TL;DR - I buy a 97 C5, find out it has lots of issues, but still love the car anyway
In Sep of 2020 I purchased a 97 C5 coupe with 114,454km. I paid a bit more than what it was probably worth, but the seller was firm on the price and as it did have new brakes, new Michelin run flats and a Borla exhaust it seemed fair. He also told me about the few issues he was aware of (hard shift from 1-2, passenger window seal leak, squeaky drive belt), but as it turned out there were several issues he did NOT tell me about as well as several more that he probably wasn't aware of.
Although I've owned many cars, trucks and SUV's over the years, my main focus has always been motorcycles and had made a living working on them as a Service Tech for many years. My four wheeled vehicles were always sent to local garages to have repairs and regular maintenance done, although I did on occasion do the work myself. So, while I wasn't a crack car mechanic I considered myself knowledgeable enough to know what to look for when I went to take my first look at the C5.
My first impressions were favourable and the car seemed to work well despite the bang shifting, noisy belt, crappy looking targa top and a few noticeable scratches on the bodywork. As it was a 24yr old car I knew there would likely be some more issues to sort out, but figured they could be quickly and easily handled. However, the longer I had the car the more issues I found and I began to question my wisdom of purchasing it. To date, these are the problems I've encountered and have fixed myself or at my trusted local garage;
1) Replace drive belt
2) Replace alternator
3) Vinyl wrap damaged targa roof panel
4) Service transmission (tech discovered 1-2 has been programmed for hard shift)
5) Replace LR and LF TPMS sensors
6) Replace faulty RFA module
7) Remove illegal side window tint
8) Bypass Twilight Sentinel system
9) Clean windshield drain udders
10) Correctly install wiper motor rubber shield to prevent shorting out in the rain
11) Replace warped wiper console tray
12) Replace shattered dash centre console
13) Diagnose bty drain issue (dvr power seat motor failure, fuse pulled as a temp repair)
14) Replace broken temp sensor grille on dash
15) Replace broken dvr door trim plug
16) Install backup camera
17) Paint wiper arms
The following issues are in the process of being corrected as time and money permit;
1) Replace air filter, spark plugs, plug wires
2) Repair loose passenger side window
3) Replace all door and top weatherstripping
4) Adjust hood and trunk closure stops
5) Repair crack in passenger door edge
6) Buff scratches, touch up rock chips in paint
7) Repair loose door pull, dvr's side
8) Replace dvr power seat motor
9) Repair separated leather cover on parking brake
10) Coolant flush
So, yeah, there are a few more issues than I'd suspected. But goddamit, every time I sit in her and fire it up I can't help but smile. I love this car and see no reason at all to get rid of it. Ever.
In Sep of 2020 I purchased a 97 C5 coupe with 114,454km. I paid a bit more than what it was probably worth, but the seller was firm on the price and as it did have new brakes, new Michelin run flats and a Borla exhaust it seemed fair. He also told me about the few issues he was aware of (hard shift from 1-2, passenger window seal leak, squeaky drive belt), but as it turned out there were several issues he did NOT tell me about as well as several more that he probably wasn't aware of.
Although I've owned many cars, trucks and SUV's over the years, my main focus has always been motorcycles and had made a living working on them as a Service Tech for many years. My four wheeled vehicles were always sent to local garages to have repairs and regular maintenance done, although I did on occasion do the work myself. So, while I wasn't a crack car mechanic I considered myself knowledgeable enough to know what to look for when I went to take my first look at the C5.
My first impressions were favourable and the car seemed to work well despite the bang shifting, noisy belt, crappy looking targa top and a few noticeable scratches on the bodywork. As it was a 24yr old car I knew there would likely be some more issues to sort out, but figured they could be quickly and easily handled. However, the longer I had the car the more issues I found and I began to question my wisdom of purchasing it. To date, these are the problems I've encountered and have fixed myself or at my trusted local garage;
1) Replace drive belt
2) Replace alternator
3) Vinyl wrap damaged targa roof panel
4) Service transmission (tech discovered 1-2 has been programmed for hard shift)
5) Replace LR and LF TPMS sensors
6) Replace faulty RFA module
7) Remove illegal side window tint
8) Bypass Twilight Sentinel system
9) Clean windshield drain udders
10) Correctly install wiper motor rubber shield to prevent shorting out in the rain
11) Replace warped wiper console tray
12) Replace shattered dash centre console
13) Diagnose bty drain issue (dvr power seat motor failure, fuse pulled as a temp repair)
14) Replace broken temp sensor grille on dash
15) Replace broken dvr door trim plug
16) Install backup camera
17) Paint wiper arms
The following issues are in the process of being corrected as time and money permit;
1) Replace air filter, spark plugs, plug wires
2) Repair loose passenger side window
3) Replace all door and top weatherstripping
4) Adjust hood and trunk closure stops
5) Repair crack in passenger door edge
6) Buff scratches, touch up rock chips in paint
7) Repair loose door pull, dvr's side
8) Replace dvr power seat motor
9) Repair separated leather cover on parking brake
10) Coolant flush
So, yeah, there are a few more issues than I'd suspected. But goddamit, every time I sit in her and fire it up I can't help but smile. I love this car and see no reason at all to get rid of it. Ever.