This is my first post here. I was hoping to possibly finding a buyers guide sticky or something like that, so I wouldn't have to bother you all so soon.

I'm a long time Vette admirer but have never been fortunate enough to own one. I'm hoping to change that in the future but would like to become educated and knowledgeable enough, prior to becoming an owner, so as not to make a huge mistake I'll regret later.

I'm hoping to find a gently used, well cared for, C5 but I really don't know where to start. Are Corvettes, by nature, "money pits"? Is it silly to think that one could be owned and used as a daily driver? I typically work from home or fly for out of town business. I don't commute daily for work or other responsibilities. My wife's SUV would be used for long trips, etc.

Are there any specific, known issues to look for on used C5's? How many miles is a red flag? What are the specific maintenance items at certain mileage intervals to look for having been done or else expect to have to have it done after purchasing?

For example, if I were to search for a 2000 - 2002 model, with relatively low miles <=70k, what should I look out for?

I appreciate any feedback or links to good info in advance. I'm sure I'll have many more questions. I have found that forums like this are a wealth of information heading into purchasing and/or maintaining a vehicle. I hope to learn and even get to a point where I'm contributing more than I am taking away.

 

Well you have your foot in the door to really learn alot about all the different aspects of the C/5 Corvette.
From looking for one to purchase to maintainence, modding & selling.
Best advise I can give you is do like I did... Set back & read, obsorb
all the new & previous posts/threads in all the different areas.
That way you get a volumn of knowledge from A to Z.
Another words LURK here on the forum & learn.

I owned my Z for 3 or 4 years before I signed
on & posted up on the forum.
Up untill that point I just read & learned.

Good luck

 

check out the c5 for sale section also.
many ads mention known issues that were taken care of.

 

Depends on what you mean by money pit. If we're not working on them we're buying something for them. personally I've never seen a vette that didn't develop one problem or the other. Some claim to never have had any. Others have constant issues.

I will tell you what I was told as a new vette owner a few years ago. You have to able to do one of two things as a vette owner. Have money to spend at the shop, or be a able to do your own wrenching.

His advice has held true for me. But I've only had typical issues, nothing out of the ordinary that wasn't typical C5 issues.

vetteman Jack has a file he sends to a lot of new owners and those looking. I would send you mine but for some reason I haven't had any luck on sending them out. They won't transmit for some reason.

 

I started on here looking for a c4 and after a year of being on this site almost every day, i ended up buying an 04 z06. Big difference wouldnt you say !!! my point is hang around for a while and educate yourself. dont rush or you may buy the wrong car!!!!
JMO
Steve

 

Thanks for the quick replies so far. I have no problem wrenching on my own when practical. And I know how the mod bug can bite and bite the wallet. I'm really just trying to determine practicality of ownership to begin with. I really like to avoid expensive trips to dealer shops when I can. But, depending on the vehicle and the problem, there are some things I just can't or wouldn't handle on my own. I'm curious if there are things like "well, you have to take the top end apart, spend x amount of dollars, and spend y hours doing z every certain number of miles". Or, within reason, is it a fairly dependable driver that requires somewhat typical maint.?

I have already been reading through some of the classifieds and other posts. I have a forum I frequent for every vehicle I own, and they are all very helpful. I do intend to quite a bit of lurking. As I said, I was hoping to maybe find a "buyers guide sticky" or something like that to start with, and then just lurk for a while before asking stupid questions.

 

Yes, quite an upgrade I'd say. I am not in a rush (for a change). With other vehicles, I've sought online information after buying or even not until after having problems. But those experiences have taught me how valuable it is to get educated well in advance of even starting to seriously look.

My situation is this: I'm married, with 2 kids, and 1 starting college next year and another starting high school. I've driven a pickup the last 10 years but have owned a variety of other vehicles. A vette has never been a practical option for me. But with one kid already driving her own car and another starting soon (he'll be inheriting my current pickup), owning a Corvette is becoming a practical reality. I just bought my wife a new SUV ('11 Toyota 4Runner) this past year, so we have something reliable with plenty of room for the practical needs of life. She and I have always loved Corvettes but we have always known that, until recently, having 1 was not a realistic option for us. So, I'm probably looking at at least a year before making a purchase.

 

Bought my first C5 a year ago. It has become my daily driver. Put 18k on this past year. Nothing more fun than driving it. The main expenses are JW Motoring and DD Mods! Great people to do business with, but habit forming. Have so far not had any issues or expenses that weren't self inflicted. But everyone here has been a great help and always willing to answer questions. Vetteman Jack will be posting soon and he has a file for everything. Like the unofficial historian. I have kept a file with many of his postings to refer to later. Welcome and most of all enjoy the car!

 

Search for clutch replacement - the whole drivetrain gets dropped for that one...

Although most last quite awhile...and with an auto - no worries....about that one...

 

As much as I'd love a stick, I'd probably never get away with buying one. The wife is convinced that driving a stick is nowhere in her genes. So, getting one with a manual tranny would keep her in the passenger seat and that wouldn't be a good thing in the long run.

 

Yep you sound alot like me but my 3 kids are younger 12,9,7. bought mine though for therpy from the kids( and sometimes the wife) you got the right idea just take your time and get the right one
Good luck when you find one youll love it
Steve

 

Depends on your point of view

 

I been married long enough to know my point of view. In late 06, i brought home a new 07 Harley. For the next 3 years, i was constantly reminded what i could have spent that money on that we both could have enjoyed. Since selling it, life has been much more peaceful.

 

As others have already stated read, read, read.

Yes, Vettemanjack is the Corvette encyclopedia of CF. He will email you valuable info to answer many of your ????? I'm sure he'll be chiming in very soon.

Welcome and

mik

 

I have peronally owend 2 used Vette's, a 1991 C4 Vert with over 100K miles and a 01 C5 Vert with 60K miles.
Both have been problem free and very enjoyable!

 

Here I am. I do have a bunch of Word files that relate to the C5, including a Corvette Buyers Checklist. If you'd like a copy, just PM me your e-mail address. Be glad to send the stuff to you.

And best of luck in your search.

 

Thanks! PM sent.

Looking forward to my search and a purchase wont be immediate. So far, all i know is i love the lines and powertrain of the c5 and it seems to be the one in a comfortable price range for me. I know i will be looking for an AT model, non-'vert, and preferably NOT in "please pull me over red paint". Now i just need to learn and fill in the blanks for the rest of my wants/dont wants.

 

 

By now, 8 years after the last C5 rolled off the line, I would think that most of the common issues have already been taken care of by previous owners. Steering column lock and leaking left rear axle seal are two that come to mind. Neither are terribly expensive to repair. As stated earlier the clutch replacement is spendy, but you have already ruled out a manual, so no big deal there. There are some computer modules prone to failure, but that could happen with your new 4 Runner also.
We have owned our current 2000 convertible for 6 1/2 years and it has been a relatively trouble-free car since day one (knock on wood). My advise would be don't worry about what could happen, just find what you want, do your research on it's service records and enjoy driving it.

 

Very good points. I actually have 2 4Runners. One is a 2011 and the other is a 2000 that I just bought for my daughter a couple of months ago. Forum research helped me a lot in making that purchase and, so far, it has paid off. Prior to that 4Runner, she was driving an 04 Mazda RX8 that I bought her. The car was "cherry" when I bought it, but I did not do my homework in advance. After buying, I joined a forum and found out, and eventually experienced, just how finicky those cars can be. Anything from being very easy to flood to throwing codes constantly, to seeming to want to be tuned up everytime you turn around. I wanted to make sure Vettes weren't similar in that regard. That RX8 was a beautiful, fun to drive car, but the day I sold it was one of the happiest in my life.