Any reason I shouldn't buy this car (1998 C5)
05-19-2007, 08:19 PM
#1
Any reason I shouldn't buy this car (1998 C5) Its a 1998 C5, black on black. 60K miles, SUPER clean and well cared for. No flaws other than the usual wear on the drivers seat, but its not ripped or anything, just wrinkled. Fully loaded, active handling, Brembo rotors and hawk pads, chrome rims, decent tires. Its totally stock otherwise. A4, one top (painted), and everything works. I can get it for $18.8K. It books right around that, so its not the steal of the century but it is low miles for a 1998.
I heard the 1998 ecm sucks for mods, but maybe thats just for boosted cars? I plan to leave it mostly stock, maybe a cat-back and CAI and better wheels. Its going to be my cruiser, I have a fast car if I need it.
Should I get it? I want an FRC but they are hard to find and I really like the targa top.
I guess what I'm asking is if theres anything I should look for on a vette of this vintage or anything I should be prepared to work on?
I heard the 1998 ecm sucks for mods, but maybe thats just for boosted cars? I plan to leave it mostly stock, maybe a cat-back and CAI and better wheels. Its going to be my cruiser, I have a fast car if I need it.
Should I get it? I want an FRC but they are hard to find and I really like the targa top.
I guess what I'm asking is if theres anything I should look for on a vette of this vintage or anything I should be prepared to work on?
05-20-2007, 11:21 AM
#2
Launching!
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realistically we have had little to no problems at that mileage with our 98 it has 108k on it now. the things we replaced from a vette salvage yard were, seats we wanted new black and light oak custom setup anyway, temp control unit, 1 speaker, 1 shaft, a couple clutchs, the fuel sensor is going bad, and a passenger side head light motor finally went after 107k. Good luck buy it the 98's to me seem to hold up very nicely.
05-20-2007, 12:01 PM
#3
TECH Apprentice
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The steering in the "98s" was a little "twitchy" (magnetic assist) but even that amounted to VERY little, as far as the mileage its just perfect,...........for,.................MOD TIME!!!! My home punk has a "98" and he is in love,.......bad. 
05-20-2007, 12:22 PM
#5
Good to hear. I would love to buy a newer one but the price is so right on the older ones. Plus its super clean and I'm pretty particular. And its black, all my cars gotta be black. I'm a glutton for punishment I guess!
The hard part will be leaving it stock.......
The hard part will be leaving it stock.......
05-20-2007, 12:52 PM
#6
Staging Lane
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My buddy had a 98 with the steering column lock issue. I think they fixed them if you brought them back to be repaired. If not could be a big problem. Have that checked out.
05-20-2007, 02:47 PM
#7
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The biggest thing to look out for on the early C5's is the leaking battery syndrome.
The early Delco batteries leaked from the bottom. The main computer and the harnesses from the other 5 come together under the battery tray. If you see powdery white crust on the wires/etc when you look past the tray... walk away. Electrical gremlin car.
And change the oil pump when you take off the timing cover. The pre '00 cars had oil pumps that would fail without warning. Toast.
The early Delco batteries leaked from the bottom. The main computer and the harnesses from the other 5 come together under the battery tray. If you see powdery white crust on the wires/etc when you look past the tray... walk away. Electrical gremlin car.
And change the oil pump when you take off the timing cover. The pre '00 cars had oil pumps that would fail without warning. Toast.
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05-21-2007, 04:28 PM
#8
Staging Lane
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No issues with my 98, except I had to replace 2 wheel bearings. The wheel bearings are expensive to replace because it contain the wheel sensors. The bearings issues may be due to my minor fender bender. Car is still very low mileage at less than 23,000 miles.
