grampi50

I don't know if it's a seasonal thing, or if prices are actually going up, but prices are definitely higher now than they were before summer arrived. I see asking prices for C5s now in the high teens and low 20s, when they were in the low to mid teens earlier. Does the time of the year really make that much of a difference in the selling prices, or are these sellers just lost in a pipe dream?

Vetteman Jack

Prices do tend to rise in the spring and summer and decline in the fall and winter. This is still prime time for selling a car so yes, the prices tend to be higher. Of course a seller can ask what they want - getting it is another question. I still think the C5 tends to be undervalued on the forum.

acuevo

Summer will definitely drive prices up, but I also feel like Vette buyers haggle pretty well with dealers (can't say about private sale). So I think the dealers may be trying to compensate with a higher starting price. They wanted 19 for mine back in April and I knocked them down to 16995. I'm not particularly good at haggling so I assume most other buyers are doing as good or better when they go to the dealership.

4XLR8N

CF seems to be a great place for buying, but selling not so much, in terms of $ .

RVETTE42

If you want to see what they are truly selling for go to the auction site and mark for sold prices only and that will give you an idea what they are truly selling for.

ronwc

Not sure where you guys live or where you buy, but around here is Fl you can get not so perfect but ok C5's for $8k, nice ones for $12, C6's starting at $15k. There are some higher but not sure if they're selling. I've never bought a car from a dealer, always a private owner, usually off craigslist. And yes, I haggle the heck out of them, part of the fun. Here is the last one I bought, a 97 C5, he wanted $9500 and I got it for $7500. Did have high miles at 134k, but runs and drives perfect. Just took cross country 2 years ago, picture taken at Garden of the Gods in CO.

grampi50

That's true. Asking prices and selling prices are not the same thing...

grampi50

I'm not seeing anything close to these prices...higher milegae C5s are listed in the mid teens, and nice, low mileage pre-'01s are listed in the high teens, and nice '01s or newer are listed for over 20, which is considerably higher prices than I was seeing several months ago...

ArmchairArchitect

Asking prices literally mean nothing. Selling prices are what matter. Go to ebay and use the "sold listings" filter, also check blue book values.

JR-01

Recently I checked local prices and was a little shocked at what people were asking for their C5s. When I go to sell mine, I should have no problem selling it because I will ask thousands less for a better car.

Mayor111

Actually - I think C5 (and C4) prices are dropping like crazy. This time last year, prices were much higher... Im seeing the same asking price for C3s, as they have for C4's and even some C5s... The $8,000 to $12,000 range can pretty much get you any C3 to C5 that you want...

Not sure how much lower than can go...

grampi50

I have not looked at C3s, but the only C5s I've seen for less than $12K are those with way over 100K miles and are pretty beat lookin...anything with less than 40K miles has been listed in the high teens and low 20s....I think these sellers are smokin' some good stuff!

JohnRogers

C5 asking prices seem higher here at Corvette Forum, some of that due to most cars are Z06. As August approaches I'm leaning toward waiting on Christmas Sale prices.

Velocity_Vette

You can't look at just auction and dealer sites. That's dealing primary with retail prices, which are usually always going to be higher than private prices. Private will typically always be cheaper, and those that are asking seemingly high retail-level private prices eventually drop and drop and drop if they actually want to sell their car(s).

If anything, I've been seeing the private sales C5 market drop quite a bit whereas the retail market has not seen the same degree of drop. I believe that one thing that may have spurred this on is that some people may at one time have wanted to sell their cars and couldn't or were holding onto a car and started driving it. Now that those have accumulated more mileage it's beginning to push a larger market of higher mileage cars. It's not a surprising situation at all and if anything it just goes to show that there are C5 owners that believe in putting miles on their cars.

The only thing that will begin to work against these lower prices is I've posted a few times I can't see prices getting any lower. At a $6K-$7K sale price that's nearly in territory for a full part out rather than take a $$$$ hit. Body parts "know no mileage" when it comes to sales, and C5 mechanical parts are still exceptionally popular for various things (aluminum LS swaps, suspension components, etc, etc).

Evil-Twin

This is how I view C5 pricing. with a 1/4 million built. 10 % have been well maintained and look almost as good as new with documentation. 10 % have been horribly maintained. 80 % are average with average mileage, and average upgrades, maintenance and cleanliness.. if the upper ten % can command 20+ and the lower 10% can hope to get 10K and under . with the 80 % average seeing 12 to 16 K with a mix of quality filling in the holes.

With so many average C5 out there, and many of them approaching the lower 10% as time goes on... those 10% that are pristine are seeing an increased demand and prices to match. Most of the upper 10 % cars don't stay on the market for long because most looking for a nice car see a lot of junk out there. Also the low end 10% go fairly quick as well because owners are more desperate, are easily negotiated.. lots of kids are looking for an 8 to 10 K Corvette, no matter what the condition.. The guy with the upper 10% car, is not desperate, will hold his price, knowing that someone will appreciate the effort and the security of documentation and care taken. Unfortunately, some original owner pristine Corvettes in the upper 10% have been stolen from a ill-advised widow of a guy who kept his car in that upper level of maintenance, and care.

Roddy13

Huge swing in the prices. You get what you pay for. in my area, yes C5 prices have been going up moderately. Summer is a short period of time, fall will indicate some lower priced units but for the most part C5's cant really go any lower IMO

Mayor111

Don't buy from here - love the forums but the sellers here are so unrealistic with their asking prices... Look on Craigslist - that will be your best deal with at least fair prices.

grampi50

IDK, I'd almost prefer to buy one from someone on this site...it's probably more than likely been well taken care of, and people seem to know everyone on this site, so that would tend to keep people honest, and not screw people. I would certainly buy one from someone on this site before I'd buy one from a dealer, otherwise, a private seller would be okay too...I've also seen some very fair pricing on here too...the ones who are out in left field right now are the dealerships...they are asking some insane prices!

Roddy13

I disagree. I think the best C5's are available here in the for sale section... Especially when its members who have been around for quite some time. You know its a true enthusiast who owned the car, and the for sale articles are more detailed, better photos.

I almost flew across country to buy from a forum member. I'd trust buying from a forum member over a curber any day. And I dont mind paying a bit extra when I can come on here and find a members documented build thread etc, and other members know the car/seller etc.

Mayor111

I never said the cars here aren't well cared for - I said the prices here are insane - meaning extremely high compared to 95% of all other sites...

Regardless what site you buy from - you can quickly determine if a car was well cared for or not... I know alot of crappy cars for sale here and on Craigslist and on EBay...and vice versa - alot of awesome cars here, and on CL and EBay...

I was just pointing out price...