Is the C5 design timeless, or is the C6 dated?
#1
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Is the C5 design timeless, or is the C6 dated?
I remember having my 1991 C4 back in the early 2000s and looking at C4 to C5 conversion kits because my car felt really dated to me. I have never felt that way about either of my C5s. Do you think this speaks to how well the C5 was designed, or to how little the C6 really changed things?
#4
Safety Car
The C4 was an 80’s design. Seems like most all manufacturers made huge visual design changes for the 90’s but the changes have evolved more slowly into the 2000’s.
#5
Melting Slicks
+1
People "guess" that mine is a "new" vette pretty often
I have owned four generations, and every time a new gen come out, I wanted to move up, until NOW. The C5 is such a GREAT car, that looks and performs just as well as a 2011. I don't foresee swapping it anytime soon
People "guess" that mine is a "new" vette pretty often
I have owned four generations, and every time a new gen come out, I wanted to move up, until NOW. The C5 is such a GREAT car, that looks and performs just as well as a 2011. I don't foresee swapping it anytime soon
#6
Drifting
So the answer: buy a C6. And keep the C5.
#8
Burning Brakes
I love my c5 FRC but the c6 z06 looks awesome and when parked next to my c5 it definately looks dated....Ill wait for the prices to drop a bit more to get one...but I doubt Ill get rid of the FRC
#11
My 97 is magical in the way the body curves and dips and flows...I sit in my garage staring at it's design nuonces and am amazed at how sultry sexy it manages to appear from so many different viewing angles. They (GM) may we have designed one of the most beautiful cars ever in the C5 we love so much. Check that subtle dip in the roof, the similar one in the hood, the complex lines which are so sneaky until you really study this piece of automotive art...the C6 although a wonderful machine in it's own right is just not as sensual as a C5...if you own a C5 keep it, if you don't go buy one...I'll never get rid of mine...at 64 this is likely my last performance car, and I'm so satisfied it's a C5.
Bob
Bob
#12
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St. Jude Donor '03-'04
I'm a bit bias to the C5 design
I am always asked if it is new... when I say always.. I mean always.. when people walk past my car, and I am just getting in or getting out, people just cant walk by, they always have something to say, and its usually " is it brand new" .. when I tell them its 13 years old and has over 82,000 miles they want to argue with me, or think I am pulling their leg... they point to my wheels, wheel wells , rotors and calipers...the paint looks wet all the time and better than new... Of all the Corvettes Ive owned and the 20 or so other cars.. this one is by far the best by styling design and engineering design..with lots of ground breaking innovations.
Bill aka ET
ON a side note.. I go to the gym 6 days a week..I park in front of the windows where the treadmills are... I do 65 minutes on the treadmill or elliptical and another 45 minutes in circuit training.. while on the treadmill, ... I watch the people come and go...it tickles me to see people walk by and cant help but stop and stare, and all I keep thinking is, it's 13 years old. New People come into the gym and ask the trainers, Who owns the Corvette..atleast once or twice week someone comes up to me, and asks me about the car.
I shot this frame through the window at the gym with my Droid smart phone while on the treadmill.
Bill aka ET
ON a side note.. I go to the gym 6 days a week..I park in front of the windows where the treadmills are... I do 65 minutes on the treadmill or elliptical and another 45 minutes in circuit training.. while on the treadmill, ... I watch the people come and go...it tickles me to see people walk by and cant help but stop and stare, and all I keep thinking is, it's 13 years old. New People come into the gym and ask the trainers, Who owns the Corvette..atleast once or twice week someone comes up to me, and asks me about the car.
I shot this frame through the window at the gym with my Droid smart phone while on the treadmill.
Last edited by Evil-Twin; 09-13-2011 at 09:32 PM.
#13
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St. Jude Donor '09-'10, '14
A vette is a vette. None are completely timeless in appearance, but they are all timeless as a vette.
This comparing one vette to another is nonsense.
Buy the one you personally like because it's all personal opinions.
This comparing one vette to another is nonsense.
Buy the one you personally like because it's all personal opinions.
#15
Melting Slicks
All the reasons above are why I hesitate to do any visual mods to my FRC. I see things I like on other cars, but when I contemplate them for myself I just don't feel like messing with perfection. About the only change I am making is going from Wagon wheels to Z06 wheels. While in Bowling Green last weekend I saw a red FRC with the same Z06 wheels as I have and I thought, nice but wouldn't polished wheels be really nice! For now I'll be happy with new wheels and tires. I love the C6 too but the interior "eyebrows" of the C5 just sets me back to the C2 interior I fell in love with back in the day.
#16
Safety Car
i disagree because it really comes down to your definition of timeless. personally i believe several of the vette generations are 'timeless' as i see it' the 53, the 57, the 64 split window tanker, the 68 or 69 C3. in my opinion these are all classicly styled and timeless in that design. the C5 is unique in design by comparison to late 90s styling, and the C6 tried to improve on that unique styling but fell short in m opinion. only time will tell if it is ever considered timeless (the C5).
#17
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St. Jude Donor '03-'04
i disagree because it really comes down to your definition of timeless. personally i believe several of the vette generations are 'timeless' as i see it' the 53, the 57, the 64 split window tanker, the 68 or 69 C3. in my opinion these are all classicly styled and timeless in that design. the C5 is unique in design by comparison to late 90s styling, and the C6 tried to improve on that unique styling but fell short in m opinion. only time will tell if it is ever considered timeless (the C5).
#18
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I am always asked if it is new... when I say always.. I mean always.. when people walk past my car, and I am just getting in or getting out, people just cant walk by, they always have something to say, and its usually " is it brand new" .. when I tell them its 13 years old and has over 82,000 miles they want to argue with me, or think I am pulling their leg... they point to my wheels, wheel wells , rotors and calipers...the paint looks wet all the time and better than new... Of all the Corvettes Ive owned and the 20 or so other cars.. this one is by far the best by styling design and engineering design..with lots of ground breaking innovations.
Bill aka ET
ON a side note.. I go to the gym 6 days a week..I park in front of the windows where the treadmills are... I do 65 minutes on the treadmill or elliptical and another 45 minutes in circuit training.. while on the treadmill, ... I watch the people come and go...it tickles me to see people walk by and cant help but stop and stare, and all I keep thinking is, it's 13 years old. New People come into the gym and ask the trainers, Who owns the Corvette..atleast once or twice week someone comes up to me, and asks me about the car.
I shot this frame through the window at the gym with my Droid smart phone while on the treadmill.
Bill aka ET
ON a side note.. I go to the gym 6 days a week..I park in front of the windows where the treadmills are... I do 65 minutes on the treadmill or elliptical and another 45 minutes in circuit training.. while on the treadmill, ... I watch the people come and go...it tickles me to see people walk by and cant help but stop and stare, and all I keep thinking is, it's 13 years old. New People come into the gym and ask the trainers, Who owns the Corvette..atleast once or twice week someone comes up to me, and asks me about the car.
I shot this frame through the window at the gym with my Droid smart phone while on the treadmill.
I agree about the timeless looks of the C5. I have a final production year 2004, however I get asked on a regular basis if it is new by non-Corvette owners.
I remember when I purchased mine new the summer of 2004 right when the C6 models were showing up on dealer lots. I literally compared the C5 with the C6 side-by-side. I would be lying if I didn't mention $$$ was a big factor in my decision due to GM pushing out the C5s, however I have never regretted my decision.
When I first saw the C5 back in 1997, I had a "gotta have it" response. Not so much with the C6. Although it's a step forward in terms of performance and features (which it should be), the styling changes weren't enough to make me want to change. Plus, I love the wider look of the C5 and the Ferrari-like profile. The C6 convertible IMO looks chopped off. The C6 Z06, however is a killer!
#19
Melting Slicks
Great story!
I agree about the timeless looks of the C5. I have a final production year 2004, however I get asked on a regular basis if it is new by non-Corvette owners.
I remember when I purchased mine new the summer of 2004 right when the C6 models were showing up on dealer lots. I literally compared the C5 with the C6 side-by-side. I would be lying if I didn't mention $$$ was a big factor in my decision due to GM pushing out the C5s, however I have never regretted my decision.
When I first saw the C5 back in 1997, I had a "gotta have it" response. Not so much with the C6. Although it's a step forward in terms of performance and features (which it should be), the styling changes weren't enough to make me want to change. Plus, I love the wider look of the C5 and the Ferrari-like profile. The C6 convertible IMO looks chopped off. The C6 Z06, however is a killer!
I agree about the timeless looks of the C5. I have a final production year 2004, however I get asked on a regular basis if it is new by non-Corvette owners.
I remember when I purchased mine new the summer of 2004 right when the C6 models were showing up on dealer lots. I literally compared the C5 with the C6 side-by-side. I would be lying if I didn't mention $$$ was a big factor in my decision due to GM pushing out the C5s, however I have never regretted my decision.
When I first saw the C5 back in 1997, I had a "gotta have it" response. Not so much with the C6. Although it's a step forward in terms of performance and features (which it should be), the styling changes weren't enough to make me want to change. Plus, I love the wider look of the C5 and the Ferrari-like profile. The C6 convertible IMO looks chopped off. The C6 Z06, however is a killer!
#20
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St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
I like my C5 and it still looks almost new, But when it sits next to something like the ZR1 my C5 looks dated to me. Damn.
Mr.Bill
Mr.Bill