Advice on c5
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
its late and I'm old... Ive refuted this idea, many times over my 14 years here, of it being necessary to get a low mileage car... I just jumped the gun, in a effort to sway him away from a low mileage car... but failed to actually read his post for its actual content... I apologize..
If the OP could find a car with maintenance records, this would go a long way in determining whether or not the car has been maintained properly.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 3,153
Likes: 859
From: Rio Rancho, New Mexico
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Yes, you are correct on the budget.. of 11K...
its late and I'm old... Ive refuted this idea, many times over my 14 years here, of it being necessary to get a low mileage car... I just jumped the gun, in a effort to sway him away from a low mileage car... but failed to actually read his post for its actual content... I apologize..
If the OP could find a car with maintenance records, this would go a long way in determining whether or not the car has been maintained properly.
its late and I'm old... Ive refuted this idea, many times over my 14 years here, of it being necessary to get a low mileage car... I just jumped the gun, in a effort to sway him away from a low mileage car... but failed to actually read his post for its actual content... I apologize..
If the OP could find a car with maintenance records, this would go a long way in determining whether or not the car has been maintained properly.
It's all about finding a car that's been taken care of and has documentation. My '04 Z is gorgeous. Torch Red exterior, Mod Red interior- much like yours. But I know when I'm beat. Your car is a thing of beauty. Ha. So on that note, you get as many free passes as you want on the forum. 
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
It's all about finding a car that's been taken care of and has documentation. My '04 Z is gorgeous. Torch Red exterior, Mod Red interior- much like yours. But I know when I'm beat. Your car is a thing of beauty. Ha. So on that note, you get as many free passes as you want on the forum. 
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,422
Likes: 118
From: San Gabriel Valley California
St. Jude Donor '14-'15
HIgh mileage on a C5 is nothing, in and of it self, to preclude you from buying.
There are so many C5's with way way over 100,000 miles, which have been well maintained, garaged, and are still very nice cars.
But;
If you polled members here on the forum, and asked two questions, here's what I think response would be...
1: Is your C5 Corvette a very nice car? answer probably would be about 95% (or higher) Yes.
2: Would you sell your C5 for $11,000 or less? answer probably would be 99% No.
But, who knows about used cars, vs used Corvettes? Always a bit of a difference there?
Good luck.
Don
There are so many C5's with way way over 100,000 miles, which have been well maintained, garaged, and are still very nice cars.
But;
If you polled members here on the forum, and asked two questions, here's what I think response would be...
1: Is your C5 Corvette a very nice car? answer probably would be about 95% (or higher) Yes.
2: Would you sell your C5 for $11,000 or less? answer probably would be 99% No.
But, who knows about used cars, vs used Corvettes? Always a bit of a difference there?
Good luck.
Don
Advanced
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 50
Likes: 3
I think you can find a c5 within your budget, you might need to travel, patience is key (season in NYC is opposite of Florida)140k miles wouldn't scare me if someone took care of it. You'll love the difference between your c4 and any c5, be patient, look into 10 to buy 1, no hurry- you already got a Vette!
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,374
Likes: 423
The two guys at the inspection station thought the car was a 2003-2004. It is a 1998. The guy who had to read the OBDC said he had never seen a Corvette with this high mileage. It has 138K.
I passed inspection.
I passed inspection.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Sometimes the journey can be as much fun as reaching the destination. At least, the C5 design can be a perfect platform to create your own work of art,. If you can be a visionary, you can buy a less than perfect C5 and make it perfect, in your own personal way. If you can look past the surface, you can make almost any C5 you find, into a real head turner.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 3,399
Likes: 1,339
From: Havre de Grace Maryland
Remaining patient is difficult, but remember there are plenty of C5s out there for sale, many at a good price. Don't be afraid to travel a bit to find just the right one either. I traveled 1400 miles to find mine.
I would make a list of all the options, colors, max mileage, any mods, etc. that you would accept on a car and go from there.
I would make a list of all the options, colors, max mileage, any mods, etc. that you would accept on a car and go from there.
I was looking for 6 months and about to give up until 2015 when one popped up on Auto Trader at a GM dealership. Traveled 120 miles and after a week of negotiations, bought it. Not 100% what was on my check list (wanted yellow but settled for black) but everything else was there. A year of driving this beauty 04 Vert I have no doubt it was worth waiting for.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,217
Likes: 784
From: Fort Myers Beach Florida
My C5 was my eight Corvette and I knew what I wanted and was not in a hurry. I insisted on a vert, manual transmission and a light color because I use it in Florida. I walked away from anything that had power train mods and suggest you do the same. Too many back yard mechanics try mail order improvements that affect the reliability and resale value of the vehicle and create problems with smog inspection requirements in many states. If you find a vehicle with aftermarket bolt on parts be sure to ask the seller if he kept the original equipment.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 964
Likes: 124
From: Chesapeake Va
I knew what I wanted period.its a toy if you don't get what you want you won't be happy.i looked for over I year.seen many nice cars but not what I wanted.stumbled on mine 2 miles from home going to my grams.house one day,couldn't beleive it.72 year old man had it,and wanted to buy a new horse trailer.they are out there take your time.its getting close to the time people will be selling 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 964
Likes: 124
From: Chesapeake Va
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 15,039
Likes: 1,613
From: Holly Springs NC
St. Jude Donor '16-'17,'22,'24
I can only add that I don't regret passing on all of the C5s I tried prior to buying the one I have. I did put a time limit on it that I wanted a Vette by mid summer 2012, landed up waiting until late summer 2012. But that's my experience. You might pass one and regret it later, it's hard to say.
As has been stated here, drive as many examples as you can, learn as much as you can about the car from this forum, I found that to be a big help.