Thank you. I am a woman looking for my first c5 or c6 corvette. I now feel more confident as to what to look for. I will hire a professional after I pick the car I want but now I feel better about this process and I am actually looking forward to it. Thank YOU! :)
One thing about panel gaps… GM is known for slacking on fit and finish so a lot of the panel gaps are original from the factory. I love these cars, they are my favorites but I have to admit the quality isn’t on the same level as more expensive cars and that’s ok to me. I’m still a Corvette guy for life ❤
More expensive cars like Ferraris that break down every 10,000 miles or Maseratis that break down every 1,000 miles. When they break, it will cost you as much as that C5 to fix them. Stick with the vette.😊
The bumper pinch is normal. They all have it. The sag on the bumper center on top of the hood is not normal. Look for oil,leaks. Some leaks can be expensive. Look under the battery for corrosion on the wire harness or computer. Get it on the lift and look for obvious damage. Seats. Are they loose and damage. Drivers seats suffer damage and it can be easy yo fix if you are handy if no. Check fluids for condition. Hold gauges button and press fuel 4 times and it will show any codes. Check brakes. Check all buttons. Make sure it all works. The car you have here is one you should walk away from as for just a little more you get nearly new car with less miles. Door panels delaminate toward the back inset. It will push in. Convertibles check your condition and rear window if it is in place. The seat control and cover can be fixed easy. Replace all tire sensors if you have a bad one. Buy 2001-mid 2003 these are the cars with least issues. Keep away from 2000 and earlier as the Bosch stability control is no available and can’t be easily repaired. The later Delco unit can be repaired cheap. . Buy the book of C5 knowledge on Amazon as it is a good guide on all things C5. Buying a Corvette can be rewarding but get the wrong car it can be the car from hell. The more handy you are the better as you are dealing with a 20 year old car and while easy to work on yourself it can be expensive if you need to pay others.
I have a 2003 I got in 2007 that had 66k when I got it. Now it has 152000 miles, and its been mostly fine other than some oil leak issues i have repaired (front seal, timing cover) and the a/c system. I've had it for most of its life though. Never had any major mechanical problems at all with transaxel/6 speed/or engine!
I watched c5 videos for 6 months before I bought one. Get a 2002 to 2004, they have the most upgrades, the least problems. Don't buy it if it has magnetic shocks, they are like 4 grand to replace if I remember correctly. And get a zo6 if you aren't getting a convertible. The z06 is usually only about 5 grand more, but the upgrades it has would cost you 15 grand to do yourself.
Hey Tom, just bought a c5 recently and had the same issue with the secondary air pump. I just fixed it like 3 days ago. Took us like 3 hours. The pump is located drivers side underneath the front bumper. You can disconnect it and blow air into it or also check the pump itself to see if it’s dirty. You will have to jack the car up to be able to get underneath it and reach the pump location. (In my case it was the wires) you blow air into the wire with an air compressor and hear where the air is coming out of. They run all the way to where the battery is through the right fender. I had to take mine off because 3 wires were cut exactly there
I've been saving all year while taking care of 3 grandkids whose parents are worthless and they live with me. Ive been able to save 9 grand and looking for a nice c4 but I wonder if I save a few more grand and find a 100k mile C5 ?
@FindtheRightRoad oh nice. I actually have a childhood crush on the 95 TO 96 VETTE But I think it would be a smarter move to move up to the c5. Thanks for messaging back. I will keep this car in mind. I'm not there yet but getting close.
Tom - good review. I own 2 C5 Convertible Corvettes. 2001 35K miles & 2002 60K miles. I know these very well. But you do have me confused as heck why u bought a C5 site unseen? With those miles & condition seems like u could have found one a lot closer?? Unless you stole this one? But can't imagine a dealership gave u a great price?? Anyway you seem like a nice guy brother. 👍
It was bought specifically for the channel. I will only keep it for a few months. Film a few videos, do some repairs and then sell it this fall. On to the next car...
I don't think the air system is for emissions, I thought it was for warming up the catalytic converter so they don't get flooded and die quicker than they would have. Something to do with not being at operating temperature and getting flooded, can't remember exactly.
@@FindtheRightRoad no it's for sure. The air system, weighs 15 pounds which is why guys want to delete it because it doesn't do much and weighs 15 pounds, it helps your catalytic converter burn up all the gas so it doesnt get flooded with gas and get ruined, I'm telling you 100% that's what it does. Remove it and it your catalytic converters won't burn up all the gas when they are cold, they get flooded and ruined eventually.
Look into new oil Valvoline restore and protect oil it works as stated YT videos on with Lake Speed JR.All so if you need tire that grip and are cheap look into COSMO tire i used them on my is300 and so on the jaguar XK 2010 . and 84 landcruiser best deal on tires ever as for sticking and cash
Thank you. I am a woman looking for my first c5 or c6 corvette. I now feel more confident as to what to look for. I will hire a professional after I pick the car I want but now I feel better about this process and I am actually looking forward to it. Thank YOU! :)
I'm picking up a 2004 this weekend. Thanks for the tips.
Check the door is not cracking above the top hindge, a common fault when the hindge are not regularly lubed
One thing about panel gaps… GM is known for slacking on fit and finish so a lot of the panel gaps are original from the factory. I love these cars, they are my favorites but I have to admit the quality isn’t on the same level as more expensive cars and that’s ok to me. I’m still a Corvette guy for life ❤
More expensive cars like Ferraris that break down every 10,000 miles or Maseratis that break down every 1,000 miles.
When they break, it will cost you as much as that C5 to fix them.
Stick with the vette.😊
@@wernerdanler2742 oh yeah… believe me I will👍🏽
@@EJleon96 Have you seen a McLaren? Horrible panel fit!
The bumper pinch is normal. They all have it. The sag on the bumper center on top of the hood is not normal. Look for oil,leaks. Some leaks can be expensive. Look under the battery for corrosion on the wire harness or computer. Get it on the lift and look for obvious damage. Seats. Are they loose and damage. Drivers seats suffer damage and it can be easy yo fix if you are handy if no. Check fluids for condition. Hold gauges button and press fuel 4 times and it will show any codes. Check brakes.
Check all buttons. Make sure it all works. The car you have here is one you should walk away from as for just a little more you get nearly new car with less miles.
Door panels delaminate toward the back inset. It will push in. Convertibles check your condition and rear window if it is in place.
The seat control and cover can be fixed easy.
Replace all tire sensors if you have a bad one.
Buy 2001-mid 2003 these are the cars with least issues. Keep away from 2000 and earlier as the Bosch stability control is no available and can’t be easily repaired. The later Delco unit can be repaired cheap. .
Buy the book of C5 knowledge on Amazon as it is a good guide on all things C5.
Buying a Corvette can be rewarding but get the wrong car it can be the car from hell. The more handy you are the better as you are dealing with a 20 year old car and while easy to work on yourself it can be expensive if you need to pay others.
I have a 2003 I got in 2007 that had 66k when I got it. Now it has 152000 miles, and its been mostly fine other than some oil leak issues i have repaired (front seal, timing cover) and the a/c system. I've had it for most of its life though. Never had any major mechanical problems at all with transaxel/6 speed/or engine!
Beautiful vette my friend 😉,I own a C4 89.
I'm actually looking for a C5. Thanks!
I watched c5 videos for 6 months before I bought one. Get a 2002 to 2004, they have the most upgrades, the least problems. Don't buy it if it has magnetic shocks, they are like 4 grand to replace if I remember correctly. And get a zo6 if you aren't getting a convertible. The z06 is usually only about 5 grand more, but the upgrades it has would cost you 15 grand to do yourself.
Hey Tom, just bought a c5 recently and had the same issue with the secondary air pump. I just fixed it like 3 days ago. Took us like 3 hours. The pump is located drivers side underneath the front bumper. You can disconnect it and blow air into it or also check the pump itself to see if it’s dirty. You will have to jack the car up to be able to get underneath it and reach the pump location. (In my case it was the wires) you blow air into the wire with an air compressor and hear where the air is coming out of.
They run all the way to where the battery is through the right fender. I had to take mine off because 3 wires were cut exactly there
got the same problem, will follow your advice
Him: What to look for when buying a C5 Corvette...
Me: Manual....ALWAYS make sure it is a manual. 😁
@@speedfiend925 👍definitely
Agree. Unless you have really bad joints or have a missing arm or leg, get a manual. Don’t know how to drive one? Not an excuse, you can learn.
My C5 had a electronic brake control module failure. Year 2000 and earlier are not repairable.
I've been saving all year while taking care of 3 grandkids whose parents are worthless and they live with me. Ive been able to save 9 grand and looking for a nice c4 but I wonder if I save a few more grand and find a 100k mile C5 ?
Mine will be up for sale likely before the end of the year. Have one more minor emissions issue to iron out. 103K miles on it. $13K
@FindtheRightRoad oh nice. I actually have a childhood crush on the 95 TO 96 VETTE But I think it would be a smarter move to move up to the c5. Thanks for messaging back. I will keep this car in mind. I'm not there yet but getting close.
You forgot the door hinges. See if the doors wobble.
I hope you made a great deal on this car. It seems like it had a somewhat rough life.
Still dealing with one more issue before I sell it. The rough life made for some interesting content for my channel. Which is why I bought it.
Tom - good review. I own 2 C5 Convertible Corvettes. 2001 35K miles & 2002 60K miles. I know these very well. But you do have me confused as heck why u bought a C5 site unseen? With those miles & condition seems like u could have found one a lot closer?? Unless you stole this one? But can't imagine a dealership gave u a great price?? Anyway you seem like a nice guy brother. 👍
It was bought specifically for the channel. I will only keep it for a few months. Film a few videos, do some repairs and then sell it this fall. On to the next car...
I like I like to find out how to get that back to English I don't know why I was changed
I don't think the air system is for emissions, I thought it was for warming up the catalytic converter so they don't get flooded and die quicker than they would have. Something to do with not being at operating temperature and getting flooded, can't remember exactly.
Not based on what I found online...but I could be wrong. Would not be the first time :)
@@FindtheRightRoad no it's for sure. The air system, weighs 15 pounds which is why guys want to delete it because it doesn't do much and weighs 15 pounds, it helps your catalytic converter burn up all the gas so it doesnt get flooded with gas and get ruined, I'm telling you 100% that's what it does. Remove it and it your catalytic converters won't burn up all the gas when they are cold, they get flooded and ruined eventually.
Look into new oil Valvoline restore and protect oil it works as stated YT videos on with Lake Speed JR.All so if you need tire that grip and are cheap look into COSMO tire i used them on my is300 and so on the jaguar XK 2010 . and 84 landcruiser best deal on tires ever as for sticking and cash
Look for a 2001-2003, or better yet, buy a C6 or C7
I'll tell you what you should look for, a different car.
@@jasonrogers1576 🤡😂