johnsos30

Yeah I do have a really nice, lightly modded C5 coupe that I bought off the original owner 10 years ago. Everything is well cared for and a reliable shop did the cam and clutch. Fall of 2014 I bought a SWZ that I plan on keeping pretty stock just because how few there are. I can't drive 2 cars at the same time, and I only put about a few thousand miles on a year. I love the look of my coupe over my Z, but when comparing apples to apples, it's just a coupe compared to a SWZ.

5thgenvette

Bought my 2 owner triple black 99 with 77k on it for 13,5 a little more than half a year ago. All it needed was an idler pulley and I felt that was a fair price but I can't seem to get much interest on the 2 owner 98 vert we have, only 3 serious inquiries in a week with 83k at an asking of 13k

DDaaryl

It's all a matter of supply and demand. Plenty of supply, spotty seasonal demand. Now factor in they are old and you need more than a box of wrenches to keep them going. Professionals don't work on them cheap so if you can't fix them yourself you may make another choice.

My older friends still have their lead sleds, 49 Mercury, early 50 street rods and demand is down for them also. The Model A Ford clubs are a dying breed and in time the C5 will follow because your grand kids want something different.

4theboy

A good indication is when private party asking prices start becoming higher than retail dealer asking prices. Something that I have been seeing over and over.

Studying4boards

For $20K, a person will buy a new Honda Accord. More practical, problem free, keeps its resale values, and 4 doors and cheap upkeep.

C5 is a toy. Not many people can afford toys.

ttiros

This is no surprise that modified vettes move slow. Just look at the past two week threads about vettes that have been worked on by previous owners. Those were horror stories.

57gman

Agreed! Some mods, are in the eye of the owner, not the potential buyer!!

sloopdawg

I'm that dude, I would rather have a car that has been modded than one that hasn't
but I'm not a purist (so to speak). I like a Vette that stands out or is unique rather than one that dosen't or is still factory. But that's just me. Everyone has their thing. I'm in it for the joy not the resale. If I owned a car lot it might be different.

Shakeydeal

Johnny wangwang

Jake the Snake

It seems that many people think these cars should sell cheap and that is the case with many that have been beat or mistreated or just high mileage. They will take a lot of money to get back into great shape and the sellers were aware of that, so they sold low.

Mine is a 2002 Z51 with all options, convertible, magnetic red, pristine shape and low mileage at 23,000. The KBB value in my area is $17,600 private party and $19,766 dealer. It has a couple of mods, COW tune, B&M ripper, TI exhaust and new leather seats, but I do have all the original parts. Never been tracked or beat on, no body damage ever.

Would I sell it for $20,000..HELL NO. Fortunately I don't need or want to but when I do I believe there will be a market for it. There are people who want and will pay for a very desirable car, low mileage with all the options.

radar502

I blame some of this BS on people that buy C-5s and sink big money in them and did not do any research on what they are selling for if a C-5 is selling for lets say $16-$20 and you sink $7-$8,000 more in it and try to sell it for $25-$28. not happening . People who buy these Moded C-5s know what they are looking at but most know nothing about the mods you do to there Corvette . People think cause people want a Corvette they know something about them NOT most know very little about what they are looking at and the mods just steer them away from buying they don't know what the hell your talking about anyway .. I buy Moded Corvette why I know what they are worth ,two years back 04 Z-16 Cools headers ,Cools X-pipe GHL cat back ,new $3,200 for just that and a $800.00 Kentwood , V-ram air intake and on and on low miles $22,000 that's what I gave for it ,why I know mods and the worth ,most don't have any idea what the heck is the worth of any of this stuff ,that's why these C-5s are hard to sell . I see unmoded low miles C-5s selling .I buy my Corvette with the intention of keeping them I look for ones I want to keep why very hard to resell .. Do your home work before you buy one and put way too much in it and wonder why you can't sell it to someone that knows nothing about Corvettes at that point its a used HOT ROD..Drive it and have fun .. Mines a keeper can't sell it might as well be a keeper..

STALION

Look at Canada. It might be worth the trip to find a decent car since your dollar is worth more.

Wicked Weasel

Good thread. Selling my C5 soon and like to see the different opinions. As a seller I already realized I will not get back the money I put into the car, but I knew that going in.

I dont consider it a lost though as I know many people do. the money is long gone and if I didnt spend it on the vette I would have spent it somewhere else (probably a boat so I feel lucky ). Someone will get a good deal (as many people on this forum have from me in the past) and I will take the money and complete my bar. I see it as a win win.....

And yes my vette is highly modified. that is what you get when you are friends with high performance shop. But driving a C5 with a NA 427 putting out a 550 RWHP/RWTQ is a blast

1Willy1

2-3 years ago you could find deals here in Canada, but not much anymore

The price has steadily gone up the last few years

A stock low mileage Z has an asking price now of nearly $30k, few years ago you could probably get one for the low $20's

I think the C5's are in that awkward place now where they are kind of dated, but still good cars, so they are holding their value but for the money you can get into a lot of other great machines

I know for a fact a lot of C5's here in canada are not selling, and ive seen a lot of the ones here in the forum not selling either

I think the price is just too high

radar502

Its a money thing also ,most people don't have $16-$25,000 cash laying around have to get a lone some do and tell your banker buying a Hot Rod C-5 Corvette and I need $22,000 right .. What they are 12-15 years old now ,just hard to do get the money unless your like some got Hot Rod money ..C-5 in a bad place right now if you have one drive it be happy can't give it away might as well ..

Johnny wangwang

Whats really interesting is the Price spectrum you find on C5's. Anywhere from $8000-$30000!

Black 02

This is probably the best explanation available. The C5 is a cash car now due to age, an expensive cash car. I saw on the news a few months back that 63% of Americans don't have enough savings to cover a $500 unexpected expense. Pretty sad.

radar502

To a real Rodders this is what we do spend money on our rides and sell no we be thinking about the wow deal 1/4 mile deal having fun reselling is not in the thought .I think the C-5 is kinda like the old 57 Chevy 69-70 Big block Cheval most are hot rods now days this is what we have to play with ,like I say real Rodders don't think resale be cool have some fun and check out my ride most keep them for years heck my 04 has a name and yes I have $30,000 in it ,real Rodders don't care see what I got in the garage WOW low 11s in 1/4 works for me spinning from start to finish.. If worrying about the money in your ride maybe you need to be driving a yotomoto or something.. Just saying..

jackthelad

C5's, like anything else are only worth what a buyer is willing to pay. I have an early '98 coupe which I bought new. Around 75k on it. Apart from wheels/tires and an intake it is stock. Both roofs, the "glass" one hardly used, original window sticker, never damaged. And luckily, the ECBM still works.

While I have no plans to sell it, I think if I really had to for any reason, I would be lucky to get much over $10k. I see a lot of people on here who I think have a very optimistic view of what a C5 is worth these days. They are old, the newest being 12 years old. Mine was built in the summer of '97, so next year it will be a 20 year old. Ask yourself, would you lay out big $$$ for a 20 year old car?

And as has been said, no car loans out there for old cars.