Keep it friendly or get it closed.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...conflicts.html

 

Thanks! I was actually looking for a vert

Thanks! I love the look of the Speedline rims.

As far as value goes I am not too worried about it. I actually bought the car because of how great of a value the C5 is currently. I bought the car to drive it and enjoy. If it goes up in value that would be nice. If I get my money back that would be nice. If it goes down some oh well. I will drive it and have fun with it regardless.

 

Yep, the pleasure of owning and driving the car will be well worth any depreciation...

 

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. [/QUOTE]

Actually there are a number of cars since 1975 that have taken off in value. There are a few models of Mercedes, a few BMW's including the M3,the NSX, the S2000, several 911's, and a few more when you start looking for them. Unfortunately for your neighbor, the fox body Mustang was not one of them.

Often, the people who own them, are the last to believe in the product. In the late sixties, my $2500 split window was just another used corvette and in the mid seventies my $5,000 289 Cobra was a lot of money for an impractical car. What drives car values are not the old men still driving C5's but the kids who were 15 when the Z06 came out and 20-25 years later are making enough money to buy the poster car that was on the wall of their bedroom or in the garage of the "old guy" next door.

Interesting topic and one with many opinions. Good for us all though to keep the vette "thing" alive and relevant.

 

Does SKYROCKET indicate it won’t lose its value as fast in 2017?

 

If C5s do go up in value, it will probably push me out of the market. I have entertained the idea of getting into a Corvette, and my decision is basically between a C5 and a C7 (I don't like the look of the C6 much). If the values did appreciate, I'd probably rather have the new(er) car for all of the reasons that make it the "best" Corvette ever.

But with C5 prices the way they've been, they do provide a tempting option for me.

 

Those of us with one owner nice cars, with all the power we need updated electronics, interiors, suspension, etc. The biggest thing , is its paid for>>> And its the way we ant it.So the really nice one don't see the sale block. While there are a lot of C5"s there are lots of average cars.. Those of us hanging on, look at an upgrade as a 60/70 + thousand dollar investment, and another 10/15K to make it our own.
Even average C5's can be made into really nice cars with a lot less than 70 or 80 K. You can buy a decent C5 in the 15 to 20k range and add as you can afford, to get it where you want it. Its fun without a heavy 80K note up front.. and Don't forget the sales tax of a New car. That could be another 5/6K.
Just some points of view

Bill aka ET

 

All excellent points, Bill. Thanks for the perspective. I really like the C5 in general, and I currently drive a car that is paid off with about ~$15k into it on top of the purchase price.


One of the things that I'm realizing is that I generally don't like to buy showroom new cars, but rather I wait till a car is a couple of years old.


Some of the things that entice me toward the C7 are the chassis engineering and the seats. As I understand it, the C5's seats are not well liked (though I could just put some different ones in there). I'm also intrigued by the magnetic suspension and the carbon ceramic brakes--though the brakes are something I'd have to learn more about before considering a car with that option (maintenance/upkeep costs?).


Of course, I also like what I'm hearing/reading about the LT1.

 

I'm just happy mine has only lost a few thousand $ in value since I bought it 5 years ago, I certainly don't expect it to gain anything in value over the next few years.