Vehicle Description
This slick 1998 Corvette represents one of the biggest bangs for
the buck anywhere. Nicely maintained and not modified under the
hood, it's one of those clean drivers that tend to stand out at car
shows and on the highway. It's got the right colors, a 6-speed, and
no stories, and for under $20 grand, you just can't go any
faster.
Dressing your 'Vette in Torch Red is never a bad choice, and the
clean lines of the C5 seem to work especially well when they're
attracting attention. This one shows off the ministrations of a
dedicated owner who made sure it was always clean and waxed, and
given the relatively low mileage, it wasn't used in the daily
grind. As a result, the usual high-wear areas are in good shape
with some chips and scrapes, but nothing that you'll notice from
even five feet away. Sure, it's almost 20 years old, so there are
some signs of age, but like most Corvettes, this one has definitely
led an easy life. Other pleasant surprises include the tinted
windows, which look awesome against the red car, the optional
"Stinger" on the sides of the bodywork, and two tops, which were an
extra-cost option. This car just looks right.
Black leather is a great complement to the Torch Red paint, and
this C5 appears to be an unusual find, sporting only the go-fast
options but precious little else. That means standard buckets,
which are actually a lot lighter than the Sport seats and every bit
as comfortable (and rarer!). The leather remains in nice condition
with only a small split on the high-traffic area on the outer
bolster. Bright gauges with electro-luminescent dials look as cool
today as they did in 1998, and you'll note that little button on
the center console for the traction control, just in case some
burnouts are in your future. Manual A/C is another interesting
feature, although it does carry standard power windows, locks, and
seats, cruise control, and a Bose AM/FM/CD stereo system all make
this Corvette as much a luxury cruiser as back road burner. It also
has great storage capacity with a remarkably big trunk, and even
back there the carpets show very little wear.
The 346 cubic inch LS1 engine needs no introduction, although it's
somewhat disguised under the heavy plastic coil covers. In the
years since its introduction, these engines have proven to be
incredibly reliable and durable, and there's a huge variety of
aftermarket performance parts available for them. Fortunately, this
one has led an easy life and still carries its factory-spec
components, suggesting that it hasn't been raced or abused. But
even in stock form, the LS1 is a formidable performer, even today,
and the flexible power band makes it a joy to drive in traffic or
on the open road. Remarkably, the 6-speed manual transmission was
optional and most C5s are automatics, so this red 'Vette is snappy
around town yet the tall gearing makes it a superlative highway
cruiser. Even the exhaust system is completely stock and it's so
clean underneath that you have to wonder if this car has ever seen
the rain. Stock C5 wheels are still a clean design that looks
great, and they carry factory-spec 245/45/17 front and 275/40/18
rear Goodyear run-flat tires.
C5 Corvettes aren't just great cars, they're incredible bargains,
too. If you want one that's been gently used but will still stand
out from the crowd, this is an awesome choice. Call today!
