Looking at C5's to buy.
 

Hey all, just a small intro. - long time GM follower, big into Buicks and more specifically G-body cars but my friend with a yellow '02 Z06 insists I should get one. I told him I'm happy with my Buicks as I've driven Corvettes before. However, I'm at that point where I have too many cars, need to get rid of 2 or 3 and a 'vette now seems likely. It will either get a Nossle kit and/or one of my spare "big" turbos.

So, I went to look at a local '99 Pewter, matches my truck, auto. with body side molding. It had every option, incl. HUD, new run-flat tires, rocker guards with 44k miles. It had a small scratch on the Targa top where someone must have slipped while taking the top off. Normal wear and tear scratches on the front but very minimal. Overall, great shape and well taken care of. My question is two-fold: there was rocks/dirt in the engine bay on the side flat area near batt./ecm and on the other side as well...on the flat plastic part. 1)Does dirt fly up in there? Or is it possible it's residual from being flipped or taken into a ditch? 2) It also had a weird scrap and wear pattern on the drivers side door, back corner and bottom, closest to locking mechanism. Is this normal wear and tear? It also had a few rocks pebbles between the portion behind the door - the panels on a Z06 where the brake vent is placed.

I know there are 'vettes-a-plenty on eBay but buying one closer for easier inspection is convenient. I'm not shy to driving and trailering a car as I've sold many Buicks all over the country and brought them to my buyers. As mentioned, it will be modded and I would like to find a cheap coupe or FRC with decent miles in either black, silver or pewter. Thanks and I apologize for being long-winded.

Damn, not one person has an idea on body panels or normal wear? Where oh where have all the body and paint people gone? :zzz:

Can you do a carfax on the car? That might tell you if its been in an accident. What are they asking for it?

I have no idea about dirt in a specific area because I live in Arizona. The car gets dirt everywhere. I get tiny rocks in my panel gaps sometimes. Sometimes I have to unbolt the quarter panel to remove them.

I don't go off road in mine, but rock do get in by the fender and the brake duct as you mentioned. I also got one in my door where the panels come together. I don't much except a bit of dirt on the to on the intake which I blow off at the car wash.

Thank you everyone for the replies. I can do a Carfax on it once I get the VIN. I was just curious about those side panels, kinda odd that little rocks would get stuck there but I guess they do. The thing that worries me is the wear on the drivers door. It's almost like the old big heavy 2 door cars use to get door sag as the hinges wore out. Rubbing on the outer edge but I grabbed the end of the door and lifted up, no sag? Plus it's a 44k mile car. Do they do this with the door rocker gaurds, possibly raising the front of the door slightly tilting it back? I forgot to check for Z51 suspension as well, is there an RPO sticker in the trunk? My PT-72 turbo awaits...Thanks again! :cool:

I have 45k miles on mine and have no problem with the door edges.

RPO sticker is in the glove box.

Thanks Eric, I will look to see what it has next time. Like I mentioned it was heavily optioned, in my opinion. I forgot to mention, he wants $23,900 for it. Can the body side moldings be removed, I was told no if the doors were from the factory? Is this true, there are 2 seperate doors?

Yes, the body side moldings can be removed..... How many miles are on it? I have a 99' FRC with 70k miles for sale for $20,500. It has the borla exhaust, magnaflow x pipe, 4.10 rearend with hardened output shaft.

BTW, the dirt and rocks are normal.....

Thanks UltraZ, the car I looked at had 44k on it. Send me pics of your car - jcofolla@twcny.rr.com.

Thanks again, the rock thing had me.