ksvette74

Another diffrence was a passenger side key lock on the outside. Was avaliable in the older oens and went away in 2001 or so. I did not want a car that had that missing from experience with a vehicle I use for work. However, in retrospect, it would not have made a diffrence at all in my vette as I have never used the key on the passenger side.

PewtVette

'02-'04 would be the best years with the '04 being the winner (except for the revised fuel tank system on the '03-'04s). Go browse the Corvette Action Center Knowledgebase and decide for yourself.

3GenVettes

The answer to your question of what is the best year is little like splitting hairs. I have had several C5s and from my first 98 to my last 04 I was amazed at how similar the driving experience was in the cars.

Given the incremental differences I would have to say that 03-04 share the best year.

I do still have a pair of 03 AE cars, a convertible and a coupe.
However, anyone who knows me will confirm that my absolute favorite was the 98.

su5pect

this thread has some good info on it...post #2

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...tte-owner.html

04C5comm

The best year? The one you buy

gamrock1

i am going to say 04 because i have an 04. get my point. All in all I hear C5's are good no matter what year.

Jistari

Yes...but from what Ive read....there are basicaly two groups

Group 1 (the smaller group): buring 1 qt in 400 miles. Despite driving style, this is excessive. Many were warranted and the rings replaced.

Group 2 : (the larger group): buring 1 qt or less in 2000 miles. Primarily a factor of engine design and driving style. High rpm low load driving causes ring flutter that allows oil to pass to top of piston. Reportedly did not effect engin wear and was a contributing factor in the oil consumption not the sole cause. As designed, the engine will burn oil if run hard. They did redesign one of the rings, but if you drive at 4000 rpm Im fairly sure any year will burn oil (correct me if Im wrong).

Not denying the problem, just speaking to the perception that oil consumption was somehow not present in any 2000 or before and that it also went completely away after 2001.

Just a few items from a quick search, not that the explicitly speak to the percentage of 2001's that had the problem, but they do speak about the problem in general.

===========
Many late 2000 thru 2001 Vette's burn a lot of oil when the engine is kept constantly over 4,000 rpm's. This is caused by ring flutter, which allows extra oil to seep past the oil control rings, but doesn't seem to cause any extra wear to the engine. Chevrolet has rebuilt and replaced engines for owners that complained about excessive oil consumption. Their policy is that while the engine isn't normally operated like that outside of racing, it is the owner's prerogative to drive around in second gear all the time if they want to. It is covered under the warranty.

The PCV system also has a tendency to suck oil back into the intake at high rpm's. It doesn't seem to cause any problems, other than a slight mess inside the intake manifold. The newer style PCV system can be installed, but this requires removing all the components in the top of the engine valley. Usually only racer's bother with the hassle. Several generations of PCV systems have had the problem, and at this time, December 2004, the PCV system still sucks oil into the intake.
============

============
1/2 quart in 3000 is about right for this engine design.
GM specifies that 1 quart in 2000 is acceptable.
Engine design has been radical in the past 10 years. You will consume some oil with this design, based on engineering.
All cars that need rerings will burn about 1 quart in 400 miles.
=============

And this link talks about same problem in Caddies (with the vette engine) and other cars without.

http://www.topix.com/forum/autos/cad...UUDQ5SRFLJN2IQ


It must have started somewhere, because it is often brought up when speaking about 2001's, but mine doesnt do it, so I read a bunch on it, cant find anything definitive about "frequency" of the problem.

Oh 2 Fun

I wouldn't go less than an '02. I think in '02, they bumped the standard HP up to 350...but could have been '01.

Pewter was available and I've had lots....and lots of comments on how "classy" a color it is....especially in the sun. Note that Chip Foose uses this color on almost ALL his overhaulin' projects....it's a warm silver that shows the lines well on any car.

So....think '02 and above. But.....the C5 in any year is just flat out cool

INaband

Mine is the lowest build year....

madmatt9471

This will be debated "HUGELY" here on the thread!

'97-'98 Awesome and coveted return style fuel lines - I love my '98 and wouldn't trade it! (see sig )

'04 Has the very best of everything all the way down to the engine block which sports the C5 Z06 block metal (Same engine number on the Z06 block and the Coupe)

NO! BAD! YEARS!

Thanks,Matt

troy144

A quart of oil on a 8 year old car...if that is the only problem. I have an 01 auto, and so does my neighbor and neither burns any. Are you sure your statement is for the autos? Hard to imagine what some of you guys would do if you had an older classic car...you would really freak out with the leaks

Wicked C5

Actually I was around for this and it was a big discussion back then. Gm denied this in the beginning but there were some many people GM finally gave in and acknowledged the problem.

None of them that I personally knew were auto's but that really doesn't have anything to do with it.

In 2001-2002 for the 01's this was a big topic of discussion on the forum.

Like the other guy said except there 3 different variations

1. one quart per 400 miles. Gm warrantied most of these.

2. One quart per 1000-2000 miles Gm made the owners do a test to confirm and warrantied some of them.

3. One quart per 3000. Gm consider it normal and did nothing.

IMO the 03's were the best that didn't didn't have the new fuel tank/pump system. The 04-05 had quite a bit of problems with them. I work in the automotive repair business and have full access to the TSB associated with them.

I've owned the following
5 97's most of them were great without any major problems. One did have a tranny reverse issue.
2 99's including my current monster
1 01 Z06 which had a tranny issue
1 06 C6 No problems except slave popped at 14k
1 07 C6

My 1st 99 had the most problems. Column lock/tps/knock sensor.

My current 1999 has been great but it is so modded now I couldn't blame anything on build quality at this point. Although the electrical-a/c has been solid.

Navyvette04

Gohard777

None, but I only have 15,000 miles on her.....
373 gears 9.5 inch converter, LG street headers, CAI, Predator tune, been to the track with the runcraps, just put on Nitto 555 R2 Extremes, will check them out sometime this year. Change the oil and filter, run synthetic, and keep a check on things.........runs fantastic!

Army08

jsdanehy

Mine is an 04 CE. Normal problems. It is widely understood that indeed the 2001 model year had a problem with the pistons and oil consumption. To say it did not exist is ignorance. Well known situation which the factory took care of under warranty. Why bother with a 2001 when you can get a later model . . . go with a 2003 or 2004

Chemdawg99

Big1Dog

I bought my Corvette today. It is a 2002 Coupe. Has both tops and lots of factory goodies. The car is exactly what I was looking for. Low miles at 13000. picture later.
Thanks to everyone for the advice.

abigfoot

Really?

motogib1

2002 and up. Had all the C5 upgrades including the LS6 intake at this point.