C5 opinions

[born2saw]

Hi all,

I am in the process of reducing the herd and will be looking for a C5 soon. I will be picky about color & equipment which narrows my search considerably. I have been looking for a car and have found several possibilities. So, here is my question: I have been told to buy the newest car I can afford, but I can get a 2000 with 12,000 miles on it or for about the same money a 2002 with about 35,000 miles.

Any opinions (I am sure there are a few) as to the trade-off of milage vs. age? 12,000 miles in 6 years seems almost too few miles to keep everything working properly.

Looking forward to your discussion.:cool

 

[cruzer99]

Another thing to consider is cost of extended warrantee for various miles. If a newer model with more miles is about the same as an older with less miles, go with the newer one.
Good luck

 

[Tuna]

Really low mileage cars can be a curse or a prize.

A 6 year old car with only 2000 miles can have all kinds of problems just because it was not driven much. Seals go bad from lack of lubrication. Metal parts rust.

Check the garage queen out completely and take it on a nice long drive then check it out again.

 

[jrose7004]

I'd go with the newest!

 

[Blu ByU]

I'd go with the newest!

So would I, that's why I bought the 04.

 

[Patrick]

Check the CAC's Knowledgebase, too. I seem to remember something about the early C5s having oil consumption issues, too.

-Patrick

 

[Old Dog]

I'd go with the newest!

Yep, me to. There were a number of issues with the earlier models like
oil use and in Verts the top seating right. By about 01, most had been
worked out except for the column lock.

When I was looking, the advice I was given was to get at least an 01 if
possible. My 02 has had no problems. I don't think I would be afraid
of the mileage after a through check on the car.

Just my $.02.

 

[vett boy]

Good healthy miles will not hurt .It's how the car was driven and maintained.As Corvettes are living breathing things they love being driven.So you'll be buying a happy vett.--Steve

 

[65-to-00]

When faced with a decision like that I would dial in what I call the "wife effect".

There has to be some associated visual "impact value". It's like getting hitched; you pretty much have to like what you are looking at. In the garage or in the kitchen before you have coffee, same thing!

I did base my purchase a bit on that theory and could have got a better deal on a silver car a year newer ... but the black on black won me over even though it had more miles.

Happy hunting .... hunting is half the fun ..

 

[MsSchroder]

In this case, I would go for the newer one. The mileage on the newer one is still pretty low.
If you could find one with an extended warranty, that would be a big plus.

Tammy

 

[born2saw]

Looks like the consensus is to go with the newer one. I am going for a very specific color combination in a 6 speed convertible (Mag. Red with Tan interior). As you can see below, I am a little partial to metallic dark reds. I would love to find one with mag wheels, but I think that will be a little out of my price range. It does not seem like there are too many out there. If I could swing the few extra bucks, I would love a 50th Anniversary Red, but it seems those are a little pricy and I do have a budget (and a wife ).

Thanks for all the good advice, I may be asking for someone to look at a car soon.

SAVE THE WAVE!!

 

[6 Shooter]

Ya need to think of all the options ya want, 2001 and up added quite a few upgrades.

Get out there and get ur self 1!

Oh yeah - Enjoy da hunt...

Later . . . . . .
6 Shooter

 

[Cessna 182]

Miles

I think I would go for the low miles.

 

[Pseudomind]

I would go with this one, you know this car is at least four years old, 8750 miles a year, 729 miles a month, 168 miles a week, 33.65 miles a day (based on a five day week) this is not really high mileage, but should be enough to have kept all seals and other items in failrly good shape. Unless these miles were driven a 1/4 mile at a time.

2002 with about 35,000 miles.

 

[blacksedan87]

I've always believed go with the newest lowest mileage car you can afford. One of the deciding factors is if you find a specific color you like - those colors were not available in every years...with the exception of Torch Red and Black. Also - equipment....as you get into the newer model years, some things that were optional on the earlier models were made standard on the later ones, and some options weren't available at all on the early models.

I have a '98 that was built in April. It does have Gen I Active Handling, I believe Gen II Active Handling became standard in '02. Also Gen II airbags on the later models (have a on/off switch for the passenger), HUD was available mid year '99 and forward. Power telescoping wheel became available in the later cars. The Tire Pressure Monitors and the key fobs changed in '01.

The cars that had the oil consumption issues were the 01's, and piston slap in the '00 cars.

Bottom line is the C5 is a great car, and is a ton of fun to own and drive. Good luck with the hunt!

 

[redvett]

I have a 01 A4 Convertible and its an early build 7/00 It has cold piston knock but dosent use oil and runs the 1/4 mi. at 12:98 consistantly. We travel to events in it every year. Dont have any problems with it.

 

[born2saw]

Thanks for all the input everyone. I still need to sell the 90 but hopefully I will be buying that C5 soon.

 

[handstjg]

I had bought a 1986 with 21K miles and had it for 3 years. I only put 5,000 miles on it, just didn't trust it to go on extended trips, the ride was rough, and it had trouble getting out of its own dust.

I sold it one Saturday on EBAY at 10:00 am and bought my 2001 (20K miles) on EBAY at 11:30 am the same day. Nerve racking at best but it all worked out. It rides like a dream, has enough horse power, for now, and got 25.7 mpg on a trip to Grand Junction.

The extended warranty is a must. If it is not a GM warranty, take the policy to your Chevrolet Service Writer and have him check the warranty. Not all are equal and some are criminal.

Good luck,
Hands

 

[Guy]

Maybe someone already said this, but one thing you can do before buying any C5 or C6 is ask your local dealer to run the vin through the database to see everything a Chevy service department has done to the car. Paul (C4C5Specialist) did that for me. That database will tell you if the car was in for recalls, problems or the same problem over and over again.

Good Luck.

Guy

 

[born2saw]

Great advise everyone. I just sold the 90 so now is the time when I seriously will start shopping. I definitely want to get an extended warrantee and will be shopping for one when I settle on a car.

I will post pics when I get my new one—don’t know how long I can go vetteless!!