CF,

I am the lucky SOB that took ownership of MotoJB's highly modded '03 C5Z with all of the sweet upgrades. Since I have had it, it's been tweaked just a bit more (19x12 F-14 wheels on 335/30/19 tires, Borla Stinger quad-tip exhaust, full front clear bra). I have also installed all the bits that came with the car (painted and CF engines pieces, painted center console and double din Kenwood head unit). So, needless to say, the C5Z is about as dialed in as it needs to be.

Now for the difficult question...

I will be relocating overseas for a few years, and it will not be feasible to bring the C5Z with. I own the Z outright, and don't need to cash the Z out for the move. With that in mind, what would you do if you were in my shoes:

- Put it in storage, or;
- Test the waters, and if I get an acceptable offer, sell it so someone else can enjoy the ride?

I'm sure most of dudes here will remember the car, but here are a few mediocre pics of the C5Z in its current form:

 

wow...that's a tough call. It is a super sweet Z but I would be hesitant to let it sit all that time unless I had a trusted family member or friend whom could take good care of it while I was gone.....esp starting it up and driving it a little on a regular basis. Really depends on how you feel about it and how attached you are to it. It is an amazing Z06 for sure. Good luck!

 

A few is pretty nondescript (3, 6?), but I'd sell regardless and buy layer.

 

Are you getting deployed? Can you get back to the states from time to time?

Do you have the right kind of family member to care for it, and drive (responsibly) at least one a month.... and would you keep up insurance and maintenance needs for a couple years?

Do you want to be in a new vette in a few years or stay in the C5 family?

 

That's a pretty wicked Z man you gotta keep it. I honestly think you will be very disappointed in the long run if you sell especially since it's the way you want it now.


On another note thank you very much for your service!


Keep the car...............

 

I have a brother in CA that can look after the C5Z for me, so if I keep it, it will be shipped back to CA, just about an hour away from MOTOJB actually!!

I see a ZR1 in my future, but that leads to another hard question, sell the C5Z to get a ZR1, or keep it and have both generations...


Thanks for the sentiment . I did serve (4 in uniform and 22 out of uniform,) but that was in my previous life. This move is private sector related.

 

I would put it on the market and see if it fetches a good $$$. Otherwise, just send it to your brother to take care of while you are away.

Edit- good luck with your decision, its a sweet car.

 

My opinion:
Your (very nice) C5Z will be just another "old car" in a few years, BUT new technology will come out between now and then (think C7, C8)...... and you WILL want some of that whenever you return,
SO, I would SELL your C5Z, and BUY whatever youu wish when you return

 

Reviewing your additional comments - sell! It's quite unlikely the value you have in it now, will ever be realized upon your return, and all the goodies... dated.

Get what you can now, put it in investments and let it work for you, put away the monies you would spent to keep it up, keep ins etc. And have the peace of mind there will not be a bag of worms to deal with.

When you get back to the world, there will be enough to monies to buy the C6 - ZR1 of your dreams and no worries while your gone. s/f

 

Yes, this path would seem to be most logical and the financially responsible thing to do...

 

 

Just where are you going that you couldn't take it with you? Mine lived in Europe for a couple of months wail I was working. But then I also know a carnet for some countries is just ridicules, and you wouldn't want to have it there anyway.

Tough...

Mark

 

Yep sell. There are so many nice used corvettes for sale all the time. No sense getting emotionally attached.

 

Very sharp C5Z. If your brother agrees to keep it and maintain it ,then i would not sale.For those that say it will be just another old outdated car,i disagree.Sure there are new cars built every year,but do they have the excitement your Z has?Tell a man to sell his 67 Chevelle big block SS because it is outdated and buy a new Malibu.Sure the new Malibu handles and rides light years better,with way better gas mileage.Now fire up the 67 Chevelle and tell me which one you would rather take out on a sunny weekend.I know everybody has their opinion.Thank you for your service, and be safe overseas.

 

Here's another thing to consider if you sell. Spring would bring the most money. Now is not a good time. So if spring is not an option, keeping it might be better. Don't want to give it away.

 

Good suggestion. Thanks.

Agreed. Although a C5Z will never attain collector status, there are always those (myself included) who hold its looks and performance in high regard, especially a well-kept specimen like this particular C5Z.

A company car is part of the comp package so they will not ship or pay the duty tax to import a POV. Paying out of pocket for shipping costs and duty tax would not make fiscal sense...

 

Like others has asked and stated:

If you're able to leave it with a trustworthy family member who could give it the attention it needs I would keep the car. You can always take some good photos of the car and post it for sale while you're overseas if you feel the need to sell it for whatever reason.


If a ZR1 is in the future I'd keep both. Like you I see a ZR1 ownership in the future but something to enjoy in a driving way, ownership (top tier) and a accomplishment in the vette world. Having both Vettes at once will keep the miles lower on each since you're not 'forced' into driving one, you've got both to pick from. Sure, miles dont matter but having low miles is always a bonus. (I'm all for driving a vette as much as possible but would love to have multiple to do so to.) I think having the ability to 'pick' your ride when you walk out to the garage seems like a cool 'privilege' to have. With the unique body of the C5Z I do think it could be a desirable car waaaay down the timeline. The ZR1 is extremely cool and radical car in so many ways. Having both will keep you humbled, I think. Plus you can never have too many toys!

Either way, I think if you went to sell the car today you could get the money back. But it seems the C5Z prices are starting to sink slightly. If you can put the car in hands you trust for the time of your stint overseas then do so.

 

A trustworthy family member and a super hot C-5 .That's like asking your brother to look after you hot wife wile I'm gone for 2 years LOL . I don't think a really nice C-5 will drop in price that much in 2 years ,just your Ok C-5 might but this is a really nice one I think it will hold up in price if can sell it now for the money sell if not if not look what you got sitting waiting for you when you get back . ZR 1s are not going anywhere and the price on them will be down in two years and the resale on the C-5 should be about the same . The ZR-1s are to me as good as Corvettes get , In my Corvette club we have 3 , super nice rides . I like them better that the C-7 Zs..

 

if it was a normal C5Z I'd probably dump it just to not have to worry about it plus while you're away you could put even more $$$ aside from the proceeds from selling it & upgrade later on to C6 ZR1 as you mentioned or whatever.

However seeing that it is so heavily modified, even though it wasn't all your money funding the mods, I couldn't justify selling it & losing sooooooo much value put into it. You won't get more than $30k....and that's generous, probably @ least $70k into the thing all said and done....

 

Yeah...given all the mods this Z has received, you're not too far off with your ballpark estimate...