Low mile C4 or high mile C5?
 

I posted this in the C5 area but thought I should also ask here. Trying to equal out any bias.
I'm looking at Corvettes. My budget goes as far as $10k. That will buy one or the other of the above choices.
So I'm looking for feedback from you kind people.

$10k for a C5 sounds like trouble.

The money you have for a car is actually $8-9K, because you will put $1-2K in either car....

That being said, nice C4 for $8K or piece of crap C5 for $8K

Nothing wrong with either scenario. Really comes down to what fits you best and how well either has been maintained. If I were looking at daily driving either I would go with the C5 but that being said I like the feel and look of the C4 better. Really comes down to the over all shape of the vehicle you are considering and how it was maintained.

Even the youngest C5 now is 14 years old so you should expect to put some time and cash in either one but my guess would be a well maintained C5 would probably give you less issues or at least may be easier to get parts for.

C5's have an unrepairable ABS unit issue. There are 3 common failures of the ABS units. 2 are fixable, the 3rd is not and there are no new ones to be bought, so you would be at the mercy of a part reseller. There are now companies that are rebuilding them for the 2 issues. You would need to do some Googleing to find the issue. I read about it in a past Corvette magazine Letter to the Editor column.

Make sure that all historical codes are scanned for to make sure there is nothing wrong.

The question should be mint C4 or a C5 that needs work. I have thought about this scenario and I have been window shopping for a while 7-9k buys a mint C4 and 12-15k buys a mint C5. A 8-9k C5 might cost more in the long run to make it mint.

Best advice is go out and "try on" a few C5s and C4s. It's all about what "fits" you and your tastes.

On C4 pricing I recently picked up a sweet '89, MN6 vert with 50k miles for $9k. It had one nearly bald rear tire so there went another $.9k.

Take your time and when you find the right one it will tell you so.

This is not entirely true...it’s the 97-00 EBCM’s that cannot be repaired the 01-04’s can I fixed my 02’s for $50 you can still fix the 97-00 if you buy ia used working unit but they are in the $1000 range

OP I own and love BOTH a 114kmi 02 and a 27kmi 89 the C5 is the all around better car but my 89 is just a little more “special” to me $10k can get you an early C5 coupe with just over 50k miles if you look hard and get little lucky I’m not sure what C4 years you’re considering but you really should check out and drive both to make your decision

What limited you to only 2 models of cars? The same money buys all kinds of cars.

You "wear" a C4. If you have even a slightly fatass, get the C5! :leaving:

Agreed.

pologreen1 I can't think of a car that compares with a C4 or C5 for $10k.

You wont either. They're dramatically under prices. 350z is the next closest, and it is handily outclassed by a lt1 c4. A mustang gt could likely match up in fun, but costs more yet is a cheaper car in every way.

I recently picked up a mini cooper s on trade. I have to say, this car may be as much fun as the c4. It's not fast, but it's crazy fun to drive. They're cheap to buy too, and parts are cheap, for an import. If you can check your ego, they might be the more fun value than a c4.

For me the only other cars I would still consider for that price is a
350 3rd gen F-body
LS1 4th Gen F-body
05-06 GTO
04-05 CTS-V

Harder to find a clean 3rd gen and CT’s-v with under 100kmiles that’s not beat to death for that price though but not impossible

Bought our first Corvette last fall. 1995 Red Convertible Auto with 29,800 miles for $13,700.00. Fun car with showroom finish and demo miles.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...fdd855c5e3.jpg

:lol: True dat!

WAIT!!! Didn't GM start installing the flattened out "fat-man" seats starting in 1995???

I would definitely go for the low mile C4.

I own and drive both. You will most likely get a better maintained late model C4 for that money than a late model C5. However you will need to budget some $$ for routine and long term maintenance items for either car. I would strongly advise you do do two things:

1) Invest $20.00 and get yourself a copy of Mike Autonick's Corvette Black Book so that you can see how the options and standard equipment changed from year to year as well as what improvements were made from year to year.

2) As was already suggested ...... go and drive several examples of each car to see what suits you better. They are very different cars to drive.

Best of luck, enjoy your search and be sure to let us know what you end up with!!

You will not get a C5 that you will enjoy for $10k. It will be beaten, and will cost you even more to get it up to spec.

For $10k you can get a REALLY nice C4, maybe 40k miles, properly maintained, and you will have a ball with it.

C5, absolutely

I didnt see your post in the C5 section, but I recently went through the 'what gen C5 do I want' question, (for me was more about what I WANTED rather than th ebudget, but still . . .)

either car youre gonna spend money on it over time, its just how it is with this type of car.

what one gets you hard? - buy one of them.

Id argue the C5 is better looking, faster, more modern etc etc etc, but it comes down to what you want to look at when you open the garage. figure out the answer to that, then buy accordingly