What to do with these stripes???
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 169
Likes: 22
From: Shelton WA
What to do with these stripes???
So, we finally found a c5 that checks most of our boxes. 02, low miles (44K), manual, not modded/tracked, and in one of the color combos that we like. Now, i don't want to step on any toes here being the newb, but just don't like the stripes on the hood/rear deck. (must be leftover from my time restoring vintage mustangs when guys would put racing stripes on their coups-
) The price is really good, and he has had it up for a while so i'm thinking i can even get him down further. But then there's the stripes...I didn't want to tell the guy i didn't like them, so i asked if they were painted on or if they were a wrap or decal. He said painted. So, do i have any options besides a repaint (which i definitely don't want to do). Thought about if we did buy it, could try and rub them off if they haven't been cleared over, but that seems a bit dicey, especially if i had to get even more aggressive with wetsanding...open to ideas, and i'm OK with not even pursuing this one if its going to be a booger! Thanks for any suggestions/ideas!
jp
) The price is really good, and he has had it up for a while so i'm thinking i can even get him down further. But then there's the stripes...I didn't want to tell the guy i didn't like them, so i asked if they were painted on or if they were a wrap or decal. He said painted. So, do i have any options besides a repaint (which i definitely don't want to do). Thought about if we did buy it, could try and rub them off if they haven't been cleared over, but that seems a bit dicey, especially if i had to get even more aggressive with wetsanding...open to ideas, and i'm OK with not even pursuing this one if its going to be a booger! Thanks for any suggestions/ideas!jp
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Could be wrong, but IMO if they are painted on, about the only way to get them off is a repaint.
I think they look pretty good on the car.
I think they look pretty good on the car.
Last edited by Vetteman Jack; Jun 10, 2017 at 11:22 PM.
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I'm not really a fan of stripes either and don't think I would ever do that to my car but the ones on the hood actually don't look too bad... maybe you could get away with just having the trunk lid resprayed and leave the hood alone?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2014
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Something to investigate is if the car has had a full repaint at which time the stripes were added. If so it should be evident and may have been done as a result of a prior accident. Carfax may be a place to start. How many owners? This owner may have bought it with the stripes. Lastly a hood, hatch and rear facia repaint shouldn't be too costly as compared to the entire car. Not a fan of the stripes either.
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From: Morristown New Jersey
Oldtimer
if you like a hood stripe, but a different style that could cover these, you could check vettestripes.com, if not keep looking
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2016
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From: jefferson texas
Sounds like a good C5 if everything checked out (accident free, maintenance records etc.). But if you are determined to get rid of the stripes with a repaint (not cheap) then you are losing any benefit from a good price (?) on the car. If it were me, and I couldn't live with the striping, I would go with some others above and pass on that car and keep looking. If you are patient you will find there are still a fairly good number, coast to coast, of very minty C5's to be had. Good luck!
Last edited by friou; Jun 11, 2017 at 08:06 AM.
Just another example of someone spending a lot of money to make their vehicle worth less.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2015
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This guy spends more time worrying abouy how much his car will resale for.
Bottom line is, it's just a f*&king car. A C5 will never increase in value in our lifetime. It's all about making the car your own. Most people don't expect to get any money out of their mods. But they enjoy the car more while THEY own it. So what if you dump another 10K in the car and it brings the same $$ as a stock C5? It's about personalization, not investment.
Shakey
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Personally I like them and agree they may grow on you, not seeing a picture of the rear stripes but if they are in the same fashion as the front they both should give the red car a bit of a unique look that will make it stand alone from many red vettes that you see especially if they are done well and don't look like a cheap decal which you said they were not. If you don't think you would ever like them I would walk as there are any more out there and re-spray of just the front and rear panels can be tough to match in all light conditions.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 169
Likes: 22
From: Shelton WA
wow-thanks for all the great responses guys! (excellent suggestion norcalace-never thought that they might be as a result of an accident and added then. PO said they were there when he bought the car in 08, so definitely worth checking out) Well, i think its worth a looksee any ways. I REALLY appreciate all the responses/opinion. Thanks tons again -
jp
jp
Le Mans Master
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From: Morristown New Jersey
Oldtimer
Blah, blah, blah......
This guy spends more time worrying abouy how much his car will resale for. Bottom line is, it's just a f*&king car. A C5 will never increase in value in our lifetime. It's all about making the car your own. Most people don't expect to get any money out of their mods. But they enjoy the car more while THEY own it. So what if you dump another 10K in the car and it brings the same $$ as a stock C5? It's about personalization, not investment.Shakey
This guy spends more time worrying abouy how much his car will resale for. Bottom line is, it's just a f*&king car. A C5 will never increase in value in our lifetime. It's all about making the car your own. Most people don't expect to get any money out of their mods. But they enjoy the car more while THEY own it. So what if you dump another 10K in the car and it brings the same $$ as a stock C5? It's about personalization, not investment.Shakey
Wow Shakeman, I'm agreeing with you twice in the same week!
actually, your statement hits home since I sometimes question myself about how far to go, will I keep this car long term partly because of all the effort I've put into it over the 14 months I've owned it and why do performance certain mods even tho' I have no plans to return to any track activity.To the OP, I think the stripes look good despite my lack of guts to do it to my own car.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
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From: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
I'd buy the car anyway, the stripes look okay to me. I have a torch Z without but I've thought about doing the hood. You could just start by painting the trunk first and see how you like it. Or contact Marc at Vettenuts, maybe he could make you some sort of deal on unstriped body parts to replace yours. Painting the parts could be less than hunting for another suitable candidate. Plus the parts work with the wheels. If you like everything else don't let it slip by, you might regret it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Chesapeake Beach Maryland
2015 C5 of Year Finalist
I think that there are enough C5's on the market that if you don't like the stripes or wheels I'd move on. The cost of replacing stripes and wheels will offset the nice price your are getting on the car. IMHO
Le Mans Master
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From: BEST Corn-Nation
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That's what I was going to suggest. Find someone with the same color car and they want stripes, then swap parts. Shouldn't be any money exchanged and swapped even Steven. I personally like the stripes but not a fan of black wheels.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 380
Likes: 67
From: Kelso Wa.
If you think it's a good enough deal, get it. If the stripes bug you enough down the road, a $1000 bill can fix it, but evidently not everyone here thinks that way. After all it's just a car and as most car guys do, make it to your liking. It all boils down to your budget, your taste and what all you want to do with it.
At least that's how I look at it.
At least that's how I look at it.
Last edited by Carl Timonen; Jun 11, 2017 at 02:42 PM.