Preface: This might be a long post but would just like to get all my thoughts out there to see what the more experienced people on the forum have to say. I would love to hear all thoughts and opinions!

Recently sold my first project car, an 1.6 NA miata. It was a great learning experience and I got to work on it both in terms of upgrades and maintenance. I am no stranger to DIY, but am still relatively inexperienced and things like a timing belt/WP or a clutch job would be a large lift for me but smaller things like exhaust, suspension, brakes, gaskets, spark plugs, fluids, etc are things that I can easily take care of. The main reason I wanted to upgrade from the miata was the ability to move to something slightly more modern than 30 years old, and something that could be a bit more comfortable to drive (The NA miata is not very comfortable at all over 1hr+ drives) over longer distances. That way I could drive my "sports car" more often.

Hence I started looking for early 2000s open roof sports cars to purchase sometime in the start of 2023 (Hoping the market is better) which are easy to work on, relatively affordable, good aftermarket + community support, and won't loose too much value to depreciation. I ended up with the s2000, c5 Corvette, and an NC Miata. There are some threads on this forums and others on how these cars stack up but many are outdated and aren't in line with how the market is today. Now the NC miata is cheaper than the other two and doesn't have the same Oomph factor but is definitely cheaper to buy and maintain. On the other hand the s2000 and the C5 offer a very exquisite driving experience although they are 2 very different cars. Now, As far as prices go, 15-18k gets you a much much nicer C5 than s2000. Also research indicates that s2000 parts are getting harder to find. Like most people I would like to be driving the car rather than working on it and constantly worrying about what's breaking on it. I would hope that a lower mileage C5 would need less work than a high mile s2000.

A little about me and my economic situation. This would be a second car (Mostly cruising, backroad driving, few road trips, and a couple autocross/track days and not a dedicated track car) and I own a reliable old Toyota sedan as a daily driver that costs almost nothing to maintain and have access to another much newer reliable Toyota that my partner owns. I do not have kids (at least for the next 5 years) and am working from home in tech having finished grad school. I know there are people out there buying cars that are much more than 15-20k but I've never spent more than 3k on a car ever before so it still looks like a large figure in my eyes. I would like to live a little while I'm still young and am still able to contribute fully to retirement accounts and brokerages and feel that buying a fully depreciated sports car is a financially conservative way of doing so compared to buying something new and eating depreciation, taxes, etc. I also might decide to settle out of the US ~10 years down the line and it would be awesome if I could experience some true enthusiast cars which I have access to while here. If required I could share a bit more in case I need to be warned about how much this purchase might cripple my financial plans.

I guess my closing thoughts are;

How does the C5 stack up to it's Japanese counterparts; the s2000 and the NC miata, especially given the current market?
Would a C5 become a money pit? I understand that old cars need upkeep but there is a difference between an old Maserati vs an old Chevy right? I also have done some research and have located some of the common problems/fixes.
Any other things that I might have overlooked or missed while in my search for a fun car?
Would love to hear personal experiences and also is the C5 really the best bang for the buck right now?

 

The C5 isn't without its issues and at this age, it wouldn't be out of the question to end up dropping the driveline for something. Clutches wear out, the clutch hydraulics are prone to sucking, torque tube bearings wear out, column locks suck, etc. But aside from that, the driveline is very robust and you shouldn't fear catastrophic failure. It's also about impossible to beat the speed per dollar spent. I find my C5Z to be very liveable on a daily basis. I've done a few long trips and not been uncomfortable and it gets 27 or better on the highway. The cabin is small and easy to keep cool even on the hottest of days. If I had to pick one of the 3, I pick the C5. Doesn't mean I wouldn't enjoy one of the others in the stable too, that S2k can be downright fast on a tight road course.

 

As an owner of both a convertible c5 and an s2000 they’re completely different cars. Both fun but in different ways. Corvette is a straight line monster while the S2000 has absolutely no power but is the most fun car I’ve ever owned. It’ll make you feel so confident on the track and twisties.

As for maintenance, the biggest problem with any of these cars is if parts are no longer available. I’ve had more issues finding Vette parts vs the S2000. At the end of the day it’s a Honda and should run forever.

Although I love my S2000 the best bang for the buck is the C5. S2000 values have gone crazy

 

I picked up a stock 2001 C5 convertible with 30k miles or so.. anyway, it was really clean and having always loved the style of that gen I had to have it.. It drove nice on new tires but that's where it ended.. It had zero tech.. barely power mirrors.. lol .. The issue is if you own modern. year cars of any brand it will show up the lack thereof in the c5.. I would rather have an early C4 as it's not pretending .. I would think an S2000 would be a better choice.

 

Hey Supercharged.

Yes I agree that with it's age I'm sure there is always something that is going to need work. Totally agree with you on the road-trip ability and liveability of the car, seems like a really good car to eat some serious miles.
Thanks for the response!

 

What about LS swapping an NC?

 

Yeah I get this, good point to note. Thankfully I've never owned/driven any modern car for a long time and would really be happy with AC/power steering and a music system that I could use one of those FM bluetooth transmitters with really.

 

I've seen a pair of those at a car meet before here in VA. They looked insanely fun! Unfortunately that's not something that I could really take on right now though

 

Interesting to hear that C5 parts are harder to get than s2000 ones. How has reliability been during your ownership experience of each? I feel that an s2000 will be similar to a miata in terms of reliability and I know what to expect. Unfortunately like you said values are through the roof but are coming down ever so slowly. Like I said earlier 17k gets you a 60-75k mile C5 vs a 175k S2000. I feel that if I up my budget a bit more I might as well go for something more modern like an ND so 15-20k might just be the sweet spot.

 

I think your possible candidates are very good choices. The other thing you might consider for a similar price point is an early 986 Porsche Boxster.

I’m very partial to the c5. I LOVE my 2002 c5 Z06. I did heads, cam, and exhaust…. but it ran awesome stock. I think it’s my favorite car to drive out of everything I own or have owned. To me, it’s the perfect combination of power, weight, size, and feel. Yes, it’s not modern by current standards with respect to electronics, drivers assistance, etc, etc. But that’s one of the reasons why I love it. It’s pretty raw but reasonably comfortable, and it really performs well on road courses and on the street. I’m a huge fan of the c5. Mine’s been absolutely reliable and nothing but awesome.

BTW, I did have a 2001 6-speed 986 Boxster S before I bought my c5 z06. I’ve never driven an s2000 but I think the performance is comparable to the Boxster S. In my opinion, the c5 Z is not even comparable to my old Boxster S. The c5 is WAY faster, WAY more fun, and just WAY more car. Good luck, keep us posted.

 

I have had 4 Miatas 2 NCs, 1NA, 1NB. i've had 4 vettes a'59, '95, '00, '03. Both cars are fun to own in different ways. The zoom zoom's are good around the town grocery getters, but hard to see by others on the freeways. The vettes are bigger, more comfortable and I feel safer on the open road. Again both are fun, one is cheaper and the other is safer.

 

I recently got out of a highly modified 2004 Subaru STi. It was Faster than my 2002 Z06 (as it sits now), but not by as much as you'd think.
The STi went like hell, but it also felt like driving a bomb. To go fast, I was constantly going through gears and taking the motor over 4000 RPM. The Z06 just kinda does it. Doesn't feel stressed at all.

 

I've owned three and all of them have been year-round drivers includong ice and snow, two of them have been supercharged with 500rw on one and the other yet to be completed.

Extremely durable vehicles.
Very easy to work on.
Clean lines which hold their own vs new(er) designs.
The interiors are uninspiring, but on par for the 90s.
Easily modded with an absolutely massive aftermarket.
Very active groups and forums for support and how-to.

The car can easily be adapted to whatever you wish it to do.

There are many, many options and most base cars for sale are rather vanilla with horrid suspension and tires by which many judge the lot. Consider that it was designed in the early 90s for mid-life crisis types and used the tech at the time. Today we have pickup trucks which drive better and perform better 30 years later. I consider the Z06 springs/shocks/bars to be entry level on these cars, but I typically suggest anyone seeking great handling convert to one of the many available coilover kits. It is one quick and easy mod which dynamically changes the character of the car in all road aspects from highway commuting to curves in the hills or track days.

Whatever you get, just makensure it's solid first and then come back for mod ideas. And above all, buy nothing from any vendor (whom we cannot name here) using the name of the car and 'Mods' after it. Everything they sell is cheap chinese junk.

 

No offense intended here, but since wren is a Miata or S2000 a competitor for a C5!? I get those are fun cars in the twisties, but they are a totally different animal than a C5!

I've owned my Vette for nearly 20 years, never any major issues.

 

Here is my $.02, probably only worth half that....

I have automotive ADHD. Over the past 30 years, I have owned more cars than I can count. That includes 6 NA Miata, 2 NC Miata, 3 C5, and I test drove the S2000 at least 7 or 8 times over the last 20 years. I currently own a C5, an NA (which I'm selling) and a 986 Boxster.

It's kinda an apples to oranges comparison between the NC/S2000 and the C5. They are extraordinarily different. The best analogy I can give you is that the Honda and Mazda are scalpels and the C5 is a sledge hammer. Which do you prefer? The NC is a lot "softer" than the NA you had. It's not as loud or harsh, which is a positive. It's also just a tad less responsive. It's a better all around car than the NA/NB, but just a tad shy on the all out sports car the earlier ones were. BTW, the NC has some of the worst seats I've ever experienced. Hated them with a passion. There is a 'foametcomy" you can do to them that will help. The S2000 is just about as raw of a driving experience as you're going to get. It's a street legal go kart. It's small, it's cramped inside, it has utterly zero power under 5000rpm. However, get the motor singing and find a twisty road and the car is utterly glorious. It shrinks around you and you feel fully connected to it. The C5 is a brute by comparison. Stomp on the throttle and tires will smoke, big rumbling V8 noises will be heard and you'll take off. It's a big car, and you never forget that. It feels big, it drives big. It's also incredibly great at being a jack-of-all-trades. It can be just at home on a road course as it is on the highway as it is in city commuting. The hatch is big enough to carry something, the seats are comfy enough for a day long cruise. Bang for the buck, I think the C5 is near impossible to beat. It's just a very different car than the other two you list.

With respect to reliability, the Honda and Mazda are...well...Honda and Mazda. They're damn near indestructible. As long as you take reasonable care of them, they will run a heck of a long time. The C5 at its' core is very durable, it just has a lot more things around it that can be troublesome. Typical GM...it'll run forever, but may always have a check engine light, some electronics not functioning, etc...

I will say I like my Boxster better than any of the cars discussed here...even better than my supercharged C5. In my opinion, the Boxster is just that good. Probably the best driving car I've ever had. Nowhere near as fast as the C5, but life isn't all about a straight line. It's amazeballs to drive. The downside is that it's a P car and you pay P car tax on everything....

 

I will echo this sentiment lol I have 5 toys and they are all great in their own way for what I purchased them for. This is a corvette focused forum so of course the bias will be for the vette...but honestly...unless your are a loyalist...buy the car that interests you the most. Car enthusiasm is a marathon...that spans dozen of cars if in a lifetime if you're lucky. Guess it all depends on what type of experience your trying to have. In general, if its community...you will be happy with any of the above that have been listed (albeit I think the import scene is a little less judgmental and a more welcoming). From what i've seen on this forum and at shows...if mod'ing is you intent, there is a bunch you can do to the C5 as well as the imports you want. The resale on a mod'ed C5 and import (in terms of re-sale) I would are night and day. Corvette owners mostly want stock and low miles...wheres with imports mod's are favored...not frowned upon. So like the fella said...apples and oranges. Only really you can say what the right choice for YOU is.

Good luck with your choice

 

As so many others have said, these are very different cars, and it depends on what you want. I've owned my '04 C5 since 2013, and have since supercharged it. I LOVE it! My Dad drives an NC Miata, and my cousin used to have an S2000 (now drives a Del Sol). I obviously picked the C5 out of those 3. I think the C5 is the most comfortable and well suited to long trips out of your 3 options. The C5 is also the fastest out of the 3. With some minor suspension upgrades, it is great in the corners. However, the S2000 will generally out turn the Vette. In all the time that I've had the C5, it has been VERY reliable (in fact, I drove it to work today because my SUV wouldn't start this morning). As far as finding parts, it depends on the year C5 that you get. Many of the parts availability issues are on the pre-2001 models. None of these cars will put you in the poor house, and all hold their value well. My best advice would be to drive all three, and decide which one YOU like the best.

 

In my world there is no comparison to make.. Those little bitty 4 bangers get really tiresome on the yearly commute between Vancouver and Palm Springs. Back in the day, as a whippersnapper, and mostly short rides, yeah.. the body and mind was in sink with the inexpensive no frills non comfort imports that were inexpensive, loud and cute... but I'm retired now and all grown up.. Time for the real thing, time for the big boy fun. Time for Corvette!

 

You'd be hard pressed to find a more reliable car of the same performance level and same era as the C5 / C5Z. I haven't had an issue finding parts more than any of my other cars; if you go 2001+ you shouldn't have much issue finding parts. RockAuto is also a great source for both OEM and aftermarket parts:
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/....7l+v8,1380024

 

Since you’re okay with a Miata or S2000, consider an early Boxster S.

Not bad pricing and a good value.