higher mileage 2001 OR 2000 ?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,271
Likes: 1
From: PA
higher mileage 2001 OR 2000 ?
my 73 sold ! now in the market for a C5 and I see I might have to choose between a C5 with higher miles if I want an 01 or would I be wiser to consider a low mileage 00 ?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 831
Likes: 0
From: Orange Tx
Just look at all the C5's you can..
For me when i came across that one i had that feeling that one was for me..
Didnt matter on year at all.. An now after 10 years still have no regrets
An mine are '98 and '00
For me when i came across that one i had that feeling that one was for me..
Didnt matter on year at all.. An now after 10 years still have no regrets
An mine are '98 and '00
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 11,119
Likes: 672
From: SE Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Oldtimer
High Miles ?
It boils down to only one thing. . How was it treated by the last owner? These cars have just here @ www.corvettefourm.com by our members, I believe someone is in the 300.000 uninterrupted miles, and still runs so smooth you can put a shop towel, and the cup is as still if it was sitting on Jim S desk. Just regular oil & filter changes. and run on a top tier gasoline. So it really has a lot of the documentation. And if you watch either Barrett-Jackson or a Mecum auction you'll see a 1966 Corvette without it's paperwork and one with full documentation there is about $10K to $15 grand price folks are willing to fork over.
If you or I should say if I was looking at a 2001 Corvette convertible, (which is exactly what I'm currently looking for) I pass on a 1998-04 or a 2000 and the first thing that tips the balance for me is a missing owners manual. Not how great it looks, I want to see it's DNA over the years. I want to see any dealership receipts for maintenance work, what was done and how it was done. If it's an oil change and in your right hand is a invoice for an oil change @ 45.000 miles and the next invoice is for an oil change is at 87.000 miles I'm going to back off on my price with a handful of crumpled up receipts and no matter how hard you try to put them in chronological order there's still a missing years of service work.
But if I go and look at a garaged kept 2001 with maybe a scratched fender and it has 101.000 Miles, but it service folder 2 inches thick from it's window sticker (Even if it's a copy from the National Corvette Museum, I'll still judge it on how it run and sounds. But I never go to see a car if it's been run before I see it. The engine has to be cold. or I'll come back tomorrow. These days you really have to be careful of Flood cars or one that was beat from day 1.and it's been run hard and put away wet. Very much like a divorce settlement or some other reason like bankruptcy. Under those conditions you just know before you even get there there's a good chance it's going to be far below market price.
I only mention the last few lines as I have done that and was sure glad I didn't touch it. And then if saying you did look at it but it runs like it needs a fuel injector of a set of plugs and wires or worse, it's too chancy for me, and I won't even quote the price I'm will to pay as it might be an insult to the person/persons who own it. I'm looking for a car I can use for the next ten years (If I live that long) but I don't want to get in a trip to county corvette on a bi monthly schedule and learn every thing about a car magazine from cover to cover or have to leave it and get a rental.
If you or I should say if I was looking at a 2001 Corvette convertible, (which is exactly what I'm currently looking for) I pass on a 1998-04 or a 2000 and the first thing that tips the balance for me is a missing owners manual. Not how great it looks, I want to see it's DNA over the years. I want to see any dealership receipts for maintenance work, what was done and how it was done. If it's an oil change and in your right hand is a invoice for an oil change @ 45.000 miles and the next invoice is for an oil change is at 87.000 miles I'm going to back off on my price with a handful of crumpled up receipts and no matter how hard you try to put them in chronological order there's still a missing years of service work.
But if I go and look at a garaged kept 2001 with maybe a scratched fender and it has 101.000 Miles, but it service folder 2 inches thick from it's window sticker (Even if it's a copy from the National Corvette Museum, I'll still judge it on how it run and sounds. But I never go to see a car if it's been run before I see it. The engine has to be cold. or I'll come back tomorrow. These days you really have to be careful of Flood cars or one that was beat from day 1.and it's been run hard and put away wet. Very much like a divorce settlement or some other reason like bankruptcy. Under those conditions you just know before you even get there there's a good chance it's going to be far below market price.
I only mention the last few lines as I have done that and was sure glad I didn't touch it. And then if saying you did look at it but it runs like it needs a fuel injector of a set of plugs and wires or worse, it's too chancy for me, and I won't even quote the price I'm will to pay as it might be an insult to the person/persons who own it. I'm looking for a car I can use for the next ten years (If I live that long) but I don't want to get in a trip to county corvette on a bi monthly schedule and learn every thing about a car magazine from cover to cover or have to leave it and get a rental.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,488
Likes: 1,743
From: Knoxville Tn
One thing to keep in mind is the electronic upgrades for the 2001 and up model years./
GM no longer makes some of the computers for the 2000, and some of the minor stuff such as key fobs and tire pressure sending units are much more expensive on the earlier C-5s than on the 2001 and up..If in doubt, check the prices on key fobs for a 2000 at GM parts waarehouse.
The EBCM can be repaired, if it fails, on the 2001 and up, not so easy on the earlier models.
I owned a 2000 for several years and had very few problems, however I was always haunted by the cost of these components if they should have failed.
GM no longer makes some of the computers for the 2000, and some of the minor stuff such as key fobs and tire pressure sending units are much more expensive on the earlier C-5s than on the 2001 and up..If in doubt, check the prices on key fobs for a 2000 at GM parts waarehouse.
The EBCM can be repaired, if it fails, on the 2001 and up, not so easy on the earlier models.
I owned a 2000 for several years and had very few problems, however I was always haunted by the cost of these components if they should have failed.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,271
Likes: 1
From: PA
Thanks for the input. It seems the C5 prices often reflect the mileage pretty close. Meaning that the higher priced ones always reflect the low mileage in a predictable way. ( I do see a few 01's with low prices and low miles and I wonder why they are thousands off ) I was just wondering if I was comparing the two what would make me choose an 00 because I know they did upgrades in 01.
I plan to spend at least 8 months looking for this car. My last one I bought in 5 weeks so it might be hard !
I plan to spend at least 8 months looking for this car. My last one I bought in 5 weeks so it might be hard !
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,067
Likes: 46
From: Springfield IL.
Oldtimer
After reading all the stories the last year and a half, I wouldn't consider anything older than 2001 if I were buying again. With all the grimlins these cars have, it's a big chance to buy one that does't have electrical parts available any longer. I am surprised that someone hasn't come up with a way to convert these older vettes with ebcm problems. Just maybe these cars are too smart.
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