Suggestion on Corvette year to buy

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eganders - 13 Jul 2009 13:19 GMT

I am interested in purchasing a Corvette and would like a suggestion
on a year or year range. I am just going to use it as a fun "driver"
and I would like it to be probably no older than 12 to 15 years old.
I have owned two others in my lifetime (a '63 gold split window and a
'78 silver anniversary) and had them for just the same reason--fun to
drive and they were very nice looking.

Importance in highest to lowest order:

1. Best year for reliability and overall general performance
2. Price
3. Low mileage

I have found in the past that there is a sweet spot where the price is
a minimum and the year is somewhere between 5 and 15 years old where
you can get a reliable car with relatively low mileage (say around
50,000 to 60,000 miles maximum). It has been around 20 years since my
last purchase, so I am out of touch with what are the ideal years. I
worked with Dave McLellan about 8 years ago and at that time he
suggested a 1996 or newer based on the technology it had.

What are your suggestions?

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CardsFan - 13 Jul 2009 14:32 GMT

>I am interested in purchasing a Corvette and would like a suggestion
> on a year or year range. I am just going to use it as a fun "driver"
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
>
> What are your suggestions?

You don't say how much you can spend, but if you can find a C5 that's
affordable, go that way. Bet you wish you still had that '63...

AJM
'93 40th Anniversary coupe, 6 sp (both tops)

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IlBeBauck@gmail.com - 13 Jul 2009 22:25 GMT

> I am interested in purchasing a Corvette and would like a suggestion
> on a year or year range. I am just going to use it as a fun "driver"
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
>
> What are your suggestions?

Like AJM said, you didnt list a price range. Assuming you have $20-25
k. to spend , youd be wise to look at 1998 to (hopefully) 2002 . These
years had the LS1 motor which is pretty responsive with incredible
fuel economy , mileage should fall in between 30-60 k . , and
reliablility seemed acceptable from those ive talked with. Id check
with www.corvetteforum.com and corvette trader online. Lots of
guys are needing to sell their car due to the bad economy and you just
might get an extremely sweet deal.

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pj - 14 Jul 2009 01:08 GMT

> I am interested in purchasing a Corvette and would like a suggestion
> on a year or year range. I am just going to use it as a fun "driver"
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
>
> What are your suggestions?

I think items #1 and #2 place you in the C5
category. But, if you're not competitive with
regard to handling, look at 95-96.

I don't throw stones at my own '02 but I'd
suggest going for an '03 or '04. Bowling Green
was still sorting out minor issues toward the
end of the C5 run. (Dad sometimes notes that
the C5s got better as the years went on.)

There was better data integration in the '03 and
'04, one less major module (than in the '02) and
fewer connectors that carry system-critical
data. ...that pays off as the car ages.
--
pj
e-blu '02 // '89 driver

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IlBeBauck@gmail.com - 15 Jul 2009 00:29 GMT

> I am interested in purchasing a Corvette and would like a suggestion
> on a year or year range. I am just going to use it as a fun "driver"
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
>
> What are your suggestions?

The OP might be interested to know of a current article in CORVETTE
magazine , Sept. 2009, page 63, where the Author discusses best buys
for $15,000 . Its a detailed analysis consisting of 5 pages, and
covers best buys for C3,4,and 5's for $15 k. I believe you can
access this magazine online or get it at your local larger Bookstore.

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