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Somehow I've made it my entire driving career without owning an LS-powered car. I've wanted to own something LSx and 6-speed, but the cars that were usually in my price range were not something I'd consider. The fourth gen F-bodies are harsh, cheap, and unrefined, and the GTO never actually forgets that it's also used by tradesmen to haul ladders around in. The G8s are all automatic unless you want to pay original MSRP for a GXP, and while the OG CTS-Vs are affordable, it's a little bigger than I really want.
That leaves the Corvette, and the C5s seem to be bottoming out, so I figured it was time to make a move. I've been casually looking over the last few months, and right before Christmas I found one I truly liked and it ticked all the boxes I was looking for, primarily the transmission and year. The fact that it's the color I really wanted is just a plus.
It's a 2001, Magnetic Red II with a black interior and both tops. Z51. Bought it with 49,890 miles. The car is COMPLETELY stock. I'm actually pretty sure I removed the factory air filter, or at the least, one that was replaced by the dealer a long time ago. It has not been molested by an old man with the Ecklers catalog, nor was it entered into mad tyte drifting competitions by a 20 year old with a sideways hat. The only thing it truly needs right now is to fix the passenger side seat track as it's developed "rocking seat" disorder. I found a guide and I'll be fixing it whenever it decides to warm up. Other than that it is nearly perfect. After I left the dealer, I immediately drove over to a tire shop where I had Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+'s shipped to. Had them installed before I even attempted to drive it hard on the garbage Bad Years. Drove through temperatures down into the teens and at no point did it feel squirrely or unsafe. Quiet tire, too. The only other thing I did was pull out the laptop Friday night and disable CAGS.
Oh, the other thing about this car.. it was in Tampa and I live in Pittsburgh. I flew down to Tampa on Friday, and I just got home about an hour ago. Spent Friday night at buddy's house in Tampa, drove to Knoxville TN on Saturday and spent the night there. Finished the drive today. Everything was A-OK until Ohio. Ohio's roads suck. Ohio's drivers suck. Ohio sucks.
1,245.9 miles total. Averaged 26.2 MPG for the trip, average speed was 68 MPH. I did get pulled over by some jagoff in south Georgia and got a ticket for 85 in a 70. I was definitely speeding, but I was just one of a bunch of other cars doing the same speed. Guess he figured the red Corvette was the one to pick. Happy to be here, and it's great to see a lot of folks on here daily driving their cars and not treating them as garage queens. As soon as the salt and snow goes away, my Jeep will go into summer hibernation and the Corvette will be getting daily driver duty. I can't wait.
Anyway, here are some pictures!
Right after the tires got installed:
Clearwater Beach, FL:
Original window sticker:
Alcoa, TN this morning at 19 degrees.
At Big *** Fans in Lexington, KY. My buddy insisted we stop here for pictures:
At various points in the frozen hellscape of Ohio:
Entering a state that actually matters:
Finally home. I'm way too tired to even care about what a mess my garage is right now. In dire need of some spring cleaning. And spring weather.
Congrats! Beautiful ride! Love the story about the drive home. I bought my first Corvette when I flew from Michigan down to Texas and drove it home. Wonderful trip with my wife that I’ll never forget. Went about 1250 miles as you did.
Well it sounds like we have another Corvette driver that thinks his chit don't stink. [ jagoff in south Georgia and got a ticket for 85 in a 70.] You got exactly what you DESERVED ! That jagoff as YOU say was just DOING HIS JOB !!
Well it sounds like we have another Corvette driver that thinks his chit don't stink.
My you're making some assumptions there. I'm more familiar with police work than you might imagine
I comped to the speeding, and he was polite and professional, but South Georgia is notorious for giving out tickets and I should have known better. I'm just more annoyed I was the one he singled out. Such is life.
Last edited by digitaloutsider; Jan 7, 2018 at 08:22 PM.
Congratulations on the C5 purchase and I really enjoyed the pictures of your trip home. Mine is sitting in the garage with the battery tender on it. I can only wish I was driving it but will have at least 3 months to wait here.
Ha! I did the exact opposite last September. Flew up to Detroit to pick up my 2000 vert with 5900 miles and drove it down to Florida. Got caught in a hurricane on the way home, so I had to spend a week ripping through the smokies.
Best part is, I get to daily drive mine year-round.
Thanks for the warm welcome guys. I'm happy to see other people were willing to risk jumping in an unknown car and promptly driving 1,000+ miles with it! Had a few friends think I was insane.. found a buddy crazy enough to do the trip with me lol.
The GM snap-tite issues are already rearing their head. Took the removable top off and noticed that the "roof bow" interior trim is completely missing the retainers on the driver's side, so without the top in, the piece wants to fall down. I have the parts manual, looks to be GM PN 20538173. Guess I'll pick some of those up. I swear GM used better interior plastics in some of the W cars I've owned.
Love stories like this - I'd never have the guts to buy so far away and drive it home. I always have nightmares of wreckers and repairs.
Concur with the notoriety of policing in South Georgia. Lowndes through Tift counties are particularly rife. AAA had or still has Lowndes on their traffic ''trap'' webpage.
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
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Bought my first Corvette
