whats wrong with the 97s ???
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 4,411
Likes: 1
From: Okeechobee Florida
whats wrong with the 97s ???
NO...i am not thinking of selling the 79...
but rather buying a C5 as a 2nd car...
(actually a 4th car counting the wifes Olds and my old truck)
i want it for a foul weather car...a grocery getter, occational trips etc...
i hate to take the 79 out in the rain and get the undercarraige all dirty etc...
ive been lookin at 98-99-00s but the 97s are a lot less expensive and im thinkin its because they are a "1st year" car...
does anybody here know the scoop on them???
i missed out on a 99 with 6000 miles on it for $23,000 today...
my friend at the chevy dealer called me about it around 1 oclock and by the time i got there after work it was sold already...
some guy traded it in towards a C6...
thanx guys!
but rather buying a C5 as a 2nd car...
(actually a 4th car counting the wifes Olds and my old truck)
i want it for a foul weather car...a grocery getter, occational trips etc...
i hate to take the 79 out in the rain and get the undercarraige all dirty etc...
ive been lookin at 98-99-00s but the 97s are a lot less expensive and im thinkin its because they are a "1st year" car...
does anybody here know the scoop on them???
i missed out on a 99 with 6000 miles on it for $23,000 today...
my friend at the chevy dealer called me about it around 1 oclock and by the time i got there after work it was sold already...
some guy traded it in towards a C6...
thanx guys!
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 24,921
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From: Knoxville, TN
CI 3-4-5-6-7-8 Veteran
St. Jude '03 thru '26
102K miles on our 97 that we use for autocrossing and drag racing. I also use it to make my 600 mile weekend trips from Knoxville, TN to Columbus, GA. We have been very happy with it.
And we have a pair of 98's also. Pace car with 97k and the silver vert with 60k.
If you find a good deal on any model that fits your budget, I think you will be pleased.
And we have a pair of 98's also. Pace car with 97k and the silver vert with 60k.
If you find a good deal on any model that fits your budget, I think you will be pleased.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 35,617
Likes: 167
Tech Contributor
Cruise-In 11 Veteran
NCM Ambassador
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'10
There's not a thing wrong with my '97. I bought it used with 27,000 miles two and a half years ago. I now have 51,000 miles with two 3000 miles trips to the Corvette museum and back and she's still going strong. If you find the right car they are no different than the later models. Our's was built in the first 7 weeks of production and is fantastic.
Paul
Paul
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 17,786
Likes: 4
From: Redsox, Pats, Celts & Bruins !!! Redsox Nation !!!
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12
Originally Posted by 99C5Vert
I don't think they're any less reliable than any other year. They just don't have some of the options that were added on later, like HUD and Active Handling.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,815
Likes: 936
From: Cortez, FL/Canandaigua NY (Summer)
I had a '97 for 4 years. From 22k to 38k. The problems are minimal. Fuel pump whines and it sounds like it is right next to your right ear, the seat rocks and the column locks up. I think the last two problems were issues with almost all of the C5 though. I would buy another one.
Advise take a flashlight and look up behind the rear bumper to make sure the foam bumper cover support is perfect. Mine had been rear-ended and the damage wasn't evident at time of purchase but stress cracks appeared later.
Advise take a flashlight and look up behind the rear bumper to make sure the foam bumper cover support is perfect. Mine had been rear-ended and the damage wasn't evident at time of purchase but stress cracks appeared later.
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Brett Foote
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
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From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
I had a very early 98 (might have as well been a 97) and I loved it! Any mechanicaly sound C5 at a decient priceis a good buy (UNLESS IT IS A FLOOD RECOVERY!!!!!)
There was a post on the forum about 2 weeks ago that listed all of the things that you need to look for when buying a used C5 and one about purchasing a 97. See if you can find it in the search.
BC
There was a post on the forum about 2 weeks ago that listed all of the things that you need to look for when buying a used C5 and one about purchasing a 97. See if you can find it in the search.
BC
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 15,323
Likes: 2,077
From: Guelph, Ontario
To be honest I think the 97s and 98s might be some of the better built cars, at least in terms of the engine. They seem to burn less oil and have less trouble with piston slap than some of the newer ones.
I've now owned two different LS1 powered vehicles (Firebird Formula and now the Corvette), both of them early 98 production, and my Formula burned no oil and had no piston slap and neither does my Corvette.
I've now owned two different LS1 powered vehicles (Firebird Formula and now the Corvette), both of them early 98 production, and my Formula burned no oil and had no piston slap and neither does my Corvette.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,194
Likes: 0
From: Tempe AZ
Originally Posted by Bill Curlee
There was a post on the forum about 2 weeks ago that listed all of the things that you need to look for when buying a used C5 and one about purchasing a 97. See if you can find it in the search.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,119
Likes: 213
From: Pittsburgh PA
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 54,204
Likes: 180
From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member
There's not a thing wrong with my '97.
It is only missing one thing - Active Handling - and that might not be a big deal to a person.
NO...i am not thinking of selling the 79...
but rather buying a C5 as a 2nd car...
but rather buying a C5 as a 2nd car...
