Where have all the 01-04 M6 targa tops gone?
05-15-2018, 11:08 PM
#21
1/4 mile/AutoX
05-16-2018, 07:49 AM
#22
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Don’t be afraid of the right car no matter what year. I have a 98 targa with a 6m . I also wanted a manual trans car. They are not easy to find in good condition. Many have been modded a driven hard. IMO find a car that has been driven 4 to 5 k a year and has service records. Pay attention to the stickies posted above. I have changed all the fluids (especially trans fluid- you won’t believe the difference) and keep a bartery tender on it so the voltage never drops. That causes some of the issues. My car runs great and gives me lots of smiles. Good luck on the search. You will find the right car.
The year model thing is so confusing, I don't know who to listen to. There's one camp who says don't buy a C5 older than an '01, and then there's the other camp who say there's nothing wrong with buying a '97 thru '00 model. I guess the reason I'm leaning towards only getting a 01-04 model is because I plan on taking several cross country trips in mine and if anything mechanical was to go wrong while on one of these trips, I know it would be easier to get parts for the newer models. I realize that all year models are reliable in general, and that how the car was maintained is more important than year model, but some of the parts being unavailable for the earlier models scares me a bit...
05-16-2018, 07:57 AM
#23
The year model thing is so confusing, I don't know who to listen to. There's one camp who says don't buy a C5 older than an '01, and then there's the other camp who say there's nothing wrong with buying a '97 thru '00 model. I guess the reason I'm leaning towards only getting a 01-04 model is because I plan on taking several cross country trips in mine and if anything mechanical was to go wrong while on one of these trips, I know it would be easier to get parts for the newer models. I realize that all year models are reliable in general, and that how the car was maintained is more important than year model, but some of the parts being unavailable for the earlier models scares me a bit...
But seriously, it's up to you. There are considerations for pre-01 cars, depending on what you're comfortable with. I came from a C4 ZR-1 and the ECM on those cars is unobtanium. It dies and you will roll the dice on a very expensive, also likely to fail, used unit. It happened to me and I got lucky with a repair, but it sure burned a lot of folks. The early C5 apparently has a similar issue, and I just didn't want to follow that road. So I focused on 01-04 and found my personal yellow unicorn. It needed some work, but I'm enjoying that, making it my own. Keep looking, they are out there.
05-16-2018, 08:12 AM
#24
Team Owner
Where are you located? If we knew, it might help us to help you. I'm in the Rochester, NY area, and we have a couple of Chevy dealers that specialize in Corvettes, and have used 'Vettes in stock. We also have 2-3 used car dealers, in the area, that specialize in performance cars.
05-16-2018, 08:24 AM
#25
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Oldtimer
As leadfoot asked, where are ya? I have an '03 electron blue coupe (targa), m6 with about 49k on the clock in excellent condition...
What are you looking to spend?
What are you looking to spend?
05-16-2018, 08:28 AM
#26
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When you're in the business like I am (9 full time mechanics Corvette only repair shop) and have to find parts for early C5s you get a very clear picture the differences between pre/post '01 value.
I wouldn't own a pre 01 (if I had to keep it running out of my own pocket for another 20 years) if you GAVE it to me.
I wouldn't own a pre 01 (if I had to keep it running out of my own pocket for another 20 years) if you GAVE it to me.
05-16-2018, 08:34 AM
#27
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Right year, right tranny, but wrong color...one of my "must haves" is it's got to be torch red...and looking to spend less than $20K...
05-16-2018, 08:35 AM
#28
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
I have to say, your comments weren't very clear. I, too, thought that you were looking to buy a roof panel.
Where are you located? If we knew, it might help us to help you. I'm in the Rochester, NY area, and we have a couple of Chevy dealers that specialize in Corvettes, and have used 'Vettes in stock. We also have 2-3 used car dealers, in the area, that specialize in performance cars.
Where are you located? If we knew, it might help us to help you. I'm in the Rochester, NY area, and we have a couple of Chevy dealers that specialize in Corvettes, and have used 'Vettes in stock. We also have 2-3 used car dealers, in the area, that specialize in performance cars.
05-16-2018, 08:45 AM
#29
Drifting
They are around. It just takes patience and diligence. I agree that it seems like mostly Z06's in those model years. I think the tougher part may not be so much in finding the right '01 to '04 Targa top but in finding one in the right condition since there are fewer to pick from (at least it seems that way anyway). I think I would concentrate more on an '02 or '03 also since the '01's supposedly have an oil burning issue and the '04's a fuel tank issue. May or may not be a cause for concern but just what I have read about on here...
05-16-2018, 08:48 AM
#31
Burning Brakes
It took me 6mos. to find my 2003. I was browsing thru Cargurus, auto trader, craigslist etc. every day til I found mine. It was 200mi. away, but it was the one I wanted, so I went and got it. Be patient, be prepared to travel a bit, and you'll find yours.
05-16-2018, 08:52 AM
#32
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
They are around. It just takes patience and diligence. I agree that it seems like mostly Z06's in those model years. I think the tougher part may not be so much in finding the right '01 to '04 Targa top but in finding one in the right condition since there are fewer to pick from (at least it seems that way anyway). I think I would concentrate more on an '02 or '03 also since the '01's supposedly have an oil burning issue and the '04's a fuel tank issue. May or may not be a cause for concern but just what I have read about on here...
From what I have read in this forum, only the '01 Z06s have the oil burning issue, not the LS1s...
05-16-2018, 08:53 AM
#33
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
I just checked their site...they have several 01-04 models, but no torch red targa tops, and they're all over $20K...thanks for the tip though!
Last edited by grampi50; 05-16-2018 at 08:57 AM.
05-16-2018, 08:59 AM
#34
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
That's another thing, I'm willing to make the trip to get the right one...it doesn't have to be located in my local area...
05-16-2018, 09:45 AM
#35
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Check out Craigslist Poughkeepsie, NY. 2003 Coupe, Red, 6 speed. 24,500 miles $17,500. Don't know the car but looks nice in the pics.
And for the record, I have owned pre 2001's and post 2001's and actually preferred the 97 and 98 over the newer ones. Same cars basically. Parts on the early ones can pose a problem.
And for the record, I have owned pre 2001's and post 2001's and actually preferred the 97 and 98 over the newer ones. Same cars basically. Parts on the early ones can pose a problem.
05-16-2018, 09:55 AM
#36
1/4 mile/AutoX
When you're in the business like I am (9 full time mechanics Corvette only repair shop) and have to find parts for early C5s you get a very clear picture the differences between pre/post '01 value.
I wouldn't own a pre 01 (if I had to keep it running out of my own pocket for another 20 years) if you GAVE it to me.
I wouldn't own a pre 01 (if I had to keep it running out of my own pocket for another 20 years) if you GAVE it to me.
05-16-2018, 10:01 AM
#37
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Oldtimer
That seems pretty low to me, something seems amiss. And if you're in the Poughkeepsie area there is only ONE place to go for Vettes and that's Lomotion on 44 out past Adams!
Check out Craigslist Poughkeepsie, NY. 2003 Coupe, Red, 6 speed. 24,500 miles $17,500. Don't know the car but looks nice in the pics.
And for the record, I have owned pre 2001's and post 2001's and actually preferred the 97 and 98 over the newer ones. Same cars basically. Parts on the early ones can pose a problem.
And for the record, I have owned pre 2001's and post 2001's and actually preferred the 97 and 98 over the newer ones. Same cars basically. Parts on the early ones can pose a problem.
05-16-2018, 11:20 AM
#39
Drifting
Just buy what ticks the right boxes for you. If it's a red targa with a six speed so be it. You've been a member since 2016 and in that time you could have had a car that you would be enjoying.
I didn't care my car was a pre-2001 ('99 YM). The only major things that have happened in the near five years I've owned it is I've been driving it and I had to install a CLB along with general maintenance. If you're worried about things going wrong with a C5 then you're going to be in for a rough time owning one as they're so old now stuff is going to break and go bad. It's just a matter of what and when. Doesn't matter if you have a '97 or an '04.
97'-00' cars tend to lose a bit of oil due to the "LS1" style PCV setup. It's not burn off in the normal sense but excessive venting into the intake to then be burned off. Some owners lose a quart and above between oil changes. Some lose no oil at all. The issue was largely remedied in 2001 when all LS1 engines received the "LS6" PCV setup and all pre-01 cars can be remedied with a change-over to an LS6 style intake with LS6 PCV.
I didn't care my car was a pre-2001 ('99 YM). The only major things that have happened in the near five years I've owned it is I've been driving it and I had to install a CLB along with general maintenance. If you're worried about things going wrong with a C5 then you're going to be in for a rough time owning one as they're so old now stuff is going to break and go bad. It's just a matter of what and when. Doesn't matter if you have a '97 or an '04.
97'-00' cars tend to lose a bit of oil due to the "LS1" style PCV setup. It's not burn off in the normal sense but excessive venting into the intake to then be burned off. Some owners lose a quart and above between oil changes. Some lose no oil at all. The issue was largely remedied in 2001 when all LS1 engines received the "LS6" PCV setup and all pre-01 cars can be remedied with a change-over to an LS6 style intake with LS6 PCV.
05-16-2018, 11:52 AM
#40
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doesn't change the fact I have a great car, have fixed the few normal things, have put on over 30 k since I bought it, now has 80 k plus and I driven it across many States without even thinking something might go wrong !! you are still working on a small percentage of Vettes made, and those are the one with issues, doesn't mean they all do ???
Makes no sense from a buyer's standpoint.