So I've been lurking here for a while, mining the nuggets of wisdom forum members provide daily, reading the sticky do's and don'ts, checking the for sale section, etc.

I will be buying a C5 in the next few weeks and feel like I've got a decent budget for it, but before pulling the trigger I thought I'd see what the experts have to say about CHOICES.

The only absolute necessity for me is that I need a car that the top will come off of. I like the power of the Z06 and the look of the FRC, but I need something that'll blow my hair back while I still have some.

So aside from that if you don't mind helping me spend my $20,000, I'd love to hear the preferences of the C5 forum. Nobody knows more about the rides, mods, pro's and cons than the crew here. I'm sure of it.

I've been a C3 forum regular for a while now, and have continually been impressed by the knowledge base and cordial camaraderie that exists there. I'm hoping to find the same here.

Thank you in advance for the feedback and direction.

 

I drive a Z06 so I can't help in the targa vs vert department. I can tell you to drive several and pick the one that "speaks" to you. You will see several fine examples that are nice and you like but there will be one that is the OMG I gotta have this one! Buy that one.

I looked for several months and at 30+ Vettes. When I found the one I have, the whole deal felt right. When I pulled into the parking lot and saw the car it was WOW, drove it - WOW, condition and maintenance - WOW. The price wasn't bad either. I just couldn't dicker on it due to two other people expressing interest so I had to act fast. It has been 5 years and 90k miles later the car still makes me smile.

BTW, I bought my car with 167k miles on it. Everyone I told about it thought I was crazy until they saw it in person and they even said "WOW". Several people, including mechanics, have questioned the miles and looked at the odometer to verify.

 

I have a 99 coupe, I did not like the FRC look (it has now grown on me) but I really would have liked all the things that come with the ZO 6 package (I could list that if you like). I have added headers, LS 6 intake, Vararam CAI and a tune //// all the power I need right now !!!! I cannot put into words all I like about the C 5, other than I can't wait to get in it and never want to get out of it !!!!!!!!!! Good Luck to you !!!!!!

 

Buy a Vert if you want your remaining follicles to be tickled...... With $20k you should be able to buy a nice clean ride with 50k or less miles. You won't get a garage queen for that in a late C5, but close.

I love mine!

 

Just noticed your a Michigander

 

Based on the color and options I wanted I initially was searching for an FRC ('99-'00) but for what I wanted cars were well out of my price range. I eventually located something else that was near everything I wanted other than being an FRC but I had to settle for a targa hatch.

I can say that on a C5 the novelty of the targa wears off exceptionally quick. One thing I absolutely do not like about it that honestly baffles me that GM couldn't work out a little better is with the top off it's a cacophony of noise and wind in every which direction. I've owned T-top and sunroof cars that are nowhere near this bad. Low speeds and city driving are okay, but get the car up to 70-75 MPH interstate speeds and it's nearly unbearable. It gets to the point now where if I know I'm going on the Interstate for something I don't remove the top. If I'm running a quick errand then it'll come off. There are products to supposedly help like the WindJammer, but I'm not paying North of $200 for a piece of plastic.

If you do plan on enjoying no top weather I would seriously steer towards a convertible.

 

Between the vert and the coupe, it really comes down to a few things:

- which body style do you like? I'm partial to the sweeping lines of the coupe, but the vert gives you a similar profile to the Z06.

- how much open air feeling do you want? Obviously with the vert you'll get a lot more than the coupe, but the coupe with the removable targa still gives you plenty of air in your hair.

- How much storage room will you need? The coupe offers a LOT of storage in the rear hatch area. The vert not as much, but still decent for a drop top.

That's about the only differences in the two. Both have the same engine, tranny choices, rear gear choices, etc. My advice - be patient and look at a number of cars, unless the right one at the right price comes along quickly. Drive examples of each to see which one fits your driving needs. And don't be afraid of having to travel a distance to find your car - it could be worth it to get just what you want. Finally, decide on what colors, tranny, and options you want and try to find a car with them. You'll probably be much happier in the long run.

Good luck.

 

We were looking at Vettes for over a year. I found that if you have to convince yourself to like it, or accept it, it isn't the right car.

When you find the right car, it will feel right. Run right. Look right. To YOU. Even if it has a few little quirks or issues that need attention, you can overlook them.

And I have also found that if things are not smooth and don't fall into place easily, I walk away.

As for preference, I would take a Z06 over any other car but that is just my preference. There are so many C5's out there for sale you can pretty well pick and choose what you want.

 

As much as I love the Z06, I had to have the targa top. I still don't have a glass top (I do so want one though) but take the top off all the time.

I had a very basic list when I was shopping for mine. It took a little over 2 months to find and was only about 4 hours drive away. Make your list of Must Haves and Wants, then start looking.

My must haves were:
Silver, black, or maybe white
Manual
less than 75k
'01 or newer (abs and traction control systems)
Close to stock as possible

Nice to haves:
HUD
Glass top

Previous owner added Z06 rear brake ducts, that was a huge selling point for me (less work and I love the look and function). I've had her 2 years and 70k miles worth of love. Just had a LS7 clutch installed, redid the brakes last year, installing wheel hubs and suspension parts next weekend.

So damn dependable, I love this car. Once the wear items have been replaced, I hope to get another 150k out of her.

<edit> The storage space was also a concern. Needed room for 2 small dogs + gear for weekend or longer trips and the coupe is perfect. The trunk of the Z is small and the vert is even smaller than that.

 

I had an 80 t-top and now I have a '01 convertible. I love the Vert and would never go back to a T-top..

 

Welcome to the C5 side of the forum from a ex-Rochester, MI neighbor.

I've had my 98 coupe for 18 years, 6 months and 22 days, but who's counting. I spent a couple of months trying to decide on whether to order the vert of coupe back in 97, but finally decided on the coupe for several reason. First it looked great, but also met several key requirements such as, provided open air option with the targa off, but provide a quieter ride with the top on. It had great storage space for trip luggage and golf bags. I went with the A4 because I was still working then and it was my new daily driver. Two newer generations of Vette's have been introduced since but something keeps me holding onto this car. The newer Vette's are awesome but none of them have toggled the "gotta have" urge as my 98 did. The C5's body style looks timeless and holds its own against the C6-C7's. Performance wise in stock form its lacking but its plenty for what i need.

Wish you good luck in your C5 search and concur with several of the previous member comments, that you'll know you've found the right one - you'll feel it

if I see something real clean down this way I'll drop you a line.

 

Hello! From a former C3 owner (71 454 4spd) to a soon to be C5 owner, I'll say this: YOU'RE GONNA LOVE IT! I was orginally looking for a Z06 but a couple factors changed that, mostly having decided to get off my Harley permanently and still wanting to have an open air experience. I looked for the better part of a year and found a very nice 99 6m vert in the color and interior I was looking for with just 30K on the clock at well under $20K. I have found my C5 vert to be much quieter than I would have thought, top up and at highway speeds. The top is completely leak free and is easily taken down or put up, with very little effort (my other half does it by herself as easily as I do) in less than a minute. My favorite C5 lines go the the vert, FRC and Z06, but nothing beats a cruise, top down, on a beautiful day, listening to tunes and exhaust! With a 20K budget, if you are patient, you can find a very nice selection of extremely well cared for and maintained C5's. They are definitely out there, search nationwide for a wider candidate pool to choose from. Be fussy, selective, don't settle, wait for the just the right one. I loved my C3, but my C5 is all around a much, much better car, in every respect. Happy hunting and best wishes! PS: Don't forget, insist on accident history (none!), maintenance history, and a full bumper to bumper check by a good C5 shop/tech. A well chosen and properly maintained C5 is the performance bargain of the century (in my humble opinion of course), while a problem C5 can turn into a very frustrating and very expensive can of worms. Choose wisely!

 

Thank you experts, one and all.

Tips like the fact that the coup sounds like a loud parachute being dragged behind you make sense in terms of aerodynamics when the targa top is off. But I might not have known that without this kind of insider information. That kind of thing is great.

Any other things you'd have wish you would have known before purchasing your C5? ... Quirks these vehicles have that might not have been itemized in the stickies? Things you wish the previous owner would have done or not done before you got your car? Are the verts prone to leaks or loud with the top up? Did some years improve on these quirks? Am I much better off with the later C5?

Any of that kind of direction is particularly useful to me.

And again thank you!

 

I have had 2 convertables, and 1 T-top, the top was never off the T-top, I put my vert top down a lot, so easy, nothing to detach or store. I realize a targa may be easier than Ts but it cant be easier than a vert. Plus the look with top down is awsome. Imo

good luck

 

I knew exactly what I wanted and waited a bit until I found it. My requirements were M6, vert, no black interior and living in Florida it had to be a light color to avoid the sun heat. As previously stated determine your own requirements, take your time, avoid bargains and vehicles with heavy mods and you won't be sorry later. There is a ton of these available out there at fair prices.

 

Thanks again for all the thoughtful responses.

Looks like the C5 Forum is every bit as incredible as the C3 forum.

I will be posting a want to buy thread here on the forum, but I'd like to consider all of your input first. Initially, I'm leaning toward a 2002-2003 electron blue convertible or the 04 lemans commemorative convertible. As I said I'm still a c% newbee/novice so pro's and con's will continue to be very useful to me.

Many, many thanks!--Stroh

 

I think the biggest surprise for me was tires, mine came with very new Goodyear run flats, I thought great I don't have to worry about that expense. OH so very wrong, the vette handled like crap and was rough as a cob. Now there are many cheaper ways to go than my choice, But after putting Michelin's on a truck many many years a go and the very noticeable difference sold me on Michelin's. And I went with non-run flats and transformed the vette into a road hugging smooth machine that I expected in the first place !!!!!!

 

I'm also a Z06 owner, so take this with the proverbial grain.......

If it comes down to a choice of targa or vert, I'll pass on the convertible. They always look good when the top comes down, but when it goes back up, just looks wrong to me. The last corvette that looks "right" as a convertible was the C3.

But neither will ever feel as solid and sturdy as the FRC. Nor will either one of them look as cool......

Shakey

 

One point that you might not know is that if you test drive a C5 that has the original run-flat tires, they may give the car a jittery feel, especially if taking a turn on uneven pavement. When I put on new non runflats, that all went away and the car got much quieter.

 

I've been thinking about selling my '04 coupe. Since the divorce I don't drive it much. Hate seeing it just sitting in the garage. It's black on black auto with both tops, Z51 and all options. Still stock and have the complete service history. PM me for pics and more details if you are interested.