C5
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 64
Likes: 34
From: Ohio
A C5 will make all of your dreams come true.
Seriously - Sure, maintenance is going to cost you more than your average car, but a C5 is not your average car. Well worth the cost of maintenance. I can probably speak for others here on this forum, but we absolutely love our C5's. Just my two cents!
Seriously - Sure, maintenance is going to cost you more than your average car, but a C5 is not your average car. Well worth the cost of maintenance. I can probably speak for others here on this forum, but we absolutely love our C5's. Just my two cents!
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,387
Likes: 384
From: Virginia
St. Jude Donor '18
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 17,655
Likes: 1,209
From: Aiken, SC
St. Jude Donor '13 thru '26
I bought a 78 T/A new and kept it for 16 years. I absolutely loved it. Bought the Corvette four years ago this month, never looked back...
Maintenance is no deal breaker. Most Corvette are very well maintained cars.
Let me ask this. How many inside door handles did you break over the years in the T/A?
Maintenance is no deal breaker. Most Corvette are very well maintained cars.
Let me ask this. How many inside door handles did you break over the years in the T/A?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 6,480
Likes: 555
I don't see why a C5 would require any more maintenance than a T/A would...in fact, I would bet the C5 is more reliable than a T/A...1978 was not a good time for getting reliable, well built vehicles from GM...that was part of the "dark age" for the General...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 3,274
Likes: 1,094
From: Pittsburgh PA
Who are these people that tell you these thing. My car is going on 20 years old, my costs are what i want to do to it. It certainly depends on how the car was maintained. I started with mine new so i own every mile. Tires and brakes have been my biggest expense. Find the right car and you will be glad you did. The C5 is a great platform to work and build on.
Pro
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 592
Likes: 21
From: St Aug, FL
Maintenance costs aren't high as everyone makes them out to be unless you're taking your car to a mechanic for every little thing. If you're a do-it-yourself kinda person the C5 is fairly easy to work on. I've had my C5 since Jan 2004 and have not had any major issues other than replacing normal wear items like brakes, belts, lights, etc...
Mine has 103k miles on it and has been on the drag strip and handful of times and now see's the road course more than the street. There are plenty of C5's out there that have been pampered by their owners so finding one in a good shape that has been maintained should be somewhat easy relatively speaking.
Having owned a couple 2nd gen F-bodies myself, including a 77 T/A at the same time I owned my C5 I can tell you there is no comparison. The C5 is soooo much more fun.
Mine has 103k miles on it and has been on the drag strip and handful of times and now see's the road course more than the street. There are plenty of C5's out there that have been pampered by their owners so finding one in a good shape that has been maintained should be somewhat easy relatively speaking.
Having owned a couple 2nd gen F-bodies myself, including a 77 T/A at the same time I owned my C5 I can tell you there is no comparison. The C5 is soooo much more fun.
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Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 10
Likes: 1
Who are these people that tell you these thing. My car is going on 20 years old, my costs are what i want to do to it. It certainly depends on how the car was maintained. I started with mine new so i own every mile. Tires and brakes have been my biggest expense. Find the right car and you will be glad you did. The C5 is a great platform to work and build on.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 29,888
Likes: 4,538
From: Bonita Springs, Florida
Who are these people that tell you these thing. My car is going on 20 years old, my costs are what i want to do to it. It certainly depends on how the car was maintained. I started with mine new so i own every mile. Tires and brakes have been my biggest expense. Find the right car and you will be glad you did. The C5 is a great platform to work and build on.
Exactly. In over 11 years, other than mods, and routine maintenance such as tires, and fluid changes, I have replaced 2 window regulators and a clutch master cylinder, that's it. My C5 is the most reliable car ever. Just be careful of the car you chose. Don't think that a $12,000 C5 is the same as a $22,000 C5. BTW, any 1978 vehicle will require much more mainteneace than a 1997-2004 vehicle.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 3,399
Likes: 1,338
From: Havre de Grace Maryland
Make sure you read all the Sticky Threads at the top of the C5 CF. Although most Vette owners take care of their C5's, things do wear and break in any car. The C5's do have some wear anomalies that you may not have encountered in other cars. If you are a mechanic DIY, that will help defray the cost of ownership. If you decide to buy, drive it and have the best drive's of your life. 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 788
Likes: 33
From: Cedar Rapids IA
Well when my C5 is 39 yrs old I'm wondering what parts will be available:
mirror modules
door lock module
seat modules
body control module
electronic brake control module
real time dampening module
electronic throttle control module
engine control module
steering wheel sensor
instrument cluster module
tpms module
mirror modules
door lock module
seat modules
body control module
electronic brake control module
real time dampening module
electronic throttle control module
engine control module
steering wheel sensor
instrument cluster module
tpms module
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,398
Likes: 768
From: jefferson texas
If you choose wisely, do your homework, read the stickies above and look for C5's that are properly maintained/cared for they are a terrific buy in my humble opinion. Don't buy a C5 with deferred maintenance of any kind. There are plenty of immaculate C5's for sale with plenty of loving care put into them. Be sure to have any C5 you get serious about checked end to end by a well qualified tech/shop that is thoroughly familiar with these cars. A good example is the performance car bargain of the century!! Happy Hunting!!
Pro
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 503
Likes: 50
From: Bradenton, FL
Well when my C5 is 39 yrs old I'm wondering what parts will be available:
mirror modules
door lock module
seat modules
body control module
electronic brake control module
real time dampening module
electronic throttle control module
engine control module
steering wheel sensor
instrument cluster module
tpms module
mirror modules
door lock module
seat modules
body control module
electronic brake control module
real time dampening module
electronic throttle control module
engine control module
steering wheel sensor
instrument cluster module
tpms module
Sorry OP, didn't mean to hijack. Get the C5. You won't regret it.