Looking to Buy a C5
Racer
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 393
Likes: 0
From: Bristow VA
Lots of good info in this thread.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-tech/2437227-purchased-a-used-corvette-what-should-i-have-inspected.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-tech/2437227-purchased-a-used-corvette-what-should-i-have-inspected.html
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
1) look for a car you can afford
2) Some will tell you to get one with low miles, honestly it does not matter some people on here have C5 with 300k
3) look at the condition of the car over all that might tell you how good the car was taken care of.
4) Are you financing the car? If so you will need to look at a corvette that is a 2002 and up... Some banks will be a 2003 and up.
(you can buy one from toy store corvette in largo, FL or buyavette.com but becareful when dealing with them... Not because they are bad dealerships, because the finance will kill you... They have a special programs to finance a 1997 although with the money you invested you could get a C6.)
Finally find a car that you love... It is a huge step up from a C4.....
2) Some will tell you to get one with low miles, honestly it does not matter some people on here have C5 with 300k
3) look at the condition of the car over all that might tell you how good the car was taken care of.
4) Are you financing the car? If so you will need to look at a corvette that is a 2002 and up... Some banks will be a 2003 and up.
(you can buy one from toy store corvette in largo, FL or buyavette.com but becareful when dealing with them... Not because they are bad dealerships, because the finance will kill you... They have a special programs to finance a 1997 although with the money you invested you could get a C6.)
Finally find a car that you love... It is a huge step up from a C4.....
Racer
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 393
Likes: 0
From: Bristow VA
I was going to get a 1998 and the bank said 36 months was the most they would do until they found out that I had a 2006 Colorado as my main vehicle and this was a "collectors car" then they went up to 60 months at the same interest rate no questions asked.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 21,766
Likes: 25
From: The artist formally known as NONO5.0 Mobile, Al
Ask if the column lock bypass has been done. If not, do it. Check the headlights to make sure they work ok. If not, the gears are an easy fix. Check to see if all the lights on the a/c unit work. (easy fix as well) Check the oil gauge and see if its pegged out. Ask about oil consumption. Check the rear end for any leaks. Check the DIC for current and history codes. These are the ones that stick out in my head.
Good luck and congrats on becoming a C5 owner soon. They do have issues like above, but they're really great cars and VERY easy to work on.
Good luck and congrats on becoming a C5 owner soon. They do have issues like above, but they're really great cars and VERY easy to work on.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
From: OMAHA NE
Thank you all for the heads up. Have owned my 96 since new, never had any problems other than not driven enough and battery dies. Finally got advice from a neighbor in a Camero club to buy a battery maintance device. Plugs into the cigarette lighter or connected permamently to battery. Very cheap fix $20-$30. Works great, does not have to be turned on to work, just plugged into AC. Before tried to use battery charger, but never remembered to turn on offen enough. Thanks again. PS. What is a column Lock bypass do?
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
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Good luck finding a very nice car to buy. I've got some Word files that may help you out, including a Corvette Buyers Checklist. If you would like a copy of the files, just PM me your e-mail address and I'll send them to you.
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