes but I would have done a lot more than that with $30K.
The seller is a dealer who doesn't seem to prep his offerings particularly well and that alone would steer me away. Judging by his descriptions of the Z's features, I'd guess he's not especially familiar with C5's. He doesn't give any details of the diff ratio or level Dynatech built it to. As far as the money invested, hard to say what someone may have put into it not knowing if they did the work themselves or had it done. The motor mods list is an impressive one but you'll never know who installed them and if it was done properly.
This is JMHO so take it or leave it. Ask anybody who knows me, especially my wife, and they'll tell you I'm OC to a fault about my vettes. I bought my second '02 coupe this spring and it was almost perfect with 6700 on it - it had to be for me to buy it.
Best of luck in your search.
Second, new tires with only 22K also makes me wonder if this car has seen a lot of drag racing. Third, the interior is a lot dirtier than a car of that level of modification and attention should be, IMO. Most guys I know who put that kind of money and time into a car are pretty good about keeping it looking sharp.
Fourth, I'd want a lot more info about the suspension. Lowering like that can easily be done for just a few bucks on a C5. Remove the front bolts and put longer ones in the rear and you're good to go. Fifth, I'm not very impressed with how they outfitted the engine bay. Spend all that money on LG hardware but put a low-end CAI on? Doesn't cut it, IMO. It doesn't look bad but it doesn't look like $30K in mods either. If you include all the body work and wheels/tires, then, yes but I would have done a lot more than that with $30K.
The seller is a dealer who doesn't seem to prep his offerings particularly well and that alone would steer me away. Judging by his descriptions of the Z's features, I'd guess he's not especially familiar with C5's. He doesn't give any details of the diff ratio or level Dynatech built it to. As far as the money invested, hard to say what someone may have put into it not knowing if they did the work themselves or had it done. The motor mods list is an impressive one but you'll never know who installed them and if it was done properly.
This is JMHO so take it or leave it. Ask anybody who knows me, especially my wife, and they'll tell you I'm OC to a fault about my vettes. I bought my second '02 coupe this spring and it was almost perfect with 6700 on it - it had to be for me to buy it.
Best of luck in your search.
Especially the part about the appearance and how used the interior looks.