z06Freshhh

Hello folks, hoping to purchase my first vette by the summer and my budget will be in the 10k range because i want to buy it straight out dont want a note, but as i look around i mostly see rebuild/salvage titles. Which raises a few questions...1. is it realistic that i find a good starter vette TURNKEY for around 10k? 2. whats a reason NOT to buy a salvage title vette? 3. is a c5 bad news once it passes 100k?what problems should i look out for with high mileage vettes? and finally 4. who will be looking to sell theyre 97-2000 vette (vert,targa,or frc) by late spring

CCA Corvette Parts

Ahhh, salvage...

Add 5k and start again...

Try and stay away from 97/98 unless they have had the
rings done...


Good luck with your search and welcome to the CF


Peace
Chip

fishbust

You can do a clean title & all together car with high miles 12k-ish.

Agree save a little more. You do not want to start off with someone elses butcher job/problems.

Be out there scouring the pavement and be ready to pounce on a great deal. You never know what you will find being in the right place at the right time. I got a great deal on mine and could have flipped it for many thousands more but it took a long time to find it and it was what I was looking for.

z06Freshhh

Thanx chip. Ive also seen that 15k seems more realistic for a VERY NICE c5, but then i seen a c5 black frc in the for sale section for like 9k sell lol! im hoping to get one before my birthday which is august, i dont want a note but i know if i took that 10k and put it down on something i can get a nice vette

z06Freshhh

Good advice..Starting now hoping i find a good deal by the time things warm up. Seen a quicksilver 99 drop on craigslist for 13k obo. so maybe 12k would be a better starting point. Im making the transition from the bbody game so i know all about buying peoples butcher jobs

cadmando18

Well just to keep it simple, if you are planning on buying a Corvette (or any car with age for that matter) you are going to have to budget a couple K on top of the 10k you plan on spending, just for those things you'll never know are wrong until you drive it for a while.

It also depends I think on what you're willing to put up with, and how strict your DEQ rules are around where you live.

There are a lot of good people on here with great experience, and that can cut down cost of a pre-owned Vette by a whole lot. Just do your research, 10k can run the gamut on good or not so good Vetts.

SoDiezl350

This car is for sale here in Socal. Can't believe it hasn't sold yet. Now that the early model EBCMs can be repaired the early C5s are really amazing deals imo.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/sout...s-angeles.html

z06Freshhh

Ok so going that low on a vette no bueno?i could save a couple more grand especially since im starting out now. Also i have to catch up on my acronyms i see

z06Freshhh

yeah i saw that too smh im all the way in Philly tho, but still can not believe thats still sitting. exact color and everything i want too lol

azmusclecar

You can find a good turn key starter Vette but it will probably be high mileage.

There's no problem with a high mileage Corvette, if it's received proper care and maintenance and has been in the hands of a true Corvette enthusiast. That means try to find a car that has NOT been leased, try to find an original owner which is ideal, with records and all. Try to get the history of the car which includes accident history.

You will more than likely in that budget range find a stock only car which is fine or a lightly modified with minors modifications.

Next you may NOT find the color you like. You may want a convertible and all you can find is a coupe.

Make a list of what you truly want. auto, manual, coupe, convertible.

Next study the market. I have purchased all 5 of my C5s from owners, not a dealer. Many dealer cars come from auctions and usually the history information doesn't come with the car.

I passed on a chance to buy a 99 FRC (Fixed roof coupe) last year, the seller wanted 12.5K It was high mileage and had a few issues. He had it for 6 months and finally offered it to me for 10K. I passed on it.

I decided to purchase either 2001 or newer, and the reason is due to some of the inherent issues and repairs that MAY, NOTE I SAID MAY, be needed for the early C5s.

Read, read and read and the more info you will find regarding some issues that are now showing up on early C5s as well as even the 2001-2004 models.

These cars are getting long in the tooth and availability of parts needs to be considered. Affordability versus sustainability is a key.

There are no sure fire dead nuts on answer for your questions. Some owners of early C5s have no issues while low mileage 2004 owners have humming rear ends that have never been abused.

There's a saying, buy the newest Vette with the lowest mileage in the best shape that YOU can afford.

That doesn't always work. Study, read, think, post questions, do searches, look at the sticky posts regarding all the information you can glean from this forum as well as talk to Vette club owners. Sometimes you can find a member looking to sell their car or they know someone.

Last thing you want to do is rush in to a decision, with minimal cash and buy someone's nightmare which you now own. Your excitement will quickly turn to disappointment and your experience will leave you wishing you would have waited.

Ask me how I know........................

Best of luck.......and caveat emptor........."BUYER BEWARE"......

cadmando18

I would say save up. Save a couple more grand and get something you can enjoy without annoying stuff happening. It sounds like you are trying to avoid payments, but some times putting that much down on a newer used Vette might get you something even better for very vew $ a month.

But I don't know your situation, and I don't want to deviate much from your original idea. Yes you can find Corvettes for 10K, but I don't know how DYI you are, and I would want you to enjoy your Corvette as much as I do, instead of hating it for a bunch of problems someone else didn't take care of.

CCA Corvette Parts

Maybe 12 -13k if you look around enough...

Save up a few extra bucks and you will be a little better off.

Compression test the cylinders before buying. Almost everything
else can be managed pretty reasonable now for C5s (as mentioned
above, the computers boards can now be rebuilt)

You'll love the car and this is a great place to learn the DIY fixes
which will save you a ton

z06Freshhh

Very well put! And impatience has left me more than one occasion! I'm not very DIY with the LSX tech im sure i could learn tho. I know the bbody lt1s pretty well. read read read is what i plan to do with these vettes because i really want to enjoy my experience

z06Freshhh

What my fiance' said too maybe put down 10 on something that costs about 20 or less then have low payments

LoneStarFRC

10K would make an excellent down payment..............

Or save a little more.

z06Freshhh

Im leaning toward A lol

Abnmarine

Deals are out there if you are patient. I found mine for less than $10k here in Hawaii. I was aware of it needing a new steering wheel position sensor and a headlight gear but I knew I could fix those things myself. Timing was right as well since the previous owner wanted to sell to get a C6.

andrec10

Yes, A nice Down payment on a C7!

z06Freshhh

Haha i wish! Ill need to buy that in cash too most likely when its time lol lets just say my credit is "nothing to write home about"

onspeed

10k = high mileage, salvage, or neglected C5, or very nice C4 or 98+ F-body.

In general.