I've been looking at used c5's because I want one. however, the prices vary so much.....how do I know which way to go? hahahaha

i've seen a couple such as :

1997 w/46k miles - $14,500
2004 w/ 115k miles for $14,000
2001 w/ 98k miles for $12,000
1998 w/ 80k miles for $13,000

and I've seen some cheaper (suspicious) and some more expensive.

starting to get a little confused.

 

It all comes down to your color preference and manual verses auto. Also the up keep on the vehicle is a huge factor as well as any mods that have been done to the car. I would suggest driving a few and seeing which one fits you best. I was in the same delima a few months back and ended up going with a 2002 SILVER ON BLACK six speed with 90k miles. I paid 15k for it. It was completely stock and had been very well maintained. It actually drove much better than some of the lower mileage ones that I had drove and was in overall better condition. Good look with your search. Whatever you end up going with you will not be dissapointed.

 

unfortunately, the local options are limited ..... most of the dealers around here want to absolutely rape you! highly doubt i will buy local....most likely drive a few hundred miles lol

 

I have found NADA to be pretty accurate on used C5 prices. I wasn't looking for a bargain but being my eighth Corvette I knew exactly what I wanted. I paid high book for my 02 Vert last fall. I also walked away from several cars with owner "improvements" (mods) which added no value to the vehicle except in the previous owners mind. Find an unmolested one if you can!

 

I agree NADA is about as accurate as its gets just picking a ball park... From there ignore how many miles are on the car, and try and figure out how the car was maintained...


Remember.. 100k miles of pampered, cleaned weekly, driven by old man is going to yield a better car than 20k miles of beaten to death, smoked in, driven by a teenager, drag raced and auto crossed every weekend...



Look for places that indicate the care and caution the drive took with the car... Any place that would be a normal ground scrape place... Anyone who babied their car took care getting over the bumps, and avoided them at all costs...

If they didn't care they scraped that nose, plowed into curbs, etc. and never paid attention...

Under the hood is another indication, though at a dealership this is MUCH MUCH harder to use... They usually detail under the hood, but the average owner less so..

If the engine is FILTHY... the car was likely just as bad, until they decided to sell it...

If the engine is SPOTLESS, the rest of the car was likely kept just as spotless..

 

so basically the 1997 un molested/modded that the guy's wife drove until she was pregnant (with 46k miles) would be an ok deal at 14,500?

LOL

I've heard that the 2001 is better....and I think i would really like a 6-speed vz. an auto



WHAT'S EVERYONES OPPINION ON 6-SPEED VS. AUTO? ANY MAJOR ADVANTAGES?

 

If 2001 is a better year depends on a persons opinion... The biggest argument is the EBCM module that CAN go out on the pre 2001 cars, and doesn't have a replacement. There are a few people that can try and fix it for a price, or there are used modules. However its a bit of a pain to deal with IF it was to go out.... That said, there are plenty of people who have never experience this issue ever...


6-speed vs auto is totally a personal preference.... Though most arguments center around:

a) traffic- if you have real traffic, many get the automatic because stop and go can suck with a stick
b) speed- the 6 speed is quicker in the 1/4 STOCK VS STOCK, and if you get an auto you can end up with the 2.73 gears instead of the performance 3.15 gears
c) MODIFIED the auto becomes preferential usually in the 1/4mile
d) MPG - 6 speed usually better
e) column lock bypass-- the six speeds even with the bypass have a chance of still running into the issue, the automatics are free and clear


In the end its 100% personal preference.... There were significantly more auto's made for the corvette (70% autos iirc), so the world wide preference is for an automatic, but on the enthusiast level it seems that the 6 speed is almost always preferred...

 

It is all subjective, like every once has said.

Usually, the lower the mileage on the car, the better. Mileage is actually more important than year, generally speaking.

However, maintenance does make a difference, as well as how the car was generally driven.

Try to contact the previous owners. Get the carfax. Buying any sports car is a little different than a family sedan. Previous owners usually do not mind talking about their previous prides and joys.

Look for all of the tell-tale signs. Oil leaks, rust, body damage, engine inspection, etc. Take it to a trusted garage, put it up on a lift. Buy an extended warranty for peace of mind.

If modded, find out who performed the mods. Nothing wrong with mods, unless they were of the shade tree variety.

Many would say I overpaid for my 03 Z06 (27,000.00 OTD. 20K miles, 7 months ago), but I got all of the maintenance records done on it since new, all of the work orders for all of the mods (tires, wheels, Vararam, and Corsa Exhaust). It was immaculate, all garage kept and super low mileage. It would definitely be classified as "Excellent" from the Black and Blue book perspectives. Also got a 2 year warranty with it.

Sure, I could have gotten a cheaper Vette and I would probably end up with a cheaper Vette. I watched my current garage occupant for 3 weeks before pulling the trigger. This is now my second C5 and first Z06. Would I do it over again? You bet!

Out of the ones you listed, the 97 is the most intriguing, due to the mileage. Great price if it is a typical 48K Corvette. If it was garage kept (which the miles would indicate), sounds like a great deal.

Personally, I would typically shy away from a 100K plus car. Yes the 01-04 was a better year for Corvette C5s. But the price, mileage, care, and maintenance can more than make up for a few later year models.

As far as Auto verses Stick, totally a personal preference. Mods are easier on a manual, especially for CAM or forced induction plans. If you have an auto and are going to cam it, or Super/Turbo charge, then you will have to put a shift kit into an Auto (and stall torque converter).

 

I disagree with this part to a point..

Manual transmission cars tend to be a little easier when dealing with a CAM, as you don't have to deal with as much surge or push through, that much is true certainly... However a stall or shift kit are certainly NOT required at all. Many people go about their day happy as a clam with neither... I personally prefer a higher stall, but that's my preference..

However, for Forced induction the auto car is almost in all ways the preferred vehicle. ESPECIALLY in turbo applications where the turbo is kept spooled up significantly better than in a six speed car.. Add a higher stall to this equation and its game over, end of discussion...

Yes, you run the risk of needing a rebuild before a manual guy might need a new clutch... BUT since most people go with at the VERY LEAST a z06 clutch setup (most something beefier) in a modded situation vs a professional rebuild in the A4, this becomes a splitting hairs IMHO... The price differential between buying a HP A4 and a good clutch and installing it is pretty narrow (depending on clutch etc etc.)

If the A4 guy throws in a higher stall while hes at it, chances are he ends up with a faster car over all as well (assuming all else is equal)...

So while i agree it is still a personal opinion matter, and some people can drive the snot out of a six speed, to say that the six speed is the preferred transmission in those situations, i would say is incorrect, and that in fact the exact opposite is GENERALLY true...

 

may have someone interested in trading a 1998 auto w/ 67k miles for my jeep + cash. he is asking $14800 obo

triple black

he says The car has a k&n cold air intake, stainless pypes exhaust system and a hypertech chip

sound like a decent price? (provided it isn't beat?)

 

Not disagreeing that an auto can be made to work, but itwill require some work. Will agree that forced induction with a stock auto would work, if boost is nor direct off the line. Not as durable without custom work,but doable.

It's all about preferences. I like auto as DD, but I like manual for weekend jaunts.

 

You need to decide on exterior/interior color combinations, trans, and options first. Price and condition are meaningless, if it's a color you can't stand, or it isn't equipped the way you really want.

Narrow down exactly what you want in a car, then sort the contenders by price and condition.

I looked at a lot of cars before I stumbled across my current C5, but it checked all the boxes for me. Pewter/light oak, auto, Z51, 3.15 gears, 2 tops, completely stock, 62k miles, 2 previous owners. I ended up paying 14,700, which might be a little high, but it is exactly the car I wanted, so it was well worth it to me.