High mileage C5

[bobfrance]

Hiya folks, I'm just pondering my next car purchase.
Hope you don't mind me picking your brains.

I've recently spotted a '98 C5 going for what appears to be a good price. The car has done 128000 miles.

My question is; Is that kind of mileage disasterous for a Vette or do they just shrug it off?
And is there anything that you should pay particular attention to on a high miler?

Oh and what's parts availablilty/cost like?

Thanks in advance for all your wisdom.

Bob.

[vetteheadracer]

High mileage is not a problem for the engine / transmission if the car has been regularly serviced although I would be very wary of a high miler and get the engine checked for smoke etc.

The things that are likely to go wrong are ancilliaries like alternators/water pumps/power steering pumps etc.
Other thing to be careful of is sensors that have failed and either report problems that are not there or worse don't report problems that are there.

Unless a high mileage 1998 is stupidly cheap I would buy a much lower mileage one for a couple of thousand pounds more.

[kenski]

If you live near Manchester then servicing shouldn't be an issue (Bauer Millett)

What's a good price?

[bobfrance]

The price is £11500.
It's a one owner car and has been serviced by Baur Millet from new.
It also still has a 10 months of warranty left to run.

Now don't any of you monkeys go buying it from under me!

>> Edited by bobfrance on Tuesday 10th May 13:26

[kenski]

Aw, you don't want to go buying that. You want to spend another 20k on a quality (relatively) low mileage 2002 Z06 with all the bells and whistles (which come as standard :-))

I think I know a man who has one...

-kenski

[anonymous-user]

One owner, 1998, 128k, £11,500. So far so good.
10 months warranty remaining??
The words smell and rat spring to mind.
These cars were sold in UK with a 3 year warranty.

[bobfrance]

But surely the owner may have just extended the warranty by a further 3 years or took out a new one?

Or am I missing something?

[97BlackC5]

Sounds a bit of a girly question but is it a black car firethorn red interior by any chance?

Because if it is I remember seeing it sold by BM on ebay only 3/4 months ago, no reserve & I'm sure it went for £12000!!!

If we are talking about the same car it seems strange that it has come up for sale again so soon & for a little less than it went for origionally!

[bobfrance]

Sounds similar.

[chrisx666]

I spotted that one too Bob. That's a good 5k under what an average mile car would be up at.

In my experience a Corvette can do some serious mileage without breaking a sweat if given so much as basic maintenance. They have a reputation in the states as a durable car. Parts prices are pretty good if you shop around (or buy direct with the dollar being so weak). Insurance is pretty cheap usually as well.

If there's no smoke/excess oil use or nasty noises I would say make an offer if it HPI's OK.

[kenski]

I'd be careful. A black car with a blood red interior... check it wasn't first registered in Amityville, Salem or similar...

Does sound strange though that if it really is for sale again so soon after being bought. Hmmm...

Then again, if the warranty checks out with BM... You could call them and ask about it...

-kenski

[bobfrance]

I'll try and ring the guy tonight.
Thanks for the insights everybody (keep 'em coming!).

What's everyone's opinion on Manual vs Automatic in a Corvette?
I've noticed a lot of UK Vettes are still suprisingly automatic.

I personally really want a manual car next having had my automatic Jag for a few years. Unless auto Vetttes really are that ace.

[anonymous-user]

Roughly one third manual, two thirds automatic according to the production figures.

[kenski]

When I was looking for my Z06 the dealer tried to convince me to go for an auto coupe instead (he didn't have a Z06 and couldn't source the colour I wanted).

I took it for a test drive and really wasn't impressed. On the drive back to the showroom the dealer asked me what I thought, so I told him. He then proceeded to 'demonstrate' the get up and go that the auto box has by sticking it in neutral, revving the engine, then dropping in back into gear.

Big bang, lurch, massive deceleration, clunk... if anyone wants a knackered transmission it's probably still at the side of Bellaire Boulevard in Houston to this day :-)

Needless to say I didn't buy the car, held out for a Z06 (manual being the only option) and am moooore than happy with the decision.

-kenski

[Boosted LS1]

If you plan to tune the pcm or engine in the future the 98 engine is a bit oddball compared to the rest of them. Nothing major though but I'd look for an 00 year onwards.

This could be why the price is lowish?

Boosted.

[bobfrance]

Unfortunately, although I could afford to spend a little more, there's far to big a gap between the price of this one and all the other C5's available.

I have been looking at older Porsches *puts flame proof suit on* as I didn't think I could afford a C5.

And despite it being higher mileage and may require a little more spending on upkeep, I'd have have a good cash buffer left to accommodate it.

[bobfrance]

SOLD!

Dammit!

If anyone knows of any other competetively priced C5s please let me know.

[Ruby Rag Top]

Try this one,
[url]www.sportsand4x4.co.uk/sportsandPrestige.htm[url]

[LuS1fer]

Buy a Trans Am. This one is £8400 on Auto Trader.

http://pictures.autotrader.co.uk/ATD_web/servlet/media?id=174413461

Don't tell me that doesn't look droolworthy.

[mickcorvette580]

Trans Am why would any one buy one of them when they are looking for a C5, an owner of a 2004 C5