Hello so I am looking at a Yellow C5 with about 84k miles and apparently it is a 50th anniversary. I am considering buying it and the guy wants 6k for it since it has some mechanical issues. Is that a good prices? How much do they usually go for?

 

EVERY 2003 has 50th anniversary badges. It's NOT a 50th anniversary edition car. Don't fall for that boomer bullshit.


But to answer your real question - there's nowhere near enough information here. Does it need a harmonic balancer, which is a few hundred bucks? Or is the motor blown?

"some mechanical issues" is about as vague as it gets.

 

80,000 mile c5 should go anywhere from 12,000-20,000 dollars in working condition. Does it run and drive? Ask him if you can drive it to a mechanic shop to check it out. Engine work can get expensive depending on what’s wrong. Is it an automatic with a transmission issue, is it a manual with a transmission issue, is the differential making noise. Post some information. Pictures of flaws with the car. Do you want a perfect car? Or a 6,000 dollar fixer upper that will cost you 20,000 to make it perfect?

were not sure what your looking for or what’s wrong with the car? Can you fix the car yourself?

 

A 2003 50th Anniversary model has a RPO code of " 1SC " is a 2003 that has a 50th edition package, has some other odds and ends and the 1SC came in Anniversary Red paint and Shale interior, but all 2003 were 50th anniversary cars, and the price is attractive but what is "Mechanical Issues" leaves a lot of room for Big Dollar repairs, the biggest one that I can think of right off the bat is "Torque-Tube" is worn out, and it is very expensive to repair. If you get in the car and go for a drive, come to a stop and hit the gas, if the Torque Tube is worn out you'll get a loud noise and a crazy vibration shot through the car, then it's Torque-Tube bearing are worn out, Any C5 C6 or C7 all have a Torque-Tube drive line and can be worn especially if street racing was a owners past time of choice habits. but This Is a excellent time to have the car looked over by someone with a skill set to give you the right advice. These are fabulous cars to own and drive, You really need to get the best one you can afford and getting a good mechanic to look it over who knows something about Corvettes will keep you from making a mistake and causing you to have bad experience with this particular car. Good luck !

 

I’ll answer you question. It’s a good price unless you have to put 8 to 10.000 more into it.

 

Please if you can provide just what work the car needs. Depending on what it needs and could determine if it is a good price or if it a just a parts car.

Yellow convertibles in my areas are are around $23K with 35K miles. Yellow also is cheaper here and time of year is always a facto. If it is a coupe and with that many miles it could be $18K if in good condition. less for needs work cars depending on what the needs work is.

Prices around the country can also vary a bit.

The key here is find out what it needs and start adding up what it would cost to fix and if you can fix it or have to pay to fix it.

Just call it an 04 to keep all happy here.

 

I just bought a 2003 Triple Black Convertible 6-speed with 31k miles in 8/10 condition, I paid $21.8k.

 

Look at it this way... Todays C5 in “normal " condition and price value is 4 times that 6 thousand dallars you've quoted as the asking price.... You'll have to spend more money than you have to "get it" or "keep it" running properly ... They, Corvette, ain't cheap.. perhaps get something at an entry level...as in the little bitty Miata till your income is somewhat larger is the wiser, educational, and affordable path to fallow..... Learn the rope's sorta thing... particularly a neophite sportscar guy!.... It can be called paying your dues. 😏

 

Where did he say anything about the money he had? Whole lot of assumptions being made here.

It's a 20 year old Chevy. If you can turn a wrench, you can drive a C5. They're not magic.

 

To a 16 year old! 😂 Oh yeah sure

 

Not sure where OP mentioned his age, either. Are we reading the same thread?

 

As one is around here, and experienced the questions asked 😏... one may learn to read with a judgemental attitude, toward such simple no nonsense questions as a 6 thousand dallar Corvette. One could learn, as one ages, to ask intelligence, PERTINENT questions of a 6 thousand dallar used up, worn out Chevy....like will the tires last till my next allowance! 🙄

 

You don't know anything about the OP. You're being a dick for no apparent reason.

Who pissed in your Cheerios today?

 

You are correct, I know not a thing other than what I assumed. Of course assumptions are a normal in response to a less directed statement or question. Wouldn't you say? Like I assume you are a wonderful warm kinda person. 😊

 

I agree the Op does not give age or income. He also didn't mention his level of technical skill. He is just asking a question. As others have said though, we need more info to give him a good answer. If he can fix the car up for a few thousand, then $6K is a great deal.

 

So where is the brand new member who started this thread?

 

Let me say to anyone that is new to the C5. Sit down and decide who you are when it comes to mechanical ability. It’s not that the c5 is hard to work on it’s really not bad at all. As a matter of fact it’s definitely easier than most general cars.
If you are not hands on then buy the cleanest car you can find. The Corvette tax appears to be alive and well. I think a lot of general mechanics shy away due to the unknown. The ones that know the cars also know most Corvette owners will pay through the nose for the perceived difficulties.
I’ve seen some crazy price quotes.
If you are DIY then don’t shy away from the deals. Especially if you’re going to start mods right away. And let’s face it. If your hands on it’s probably because you’ve modded cars and will do the same to your c5.

Using the example of the torque tube. A shop will charge $$$$$. Using a quick jack and a friends help he and I can pull swap and reinstall a transmission in 6 hours total. The first time I did it was to install a converter and rebuild the tube. The tube requires one not so common tool. It’s a gigantic set of snap ring pliers that harbor freight sells under their icon brand for $40.
I took the shaft down to a local driveline shop ( look for a place that works on commercial truck differentials). And they pressed in the new bearing bolted my couplings on and balanced for $150
I’m not going to look up the receipts, but I think he was in for about $400 for everything.
We pulled everything apart after work in a couple hours waited a couple days for the driveshaft place to get my part back and re-installed after work another day.
It’s a great time to swap out shocks, new gear, SS brake lines, converter etc since it all comes out.
for $100 each I put in new half shafts as well.
Combined with a new filter and trans flush you’ve just rehabilitated half the car.
The motor being a LS1 has more parts and performance mods than any other motor period. So many parts are cross compatible once you do some research. That part kinda sucks at first but the parts are in abundance.
For body work the salvage shops have racks of parts of your car is a common color. My Electron Blue is not common which sucks.
Everything else is just car guy stuff. Wires are wires and GM Gremlins are just as frustrating in all models.

 

Anyone out there, anyone at all, considering buying a 20 year old car that can't turn a wrench, needs to look at something else.

Or have very deep pockets.

 

Amen.