Considering buying a Corvette
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7th Gear
Joined: Sep 2017
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Considering buying a Corvette
I'm thinking about buying a Corvette but need a little bit of help.
What's the differences between the 1998 and 2002 C5?
Also what are the pros and cons for automatic/manual? I've had two automatic cars but want to learn manual (would a Corvette C5 be a good car for learning stick shift?)
What's the differences between the 1998 and 2002 C5?
Also what are the pros and cons for automatic/manual? I've had two automatic cars but want to learn manual (would a Corvette C5 be a good car for learning stick shift?)
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2014
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From: Boxford Massachusetts
A C5 is perfectly fine as car to learn how to drive a stick shift. It is not a high-strung, tempermental beast. It is quite forgiving, actually. I learned to drive a stick on the original VW Beetle. Not much difference between shifting it and the C5 really except for 2 extra gears and a bit more torque available should you want it.
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8VETTE7 has given some very useful links for you to check out. I've attached a list of differences in the C5 by year which might also help you. And I agree that the C5 is pretty easy to drive with a manual tranny.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Morristown New Jersey
Oldtimer
As for years, there are a few issues that could be a problem with a 98 that you wouldn’t find on an ‘02. Read the stickies!
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2016
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From: SF Bay Area
Manual: Better gas mileage and better acceleration if you're able to shift quickly due to the two additional gears. More control, especially since automatic C5s lacked the paddle shifters that came in later generations.
Automatic: Easier to drive, especially in traffic. Your significant other can drive it if she doesn't want to learn to drive a manual.
Automatic: Easier to drive, especially in traffic. Your significant other can drive it if she doesn't want to learn to drive a manual.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2015
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A C5 is perfectly fine as car to learn how to drive a stick shift. It is not a high-strung, tempermental beast. It is quite forgiving, actually. I learned to drive a stick on the original VW Beetle. Not much difference between shifting it and the C5 really except for 2 extra gears and a bit more torque available should you want it.
Understatement of the year.........
Shakey
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From: Rotonda West, FL 2015 Z51 M7 3LT
Oldtimer
As for driving a C5 standard; you won't find an easier manual setup.
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Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
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From: Western NY
IMHO, the only downside of trying to learn how to drive a manual transmission, in a later Corvette, is if you toast the clutch, it's a big job to replace it, if YOU do the work, and a $$$$ job if you can't, and have to send it out......
Thread Starter
7th Gear
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Aren't there some parts which are more expensive to replace in the 1998 which are cheaper in the 2002?
Ultimately I can try get an awesome '02 for $15-20k or I can get a good 1998 for ~$10-12 and spend a couple thousand fixing anything.
Any advice?
What are my real downsides with the '98 vs '02?
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2016
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From: SF Bay Area
Mechanically there are no real reliability differences. It's in the electrical parts.
The most notorious one is the EBCM module. The pre-2001 (or was it 2000?) EBCM is no longer made, and it is a rather involved process to adapt an older car to the newer EBCM module. You would have to be quite comfortable working with electronics, custom wiring, etc. Not sure what other electronic modules to look for, I think there was one more.
2001 and newer Corvettes got the LS6 intake. While not a reliability thing, it does improve performance. It's also easier to swap to the LS6 valley cover to fix PCV (possible high oil consumption) issues.
The most notorious one is the EBCM module. The pre-2001 (or was it 2000?) EBCM is no longer made, and it is a rather involved process to adapt an older car to the newer EBCM module. You would have to be quite comfortable working with electronics, custom wiring, etc. Not sure what other electronic modules to look for, I think there was one more.
2001 and newer Corvettes got the LS6 intake. While not a reliability thing, it does improve performance. It's also easier to swap to the LS6 valley cover to fix PCV (possible high oil consumption) issues.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2016
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This is what I thought, but one of my friends who's had a lot of Corvettes said there is no reliability difference between 1998 and 2002, so is he wrong?
Aren't there some parts which are more expensive to replace in the 1998 which are cheaper in the 2002?
Ultimately I can try get an awesome '02 for $15-20k or I can get a good 1998 for ~$10-12 and spend a couple thousand fixing anything.
Any advice?
What are my real downsides with the '98 vs '02?
Aren't there some parts which are more expensive to replace in the 1998 which are cheaper in the 2002?
Ultimately I can try get an awesome '02 for $15-20k or I can get a good 1998 for ~$10-12 and spend a couple thousand fixing anything.
Any advice?
What are my real downsides with the '98 vs '02?
It basically comes down to this; if it fails, the EBCM in the '01 and newer models can be repaired, while the units in the older models can't be. GM no longer produces new units of either type. I have not seen any data to determine if one model has a higher failure rate than the other, so that I don't know about. My personal feeling is if the EBCM in a pre-'01 model hasn't failed by now, it probably isn't going to fail. Many will still recommend buying an '01 or newer just to be safe. I know when I start looking for my C5 with cash in hand, how well the car has been maintained and cared for will be of far more importance to me than what year model it is...
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Sep 2017
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It basically comes down to this; if it fails, the EBCM in the '01 and newer models can be repaired, while the units in the older models can't be. GM no longer produces new units of either type. I have not seen any data to determine if one model has a higher failure rate than the other, so that I don't know about. My personal feeling is if the EBCM in a pre-'01 model hasn't failed by now, it probably isn't going to fail. Many will still recommend buying an '01 or newer just to be safe. I know when I start looking for my C5 with cash in hand, how well the car has been maintained and cared for will be of far more importance to me than what year model it is...
If GM doesn't make new units for the '02 and '98, why can only the '02 be repaired?
Last edited by kbhawkman; Sep 27, 2017 at 02:09 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2015
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No, it wouldn't be totaled. You just wouldn't have the traction control anymore.
Shakey
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2016
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No aftermarket options, and you would lose anti-lock brakes, traction control, and active handling (if so equipped). The car would still be perfectly drivable without it. The reason the pre-'01 units can't be repaired is because of a thick potting material used to seal the circuit board, which the later models didn't have...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2016
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Actually you are not accurate in that statement. NEW EBCM are indeed available for the 01 - 04 C5. ACDELCO makes them.
The ACDelco part number for the 01 - 02 EBCM is 12216561 and is available from many suppliers including Rockauto for just over $700.
The ACDelco part number for the 03 - 04 EBCM is 10343433 and is also available from many suppliers including Rockauto for just over $500.
Feel free to search the internet with those PN's for the best prices.
You are accurate that the EBCM for the 97 - 2000 C5 are no longer available NEW from any source. And some error conditions but NOT ALL on the 01 - 04 EBCM are repairable. The 97 - 2000 EBCM are generally not repairable for any failures.
On any year C5 that has a failed EBCM there will be lights illuminated on the dash, messages displayed in the DIC and codes that can not be cleared stored in the computer.
The ACDelco part number for the 01 - 02 EBCM is 12216561 and is available from many suppliers including Rockauto for just over $700.
The ACDelco part number for the 03 - 04 EBCM is 10343433 and is also available from many suppliers including Rockauto for just over $500.
Feel free to search the internet with those PN's for the best prices.
You are accurate that the EBCM for the 97 - 2000 C5 are no longer available NEW from any source. And some error conditions but NOT ALL on the 01 - 04 EBCM are repairable. The 97 - 2000 EBCM are generally not repairable for any failures.
On any year C5 that has a failed EBCM there will be lights illuminated on the dash, messages displayed in the DIC and codes that can not be cleared stored in the computer.
Thanks for the correction!
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Sep 2017
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Hmm, okay, well if I were to go with an '02, does this seem good?
https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/l-Used...ting=183003875
What are some things I should look out for this being a lower priced '02?
https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/l-Used...ting=183003875
What are some things I should look out for this being a lower priced '02?
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,938
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From: Fords, NJ
Hmm, okay, well if I were to go with an '02, does this seem good?
https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/l-Used...ting=183003875
What are some things I should look out for this being a lower priced '02?
https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/l-Used...ting=183003875
What are some things I should look out for this being a lower priced '02?
That's a lot of $$$$$$ for C5 with 125k on the clock.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,660
Likes: 365
From: SF Bay Area
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto...289194641.html
Less miles, lower price, and has all the goodies.
Less miles, lower price, and has all the goodies.