C5 Corvette Still Looks Like a Real Bargain Buy Today

People have called the C5 Corvette a performance bargain for years now, but does it still qualify for that title?

It’s no secret that many have been calling the C5 Corvette a bargain proposition for years now. Everyone from Auto Trader to Doug DeMuro to Road & Track has dubbed the C5 the ultimate performance bargain for roughly the last four or five years. And that made us wonder – is this particular generation of the Corvette still a solid buy? After all, a lot can change in a few years, especially when a car is getting loads of positive press. So we decided to do a little research and find out.

For starters, Hagerty ran an article a few months ago that declared the C5 a buy. They cited the things we love about the car, like its LS powerplant, balance, design, and lightness. But they also point to the car’s attractive price point. This, despite some recent appreciation. Early in 2018, “the median condition #2 value for a 1997–2000 coupe increased 9.2 percent,” Hagerty pointed out. “For a convertible, it was up 7.4 percent. The 2001–04 cars, which had a five-horsepower bump over the earlier cars for an even 350, were up a more modest but still significant two percent. But with a median #2 value still at $21,300, the C5 is still a heck of a lot of car for the money, with room to grow.”

Certainly, an average value increase of just 2% shouldn’t scare anyone away from a C5. But it’s worth noting that the market has changed since this article was written last Spring. So what are values looking like right now? For that answer, we turn to Car Gurus’ price trends, which take into consideration millions of transactions per year. And that data suggests that in the last year, C5 prices have actually dropped slightly.

Not a lot, mind you. And, of course, this data hinges a lot on what model you’re talking about, along with options. But it gives us a nice overall snapshot of the current market. And it tells us that the C5 is still a fantastic performance bargain. Most expect this to remain the same for the foreseeable future, of course. But if you’re thinking about taking the plunge, now looks like a great time to do so.

Photos: Corvette Forum, Car Gurus