Thinking about buying a C5
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 2,782
Likes: 314
From: The Lowcountry South Carolina
I've had USAA since the late 60s, always a fair rate. My comp/coll is 170 and change every 6mo.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,600
Likes: 305
From: Carmel Indiana
I had very specific wants and took me about 4 mo of surfing forums and car sites. Had to be black, vert, 6spd, oak interior, and '03 or '04. finally found what we wanted at a dealer about 300 mi. away. We conversed about a week with him taking very specific photos for me so no surprises when we showed up.
It was a fun period looking for it. Take your time and the right one will show up.
Oh, and mine is an 03, 49K miles, 6-spd very well taken care of and pristine body and interior, engine and I will be asking $20-18K with the dealer probably giving me $15K as a trade when we order a C7 here shortly. Its black and a vert, so not your cup of tea, sorry.
It was a fun period looking for it. Take your time and the right one will show up.
Oh, and mine is an 03, 49K miles, 6-spd very well taken care of and pristine body and interior, engine and I will be asking $20-18K with the dealer probably giving me $15K as a trade when we order a C7 here shortly. Its black and a vert, so not your cup of tea, sorry.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 6,480
Likes: 555
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 6,480
Likes: 555
On some of the Vettes I have seen the exhaust area dressed up with what looks like some type of chrome thing that has the Corvette flags on it. Is that something aftermarket, or is that a factory/dealer add-on? It looks sharp as hell whatever it is....
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 6,480
Likes: 555
low mile garage queens with a block full of stagnant dex cool could spell more trouble than a used Car,
I once bought a 44K mile one owner impala ss that had so much rusted orange foulness throughout the cooling system, that it made me sick to my stomach low miles = low useage and rust never sleeps, reciprocation is good
sitting not so much.
corvettes built after mid year 2003 have non permeable fuel hoses between the tanks
and they use a top loader fuel pump/sender assy
what that means in laymans terms, is repairs to the fuel pumps/gauge sender or even the pick up sock requires removal of the transmission ur um transaxle at least that's what some dealers will tell you
What that means to your wallet? ask someone that knows
Bottom line is this, earlier cars have "user serviceable" fuel systems, later cars not so much.
the later cars require replacement of special non permeable hoses and brittle plastic connectors that will leave whomever undertakes the job wounded and angry to say the least
stagnated dexcool with an iron block and heads= rust
with an aluminum block and heads I know nothing
I once bought a 44K mile one owner impala ss that had so much rusted orange foulness throughout the cooling system, that it made me sick to my stomach low miles = low useage and rust never sleeps, reciprocation is good
sitting not so much.
corvettes built after mid year 2003 have non permeable fuel hoses between the tanks
and they use a top loader fuel pump/sender assy
what that means in laymans terms, is repairs to the fuel pumps/gauge sender or even the pick up sock requires removal of the transmission ur um transaxle at least that's what some dealers will tell you
What that means to your wallet? ask someone that knows
Bottom line is this, earlier cars have "user serviceable" fuel systems, later cars not so much.
the later cars require replacement of special non permeable hoses and brittle plastic connectors that will leave whomever undertakes the job wounded and angry to say the least
stagnated dexcool with an iron block and heads= rust
with an aluminum block and heads I know nothing
Would you say an '01-'04 C5 with 25K-40K miles would be a desirable, or a stay-away-from car?
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Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 29,252
Likes: 176
From: Blessed are the cracked. For they are the ones who let in the light.
St. Jude Donor '08 thru '26
I am on my 5th C5, 2-2003s, and 3-99's.
Just a fantastic car for the $$, and very reliable also!
We are the same age too.
Be patient as great deals are heading your way with the end of driving season.
Have your ducks in a row as deals come fast and go quick also.
Keep reading the sticky at top and their is a buyers check list in their also.
Hell I think the search is half the fun.
20k will get you a Z06, coupe or vert easily.
Z06 might have all black or might have red inserts, very nice, with torch red ext.
If you don't mind I will shoot you a pm if I find a nice one.
And do not be afraid to travel for the right car!! I flew to OKC and NO for 2 of them, sight unseen, and they were fantastic!!
Many here would go thru the checklist in that area to help look at it for you.
C5 is a wonderful community, welcome.
Ps...don't thank me..I hate that chit... LOL
Just a fantastic car for the $$, and very reliable also!
We are the same age too.
Be patient as great deals are heading your way with the end of driving season.
Have your ducks in a row as deals come fast and go quick also.
Keep reading the sticky at top and their is a buyers check list in their also.
Hell I think the search is half the fun.
20k will get you a Z06, coupe or vert easily.
Z06 might have all black or might have red inserts, very nice, with torch red ext.
If you don't mind I will shoot you a pm if I find a nice one.
And do not be afraid to travel for the right car!! I flew to OKC and NO for 2 of them, sight unseen, and they were fantastic!!
Many here would go thru the checklist in that area to help look at it for you.
C5 is a wonderful community, welcome.
Ps...don't thank me..I hate that chit... LOL
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 6,480
Likes: 555
I am on my 5th C5, 2-2003s, and 3-99's.
Just a fantastic car for the $$, and very reliable also!
We are the same age too.
Be patient as great deals are heading your way with the end of driving season.
Have your ducks in a row as deals come fast and go quick also.
Keep reading the sticky at top and their is a buyers check list in their also.
Hell I think the search is half the fun.
20k will get you a Z06, coupe or vert easily.
Z06 might have all black or might have red inserts, very nice, with torch red ext.
If you don't mind I will shoot you a pm if I find a nice one.
And do not be afraid to travel for the right car!! I flew to OKC and NO for 2 of them, sight unseen, and they were fantastic!!
Many here would go thru the checklist in that area to help look at it for you.
C5 is a wonderful community, welcome.
Ps...don't thank me..I hate that chit... LOL
Just a fantastic car for the $$, and very reliable also!
We are the same age too.
Be patient as great deals are heading your way with the end of driving season.
Have your ducks in a row as deals come fast and go quick also.
Keep reading the sticky at top and their is a buyers check list in their also.
Hell I think the search is half the fun.
20k will get you a Z06, coupe or vert easily.
Z06 might have all black or might have red inserts, very nice, with torch red ext.
If you don't mind I will shoot you a pm if I find a nice one.
And do not be afraid to travel for the right car!! I flew to OKC and NO for 2 of them, sight unseen, and they were fantastic!!
Many here would go thru the checklist in that area to help look at it for you.
C5 is a wonderful community, welcome.
Ps...don't thank me..I hate that chit... LOL
I'm not quite ready to buy yet. I'm still in the R&D phase. When I make a major purchase, such as a vehicle, I like to know everything I possibly can about the vehicle before I buy, and it sounds like there's a lot to learn about the C5. For example, I had no idea the 2001 and later models had so many changes and improvements from the earlier models.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,398
Likes: 768
From: jefferson texas
Hello again! I'm sure that alot of members will agree with me when I say dedicated maintenance trumps mileage every time. The mileage you ask about is great if, and its a very important if, the car has been properly maintained. I'll say once again, absolutely insist on maintenance records, in my opinion its importance can't be over overstated. Also, again I would advise you to have an intended purchase thoroughly checked by a good C5 shop/tech. I know you said you are mechanically inclined but you really need a experienced and qualified eye to do your check. C5's are terrific cars but they have their quirks. Just eyeballing it is taking a risk, its worth the effort and money for the qualified professional evaluation to minimize your risk and maximize your chances of having a fulfilling C5 experience. If you find a likely candidate get back to this forum with all the specifics, members here, without a doubt, will give you all the feedback you can stand. Take good care and best wishes!
Last edited by friou; Sep 20, 2016 at 09:01 PM. Reason: spelling
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 29,252
Likes: 176
From: Blessed are the cracked. For they are the ones who let in the light.
St. Jude Donor '08 thru '26
I'm not quite ready to buy yet. I'm still in the R&D phase. When I make a major purchase, such as a vehicle, I like to know everything I possibly can about the vehicle before I buy, and it sounds like there's a lot to learn about the C5. For example, I had no idea the 2001 and later models had so many changes and improvements from the earlier models.
Welcome.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 6,480
Likes: 555
Hello again! I'm sure that alot of members will agree with me when I say dedicated maintenance trumps mileage every time. The mileage you ask about is great if, and its a very important if, the car has been properly maintained. I'll say once again, absolutely insist on maintenance records, in my opinion its importance can't be over overstated. Also, again I would advise you to have an intended purchase thoroughly checked by a good C5 shop/tech. I know you said you are mechanically inclined but you really need a experienced and qualified eye to do your check. C5's are terrific cars but they have their quirks. Just eyeballing it is taking a risk, its worth the effort and money for the qualified professional evaluation to minimize your risk and maximize your chances of having a fulfilling C5 experience. If you find a likely candidate get back to this forum with all the specifics, members here, without a doubt, will give you all the feedback you can stand. Take good care and best wishes!
I think what bow tie guy was saying was that a really low mileage car can actually have more problems than a car that's been driven on a regular basis, and I can certainly see his point. Of course we all want a used car that's been well maintained, that's a given. On the other side, a higher mileage car may have been well maintained, but it's also more likely to show more cosmetic wear and tear inside and out, so it ends up being kind of a balancing act. I wouldn't want a car that's been parked for years, just as I wouldn't want one with anywhere near 100K miles. And as far as having the car inspected by a highly qualified Corvette tech, I don't know how I'm supposed to do that if I find a car that's outside of my local area. If I only shop for one in my area, I'll not likely be able to find the one I want, or it's going to take me a long time to find it. How do you guys have cars inspected if you find one that's outside of your local area?
Last edited by grampi50; Sep 21, 2016 at 08:01 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 2,782
Likes: 314
From: The Lowcountry South Carolina
2) ask for someone's help who is a member here/there
3) life is a crap-shoot, the are no guarantees in used cars
Last edited by S.C. vette; Sep 26, 2016 at 08:00 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,883
Likes: 76
From: Portland OR
I will be totally honest. When I bought my car, it was almost 9 at night and was pitch black. I looked it over under the lights at the dealership, cleared all the codes, took it for a spirited but very short test drive and was out of there before 10. I would have liked to have been able to go through it, put it on a lift, but I didn't have the time or resources. I had done the research I needed to make an informed decision and that's what I did.
I later found some weird paint finish issues, but nothing to lose sleep over. The car drove well and had no codes come up after my test drive. I bought it Sunday night, left for a week road trip on Wednesday for Thanksgiving. Did 2800 miles in 5 days with no issues and got 28mpg average on the trip.
That was 2 years and 70k miles ago. Still love this car and will likely keep it.
I later found some weird paint finish issues, but nothing to lose sleep over. The car drove well and had no codes come up after my test drive. I bought it Sunday night, left for a week road trip on Wednesday for Thanksgiving. Did 2800 miles in 5 days with no issues and got 28mpg average on the trip.
That was 2 years and 70k miles ago. Still love this car and will likely keep it.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 6,480
Likes: 555
Something else I'm finding out. With many people recommending that I go with a 2001 or newer model, it severely limits my searches. I realize the '01 and newer models had a lot of upgrades over the earlier models, but were the earlier models really that bad? There are A LOT more vehicles available from 97-04 than there are from 01-04. In fact, the selection is so limited, I really don't know if I'll ever be able to find what I'm looking for if I'm only looking at those specific 4 model years...
Last edited by grampi50; Sep 26, 2016 at 04:09 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,883
Likes: 76
From: Portland OR
If you drive in a way that ABS and traction control really don't come into play, then the earlier ones are just fine. For me, I planned to keep my car (and I might end up using it as a donor down the road now after talking to the wife) so parts availability was key for me and those systems are very important. But I drive the wheels off my car, so having nannies is a good thing.
But there are also plenty of pre-01 owners that have not had issues with the ABS module, so there is nothing that says it will fail for sure anyway.
I drove a little over 4 hours to get my car. My search radius was 400 miles. My motorcycle search is nation wide as I intend to fly out and ride back. My buddy did that with his GT-R and many Corvette owners have done that on this forum.
My list was very short, but my car was exactly what I was looking for. If what you want is a plane ticket away, then the question is:
"How bad do you want it?"
But there are also plenty of pre-01 owners that have not had issues with the ABS module, so there is nothing that says it will fail for sure anyway.
I drove a little over 4 hours to get my car. My search radius was 400 miles. My motorcycle search is nation wide as I intend to fly out and ride back. My buddy did that with his GT-R and many Corvette owners have done that on this forum.
My list was very short, but my car was exactly what I was looking for. If what you want is a plane ticket away, then the question is:
"How bad do you want it?"
1/4 mile/AutoX
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 11,442
Likes: 2,186
From: Buffalo Texas
Something else I'm finding out. With many people recommending that I go with a 2001 or newer model, it severely limits my searches. I realize the '01 and newer models had a lot of upgrades over the earlier models, but were the earlier models really that bad? There are A LOT more vehicles available from 97-04 than there are from 01-04. In fact, the selection is so limited, I really don't know if I'll ever be able to find what I'm looking for if I'm only looking at those specific 4 model years...