C5-C6 Corvettes...
 

I sold my old 'Vette (72) before moving to Florida and have the itch now to get a newer one. For the Vette guys.... Are there any years to stay away from? I'm looking for a 2005-2010....But would buy a C5 if I found the right one. There are a chitload of cars down here with less than 10K miles on them that are owned by old guys. The only thing that I'm sure of is that I don't want red, black or yellow as a color. That weeds out at least 70% of them!!!

Thx in advance,
Craig

....and before anyone posts "Get a new one, they are awesome"..... I already know that but they are outside of my budget. I really like my wife and want to stay married! :D

The LS3 cars (08+) make more power than the earlier LS2 cars.

the only problems i have seen are the rear diff side covers still leak. the early (97-01) had steering column lock issues which can be a pain in the a$$. other than that dont be afraid of a car with some miles on it(30-40k). they seem to run better and leak less oil than the cars that are 10 yrs old with 5k miles on them

So THAT is where the drips at the rear of my wife's C5 are coming from! Thanks Tim!

I bought a '97 6 Speed a couple years ago and have had zero issues. Most issues any of these cars had are long fixed by now.

Its a lot of car for very little money.

Ok, so you found a bunch of clean, low mileage garage queen Vettes.......next step is to talk the owners prices out of the clouds! Remind them it is just an old vehicle made out of fiberglass and with an old pushrod engine......wait, that sounds like a boat! :D

Any year C6 Z06 it will make you smile.

you got that right!!! I just prepped a 2015 on friday. unbelieveable car

I think the 06-10 C6 cars are great. I would do the manual trans if possible. A tune on them wakes them up like wow.

Tremendous performance car for the $.

wannabe

Thanks for the replies. I missed out on a blue 2006 Z51 with 38K miles. The guy wanted 24K for it. It sold on the first day. Will keep looking......

Don't be afraid to look outside of Florida. There is a TON of Midwest/East cars that are low mileage and will cost the same. These cars are usually more of a toy than transportation. I just bought another C5-Z06 (02 w/15K miles, my 44th Corvette, my wife says I have a problem) from Stoudt in Reading PA, he carries a number of low mileage C5's and C6's (http://stoudtautosales.com/inventory.htm)

There is a big difference between C5's and C6's. it just depends on what it is you are looking for. The C5's drive a bit more rugged, ie you hear/feel the road, curves and vibrations a bit more where as the C6's are more refined and drive like they are on rail's. Both are fun,and give you a different feel. And then there is the headlight thing....

And like they said, the C6-Z06 is a close perfection as you find in it's price point.

There really isn't a big difference in prices between the C5 and the C6 in standard form, as long as you are looking at a well kept, low mileage car. Have fun looking!

My 2000 C5 Couple/Manual has 16K miles on it, and has been rock solid. My Dad ordered the car new.

There are some REALLY informative threads on www.corvetteforum.com on 'how to buy' and what to look for.

The early C5s, have an issue where the receiver/module for the keyfobs and TPMS goes a little wacky. Knock on wood, mine has been fine. I think that was fixed in 2001.

I just left the performance shop today; ordering a bunch of parts and scheduling time on the dyno. :eek: :D

this car is an absolute animal. buddy of mine picked it up today. he had to wait til the weather was nice enough to drive it home
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he even bought the best color! 650 HP/ 650 TQ is all business!

Figured since Craig is a recent retiree to Flariduh and he is liquidating all his V8 toys that this is what he really needs:
http://www.nissanusa.com/crossovers/...crosscabriolet

Its a convertible, its an SUV all in one! :D

Ha!!!!!! I'm in year two of being a full-timer. ;) .....and absolutely loving it!!! Retirement is AWESOME!!!!!!!

....and that looks like a car for a non-boat owner. I have two. :D

I still have a Whaler.....just had the fluids/impeller changed and it was $438.... I have not spent $1000 in maintenance on that 4 stroke Yamaha since I got it in 2006

I have a one owner 08 Z51 with npp exhaust, Z06 wheels, 23kmi....
$33k b/o. Listed on Craigslist Southcoast Massachusetts.

PM sent!

I've been looking at C6Z's, and from what I've read (and its probably very very hit and miss) but a lot of guys have been saying to get the valves looked at.

I'm not sure of the specific year ranges for that issue if there even was one. It might just be the guys that are really running them.

Good luck with your search,

I've been looking at low mileage C6Z's and they are amazing cars, I just can't pull the trigger. Expensive toy to let sit, when I've already got a lot on the list.

The new Z06 is pulling 10.6 1/4 miles driven properly......

This started with the C5 Z06's, they always had upper engine noise. It was a normal thing, but some people just never could accept hearing their engine working. It also carried over to the New generation motor sounds.

The other thing you will hear is the excessive use of oil in some of the newer engines. This is true... and was due to these same people that had the cars were the type of people that immediately changed the engine oil when it got home and then were afraid that if they didn't continue to change the oil every couple thousand of miles the engines would not take the wear from the breakdown of parts... Problem was, this is what was causing the damage. By continuing to change the oil it never allowed the wear to happen and the motors never broke in. Thus the oil burning a quart every 1000 miles.

If you hear a certain rumor, it may have a basis, but look further and there is generally a complete story to explain it.

Like in boats, there are 2 separate Corvette owners, those that take exceptional care of the car and those that beat the hell out of them. It is easy to tell which it is when you go to look at it!

Corvettes are more than a car.... They are a away of life for many of us. Good or bad.... that is a personal opinion!

I would go with a C6. there are some good deals on low mileage cars. If you can find a Grand Sport even better.
I have a 2011 Grand Sport convertible and love it. It's a great car and fun to drive.
Good luck

Some good points above......I guess it comes down to how much you will use it. If it will get out of the garage a lot,,,,a C6 Z06 will be a lot of fun.

I think I drove mine 4 times last year( I sometimes forget I even have it LOL ) ,,,, so for the whopping 13K I have in it,,,,, doesn't bother me a bit to have it just sit there!!!

I had 2 C6 Z06's. One Stock (yellow) and one Very Modded (Atomic Orange - SC'ed, ported Intake T/B, Cam, Full exhaust (catless), stage 5 rearend, clutch, Pfadt adjustable coilovers and swaybars, etc...) 700hp to the rear wheels. Loved them. On the road I never met anything that beat my Atomic Orange Vette. The last "pic" is a little clip of the car the day I picked it up. sorry for the quality. (just click it I think)
http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...6/DSC00151.jpg
http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...6/IMG_8523.jpg
http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...6/IMG_5222.jpg
http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...C08Z06/007.jpg
http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...8Z06/004-1.jpg
http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...06/cars006.jpg
http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/...h_MOV01290.mp4

Craig,

My father has a silver 1999 C5 that he bought new. It has the Z51, 6 sp, and all the performance options. It's in mint condition (really), but probably needs some new tires and a good cleaning (mostly under the hood) from sitting. He starts it and takes it for short rides here and there, but other than that it's hardly ever driven. I believe it has 31k babied miles on it, never beaten on! The car is 100% stock to the best of my knowledge.

He mentioned to me the other day that it's time for it to go to a home where someone else will enjoy the car more than he does these days. If you're interested, shoot me a reasonable offer, I'm sure he'd sell it for below book value. The car is in CT, but I will be going down to FL at the end of April with an empty truck.

Empty truck..............WTF? I'm thinking CANNONBALL RUN style delivery! :D

Hey.... You shut your mouth when you are talking to me!!!! :D

If you want to spice it up take a look at Vengence racing.. Corvette guys thru and thru...

If your looking for a C6 and can go a little higher on your budget this is the car. I promise you its better taking car of then the Vettes at the Bowling Green Museum.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chevrolet-Co...m=191546418270

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/l...psoizmrccg.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/l...szdbcusle.jpeg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/l...sgryufgut.jpeg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/l...srytpgdct.jpeg

This is easy . Real easy . C6 . And for some reason. I dont recall it coming up , which to choose?
Low mile first year 6th gen ?
Higher mileage 3rd ,5th year gen 6 but not beat ?
Choose the 2nd. Unless its a steal .
If you can swing a c6 z06 live the dream
10k mile early c5 or 60k mile c5 z06 , z06
Of course how much sun its seen salt air its seen (gm does not prep steel bolts that go into aluminum)
Ideally you would find your perfect car in northern georgia. Or seattle. But prob wont.
Been in your shoes be patient and you will be merry
drove a gran sport for 5 years and only lost $200 in depreciation.and was very dependable

including the museum cars that fell into the sinkhole last year? :D

OldSchool If you think you might like to get back into a C3 I have a #'s matching Documented 70 454 4sp conv red on blk
PM if interested

http://www.thevettenet.com/listing_d...ed_Convertible

Or I am finishing up a 71 SCG 988 code 350 4sp a/c coupe, also have all paper work and I am the 3rd owner.
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/l...psjt0ywzld.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/l...psvf0epnsh.jpg

Thanks much and those are both beautiful....but I need a modern one with AC for the summertime! . Good luck with those!

I went from being in my truck for 2 and a half to three hours a day and burning almost two tanks of diesel a week to now (for the last year) burning a tank a month. I've put 4,000 miles on my truck in the last year. I figure that I should get something that will be fun to drive to the golf course or the tennis club. Waiting on some pictures of SS930's Dads C5 car. If we can get it together, I will buy that and see if I like it. I can always get a newer, more expensive one later...

Turbo Jet. Love the look of that Callaway. Good luck with the sale

So, I bought a Vette from Scot's Dad sight unseen and it's getting loaded on a truck to head south tomorrow afternoon.

I've seen two pictures of it and know that it has a 6-speed and a black interior. That's about it..........I hope I like it!!! LOL :D

congrats on the vette!!! got to go out and play with this one today. 75000 takes it home!!

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To avoid the red, yellow, black cookie cutters how about going back to old school. Buddy has a 73 454, 4spd, air, gym' suspension, complete numbers matching car in orange. Solid car other than tires and 20yr old paint. Located in Tarpon Springs....

Ok, back to th C5/6 search :)

Whoops! Note to self- next time read to end of thread before posting.