Thoughts on this one ?
Discussion
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2346252.htm
Hi , just thought i would ask , looking to buy a c5 model , not fussed about coupe or convertable , and been looking at this one for a few weeks now , just been reduced in price , just looking for something to do a trip into the South of France with and thought a Corvette would be ideal , lhd , reliable , auto , ticks a lot of boxes . Over the years i have seen the owners club at Le Mans many times but only recently thought about getting one . So am i looking at the right sort of model , really only want to spend 13 , 15 max , i did spot the black convertable ( blue thunders one i think now sold ) and was very taken with that one .
Hi , just thought i would ask , looking to buy a c5 model , not fussed about coupe or convertable , and been looking at this one for a few weeks now , just been reduced in price , just looking for something to do a trip into the South of France with and thought a Corvette would be ideal , lhd , reliable , auto , ticks a lot of boxes . Over the years i have seen the owners club at Le Mans many times but only recently thought about getting one . So am i looking at the right sort of model , really only want to spend 13 , 15 max , i did spot the black convertable ( blue thunders one i think now sold ) and was very taken with that one .
I ran a 2001 C5 Coupe as a daily driver for 3 years, and I can confirm that they are superb cars - fast, reliable and suprisingly economical to run. A few thoughts about the one in the advert you've linked to:
Firstly note that it is a 1997 model (registered in UK in 2001) which makes it the very first of the C5 generation. This is not necessarily a problem in itself, but it will not have the sought-after head-up display (HUD) - the lack of HUD buttons to the left of the steering wheel confirms this. I think some owners also report engine management problems on pre-'99 cars.
Those wheels are, of course, non-standard (original spec was 17" front, 18" rear). To my eyes, though, these American Racing (Torq Thrust?) wheels look great on a C5 and in my opinion it's rare to find aftermarket wheels that suit the C5. The exhaust is also non-standard and, as the vendor says, "not for the faint-hearted"! This may mean that it is unacceptably noisy for daily use, or drones at motorway speeds (a common criticism of Borla, Magnaflow, etc.). But you can bet it sounds fantastic at idle.
The vendor is very honest about a few of the problems on the car (back-lighting on displays, electric seats, etc.). You will have to decide whether you can live with these. He is right that electrical faults are not uncommon on these cars - mine had problems with electric windows, central locking, and mirrors - so check everything electrical if you view the car because parts may be tricky to obtain. Mechanically, though, these cars tend to be bulletproof.
Seat leather is of poor quality compared to European cars, and higher mileage cars like this one can show excessive wear on the driver's seat (can't tell what this one's like from the photos)
The vendor has priced it reasonably - it's probably one of the cheapest in the UK at the moment, but you don't see many early / high mileage daily drivers like this. Your budget of 13-15k should get you a younger car than this though. There is no "book price" for C5's in the UK, and in my experience private seller's often seemed to have an over-inflated idea of their car's value.
Hope this helps, and good luck with your impending purchase!
Firstly note that it is a 1997 model (registered in UK in 2001) which makes it the very first of the C5 generation. This is not necessarily a problem in itself, but it will not have the sought-after head-up display (HUD) - the lack of HUD buttons to the left of the steering wheel confirms this. I think some owners also report engine management problems on pre-'99 cars.
Those wheels are, of course, non-standard (original spec was 17" front, 18" rear). To my eyes, though, these American Racing (Torq Thrust?) wheels look great on a C5 and in my opinion it's rare to find aftermarket wheels that suit the C5. The exhaust is also non-standard and, as the vendor says, "not for the faint-hearted"! This may mean that it is unacceptably noisy for daily use, or drones at motorway speeds (a common criticism of Borla, Magnaflow, etc.). But you can bet it sounds fantastic at idle.
The vendor is very honest about a few of the problems on the car (back-lighting on displays, electric seats, etc.). You will have to decide whether you can live with these. He is right that electrical faults are not uncommon on these cars - mine had problems with electric windows, central locking, and mirrors - so check everything electrical if you view the car because parts may be tricky to obtain. Mechanically, though, these cars tend to be bulletproof.
Seat leather is of poor quality compared to European cars, and higher mileage cars like this one can show excessive wear on the driver's seat (can't tell what this one's like from the photos)
The vendor has priced it reasonably - it's probably one of the cheapest in the UK at the moment, but you don't see many early / high mileage daily drivers like this. Your budget of 13-15k should get you a younger car than this though. There is no "book price" for C5's in the UK, and in my experience private seller's often seemed to have an over-inflated idea of their car's value.
Hope this helps, and good luck with your impending purchase!
Its a midlife C5 not an early one. They came out in 97 and went through to 04. So 01 is definately not VERY early.
Anyway, targa is better than convertable as you dont have to mess about with wind noise and leaks as much, plus, the 97 & 98 models suck because of a crap ECU. Though thats only an issue if you want to get it tuned or modified.
Of course its a 4 speed slushbox, but I think the price is good if the rest stacks up.
Anyway, targa is better than convertable as you dont have to mess about with wind noise and leaks as much, plus, the 97 & 98 models suck because of a crap ECU. Though thats only an issue if you want to get it tuned or modified.
Of course its a 4 speed slushbox, but I think the price is good if the rest stacks up.
Not really. As I understand it, the Euro models were equivalent of a top spec US model with all the bells & whistles fitted as standard, so if you're buying a US import you just need to check it's the spec you want. The US models didn't have fog lights set into the rear panel and a lot of people prefer that cleaner look. Also US models will have a square, rather than rectangular, rear number plate housing.
Maybe there's a certain peace of mind in buying a Euro spec C5 knowing it's been "officially" set up for UK roads - although only around 250 were sold by UK dealers between 1998 and 2002 and many of those (including mine) have now been sold on into Europe, so there aren't many around these days!
Maybe there's a certain peace of mind in buying a Euro spec C5 knowing it's been "officially" set up for UK roads - although only around 250 were sold by UK dealers between 1998 and 2002 and many of those (including mine) have now been sold on into Europe, so there aren't many around these days!
My C5 was a U.S spec car having been imported privately from new.Ive now gone on to a C6.I wouldn't dismiss a silver car.I originally wanted a black C6.But thinking of all the effort and different polishes to keep the old one clean and to give it the perfect finish put me off a black one again. I still have a black Hummer and Ram.So i more than have my work cut out with keeping them clean.
Silver is so easy to keep clean.And i reckon i can get away with polishing it twice a year rather than after every four washes of the old black one.
Silver is so easy to keep clean.And i reckon i can get away with polishing it twice a year rather than after every four washes of the old black one.
I reckon that's a Euro with US backup lights added.
Note:
Note:
- Tow hooks welded on front right and rear centre (most reliable clue)
- Euro rear fog lamps (no sane human would fit them!)
The car has four indicators,euro car has two on the outside lenses, I know that could have been changed with the numberplate surround, but the fog lights don't look OE.
I have had a lot of euro C5's and if I could download some close ups of cars I've had I could show you.
I think they have been added later.
Also a '97 car would never have been unsold until 2001, DVLA have cocked up again, this time for the better on an import.
Easy way of finding out anyway. look in the door shut for Euro stickers and on the glove box lid.
I have had a lot of euro C5's and if I could download some close ups of cars I've had I could show you.
I think they have been added later.
Also a '97 car would never have been unsold until 2001, DVLA have cocked up again, this time for the better on an import.
Easy way of finding out anyway. look in the door shut for Euro stickers and on the glove box lid.
BLUETHUNDER said:
I wouldn't dismiss a silver car. But thinking of all the effort and different polishes to keep the old one clean and to give it the perfect finish put me off a black one again. I still have a black Hummer and Ram. So i more than have my work cut out with keeping them clean.
Silver is so easy to keep clean.And i reckon i can get away with polishing it twice a year rather than after every four washes of the old black one.
When I searched for my C5, Silver was not on my list of colours - but I ended up buying a Silver 1997 C5. And it really is easy to keep clean!!Silver is so easy to keep clean.And i reckon i can get away with polishing it twice a year rather than after every four washes of the old black one.
It came with the rare Firethorn interior, and I added black Le Mans stripes.
Oh yes, and no Head Up Display - thank goodness. Never understood the hype over HUD, they are so inaccurate in early C5's.
Look at the speedo - it reads to 300 mph. USA cars had the 200 mph speedo calibrations. The 300 was used for markets with Kilometers (and UK).
Anyway, if you check the option codes on the build sticker (probably in glove box) that will put matters beyond doubt as the specific market is identified - even the difference between UK and Continent cars as the headlamps differ for left dip/right dip.
Anyway, if you check the option codes on the build sticker (probably in glove box) that will put matters beyond doubt as the specific market is identified - even the difference between UK and Continent cars as the headlamps differ for left dip/right dip.
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