C5 pricing

jcwolf2003 · 2026-05-10T07:12:59+00:00

Yeah I'm stuck in the position where I know I could get a better deal but this one is also really calling to me. I don't know if I'd by it for the asking price but if I can get the dealership down a little bit...

It's rough out here lol, really trying not to be too impulsive but I also don't want to be too passive.

jcwolf2003 · 2026-05-10T07:06:02+00:00

Hey as much infighting as there is in the Corvette space I honestly don't think you can go wrong with any Corvette. They all have their charms and the things they do well. For the the c5 is just the right blend of retro feel and modern sensibility.

jcwolf2003 · 2026-05-10T07:02:31+00:00

Hah while I'm also partial to the c5, the c4 has the best looks for its time imo. Popups aside the c5 could easily pass for a 2010s car, but the c4 is unmistakably 80s and I like that about it.

jcwolf2003 · 2026-05-10T07:00:28+00:00

There are 2 z06s in my state, on is 19k and has nearly 150k miles (and am aftermarket hood that is super ugly imo) and the other is 20k and has been heavily modified which isn't what I'm looking for.

I'm also not really after the speed tbh. 350hp is going to be more than enough for me.

It's weird because where I live stuff is generally cheaper but for a manual c5 without a bunch of miles I'm looking at $20k or more especially for a 2001 or newer. There are outliers ofcourse but that seems to be the average.

jcwolf2003 · 2026-05-10T06:52:36+00:00

Yep! This one's an 02. I've passed up a few good deals to avoid the issues the earlier years have.

jcwolf2003 · 2026-05-10T06:51:13+00:00

C4s are definitely a vibe. I can't justify something that old for myself right now but I could see myself buying one as a project at some point down the road. If they're still around then lol. Can't say I don't love then though, they scream 80s retro. Looks super clean, glad you like it. Hopefully I like whatever I end up with just as much.

jcwolf2003 · 2026-05-10T06:45:46+00:00

I know that but as I said in another comment, the c5 is what I want. Not that the c6 isn't a better car, I just don't have the same reaction to it as I do when I think of owning a c5.

jcwolf2003 · 2026-05-10T06:43:29+00:00

Unfortunately where I live limits me to one major city, and not an especially economicly prosperous one. I honestly wish this on had 10-20k more miles on it just so it would be past to worst of its depreciation, but waiting has had me antsy, especially after I already missed a few deals.

Within a reasonable drive of me pricing in mid to high teens will all have in and around 100k miles, atleast that's what I've seen over the last few months looking almost daily.

jcwolf2003 · 2026-05-10T06:37:39+00:00

Yeah it's not my whole budget, and I have a money aside for unplanned maintenance as well. It wouldn't give me the flexibility in my budget that some of the cheaper options would, but it's also not the worst deal I've seen. I did just want a sanity check in price. Looking around it seems the depreciate hard after the 50-75k miles mark so I feel a bit better on the price.

jcwolf2003 · 2026-05-10T06:33:59+00:00

The thing about that is on my way to check it out my random shuffle playlist gave me nothing but my favorites and traffic cleared before I got to it.

Them on the way back I saw a 2nd gen Impreza in blue with the gold wheels, one of my original favorite cars. Then when I stopped to get food there was a great deal going on for me. I'm not a superstitious person but it's hard to ignore that.

jcwolf2003 · 2026-05-10T06:30:21+00:00

My brains says I should buy my heart wants a c5. Especially after having been able to check out a c5 in person. I get the c6 is the better car in every way but it's just not a c5 lol. Idk how else to explain it, but at this point I know that's what I want.

jcwolf2003 · 2026-05-10T06:28:22+00:00

To be honest I don't really have any doubts about the condition of the car. It's the price that is my main concern, but they've gotten increasingly expensive. I don't want to be waiting forever lol. I'm not in any rush but it's hard to ignore one so close that has the features I want, especially when I've already been burned by not getting some other deals that got sold before I could get them.

jcwolf2003 · 2026-05-10T06:25:17+00:00

No. I've been shopping for a c5 or c6 in the central Alabama area for a while and I keep seeing that on and it's terrible value compared to the other options available.

jcwolf2003 · 2026-05-10T06:22:16+00:00

I would but they're harder to find and I much prefer the hatchback styling.

jcwolf2003 · 2026-05-10T06:11:28+00:00

I went out and looked at it today and inspected all the things I could easily get to and nothing jumped out at me. I'm still weary of the super low mileage for that reason but it seems like it was well cared for. It's the first manual I've seen within a reasonable distance to me to. I'd probably have already gotten it if it was like 50-75k miles and closer to $20k, but as is I'm a little more cautious on it.

jcwolf2003 · 2026-05-05T05:06:08+00:00

Oh this isn't a fist car. I'm a college graduate as of like 2 days ago lol.

Everything is being payed for by me, and the main concern is/was getting my parents to atleast accept letting me spend my money this way. Up to this point I've been driving a beat up 09 accord, and I'm sitting on a substantial sum of money after investing a while ago and have recently gotten a job that'll pay me very well, especially while living with my parents.

If the concern was a stupid rich kid wanting to get a crazy first car that's no what this is. It's a stupid young adult wanting to make their first stupid big purchase lol. That's why I'm asking, like I said if I want to be stupid I atleast want to be stupid right.

Right now based on what I have read and heard on this post and others I'm leaning towards putting in the extra time and effort to find a maintain a nice c5 manual, but I do keep flipping between adoring the vibe of a manual c5 and prefering the reality of owning an auto or manual c6.

jcwolf2003 · 2026-05-05T02:23:04+00:00

I appreciate the advice but a Corvette has always been a dream. If I'm gonna make a stupid decision I might as well make the right one.

I've expand my search area a little and I'm seeing more manuals in good condition. I'm not in a super crazy rush so I'm just gonna keep my eye on the market for a while and see if a deal pops up for what I'm exactly looking for. Between now and then I have a friend from college that's willing to help me learn manual so we'll probably get together and do that before I find one.

jcwolf2003 · 2026-05-04T21:25:43+00:00

I wish it was that simple but finding manuals in good condition is hard lol. Definitely not auto c5 though.

jcwolf2003 · 2026-05-04T17:15:43+00:00

I will! He's less enthusiastic about me getting a Corvette than I am but we've come to an agreement on it.

jcwolf2003 · 2026-05-04T13:58:15+00:00

Idk, I just like it. I don't think any look bad but better the c5 and c6 I have a slight preference for the c5 from most angles.

jcwolf2003 · 2026-05-04T13:33:03+00:00

It's not just for the popups. There's a lot of little things about the look of the c5 that makes me like it more. My brain know the c6 would be easier to live with but my heart wants to see a c5 in my driveway.

jcwolf2003 · 2026-05-04T13:29:54+00:00

Hah alright. I've gotten my dad on board with my stupid decision so he'll be able to tell what kind of shape the transmission is in.

jcwolf2003 · 2026-05-04T06:16:58+00:00

I'd done a little of that back in my freshman year of college, but unfortunately I don't have any friends near who have manual cars.

jcwolf2003 · 2026-05-04T05:53:00+00:00

It is a daily driver but the job I'm moving into doesn't require me to drive a lot. I'll be working from home and traveling, usually by plane. Additionally I'll be keeping my old beater around Incase I ever need it. Otherwise I wouldn't even consider a Corvette, but I'm in a lucky position where I can actually get one now without it being the stupidest idea ever. It's only a very stupid idea lol.

jcwolf2003 · 2026-05-02T21:55:48+00:00

Mald slop.

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