Is it too many miles
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: Alpine ca.
Is it too many miles
I've got a lead on a 2000 FRC that is in great shape The interior and exterior is spotless.The issue is the miles 114K.It runs well the maintence records show the car has been well taken care of.I can get the car very reasonably 12.5K.I was thinking of putting a good set of heads,cam and intake manifold.Or would it be worth it to put in a new motor say LS6 or a Texas speed 383 LS6? I'd appreciate any opinions.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,472
Likes: 1,171
From: Dyer, IN
I've got a lead on a 2000 FRC that is in great shape The interior and exterior is spotless.The issue is the miles 114K.It runs well the maintence records show the car has been well taken care of.I can get the car very reasonably 12.5K.I was thinking of putting a good set of heads,cam and intake manifold.Or would it be worth it to put in a new motor say LS6 or a Texas speed 383 LS6? I'd appreciate any opinions.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,722
Likes: 138
From: Florida
St. Jude Donor '09
I've got a lead on a 2000 FRC that is in great shape The interior and exterior is spotless.The issue is the miles 114K.It runs well the maintence records show the car has been well taken care of.I can get the car very reasonably 12.5K.I was thinking of putting a good set of heads,cam and intake manifold.Or would it be worth it to put in a new motor say LS6 or a Texas speed 383 LS6? I'd appreciate any opinions.
Use Edmunds TMV calculator to determine value, more realistic than KBB in my opinion.
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 138,701
Likes: 177
From: Poor pathetic little excuse for a boy
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 138,701
Likes: 177
From: Poor pathetic little excuse for a boy
I know values have gone down but sorry they are not in the 8-9 range for a C5 with just over 100k, especially the "rare" FRC.
Just did a search on Autotrader and there are only 6 C5's for sale in the whole country under $10,000 and they are all wrecked/salvage title....
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,093
Likes: 33
From: Morristown TN
That engine is just getting broken in good at that milage.
I am at 223,500 on my 98 and have had no major problems at all.
water pump, oil pressure sending unit, ect....
I am at 223,500 on my 98 and have had no major problems at all.
water pump, oil pressure sending unit, ect....
I've got a lead on a 2000 FRC that is in great shape The interior and exterior is spotless.The issue is the miles 114K.It runs well the maintence records show the car has been well taken care of.I can get the car very reasonably 12.5K.I was thinking of putting a good set of heads,cam and intake manifold.Or would it be worth it to put in a new motor say LS6 or a Texas speed 383 LS6? I'd appreciate any opinions.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 6,366
Likes: 249
From: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
I may have ONLY 83,000 miles on my '03 Z06, but if it keeps running like it has (and it is mildly modded engine-wise) another 100,000 will be a piece of cake. I just change the oil. $12,000 sounds okay if you like it. What can you possibly buy at that price that could possibly compare and have timeless good looks? Quite often people will ask me if my car is new.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 10,030
Likes: 10
From: Prescott AZ
St. Jude Donor '04
I honestly don't think the car is a steal at 12.5k. In Nov 2008 I purchased a 1999 FRC at a dealer for 14k with a A&A Vortech kit and B&B bullet exhaust. The car also had a full Alpine Stereo. The miles were 80k. Not that was a steal.
I would try to buy the car right around 11k.
If you do buy it. Check out my performance head/intake setup I am selling in the next couple of weeks. This setup plus long tubes and a tune will = 400 rwhp
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/sout...d-package.html
I would try to buy the car right around 11k.
If you do buy it. Check out my performance head/intake setup I am selling in the next couple of weeks. This setup plus long tubes and a tune will = 400 rwhp
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/sout...d-package.html
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 772
Likes: 6
From: Huntsville AL
My opinion. Miles are not a concern at all.
FRC are cheaper than other cars since there is very little demand for them. If your going with an FRC, get the Z06 for the engine, suspension, etc...
I think your waisting your time to buy an FRC and then trow money at the engine to try and get to the hp that a Z06 started with.
You can find Z06 cars fairly cheap as well.
Keep looking for a Z06.
FRC are cheaper than other cars since there is very little demand for them. If your going with an FRC, get the Z06 for the engine, suspension, etc...
I think your waisting your time to buy an FRC and then trow money at the engine to try and get to the hp that a Z06 started with.
You can find Z06 cars fairly cheap as well.
Keep looking for a Z06.
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: May 2007
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From: Machineguns, because I don’t compromise
Not many clean C5's are $12 grand or less.
Kelly Blue Book has their head stuck up somewhere, but it sure isn't in the open market. Look at the normal prices... they aren't anywhere near as low as KBB or Edmunds lists... even NADA is a little off.
The price is decent, and the miles are nothing to be worried about.
Just check it out like any other used car purchase... compression and leakdowns are easy to say, but aren't mandatory unless you suspect an issue with the engine.
Good luck.
Kelly Blue Book has their head stuck up somewhere, but it sure isn't in the open market. Look at the normal prices... they aren't anywhere near as low as KBB or Edmunds lists... even NADA is a little off.
The price is decent, and the miles are nothing to be worried about.
Just check it out like any other used car purchase... compression and leakdowns are easy to say, but aren't mandatory unless you suspect an issue with the engine.
Good luck.
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 138,701
Likes: 177
From: Poor pathetic little excuse for a boy
I am a dealer and have my FRC on Autotrader to generate wholesale auction leads. The first question I ask them is are they specifically looking for a FRC. All the prospects from the last 3 calls I got (in a 6 week period) were specifically looking for a FRC (and not a Z06).
...I think your waisting your time to buy an FRC and then trow money at the engine to try and get to the hp that a Z06 started with.
You can find Z06 cars fairly cheap as well.
Keep looking for a Z06.
You can find Z06 cars fairly cheap as well.
Keep looking for a Z06.
I would not mind getting into a Z06, but my very first Vette 11 years ago was a pewter FRC, so when I found the exact car (not vin, just exact Frc setup, color, wheels, etc) in '08 with only 47k, I had to pull the trigger! 
Race Director
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 16,667
Likes: 1,209
From: Raleigh, NC
St. Jude Donor '15
engine is fine for that mileage... other things might start to go though. i had torque tube bearings go out, clutch go out and rear end bearing went out all on mine that was at around 150K. mine was a little unusual to have that many things happen though. the engines are good to a LOT more miles than that
i have to agree though with everyone else. i bought a '99 with just over 100K on it 5 years ago for $13K. i can't imagine prices have held that close to the same for that long. maybe they have, i don't know. just offering my experience.
i have to agree though with everyone else. i bought a '99 with just over 100K on it 5 years ago for $13K. i can't imagine prices have held that close to the same for that long. maybe they have, i don't know. just offering my experience.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: Alpine ca.
Thanks guys for the great input.It all boils down to what you want to do.You buy a low mileage Z06 which I've been looking at on this forum.They range from 25K to 31K(in NicksZ case) .On the other hand you can get a higher mileage say a FRC The sky the limit on all the oppsions available LS6,LS3,etc.and probably end up with the same amount or more than likely more than the low mileage Z06.I sold a beautiful machine silver Trans-Am last year only had 7K when I bought it.When I sold it it had 14K.I was afraid to put to many miles on it.Didn't want to ruin the integrity by modding it.Don't know if I want to get into that situation again.Even if I got the lower mileage Z06 I'd drive the hell out of it..
Racer
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 414
Likes: 1
I've got a lead on a 2000 FRC that is in great shape The interior and exterior is spotless.The issue is the miles 114K.It runs well the maintence records show the car has been well taken care of.I can get the car very reasonably 12.5K.I was thinking of putting a good set of heads,cam and intake manifold.Or would it be worth it to put in a new motor say LS6 or a Texas speed 383 LS6? I'd appreciate any opinions.
or your next best would be to have done to it what Lucky said..because your not out here in calif..Good luck if you do buy it. sounds good.
Last edited by dbiddle; Jun 28, 2010 at 08:09 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 10,030
Likes: 10
From: Prescott AZ
St. Jude Donor '04
Really just need to look at the difference between a C5 Z06 and FRC
Ls6 vs Ls1 which A head swap/intake mainfold/cam and your there
Suspension FRC have Z51 which was the best offered at the time and it's not bad at all. Otherwise you can buy almost all of it for about $500.00 less the cost you sell the Z51 stuff for.
Wheels 99 FRC had ugly wagons which are worthless 2000 had thin spokes worth around $300.00 Z06 wheels now go for $500.00
Z06 screens $69.95 from a vendor Brake kit about $200.00 but you really dont need it
Z06 Clutch is better but an C6 Z06 replacement is $500.00
Z06 M6 vs M12 To be honest I like both for different reasons. The M6 will get killer mpg. The M12 really helps in the 1/4. It almost easier just to get 3.90's.
Hud is very rare on the FRC came standard in all 02+ Z06's
Active handling seems to be about 50% on Frc's All Z06 had the updated AH system.
It's easy and now somewhat cheap to make better then stock C5 Z06 performance on a FRC
The only thing some people can't get by is the badge. I honestly didn't car but I did get tired of people asking me about my old FRC if it was a Z06. When I told them no they sighed like it was a POS. Yeah a POS that put down 642 at the wheels and laughs a Stock C6 Z06's
Ls6 vs Ls1 which A head swap/intake mainfold/cam and your there
Suspension FRC have Z51 which was the best offered at the time and it's not bad at all. Otherwise you can buy almost all of it for about $500.00 less the cost you sell the Z51 stuff for.
Wheels 99 FRC had ugly wagons which are worthless 2000 had thin spokes worth around $300.00 Z06 wheels now go for $500.00
Z06 screens $69.95 from a vendor Brake kit about $200.00 but you really dont need it
Z06 Clutch is better but an C6 Z06 replacement is $500.00
Z06 M6 vs M12 To be honest I like both for different reasons. The M6 will get killer mpg. The M12 really helps in the 1/4. It almost easier just to get 3.90's.
Hud is very rare on the FRC came standard in all 02+ Z06's
Active handling seems to be about 50% on Frc's All Z06 had the updated AH system.
It's easy and now somewhat cheap to make better then stock C5 Z06 performance on a FRC
The only thing some people can't get by is the badge. I honestly didn't car but I did get tired of people asking me about my old FRC if it was a Z06. When I told them no they sighed like it was a POS. Yeah a POS that put down 642 at the wheels and laughs a Stock C6 Z06's