scared to buy C5
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 351
Likes: 1
From: Laurel Maryland
St. Jude Donor '11
scared to buy C5
Just sold my wonderful C3 1975 coupe 4 speed, Have searched forever for the perfect C5 and finally found an awsome 2001 automatic coupe that I had planned to travel by train to pick up this weekend and drive home but after reading things on this forum about little things that go wrong and costs alot to fix it seems like a bad idea. There seems to be alot of electronic problems that plague the C5. Now I am thinking twice about spending 17900 for the car. I would love to get it but scared to take a chance and end up with alot of costly repairs. Dont know what to do.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,903
Likes: 1
From: You know your drunk when you swerve to miss the tree then you realize its your air freshener! Covington Ga
I've had my 01 for 3 years and never had a single problem. Most things that go wrong can be fixed using one of the DIY on here. Every car has its problems.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 388
Likes: 0
From: Effingham IL
Most problems on the c5 are costly at the dealership to repair. But with the help of this forum it is not difficult to service it yourself and save. My buddy sent his c3 to shop for brakes $1,711.00 I did mine on my c5 for under 400.00 The C5 is a great car just make shure its what you want and go for it. Bye the way I havent had one lick of trouble out of my 01
Pro
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 660
Likes: 16
From: Tustin California
I've had my 2000 coupe since new and only needed brakes, tires, and headlight gears. The supercharger along with a sh*t load of other mods have been added and the car has been more trouble free than my 68 vette. Just do it !
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 58,501
Likes: 1,827
From: Oklahoma City OK
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
I've had a 98 coupe and a 04 couple and haven't had a bit of trouble with either one of them. You certainly can read about a lot of little problems on a forum but what people don't write about is when things are good!
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 11,204
Likes: 1,139
From: Santa Rosa Beach FL
by SCM crash
You hear about planes crashing more than you hear about them landing
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Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
I have to be honest, here....
I wish I could say the same. Here's my list:
1) Pulsating brakes - fixed by buying slotted rotors
2) Door lock module - replaced under warranty
3) Horn malfunction - bad ground connection
4) Differential gasket leaks (2) fixed under extended warranty - leak seems to be returning
5) Column lock actuator failure - installed Column lock bypass
6) EBCM failure- sent out for repair ($150)
7) HVAC readout failure - resoldered resistors after pulling PCAs out of dash
8) C1242 code - still trying to fix - no ABS, Active handling or traction control
Now, hopefully, many of these things have been fixed if the 01 were well maintained. However, some electronics fixes are extremely expensive if done by the dealership. This is true of C4s but then again there are fewer CPUs and other electronic stuff to worry about. C6s have more gizmos.
I just want you to know that it wouldn't be like buying a Honda Civic. Always have some spare cash around when buying a vehicle that was expensive when brand new.
1) Pulsating brakes - fixed by buying slotted rotors
2) Door lock module - replaced under warranty
3) Horn malfunction - bad ground connection
4) Differential gasket leaks (2) fixed under extended warranty - leak seems to be returning
5) Column lock actuator failure - installed Column lock bypass
6) EBCM failure- sent out for repair ($150)
7) HVAC readout failure - resoldered resistors after pulling PCAs out of dash
8) C1242 code - still trying to fix - no ABS, Active handling or traction control
Now, hopefully, many of these things have been fixed if the 01 were well maintained. However, some electronics fixes are extremely expensive if done by the dealership. This is true of C4s but then again there are fewer CPUs and other electronic stuff to worry about. C6s have more gizmos.
I just want you to know that it wouldn't be like buying a Honda Civic. Always have some spare cash around when buying a vehicle that was expensive when brand new.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,953
Likes: 4
From: either, ca/ohio
Just sold my wonderful C3 1975 coupe 4 speed, Have searched forever for the perfect C5 and finally found an awsome 2001 automatic coupe that I had planned to travel by train to pick up this weekend and drive home but after reading things on this forum about little things that go wrong and costs alot to fix it seems like a bad idea. There seems to be alot of electronic problems that plague the C5. Now I am thinking twice about spending 17900 for the car. I would love to get it but scared to take a chance and end up with alot of costly repairs. Dont know what to do.
Racer
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 250
Likes: 1
From: MA
I drove 2 1975 4 speeds, a coupe and a vert before I settled on a 2001 MN6 coupe. The cars are night and day difference. The '75s were sloppy and slow. Just look for the lowest mileage and best kept and do it.
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,429
Likes: 19
From: Northern CA
St. Jude Donor '10-'12, '25
I've had my 2001 for 1-1/2 years now. No problems except for the EBCM module that I have to send in to fix. I agree with everyone else, "Stealership" fixes cost $$$$$, but if you're a DIYer it will cost you between $-$$. The biggest problem is the mod bug...and I have it! 
imavettegirl is correct, "That's a lot for a 2001 automatic"!
imavettegirl is correct, "That's a lot for a 2001 automatic"!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 351
Likes: 1
From: Laurel Maryland
St. Jude Donor '11
I have been looking for two months everywhere and this is actually a great price. Most are 20 plus. I just wonder if I should wait one month and go to Carlisle since it is only 2 hours from me. May be better prices there.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,450
Likes: 140
From: Palm Beach Florida
You want to get scared, buy a BMW. The C5 is a cheap keep trust me. I have had 3 and a C6Z. Then I bought a 750 BMW for the family. There is almost nothing you can do yourself on that car, and it had very expensive issues. Like 9000 dollars for a trans if your out of warranty. Every part even the battery has to be paired w/ the car. Only BMW can do it. That is scary. There is almost nothing you can't do yourself if you wanted on the C5. There is alot of help and alot of shops that work on vettes. There is nothing that will break the bank on a C5. Forums show alot of problems but the majority have few problems, but why would you post that?? The c5 is a cheap fix and a fun car, just do it.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 30,563
Likes: 4,609
From: Bonita Springs, Florida
4 1/2 years with my '99 and no problems. My wife and I each have had several C5's with little to no problems. I had a '74 for many years and it was relatively trouble free as well, a few normal things. Same with my wife's '82. But they did not perform like a C5, not even close. Just make sure you find a well cared for low mileage C5 and you will be very happy.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 413
Likes: 1
From: Simi Valley CA
I wouldn't worry to much about the problems with the C5. The problems you read about on the forum are being experienced alright. But, from a lot of different cars not just one C5. By reading the forum you are getting a heads up on what can happen and usually how to fix the problem if it does happen to you. I've had two 1998 C5's. One had the leaking battery problem and pulsating brakes that was about it.
The C5 I have now on the other hand never had the battery problem, It did however have the fuel gauge problem. That was about all the problems, I've had with it. I've replaced the battery and tires and of course oil changes. Nothing more than any other car that I've owned.
I've had it going on seven years now and have been very happy with it. I drove it on a two thousand mile trip a few years ago and it ran great and got about 30 MPG.
The only real money, I had to spend on it was because of mods. Once you start the mods, it's very hard to stop at just one.
The C5 I have now on the other hand never had the battery problem, It did however have the fuel gauge problem. That was about all the problems, I've had with it. I've replaced the battery and tires and of course oil changes. Nothing more than any other car that I've owned.
I've had it going on seven years now and have been very happy with it. I drove it on a two thousand mile trip a few years ago and it ran great and got about 30 MPG.
The only real money, I had to spend on it was because of mods. Once you start the mods, it's very hard to stop at just one.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 3,725
Likes: 53
From: Warrington Pa.
I've had my 2000 since 2001 and had one minor problem and fixed it with the help of Bill Curlees sticky in the tech section. Go for it, if you have a problem ask for help. There's a lot of guys here that know C-5's inside and out and are more than willing to help. Bill
Racer
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 491
Likes: 6
From: Dallas Texas
Costly if you go to an F-in dealership. I won't ever go back to a dealership to get anything worked on with my car. I would say buy it if you like it and know you'll be happy with it. In almost 3 yrs of owning a c5. The only thing that went wrong was the headlight gear went out and the passenger window wouldn't roll down. Not expensive fixes at all. My advice is if anything goes wrong DON'T take it to a dealership. It'll save you alot of money.