I would like some valuable input from the majority of experienced C5 owners. I’m not looking for a show car but a semi project to mess around with. I have an opportunity to purchase a clean clear title 97 six speed with just over 115,000 miles, no documented accidents (verified through Carfax), in the $6,000 range. The clutch on the car has been upgraded, has a generic aftermarket exhaust (that needs rerouting), and aftermarket wheels.

There are quite a bit of pieces missing from the interior that would need replaced such as new door panels, ignition bezel piece, traction control button and plastic piece, seatbelt fasteners, and aftermarket seats that would need to be properly secured/removed.

The car has been poorly re-sprayed and has several imperfections and overspray. The weather stripping has even been painted,ugh. The inner fender wells up front have been cut to accommodate larger wheels and part of the front bumper where it meets the plastic inner fenders has been cut.

While driving the car it appears that third gear may be going out. Shifts fine going up the gears but to down shift it grinds into third. However, I did read on here that shifting down from sixth through the remaining gears may prevent it from grinding but is only a temporary solution. It does have service column, abs, and traction control messages. The car didn’t cut off after 2mph and I did read up on the LMC5 module. Some of the messages may have been due to the dead battery. No codes popped up on the OBDII scanner I brought but this could also be contributed to the dead battery. There were no odd noises coming from the wheels hubs or drivetrain.

 

May sound like a good deal at first glance, but start adding up all those things that need to be fixed just to make it a good, reliable driver and you may be surprised at what that will end up costing. Perhaps for what you would spend in fixing that one up, you could find one with similar mileage that does not have all those issues. Just a thought.

 

It will probably end up being a money pit or worse. For the money you would project to spend on parts and time spent repairing, put those funds instead towards a nicer one.

 

It sounds cheap but it will end up costing you! I have been through most of the parts mechanically restoring my C5 and what your looking at is a hole to throw money into with a lot of down time. The only reason I did it is because I had the time and money last year to build one the way I wanted it. Most of the parts that were bad on mine were things I wanted to upgrade anyway.

You can get a 97 for $7,500 in good shape. It is always cheaper to find one that isn't all dicked up.

 

Thank you all very much for your input on this. It was insightful and pretty much what I was thinking as well. Just thought it would be better to run it past those of you with C5s and get your opinions.

 

I paid 8k for my FRC last July. It needed work, like seats, and had to remove the blood on the carpet but nothing was actually damaged.

 

I'd keep looking and try to find something cleaner and more together for a few more $$$. All those little parts and the paint are gonna add up where you coulda bought something a lot cleaner and nicer for not a lot more $$ in the big picture.

 

Hi Ryan. As I believe you're realizing from the other's insightful comments, you are better off continuing your search. As mentioned, a little work is one thing, but it sounds like you would be basically rebuilding the entire interior, exterior, repainting and possible clutch or transmission synchro work. That's a lot to take on!
Best wishes for finding a better C5.

 

While I agree with all of the other comments about finding something in a little better shape.....If you're interested in a little bit of a project (as I was), go through the list of things the car needs, do a little research on costs and low ball the guy. A 97 in really good shape will cost between 8 and 9K. Figure out what it would cost to make this car into a really nice one and subtract from that number. If he takes it, do the work and make it your own. If he counter offers, walk away and keep looking. I've always had more pride in a car that I did a lot of work on than one I bought that was near flawless.


Just my 0.2c

 

I would keep looking. That C5 sounds like it was abused and will need a lot of $work.

 

Any decent paint shop is going to charge you at least $3k, probably more if they have to work on fiberglass damage, stripping old paint off, not to mention replacing all the weather stripping. Then there's the transmission rebuild that could cost up to $2k. In all, I'd say you'd put in x2.5-x3 what you will pay for the car to make it right. Could find a nicer, lower mile one at that price. Just keep looking, you'll find a great deal!

 

Again thank you for all of your input on this. I did make a list of what needed to be done as well as price out parts to fix it. The seller is firm on his price and I don’t believe he’s looking at market value versus his personal attachment to the car. I’m not looking for a pristine condition car, although it would be nice, but I’m also not going to pay over value either. I am mechanically inclined and have worked on every one of my cars I’ve owned. I may have mislead or didn’t really clarify on the interior of the Vette. The car is just missing odds and ends, but the main thing that would have to be replaced inside are the “1st attempt” fiberglass door panels. A local scrap yard near me has a set of black ones for $120. Between the seller’s price, market value, and parts list to make this a great car just seems like it wouldn’t be feasible to move forward. All of your replies have been very helpful.

 

If he gave you the car for free you might brake even. There are always hidden problems, even with one that seems excellent. If he didn't have the means to take care of the obvious problems then imagine what else may have gotten neglected.

I know you said that you are moving on but think about this on the next potential purchase. Just trying to save you money, time and grief on getting nickel and dimed to death. It sucks when you work your self to death and triple your budget just to have a mediocre car that still isn't running properly.

 

Sounds like a pile. The $6k price should tell you that. You get what you pay for. I'd recommend you wait, and spend double that amount for a C5 in excellent shape.

 

Run!

 

Project cars are money pits. Unless you're doing an all out custom makeover on the car, I'd put my money on a turn key C5. Plenty out there for a good price.

 

Story on this?

To the OP........NO!

 

you never heard the story on this...going around since at least since 1971.....corvette for sale, somebody died in it and all it needs is an interior going for cheap......


to the OP

it doens't have to be pristine but add another 3k to the 6k and you have a nice running driver, double it to 12k and you have a nice car.

 

One owner car that just wasn't cared for, I looked everything over, no holes or signs of gunshots, so it was likely an animal, cause there was a lot. But it wasn't on the seats. Nothing hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol and shampoo couldn't fix.

Found cancer stick boxes, a chew container and an unopened condom too.

Didn't mind, wasn't the worst I've cleaned and I was doing new seats, HUD and navi install. Wasn't too much work to pull everything out to the fiberglass and start over, made the stereo install that much easier. Finished in about 6 hours, less the time spent on making the double din console.

Bear in mind I've done this dozens of times, it is by no means a recommendation to do the same to save some coin.

 

I thought he was serious, apparently he was