What made you choose your current C5?
 

For me, it was mostly the ass end, the last year of the pop-up headlights ('04), and the overall contour of the C5. Yes, there was just something about that big ass end that always caught my eye. :D That's why I sold my '91 C4 last year and bought my '04 coupe. The fact that it was also Torch Red, with very low mileage, was another big plus for me. :thumbs:

Always wanted a corvette and after selling my 3000gt a few years ago I figured it would be a good time to find one. I don't like the look of the C4 and when I drove a few they were cramped inside. I love the look of the C5 and when I test drove one at a dealership I fell in love. I didn't buy that one for a few reasons so my search continued. About a year later I got a PM from a member on here saying he had a 2000 yellow with red interior he was looking to sell. I made the arrangements to go look at it and when I did I knew it was "the one" so It came home with me back in June.

I would have gone newer but with my relatively low budget It wasn't an option. I'm more than satisfied with what I have and hope this winter wont last too much longer. :D

My wife, bought it or her but its been mine for the last 9 years:D

I'd wanted one since I was a teenager in the 60's. I actually ordered a '70 when I got home from Vietnam, but cancelled it because of about a 5-6 month waiting period back then.

I found my '98 at a local Chevy dealership one Sunday morning in 2000 and fell in love with it. I sent them an e-mail to see what they'd give me for my Mustang Cobra and the rest is history.

I did tell my wife that I wasn't going to do a thing to it, but I had my fingers crossed at the time. ;)
http://i690.photobucket.com/albums/v...ps0644d62f.jpg

You took the words right out of my mouth.

Eight years ago it was between a C6 or C5Z...the Z was the winner because I wanted the more track worthy of the two.

I actually started looking for a C4, for budget reasons, but then realized entry and exit was difficult with my screwed up knee and hip. So I upped the budget and began looking at C5's. When I saw my present car, I knew it was THE one. Pewter metallic, light oak interior, auto., 3.15 gears, Z51 suspension, sport seats, both tops. It was exactly the way I would have ordered it. I bought it that day.

http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/a...psf9ad35a9.jpg

http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps580fd76a.jpg

Styling , Styling, Styling , Styling , Styling , and did I mention that I loved the way it looked ? Like a real Corvette , unlike what I've seen since.

The need for speed. style, 6 speed and that big butt, what else could you ask for. 2000, black, and 22.400 miles of fun.

Yellow, 6 spd, 1900 miles, Corsa and a grin that hurt my face!

A picture is worth a thousand words...:thumbs:

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps0e463126.jpg

This was fun but didn't handle like I wanted


http://i656.photobucket.com/albums/u...n/DSC00695.jpg


This was the upgrade


http://i656.photobucket.com/albums/u...ps052ef0d9.jpg

My wife saw it for sale and said "You should buy that". Enough said...

Had a 93 C4 but just wanted the beauty and performance of the C5

http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/y...arShows332.jpg

Looks, styling, Fixed Roof Coupe, rarity at the time (and so today), but recently sold to another forum Brother.

From the archives, nearly 10 years ago:


The day I drove her home.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../PICT0791a.jpg

Enough said







http://i1358.photobucket.com/albums/...pse49aad43.jpg

Always wanted one but the responsibilities of life intervened. Got to a point where I could justify the expenditure and stumbled into a great deal........

The color.

Price, Never bought a new car before and it was the last C5 on the lot at the dealership. They wanted it gone as the C6's were arriving the next day. 160k miles later absolutely the best DD I have ever had. :thumbs:

Back in '99 I took my '96 Collector's Editon for a oil/filter change & saw the soon to be my TR FRC on the showroom floor w/HUD! Luv at first sight! The salesperson set the hook w/test drive & I drove it home that morning...Still makes my "heart go boom"...

You'll laff your @ss off at me...
 

It's kind of a funny (stupid) story--but first some quick background... I'd painted at a Chevy dealership for 15 years in California, dating from 1978-1993. I know NOW that these were horrific years for the Corvette name; EPA gelding had stripped the power plant of all its' potential and California smog and fuel laws only made them worse--I got to drive all the 'Vettes with transport damage during those years. Not impressed a little bit with any of them, I remember. I'd had a '90 T-Bird that had been worked over pretty good that would have run any of those years' Vettes into the ground. Model? I dunno what models I drove; I painted them. I wasn't a "fan" because they didn't ever impress me. I figured I could do better with the same amount of money with mods and a NASCAR body line. So with that background in mind, here's why I bought my specific Vette...

For my wife's retirement, I went to look at a Corvette; it's what she likes. (I didn't like the idea at all; all I could think of was the legendary insurance costs and anecdotal poor mileage.) My only personal want was "no 'verts. I want some handling." The ad I was answering declared " '08 C6". I disremember; I think 37k miles for $35G's. I took it out and got on the freeway. It got on fairly well with my foot in it, but with its' A4, shifting gears, the lag time was one 1-thousand, two 1-thousand... off the freeway, through the turns and a nice hairpin, it couldn't rival my slammed T-bird (only lowered 1-1/2"), and I was really surprised by that. I thought, "yup. Nothin's changed; overpriced and underperformed." Discouraged, I gave up, drove the car and the accompanying salesperson back to the barn and was ready to leave. As I walked out through the lot, I passed a sparkling 03 C5. Cosmetically it appealed to me much more--it had obviously been better cared for than the '08.

"Can I take that for a drive?"
"I thought you were looking for an '08?"
"Nah, I'm just looking for a Vette; any Vette--to put my wife in for her retirement. I don't care what year. It just has to have pop up lights. She likes that."

On the road my thoughts were... "Now, THIS is the car I've always been lookin' for." Getting to the end of the on ramp, I looked down at the HUD when I realized how fast I seemed to "get up to speed" quicker than I remember my WS6 Firebird could do it. The HUD said we were just easing off 120 as I shifted into 5th. "DAAyum. We've got two gears left--now THIS car is worthy of the Corvette name." Through the hairpin turn back to the lot, this car turned like was on rails. I bought the car and drove it home the same day.

So I hit this forum in the following days, looking for tips and advice on TSB's, owner tweaks to make things run just a little more conveniently, etc.... and after a day's reading, what do I learn?--that "Z06" on the fender meant "something". :eek: That there are basically two different styles of Corvette--the coupes and base models (the C6 I drove) and the Chevrolet flagship Z06. Hell, until I read the article, I didn't know that a coupe wasn't a variation of the 'hardtop' Z model... and that what I'd bought was Chevy's best design. (duuuhh... yea, boss!?) I was just lookin' to thank my wife for all her years of work... I didn't give a damn about Corvettes and models. Had a need and filled it (with an almost willful ignorance) but came out smelling like a rose.

Funny how that turned out--she doesn't like to drive it. She'd rather ride in it. Who knew? Can't say I'm unhappy with that.:rock:

I test drove a C6 and liked it, My brother said drive a C5 and you'll love it, He was right.:thumbs:

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps89bee8e4.jpg
photo by Mark Bales
Had sold the C6 and bought another `73 to restore . . .did well in a couple of shows and sold the car . . . the C5 really fell into my lap and I had a pocket full of Franklins so was able to buy it for less than I sold the `73 coupe for.

Figured I wasn't a fan of blue and I'd clean it up and flip it . . .that was a about 18 months ago - - really enjoying this one but may get back into a C6 if we move to a smaller house and I lose the 4 car garage . . .

I originally wanted a C4, but after driving one, I didn't care for it - mostly the cramped foot room.

As for C5, I wanted Arctic White, no BSM, Auto so wife could drive.

Finally found "the one" on carmax.com in Atlanta. Had it shipped to NC and bought my '04 in Nov. '07 with less than 7000 miles. Now it has 60k+ miles.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...tte/window.jpg

.

I had two C5s before I got this one but the deal I got was excellent and just couldn't pass up a low mileage, mint condition car. Besides, I love the styling, performance, fuel economy and technology that the car offers.

I was keeping my eyes open for a yellow vert because my #1 choice ('98 PC) was waaaay overpriced ($35k+) and in Texas or Florida (read - shipping charges). Looked on CL in December 2 years ago and saw a '98 PC locally for half the price complete with 2 sets of wheels (originals and '00+ 5 spoke) and a complete decal set.

Sitting on the lot.
http://i1083.photobucket.com/albums/...psfd6f5ab3.jpg
Now
http://i1083.photobucket.com/albums/...ps57da7d29.jpg

Peter

Always Wanted One
 

Since I was kid, I wanted a vette. My older cousins had vettes when I was teenager.

Then I almost bought a c3, 10 years ago but it just wasn't a Wow. Then I almost bought a c4 five years ago and it didn't have some features I wanted and again it wasn't a Wow.

But I always kept looking. Then this past summer, a rare artic white 97, first year c5, two owner, completely stock, low mileage, immaculate coupe caught my eye, enough said!! The mods will start after winter is over.

I'm already looking for an early c3 (with some horses). Have two sons, need to leave each a vette. The bug hit really bad.

:beatdeadhorse: The look of a C5 just does it for me.

I had been looking for a while, never really considered anything but a C5. Looked at a few, meh....almost gave up. Then one day I saw a low mileage 2000 for sale about 45 mins from me, went for a look, took a test drive, negotiated and now it's been in my garage for 3 years. If you shop around, you can get a hell of a lot of car for a reasonable price. So I got that going for me, which is nice.

Pretty much the same story here. I actually had the salesman park my 2004 C5 vert next to a new C6 coupe for a comparison. First, I wanted a vert and second, I thought (and still do) that the C5 is the better looking Corvette.

...that and a great below invoice price with 0% financing closed the deal! :thumbs:

10 years later and I'm still happy with my decision!

http://i499.photobucket.com/albums/r...2Glamour13.jpg

Always liked the C5 since the first one I ever saw. When looking to buy my dream car (Yellow ragtop C3) I found for the same money I could buy a like new C5. I drove a couple of C3s and they just didn't compare to the C5 for what I really wanted the car for......I wanted one to drive.

What made me decide on the one I bought was 2003, later years C5 had improvements over the earlier years. It was yellow with a black ragtop, six speed, had all the options and it was like new with 10k miles on it. I've had it about 2 1/2 years now and glad I passed up the dream car for this one. I couldn't be happier with it! :thumbs:

http://i1183.photobucket.com/albums/...ps282efdb0.jpg

I wanted the last year C5, Torch Red, HUD, Coupe, manual and dual air package....Got it with a two year search.
http://www.valleyvettes.org/images/Vette%202004.jpg

Smart Brother.:thumbs: Similar experience for me!:D

Sold my '65 in 1990. After being "'Vette Less" for 17 years, I thought it was about time to look for another one.

I bought the newest, lowest mileage C5 I could find for $20K. In '07, that was a '97 Arctic White coupe.

http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/...ps10919a28.jpg

rode in one at VIR for several laps. some had a ls engine before loved the power plant. wanted a rwd track/street car that was capable of both. fell in love.

My main reason was price and performance. Here's the story behind it.
I have had a 1988 35th anniv. coupe since 1993 and use it as a show, pleasure car. In 2009 a buddy of mine whom run HPDEs with the local Porsche club called me early on a Saturday morning and told me one of their instructors had just shown up with a brand new ZR1 he was putting on the track. I went over and started talking with the guy and was eventually offered to go for a ride on the track.
At about 170 mph in the passenger seat before slamming the brakes for turn 1, I decided that I did not want to do car shows anymore and needed to find a car more appropriate for the track. I knew I couldn't afford a C6 z06 without selling my 88, so I started searching for a C5. After searching about 6 months I was able to find a very reasonably priced 2001 Z06 and the rest is fun history.

Had a black rose C4. Getting closer to retirement and felt a newer model with less miles would be cheaper in the long run. Left knee pain from getting out of the C4 was wearing thin. Saw my current car, all polished up on a dealer lot and decided - I'm buying that car!

Wanted a auto roadster and wanted a C-5 did not like the looks of the C-6. Found a C-5 6-M coupe but it had only 14 K miles so I bought it. That was two years ago and felt like I got a new Corvette for less than half price.

I had owned 2 C3 Vettes year ago. Now, an empty nester, I wanted to get back into a muscle car. C4's were considered, but to get in and out of one was a pain. Most of the examples I saw needed work. C6's were considered, but the price was more than I wanted to spend. The C5 was the perfect inbetween version. Priced well, but had the newer Vette image, more power than a C4, handled better and newer design.
Based on info I picked up on these forums, I wanted a newer example. While looking for a silver car, I came across this 04. The dealer had just dropped the price $4K. Glad I bought it.
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/m...psabcca4b9.jpg

:iagree::cheers::cheers:

its the look

At the time 6 years ago I was looking for a different sportscar to compliment my 3000gt. My 3S is fwd non-turbo so I knew this car had to have some push and be RWD. My price range had me narrowed to S2000, 350Z, C5, E46 M3. Drove the C5 and never looked back on the others. :)

I always felt the C5 had a classic Corvette appearance and the lines were exceptionally beautiful. So, I searched for a couple of months and finally found a 2003 Spiral Gray manual convertible with low miles in Florida. Flew down and dove it back home. I enjoy just looking at it.

when I was much younger I put together a bucket list of cars I wanted to own as follows
muscle car- owned a 70 olds 442 conv 4 spd, sold
mercedes sl- currently own a 88 560 sl
f body- owned and drove to death a 94 firebird formula(LT1)
corvette- own a 97 with everything I want(auto, coupe, mods and repairs bought by previous owners)
57 chevy-still looking
Rolls Royce-still looking for late 50`s early 60`s
Ferrari-looking for magnum PI model

Mother of god..... That is sexy. Not to say that the others aren't sexy..... but you get the idea...:lurk:

Leela
 

I never liked corvettes growing up. Took two friends to change my mind about all the common misconceptions that everyone has about them. I live in frikkin Texas and drove 10 hours one way to New Mexico to get her from a fellow forum member. My Dad, brother and I road tripped it in dad's 2010 Shelby GT500 to NM to get this 98 Vette. It was like a chapter out of National Lampoons vacation. Stupid things happened there and back. The only thing I'll mention is that the water pump seal had extreme failure hours from home and was dumping coolant at an alarming rate. Had to leave her at a motel parking lot in bum **** Texas and *trust* the key to the motel attendant. $1,500 of tow fees and the next morning she was in the driveway and I had a new water pump in her within 2 hours and I've loved it ever since. Got proper ****ed in many ways but I'm still happy.

UNFORTUNATELY the supercharger and LS1 edit was removed.

I was 46 years old and at a point in my life that we could afford to buy a new corvette. Looked at c4 because the c5 had just come out and were hard to come by. Stop by a the only dealer in pittsburgh that had them, Drove one and the rest was history. Ordered mine sept. 1997, built dec 97, took delivery jan. 5 1998. 16 years and 43000 miles. Great carhttp://i1343.photobucket.com/albums/...pse7c9849b.jpg

Went out looking for one. It was the first car lot I came to. Had performance stuff done to it at a good price. So I bought it right then

It was a '99, like my last one. It was black and in pristene condition. It was for sale at a very reasonable price......."Nuff said. Now it is mine and is definitely NOT for sale!!!! :D :thumbs: :cheers:

DSTURBD

That most awesome 50th cross flag fender badge - Way :thumbs:

http://i1340.photobucket.com/albums/o727/03AE/236.jpg

I had a 2000 coupe that I loved. Had planned on keeping her and modding her out. That is until "she caught my eye."

Saw a 2003 Z06 on line with 20K, garage kept. Well, I started to lust after her. There she was all decked out in alluring torch red and I knew I just HAD to have her.

I tried telling myself this was wrong, after all I had a good girl. She was sexy, drove well, and was all I needed. I went through all of the emotions, but I just had to meet this super sexy new hottie. No fooling around, was just going to meet her and see her.

That was a huge mistake. I went and saw her in all of her Z glory, sat in her, and turned her key. When she roared to life, once again I told myself this was wrong. There sit my faithful 2000 coupe, beckoning me to stay with her and quit fulfilling my mid life crisis beckonings.

But the Z temptress was not to be outdone. She cooed at me with a winching smile, her 3000.00 chrome leg wheels and flawless completion. "Just take me for a short spin honey" she said with a menancing smile. No use coming this far without the full experience. If you still feel the same after the encounter, you can walk away, no harm done."

My rational brain told me to quickly walk away, but my performance oriented alter-ego would not let me pass up this opportunity. I gave in, let the purr of her charms seduce me, and took her out to experience the full weight of her seduction.

There was no way I could walk away now. She enslaved me, body, soul, and mind. I gave in to my baser desires and took her home. The love affair has not waned, only intensified. Everytime I see her draped in that bewitching torch red dress and hear her purr for my affections, my mind goes numb, and I have to let her have her way with me. She owns me now and I her. She is a perfect specimin of C5 perfection, with nairly a blemish on the grace of performance bliss. With her factory and aftermarket jewels, she is exactly what I want.

I still lust from time to time, but a little seat time brings me back to my senses.

I loved my'98coupe. I love the C5design and performance characteristics . After about 10 years I wanted a convertible since the98 was a six speed coupe and because of a physical limitation it became harder to drive the manual so I bought my 04 convertible with an automatic. I love it.

Being 28 at the time I never even considered buying a third car much alone a corvette. BUT one day my golf buddy and I got finished playing 18 and I asked him if he would sell me his vette jokingly. He said sure, I was thinking of going get another one. I asked how much? He said a price south of 11K. We drove straight to the bank.
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m...2/IMG_0652.jpg

Exactly the same except my C4 was a 95

The devil has excellent taste

In order for the wife to agree, It had to be Yellow, Auto, and not black interior!

Her wish was my command!

http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/...ps10a077fa.jpg

My first Vette
 

I had always thought of getting one, found my black 2000 on a dealers lot with only 36000 miles late 2012. First time I drove it and ran through that 6 speed I was hooked. Was really wanting a C6 but this was in my price range, it already had a corsa exhaust and aftermarket intake. Looked at a couple of C6's and actually liked the C5 interior better. My C5 is a weekend warrior when it is not snowing and makes my week that much better when I can take it out.

2 cars I always wanted when I was young, was a Trans Am and a corvette. as I got older my interests in the covette grew. I picked my 1998 corvette due to the over-all condition, mileage 35K and price. Bought it last July, could not be happier! Working on fixing up the interior seats and carpet. :)

For a minute you had me drooling over the babe that you was describing , until I realized that you was just describing a Corvette. :confused2:

For me it was many things for both cars. My first one was a 99 Nassau Blue 6 speed. I loved the C5 coupe shape and the Color sold me on it.

Them came my Z06. I loved the Z06 body style more than the Coupe but at the time I bought my 99 the Z was far out of my budget. What attracted me to this car was the Body, the extensive list of mods (I think the list of stock parts is much smaller than the list of mods) the LOW miles and the LOW price I paid for it!
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g1...ps0643e339.jpg
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g1...5/DSC_4532.jpg
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I got my 97 in in 05 because I could finally afford a nice car, I got my 98 pace car in 08 cause it stood out and I love the C5 body style.

I bought the newest Vette with the lowest miles I could afford in 2008.

1- convertible.

2- manual transmission.

3- black paint. Black paint looks awesome and is easy to match without blending into other panels if a boo boo should happen.

4- contrasting color interior. The wife veto'd red so it had to be either gray or tan.

5- all the options including adjustable ride.

After 6 months of searching I located a car within driving distance that met all my criteria and bought it. If I had custom ordered a Vette brand new in 2002 it would of been exactly the car I ended up buying used.

I've been particularly fond of the body style of the C5's every since they first came out. But as with all major purchases, there are a whole host of factors that come into play, some of which are really hard to completely and accurately define. Some factors are a gut feel kind of thing. This car, our first C5, isn't at all what I had in mind for myself. I was looking for a black on black six speed base model coupe, available locally and in very good condition. All that said, here are the reasons I picked a pewter w/light oak convertible automatic:

Wife's into it and backed me on the choice.
Financing fell into place in literally minutes over the phone.
Payment and terms better than I expected.
Priced right.
Excellent condition.
Known recent history.
Dealer has perfect scores on ebay (where I found it) and cars.com.
Selling dealer is in Greenville, South Carolina, where we have family.
Wife's parents, sister, nephew, and niece are 45 minutes from selling dealer (makes for an easy visit).
My company is paying for my flight to Greenville rather than Houston like they usually do.
Gives us the opportunity for a nice road trip driving it home.
Gives the wife a little time to hit the slots in Mobile when we're blowin' through (I'll be in the parking garage waxing the car....again).
This won't be my daily driver so I can treat her like a queen.
I will have a very nice C5 to drive while I work on my '92 vert to get it ready to start NCRS judging.
I proved to not be as stuck on black/black/coupe/6 speed as I thought I was.
I just freakin' like this car....a lot.

And that's all why we're getting this particular C5. Sometimes everything just falls into place like it did this time, and I'm not one to turn such opportunities down.

I have wanted a corvette for at least the last 15 years, I was looking at c4's but seen this mag red 6 spd on eBay from a local dealer, it was a one owner car and had a decent car fax, It was a classified with make offer, I offered something that I thought the dealer would refuse, short story, the vette is in my garage and I love it, the wife didn't say a word!

It was stock (Flowmasters only) but it was the test drive :thumbs:

Thanks,Matt

I always wanted a Vette and when it was time, I started my initial search for a C4 because of the price point. But it didn't take long to realize that the cockpit was too small for me so I increased the budget to a C5. I eventually found the perfect '02 and the rest is history. I wanted a car that I could enjoy driving on the weekends. My C5 with a 6-speed and all the bells fits the bill. It's very comfortable, a blast to drive and has a great back side!

Because after FOREVER, I finally had some cash and could afford one. I bought the first one I drove (ever). I couldn't help it! LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT!

mine also was the first corvette I ever drove, a 97

I'm a sucker for a pretty face and a shapely body :D
http://images14.fotki.com/v777/photo.../623132-vi.jpg

That's awesome :cheers:

Always promised myself I would purchase one when I reached a point in life to afford one without compromising my lifestyle. When I did get to that point, I felt guilty because it was during the time people were losing their homes. Wanted either an atomic orange or black, however could not take my eyes off artic white convertible. Feels like the first time every time I ride her

They were cheap and had manual trans :cheers:

It was Feb. 2010. Time for a new car for my wife. We were at the local Chevy dealer looking at Camaro's. Test drove a few and was getting serious in negotiations on a new one. Didn't really want to spend that much money and wasn't all that crazy about the car to begin with. I looked around and couldn't find my wife. I found her looking at a pre owned C6 that they had on the show room floor for some reason. All the sudden I had a brainstorm. I am a factory rep. for a car company and one of my dealers that I call on had a 04 Spiral Grey Metallic coupe they had on the lot for a long time just sitting. I gatered up my wife and told her I had something I wanted to show her before we pull the trigger on a new Camaro. Told the salesman I had to think about it and off we went. We pulled up on the lot where the 04 coupe was and I asked my wife , do you like that car ? She answered that she loved it , let's drive it. We took it for a ride and we were hooked. Paid a great price for it as it had been there for six months and was getting ready to go back to the auction. Here we are four years later and about 35k miles later and we still love the car. Saved allot of money and got a better car. So to answer the question , because we got it cheap , we loved it as soon as we drove it , and it was convenient. Great car love it !

http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4e647e15.jpg
Why did I buy it? Best looking supercar on the planet. Duh.........Sleeker than the Veyron, sexier than a Ferrari, it's the American dream personified to me, and Im a Brit living the dream :)

2. Manual 6 speed 2001
3. Red w.Red interior
4. Low miles
5. Imported from the us as "moving-goods" = No exhaustregulation :)

http://www1.garaget.org/archive/16/1...96-3107030.jpg1. C5 is AWESOME

Back in '06 is when I started getting the bug. Never really concidered them before as I always thought they were out of my price range. After my brother in law got his 2nd one, my wife started looking and found our first one. It was a '95 tripe black and fit the budget. About a year after we bought that one I found our recent one. Bought it for the color and really nothing else. Wish it had a couple more options but it's been a great car so far. Hope to never get rid of this one. We love it.

This is shortly before we sold the '95 and before the '98 had any "improvements" done to it. My wife still blames me for selling "her" '95 though.

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/a...ettes-0003.jpg

retirement present for myself six years ago,love it

Went to test drive a couple early 70's C3 cars and then realized I was waaaay too tall for a C3. Never did any homework on the C5's but he had mine sitting there and she was a beauty. Did not realize they were as cheap as they were and test drove it that day.

Sold, loved it. Comfort, performance, STYLE.....haha Always wanted a Corvette ever since I was a child. We had a local dealer who always had a big ole line up out front and I would just gaze at them every time we passed by. Still want a C3 for a toy but I will never sell my C5 unless I trade it for a Z06. This is my only shortcoming of the whole deal. Should of done more homework and I would not of jumped on my 97. I would of rather paid a bit more and went with a 01-04 Z06.

The seller was a mere 5 miles from my house... couldn't be easier.

When I was a kid my big brother had a 66 coupe and he use to let me ride around with him. Getting into a c5 reminds me of sitting in his car. Big round gages ... the way the dash wraps around ...

It's kinda hard to explain.

price to benefit, only other cars i considered were evo8's and sti's

haven't had a z06 before, wanted one back when they first came out. found one in nice condition for a good deal, bought it, figure i'll run 40k miles or so on it in the next 5 years and dump it

As with all my major decisions, I let my little head make the final call. :rock:

Amen!

For me after selling my C3 [69] it was the year that I retired and nothing else 97

I had a buddy going through cancer who had a '91 and he wanted me to buy it from his wife when he was gone. But then he told me that the C5's were so much better. Knowing nothing about the C5's I did some research and liked everything I read.

The LS1 motor, first aluminum small block
The transaxle
The quietness and absence of squeaks and rattles
The fit and finish

But seeing one in person, I knew it was the right car, so I sourced a 2000 Convertible, 6 speed, mostly loaded, low mileage Florida car. I feel pretty lucky every time I get in the seat.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...0ebe32c28.jpeg

After retiring and traveling full time for over 6yrs. we settled down, and I needed a toy. I knew I wanted a C5 because of the styling, but it took me 6mos. to find the right one for me. It was a very low mileage 2003 without a ding, rock chip, or scratch anywhere. I've had it for a little over a year now and it still puts a smile on my face whenever I take it out.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...79d8e3c399.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...38345c5f4d.jpg

Date night car, canyon carver and autocross toy all in one.

I've always wanted a Corvette for as long as I can remember, whether a C3 or later a C5, C6, or C7.
When we found ourselves in a position where we could afford one my wife picked it out. Seriously.
She found one at a dealership online so we went and test drove it.
She liked that she could get in and out of it easily and enjoyed how it drove so she asked me if I wanted the car.
Uh, "Yes I do."
We took it home that day.

The ass end was and is definitely on my list of LEAST favorite things of the C5, coming from owning some C4s, C5 rear is uhmmm cartoonishly big....I purchased a C5Z for the body lines though, the FRC body-style is one of my favorite Corvette designs

I knew first hand the blood sweat and tears that went into this build. In my 40 years career, I never witness the passion that exists from the engineers, techs, project managers, and directors.at the Corvette design studio. With 7 proprietary design in every C5 built, I had to buy one as a graduation ( retirement ) present. My wifes comment when I brought it home? OH another red car.... LOL. Prior was a very controversial Twin Turbo Dodge Stealth, which stood out like a sore thumb in the Warren MI. GM parking lot. One of my engineering team mates called it my
Evil-Twin... thus the screen name.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...0e579d55b7.jpg
MY 91 Evil Twin

Still relevant tho. C5s didnt stop being attractive in 2014 (well, with the C7, thats questionable haha)

I had to have a C5, Ive wanted one since I was 16 changing oil at Jiffy Lube. I looked at many C6s in moments of weakness. But real sports cars have flip ups. The C5 butt is the best part of the car, I cant get over dem hips. There is literally no other car that I can look at and just be excited about, aside from the C5. Most of the special editions 911s come close, but thats because I like cars with hips.

I wanted for the longest time an 00+ Silver on red M6 coupe with HUD and dual climate

A lil buzzed internet searching and 8yrs later I ended up with an 02 Z06, Quicksilver on black with HUD and Dual Climate. Skipping on the targa, but after owning an MR2 for 4yrs, I am over roof leaks anyway.

To answer the thread title, I chose my car because of proximity, cost, value of car vs purchase price and the condition of the platform. Shes got some cosmetics, but she is a solid 10' car, with mods and because shes a 10 footer, I am not too hurt about putting her on the track for HPDE days.

I can only blame this "related thread" c**p for all these threads returning from the dead. Wish it had never been created. Personally, I have that function turned off.

p.s. why did I buy my C5? It was 1997 and I had 3 possibles - Mitsu VR4, Supra Turbo and C5. Then the Dollar took a dump against the Yen and suddenly the Supra and the VR4 were north of $50k, whereas a C5 coupe started at a hair below $40k. Extra for a 6 speed C5 over the auto in those days. Also, I was turned off the VR4 because either Car & Driver or Road & Track destroyed a clutch/flywheel in performance testing. Not a good sign, IMO.

In the end I bought a C5 coupe with all the options for the '98 model year. Around $44k IIRC.

On the other hand, if I had bought a Supra Turbo back then, it would be worth a lot of money today. A pristine example today will fetch about, you guessed it, $50k.

Just some insider stuff.. When the C5 came out, the high water mark for A4's was due in a large part to the former Corvette buyers survey. GM polls former Corvette owners and surveys their opinion on a list of subjects... ( for this they receive a very nice limited edition package of proprietary VIP Corvette owners special literature in a very nice full color Hard back folder. ON another note, the production numbers on MN6 was ramped up because of the demand, and the 800 dollar over charge by many dealers who had placed MN6 orders.
Bill aka ET

Had an honest dealer. Although it was then the hot new item, I paid sticker price with no "dealer markup". Something nice about driving it back then - you got a lot of double takes as there were very, very few C5's on the roads. Incidentally, the dealer's demo car was a '97 auto in green with the optional "glass" roof. I got both roofs with mine, as my demo run was in the summer, and the A/C really struggled with the sun load through the roof in 95° weather. The only option I passed on were the mag wheels - just thought they were too pricey, given the DC area's poorly maintained roads. Probably would have had to wait longer to get one that way as it turned out.

I have both tops also, Ive had the clear top on maybe twice in 20 years... Its a sauna in the summer but the Lexan top is nice at night especially on a clear night in the country, away from city lights with lots of stars in the sky. ( I know the stars do not come and go, they are always there :) ) The launch of the C5 saw a lot of MSRP sales, and in many places dealerships a premium was added. GM frowned on that practice, but never pushed it . Some insider here, cost to manufacture v MSRP 7000 dollars.

Bought the second car I looked at. Originally wanted a MB SL500 which in retrospect would have been a ridiculous car for a 49 year-old. My 99 targa with 42k in PM was in great shape when it was shown to me in the back of the detail line at the dealer. Wasn’t really sure what the deal was with the magnesium on the wheels but I noted that it meant something. The nearly brand new Michelins ultimately made the deal. $1000 worth of tires on a 1 owner car in great shape was too good to pass up. Didn’t even know the options before buying. Z51 and other options were a bonus when I learned to read the codes the next day. Great car so far. Easy to work on and will be a hell of a lot easier to maintain than some staid roadster. A bonus is that people generally move over when they see you coming out of respect for the car or what they think it is. Downside is that it attracts every kid with a deathwish and an STI. No, I don’t want to race your Impreza!

And here's my evil twin, '92 Dodge Stealth R/T Twin Turbo. These things were way ahead of their time w/ twin turbo, all wheel drive, all wheel steering, etc. had mine since '95 and it's in perfect shape.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...654847ad3a.jpg
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It was next in line of the long list of Vettes i'd like to own.

Four seats too... It was a nice car, nicely engineered. Chrysler Mitsubishi collaboration. It was heavy. It was my rebellion purchase. My revolt with GM to Lee Iacocca spending 1 billion dollars on Chryslers engineering design department.

I never knew those were TT, AWD and all wheel steering! :eek: In 95 era that is quite impressive.