Changing my C5

[V8 ETE]

I am going to change my 2000 coupe C5.
With the C6 becoming available soon, should I purchase a C5 convertible (possible better residual value in 2 years)or stick with a coupe.
I mention 2 years as I would not trust the C6 until it has been produced for 2 years, so any problems are sorted.
However my current C5 is a bit too old, and I also have concerns as to whether C5 convertibles leak so
anyone have any thoughts on this matter.

[Colvette]

2000 C5 a bit too old???

Mine is a Y2K car, and it's pukka! 41000 miles and has never missed a beat!

For me, if you wanna buy a C6, I'd just hang on to what you've got. Any money you put into a newer C5 will mostly just be "throw away cash".

Unless you were gonna buy a z06...

[C5RagTop]

My last three vettes have been convertibles and I would take some persuading to go back to a coupe. My view is that a convertible gives you the best of both worlds and in my opinion there is less wind turbulence in a convertible than a coupe. (I was a passenger in a coupe for 80 miles with the roof off and windows down and was driven crazy by the noise of wind hitting the pillar by my right ear which was far louder than any wind noise in the convertible). It would be interesting to see what Gixer has to say as he was in my car yesterday with the roof off. With the roof off I can cruise at 80mph+ without having to roll up the windows (a pet hate of mine - to see a car with its roof off, all windows up and a variety of sreens and shades to keep wind off the occupants is just a joke to me - why bother).

With the roof up there is quite a lot of wind noise on the drivers side at 100mph+ but I think I have a faulty seal as there is no noise on the passenger side yet they can hear the drivers side.

The other element is road noise which I believe is higher in Convertibles but a lot of it is probably due to the runflats. I have never had any leaks.

I don't think you will be disappointed with a Convertible.

[V8 ETE]

C5ragtop
I actually prefer the look of the roofline on the convertible and Zo6, the coupe back window sometimes looks odd.
Does the convertible have decent boot space, and is the roof electrically operated and if not how easy is it to use?
thx

[Gixer]

I really enjoyed the trip In Richards C5 yesterday. Not much wind noise at all at motorway speeds and no wind turbulance inside the car - which is what you get in the coupes with the roof off at speed.

[anonymous-user]

My '99 C5 is still rock solid with no signs of age at all. As to the styling I guess it's all personal taste but for me the rear glass hatch defines the shape of a Corvette. I recognise the wind buffeting issue at speed; the solution is to buy the device (from eg Ecklers) which enables the rear hatch to be propped open a couple of inches. It seems a bit expensive for what it is but works well, releasing the air pressure and completely stopping the problem.
It's always nice to get a new car though.....!

[C5RagTop]

The boot is more than adequate for a week away with normal luggage for two people, but collapsing the roof does obviously encroach on some of the available space. You can get stuff underneath the collapsed roof. The coupe has a larger luggage area in cubic foot terms, but that includes loading it up to the glass. I would guess that the square footage of the footprint of the boot in the coupe and convertible would be the same.

The roof is manual and is no problem even for a wimp like me.

Next step is you gotta try one. Fancy a trip to Bournemouth and you can try mine.

[Colvette]

I really like the roof line of the 'vert, but I drove both the vert and the coupe, and the coupe was just that bit stiffer.

I would seriously love a Z06, though. Whilst I can modify the performance of mine to make it perform like a Z06, it will never look as good, IMHO.

I wish one of these cunning modification companies in the US would come up with a bolt on Z06-alike kit, I mean - how hard could it be?

[te51cle]

V8 ETE said:

I mention 2 years as I would not trust the C6 until it has been produced for 2 years, so any problems are sorted.

...err... with decision making on that basis I'd make it about 6 years before I bought the next generation !

[vetteheadracer]

:Colvette said:

I wish one of these cunning modification companies in the US would come up with a bolt on Z06-alike kit, I mean - how hard could it be?

Howabout approach it the other way, buy a 2001 Z06 then do this.........howabout a convertible Z06? Or a Targa Z06?

www.caravaggiocorvettes.com/

Hardtop for your Convertible? No problem Sir.

[Colvette]

Well, unfortunately, I'd need to sell my vette to fund the purchase of a Z06. This doesn't represent the greatest problem in the world, but it seems no one can actually tell me how much it will cost me to ship and get my new Z06 on the road...

If I could get a Z06, I wouldn't wanna change it! It's my ideal vette!!

(I ain't a fan of 'verts in any car...)

[vetteheadracer]

.....piece of string?

Cost of shipping your Z06 from Baltimore to Liverpool for example would be around £500. Then add this to the cost of buying the Z06 (converted at HM Customs monthly exchange rate), 10% duty, then 17.5% VAT on the total.

Simple Formula:

Cost = ((Car + Shipping) * 110%) * 117.5%)

Variables are cost of car, cost of shipping and HM Customs exchange rate.

[LuS1fer]

Shouldn't really tell you this but then I'm not selling it any time soon in the next ten years but mine came in at under £27k for a 2002 with 3800 miles on the clock. That was paying $36500 for the car and included paying an agent to find and export the car for me.

Z06's are real steals in the US at present - as low as $39000 but available fairly widely at under $43000 when the true sticker price is nearer $53k. How can you lose? Doing the SVA work yourself is stressful but can be done cheaply. Basically you need side repeaters (£25), fog light and switch (£10), electrical connectors and soldering iron (£10), wire (£10), white sidelights (£70), a rear light kit (£165) and patience.