Corvette C5 Daily Driver
Discussion
I had a 1998 euro model that had come via Germany ,to American Autos in Kingston (now moved).
I bought it in 2000 with 10,000 miles on the clock and did a couple of European road trips and then a Coast to Coast trip of the USA.
I did have a few problems on the trip mainly dealer related.
I visited the factory and museum during the trip and whilst there asked their advice about having the C5 serviced.
Their advise was to choose a Chevrolet dealer with new Corvettes on the forecourt as I was getting heavily into pic up country in Kentucky and a lot of the dealers were nt that familiar with Corvettes.
I finally chose a dealership in Oklahoma City with the required row of shiny C5 s outside.
I got the car back later that day and there appeared to be a noise from the rear that I was nt aware of before.
They had the car back in for a day and assured me everything was fine, They also did a recall job on the steering lock which was a common problem on early C5 s
A couple of hundred miles further on and the noise from the rear re appeared and gradually got worse as I travelled westward.
In Albuquerque New Mexico I was behind a local C5 and when it pulled into a parking lot I quickly followed it and asked the driver if he knew anyone would would take a look at the car .
He said it was my lucky day , just down the road was a great Indy Corvette Specialist. " Scotties South West Corvettes".
A quarter of an hour later Scotty had the car up on the ramp and diagnosed that the Main Dealer in Oklahoma had put the wrong fluid in the diff.
In no time I was back on the road with Scotties mobile number in my wallet ,as his passing shot ",any further problems give me a call'.
Unfortunately I did need to call Scotty from Las Vegas.
Just of the strip I came back to the car and it refused to start ,with a message on the dashboard display reading "faulty steering lock"
Scotty suggested pulling various fuses all to no avail and before long I was checking yellow pages and arranging a tow with the local dealer via Wanda their dedicated Corvette person.
With my wallet a bit lighter I was back on the road and apart from a flat tyre in Death Valley and a smashed side window in Los Angeles after an a break in.
Thankfully nothing was stolen.
I flew home from LA after leaving the car at Long Beach.
The car arrived home after six weeks and shortly after I got the dreaded "faulty steering lock" message again.
At that time Vauxhall at Luton were handling Corvette imports and when I spoke to them they booked the car into the Vauxhall dealer at Staples corner in London.
When I got the car back they said the steering lock repair was a complete "lash up" with some parts missing .
In the end The UK dealers gave the car a clean bill of health after correcting the faults done by the two US dealers who were Officia lGM Corvette Dealers.
They did this free of charge ,which considering by then the car was well out of warranty and had close to 50,000 miles on the clock was extremely generous.
So after all of that waffling I would concur that the C5 is a great choice.
It was my first Vette now I am on number 4.
Here is the C5 in Hollywood nearing the end of the 5000 mile trip across the US.
I bought it in 2000 with 10,000 miles on the clock and did a couple of European road trips and then a Coast to Coast trip of the USA.
I did have a few problems on the trip mainly dealer related.
I visited the factory and museum during the trip and whilst there asked their advice about having the C5 serviced.
Their advise was to choose a Chevrolet dealer with new Corvettes on the forecourt as I was getting heavily into pic up country in Kentucky and a lot of the dealers were nt that familiar with Corvettes.
I finally chose a dealership in Oklahoma City with the required row of shiny C5 s outside.
I got the car back later that day and there appeared to be a noise from the rear that I was nt aware of before.
They had the car back in for a day and assured me everything was fine, They also did a recall job on the steering lock which was a common problem on early C5 s
A couple of hundred miles further on and the noise from the rear re appeared and gradually got worse as I travelled westward.
In Albuquerque New Mexico I was behind a local C5 and when it pulled into a parking lot I quickly followed it and asked the driver if he knew anyone would would take a look at the car .
He said it was my lucky day , just down the road was a great Indy Corvette Specialist. " Scotties South West Corvettes".
A quarter of an hour later Scotty had the car up on the ramp and diagnosed that the Main Dealer in Oklahoma had put the wrong fluid in the diff.
In no time I was back on the road with Scotties mobile number in my wallet ,as his passing shot ",any further problems give me a call'.
Unfortunately I did need to call Scotty from Las Vegas.
Just of the strip I came back to the car and it refused to start ,with a message on the dashboard display reading "faulty steering lock"
Scotty suggested pulling various fuses all to no avail and before long I was checking yellow pages and arranging a tow with the local dealer via Wanda their dedicated Corvette person.
With my wallet a bit lighter I was back on the road and apart from a flat tyre in Death Valley and a smashed side window in Los Angeles after an a break in.
Thankfully nothing was stolen.
I flew home from LA after leaving the car at Long Beach.
The car arrived home after six weeks and shortly after I got the dreaded "faulty steering lock" message again.
At that time Vauxhall at Luton were handling Corvette imports and when I spoke to them they booked the car into the Vauxhall dealer at Staples corner in London.
When I got the car back they said the steering lock repair was a complete "lash up" with some parts missing .
In the end The UK dealers gave the car a clean bill of health after correcting the faults done by the two US dealers who were Officia lGM Corvette Dealers.
They did this free of charge ,which considering by then the car was well out of warranty and had close to 50,000 miles on the clock was extremely generous.
So after all of that waffling I would concur that the C5 is a great choice.
It was my first Vette now I am on number 4.
Here is the C5 in Hollywood nearing the end of the 5000 mile trip across the US.
Thank you very much for your informative write-up which I read with avid interest as it is timely for me as, like others, I have also been speculating about a Vette, specifically a C5 or C6 and favouring C6 but not really fussed whether manual or auto. My current ‘boy-racer’ car is a 2003 Porsche 996TT which I’ve had for 9yrs to follow a previously owned C4S I had for two years and a Mercedes CLS400 – a more comfortable luxury car for weekends away according to my wife! https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/imgs/4.gif
So I’m looking to add another performance car like a Vette or BMWi8 but the latter would mean exchanging the 996TT. I’m wondering did specifically choose the C5 over the C6 and if so what influenced your choice? I’d be most interested in your views/observations about the C6 model.
Currently have an eye on this one
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
All the best with the carefully chosen enhancements you’re making with your car. https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/imgs/6.gif
So I’m looking to add another performance car like a Vette or BMWi8 but the latter would mean exchanging the 996TT. I’m wondering did specifically choose the C5 over the C6 and if so what influenced your choice? I’d be most interested in your views/observations about the C6 model.
Currently have an eye on this one
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
All the best with the carefully chosen enhancements you’re making with your car. https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/imgs/6.gif
I had a European spec, manual, Electron Blue C5 from new in 2002. Unfortunately, I had the same steering lock issue others have mentioned and the car got lifted and taken to Bauer Millet in Manchester where they fixed the problem under warranty. I had the usual flaky chromed alloys but, other than that, the car was very reliable. I took it off run flats because the ride was terrible and it did make a big difference. It did become a bit rattly over the years and probably required drop links and a few bushes but I sold it when the car was around 12 years old.
They are a cracking car; the traction control is either on or off and you could slide the thing at will with it off! I now have a C7 and must admit I miss the simplicity of the C5 although the new car is two generations on and far more up to date.
Anyone that slags off the C5, 6 or 7 has probably never driven one. They're wonderful things that generally receive smiles and thumbs up from other road users. I had a 2007 Cayman for a while and couldn't believe the sheer hatred that you receive from people; that won't happen with your Corvette.
Enjoy!
They are a cracking car; the traction control is either on or off and you could slide the thing at will with it off! I now have a C7 and must admit I miss the simplicity of the C5 although the new car is two generations on and far more up to date.
Anyone that slags off the C5, 6 or 7 has probably never driven one. They're wonderful things that generally receive smiles and thumbs up from other road users. I had a 2007 Cayman for a while and couldn't believe the sheer hatred that you receive from people; that won't happen with your Corvette.
Enjoy!
@Pete - sorry forgot to ask you on the spacers.. what is your set up fitment wise, assume slip on spacers with longer studs? I understand its not exactly simple to put longer studs in.
@SCS1 - wow thanks sounds like you had some epic trips in your vette! The coast to coast trip sounds amazing if not exactly plain sailing! What is corvette number 4?
@MFClion - Nice, a friend of mine had a 996 TT a few years back, I jumped in with him on a trip to the nurburgring, i remember it being comfortable with a good stereo and effortless pace! I'd expect a C6 Z06 would impress but then may be given the price it would mean moving your 996 on. I chose a C5 over a C6 purely because of budget, also I'm not a huge fan of the front end on the C6 but there is no doubt it is a better car overall. However my knowledge isn't that hot on them so expect the corvette forum may be a better place to get some views on them.
@Straff - not surprised to hear you also had the dreaded steering lock issue, mine has had the repair and also push button start installed, but it made it upto 2018 before if faulted, but that was during the previous owners ownership. Interesting to hear you've also continued with corvette's with a C7. Personally I can't see me progressing past a C5 as this car is currently the most expensive car I've bought second only to the family car and its about the most I'm comfortable spending on a car! I also need something i can look after myself, as i enjoy the tinkering and allows me to get the car up to the level I want much quicker given my budget can go further! Funnily enough I looked at a Cayman also but I was put off by just how needy they seem, and next to a C5 they come up way short in terms of character.
@SCS1 - wow thanks sounds like you had some epic trips in your vette! The coast to coast trip sounds amazing if not exactly plain sailing! What is corvette number 4?
@MFClion - Nice, a friend of mine had a 996 TT a few years back, I jumped in with him on a trip to the nurburgring, i remember it being comfortable with a good stereo and effortless pace! I'd expect a C6 Z06 would impress but then may be given the price it would mean moving your 996 on. I chose a C5 over a C6 purely because of budget, also I'm not a huge fan of the front end on the C6 but there is no doubt it is a better car overall. However my knowledge isn't that hot on them so expect the corvette forum may be a better place to get some views on them.
@Straff - not surprised to hear you also had the dreaded steering lock issue, mine has had the repair and also push button start installed, but it made it upto 2018 before if faulted, but that was during the previous owners ownership. Interesting to hear you've also continued with corvette's with a C7. Personally I can't see me progressing past a C5 as this car is currently the most expensive car I've bought second only to the family car and its about the most I'm comfortable spending on a car! I also need something i can look after myself, as i enjoy the tinkering and allows me to get the car up to the level I want much quicker given my budget can go further! Funnily enough I looked at a Cayman also but I was put off by just how needy they seem, and next to a C5 they come up way short in terms of character.
So a couple of updates as I'm a little behind on here.. first off lets start with a pic from the winter.. easily forgotten about now with all this nice weather we've been having!
And the usual fixture on my passenger seat, not the norm for a corvette perhaps!
So as my car has no runflats and no spare I needed something so I at least had an option if i got a puncture etc! In the end I went for an airman kit with a compressor and sealant, around the same time i also got hold of a Corvette Safety & Emergency kit which comes with a first aid kit and a nifty torch! I added a hi vis and it fits perfect in the boot side compartment with the airman
Also I had a couple of minor electrical issues to sort, namely a broken telescopic steering switch and an electric aerial not retracting properly. I sourced a replacement switch from a breakers in the US and whilst i could of tried to just replace the mast for the aerial i found a NOS complete unit in the UK so went for that instead. Old parts!
Also with a manual C5 (and i believe C6) its a good idea to cycle out the clutch fluid, this pic says it all really, the stuff in the jug is what I've taken out of the reservoir and the reservoir is filled with fluid the way it should look!
Whilst i like the bonnet my car has, I've always hated the nasty silver mesh it has in the vent, it looks cheap and doesn't even fit right. I've repeatedly intended to get round to sorting it but its been one of those little jobs that keeps getting forgotten about. That was until some friends were looking at the car and pointed it out, time for the mesh to go!
So far I've pulled the mesh and retainer out and left it that way, but i have some finer black mesh on order to make it right.
Lastly with my birthday coming up the wife has been asking what car bits i want (it's always car bits! :-), so i started thinking about something I'd like but at the same point was unlikely to buy myself, given i have a list of relatively boring but more important bits to work through the more fun stuff tends to get pushed to the bottom of the list, so i came up with either a detail - black & swirls, the usual - or a numberplate, I like a personalised plate but only if they relate to the car, not interested in one that relates to me.
The last one I had was on my 93' Impreza RA, J3 WRX
And for the vette I've gone for C5 BGK - as in the generation of course and then BGK for Bowling Green Kentucky, where Corvettes including mine are built. Pretty geeky I know but I like it and I think it'll look good on the car, not to mention because its nothing obvious it wasn't that expensive either!
And the usual fixture on my passenger seat, not the norm for a corvette perhaps!
So as my car has no runflats and no spare I needed something so I at least had an option if i got a puncture etc! In the end I went for an airman kit with a compressor and sealant, around the same time i also got hold of a Corvette Safety & Emergency kit which comes with a first aid kit and a nifty torch! I added a hi vis and it fits perfect in the boot side compartment with the airman
Also I had a couple of minor electrical issues to sort, namely a broken telescopic steering switch and an electric aerial not retracting properly. I sourced a replacement switch from a breakers in the US and whilst i could of tried to just replace the mast for the aerial i found a NOS complete unit in the UK so went for that instead. Old parts!
Also with a manual C5 (and i believe C6) its a good idea to cycle out the clutch fluid, this pic says it all really, the stuff in the jug is what I've taken out of the reservoir and the reservoir is filled with fluid the way it should look!
Whilst i like the bonnet my car has, I've always hated the nasty silver mesh it has in the vent, it looks cheap and doesn't even fit right. I've repeatedly intended to get round to sorting it but its been one of those little jobs that keeps getting forgotten about. That was until some friends were looking at the car and pointed it out, time for the mesh to go!
So far I've pulled the mesh and retainer out and left it that way, but i have some finer black mesh on order to make it right.
Lastly with my birthday coming up the wife has been asking what car bits i want (it's always car bits! :-), so i started thinking about something I'd like but at the same point was unlikely to buy myself, given i have a list of relatively boring but more important bits to work through the more fun stuff tends to get pushed to the bottom of the list, so i came up with either a detail - black & swirls, the usual - or a numberplate, I like a personalised plate but only if they relate to the car, not interested in one that relates to me.
The last one I had was on my 93' Impreza RA, J3 WRX
And for the vette I've gone for C5 BGK - as in the generation of course and then BGK for Bowling Green Kentucky, where Corvettes including mine are built. Pretty geeky I know but I like it and I think it'll look good on the car, not to mention because its nothing obvious it wasn't that expensive either!
daniel-5zjw7 said:
A pic with my friends M2 :-)
And the black, finer mesh which actually fits properly now in place, much better!
Very nice, looks cracking now after the detail! And the black, finer mesh which actually fits properly now in place, much better!
Always been a fan of the corvette, particularly c5 and c6 but never been in or driven one. How does it compare to say something like the M2 these days? Its interesting as they are a similar price point now but obviously fair different propositions
Few bits to report on the vette, firstly I have 4 x Dunlop Sport Maxx RT2 tyres and 4 x new TPMS sensors to go on, and I've also managed to track down something I've been looking for since I bought the car. I have the owners manual with everything it came with, including a letter from Chevrolet congratulating the original owner on the purchase and even a few stickers still on their backing which were intended as revisions to be stuck in to the owners manual. The one thing i didn't have was the VHS tape which was supplied to the original owner when new, this is about an hour long and goes over loads of technical and user info.
Not any tape will do as they're year specific, but i finally found one in the states :-)
Here it is along with another purchase I got to add to the cars history if you will, a UT models year 2000 C5 Daytona pace car - I would of liked a model of my car exactly, but whilst I've found some black convertibles they've all had wrong colour interiors and the wrong wheels. I thought the pace car was more fitting as is the right model year with the same optional wheels as mine, plus i think it looks great :-)
There are two more little things I'd like to add, a genuine GM corvette pen for the owners wallet and the 2000 model year brochure.
The idea at from my side would be for these things to stay with the car as and when it gets a new custodian.
I hope to get the tyres & sensors fitted plus a hunter wheel alignment in the next week or two which i'm really looking forward to! Hopefully there is some more sunny top down days to be enjoyed yet this year.
Not any tape will do as they're year specific, but i finally found one in the states :-)
Here it is along with another purchase I got to add to the cars history if you will, a UT models year 2000 C5 Daytona pace car - I would of liked a model of my car exactly, but whilst I've found some black convertibles they've all had wrong colour interiors and the wrong wheels. I thought the pace car was more fitting as is the right model year with the same optional wheels as mine, plus i think it looks great :-)
There are two more little things I'd like to add, a genuine GM corvette pen for the owners wallet and the 2000 model year brochure.
The idea at from my side would be for these things to stay with the car as and when it gets a new custodian.
I hope to get the tyres & sensors fitted plus a hunter wheel alignment in the next week or two which i'm really looking forward to! Hopefully there is some more sunny top down days to be enjoyed yet this year.
Thought it was time to update as theres been a fair bit going on with the vette :-)
Firstly I finally got my tyres sorted, I bought them a while ago but have taken a while to get them on as wanted to fit new tpms sensors and also be ready to take it straight for alignment after. I opted to have the tyres fitted by a mobile service as I really don't like putting my cars into garages if i can help it. This meant I could make sure the car was lifted properly and take the wheels off and put back on myself. Because the car has 18s on the back and 17s on the front tyre options are particularly limited, especially if you want to maintain stock sizes which i did. I went for Dunlop Sport Maxx RT2's in the end.
The car was running 8 year old Sumitomo tyres, these have a reasonable rep in the US but of course were way past their sell by date and had started to show signs of cracking. I've wanted to change them since i got the car but they had plenty of tread and I had other jobs ahead such as the dampers and harmonic balancer to sort. I knew the alignment was also questionable but decided not to get it done before having new boots fitted.
The way the car drives now is massively improved, part technical and part through the confidence new rubber and knowing alignment is right brings!
In terms of the tpms, one of the original sensors had died and as the corvettes DIC (or OBC in normal language) likes to warn about things as much as possible this meant everytime you start the car in bings up a warning which needs to be cleared by hitting the reset button, not the end of the world but annoying and of course it meant the tpms wasn't working as it should, now everything is good, and as I replaced all the sensors I shouldnt have to worry about it again.
I've also added some 5mm hubcentric spacers to the rear, I wanted the rear wheels to fill the arches just slightly better and having seen how much difference 5mm spacers can make on previous cars I knew they'd do the job, this isn't about pushing the limits of filling the arches like i see so much of these days, I like spacers best when they give a clear visual improvement yet do not look obviously spaced.
I also bought a refurbished HVAC unit (climate control head unit), these are known for the displays going dim, mine was sometimes OK, sometimes dim and sometimes unreadable, all the buttons still worked but its not the best not being able to see temp/mode/fan speed etc. Now its nice and bright as it should be.
Lastly in my hunt to build up the history of the car, I managed to pick up a 2000 model year brochure for the C5, really happy with this as is a really good brochure nicely presented and full of info and sits well with the VHS tape etc.
Picture time;
New tyres;
Alignment before and after;
|https://thumbsnap.com/BKu9db6o[/url]
Tyre sensors finally working;
New HVAC unit in place;
Brochure;
Next up is the MOT, despite having the car over a year I've not had to put it through a test yet due to the covid extension, I don't see that I'm going to have any issues but with a 20 year old car its always a bit of a nervous time!
Firstly I finally got my tyres sorted, I bought them a while ago but have taken a while to get them on as wanted to fit new tpms sensors and also be ready to take it straight for alignment after. I opted to have the tyres fitted by a mobile service as I really don't like putting my cars into garages if i can help it. This meant I could make sure the car was lifted properly and take the wheels off and put back on myself. Because the car has 18s on the back and 17s on the front tyre options are particularly limited, especially if you want to maintain stock sizes which i did. I went for Dunlop Sport Maxx RT2's in the end.
The car was running 8 year old Sumitomo tyres, these have a reasonable rep in the US but of course were way past their sell by date and had started to show signs of cracking. I've wanted to change them since i got the car but they had plenty of tread and I had other jobs ahead such as the dampers and harmonic balancer to sort. I knew the alignment was also questionable but decided not to get it done before having new boots fitted.
The way the car drives now is massively improved, part technical and part through the confidence new rubber and knowing alignment is right brings!
In terms of the tpms, one of the original sensors had died and as the corvettes DIC (or OBC in normal language) likes to warn about things as much as possible this meant everytime you start the car in bings up a warning which needs to be cleared by hitting the reset button, not the end of the world but annoying and of course it meant the tpms wasn't working as it should, now everything is good, and as I replaced all the sensors I shouldnt have to worry about it again.
I've also added some 5mm hubcentric spacers to the rear, I wanted the rear wheels to fill the arches just slightly better and having seen how much difference 5mm spacers can make on previous cars I knew they'd do the job, this isn't about pushing the limits of filling the arches like i see so much of these days, I like spacers best when they give a clear visual improvement yet do not look obviously spaced.
I also bought a refurbished HVAC unit (climate control head unit), these are known for the displays going dim, mine was sometimes OK, sometimes dim and sometimes unreadable, all the buttons still worked but its not the best not being able to see temp/mode/fan speed etc. Now its nice and bright as it should be.
Lastly in my hunt to build up the history of the car, I managed to pick up a 2000 model year brochure for the C5, really happy with this as is a really good brochure nicely presented and full of info and sits well with the VHS tape etc.
Picture time;
New tyres;
Alignment before and after;
|https://thumbsnap.com/BKu9db6o[/url]Tyre sensors finally working;
New HVAC unit in place;
Brochure;
Next up is the MOT, despite having the car over a year I've not had to put it through a test yet due to the covid extension, I don't see that I'm going to have any issues but with a 20 year old car its always a bit of a nervous time!
Quick update, firstly unfortunately i do not yet have a fresh MOT! Albeit ultimately I'm happy with the results, everything was fine apart from on the emissions side, the garage said the lambda reading (i think on the test where they rev it to 2.5k or thereabouts) was a little high, and when i say a little, I mean a tiny amount! The figure of what it needs to be under and what it is are so close that before i even consider doing anything else I've booked it in at another garage for a second opinion, yes it means a whole new MOT but now I'm confident there isn't anything else amiss and the car is running so well hopefully MOT number 2 will end with the right result.
I've a confession to make in that MOT failing and then expiring hasn't been a major problem as I've had the 325ti to fall back on (currently in rude health) so unlike last year I don't HAVE to run the vette over the winter, that said i did technically sell the 325 and if it wasn't for lockdown number 2 it would be in the new owners care as we speak and I'd be left with an MOT'less Corvette! It may be a blessing in disguise however, as given everything I've done with the BM its bordering on moronic to sell it, but thats for another story.
Other than not getting an MOT, i've been busy back in the world of models.. i was happy with my Daytona pace car model, that is until i got the 2000 Corvette C5 brochure, and saw on the first page a very cool image of the C5R, I started thinking how cool it would be (to me anyway!!) if i could A. Identify which C5R it was and B. get a model of it!
Working it out took longer than it should have, as I stupidly assumed like all C5R's in my head that it must be a yellow car, it was only when I couldn't identify it against any of the early yellow C5R's that i realised the first C5R's were in fact black and silver, once I got this far I was finding a number of models in the right colour scheme but all number 3's, before eventually coming across an autoart 1:18 version in the correct number 4 :-)
This model will likely usurp the pace car now as the one that will stay with the car as part of its history, I think it ties in so well with the brochure and i can quite imagine the first buyer of mine or any other Corvette at the time being drawn in by watching the C5R's racing the year before
Secondly I managed to pick up some Lloyds Corvette overmats, these are a licensed GM product and so much better than the originals, for one they're extended so the end section runs under the seats which is so much neater, plus they're also much plusher as a mat and the logo adds a needed splash of colour to the interior. I would of got some sooner, but they rarely come up in the UK and are a pretty penny from the states once you include shipping/taxes. In the end these popped up on ebay here and i couldn't refuse, though they still cost me more than I've ever spent on a set of mats!
I've a confession to make in that MOT failing and then expiring hasn't been a major problem as I've had the 325ti to fall back on (currently in rude health) so unlike last year I don't HAVE to run the vette over the winter, that said i did technically sell the 325 and if it wasn't for lockdown number 2 it would be in the new owners care as we speak and I'd be left with an MOT'less Corvette! It may be a blessing in disguise however, as given everything I've done with the BM its bordering on moronic to sell it, but thats for another story.
Other than not getting an MOT, i've been busy back in the world of models.. i was happy with my Daytona pace car model, that is until i got the 2000 Corvette C5 brochure, and saw on the first page a very cool image of the C5R, I started thinking how cool it would be (to me anyway!!) if i could A. Identify which C5R it was and B. get a model of it!
Working it out took longer than it should have, as I stupidly assumed like all C5R's in my head that it must be a yellow car, it was only when I couldn't identify it against any of the early yellow C5R's that i realised the first C5R's were in fact black and silver, once I got this far I was finding a number of models in the right colour scheme but all number 3's, before eventually coming across an autoart 1:18 version in the correct number 4 :-)
This model will likely usurp the pace car now as the one that will stay with the car as part of its history, I think it ties in so well with the brochure and i can quite imagine the first buyer of mine or any other Corvette at the time being drawn in by watching the C5R's racing the year before
Secondly I managed to pick up some Lloyds Corvette overmats, these are a licensed GM product and so much better than the originals, for one they're extended so the end section runs under the seats which is so much neater, plus they're also much plusher as a mat and the logo adds a needed splash of colour to the interior. I would of got some sooner, but they rarely come up in the UK and are a pretty penny from the states once you include shipping/taxes. In the end these popped up on ebay here and i couldn't refuse, though they still cost me more than I've ever spent on a set of mats!
A few bits to report on the Corvette, albeit it not a huge amount as its not getting a whole lot of driving atm!
The MOT situation was soon cleared up, in short I took it to a different garage and it passed first time. The handbrake just meeting standards was consistent so I need to adjust that but its straight forward enough, but otherwise all good.
One thing that's been bugging me for a while was the sunvisors, the originals broke at the ends like so many do and were just plain tatty, it took me a while to sort as they cost a bit and I had other priorities but I'm pleased to have finally sorted them, it wasn't until I got the new ones i realised how bad the originals were! The new ones also have a few updated bits such as LED lights which is nice.
I've also become a bit obsessed with the Corvette C5R, specifically chassis 002 wearing number 4, after buying the Autoart model, I came across a pretty cool print depicting number 2 and number 4 C5R's by artist Ken Eberts, what made it even better was that car number 4 was in the foreground, as it turned out chassis 002 wasn't as successful as 001 in the grand scheme of things. so almost all models/pictures etc tend to be of 001 wearing no.2 or 3. But as this print was commissioned in 1999 it wasn't to be known then. To add it was an artist proof, 44 of 50, signed by Corvette Racing driver Ron Fellows, and had been stored in the tube for the last 20 years, I had to have it!
I was so excited to get it on the wall that I've just put it in a cheap frame for now, but will have it done properly at some point, guess to some its sad but but between this, the model and the brochure I'm happy as larry with it all :-) for me these little things really make a difference to the enjoyment of owning the actual car.
I did have the car for sale as some may have seen, I guess through impatience and frustration of the current situation more than anything, I certainly haven't been able to do what I'd hoped in terms of driving enjoyment over the last year and a bit due to covid, and with this year also not looking brilliant I got to thinking if there is someone wanting it more than me then perhaps I'll call it a day. I'd guess I'm not the only one who's done this. But I've since changed my mind, I love the car and once it goes I will not be able to replace it, so I decided i need to find some patience and just keep working away at it, then when i do get the opportunities to really enjoy it the car will be in great shape.
Some basic maintenance up next, new spark plugs and leads, plus gearbox oil.
The MOT situation was soon cleared up, in short I took it to a different garage and it passed first time. The handbrake just meeting standards was consistent so I need to adjust that but its straight forward enough, but otherwise all good.
One thing that's been bugging me for a while was the sunvisors, the originals broke at the ends like so many do and were just plain tatty, it took me a while to sort as they cost a bit and I had other priorities but I'm pleased to have finally sorted them, it wasn't until I got the new ones i realised how bad the originals were! The new ones also have a few updated bits such as LED lights which is nice.
I've also become a bit obsessed with the Corvette C5R, specifically chassis 002 wearing number 4, after buying the Autoart model, I came across a pretty cool print depicting number 2 and number 4 C5R's by artist Ken Eberts, what made it even better was that car number 4 was in the foreground, as it turned out chassis 002 wasn't as successful as 001 in the grand scheme of things. so almost all models/pictures etc tend to be of 001 wearing no.2 or 3. But as this print was commissioned in 1999 it wasn't to be known then. To add it was an artist proof, 44 of 50, signed by Corvette Racing driver Ron Fellows, and had been stored in the tube for the last 20 years, I had to have it!
I was so excited to get it on the wall that I've just put it in a cheap frame for now, but will have it done properly at some point, guess to some its sad but but between this, the model and the brochure I'm happy as larry with it all :-) for me these little things really make a difference to the enjoyment of owning the actual car.
I did have the car for sale as some may have seen, I guess through impatience and frustration of the current situation more than anything, I certainly haven't been able to do what I'd hoped in terms of driving enjoyment over the last year and a bit due to covid, and with this year also not looking brilliant I got to thinking if there is someone wanting it more than me then perhaps I'll call it a day. I'd guess I'm not the only one who's done this. But I've since changed my mind, I love the car and once it goes I will not be able to replace it, so I decided i need to find some patience and just keep working away at it, then when i do get the opportunities to really enjoy it the car will be in great shape.
Some basic maintenance up next, new spark plugs and leads, plus gearbox oil.
Very glad to hear that you're not going to sell up. Are you a member of the Corvette Club? If so are you planning on making it along to a meet or event? I'll be at American Speedfest, Brands Hatch in June and at the various planned track events through the year. It would be good to meet up.
Nice to see the C5R connection and interest.
What made you chose those geometry settings? I know you don't use it on track but that isn't a lot of front negative camber?
Nice to see the C5R connection and interest.
What made you chose those geometry settings? I know you don't use it on track but that isn't a lot of front negative camber?
Fishy Dave said:
Very glad to hear that you're not going to sell up. Are you a member of the Corvette Club? If so are you planning on making it along to a meet or event? I'll be at American Speedfest, Brands Hatch in June and at the various planned track events through the year. It would be good to meet up.
Nice to see the C5R connection and interest.
What made you chose those geometry settings? I know you don't use it on track but that isn't a lot of front negative camber?
Hi Dave,Nice to see the C5R connection and interest.
What made you chose those geometry settings? I know you don't use it on track but that isn't a lot of front negative camber?
Yea I think its the right call, to be honest this was never meant to be a long term deal, more a case of owning something in line with being a life long petrolhead, that i could look back on and be proud to have experienced. However who knows its a special machine and could end up swinging the other way and being a life long car! Really I expected to enjoy the vette for a period and then return to my BMW and continue with that, however its the BMW which has gone and the vette that remains.
One issue I do have now the BMW is gone is that my wife isn't at all interested in driving the vette, I thought in time perhaps she would be but over a year later and shes only really been a passenger in it a handful of times. Which means when i need to use the family car for any reason I leave her effectively carless, it's something we can work round but time will tell if that becomes a bigger problem.
I'm not a member of the club yet.. i got the pack from CCM Vettes in the early days of having the car but not done anything with it yet. I will join at some point though.
I'm sure I'll get out to some events, depending what we get to do this year, although i really want to get some proper driving in this year, I think the nc500 is the real goal for 2021 and will certainly visit caffeine and machine at some point too. It would deffo be cool to see the C6
Regarding the camber settings I didnt choose them, thats just how the garage left them, but yea not much negative camber going on but your correct in that its no track car, infact I have my daughter in it alot of the time so the majority of my day to day driving is just cruising. I'm happy with how it drives now but plan Z51/Z06 sways and possibly springs at some point, so I may have some adjustments made at that stage.
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