#1 or #3. Silver is a nice color and easy to maintain. Get #1 if your under 50 and still like exercising your left leg in traffic. Get #3 if your in the mind to just enjoy the ride, as has been mentioned. For me it HAS to be a vert. The C5 in convertible form is a beautiful car. The one vert in your list is slightly over priced, imo, especially because of the known parts issues (ebcm for example) with the early cars. Nothing wrong with the early cars, just be aware of the parts supply issues. If I could get the vert under $13K I'd probably go with it. Good luck and remember the hunt is half the fun. Rock On!

 

4 of the 5 are autos so it sounds like that is what you prefer. One Vert, are you going to drive the vette alot or a weekend warrior? In the summer time, it's pretty hot with the top down so you may not drive it much. If it's going to be a daily driver, in traffic, go auto, otherwise you have to get the 6 speed!!!!!

I'd say take the vert, I'm the OO of 2000 vert 6spd now with 45K on it. It's mostly a weekend car with trips out to the country, curvy roads. After 17 years I've had 3 issues, 1) column lock, 2) AC hose under the battery issue, and 3) vert window coming off, twice and it looks like I'm going to have to do it again.

What you should do is find and test drive a vert with a 6 speed. I love shifting and I do drive my vette pretty hard so that's how I get my kicks.

Good Luck!!!

 

We did drive some coupes before driving the 04 vert... I was surprised that the Vert was quieter than the coupes! I think the coupe hatch acts like a mini amphitheater and forces all the sound to the front of the cabin...not sure about the Z06 we didn't drive one, probably a good thing or we wouldn't have a Vert

 

#4 Convertible driving along the ocean front from Delaware, Sweet

 

Is that the cut-off age for a stick?

 

Most are autos because that's what I found the most of in my price/condition range. This will be mostly a garage queen that comes out on nice days when I'm off. I'm bald so the convertible without a hat is a drawback (although I do agree they look the best). Manuals are certainly more fun to drive but again, I can live with either.

With your input/feedback, I'll eliminate the 1998 (parts availability) and the 2000 convertible (price too high, and parts availability).

 

In a car that you're going to drive rarely, that is exclusively for fun, why buy something that you can live with? I could have lived with a coupe, but I wanted a z06. Therefore, I bought a z06.

 

A stickie woulda been nice. My first Vette (50th present) was almost a stick. It would save the unknowing a huge embarrassment to have this rule available.

 

First call to make is auto vs. stick. I have always had stick shift cars from choice. Only ever had two autos my whole life - one was because it kind of fell in my lap for a knock down price (Jaguar sedan), the other was strictly my wife's car, the '80's era station wagon. Presently we have 3 vehicles - C5, Subaru Legacy GT (turbo) and Chev K1500 - and all are stick.

Oh, yea, and I am waaaay past that age you mentioned. On the other hand I have looked after myself and never worn out any body parts by doing crazy unnecessary stuff like exercise, so everything still works with zero aches or pains. Besides the M6 clutch is not at all heavy. The Subaru's is heavier - go figure.

 

http://www.cargurus.com/Cars/l-Used-...ting=142871321

Prices are pretty good in your area. They are going crazy here.

 

Hello! Read the stickies at the top of the page, very important. If I were you I would try to narrow down the search. Decide exactly what it is you want in your vette and then look for that car. There is plenty of resources to armchair shop via the interweb. The cars you describe are actually fairly low mileage cars given their age, but keep in mind that proper maintenance is probably more important than low mileage. With that in mind, on whatever year(s), trans type, coupe or vert, that you decide on, be very sure you do your due diligence in the form of checking accident history, maintenance history, carfax, updates etc., and a thorough bumper to bumper check by a C5 knowledgeable tech or shop. C5's are fairly complicated cars with a lot of electronics. If you take your time and make as sure as you can that you are getting a problem free and well maintained C5, you will probably have a great ownership experience. Buying a poorly maintained C5 can result in a lot of expenses, some on the pretty high side. Take your time, be fussy and do your homework. Good luck and best wishes! PS, If you find a likely buy, and are not quite certain about it, post the cars particulars on this forum. Members are alway quick to help out!

 

I have a 00 vert. Went through the same process. Looked at quite a few but the navy blue with tan top really pulled me in. Bought from a reputable dealer. Had some minor issues but all good so far.

As always have any car inspected if you can.

BTW mine is a mn6. Can't image having an auto but to each their own.

 

I have one of the cars that fall within this range. I saw this issue when it came up originally and have kept an eye on the car. I did contact Chevrolet consumer division and they took some kind of note. I'm now past the 10 year period and have not had any issue with the tank. But yes I agree you should check this out if the car falls into the VIN range.

You will also note there were a number of issues with these cars that were addressed in 2001 to the end of the run if you are looking for future reliability and the ability to get the car serviced I'd suggest going with the newest model year possible. That being said however the newest cars are now 12 years old and Chevrolet has discontinued a number of parts for these cars. I recently needed to get my steering rack replaced. I was lucky and found one (rebuilt). With this part you either have to go onto a waiting list or remove it and send it out to be rebuilt i.e. you car will be down for a week or two. That all being said I love my car and love to drive it.

 

 

My thought are these:

I'm ok with an auto. I've had enough 6 spd cars and shifted gears long enough. That said, I'm going to be swapping my auto to a M6 in the coming weeks.

When I was shopping for my current car, there were 3 things I did not want. I had had enough of cars with the top open, did not want an automatic trans, and I hate red cars. Mine is a red auto vert.

Ok, I drove it and liked it, and I've now had it for 4 years and still love it. To be honest, I'm swapping to a manual, not to get rid of the auto and shift gears, but because I got a good deal on an entire driveline for it and I like wrenching on cars. There is no good reason for it. And today I ate a DQ Bananna Split Blizzard on the way home, in the car. Try that in an M6.

Some here seem to think the 00 Vert is over priced, and perhaps it is. I would say this. If you drove all of them and you are still saying that one is the nicest of the bunch, it's likely that it's more about who owned it than what car it is. I just had a person drive mine this past week who works on a LOT of vettes and drives a lot of them. Said mine is head and shoulders nicer than any he's been in. Care, maintenance, not beating the crap out of it, makes a difference.

Cars with a manual trans imo, get a lot more abuse. And that translates to the suspension, rattles, general ride of the car including how bad the shocks have been beat. Just everything. And cars with an auto turn less RPMs by a good bit. Get a car from someone who doesn't beat the hell out of it and a auto will be shifted before 2K most all the time. Even if you get on it a little, it'll rarely get t 4K. That adds up over 15 or 18 years.

The Vert is also a fairly expensive option when new, thus it'll generally bring more. Depends on what you like, and what you are willing to drive. Also how well you deal with peer pressure. I hear all the time folks looking down their nose at my car cause it's an auto. I don't care, I just tell them I have an M6 car too and I prefer this one. Take that ****! (truth be told, the M6 is an F body, not a Y, but it's still true).

I'd pick either #1 or #4.

 

the newest one possible but with enough miles to have most known issues taken care of.

 

The blue vert, but I may be biased

 

Don't get an auto man get the 6mt and enjoy!

 

Or do what I did- shop like hell. Listen to K-Spaz and others that make a ton of sense. End up with a beautiful black 99 auto coupe. Then 3 months later sell it cause someone let you drive a Z. Take your time, drive them all. Have a ball...

 

You'll enjoy the 6 speed manual.