Came across this and found it thought provoking for a C5 owner. Not sure if it's been posted before but it's worth a read.

https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cul...old-or-bought/

 

Thanks great read...

 

Interesting read. Mine has over 90K on it and will get lots more so I guess mine will be worth even less. Won't bother me when I'm dead and the kids are dealing with it because I don't have any plans to sell it.

 

Good read to understand the car salesman position

 

Great read from a guy who's 71, (me) and has owned a 2002 convertible automatic since new. Currently has 70000 miles on the clock. Go Figure!!!

 

Interesting read, valid to a point, but I'm seeing a lot of younger guys picking up C5's nowadays. The C5 Corvette is to the Millennial / Gen Y young guys, what the Mustang, Camaro, and Chevelle were to our generation. A cheap, fast, easy to work on, used performance car, with lots of aftermarket support for the LS motors to build big time horsepower.

 

It may be true for A4 C5s. I have a different stance on M6 cars.

M6 C5s are in high demand these days. with the younger guys looking to get into Corvettes at the entry level.

 

Great read, and as prospective buyer this puts into words the craziness I see in asking prices everyday. Where a 98 coupe can be priced over an 02z with similar mileage/condition. May be why facebook vette group selling prices seem much more reasonable than the forum as well.

 

Condition, condition, condition.....

 

Great read, but for a guy like me at almost 70 , I don't care. I love my 04 Lemans edition since day one with 24,000 miles of TLC, waxed more than driven and needs nothing but me. I spare no expense when it needs anything ( I can afford it ) and just looking at it is almost as good as driving it. I bought that car because it looked soooo good to me and still does. No snow, no rain and no salt ever! Even though new Vettes are nice and I could buy one tomorrow if desired, the C5 IMO has a special look all its own. I had no intensions of buying that car, until I saw it by chance. Love at first sight and the rest is history. I do most of my own maintenance and repairs and that too is a rush. It's what keeps this old fart active. All the articles on value mean nothing if you love and enjoy your car. I've had the same wife for forty five years and put no price on her since I love her also. Don't worry about price guys and gals unless you have to sell because the love is gone or are in a pinch. And if that's the case, you'll most likely take a bath on it since your rushed to sell. My car will be with me until my last breath. And I hope that's while I'm in it. There are four of my own kids who will fight for the car when I'm gone since they know what it means to me and love it as much as I do. Don't worry! Ride and enjoy your babies as long as you can. Love has no price

 

The article is probably right. Guys my age have no interest in selling the car. When the day comes that I can no longer crawl into it, it will get parked in the barn. When we are gone, the property and everything else will go to my two boys. Did I loose money on the car????......NOT A Dime !!!

 

As someone who looks at used C5s almost on a daily basis, I can vouch for what this guy said in this article. It's not only the owners who believe their garage queens are worth more, but also the dealers. Everyone is getting in on the act. When I see prices over $20K for these cars, I just move on...

 

I’ve seen this article before but it’s still a pleasant second read. His remark about Porsche’s going for more than original with high miles. I get “Bring a Trailer” and see evidence of that constantly. People are happy to pay more for a well used Porsche than a lightly used C5. Although I give Porsche drivers credit, my low budge observation is that many of them drive their cars all the time.

 

Liked the article. IMHO, the principle reason for a cars value is demand. And a major part of demand is rarity of the car. With almost 249,000 C5 units sold during the 8 production years, rarity is clearly not an issue. So what may drive C5 values? Buyers like me that researched the C5 and with an educated decision to make an offer even though it may be outside of the market value when you find the car that meets your needs. I did not get a pay deal, but I did get a car deal. My 04 C5 has been free of any of the anomalies highlighted by this forum over 4 years of ownership. Like others have said, at 75 I will own this car until I cannot drive anymore so value is not an issue.

 

Agree with most on this. Artical was good. I love my '02 z and really don't care much what it's worth. Barring unforseen issues i'll keep it until i can't get in and out [figure that will happen before i can't drive it].Grandson loves the car, he can do what he wants with it when it's time.

 

Neat article and it sort of applies to me. I've babied my 02 since new, only has about 36K miles on her. I don't ever plan on selling her unless someone offered me a ridiculous amount of money for her. My 99 does not apply as I would sell her without shedding a tear.

 

That article, like other R&T C5 articles is mostly BS. One of them fixated on early cars having to have their TPMS system replaced, as "spares are not available", but completely failed to mention "minor" issues like the EBCM.

There are some C5's that fit the low mileage, not driven model, but most have higher mileage and at some point earned their keep. I bought mine new back in '97 - a very early build '98. I bought it as my daily driver to replace a warmed over Fox bodied 5.0 Mustang - also my daily driver. For some years, that's what I used it for - to/from work, the store, hauling lumber back from Lowes (the coupe will accept stuff up to about 9', I used to carry a pipe cutter when I picked up 10' lengths of plumbing pipe). Then I negotiated a sweetheart early retirement deal, so it was used a lot less. It now has 80k and change, and gets driven less. BUT it was never a garage queen. FFS, why buy a C5 and not drive it. As the saying goes, Drive it like you stole it.

 

"So it gathers dust in the corner of his garage". 02 Z06 ain't gathering any dust, doesn't matter what's next to it. This guy has obviously never driven one. They're (C5Z's) values are steady and on the rise and will continue to be strong.

 

Interesting article, and he makes some good points. But so what if a C5 is pampered and rarely driven. If that is how the owner gets enjoyment from the car, more power to him.

 

You are right Jack!
Like I said in my previous post, my 04 has 24,000. Not driven daily but just looking at it is almost as good. Barn queen, yes. Pampered yes. Love her either way.