A little advice for a C4 guy, please.

[five-oh]

Hello, I was hoping that some of you fine C5 folks could spare a little advice for a C4 guy. While I really have not thought much about buying a C5, I ran into a guy locally that has a '97 auto coupe that he's considering selling. He's the original owner and appears to be fanatical about the maitinance of the car, as it looks like a very nice car with a third of its miles. The only issue I see is that is has 275K miles on it. He told me that he had the tranny replaced with a new GM unit around 40K miles ago for a cost of around $4,000, with the job done by a dealer. The miles are mainly from his 65 mile daily interstate commute- the 'vette's been his daily driver. Last year he offered it to me off handedly for $8500, but I didn't buy it as I had some family issues that prevented the purchase. I also wasn't sure he was serious. He's indicated that he would like to keep it until around August, at which time he would take considerably less for it, around $6k or less assuming the car's still running well. Any thoughts on the value of this car? It'd not see daily driver status, and I'm not looking for a show car, just a week end cruiser. Thanks for any advice.

 

[napacruzerC5]

With that mileage I'd think that anything that would break has broken by now and has been replaced/repaired. Maintenance items if taken care of when needed would have been through many cycles. $6k for a '97 C5? Sounds good to me:cool

 

[leftyvette]

275,000 miles!!! Wow, I'm speechless!! I would say that at that price you would have a great platform to build any car show C5 you want -- from mild to wild. I say go for it!!

 

[killain]

Well, I'm going to be the wet towel here. 275K is a little too much for any mental security for me. I mean look it up in the kelly blue book, there's one way of deciding. For me Personally, I'd keep looking ! JMHO

 

[Toms007]

Well, I haven't had my C5 for too long (just under a year) but they are great cars and I'd like to think that if properly maintained (and it sounds like this one has been) they ought to last a good long time. I'd tend to agree with lefty anything that typically goes wrong should probably already broke and been fixed. I'd say it's well worth the look.

 

[ernestD]

Thats a lotta miles!I would continue to look.Up your spending money and buy another There are plenty out there!Just my 2 cents.

 

[Fullback32]

275,000 miles? That way too many miles for my blood for sure. Definitely have it checked out by a reputable Corvette specialist before buying. There's lot's of things going on under the the C5 hood that if they aren't quite right could end up costing you a LOT of money later. If it was a 1975 C3 with 275,000 and you like to do your own wrench turning, I'd say go for it....pretty straight up powertrain there. But a C5? I don't know man.

 

[6 Shooter]

Cool - 275,000 Smiles!

​

Later . . . . . .
6 Shooter

 

[vett boy]

I'm impressed about the 275 ,000 .Thats a lota miles and not cost getting there .BUT ,I'd pass .

 

[five-oh]

With that mileage I'd think that anything that would break has broken by now and has been replaced/repaired. Maintenance items if taken care of when needed would have been through many cycles. $6k for a '97 C5? Sounds good to me:cool

Thanks, guys. To be honest, I'm pretty happy with my C4, it's paid for and does all I need it too. The C5 was just very attractive to me because of the price. That, and they're a really nice civilized car that my wife would probably drive- she thinks the C4 is too loud, and too hard to get in and out of. If I were serious about buying a C5, I think I'd want a FRC or at least a manuel tranny car. I just have this problem- I want to get all the toys I can. I thought this problem was confined to my old car habit or my gun habit, but apparently it carried over to the Corvette world too. I knew that there were several C5 owners that had a ton of miles on their rides, I just wanted to see what the price range was on one with this mileage. We'll see as the summer goes on if I manage to snare this one or wait and get my dream car. I appreciate the responses.

 

[Fullback32]

I just have this problem- I want to get all the toys I can. I thought this problem was confined to my old car habit or my gun habit, but apparently it carried over to the Corvette world too.

LOL...no doubt, huh? I still trying to figure out where I'd put the C3 (which year I still haven't decided), 1979 Trans Am and new Camaro!

 

[leftyvette]

Oh, you also have the gun affliction? Me to!! As I said in my post, I would only recommend that C5 if you want to modify it as a showcar or playtoy. At that price you can do anything you want to the car and not feel guilty about messing with a pristine car.

 

[TheSearcher]

Gosh, I've got 255,000 miles to go on my C5. At the rate I'm putting miles on I'll be over 130 years old before I hit 275,000 and hopefully there will be a new 2078 Corvette waiting for me at the dealership when I get there. I figure if my Corvette lasts that long it will be worth about $5,000,000.00. and a new Corvette will cost about the same. I better start driving more.

 

[five-oh]

Oh, you also have the gun affliction? Me to!! As I said in my post, I would only recommend that C5 if you want to modify it as a showcar or playtoy. At that price you can do anything you want to the car and not feel guilty about messing with a pristine car.

Yeah, I think the gun affliction is a direct result of my professionotfl As far as the C5 goes, I've got a friend that got exactly what I want, a '01 six speed car with Z06 wheels , black and mileage in the 80's, that tells me he's considering upgrading to a new grand sport or ZR-1. If he does this, I think I'd be better off bringing his black beauty home. Anybody know how comfortable the seats are to sleep in? Wife says I'll find out if it makes it home!

 

[LT4CE]

Yeah, I think the gun affliction is a direct result of my professionotfl As far as the C5 goes, I've got a friend that got exactly what I want, a '01 six speed car with Z06 wheels , black and mileage in the 80's, that tells me he's considering upgrading to a new grand sport or ZR-1. If he does this, I think I'd be better off bringing his black beauty home. Anybody know how comfortable the seats are to sleep in? Wife says I'll find out if it makes it home!

well, if it's a two seater, it's a two sleeper! otfl you should invite her to join you!