The Official "My 1st Corvette" introductory post!!
 

Time for me to do the “official” I now have my 1st Corvette post!!!!

First a little background. I’m in my mid fifties, live in the Chicago burbs and have always enjoyed cars, racing (Indy) and the like. Married 32 years, my wife and I have always had a toy car in the garage. From the 78’ Pontiac Trans Am that I bought when we were dating to the 71’ Buick GS we currently have for sale. We had the TA 17 years and we have had the GS 16 years, man how time flies!!

As a kid I wanted a Corvette before I could even drive. My Dad often said that if I wouldn’t have spent all the money fixing, breaking, changing things I could have bought a Corvette and been money ahead. Somehow Dad’s are usually right!

About 5 years ago I found the forum started surfing. A Corvette, for me, just always seemed out of reach, other priorities, kids in college, you know the story. Last fall my wife and I sat down and talked about where my/our hobby was going next. I mentioned a Corvette and she said, why not! Ok, now I’m on the forum reading, printing, searching… I think I have 3 – 4” binders full of info I’ve printed from the forum. Yes, being an engineer I like a little research and then there’s that being a little anal thing.

We sat down, discussed a budget, drove C5/C6, and determined C5 would be the choice. (Something about those pop up headlights) Budget was 25/25. $25k and under 25k on the odometer. The search began. I looked high and low, websites, Cars, AutoTrader, Craigs… Looked at quite a few and quickly learned “mint” had very different meanings depending if you were a buyer or a seller!

One week ago Sunday (4-21) I was in Pittsburgh for a couple days of meetings. In my room on the computer I was doing a little work and had the C5 Sales Section open as well. BAM, there it was!!! “2002 Corvette w/under 2000 miles”, the post had been up for 5 minutes. I immediately clicked on it and there was an email. Emailed the seller, send me your phone number we need to talk NOW!! Number came immediately and I think we spent an hour on the phone?! I explained my situation, where I was and that I couldn't see the car till Wed, but I was serious as a heart attack interested. Seller agreed to hold the car, till then. I called my wife frantically to tell her and later she said I couldn't complete a sentence I was so excited.

Went to see it Wed, and yes it was/is mint, agreed to purchase and started the long drive back to Chicago. Made it home Thu, grabbed a cashier’s check and flew back Friday morning! By 1 PM Friday the deal was done and I began the 11 hour 700+ mile ride home! About a half hour into the ride, still trying to get settled in the seats, I’m playing with the buttons on the dash when I look up to see an extension ladder across the road!!!! Fortunately traffic was light and I was able to avoid the ladder without incident. I did quit playing with the dash buttons though… Stopped to grab a quick bite on the Ohio Turnpike, sat by the window to watch MY car, and then noticed an Ohio State Trooper behind the car. Glad I had the PA temp tag on!! When I arrived home, about 12:30 AM my bride was in the driveway in her PJ's, “I want my ride now”. My daughter, as much as she tried to stay up, finally succumbed to the comfort of the couch!

Anyway, I could go on and on after only a few days of ownership, but I absolutely love it!!! My only problem is I haven’t slept very much, I keep looking in the garage! If this is a dream, please don’t pinch me as I really don’t want to wake up.

Thanks to all the knowledge you guys & gals share on this forum it has been and will continue a great help for me!

And a special Thanks to John, “jpargo” for putting up with all my emails, calls, questions and still selling me the car! He’s truly a class guy!


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ps4b6ff1cf.jpg

Crap she is brand new ..... What a Beauty .....well done my friend

Awesome, congratulations. You're going to have a blast :]

Amazing....great find

Awesome find on a nearly brand new car. Now it's mod time. Lower it on stock bolts (free), put a little window tint on the car, and remove the BSM (also free) and it will look killer. Congrats on the new ride.

Congrats! Big day for you!

Sounds alot like our situation. We too are in our fifties and have had our first Corvette a little over a year. You and your wife are going to love it! My wife actually drives the car every day. Any way you bought a beautiful car. Congratulations. Enjoy.

Very nice, welcome to the family.
Remember to WAVE!:thumbs:

Congratulation on the new ride, I remember reading your post about going to pick it up, You did good and it is a great looking C5.
Mr.Bill

I forgot to mention, I was about 5 minutes into my trip home got my first wave!!

Hell ya I waved back! :yesnod:

Congratulations on joining the C5 family. When I read who you bought the car from I recognized the name. He (John, Jpargo) was considering purchasing my fathers 96 Collector's edition a few years ago. In the end we never made the deal, but I spoke with John numerous times over the phone and email about the car and he seemed like a nice guy. It's a small world, when you drive America's Sports Car!:flag:

That's so cool. Congrats!!

congrats on your new car... its a beauty.. super low miles, it may as well be brand new. fix that! drive the hell out of her like she was meant to be driven!

It's a beauty, now drive the d*mn thing like it's meant to be.

Head over to the events/regional great lakes section. There are quite a few of us that get together from time to time. Some good car shows coming up too. The Hooters car shows start this Sunday in Orland Park May 5th, then Aurora on May 12th then Joliet May 19th. Maybe I'll see you there.:seeya

I look forward to attending a few events!! :thumbs:

Beautiful car and color choice! That baby is just like new! Congratulations!!!!!!! :thumbs:

Congratulations on getting home safely and not contributing to the PA budget. They've got some REALLY stiff fines in that state.

Nice lookin car and pay as much attn to the badmouthers of BSMs as they deserve: zero! ;) Plus there's a good possibility if you remove them the paint will not match.

Enjoy the h*77 out of it!

Welcome to the forum, very nice Vette. Since you are local a bunch of us are meeting this Sat night in Elk Grove to celebrate Cinco De Mayo a day early. At Good Tequillas Mexican Grill so far we have about 15 Vette's feel free to join in:thumbs::cheers:

Happy Quatro de Mayo! celebrar un día antes!!!
Good Tequila's Mexican Grill...it should a Fiesta!

Saturday, May 4th
Time: 6:00 p.m.
... Dinner - Separate Checks, Order what you want off the Menu
We will have a 50/50 which will contribute to our charity fund
Good Tequila's Mexican Grill is located at 950 Elk Grove Town Center with plenty of parking
(across from the Dominicks)

Mr. Bill where is Frank, this guy through me off. We want Frank!!:thumbs:

Great story. Congrats - I know the feeling!

Lol! I complained and he switched it. Sometimes you have to be careful what you wish for! I'd rather have Frank back! (Who is Frank anyway - TV/movie actor?)

Great story for a lot of reasons.

1. I know the feeling of having that first Corvette
2. Because, while a lot of people have c5's, and may want c6's or even a c7, its great perspective to see how a nice c5 is still a damn good car to own!


Next goal for you, is drive it to one of the following:

60th anniversary event at Natnl vette museum
C5/c6/c7 bash 2014 at NCM
2014 corvette caravan

Gotta do at least one!

Beautiful car! I love the color....:thumbs:

You did great - heck, that's really a brand new C5. Congrats and enjoy.

great buy!!!!

Good for you. I am on my 8th or 9th Corvette right now and I started about the age of 21 with the early C3's, they weren't that old then! I really don't know about saving the money though, I have a pile of money into them but it sure has been a fun ride. I have had the fortune to own 2 C5's ,one FRC and my current vert and they so far are my favorite. Hope you have a ball with your new Corvette and maybe we will meet some time.

Congratulations Jeff - it looks like your scored a wonderful Corvette for you and your family.

I got a kick out of your messages before going out to get the car and enjoyed your adventure . .(you still open the garage door and flip on the light now and then, don't you?)

Enjoy and congrats !

Rollie

Congrats on your corvette looks great . I bet your ride home didn't seem like 11 hours. If you thought the hunt for the corvette and then the ride home was great. It just keeps getting better. Just knowing you own a corvette looking at it in your garage, drives, cruise nights the word great is not even the right word. Have a BLAST with your car as I do with mine.

Jeff, do like some of the others and myself have done. Put a big screen in your garage, a refrigerator and comfortable chair and enjoy the view. Nothing like polishing those wheels or working on the car while watching the race or whatever!

Too funny!! The Corvette will be the reason for a garage makeover. Already have a TV, but I'll go flat panel. And the beer fridge is always full and Corvette owners are always welcome!!


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...k/P7260785.jpg

Great photos! Man she's clean. Way to go. Best of luck with her!

:flag:

Beautiful Car! Congrats!

Ya done good! :thumbs: As the others have said, now drive it and enjoy it!! Hard to imagine an 11 yr old car with less than 2000 miles!! Yellow rocks!! Enjoyed your "backround" story. I still have my T/A from 33 yrs ago!!

:canadaflag:Well done! You are going to love the C5!!! I am also in my 50's and just bought a black on black Z. You have a beautiful piece of machinery there.

water is taking up space in the fridge!!
great buy.:cheers:
My wife is from Arlington Hts, my in-laws still live there.
I rode motorcycles for years before buying a Vette. I still drive all the back roads and avoid the highways when possible. I don't miss the motorcycles but I sure would miss the Vette if anything happen.
Keep the Wave:woohoo:

:iagree:(Jack usually speaks for me):iagree::woohoo:

Jeff, congratulations on a great purchase. Every time I go into the garage, either to take our dog into the back yard or for something else, I always look over at my '04 (including during the dead of winter with the cover on it). Had it out today with the top down (choosing to ignore the price of premium in the Chicago area).

Great find! Enjoy your new toy.

Congrats and welcome to the family! What a find! Just goes to show, good things come to those who wait.:thumbs:

Congratulations. Life is about having realistic dreams an attaining them. Your car is absolutely gorgeous. There is nothing like owning a Corvette and your C5 is a beautiful example.

Awesome story and a great car to boot :thumbs: Im sure you will have many memories in that car and dont forget drive it down to Bowling Green sometime and go thru the plant and museum its awesome!

Wow...beauty!! Congrats!!!

Congrats and welcome to the family! So cool that you got your dream car, and the story makes it that much more enjoyable to follow.

She's a baby now go enjoy her!

Cheers:)

Welcome to the forum and the Corvette community... there are lots of things to learn and to think, the fun is just beginning.
Bill aka ET

Great Story
 

And it gets better and better. Congratulations! :thumbs:

I'd love to see some pics and details of this car. You can PM me if you want.

Email sent!

Great looking car, now get out there & rack up lots of miles, there aren't enough on it yet..:D

Congrats on the purchase of a beautiful low-miles Corvette! :thumbs:

:thumbs::thumbs: awesome:cheers::cheers:

2,734 miles for <25k? WOW!!! Welcome to out family. Don't forget to wave!

Close enough not to complain about!!!

Thanks!

Welcome to the madness

So when do I get the secret handshake?

When you start wondering how you can do more mods without asking your wife then you will know you have been indoctrinated to the club :rofl::rofl:

Me too. I bought my 77 T/A in March of 1980, with 11000 miles on it, now is showing 59,000. I have to admit I haven't driven it much since I bought the vette.

Congrates on finding a new old C5. That's a beautiful Yellow Vette.

Congratulations on a great find, and making your dreams a reality!
A magnificent looking low mileage C5. :cool: :thumbs:

Yup! You'll be peaking into the garage at least once a day for about 6 months. Every other day for 6 months. From then on every week whether you can drive it or not. I'll walk through 2 feet of snow in the dead of winter just to check the battery tender...

Congrats!

:iagree:
:iagree:
:iagree:
:iagree:

Congrats :) to the new car not even broke in yet.

Problem is I don't think I'm a mod guy... My 71' Buick GS was all original and I felt as if I was the caretaker. No 6 x 9 speakers cut in the rear deck, not holes punched on the door panels, no dashboard hacking to fit a modern stereo...

If I do anything to this car car the word to follow is discrete...

That car was definitely stuck in a time capsule...great color too! :thumbs:

:iagree:

Congrats :cheers:

Can't tell exactly but do you know what kind of catback is on? GHL?

Congrats!
Awesome story backed up with great pictures! Thanks for sharing!

I did another post and best we could figure its a Corsa Pace Car.

Sounds great!

:cheers:Enjoy!

Jeff congrats on the car! Hope to meet you at the 60th bash at the Museum...Save the Wave:thumbs:

Wow, what a nice car and congrats to you. It looks like it has aftermarket exhaust tips if not axle backs. FYI, the thrill of driving your Vette won't diminish!

Incidentally, I bought a low mileage used 2002 with only 9K miles on it and I felt exactly the same. That was back in 2003, so it's not such a great find as yours...good luck.

Do you know what the best thing about the beautiful MY color? when you walk out of the market, look over the sea of ho hum non descript cars and colors(unless you spot another vette in the parking lot), you will see yours within seconds and say, yep, that one is mine! its been 3 years for me and the feeling is still the same.
Welcome and congrats! And this is the best forum with the most knowledgeable, intelligent members bar none.

Your a lucky guy----now drive the p..,. out of it. I can see your
vette needs to stretch it's legs.

Nice ride, great story and welcome to the club my new friend. Good luck and I hope you enjoy this ride for many years to come.