What would you rather do? Buy a C5 fully built(Forged engine, HC, FI, built transmission, suspension, wheels, etc) by someone else or buy one stock and build it up yourself? It's certainly much cheaper to take the former vs the latter but I'm curious what C5gen has to say on the topic.

For me specifically, I'm fighting with myself over the issue now. I have a '99 FRC worth realistically 15 - 17k IMO, and have 15k available that I had planned on spending on a blower, high end wheels, suspension, brakes, and some aesthetic upgrades. However, looking at C5 pricing I can replace my FRC with another C5 that already has everything above and then some for almost the same price.

 

I draw the line at oil changes and basic maintenance haha. I'm just not that mechanically inclined.

So I would take it to shop to be built, or buy it from someone that has had it built from a reputable shop most likely.

 

The only problem that I see buying a car that's already built is the fact that you don't know how it's been cared for or driven. Realistically, 15k isn't that much money for what you want to do unless you plan on doing most of the work yourself.

 

It's A LOT cheaper to buy a car already built by someone else. Like stated above, just make sure it's built by a reputable builder/tuner.

 

There's a real Lingenfelter Twin Turbo C5 with 3xk miles in the sale section for $27k firm.... the car cost $72k new.

 

Buy it built. Save thousands!!!.....and the forum "can be of great help"

Kind of long but true and verifiable forum story !

I purchased a o4 coupe w/stroked forged ls2 402 w/486 rwhp built and installed by A&A in oxnard, flt level 5 tranny, pfadt coil overs,vigilante torque convertor,cray wheels etc. etc.....it has it all, the owner spared no expense!!!........he paid 40k plus for the car new, he provided reciepts for 25k in alterations......plenty of vettes built as well and some even built better and stronger, I am sure ........ this is where this forum can be of great help.......if you find a vette for sale by a forum member and you like what you read in their sale add you can go back and check every post they have ever made, every thread they started, and go to thier profile and find some of their friends but you can really watch the car be built via their posts......that's what I did. Found an add on here that really got my attention, went back and read everything the seller ever said on this forum, checked out the vendors rep via the forum and then pm'd a half dozen of his friends and those that he had talked with via the forum a lot and they all pm'd me back and all spoke highly of the car but most important is that they spoke more of the stand up character of the seller........now I live in Fl and the seller and car where in SoCal.........anyway if you are thorough in your research you can find a professionaly modded vette and yep he admitted he gassed her some (if you buy a modded vette and the seller says he never gassed her-RUN) anyway be thorough, don't be bashful..... I paid 23 and change for a almost 70 k car with 36k miles on it..... so I said all that to say be patient, use the forum, and let someone else make all the investment that it takes to mod one of these beast right!!!!

 

I'd build it because that way you'd know exactly what it has in it.

 

Unless of course you have the knowledge and tools to do the build yourself.

 

I'd have more confidence in it this way. There are a lot of corners that can be cut doing major mods by people trying to minimize the cost.

If you don't do the work yourself, you know exactly who (what shop) did what.

 

Thanks for the responses so far everyone. I would do the work myself minus tuning. Keep the opinions coming

 

i like to tinker . if you are like me build it yourself.

 

But I bet it would still be cheaper to buy already built.

 

Build it!

You will have so much more pride in your car, and the self satisfaction is priceless!

 

I have done the more expensive route and like what I have done and would do it that way again. I have been the only one to enjoy my setup and I like hammering away at the go pedal

 

You can spend $15K building yours and you have an 11 year a old car with over $30K in it that worth about $20K

Or you can my a newer Vette with all the goodies for about $25K -$28K or so and keep the rest in your pocket for "just in case".


btw It would be real hard to do the list of what you want to do for anything close to $15K even doing the work yourself.

IMHO these are the bottom end #s

Forged $5K
H/C $3k
Blower $6K
Headers $1K
Tranny $2K
Clutch $1k
Wheels and Tires $3k
Suspension ????
Brakes????
Gauges???

$25K - $30K is more realistic.

With modding do your budget then Double it to get the real #.

been there done that more then once

 

 

Oh I know... I was figuring on only blower/guages, wheels/tires, upgraded stock brakes, and swaybars(coilovers if enough $$ was left over). I already have full exhaust and a Monster stage 4 clutch.

My thought was:
Blower/gauges/tune - $7000
Wheels/tires - $5000
Brakes/suspension - $3000 or whatever was left

I've messed with several cars before and have a decent concept of what things usually end up costing in real life.

 

If you buy just make sure you know the car. For Example a Forum car where the owner has a search-able built history.

 

Yes absolutely... any built car I would buy would have to have a very well-documented history.

 

I'd rather build it myself (or be the one having the shop build it). I'd just feel more comfortable knowing what went into the car and how it was treated.