Very good advice!! pic of '69??!!
Which C5 is best
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Joined: Jun 2009
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From: Portage Indiana
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,928
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From: Port Saint Lucie, Florida
The best C5
Hi
The best year is of course the 2002 because very little was done after it.
I would look for the lowest mileage and pristine one that you can find. A convertible would be the way to go if you want to hold your vettes value.
Bone stock with no Mod's and keep away from metallic colors because it's very hard to touch it up.
Look for a garage queen because the queens are low mileage and dollar for dollar the best buy. The only loser is the owner of the garage queen.
Don't knock the automatic tranny it's light years from what you know and used to.
And as far as dollars and cents look at the vette first and drive it and then decide about the money issues.
Good Luck
The best year is of course the 2002 because very little was done after it.
I would look for the lowest mileage and pristine one that you can find. A convertible would be the way to go if you want to hold your vettes value.
Bone stock with no Mod's and keep away from metallic colors because it's very hard to touch it up.
Look for a garage queen because the queens are low mileage and dollar for dollar the best buy. The only loser is the owner of the garage queen.
Don't knock the automatic tranny it's light years from what you know and used to.
And as far as dollars and cents look at the vette first and drive it and then decide about the money issues.
Good Luck
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: May 2007
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From: Machineguns, because I don’t compromise
Z16's made up 33% of the 2004 production so other than the carbon hood.... the stripe kills it for me.
With the fueling system of the late '03... all '04... NO.
I'd prefer a 2002 to early '03 and change the valve springs for peace of mind.
(I personally own a 2001 Zo6 with the engine in a million pieces, being improved)
Reality check: if he's willing to part with a '69 427, he sure as hell isn't concerned with longevity, since he's sitting on the BEST future jewel. If his car is crap (non-matching/hacked to death/fake/severe accident/no title/etc) that's a different story.
Good luck with your C5, If I had your BB '69, I'd sit on the asset and buy a C5 in addition, but not as a sale of 69/then purchase a C5..
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 5,109
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From: Chicago IL
Any 01 and up Z06, dont worry about the "HP gain" they were all 400hp cars, my stock 01 Z ran 12.3 at 115 on street tires on a 80 degree day with 2.0 60 ft's, the HP difference was more marketing by GM, they all performed the same, unless you want hud(which GM said couldnt be put on the 01 Z06 because the glass was to thin(all BS
) any 01 or later Z, is the way to go, i like my 06 Z, but god I miss that 01 car.
) any 01 or later Z, is the way to go, i like my 06 Z, but god I miss that 01 car.
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Joined: Nov 2009
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From: Fort Worth TX
I picked up a 99 vette well kept 65k miles for $16,000. All the money I saved can go to modding it and having fun! I miss the dual climate control and the heated seats my dads 02 had though. Then again I live in TX, I am fine with the windows down and ladies lookin!
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 769
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From: Zahnd Indiana
As I thought a common sense approach. I don't have to get rid of the 69 I do know what I have, the car is good runner, looks good, could us a bit of a face; lift nothing major. Just thinking about it, some times change is good. I know why I should keep it, let ask another question why would you keep it if you had one?
But if you go c5, the 2001 coupe and up have 5 more HP! wow! hold ya hat on. and some other things that they did to make it alittle more quiet.
the 2002 z06 in electron blue is a head turner for anyone that knows cars, but chicks don't care.....
depends on how much you wana spend. and what you're going for. I'm sure you could even find a supercharged c5 out there with a bunch of stuff done to it on here for under 20,000 that would smoke a stock z06 and you can still take the top off.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 769
Likes: 2
From: Zahnd Indiana
Any 01 and up Z06, dont worry about the "HP gain" they were all 400hp cars, my stock 01 Z ran 12.3 at 115 on street tires on a 80 degree day with 2.0 60 ft's, the HP difference was more marketing by GM, they all performed the same, unless you want hud(which GM said couldnt be put on the 01 Z06 because the glass was to thin(all BS) any 01 or later Z, is the way to go, i like my 06 Z, but god I miss that 01 car.
) any 01 or later Z, is the way to go, i like my 06 Z, but god I miss that 01 car.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 5,280
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From: PALM COAST Flordia
Read through this thread:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...ngths-etc.html
Lots of good information in there.
The standard, and best, answer is to buy the newest/lowest milage car that you can afford. There were a few improvements over the years, but nothing that would change my mind about buying a well cared for '97 over any onther C5 year.
Man, if I were youi, I'd keep that '69 if at all possible!!!
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...ngths-etc.html
Lots of good information in there.
The standard, and best, answer is to buy the newest/lowest milage car that you can afford. There were a few improvements over the years, but nothing that would change my mind about buying a well cared for '97 over any onther C5 year.
Man, if I were youi, I'd keep that '69 if at all possible!!!
keep the 69 for sure
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
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Ever drive a big block C3??? Any C3?? The big blocks were nose heavy and tended to run HOTTER than small block C3's. They tended not to handle as well as the small blocks and got even warmer in the passenger compartment. Your current Z will spank that old C3 any day of the week and you have a trunk.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,361
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From: Dallas Texas
St. Jude Donor '08
Yeah...few of these threads are wrong...it was 01 that the LS1 went from 345 to 350hp. It was 00 that they started Heads Up Display (HUD) which I highly recommend. It was 02 Z06 for first HUD. In 01 they got the extra 5hp by swapping the old intake with the same LS6 Z06 Intake...
So yes...I would recommend 01 and up LS1's or 02 and up LS6's.
So yes...I would recommend 01 and up LS1's or 02 and up LS6's.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
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Ever drive a big block C3??? Any C3?? The big blocks were nose heavy and tended to run HOTTER than small block C3's. They tended not to handle as well as the small blocks and got even warmer in the passenger compartment. Your current Z will spank that old C3 any day of the week and you have a trunk.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Rack City
2015 C5 of Year Finalist
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Joined: Nov 2009
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From: Houston TX
can any one explain where the difference in power ratings came from between 2001 and 2002?
pretty sure this is what hes talking about, recent thread going on too
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...or-smells.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...or-smells.html