CO Lightfoot

Get the newest & best C5 you can afford.

Here are some links to help with your research:

C5 Year-to-Year differences:
http://www.jakelatham.com/c5/misc/differences.shtml

C5 Buyer's checklist:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-c...a-used-c5.html

C5 Common Problems:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...ngths-etc.html

C5's For Sale:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-c...s-for-sale-52/

Be sure to do your "due diligence" before you buy: Clean CARFAX, clean title, no serious damage, regular maintainance, not abused, etc. If you're not good at checking a car's mechanicals, find a knowledgeable mechanic. And evaluate the owner as well as the car.

Enjoy the hunt!

BartonekDragRacing

If you DONT want a loan, definitely get a used C5.. there are some very nice C5's for 20k.

If you want something better, get a C6 + a loan.. better yet.. put $20k on a C6 Z06 and get a loan for the rest.

Mr_Mustang

I'm in the same boat you are except I am going to spend a little more money. But from what I can tell you the C5Z is THE performance bargain. I did a dealer test drive on a C6 and I drove my friends 04 Z06. Now I didn't go crazy with the dealer car but I can tell you the Z06 FELT somewhat faster. Even when you put them in nuteral and rev the motor, it seemed the Z06 revs more urgently and the C6 is a little lazy. The Z06 has a more raw feel to it also, more like a race car.

That being said I am pretty sure I am going with a C6. Mostly because I just like the looks better and I want the targa. And its not like the LS2 was slow, all of them are fast cars. If I get one my feeling is that my friends car would pull the C6 a little so I will have to throw a few bucks into it. No big deal.

Clean low mile(<50k) C6s seem to start around 25k

Clean low mile(<50k) C5 Z06s seem start in the high teens


I dig the C6 and I will buy the newest one I can afford but if performace and value are your thing you will not beat the C5 Z06.

Good Luck