Looking at buying a c5
- Thread starter Jimmywick
- Start date
teamzr1
Supporting vendor
I know multi C5 owners with around 200,000 miles on them and not needing any internal engine or tranny work
and just using a bit of engine oil
I have a 1999 C5 since 2000, and it runs like new
GM is pretty good on their LSx engine designs, and they are like bullets
If you're looking at 2003-4 MYs even the base engine is like the LS6 engine,
has a bit faster PCM and fuel injectors are a bit bigger, so is the MAF
and just using a bit of engine oil
I have a 1999 C5 since 2000, and it runs like new
GM is pretty good on their LSx engine designs, and they are like bullets
If you're looking at 2003-4 MYs even the base engine is like the LS6 engine,
has a bit faster PCM and fuel injectors are a bit bigger, so is the MAF
teamzr1
Supporting vendor
I have 4 screwed up discs in my spine and I have multi times drove round trip from Ca to Il (2,800 miles each way)
and only stop for like a 2-hour sleep and that is with race shocks, shorter height tires, and the car lowered, so C5 drives very well
This is with the sports seats, which are a bit stiffer
and only stop for like a 2-hour sleep and that is with race shocks, shorter height tires, and the car lowered, so C5 drives very well
This is with the sports seats, which are a bit stiffer
Eurovettes
Supporting vendor
Take a look at the for sale I have a sound 2000 proct car needs minorvfettlingvto be perfect. Paint scheme not to everyone's liking tho. Cheers keith. @Eurovettes
Stingray
CCCUK Member
Yes. I had a C5 for more than a decade and they are great cars for the real world. Didn't do mega annual miles but they clocked up over the years.
The good thing about C5 is the car was thoroughly engineered from the outset. The limited number of regular faults that exist are well understood and generally not difficult/expensive to fix. Parts availability is generally very good although the specific "Euro" parts can be trickier to get. (Key fobs, TPMS sensors, headlamp units etc.)
In terms of ownership prospects make sure the seats are in good shape when you buy. They were built down to a price (as was the whole interior) and can get very worn. To say that the headlamps are poor would be an understatement, so watch out for that. Sufficiently poor to limit A/B-road progress at night. Also watch out for a couple of other things; under braking the nose of the car tends to "dive". This doesn't matter when driving in a straight line but causes the car to squirm if you have any steering applied. The rear body of the car also has a tendency to wobble if you hit a bump while in a corner. If you were to buy a 4-speed auto watch out for what can very violent kickdown from 4th to 2nd - sufficient to unsettle the back of the car. I used to downshift manually to third ahead of an overtake in order to suppress that aspect.
In summary, C5 is a great and reliable car - quick enough for real-world use. If you want to go "fast" there are some modest reservations.
Eurovettes
Supporting vendor
Full 4 wheel alignment transforms a poor riding c5 (same for C4 and c3)
I love c5s run for ever I have owned 5.
Look out for harmonic balancer wobble
I love c5s run for ever I have owned 5.
Look out for harmonic balancer wobble
