New guy here, first of all id like to say this forum is amazing, I have been in love with corvettes for a while and i must spend a hour or two every morning for the past couple months reading info on c5's. Such a vast amount of knowledge and great people so thankyou for that guys.

I am younger then most of you guys, just turned 20, and thinking a vette is just what I need at this point, hopefully this month! I am kinda curious of what yall spend on just regular maintenance, doing it yourself ofcourse. I am confident I can afford the car payments and insurance, still have to check but I have an idea, but not sure if repairs and preventative things rack up a big bill.

I have about 5k in the bank right now and pull in around 450 a week, but will be getting a $3.30/hr bump here soon, so I have enough for a decent down payment. I see it right now as I have a few choices, unsure what would be the best route. Im heavily debating selling my sportbike, 02 gsxr 750, and using that towards maybe a supercharged c5 or just a nicer c5, those seem to go as low as 20k.

I could also just sell the bike and use that to a relatively nice c5 in the 13-17k range and get it all paid off in a year or less, im thinking this is the most logical route and would probably be best, but the thought of a sc c5 drives me insane.

Or I could just keep the bike and buy a 13-17k c5 and call it good!

The only downside to the bike is here in Nebraska its either too hot or too cold, a lot of rain so not much riding time. Also the city I go through on my way to work is notorious for stopping sportbikes and giving them any and every ticket possible, I have been on the receiving end of it but my record is clear.

I do believe I am responsible enough to own a nice fast car, and I just want something nicer in my life not to mention putting my brother with a 03 mustang gt to shame.

So what do you guys think would be the best option for me, im not going to just do whatever because I cant decide so any advice would be greatly appreciated, even if its something else or saying I cant afford it or to wait till I can just buy one cash but I much rather get one asap.

Thankyou very much
John

 

If you are mind set in the corvette buy one just play around with it being stock to see if it is the real car for you. Then if so save your money and then welcome to the dark side with F/I.

 

Well, at 20 and I'm assuming this will be your daily driver-I would not pop for the Vette. None of the Vettes I've had over the years were ever my DD-too funky to drive in the rain and worse in the snow. Not to mention $1000 for tires and premium fuel make it a poor choice for a young guy's DD-might want to price the insurance too before you dive in.

 

You have to realize that on a 7-14 year old car, things are going to go wrong. That is a fact. There is always the possibility for a lot of little things to continually nickel and dime you, i.e. steering wheel position sensor ($400 repair), oil pressure sensor ($300 repair), etc. Like stated previously, figure $600-700 minimum for tires as well.

With that being said, the Vette is a great DD. It's comfortable and actually gets decent gas mileage. However, snow is a different story. If you don't have winter car, I wouldn't even think about the Vette.

 

I agree with the voice of reason -

 

Normal maintenance is not bad on a Vette - really not much to do. It's the unforeseen stuff that may get you - especially on a car that could be up to 14 years old.

 

I bought my C5 when I was 26 and used it as a daily driver for 3 years. The maintenance really hasn't been bad, and I recently started doing the work myself which isn't as intimidating as I thought it would be. Until I lowered the car I really didn't have much trouble in the snow, that having been said I would take the bus where there were heavier storms!

My advice would be this:

1) Don't leave it parked outdoors

2) Don't get a supercharged C5, buy one stock if you can and then have the work done yourself or by a trusted shop

Hope this helps!

 

I would agree with everyone else's opinion so far.

1. Your going to get hammered on insurance at your age. It'll be like having to Vette payments.
2. Sell your bike and buy a cheap dependible DD. I own a 98 Camry for my DD I'm not saying a Vette can't be a DD I just choose not to use mine for that. The daily drive would be fine. It's the public parking at work that kills me to no end.
3. Having a DD other then your Vette and claiming such on insurance will help somewhat.

You can also do what I did. Dont buy one until you can pay cash for it.

 

I'm 18 and bought my first corvette, you will love it! I wouldn't reccommend getting a supercharged c5 because being young it would be much better money spent getting the stock engine and doing mod yourself (more reliable) and you don't want to be having to make a payment on a car that cracked its block due to a supercharger. I also wouldn't sell your bike either though I had to keep my 07 gsxr 600, love it to much haha. Z06 is going to cost you more money + since your age it will also cost more for insurace, quite a bit if I remmber getting the quotes. Go with a base 2002-2004 c5, it will put the mustang to shame and you will have no regrets, also you will love the targa top since you are a motorcycle rider, nothing is like the open air in a coupe designed body.

 

The maintenance is not much more than a regular car if you get one with low miles. Get insurance quotes before you decide anything. For a DD you do not need a FI car get a stock one and wait to upgrade when you save $6K to do it.Sell the bike pay cash for what you can afford it is possible to get a nice C5 cheap. A guy in my club just got a nice 98 with 20k mi for $10k( he stole it IMHO).

 

I bought my vette last summer right when I turned 21. I am very picky about mine so I do not drive it in the rain and I keep it covered all winter long. I think you are going to need another car to drive daily. I paid $15,700 for mine with $6,000 down and my payment is $300 a month on a 3 year loan. You have to remember that insurance will most likely be $250 to $300 a month and sales tax could be $1,000 or more. My dad owns a shop so I fix my vette myself but the tires are very expensive and with a car with this much technology there are a lot of random expensive things that can go wrong but as far as normal maintenance it is not really more expensive than an average car. Keep the bike, Buy the vette, and buy a cheap $3,000 DD. Goodluck bro! Post your decision

 

Where do you live and what have you done to deserve paying 250-300 a month on car insurance for a C5?

 

I'm 22 I own a 2002 Corvette. For me no problems, I also work on the car myself. Daily driver, but I'm in California, driven it rain or shine.

 

I live in Minnesota, I am actually an auto mechanic but I am in my third year of college right now. I work all the time I can but I have a wicked deal on my insurance due to a large amount of cars on the policy and it is insured through a business. haha I could not afford an extra $300 a month on top of the payment and other bills. I guess I don't really know what insurance would be if I was in a typical situation but I don't even want to know what the insurance on a corvette would be for an average 21 year old!

 

I could EASILY see insurance being $200+ a month for a 21 yr old. To the OP, definitely call and get quotes BEFORE your purchase a car so you don't get in over your head.

 

I already have a DD or else I wouldn't even think about a vette lol. Also kinda need a DD to own a bike in nebraska At this point id starve if it got me in a c5 I love them to death. I was in a huge decision between a c5 and a ws6, love the front ends of a ws6 and thought a c5 would kill me on price and insurance but from what ive looked its not too bad and the price isn't 30k like everybody seems to think, you guys got a nice secret going on haha.

Me my brother and his gf are getting a place soon too and defiantly will have a garage, I couldn't ever imagine parking a c5 outside while I sleep or something, I could deal with it at work. Im looking for no more then 1 weeks paycheck on rent/bills then maybe a paycheck and a half on vette payments/insurance which still leaves me with enough for other bs.

I must admit I am in love with a targa top EB c5, but seems others are too so they go for a premium price and all have low miles >.< I am going to try and stick to a 01-02, obviously id settle for a 99-00 if the price is right but defiantly don't wan to venture into 97-98 due to early run or 03-04 due to retarded fuel system issues. I did think about the fact if I do the sc route myself I know exactly whats going on and when so yea for something im making payments on stock is defiantly better then when payed off I can go FI. 200 a month is a small price to pay for a dream car!

My record is 100% clean now, have a careless driving ticket that I took stop class for so it can't count against my insurance from what I understand. I may also have someone older listed as a driver to reduce insurance if I can.

Seems you guys are good at helping out members looking for cars so if I find one in someones area but its a distance from me I may ask someone to look at it for me. I appreciate all the help and defiantly appreciate everybody giving the go for it. Going to start looking at insurance quotes now and hit up the bank here soon and see what I can get going on! Probably try and sell the bike AND look for a vette, once I sell the bike throw the money onto the vette loan.

If I get a vette I forsee my dad spending a heck of a lot of money to outdo me! Heck I beat him on the xbox360 and he went and spent 1k on a ps3 and games that ive never played before just to even the field a bit back. Good clean fun.

Thankyou for all the help and hope to be a c5 driver very very soon!
John

*edit*
Just did a online quote with geico for a 02 vette as pleasure and my 93 sable as primary and it came out to be 158/mo. Full coverage on both, I'm not sure how that's even possible, I know I did everything correctly. Multi car discount is $110 so thats a chunk. Maybe its true but im thinking its not, going to have to call when I find one I want to get a better rundown. I know at the moment the 93 sable is 70/mo liability for me with my dad on it too but thats with a extremely expensive insurance company and my dad thinks he's getting a steal but its one of his friends.

 

Well just as I was about to post on here to wtb a c5 someones going to sell me a 04 zx10r modded with cams and some other stuff, dyno at 192, for 5.5k so I think im going to go after that and get a c5 once I sell my gsxr. Thanks for all the help tho!

 

well seems like you have made up you mind but ill just give you what i know
i am about to be 22. ive had my 2001 coupe for about 1.5 years now..
its the best thing i have ever done.. PERIOD. it is my DD
it has had a few small problems.. but nothing that this website hasnt shown me how to fix myself. (Thank you all!!)
my insurance is 135ish a month for full coverage (geico) thats with a 28mph over speeding ticket.. nothing else.

if you can afford it and what a good car, its the way to go, but dont put yourself in a sticky situation.. when i first bought it, for the first 6 months i was not on this website. i paid for multiple oil changes, touch up painting, oil pressure sensors, column lock.. blah blah blah... so it was EXPSENSIVE at first and i put myself in a bad spot..

so if you decide to get the vette route, be ready for anything..

have fun and good luck with whatever chioce you make

Matt

 

Well nothing will change I still will get a c5, just once I sell my gixxer. Ive wanted a 10r since I started riding a bike and was going to buy one for a first bike but 4k/yr full coverage at 17 was to much haha. When I looked at geico it was 150 for my sable n a vette. the 10r will be 45/mo.

Im trying to avoid sticky situations but temptations are very hard too. Hopefully I can survive another month or two. If anything I can resell the 10r for a profit. Assuming the guy doesnt sell it this weekend he's giving me a deal on monday. But I for sure will be getting a c5 asap! Just a deal like this on a bike ive wanted is hard to say no to.