Differences Between Years of C5's
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 487
Likes: 0
From: Kenosha WI
Differences Between Years of C5's
Hello, my first post, been lurking forever. I am READY to buy my 1st vette in March or April (depending upon Chicagoland weather). I am looking for a resource that details the specific differences between model years of C-5's, but more than just general info. Like what tweaks and fixes were done from model year to model year. For example, a friend of mine who owns an 03 (traded his 2002 in for it) said don't buy an '02 or earlier because the windows leak and they fixed that on the '03. Or is this just his '02 that had a problem? Or... do I just assume that 2004 is the best of the C5s? C6 would be do-able but I just love the C5 styling. Thanks from a NOOB!
Racer
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 463
Likes: 2
From: Wausau WI
There all pretty much the same. Except the newer ones cost more and have 5 more horsepower. I also heard 2001's leak oil. I have also heard to stay away from 97's. I have never heard bad things about 98,99,00,02,03, or 04
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,120
Likes: 0
From: Ypsilanti MI
Who told you to stay away from 97's? Let me guess its that whole thing to stay away from the first year of a new style. Like I said mine is fine. No problems. I havn't heard of any 97's with major problems.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,156
Likes: 2
From: Arlington VA
Subscibe to Corvette Magazine. Each year, they do a piece on every generation Vette and go into great detail about the differences from year to year within a given generation. You may want to check their website for back issues and get the latest one on the C5. When buying any car used, I think it is more about the maintenance history and upkeep than any known reliability issues when new. Do your homework and get the car checked out by a professional before you buy. I do not think any year C5 is one to stay away from if maintained properly and the price is right. Good Luck.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 463
Likes: 2
From: Wausau WI
Mine is a 98 convertible and I have no bad wind noises all the way to 165+. Every dealer I have ever talked to about 97's says to stay away from them. They say that they had a lot of quality problems. My stepfather is a retired Chevy dealer from 1978-2004 and he said he never saw as many vettes come in to his service department with problems as he did in 1997. Thats good if you have no problems with yours. obvously your defensive because you own one.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,120
Likes: 0
From: Ypsilanti MI
Originally Posted by 92BlackRoseconv
Mine is a 98 convertible and I have no bad wind noises all the way to 165+. Every dealer I have ever talked to about 97's says to stay away from them. They say that they had a lot of quality problems. My stepfather is a retired Chevy dealer from 1978-2004 and he said he never saw as many vettes come in to his service department with problems as he did in 1997. Thats good if you have no problems with yours. obvously your defensive because you own one.
obvously is spelled obviously. Obviously!
Also let me ask you this was your stepfather's dealership a big corvette dealer or just a regular Chevy dealership? Because I've been to normal Chevy dealerships and when I bring my car in there you would think its a Foreign car. I might see 1 or 2 for sale on there lot and they have no clue about working on my car.
But I bought my car from Les Stanford which is a Big Corvette dealership. I bet they had over 30 new C5 corvettes on there lot.
They sent me a letter evertime there was a recall or problems with my car and the only recall I had was a seat belt recall.
My point these normal dealerships don't know sh_t!
They tried telling me I my head was leaking then a ring was bad and they needed more time to look at it. Would of cost me $2,000+ just to look at it more so I told them I was coming to pick it up and guess what it was...o2 sensor. Dumb Mother F_ckers! Only flunkies work at dealerships!
Last edited by MikeJamesC5; Nov 22, 2004 at 09:57 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,661
Likes: 67
From: Ocean Springs MS
Originally Posted by mjallen40
For example, a friend of mine who owns an 03 (traded his 2002 in for it) said don't buy an '02 or earlier because the windows leak and they fixed that on the '03. Or is this just his '02 that had a problem? Or... do I just assume that 2004 is the best of the C5s? C6 would be do-able but I just love the C5 styling. Thanks from a NOOB!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,157
Likes: 5
From: Eastern PA
Originally Posted by jcs712
Subscibe to Corvette Magazine. Each year, they do a piece on every generation Vette and go into great detail about the differences from year to year within a given generation. You may want to check their website for back issues and get the latest one on the C5. When buying any car used, I think it is more about the maintenance history and upkeep than any known reliability issues when new. Do your homework and get the car checked out by a professional before you buy. I do not think any year C5 is one to stay away from if maintained properly and the price is right. Good Luck.
As for leaks around the windows, I've never had a problem. Now...if GM had only engineered the gaskets around the C5's rear hatch so I can open it w/o getting water in the cargo area, THAT would have been something!
Racer
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 463
Likes: 2
From: Wausau WI
Originally Posted by MikeJamesC5
No, I'm not defensive because I own one. If there was that many problems with the 97 then I must have been really lucky with mine. I don't have wind or air leaks and I've had it 165. I bought mine brand new in 1997 and I only have 40,000 miles on it.
obvously is spelled obviously. Obviously!
Also let me ask you this was your stepfather's dealership a big corvette dealer or just a regular Chevy dealership? Because I've been to normal Chevy dealerships and when I bring my car in there you would think its a Foreign car. I might see 1 or 2 for sale on there lot and they have no clue about working on my car.
But I bought my car from Les Stanford which is a Big Corvette dealership. I bet they had over 30 new C5 corvettes on there lot.
They sent me a letter evertime there was a recall or problems with my car and the only recall I had was a seat belt recall.
My point these normal dealerships don't know sh_t!
They tried telling me I my head was leaking then a ring was bad and they needed more time to look at it. Would of cost me $2,000+ just to look at it more so I told them I was coming to pick it up and guess what it was...o2 sensor. Dumb Mother F_ckers! Only flunkies work at dealerships!
obvously is spelled obviously. Obviously!
Also let me ask you this was your stepfather's dealership a big corvette dealer or just a regular Chevy dealership? Because I've been to normal Chevy dealerships and when I bring my car in there you would think its a Foreign car. I might see 1 or 2 for sale on there lot and they have no clue about working on my car.
But I bought my car from Les Stanford which is a Big Corvette dealership. I bet they had over 30 new C5 corvettes on there lot.
They sent me a letter evertime there was a recall or problems with my car and the only recall I had was a seat belt recall.
My point these normal dealerships don't know sh_t!
They tried telling me I my head was leaking then a ring was bad and they needed more time to look at it. Would of cost me $2,000+ just to look at it more so I told them I was coming to pick it up and guess what it was...o2 sensor. Dumb Mother F_ckers! Only flunkies work at dealerships!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,947
Likes: 2
From: Atlanta GA
Originally Posted by MikeJamesC5
Who told you to stay away from 97's? Let me guess its that whole thing to stay away from the first year of a new style. Like I said mine is fine. No problems. I havn't heard of any 97's with major problems.
2nd Gear
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Buy Now!
I just sold my sweet 01 cpe to my son because I couldn't resist the deals that GM is offering on new 04's. I found 1 of 3 commemorative edition cpes left for 2k below MSRP @0% for 60 months---- haven't seen that on vettes for a while-- get one while the money is FREE!!!
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 412
Likes: 0
From: Newport AR
When there is no major styling change, manufacturers must do two things to make new models attractive -1) reduce the number of known problems with the prior model (and there are always some), and 2) make improvements in non-problem areas.
Based on articles I have read on changes in C5s between years, Chevy made an average of about 25 improvements in the C5 each model year. One of the Corvette magazines had a good article in one of the spring '04 issues that listed approximately 30 improvements in the 2004 C5 over the 2003 C5.
I agree with the response that said you should get the latest model you can afford. The other main supporting reason for this is time takes its toll on everything, regardless of use and care.
I have a 1998 vehicle I bought new that now only has 31,000 miles on it, but its starting to need replacement parts.
Based on articles I have read on changes in C5s between years, Chevy made an average of about 25 improvements in the C5 each model year. One of the Corvette magazines had a good article in one of the spring '04 issues that listed approximately 30 improvements in the 2004 C5 over the 2003 C5.
I agree with the response that said you should get the latest model you can afford. The other main supporting reason for this is time takes its toll on everything, regardless of use and care.
I have a 1998 vehicle I bought new that now only has 31,000 miles on it, but its starting to need replacement parts.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
From: Temecula Ca
This link was posted by Vette Dream in a recent post. It should answer most of your quesitons.
http://www.jakelatham.com/c5/misc/differences.shtml
http://www.jakelatham.com/c5/misc/differences.shtml