Corvette C5 Buying advice

[Let off some steam Bennett]

Since buying my 383 stroker el camino i have got the bug for American cars in a big way. I'm thinking of adding a second to the fold. Due to my lack of gargage space i will have to part with my other toy, a 2001 TVR Tuscan. I have had the Tuscan for 9 years so i feel a change is due.
I have looked at many classic yanks but i class my el camino as my classic . So i'm thinking something a little newer.
I'm thinking about a corvette C5, they appear to be very well priced. Any advice on buying one would be handy, things to look out for etc.

Thanks in advance

[Let off some steam Bennett]

Thanks a lot

[Let off some steam Bennett]

LuS1fer said:

Pretty solid cars, mechanically, though it is worth looking at the Wheeler Dealers episode if you're thinking of a manual as changing the clutch is a bugger. That also shows the seat runner issue they are prone to.

Z06 is the fast one, manual only and the gearchange quality is agricultural at best.

The 345-350hp LS1s are fine, though but look for the Z51 suspension code.

I cant imagine any are slow, not expecting it to be tuscan fast mind

[Let off some steam Bennett]

Ph300zx said:

If you head over to the CCUK website they have extensive buying guides in every make. Well worth starting there, they're generally very reliable with only a few issues.

Harmonic balancers will fail so check if it's already been done and if not check for any wobble, not as bad as the gearbox but probably the other "big" job because of the labour involved.

Electrical gremlins can be due to bad earth's so check those. Or a battery that needs replacing, they're very sensitive to batteries so may start the car fine but still cause issues.

Early ones (pre 2001) cannot have the EBCM repaired, which isn't a "common" issue but does happen. You'd need to buy a second hand one as they're discontinued and now quite pricey (£900 ish). 2001 on can be repaired if needed as they changed the circuit board type.

Seat rock as mentioned is common but a cheap fix.

Overall have to say mine (1999 manual non Z06 with Z51 and all the options) has been very reliable. About to do the clutch but have been working up to this for a while and once done it's won't need doing again. At least while I own it!

Thanks a lot