Hi everyone, i figure this is the right place to ask. I am considering buying a used c5 and have about 33k to spend. I know there are alot of good deals out htere and my question is would it be better to get a 99 or 00 if i could or is a 97 or 98 ok.. considering it has less than 25000odo and htere is an extended warrenty. I mean are these cars or have they been reliable from the 97s, or what should i do, i dont want to be buying a bunch of problems.. so any advice would be appreciate for a new vette buyer! thanks

 

There are a lot of great deals available.
My recommendation is to get as new as possible, with the equiptment you want and at your price!!!
Just take some time.
A friend in Scottsdale got a 2001 Convertible loaded with 7,000 miles for $38,000 over eight months ago.

:cheers:

 

Look for a car which still has the factory warranty. Check out the service history too.

 

You should be able to find plenty of low mileage still warrantied 2000's for 33-35k. I wouldn't buy one older than 1999 or with more than 40k miles on it.

 

In each succeeding year, there were improvements, so get the latest year you can afford. Try to get one with an extended warranty, too.

 

Well, these cars were never reliable. Plus the repairs are very costly since most of the shops don't know how to work on them.

Thus, get the one still under warranty and buy extended warranty from GM.

 

There were no real 1st year bugs, so a 97 would be an O.K. buy but for around $25k.

C5's are good cars but there have been significant problems with all years.

I agree with the above posts. Get an extended warranty and get the latest model you can.

 

I bought my C5 used. Do your homework. I did a Vin Number check on mine before purchasing. Found the original driver and spoke to him. I am pretty happy so far with my 2000 Coupe.

 

01 !!!!

LS6 Manifold
Better Active Handling
Many little improvements: Less wear on seat bolsters, etc...
Most will have most of factory warranty left.

Ditto on Service History in case of oil consumption.


[Modified by Closer_2001, 11:11 AM 12/30/2001]

 

thanks again for all your help, i cant belive hte activity of this board, i go to sleep, wake up and there are like 20 posts on my question! thanks alot, its wierd to me to be buying used but the only way i can afford it! thanks again

 

Buy the absolute newist car you can afford!!!!

 

And if going the convertible route, the 01+ have better ragtops that fit better, and have more layers for noise reduction.

 

In addition to all the good advice already posted, I would suggest avoiding any car that isn't bone stock. Here's why ...

A month or so ago I remember a thread about Nitrous Oxide, a power adder that is frequently implimented improperly and when improperly installed can damage your engine. One poster bragged about how he didn't really care what happened to the engine because he could easily remove the plumbing and sell the car without the buyer ever knowing it had been run on nitrous.

If you've spent any time on this Forum and read about power shifting (no clutching with a manual at high load high RPM) and some of the things guys do with their cars you might think twice about getting a used one. It's all fine, until THEIR car becomes YOUR car.

Anyhow, it's pretty hard for these characters not to leave evidence of their tinkering somewhere. Although it may cause you to pass up some good deals, I would not advise buying a car with anything that's not 100% stock. One unimportant mod may be all the warning you get about the stuff that was removed.

And even if the car wasn't abused, do you want GM's engineering or Joe Blow's?

Maybe you might make an exception for a tuner car that hasn't been screwed with after the owner got it back from the tuner ... but it would be quite a score if you found one in your price range.

Maybe that super low GM financing might let you get a new one?

 

With the C5, I'd take a 98 and newer. Miles and care mean more than year, and the older, the cheaper. Find a low miles model you really dig - then enjoy. Even experts can't tell the difference between years at a glance, wheels notwith standing. :chevy

 

Ditto on the bone stock car. It will be your best buy and if you decide to mod it, you will know what has already been done.

:cheers:

 

In 2000 the passenger side door handle key hole was removed. Quick and easy to tell 2000+ ;)

 

Thanks for the tip, bone stock is wha ti want and agreed with the milage, i cant afford new as i am 21 and have pretty much no income other than my savings whihc is going into the car. I am headed of to med school next year so this will be my car for the newxt 6 years or so. I have about 35k saved and figure to spend 30k on the car and keep 5k in bank for car problems and expenses. Im patient, i odnt have to buy for another year, im going to look slowly and carefully and hopefully ill find one. I really appreciate the advice, and thanks for taking the time, you all are great on here! glad to be here and i have learned alot. thanks again mike

 

Check out the Vette's on E Bay.com's auction. I have seen some really good buys there. Whiteboy :chevy