Dante Parrotta

Vetteman Jack

C5Dobie

Well being the owner of what once was a pristine 2 owner 12,xxx mile '03 Z06 (now has 40,500 miles 6 years later) the first piece of advice I would have is take a look at the undercarriage & suspension components, cars w/ miles as low as yours are a double edged sword - there's no denying low miles is a good thing, but over that span of time the car really hasn't been used much & any potential problems that may have come up under normal driving conditions are tougher to spot since its driven so little. My car had heavy oxidization on the lower suspension components because the car sat in a storage garage & moisture in the air along w/ being in close proximity to the coast just dry rotted/oxidized stuff like the tie rods/end links/sway bars & sway bar bushings. I addressed all this stuff but non-use can sometimes be worse than misuse if you know what I mean. A tie rod thats been in the same threaded position for 15 years could be just seized to the point an alignment is no longer possible w/o replacing for instance. 11,000 miles on a set of tires is low, 11,000 miles on a set of tires that are 15 years old is meaningless - the tires would be junk....for that matter, 5 or 6 year old rubber can be useless as well depending on storage conditions weather etc. An AC system w/ 11k miles is essentially brand new, an AC system that has barely been used in 15 years, isn't dried out every year before storage, could very well be deteriorated & the condensor/compressor could be oxidized/seized etc.

The more history you have on the car the better.

I would note if any TSB's were done and/or list any of the most common C5 issues that may have been addressed while you owned it (if, for instance, you did a column lock bypass, a CAGS eliminator, repaired/replaced the EBTCM, headlight motors etc.)

I would take alot of pics of the car including the undercarriage & I would be up front & transparent about any known issues/blemishes on the car & document/explain them.

If you have taken off any stock parts, note whether or not you have the original factory parts as well.

jpm995

I think taking the car to shows and events where car people are around would help. Some may not be looking to buy a car they always wanted but get triggered when they see it. I have an 11k miles '02 z06 and although i shopped online i bought it as soon as i saw it.

Dante Parrotta

Just drove my car a few days ago at a good highway pace.
The car is better than new.
It’s 15 years old and handles better than a new Corvette.
A new Corvette Stingray could not keep up with me on the highway.
Maybe I’m just lucky, my car still drives like a dream.
Thanks for the advice.
Check everything after that drive and it still looks and feels perfect.

knewblewkorvette

We have a for sale section in the C5 section and if you want lots of viewers, eBay

Dante Parrotta

Verrückt ZR1

Glad that you love your Z, but a C7 (even a base coupe) would put a hurting on you in just about every category. You're not pulling one on the highway- not bone stock, anyway.

Dante Parrotta

DDaaryl

The car depreciates every year and will continue to do so especially after the C8 is released. To maximize value sell it soon or start driving it. There are many C5's available and the value is not likely to increase especially after you consider storage costs, insurance and maintenance.

Verrückt ZR1

At freeway speeds there's little to no skill involved. Lol. It's just a matter of who holds down the pedal longer.

(Unless we're talking high horsepower cars.)

Lingenfelter

Verrückt ZR1

No argument here.

jeff7251954

Mine always seems to start right up and drive fine with a lot fewer miles than yours. That being said, I think extracting top dollar isn't easy. I'd spend time with a carefully written ad and quality photos. I'd think you're in or around $ 24-25 on the sale.

TinkersVet

I always question how anybody can look at a Vet any body style for 15 to 20 years and only average 1000 miles or less each year, can do that on a good weekend trip. Who cares what the resale value is or if it has a rock chip, as long as you drive it you get why these cars are made. Can't say mine will out preform a C7 but can keep up with them. My dollar value is in the fun of driving it not sitting in a garage with a drool bucket counting pennies. Had them since my 20's and happy to say I have put a few hundred thousand miles and smiles on the ones I have owned. Hoping there will be one or 2 more that you fellows are saving for me when this one wears out.

C5Dobie

That right there is the right mentality. As great a performance bargain for your dollar any new Vette certainly is, & when it comes to how decide to spend your $$$ its "to each his own", but there are SOOOOOOOO Many vette owners out there like the OP who simply a) do not drive the car much at all, and b) maintain it impeccably from both an aesthetic & mechanical standpoint, and C) also add some tasteful (and expensive) desirable aftermarket upgrades along the way that IMHO you gotta be stupid rich (or just stupid) to buy a new vette. There is no shortage of bone stock ultra low mileage garage queens.

Let someone else take the hit on the initial depreciation, the early "gremlins" that may need to be addressed by a dealer under warranty, & the initial mods (clear bra, shifter, exhaust, tints, wheels etc.) that YOU KNOW will be added lol - and when it comes to C7's, they already have a list of issues which is so typical of a new model gen for the first few years.

I'll stalk the forums & in 2-3 years pickup a 2016 C7 GS w/ like 20k on the clock all the TSB's done the peeling dash/headliner addressed & the AFM crap yanked out w/ a nice cam/shifter for like $28k

Mark my words - until then, drive on!

Not4spd

Because some of us purchase them as a 2nd, 3rd, or 4th car. We didn't buy our Vettes to be a daily and we enjoy our other vehicles as well.

knewblewkorvette

Yep, or some of us have two C5s. I have a SC 99 for summer daily use and a 02 just for car shows. I also have three other vehicles that I put miles on.

TinkersVet

Ramets

First of all this is absolutely the worst time of year trying to sell, unless someone is looking to buy themselves an outstanding Christmas present. But they're few and far between. Just wait til spring then you can post here on the for sale page, or craigslist, e-bay, cargurus….etc.