C5 annual maintenance?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 36
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C5 annual maintenance?
I have 10k saved up and my dad said he'd throw in 7k 
and there's alot of '99 frc's selling fro 14-15k with 40k miles 
and I'm just wondering approx how much they are to maintain annualy? I don't want to buy one and not be able to keep up with maintenance. I'm 17 btw
and there's alot of '99 frc's selling fro 14-15k with 40k miles and I'm just wondering approx how much they are to maintain annualy? I don't want to buy one and not be able to keep up with maintenance. I'm 17 btw
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,872
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From: Olmsted Falls Ohio
St. Jude Donor '12 thru '24
I suspect that your single largest annual item might be insurance, especially if used as a daily driver. Most collector car policies have a higher age limit. Good luck to you.
Last edited by pickleseimer; Oct 14, 2012 at 10:37 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,163
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From: Oceanside California
These are very easy cars to maintain really. Same old style of small block engine. Just synthetic oil changes and more capacity. Belts are on the front and easy, air filter slips in and out easy. Spark plugs and wires are easy to get to and nothing needs removed to do them, fuel filter is on the underside near the tank. Its not as intimidating of a car as it seems.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2005
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It's a car, nothing more - nothing less. A very nice/fun car to drive mind you, but still it's a car like millions of others on the road. There's thousands of websites to get estimates for annual maintenance. Plus it's a Chev. Go for it - you only live once. Good luck.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2012
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I got a few quotes and the cheapest was 340/mo with me as primary driver, If I were to get one it'd be in my dads name and me as a secondary driver and I would just pay him monthly for the insurance cost
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,163
Likes: 6
From: Oceanside California
Thats pretty high, but your age is probably why. At age 25 through AAA I pay 1,400 a year full coverage.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Rockledge FL
holy crap 340 a month? that is just crazy. great thing about age I guess.
I pay 200 a month for my 00 C5, 07 mustang, 03 SUV, 72 vette, and 68 mustang through USAA.
one thing you might want to consider is that you are going to pay 15K for a 13 year old car that a lot of parts are discontinued for. Considering these engines can do 200K easy you might be better off getting an 01+ with maybe a few more miles on it if need be to keep it in your price range.
I pay 200 a month for my 00 C5, 07 mustang, 03 SUV, 72 vette, and 68 mustang through USAA.
one thing you might want to consider is that you are going to pay 15K for a 13 year old car that a lot of parts are discontinued for. Considering these engines can do 200K easy you might be better off getting an 01+ with maybe a few more miles on it if need be to keep it in your price range.
Melting Slicks
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From: SC
Safety Car
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From: Orlando FL
We got my son a C4 when he was a senior in high school. The insurance was one of the lowest quotes of all of the vehicles we had quoted. Actually almost 25% less than a Civic. Go ahead and get quotes, just to be sure.
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$340/month is quite a bit for insurance. But, that's something you have to decide if it is worth it for a C5 right now in your life. As for the maintenance, really just oil and filter changes are needed, but sometimes you may have extra expenses like belts, hoses, brakes, fluid changes, etc. How much those things run can depend on whether you can do the things yourself or have to have a shop do the work. Realistically, at least for my C5 at this point all I usually pay for each year is just the one oil change since I don't drive the car all that much.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,341
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From: Hopatcong New Jersey
Didn't you have a thread a couple months ago mentioning how you almost wrecked a car like 7 times already?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,962
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From: Richmond, Ky
$300.00 for a set of Z06 wheels - craigslist deal of the year!
$600.00 for new tires for above. - another killer deal I found on craigslist
$275.00 repaint front bumper - I did the r&r labor
$75.00 for 4-wheel alignment
$20.00 for brake fluid - for clutch "Ranger method"
$100.00 oil and filter changes
$15.00 headlight parts - needed a new lift arm pin on drivers side.
I also spent $250.00 for a Torch Red bra (classifieds) $10 for a shorty antenna from a forum vendor and about $30 for a 3d C5 emblem for the steering wheel. and that has been all my expenditures other than gas.
I would not suggest that you can expect the same from any or all 99C5's because it depends on the maintenance done to the car before you purchase.
My car had a recent (mileage wise) brake upgrade with new rotors pads and braided lines, along with a Corsa cat back system. A lot of you costs could just be left to luck or chance. A few months after buying you could experience a clutch issue, the leaky butt syndrome, ect. and that would change the picture drastically.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,872
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From: Olmsted Falls Ohio
St. Jude Donor '12 thru '24
Add the $4,000 / yr insurance quote you've already gotten and the annual cost of maintaining and driving the car is approaching half of the purchase price. Don't forget your fuel cost - assuming 22 mpg average and $3.75 per gallon for the correct fuel and 10k miles per year, that's another $1,700. The maintenance cost for the first year of ownership on a 13 year old car will be a little higher. In my first year with a C5, I replaced the tires, replaced all the fluids and filters, bought floor mats, a skip shift eliminator and some other accessories. I keep all my maintenace records and the first year I spent about $3,000 on the car getting it up to my standard, both mechanically and appearance.