checking out C5s
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 157
Likes: 1
From: Tampa FL
checking out C5s
hey guys im formerly from the dsmtuners forum and ever since i sold my unreliable talon tsi, im thinking about what the market in c5s look like. Whats a good starting price for a early c5 with +100k miles??? i see some guy is selling his automatic 97 c5 with about 140k miles and all i saw that it needed was new rear tires and possbly a new paintjob because of some peeling. interior is very nice! his asking price is 16k and that sounds like a better deal than some newer cars and most of all its a corvette! 
im pretty sure i can get a loan for that amount.
well right now i just want to know how different the ls1s are from the older C4s. im decent at working on cars especially dsms but very new to v8s. i hear the lt1s are bad enough with the optis going out and the l98s having all those gasket leakage problems. how much more reliable are the c5s than the c4s? thanks guys
Julia
im pretty sure i can get a loan for that amount.well right now i just want to know how different the ls1s are from the older C4s. im decent at working on cars especially dsms but very new to v8s. i hear the lt1s are bad enough with the optis going out and the l98s having all those gasket leakage problems. how much more reliable are the c5s than the c4s? thanks guys
Julia
Pro
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 623
Likes: 0
From: SpringHill Florida
Warning needs rear tires good indication of hard starts, paint peeling probably due to the first item causing it to contact other objects and require body repair.Look for a nicer piece with less miles. They are out there.The difference between the loan payment at 16k and 20k is minimal. I can't speak for others who have owned and love their C4's but owning a C5 as my first vette seems to have a lot of comfort and technical improvements over it's C4 brothers.Good luck with your search.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
Keep looking, based on your description that car is not fairly priced. Look for a 2000+ if you can afford it, because there were some upgrades done in the car. Now is a good time of year, as many who are thinking of moving up to a C6 may be looking to sell. The one below is more money, but a LOT more car 
For example
For example
Pro
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 662
Likes: 4
From: Germantown Tennessee
Having owned both C4 and C5 Vettes, I will say that there is no comparison. The C5 is a much more refined vehicle in every way - comfort, quality, appearance, etc. I agree with the previous posts that the 98 you saw is not a great deal. Be patient, a really good C5 for a good price is out there.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 3,461
Likes: 161
From: Las Vegas Nevada
St. Jude Donor '08
Originally Posted by GaryP
Having owned both C4 and C5 Vettes, I will say that there is no comparison. The C5 is a much more refined vehicle in every way - comfort, quality, appearance, etc. I agree with the previous posts that the 98 you saw is not a great deal. Be patient, a really good C5 for a good price is out there.
Clayton from Las Vegas
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,721
Likes: 104
From: Florida
i'm shopping for my first C5 as well. Also Having a background in DSM's. Sold my 2g eclipse to get into the luxury sedan scene now looking into getting my dream ride.
Check out the autotrader, lots of options in the tampa bay area!
GL on your search
Check out the autotrader, lots of options in the tampa bay area!
GL on your search
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 157
Likes: 1
From: Tampa FL
i feel that all the high milage c5s are in bad condition like rips in the interior, faded paint or alike. these are priced at about 17k dunno how well high mileage ls1 are like and if they are reliable past 100-150k miles before having any typical old car symtoms. how reliable is the automatic vs the 6 speed? and whats usually faster stock for stock?
Race Director
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 14,542
Likes: 5
Originally Posted by vettet80
i feel that all the high milage c5s are in bad condition like rips in the interior, faded paint or alike. these are priced at about 17k dunno how well high mileage ls1 are like and if they are reliable past 100-150k miles before having any typical old car symtoms. how reliable is the automatic vs the 6 speed? and whats usually faster stock for stock?
It depends on how the owner maintained it. I keep my cars for ten years and 150,000 miles, so after 100,000 miles I have a high mileage car that has been well mantained, and they've never let me down. My 75k 2000 interior, looks factory new, and I have a daily driver.
I don't pamper it, I just take good care of it.
All thing sbeing equal, the six speed is ultimately faster, but the A4 is easier for most people to accelerate faster in a straight line. Just push, go, and hold on.
Good luck with your search.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
10 Things C8 Corvette Owners Hate (But Won't Tell You)
Joe Kucinski
10 Best Corvettes Coming to Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach 2026!
Brett Foote
Every Corvette Grand Sport Explained! (C2, C4, C6, C7, & C8)
Joe Kucinski
Grand Sport & Grand Sport X Launch Alongside All-New 535hp LS6 V8!
Michael S. Palmer
5 Reasons Bad Drivers Crash & 5 Ways to Avoid a Costly Mistake!
Joe Kucinski
7 Bolt-On Upgrades From Extreme Online Store to Level Up Your C6 Corvette
Pouria Savadkouei
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 157
Likes: 1
From: Tampa FL
is there a way to get a 99 c5 on a finance plan? my local bank told me they cant finance a car older than 5 years and i really think this is a good deal at 17k. i hope to own this soon as the seller told me hes got several people in line to look at it this afternoon. help...?!?!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,707
Likes: 4
From: Los Angeles
Originally Posted by vettet80
is there a way to get a 99 c5 on a finance plan? my local bank told me they cant finance a car older than 5 years and i really think this is a good deal at 17k. i hope to own this soon as the seller told me hes got several people in line to look at it this afternoon. help...?!?!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 789
Likes: 38
From: Shreveport LA
To give you some comparison,I got a 99 Fixed roof coupe, looks like a z06, with 56K miles in GREAT condition for 18K. One of my buddies got a 99frc red with 76K miles for 16K and in very nice condition also. Don't rush into anything because there are deals to be made out there. I had to drive 5 hours to get mine but it was totally worth it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 9,891
Likes: 1,829
From: Hot Springs AR
Julia,
NeverL8 makes some good points. Mileage has little to do with how good or bad a car's condition is. My wife and I test-drove a C4 and C5; the C5 won hands down.
If you can (or wish) to drive a manual, the Fixed Roof Coupes are usually the best value for older C5s (made in '99 and '00 prior to the '01 Z06). The 6-speed manual transmissions are just about bullet-proof, although I haven't heard anything bad about the automatics, either.
My best advice is to be patient. Good deals abound. Also, see if there are some CF members in your area that could give you an unbiased and informed opinion on a given car.
Finally, don't be afraid to go outside your area. The FL area is Corvette-rich, so you shouldn't have to go far.
Welcome to the Vette world, and have a good one!
Mike
NeverL8 makes some good points. Mileage has little to do with how good or bad a car's condition is. My wife and I test-drove a C4 and C5; the C5 won hands down.
If you can (or wish) to drive a manual, the Fixed Roof Coupes are usually the best value for older C5s (made in '99 and '00 prior to the '01 Z06). The 6-speed manual transmissions are just about bullet-proof, although I haven't heard anything bad about the automatics, either.
My best advice is to be patient. Good deals abound. Also, see if there are some CF members in your area that could give you an unbiased and informed opinion on a given car.
Finally, don't be afraid to go outside your area. The FL area is Corvette-rich, so you shouldn't have to go far.
Welcome to the Vette world, and have a good one!
Mike
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,677
Likes: 0
From: I have to return some videotapes
The C5 is way ahead of the C4, particularly for a daily driver.
My main advice is not to jump on the first (or second, or maybe even third) one you see. There are lots of well-maintained examles out there for sale now, and also a lot of two or three owner 97-99s that have been thrashed to death. Just because you can work on a car doesn't mean you should buy one that needs work. I bought my '00 FRC two years ago w/ 12K mi, showroom perfect, for $24K, though I did have to go to Chicago to get it. You should be able to find a better example that what you're describing for under $20K. G/L
My main advice is not to jump on the first (or second, or maybe even third) one you see. There are lots of well-maintained examles out there for sale now, and also a lot of two or three owner 97-99s that have been thrashed to death. Just because you can work on a car doesn't mean you should buy one that needs work. I bought my '00 FRC two years ago w/ 12K mi, showroom perfect, for $24K, though I did have to go to Chicago to get it. You should be able to find a better example that what you're describing for under $20K. G/L
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,677
Likes: 0
From: I have to return some videotapes
Originally Posted by vettet80
is there a way to get a 99 c5 on a finance plan? my local bank told me they cant finance a car older than 5 years and i really think this is a good deal at 17k. i hope to own this soon as the seller told me hes got several people in line to look at it this afternoon. help...?!?!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,791
Likes: 44
From: Loudon/Lake Mary Tennessee/Florida
You can search the web for reputable companies that specalize in financing Corvettes.
BTW: I have a C4 and a C5 and teh C4 has 165K miles on it with NO gasket leaks of any kind. I like the C5 much better but the C4 is a fantastic car also. Like everyone has said, be patient, you can find cars in your price range with perfect paint and interior that runs great.
BTW: I have a C4 and a C5 and teh C4 has 165K miles on it with NO gasket leaks of any kind. I like the C5 much better but the C4 is a fantastic car also. Like everyone has said, be patient, you can find cars in your price range with perfect paint and interior that runs great.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,720
Likes: 3
From: East Hampton CT
FYI, I got my 1997 C5 from the second owner with all reciepts and a signifcant amount of warranty/recall work already done to it for $15,500. Car had 99k on it. Trick is to wait until the dead of winter (granted Fl won't change as much as new england!) and then make some lowball offers. My guy was asking $17,500 or $18k if I recall.
I couldn't be happier with my purchase. I have heard of people paying $5-10k more for cars that still ended up having the usual problems (slave cyl, rocking seat, water pump, fuel sender, random codes, etc).
As far as financing Capital One has been by far the best company to deal with. The BLANK CHECK is sweet to use in private party and dealer transactions (I've done both) and my rates are nice and low (5% or so).
I couldn't be happier with my purchase. I have heard of people paying $5-10k more for cars that still ended up having the usual problems (slave cyl, rocking seat, water pump, fuel sender, random codes, etc).
As far as financing Capital One has been by far the best company to deal with. The BLANK CHECK is sweet to use in private party and dealer transactions (I've done both) and my rates are nice and low (5% or so).
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 3,461
Likes: 161
From: Las Vegas Nevada
St. Jude Donor '08
Before I bought my Vette, I looked a lot on AutoTrader.com. It gave me a lot of information on what is out there and what the prices are. I actually ended up buying a car locally, but at least I was well informed about what I was buying.
Clayton from Las Vegas
ps: For financing, check with a local credit union.
Clayton from Las Vegas
ps: For financing, check with a local credit union.