C5 buying question
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 913
Likes: 43
From: Franklin Wisconsin
C5 buying question
I had a 2001 C5 vert a while ago. stupidly sold it to buy a boat. I had it lowered 19/20" rims and tires super charger 625HP
well i sold the boat and want it back
but its long gone.
I would love to get a C7 vert but with 4 kids not a realistic option..... C6 I like but not so much the headlights...... I still love the C5 I found one with low miles
any worries with a car that was only driver couple hundred miles per year?
what are everyone's thoughts on C5 C6 and C7? dollar for dollar if you had a budget of 30K and under what would you do with it???
I am ridiculously maticulus!! everything needs to be like new. I also love performance! C5 power needs to be upgraded along with rims and tires. too small in my opinion.
so I could buy C5 but have to stick 10K into it to get the way I would want it.
C6 dont know much about them
C7 Is an awesome car but dont think I could go that much in debt at this time...
Thanks for your help in advance.
Tom
well i sold the boat and want it back
but its long gone.I would love to get a C7 vert but with 4 kids not a realistic option..... C6 I like but not so much the headlights...... I still love the C5 I found one with low miles
any worries with a car that was only driver couple hundred miles per year?
what are everyone's thoughts on C5 C6 and C7? dollar for dollar if you had a budget of 30K and under what would you do with it???
I am ridiculously maticulus!! everything needs to be like new. I also love performance! C5 power needs to be upgraded along with rims and tires. too small in my opinion.
so I could buy C5 but have to stick 10K into it to get the way I would want it.
C6 dont know much about them
C7 Is an awesome car but dont think I could go that much in debt at this time...
Thanks for your help in advance.
Tom
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 940
Likes: 81
From: Lake Villa IL
I have a beautiful black on black '04 coupe that I am selling. Have the service history and car fax. Fully loaded with the Z51 package and both tops Asking $19k for it and I am not too far from you. PM me for pics and more details if you are interested. Moving to a house in Galena to help my daughter and grand daughter. Nice old house but no garage,
It is stock and unmolested.
It is stock and unmolested.
Last edited by coia96vette; Oct 18, 2018 at 09:19 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 208
Likes: 55
From: Southern Pennsylvania
I was in the same boat a few months ago. I looked around for about 6 months - looked at maybe 8 or 9 vettes. My budget was 25k. I debated making a good deal, large down payment and buying a new C7 or slightly used one, maybe a C6. I ended up buying a 99' FRC, with 25k miles on it and a borla catback at $16k - its basically spotless less some swirl marks. I recently took it for a complete fluid service - changed all the fluids, checked the belts, new plugs, etc ... Had a paint correction completed (looks outstanding now) I bought new wheels and Nittos for it, replaced all TPMS sensors and put in a short-throw and a few other small things. Getting ready for a Texas Speed Cam, Headers, Vararam, X-Pipe, rear gear swap out and a dyno tune. In the end, I will have a vette that sounds great and is quick enough for some street fun and I know that hasn't been beat to death.
My humble opinion is to buy the best low mileage vette you can get for the best price you can get it at then use the remaining funds to upgrade it, to what you want ... but as they say, YMMV.
YetMan
My humble opinion is to buy the best low mileage vette you can get for the best price you can get it at then use the remaining funds to upgrade it, to what you want ... but as they say, YMMV.
YetMan
Pro
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 515
Likes: 278
From: Carol Stream (Chicago suburbs) IL
I love my '01 C5 convertible, I bought it last December and I plan on keeping it. It does everything I want and far more than I need.
My budget then was half what yours is now. If I had $30,000 to spend today- I would buy a 2010.
Now is a very good time of year to be in the market. Happy shopping.
My budget then was half what yours is now. If I had $30,000 to spend today- I would buy a 2010.
Now is a very good time of year to be in the market. Happy shopping.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 30,352
Likes: 4,582
From: Bonita Springs, Florida
It depends on what year C5 you found, how many miles are on it, which model / body style, what mods if any and most importantly how much? If you can find a deal like Yetman, that's the way to go. A nice low mileage, well documented well maintained C5 in the $16K-$19K range would leave you enough money to add a supercharger, clutch, headers, exhaust, rims/tires and a tune. Better yet, find one with headers and exhaust and save yourself $3K. You will need much more money if you want to produce 625RWP. A similar 2005-2007 C6 isn't that much more.
Last edited by Mike98SilVert; Oct 18, 2018 at 08:22 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2017
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From: Hickory NC
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If you want to get whichever Vette you purchase back to the same 625whp of your earlier C5 you are going to have to mod whichever generation you buy - unless you're going for the C7 ZR1 which gets "slightly outside" your max $30k budget. (I'd hate to see the payments for the ZR1 even with a $30k down payment!). 
With mods to get your next car back to 625whp, it appears a modded C5 will be your best choice financially.
Best wishes whichever direction you go!
With mods to get your next car back to 625whp, it appears a modded C5 will be your best choice financially.
Best wishes whichever direction you go!
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
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C7 is a nice car, plenty of high tech stuff and gobs of power, but you won’t find one for $30K unless it has a shady history or way too many miles.
C6 saw some improvement in interior quality and a hp bump over the C5 and you can probably find an LS3 model for your budget and perhaps a GS with higher miles.
In the C5, $20K would get you a fairly low mileage example and leave money on the table to upgrade the performance if it has not already been done to the car.
C6 saw some improvement in interior quality and a hp bump over the C5 and you can probably find an LS3 model for your budget and perhaps a GS with higher miles.
In the C5, $20K would get you a fairly low mileage example and leave money on the table to upgrade the performance if it has not already been done to the car.
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