1. 1999 c5 auto (- older than I would like)
2. Around 50k miles (+)
3. 5 owners (big -)
4. Its very clean, couple scratches thats need a bit of work. (understandable due to year)
5. Little maintenance/service records due to multiple owners (-)
6. No accidents on car fax (+)
7. Color (+ its what I want)

8. I didnt check/pull the codes when I met up with him (forgot how/sequence but will do it if I do meet up with him again)

I have to yet to take the car to the mechanic/shop to look it over. I plan to do it after July 4.

Private party is asking 17k.

If you were in my shoes, would you go for it? The 5 owners is part of my hesitation, if this was a 1 owner car it would be a different story. Should it matter that the car had a lot of owners? It's a bit understandable given that the car is almost 15 years old. I have seen it in person and test drove it (briefly. Due to a lot of traffic, I couldn't push it as much as I wanted) The car seem very well maintained/clean. Thoughts? Advice? Should I continue looking for a newer one? Whats a good offer?

**Side note, I have talked to the seller. At one point, we talked about previous owner and said he didnt have the records for the previous 2 owners (kind of implying he was the third, but on car fax he's the fifth owner) And he changed his reason here and there bout selling it, size and needs a more fuel efficient car for commute since he down to one car(both are reasonable answers)

tl;dr Car seem clean, but price (17k) imo is a bit high especially with 5 owners. Not sure about owner 100% but he been willing to work with me so I doubt he's hiding anything.

Thank you for any upcoming help/advice.

 

Not for 17 grand. In my opinion, a 5-owner auto car shouldn't command that price.

 

I would not buy anything older than 01. Too many good updates at that point and you can still get parts for 01's and newer (like SWPS and EBCM components.)

Read this for fun:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...h-testing.html

 

I agree. Im not going to pay 17k, but I debating on how much exactly I should counter offer with? What would be good deal for me? 14k?

 

I don't necessarily think you'll get it for 14k but it doesn't hurt to ask. I only have my experience to judge off of and I paid $17250 for a 2-owner 2000 FRC w/~46000 miles, almost complete service records and in what I would consider immaculate, "I would lick the paint with my tongue it's so clean" condition. Others will chime in who have loads of experience with what the car should sell for.

 

Thank you for the link.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...ion-files.html

I have also read the "help for buying c5 thread". If there are any must read posts/threads, feel free to post. Im going to browse the forum some more before I pull the trigger.

 

There were many updates post 01' and the hard to find ABS/AH parts are still available for 01's and newer. I have an 01' myself-drove it today to work.

 

All it would take is an aftermarket manufacturer to begin producing these and then the reservations many of us have about these electronic bits would be gone. $2000 on fleabay for a 97-00 EBCM is a complete ripoff.

 

But that's not this guys reality TODAY. Nothin worse than buying your dream car, having something break, and NO PARTS.

 

Oh I completely agree. If I'd wanted a Coupe, I would've bought probably an '01-'04.

 

OK, then you'd be wise to look at a 2002 (or newer) Z06.
Same FRC body,, many refinements.
The 2001 Z06 has a few less HP and is not held in as high esteem as a 2001.

 

It seem like the general consensus to stay away from 97-00 c5's? Is the EBCM that big a concern? I remembering reading that a few owners never had the problem or is this guarantee issue that comes with age?


Im not sure if Im remembering this correctly, but I remember coming across a thread where the op mentioned if they came across the right car, the infamous EBCM problem shouldnt be a hesitation in purchasing the car. Or has that mindset changed?


Once again, thank you for all the input.

 

I didn't want to pay the premium that is associated with the Z06 badge just for 40 extra horsepower and a few other things. If I wasn't going to modify the car, I would've waited and saved a little more, bought a Z06 and left it stock. But I knew that the car wouldn't stay stock so it wasn't worth the extra cash for the improvements. I already have my vehicle so I'm not sure if you're trying to give me buying advice or not.

 

My car has ~53k miles on it and is 13 years old. No EBCM problem for me yet and I don't expect one.

 

i get nervous with 5 owner cars and a claimed 50k miles. it takes someone who knows what they are doing less than 30 minutes to alter mileage on a c5

hard to comment on price without seeing the car, i would however go 01+ like others have said. c5 prices are pretty tame as it is and a lot of nice cars have changed hands in the teens.

really don't have to pay 20+ anymore

 

I can only assume that it's the carfax telling you that it's a 5 owner car? Don't put a whole lot of stock in that. Mine says 7 owners, and I happen to know it's only 3. One guy was in the Military and moved a few times. Every time he transferred the title to a new state, carfax called it a new owner. It's stupid. Carfax does more harm than good if you ask me. Besides, if the car is mint, and the miles are verified as correct, who cares how many owners it had? As long as it was taken car of, it doesn't matter.

 

How does that work? Any signs to look for? I'm also hunting a C5...

 

Move on away from this one

Spend a few more dollars, get a lower milage, fewer owner, pampered baby - not this one

a quarter million C5s were produced, the right one will find you, it really will

This isn't it

 

I just payed $14.5k for an immaculate 1997
88k miles
custom interior
zr-1 after market wheels, originals also
new tires
fresh tune up, plugs,wires belts, hoses
wheel alinement
2 chips on paint
k&n free air filter
new kenwood
new head light motors
new windshield wiper motor
a/c serviced
I need to replace drivers door hinge, adjust one headlight cover, and replace ww washer pump, otherwise perfect. and I was happy to pay cash
pay what it takes to get what you want, you will not regret it. and it was 10 miles away and they delivered it.

 

there's really no way to tell {unless the carfax says xxx mileage one year and either the mileage has not increased or has moved backward}. all you can do is go off of condition. most states only consider mileage tampering a crime if the car is ten years old or newer, this gives dishonest people even more of a kick to swap clusters

paint can be an indicator, same with interior condition

there's also the question of how the mileage was put on. someone who ran up and down the freeway at 1500rpm that put on 100k miles will still have an engine in excellent condition with like new compression

a 20k mile car that was road raced and ran hard may already be burning oil and down on compression.

you just have to look at the overall condition and 1-2 owner cars are really the way to go if you can find them.

the guy i bought my z06 from had it since 2004 bought with 10k miles. the car was all stock, he used it to commute to work and go to his vacation home. even with 90k on it the engine was mechanically perfect, transmission felt new. no rattles or noises. very nice driver grade car. i had also looked at cars with half the mileage in worse shape.

really need to have a mechanical background if you get into older cars. there can be a HUGE difference in the various cars you look at