How much difference is there in a 97 to 00 vette. What do think the reliability is in a 97 with 17,500 miles on it?

 

She probably has the bugs worked out by now. Ask the guy for her maint. records or pull the history from one of the dealerships. I would prob. go with 00 though if the option were about the same.

 

I have an early 98 and love it! It had it's share of problems but I was able to fix them. My major issue was electrical.. Your TAC module will probably need to be updated to a new one, your TPM in each tire will need to be replaced in the near future, change "ALL" of the fluids, and check with the dealer and see what all was repaired under warrenty.

My 98 has 65K on the clock and is going strong. Oh yea, the stock clutch is weak and will NOT hold up to severe driving/racing! If you have the stock clutch, NO hairy burn outs!

There are a hand full of C5 related things that you will need to keep an eye on so that they will not cause you problems i.e. drains and grounds.

If the price is right and she is in good shape, get it!

If there are some C5 owners in your area, see if they will take a look at it for you.

BC

 

I bought a '97 six months ago with 14,000 miles. It now has 18.000 and no problems. Had some quirky things happen but it seems to straighten itself out.

 

.....

 

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[bk97]I bought a '97 six months ago with 14,000 miles. It now has 18.000 and no problems. Had some quirky things happen but it seems to straighten itself out.
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I also have an early 98 coupe. bought it with 54,000 miles two and a half years ago. Now have over 100,000 miles. They all have their "Quirks" but by monitoring the Forum, you'll be alright. There's a lot of help out here.

 

My car is a 1997 and I bought it brand new in 1997. No problems here.

 

I think that it would be just fine! Go for it!

 

I bought my 98 in December of 97. It hase 25,000 miles and has been a great car with very few problems.

 

I have a 97. Its been a great car overall. Steering column lock was by far the worst thing thats ever gone wrong. Mine has 63000 miles. Don't plan on ever getting rid of it.

 

I just recieved some paper work in the mail regarding the steering column lock. I can't remember if I ever recieved a recall on the steering colum lock so it might be the recall. I think thats what it is. I just glanced at it and had to leave.

 

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[MikeJamesC5]I just recieved some paper work in the mail regarding the steering column lock. I can't remember if I ever recieved a recall on the steering colum lock so it might be the recall. I think thats what it is. I just glanced at it and had to leave.
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Beware.....If you had any "Tuning" done to your computer, the recall may erase what was done. The recall doesn't actually "Fix" the column lock situation, what it will do is make sure the fuel is cut off so you can't drive it and cause an accident.

 

My 97 started to have problems around 50k miles like fuel sender failing, brake master cylinder and water pump. I would get an extended waranty if possible.

 

DWH there are a lot of good reasons to buy a 97 C5, low production numbers being one with only 9,752 C5's produced. Sure there were some problems with initial production in some areas, aren't there with any year of production car regardless of make/model, but they should all have been corrected via recalls by GM. I just bought my 97 C5, #1060 of 9752, and one of 2,393 41U (Black) C5s, and I turned it over to 70,000 just the other day and it has no issues at all, and if I may say so I think she looks pretty good for that many miles! I also researched the info on my car through Carfax, and a contact who can run your vin and email you everything you need to know about your C5, born on date, order number, recalls and all maintenance claims history work performed by GM, delivering dealer, all option codes on your C5, plus more. Contact bsparks@asag.net and send him your vin # and request info on your vehicle. He'll send it to you within a day or so with no strings attached! Great guy to deal with! At any rate don't listen to all the pundits who try to steer you away from a 97, but by all means if you are in the market for a nwer C5...go for it ! Personally I alway's wanted a C5 when they came out in 97, just was not in the position to get one then.



Dave

 

17,500... struck me as odd... seems kinda low for mileage on a '97. A lot of people put that on their cars in one year...

 

My neighbor has an 01 with fewer than 3,000 miles on it!

A lot of Vette owners use them as toys and only drive them on weekends when the weather is nice.

 

This kind of use is generally not very good for the engine though.

I'm amused at the responses here about the 97-98's. If you go to the Z06 forum or any thread about the C6, their excuse for not wanting or hating the C6 is because it's the first year with all of its inevitable problems. Of course, none of them have ever owned a 97 or 98 and they are just expressing their sour grapes about their precious C5's being obsoleted. Sour grapes or buyers remorse. They continually make comments about the new Z06 being introduced next year and they'll wait a few years if they decide to get one at all. But then you get a thread like this and everybody is supportive and the problems were never that bad.

I agree that the first year or two probably had a few bugs but so what. They got taken care of. Certainly the newer the model, the more improvements and features. The 04 is theoretically the best. Get what you can afford.

 

My 97 only has 40,000 miles on it. So I only put around 5,000 miles on it a year.
Maybe that person is just trying to keep it with low miles.

 

This is my 1 st Vette----no problems at all. I'll still have it when I get my new Z07. Well---its going to LPE one more time for a set of 3:90's though---

 

Cant go wrong with the 97's.