I was not crazy about the color but the price was right for a 10k mile car!

 

Nice car!

I ended up buying a vert but if I did it again I might buy a Z06, I love the look and they almost do look like an exotic super car.

On yours.... I would loose the BSM and lower it a bit, the color is classic Vette not my choice but looks the part

 

None of these cars , be they garage queens or not, will bring more than a few thousand dollars more than an average nicely kept C5., I really can't see what the big deal is here. Whether an frc ( the cheapest by design ) or a Z06 (the better of the two with the same body design..) a coupe or a vert., appreciation will only occur 20 or 30 years from now..and that's only if it's a low mileage original or a 50,000/ 70,000 dollar frame off restoration.
The idea that anyone on this forum is going to hit a home run with there frc, z06, coupe or vert is funny.
No one on this forum has ever spoke of owning a collectable worthy car, that could be sold for more money within the next 20 years. The varience between any of these models over the next 20 years will only be a couple thousand dollars between a low mileage pristine C5 garage queen and a C5 that's is well maintained but driven average mileage...anyone who thinks their car is more special than 2 k in the next 20 years is a true dreamer. There are two business men in my area who own a Corvette from every year, bought new with every option with less than 1000 miles each... I've been to the two high security warehouse where these two collection reside. I've been privy to these two owners because of my involvement with GM. I'VE TALKED extensively with both owners ..these collections x are worth millions. I talked to them about corvette values... they both concur that the average guy with a Corvette no matter how well he thinks he keeps it, will never see any real money.
I'll say this only, because it not a secret. One owner is Chris Gaines of K&G speed shops. The other is Jim Costa, J&M tires. I've seen the cars .I agree with both of them. lots of dreamers on this forum.

 

How many 1987 Corvettes on the planet do you think you could find that are worth more than ten grand ?
Don't you think most owners with garage guess we're thinking Tha same thing Back then as the dreamers we see here today.

The C5 is almost 20 years old and it won't be worth more money in ten years but could appreciate in 30..

So in 2050 a 2000 C5 might bring 50 grand. But more likely because 50s grand in 2050 is equivalent to 20 grand today..

 

It is always good to have an opinion...no matter how right or wrong it may be. It is even better to have an opinion that is contrary to those who make their living forecasting such things.

Those with basic 100,000 mile C5's will continue to enjoy $10,000 toys, if well kept, for many years to come. The extreme low mileage unmolested Z cars will appreciate greatly in the next ten years, just as the experts who actually know what they are talking about, predict.

 

That's what my old neighbor with a Mustang Cobra R Fox-Body (1993?) used to say. He never, ever drove it because it was a "collectible". While a very cool car overall, in the bigger picture it's a 245 (?) hp Mustang with obselete braking and suspension systems, and a very aggressive sounding, but underpowered V-8. The "experts" told him it would be worth a fortune some day. Almost 25 years later with probably under 10,000 miles I'm guessing it's worth $20,000. Adjusted for inflation he probably lost 50% value on the car.

I would be willing to guess 98% of cars are not only poor, but terribly poor "investments". The number of C5 Corvettes...Z06, convertible, coupe...this option, that option, whatever option...is simply too great to make it a "collectible" car now or in the foreseeable future. As others posted, it would probably be at least 30+ years before any of these appreciated more than 3-5% (that 3-5% represents accounting for nothing more than a unique color a buyer specifically wants, seasonal factors, etc), if they appreciate at all.

On the plus side, the C5 Corvette has finally just about hit "bargain basement" pricing, meaning a floor in prices is finally developing. So while no (or absolutely meaningless) appreciation, definitely limited depreciation. Due to the mighty LS1, these shouldn't (in good shape of course) drop below $15,000 in price unless they have extremely high miles for a Corvette (100,000+ miles).

Meaning they are in theory a great investment right now since you won't suffer from massive depreciation that hits all modern cars. That's why it's best to just drive and enjoy them. No sense in keeping them unbelieveably nice and low mileage for the next owner who won't pay these imaginary "collectors" prices.

 

Beautiful.

I bought Z06 rims for my coupe. I can't wait for the tires to wear so I can put them on. I might need to assist with that process in the spring.

 

Not seeing many dreamers in this thread, most comments are pretty conservative on values going up or down.

 

 

Impressive and insightful! Someone who understands this notion about car values and depreciation. It's good to know that some actually gets it.....nice commentary. ..on the urban legend of my car is special.
It's a collectable
There isn't an FRC, Coupe ,orVert on this forum that will see collectable money for 50 years.

Those dreamers with a nice car might see a 2 K premium from other cars of its type and age . But to say that 2k premium makes it a collectable is pipe dreaming.

 

I agree these are driver's cars and therefore should be driven...I plan on driving mine, but I also plan on meticulously maintaining it, both mechanically and cosmetically, but not to keep it nice for the next owner...to keep it nice for me!

 

Isn't it interesting that the naysayers of C5 appreciation are the folks that have the normal C5 with usually some miles on them. We are just not hearing from the ZO6 owners with the very low mile examples. There are a number of those out there and they are already showing signs of appreciating. They are also bringing far more than some mythical $2,000 more than the average car.

I have one of the low mileage ones but not for long. I intend to drive mine extensively and enjoy it. I do though come down on the side of the people who do this for a living and think for some the very low mileage cars are a good investment, today.

 

Nothing wrong with that.

My family and friends thought I was insane to spend $1,100 on a Corsa exhaust for a 17 year old Corvette. They think I'm even more insane to spend $1,100 on a balancer (parts and labor), $1,500+ on headers, and $500 on a cold air intake this spring and summer. But at the end of the day I'm driving the car and want it to sound and drive great.

As long as a C5 owner is driving their car, any money spent on mods (within reason of course) is well worth it. Storing or limiting C5 mileage with the hopes it will appreciate in value is like limiting the miles I put on my Cobalt LT2 hoping it will appreciate in value.

 

 

My "normal" C5 had 19,000 miles when I bought it this past summer. Now at 21,000 miles. I wouldn't call that "miles on it".

And look at my example above of a former neighbor with a 1993 (?) Mustang Cobra R. That is a very limited production, very low mileage unit. Adjusted for inflation he got destroyed in his pursuit of a "collectors" car. So have 98%+ of other "car collectors". A minuscule number of car models have appreciated in value over time. Even fewer from the "modern era" (say 1975-present).

Pretty much the only single model of car that I can think of since 1975 that has appreciated somewhat substantially is a Supra with twin turbos. And even that car, Adjusted for inflation, has only appreciated maybe 20-35% total from the purchase price when new...and that is over an almost 20 year period. Meaning 1-2% yearly appreciation when adjusting for inflation, and that's about the best example I can think of from the "modern era". And don't forget...Supra twin turbos were a much, much lower production car than our C5s, even the Z06 Corvettes. Even Grand Nationals (which are truly awesome cars and produced in very low numbers--at least relative to a C5 Corvette) are barely worth more than they were in 1987 when Adjusted for inflation.

And yes, the GNX has appreciated considerably since 1987, but there were only 547 produced. I bet GM produced more Z06 C5 Corvettes in any 2 month period during 2002 alone. I've known people who tried storing low mileage Vipers, special edition Mustangs, Camaros (IROC-Zs ), etc. and the vast majority become depreciation monsters even before factoring inflation into the equation.

Point being, drive your C5, whatever trim level or option package it has, and enjoy it...but expect to see a pink unicorn or Bigfoot before you see it appreciate.

 

Z cars will and are worth more period and that gap will get bigger as these cars age. Of course mileage, condition and number of owners will be factors.
IMO all will start going up from around this time, but not exceed original purchase price for decades if ever, for most.....

I just wanted to clarify what I've been stating.
Slo beat me to it, maybe his name should start with "fast"

 

 

People are expressing opinions here, try not to get too upset if they are not always the same as yours.

 

this is your problem to a tee et !!