Buying a 98 C5

=================== I am NOT AT ALL put off by the 100000 miles on the car...but it does indicate the car was most likely a daily driver for the original owner... Good because you knoiw the car has been "fairly" reliable since it has started up so much... lol...

Vette Magazine the current issue (SEPT 2005 ??? fast cars deserve magazine that are equally fast since it is only July) Has a article dealing with the Market value of Strickly C5's

They l;ist 1998 Coupes as below CRUMMY 15,600 DECENT 16,800 GREAT 19,400 FABULOUS 22,700

So you make the choice...$12,000 is the absolute lowest price I have heard for ANY used C5 that was not a wreck...

The Magazine came to the house last week and I actually wrote a letter to the editor since I am in the market for a used C5 myself...and NOTHING around this area or fro that matter and on the net .is priced less then 5,000 ABOVE their figures ..for a Fabulous car no less..

I do know that to strip and repaint the hood of a C4 costs a little under $500. have no idea of what the A/C repair might run you...

Lots of luck... Bob G.

Before you part with the $12 K., id have a compression check done on it in addition to a thorough examination of all the major components. If the mechanic finds something wrong, then, maybe you could negotiate for a lower price and at least know , up front, what your in for as far as immediate repairs go. If you have to pay $60-100 for this, i think it will give you a peace of mind.

body give me your thoughts...

This is a TERRIBLE deal. You're making a MAJOR mistake. The seller is really taking advantage of you.

Now, what's his phone number and where does he live? And, what's chances you know of another bad deal like this somewhere?

Charlie

fro that matter and on the net .is priced less then 5,000 ABOVE their figures .

I'm looking for a C5 to replace my '91 coupe. I bought it in '98 and found a deal where the guy HAD to get out from under it, plus C4 values were taking a hit because the C5 was selling well. When the C6 came out, my years of wisdom, smarts, and cunning kicked and I said to myself, "Self, just wait a few months and them C5's are gonna be dirt cheap and you can scarf up a '98 - '00 for next to nuthin (next to nuthin being $18000 - $22000). Bad move. When the dealers had to clear C5's last fall, they were selling $10000 off sticker. The same cars are in the paper now for MORE than that. Why - the C6 has teething problems just like the '97 C5 did. Between fuel senders (familiar?), finding out if you don't put the frickin 6 speed in reverse when you shut down it leaves the ECM hot and drains the battery, the right side driving light failing and a list of other problems, the C6 doesn't have people flocking to buy them. I hear they're selling below sticker some places and I can't remember if that was the case with the '97 or not.

The upshot of all this is that C5 prices have gone UP since the C6 came out. And another thing - where the hell does Kelley Blue Book find C5's at the prices they show in their info? I can't find a car within the same $5000 figure above anywhere around here.

How 'bout you tell me about the SECOND '99 you find for $!6000. :o)

I agree with Dave get the compression check , look at the manifold for coolant leeks and do a complete frame inspection. Also check the color of the transmission fluid (it should be red nor rust or burnt red) and look for moister where the oil filler cap sits inside the cap.

You guys need to get into this century, compression checks went out years ago because of the way they are built today. Never heard of a coolant leak on a manifold of a C5, does coolant go through the manifold on a C5? Do they have reusable seals unlike the cast iron small block? Have the frame checked? Doesn't carfax tell all about the car and its accidents if any? Rust in a 9 year old Corvette?

I do agree with Charlie, the C5 is going up instead of down with the release of the C6. Although I have heard of problems they have been few and far between with the C6. The reason for the price hike on the C5 is that most people still see the C6 as a not so hot change over the C5. Plus they all think their dick will get longer if they can get one of those Z06s. Other than the stupid sixth gear debacle the car is a sleeper and will remain that way as long as all of those nice C5s are available. Its performance is scary, and it is put to the ground so well you don't realize just how far you are over your limits. If I told you how fast it is you wouldn't believe me, and I'd bet my last dollar none of you would take a ride with me to prove it. One thing I will pass on to you is that in second and third gear you can lay black marks right up to maximum rpms. I'm not saying smoke the tires, I'm saying that the power is put to the road so uniform that it will just run on the edge of breaking loose and lay a nice pair of tire marks in both gears. In first gear it just destroys the rear tires so you have to feather it off the line.

My '98 was one of the 5 best GM cars I ever owned.

'You guys need to get into this century, compression checks went out years ago because of the way they are built today.'

Reply: If it has an engine that uses pistons, valves, and rings....then a compression check is a good idea especially on a high mileage car . Corvette or otherwise.

I want to thank you all for your response I did check on car fax and the car had a accident when it was only about 6 months old it was the front fender and that was the only damage the cost was $1000.00 for repair and i asked the sell (My brother inlaw) he sent me the repair sheet. The fender was replaced by the dealer and painted all other thing are great in the CARFAX...

You see my brother inlaw leased this new then after the time was up he financed then refied and just has to many other bills to deal with to the reason for the $12000.00 price tag is he is just letting me take it for what he owes... Better then to just give it back and destrow his credit so it is helping both of us out he gets out from under a bill and I get my first vette and a nice 1 at that I have always liked the C5 but did not know them by that term only by years 97,98,99 and so on

Thanx

The fact this is your brother-in-law puts it in a whole new light.

Would he screw you over or is he the type to screw others over?

Is he not too bright when it comes to cars and is he the type that cars are just transportation?

You can answer most of your own questions on this one, but if my BIL was selling me a Corvette so much lower than market, I'd grab it and run!

No

just transportation?

He knows cars but it is costing him alot to keep this and a new truck that he is upside down on he still owes the 12 grand on the car because he was on disablity for 3 years and they only made 70% of the payments and I offered to take the car for what he owes and he accepted so off I go to AZ next saturday to pick it up

selling me a Corvette so much lower than market, I'd grab it and run!

That is really cheap- The NADA value for a '98 with 100,000 miles is $17,350 average trade-in and $20,400 average retail assuming it has the glass top.

Thanx I picked up the mag and am going to check it out...

the sell (My brother inlaw)

Run. Run like the wind. Surely you will destroy all family relationships and ruin your marriage if you buy this car. Let someone else be the pawn in this scheme. Now, what's his phone number and where's he live. :o)

Charlie

Thanx to all I got the vette it is a little more rough that I thought it needs a little TLC and I will be asking alot of questions in this group but it runs great and all of the mechanical things have been serviced by a chevy dealer since day 1 but the seats are torn and have seat covers on them and the carpet is bad but the dash is great no cracks the body is straight I did find out the left front fender was replaced 3 months after it was bought (NEW) the only damage was the fender no other components the air compresure is bad (going to suck driving home from AZ) but now the good things now I am a vette owner and it is fun to drive and it handles very nice BUT I learned that the ass end will go out from under it reall quick on a freeway on ramp that curves when you nail it and it kicks down to first hehehe I would like to thank you for all of your feed back...

Thanx