When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
A little insight:
I grew up without money. We weren't completely destitute, but we knew where the food bank was. I went to college on student loans and got into debt. I graduated and immediately bought a condo (I had no place to live and my grandfather had always told me never to rent). I had no idea what I was doing. I bought in January 2006. The housing market tanked immediately afterwards. I got married in 2008 to someone with more student loan debt than myself. We were in over our heads, paying 8 student loan payments a month, plus a mortgage, on piddly income. We paid our bills every month, but fell deeper into debt with each month.
At the end of 2015, my company closed my department. I took relocation and they had to buy me out of my house. They had to pay me what I paid for it in 2006, not what it was worth 10 years later (about half). With one kid and one more on the way, I took it, and we uprooted. We moved to a great neighborhood to a house that was just outside our price range. 4-1/2 years later, we were still struggling. My company hadn't given raises in 4 years and stuff was tight. I started working a night job at a factory - 14-hour days total - during COVID. I did this for a year, paying down a mountain of debt. We paid off a car, medical debt, a credit card, and student loans - one by one. I then was hired by an awesome company at the same time my wife took up a teaching job once our 2nd kid was in school (with the cost of child care, it wasn't worth her working full time until the kids were in school). 5 years later, I've been promoted twice, and she has a comfortable income as well. We have no debt, except a small mortgage. We have a nice retirement fund and our kids' college should be fully paid.
About a year ago, I told my wife I wanted something for myself. They are in every club, sport, and activity they want... but I don't really have any hobbies. I don't ever spend any money. She asked what I want. I told her a car. A Corvette. I had run the numbers and done the research. I looked at everything from a Honda Beat, all Miatas, the Gen 4 Camaro and Firebird, the S2000, Boxster, Z3, and the del Sol (I owned 2 that I loved). For the money, the best bang for the buck is the C5. She told me to start saving.
I wanted a 2003 coupe with 6-speed in LeMans Blue, Dark Bowling Green, or Millennium Yellow with a slate interior I have been watching the forums, FaceBook Marketplace, CarGurus, AutoTrader, Cars.com, Bring A Trailer, and Cars and Bids. I ended up finding a 2002 coupe in red with a black interior with 132k for $12k. The hood paint needs buffed and the clearcoat needs redone on a couple of panels, and the driver's seat has a little slack in it. Otherwise, the interior is excellent and all the maintenance is done. New brakes and tires. Everything works with no odd noises. All stock. For that price, I have to pull the trigger. I can always upgrade later, but I can enjoy the car in the meantime.
Nearly 30 years after I saw my first C5, and about 30 years after I started working full time at the age of 13, I finally did it. I'm about to cry.
I look forward to the support on this forum. I'll probably need to know how to tighten up the driver's seat. I plan on spending a lot of time there. (My wife wlll too!)
Congratulations! Sounds like you have earned your Corvette! Hope you enjoy it as much as the rest of us do! They are awesome cars and so much fun to drive and to work on!
Congrats, at first I thought I had stumbled into a Dave Ramsey thread. Life gets in the way fast and finally one day your moment comes. More happy you have your finances straight than your Vette.
Last edited by topless68; May 23, 2026 at 03:46 PM.
Well, I spoke too soon. I inspected the car and we agreed on a price. I was to get the money out of the bank the next day and return to pick it up (it is 2 hours 45 minutes from my house). I texted him in the morning to show him a photo of the cash. As I was walking out the door to go pick it up, he texted me and said he got called into work and couldn't do it today. He said he would work out a time with the notary and get back with me for a different day - likely tomorrow (what would have been today) or Wednesday. I waited around today but he didn't respond to messages via text or Facebook Marketplace, or to a voicemail. The ad is down. It looks like he sold it out from under me.
Blessing in disguise. Keep saving your money and find somebody's cream puff with fewer miles. You're right in the middle of buying season so wait until Fall and score a reasonable deal. Keep and eye on '06 and '07 C6 Base coupes too, my Dad purchased a nice one last year.
Blessing in disguise. Keep saving your money and find somebody's cream puff with fewer miles. You're right in the middle of buying season so wait until Fall and score a reasonable deal. Keep and eye on '06 and '07 C6 Base coupes too, my Dad purchased a nice one last year.
Excellent advice. It won't take a lot of money to get a really nice car.
Yep, don't get disheartened. If a man sells it out from under you after an agreement, he probably lied about other things. Lacks integrity. Keep looking and don't get down about it. Hard to once you get excited and have your heart set on something, but chalk it up to hidden blessings.
I see you are in OH. I'm in NE Indiana. Always Vettes for sale, its finding the right one at the right price and being alble to move on it. Chin up!
When things don’t work out I always look at it like it was not meant to be. Sometimes painful but something better will come along. Be patient and don’t settle because of this situation.
Great story. Don't worry there are tons of really great Vettes out there at good prices. Keep saving while you look. Don't settle for one that isn't exactly what you're looking for. Good luck with your search. Post up pics when you finally get it.
I finally did it!
