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Hello everyone..I'm Gary, 60 years old and recently retired. It's looking like my days on 2 wheels are quickly coming to an end so my focus is now moving towards a Vette. I'm hoping for some guidance as to what to look for and what to stay away from. I'd like to keep the budget under 20K but would consider a bit higher for something special. I've been thinking about a 2000-2004 not necessarily a ZO6 but that would be nice. Any insight I would greatly appreciate. All prices that I'm looking at, both at dealers and private party sales are asking 4-7 Grand over NADA values.... is this the norm? Thank You in advance!
Welcome to the Forum, Gary!
I think you have a realistic budget for a good, quality C5 Corvette. Dealers almost always ask higher prices than "regular" car owners selling their car. Unfortunately, a lot of people think they have the most original, or most unique, or most something that makes their car worth way more than the going rate.
I would encourage you to check out the C5 sections of the Forum at https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...s-1997-2004-2/. Be sure and read the Sticky Threads at the top of the General and Tech sections for good to know info when it comes time to really examine a prospective purchase. Also, use the NADA to your bargaining advantage. Tell the seller the NADA value is $xxxxx, and ask them what about their car makes it work $4,5,6 thousand more. At least then they know you have an understanding of the market.
You may also want to compare prices in the C5 Corvettes For Sale section. Many forum members are probably a little more realistic when it comes to pricing their car.
Best wishes and hoping you have a great C5 at a fair price soon!
Welcome! My only advice is to not worry about price, and rather worry about how well the car suits you.
Coming from a bike, do you want the open air experience still? If so, a nice vert would be great.
I always say drive a z06 and a vert/coupe before deciding. I thought I would be happy with a coupe until I drove one, and the experience was lackluster compared to the z06 for me.
Making thee move from 2 wheels to 4, other than to read the stickies to become informed; I would recommend that you consider a convertible, unless you want to drive a cage, that is. You'll enjoy the open air, the sound of the V-8 and the C5 Corvette is a great convertible.
Honestly, since buying my '01 Corvette convertible, I don't miss my Ninja at all (no leathers, no helmet, less fear) and it is nice to have my wife sitting next to me (she'd never ride behind me on a bike). Lastly, it goes without saying, you will want to keep both feet busy, so it must be a manual. BTW- I'm 61, the downside is the Vette is a bit more of a challenge for me to get in an out of, but once seated its very comfy.
Making thee move from 2 wheels to 4, other than to read the stickies to become informed; I would recommend that you consider a convertible, unless you want to drive a cage, that is. You'll enjoy the open air, the sound of the V-8 and the C5 Corvette is a great convertible.
Honestly, since buying my '01 Corvette convertible, I don't miss my Ninja at all (no leathers, no helmet, less fear) and it is nice to have my wife sitting next to me (she'd never ride behind me on a bike). Lastly, it goes without saying, you will want to keep both feet busy, so it must be a manual. BTW- I'm 61, the downside is the Vette is a bit more of a challenge for me to get in an out of, but once seated its very comfy.
parts availability can be a problem* with those early years, and you should see the price break because of this , as you shop. There is an 04 special edition with a carbon fiber hood, if that top dog oem spot interests you. Most of the interior trim pieces , if you can get them , are only available now in black, so will have to be painted if you need interior parts.
Although it is only a used chevy, it was designed as a cutting edge performance car for the budget minded, so is easy to screw it up with a careless repair. Best to secure a dedicated corvette shop, I would want a new owner to be aware of this. A high line car, that still requires a high line service budget, which is often ignored as the cars age and become less expensive to buy.
The fanciest paint is on the 03 anniversary edition, if a red sports car is the target. A statement car for corvette, with very pretty trick paint, and the usual repair issues of elaborate paint.
As a young man in a city with traffic everywhere, I went with convertible sports cars as a safety decision over the allure of a motorcycle, the purer machine. Never regretted it , cold beverages, conversation, music, and rubber necking , are no problem. Never a broken bone in over fifty years on the road, something harder for a guy like me to achieve with a motorcycle. It's not riding in a cage, yet being exposed , no helmet, lessens the boundaries between outside pedestrians and the people in the machine.
For instance, screams of "don't do it it you can't control it", would not have been offered to a closed car, or to a guy in a helmet. Most of the convertible tops will have had the rear window come loose by now, so how that issue is approached can tell a lot about the past stewardship of the car.
There are a lot of pointers on buying posted in the top section. a convertible is the highest form of corvette, unless you race.
* was shopping a corvette scrapyard online last night. Steering position indicators for my year , used, were 70 bucks. Early years were 375, with none available nationwide at any price for the 99 year, from reports here, although a post was offered on how to modify another GM part and get the computer to read it correctly. I would really have to be confident to instal a DIY modified part in a fly by wire steering control, but I guess it gets desperate when your car is now only a giant paper weight. Kind of the same thing with the main computer. Used, the early models are about three times the price of the others, and are often not reparable, beyond loose connections, with any year, because of the construction selected ,
I bought my 99 fixed roof coupe 10 years ago after a 2 years search to a car that suited me, style, color, and price. About the only C5 I would be willing to trade for as an upgrade would be a 2004 Z06 Z16. They were more than I wanted to invest when I bought my first C5 and they are still rather pricey. If I thought I had to have a convertible I would hold out for a C7. Best looking Vette yet with the top up and the power mechanism is a no brainer. Of course any Vette looks good with the top down!
My advise is the similar to real estate. Condition, condition, condition. A well care for 97-2000 is a much better choice than a newer car with questionable history.
Welcome to the forum!! As other have said I recommend an '02-'04 convertible. Wait until you find the one that is right for you. The Z06 a bit more zip, but it isn't a convertible. Coming from a bike, I really think the vert is the way to go. You can always add more power later if you feel you want it, and you'll still be able to put the top down. It's the best of both worlds.
In my search, I always avoided vehicles with aftermarket accessories added by amateur mechanics also known here as mods. They can effect longevity and smog control requirements in many states. Good luck in your search
Howdy and welcome! Read the stickies at the top of the page. Next, have the patience of an oyster in looking for a C5/Z06. Anything you look at, and it doesn't matter how pretty or shiny it is, your potential purchase absolutely has to be inspected by a qualified shop/tech who knows these cars. A bad purchase gets very expensive very quickly. Generally speaking, good maintenance and care trumps mileage. Doing your home work on any potential buy will pay dividends and help to avoid problems. Buy a well kept stocker, avoid modded out cars like the plague. Try to buy the latest year car you can find. All that being said, and having left my beloved Harley scooters behind due to losing too many friends over the years and cell phones and texting having made 2 wheel riding a near suicidal hobby I went to a C5 vert. A very easy to operate top that when down still gets you get out in the open air to enjoy a cruise with the wind in your hair, if you have any that is! I'm not bothered with hair issues these days, got the Yul Brynner going! Barring a vert my next choice would be a Z06. So, good luck with your hunt and remember to be patient, fussy and very careful.
I went through this last year before buying mine. I did read all I could last year but something I didn’t do until after I bought was watch you tube videos on opinions, repairs and maintenance. It can give you extra insight into what to look for when you test drive and evaluate potential candidates.
A lot of good advice on this thread. A lot of bull too. You will know value when you see it. When it sitting right in front of you. You can not put a book value on any of these cars. You can have two cars from the same year and you will be able to tell one is worth more than the other. A one owner car sometime will be worth more. All the paper work about the car is a bonus. There are many early owners of 97 to 00 that have great cars. And many who have just bought early car that are happy with them. Yes there are problems but just like all types of cars. With the C5 they are not all affected. All model years have their kinks. None of the problems are death sentences. You will hear, read the stickies. My opinion if i read them before i bought a C5 I would think what a piece of junk. As an Original owner of a 1998, after 22 years in this club the C5 is a great car. And by the way all the problems you will hear about a long the way, I have had very few with my car. Good Luck with you search
Newbie here..
