My new Corvette daily driver

[AdamK47]

Bought it last month. 2002, auto, 45K miles, garage kept, $16.4K

The AC and climate control unit wasn't working when I bought it. Soldered some loose resistors and got the climate control unit working. After that, replaced the AC relay and that started working. No leaks in the system. Everything else works perfectly. It's in great condition for an 18 year old car.

 

[herm0016]

i hope the red one is a stick.

why not daily the newer one? I do like the last gen with the popup headlights.

 

[AdamK47]

i hope the red one is a stick.

why not daily the newer one? I do like the last gen with the popup headlights.

The red one is a 2016 Z06/Z07 3LZ convertible. 7 speed manual. I keep that one pristine. It's worth multiple times as much as any C5. It also wouldn't make for a good every day daily driver. Its focus is performance.

The C5 is base with a few good options. Glass roof, memory seats, and HUD. It rides very well. Certainly much smoother on average roads compared to the C7 ZO6.

 

[Scooby Doo]

Welcome to the family and don't forget to wave!

Didn't see the C7 hiding in the background...

 

[dasherHampton]

Nice. I like it.

I had this dream for many years of buying a C5 and road tripping around the country to visit old friends, and then selling it when I get back.

 

[Hans Gruber]

The OP has a great camera. I will bite my tongue with the auto. The new vette has the dual clutch. I expect to see you replace the Z06 with a mid engine Corvette in 3 or 4 years.

 

[ponyo]

Nice! I always loved the styling of the C5. Reminds me lot of the Acura NSX which is another I loved. It's funny you got an auto considering how you were against auto transmission in a sports car.

 

[DooKey]

You got a great deal on a very clean car. I'm looking for something like that myself.

Going to be grabbing an older Corvette when the wife retires in October. Hoping to get something with a Targa top.

 

[AdamK47]

You got a great deal on a very clean car. I'm looking for something like that myself.

Going to be grabbing an older Corvette when the wife retires in October. Hoping to get something with a Targa top.

There are plenty of clean low mileage examples out there. Many Corvettes spend most of their time in garages.

 

[dasherHampton]

Since you seem pretty knowledgeable about Corvettes: Whats the story on C5s after nearly 20 years? Are they getting leaky?

Are there hazards to buying one that's been mostly sitting? Will you have to replace all of the hoses and stuff if you're unlucky? Would that be expensive?

Everything I've ever read indicates that they're pretty reliable but a lot of that was 10+ years ago.

 

[jlee]

Since you seem pretty knowledgeable about Corvettes: Whats the story on C5s after nearly 20 years? Are they getting leaky?

Are there hazards to buying one that's been mostly sitting? Will you have to replace all of the hoses and stuff if you're unlucky? Would that be expensive?

Everything I've ever read indicates that they're pretty reliable but a lot of that was 10+ years ago.

I sold my low mileage 04 last November and it was a spectacular car. I bought it in July 2018 with 34k on it - needed nothing.

 

[AdamK47]

Since you seem pretty knowledgeable about Corvettes: Whats the story on C5s after nearly 20 years? Are they getting leaky?

Are there hazards to buying one that's been mostly sitting? Will you have to replace all of the hoses and stuff if you're unlucky? Would that be expensive?

Everything I've ever read indicates that they're pretty reliable but a lot of that was 10+ years ago.

Not leaky at all. The hoses on mine look like they are only a few years old even though the car is 18 years old. The resistors I had to solder to get the climate control display to work was a known issue and easy to fix by reflowing the solder on them. That and the AC relay were the only problems on mine. Easy fixes. That's the great thing about a Corvette. If there ever was a common problem, then the solution is online somewhere. The general consensus is to get a 2002 to 2004 C5 if you want the base. These had some upgraded parts from the Z06. The torque tube and engine block for example.

 

[dasherHampton]

Thanks. It helps to hear it directly as opposed to reading random stuff on the internet.

I never thought I'd own a Corvette but lately I've seriously been thinking that I'm only going to live once. Its not something I'd do this Summer but maybe next Spring.

I did a check and there are actually some C6s under $20,000 near me.


edit - lol look at this typo

Cars For Sale in St Charles, IL - Prestige Imports

Find Cars listings for sale starting at $5465 in St Charles, IL. Shop Prestige Imports to find great deals on Cars listings.

www.myprestigeimports.com

 

[rstrohkirch]

Is that your only driveway? The picture makes it look like you can't park 2 cars side by side. I'm assuming you have 3 cars in your house hold.

 

[BurnItDwn]

She is a beauty

 

[AdamK47]

Is that your only driveway? The picture makes it look like you can't park 2 cars side by side. I'm assuming you have 3 cars in your house hold.

I currently have three cars. The two Corvettes and a 2017 Spark. Going to sell the Spark soon since the C5 is the replacement. It's only me that lives in my house. I thought buying a house with a one car garage would curb my car addiction... Nope.

 

[AdamK47]

Here is a good review of the C5.

 

[BurnItDwn]

All of Mister Regular's reviews are top notch.

 

[Midwayman]

I loved my C5 FRC. Had the same color, but with the manual. Hurst shift kit made it super satisfying to row. I keep thinking about picking up a c7. I sold the car for something more practical, but since then I got married and have access to a 4 door car for the rare times I need it.

 

[AdamK47]

There are new videos of the LS1 Corvette being de-tuned for MPG. I found it interesting what a 20+ year old LS engine is capable of when tuned for fuel economy instead of outright performance..

 

[trenchfoot]

Nice ride! Looks to be in really fine condition.

I'm looking forward to finishing the restomod job on my '73 and getting back on the road again.

I never got over the habit of having a silly cheezy grin on my face every time I strapped that 'Vette on and headed out for a early morning weekend cruise before the roads got to crowded and I never will. It's always been a pleasure to cruise through Waikiki and then around the island with the T-tops stashed in back.

I'm sure getting behind the wheel in your Vettes gives you the same "giddy-up's" I get whenever I hit the road in mine.

Nice find, congrats!

 

[AdamK47]

Nice ride! Looks to be in really fine condition.

I'm looking forward to finishing the restomod job on my '73 and getting back on the road again.

I never got over the habit of having a silly cheezy grin on my face every time I strapped that 'Vette on and headed out for a early morning weekend cruise before the roads got to crowded and I never will. It's always been a pleasure to cruise through Waikiki and then around the island with the T-tops stashed in back.

I'm sure getting behind the wheel in your Vettes gives you the same "giddy-up's" I get whenever I hit the road in mine.

Nice find, congrats!

I do indeed get the same feeling you do as I'm sure all Vette owners feel at some time in their lives.

 

[dasherHampton]

I sold my low mileage 04 last November and it was a spectacular car. I bought it in July 2018 with 34k on it - needed nothing.

If you don't mind me asking:

Why did you sell it after a relatively short period of ownership?

Did you get tired of it, or was it simply impractical? Or did you sell it to replace it with another car?

 

[jlee]

If you don't mind me asking:

Why did you sell it after a relatively short period of ownership?

Did you get tired of it, or was it simply impractical? Or did you sell it to replace it with another car?

At the time I bought it, I only had one garage spot so I didn't want to have my only accessible fun car to be a project. I've fixed my garage situation, so I have space to have the MR2 at home / still work on it, and with buying a house with a longer commute I wanted an EV for commuting. I sold the Z06, bought a Bolt EV, then the next month NJ announced a $5k rebate for new EVs so I sold the Bolt and bought a Model 3 LR.

I definitely wasn't tired of it - it was a spectacular car. I've been strongly considering selling the MR2 to simplify my project list and go back to one less high-strung / more reliable (and newer) fun car, so lately I am contemplating either a supercharged C5/C6, a supercharged Mustang GT, a C7 Z51, or maybe just hold off until I can get a C8.

 

[DooKey]

At the time I bought it, I only had one garage spot so I didn't want to have my only accessible fun car to be a project. I've fixed my garage situation, so I have space to have the MR2 at home / still work on it, and with buying a house with a longer commute I wanted an EV for commuting. I sold the Z06, bought a Bolt EV, then the next month NJ announced a $5k rebate for new EVs so I sold the Bolt and bought a Model 3 LR.

I definitely wasn't tired of it - it was a spectacular car. I've been strongly considering selling the MR2 to simplify my project list and go back to one less high-strung / more reliable (and newer) fun car, so lately I am contemplating either a supercharged C5/C6, a supercharged Mustang GT, a C7 Z51, or maybe just hold off until I can get a C8.

I hear ya. I'm looking for a nice C6 to supercharge. I really like that body style. I've found a couple already blown, but they have accidents and I'm not going down that path.