Where do you look for cheap C5's?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 627
Likes: 33
From: Omaha NE
Where do you look for cheap C5's?
So I know there are people out there who troll constantly for the best deals on Corvettes, and I'm one of them! What I'm wondering is where all do you look? I spend most of my time on here, but I also check autotrader, ebay, and craigslist. Are there other sites out there that you recommend? I know there are other corvette sites but most seem to be very slow and out dated. I'm a bargain hunter like most others, so where can I find em!?!?
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,600
Likes: 2
From: Outer banks North Carolina
You will get what you pay for! A bargain Vette may cost you big dollars to bring it to a standard that is acceptable. I just purchased a "99" coupe that is close to show quality but I paid more for it than some newer cars I looked at over the last few months. It is all up to what you want but some of these so called bargains will cost you more in the long run. I am on my 19th Corvette over the last 43 years and I know what I'm talking about! Be carefull with "bargains"...
Old Dave
Old Dave
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,616
Likes: 11
From: Newport, RI
I think you're on the right track. Just keep trolling and looking. Find someone who actually wants to sell, not someone who's just "testing the waters" or whatever. A motivated seller is the absolute key to a reasonable deal.
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Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 11,992
Likes: 1,331
From: Middletown, DE
Ebay, Autotrader, Cars.com, this Forum, etc. are all good. I have typically had good luck with getting quality used cars cheap by adhering to the following:
I don't know your budget, but $14.5K got me the car in my pix. I have been very happy with it -- a pristine '99 with 73K miles and a lot of very tasteful and good quality mods. I searched for about 4 months and got it on Ebay.
I don't know your budget, but $14.5K got me the car in my pix. I have been very happy with it -- a pristine '99 with 73K miles and a lot of very tasteful and good quality mods. I searched for about 4 months and got it on Ebay.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 10,179
Likes: 2,306
From: Wesley Chapel, FL Las Vegas, NV
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Race Director
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Wesley Chapel, FL Las Vegas, NV
You need to get the lowest mileage latest model you can afford... Don't forget insurance.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 623
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From: SpringHill Florida
You sometimes get what you pay for but there are some good low priced cars out there.
Most of these cars look great because we are constantly upgrading and yes replacing the cheap quality plastic junk trim parts that make or break the look.
Most of these cars look great because we are constantly upgrading and yes replacing the cheap quality plastic junk trim parts that make or break the look.
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The C5's for Sale here on the forum offer some good bargains. Local or regional magazines that feature cars for sale can be a good source too.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 262
Likes: 0
From: Clearwater FL
Got mine for $10,700 off eBay, and that's including $1000 to ship it here from California.
116k miles when I bought it, but the trans and HVAC unit were replaced at 100k miles... and those are really the only two things I was worrying about with mileage. I've put about 2k miles on it in the last 2 months without any issues.
Had a little bit of paint missing on the front bumper cover and a scratch under the passenger door. Driver rear quarter doesn't match because it was keyed and re-painted at the dealer, and they didn't match it perfect... however I can see this Fairway Green being pretty hard to match with all of the gold flake in it. You can't tell from some angles/lighting, but others you can see it easily.
Lowered it and installed $300 shocks, and I'm happy as can be. Now, to only convince the fiance to let me buy the C6Z51 bars from Gene..
Is my car perfect? No... am I glad I didn't pay $18k for it? Hell yes..
116k miles when I bought it, but the trans and HVAC unit were replaced at 100k miles... and those are really the only two things I was worrying about with mileage. I've put about 2k miles on it in the last 2 months without any issues.
Had a little bit of paint missing on the front bumper cover and a scratch under the passenger door. Driver rear quarter doesn't match because it was keyed and re-painted at the dealer, and they didn't match it perfect... however I can see this Fairway Green being pretty hard to match with all of the gold flake in it. You can't tell from some angles/lighting, but others you can see it easily.
Lowered it and installed $300 shocks, and I'm happy as can be. Now, to only convince the fiance to let me buy the C6Z51 bars from Gene..
Is my car perfect? No... am I glad I didn't pay $18k for it? Hell yes..
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 15,685
Likes: 1,330
From: Machineguns, because I don’t compromise
^ Fairway Green is an EXTREMELY rare color!
I drove one once, when I first saw it I didn't think it was a factory color since I'd never seen one or heard about it before then.
Lucky find!
I drove one once, when I first saw it I didn't think it was a factory color since I'd never seen one or heard about it before then.
Lucky find!
Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 479
Likes: 2
From: Hollywood Maryland
No such thing as a cheap C5
Buyer beware. You get what you pay for. A fool and his money are soon departed. If it sounds like too good a deal, it isn't a good deal and so on. You have to know what you are buying, you have to know the C5 and all it's quirks. Do your research. You may get a 'cheap' deal and wind up putting thousands of dollars into the car just to get it running well. You need to look for a 'best value' car, one that's well maintained, in good condition, and fairly priced. Going cheap for cheap's sake is risky behavior with a C5 and could cost you a lot more than buying a fairly priced well maintained car. The drivetrain alone can cost thousands to repair/replace. Electrical, a/C, engine management, the engine etc also could set you back thousands to repair/replace. Suspension components and tires, a couple of thousand to replace especially if you have Active Handling. Besides why go 'cheap' when there are a lot of low mileage nice C5s for sale out there at very good prices right now.
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: Pinson Alabama
Sometimes this place has decent prices. It's near Atlanta. http://www.buyavette.net/
Here's another website: http://www.usedcorvettesforsale.com/...or-sale-5.html
Good luck in your search and hope you're in the driver's seat soon!
Here's another website: http://www.usedcorvettesforsale.com/...or-sale-5.html
Good luck in your search and hope you're in the driver's seat soon!
Racer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 263
Likes: 1
From: Andover KS
I gave $4000 for my 2000 6spd with ZO6 wheels. Of course it had a blown engine and bad BCM. Word of mouth from fellow car lovers gets me most of my great deals. Just put the word out on what your looking for, and it will find you. Patience...
