ok guys, heres the situation. iv been wanting to buy a corvette for about 2 years (currently drive a 84 camaro) and have been saving as much as possible for the time, and the time is quickly approaching. but now that its here, im completely split between whether i want a c3 (68-72 chrome bumper only), or a c5. heres what im thinking

c3:
pros: i looove older cars the sound, the looks, the roughness. my uncle has a 69 camaro and thats probablly the badest car iv ever driven. muccchh easier to work on, more space and less electronics. i get that cool vintageness. even though im only 18, id love to drive a 40 year old car. i could do more work myself since it has much less electronics and what not. more unique
cons:in my price range, car may be a little rougher shape. not very good on gas. i feel like at the start it wouldnt be as fast as the c5 (although it would probablly be a nice jump over my camaro).

c5:
pros: much newer, better shape. probabally a good deal quicker. iv done more research on them and know more about them, although i dont mind reading up plenty on the c3 if thats what it comes to. great gas mileage!
cons: only so much i can do to it to make it unique. theyre not unique, theres 3 within a few blocks of me. very expensive aftermarket, and almost every performance upgrade needs a retune. i couldnt do as much work due to all the electronics, etc.

sorry for the long post but im split! haha i think im leaning more towards the c3, but want to hear you guys opinions. thanks!!!

 

c5....

c3 need a lot more attention

 

Simple, if you're going to drive it on a regular basis and depend on it for transportation, buy the C5. If you want it as a hobby, buy the C3. The C3 will ALWAYS draw the bigger crowd

 

Everyday driver? C5. No brainer here.

Weekend toy? C3. There's nothing like getting your old Vette out on a nice Sunday afternoon for a trip back in time. You can see how I use mine........

 

what would be the negatives of driving the c3 daily? iv been driving my camaro for about a year and half and that car is rouggghhh

 

 

none, if you are a good grease monkey.

if you keep it maintained, it will take care of you.

 

C3...may not be as fast, but no computers and one thing the C5 will never have...Class

 

C3!

Checked your profile and found nothing? Fill it out so we can help answer your questions. Your location can have a huge effect on the answers you get.

You really didn't give enough information to decide between a C3 or C5. How are you going to use the car and what are your plans for your treatment of the car.

What do you want to do! Rebuild, upgrade, re-condition?

Since you asked this question on a C3 forum, my C3 forum answer is, "buy the C3".

Roll up your sleeves and buy a larger tool box. Then enjoy the ride!

 

Man I forgot that you're 18....

In your case it might be no big deal.....

But for my tired 51 year old @#! it wouldn't be a fun trip to work.....

 

haha sorry, ill fill out my info. the car is going to be a daily driver, but also something id like to put into shows. i want it to be streetable but take it to the track on occasion. you guys are saying the c3 wouldnt be as good as a daily, but let me explain my 84 camaro. car has no a/c, runs horrible, smells terribly of gas, smokes bad at anything over 2500 rpm, bottoms out on the tiniest bump. driving my uncles 69, was much smoother then my 84. so im not to scared of the ridability. also, i may be 18 but i know my way around a car pretty well. i put the 350 in my car, iv done alll the work myself, iv done alot of work on my dads 84 and my brothers 85 t/a. so i think i could deal with the maitnaince. thanks guys, i appreciate the opions, keep'em coming!

 

No what littlesk8cracker? I think you might of been born just a little to late. Forget the C5. You sound like a full-blown C3 kind of guy to me now.....

And I should know. I was 18 when I bought mine.............

 

are you planning to keep the camaro or sell it?

I'm also 18 and drive an 80. Right now it's in pieces in my garage. (new belts and hoses turned into replacement water pump, turned into turned into remove, clean and repaint the belt driven accessories and brackets) I'm sure you have run into this with your Camaro, but a car that's 40 years old is going to need more upkeep than a c5.

I have driven both C3(mine) and a few C5s(through my work) i can say that the c5 is more comfortable, but the c3 is more fun.

edit:reading your previous post, it seems you can handle maintenance. Since that's the case, definatly go C3,

knowing all this, i would still pick the C3 over the C5 any day of the week.

 

Ummm....

Let's consider the money factor as well:

C5 goes for $30K-$40K here in Canada.
C3 (If it is a show car AND has won many of them, $30K, if it is good then around $20K)

C5 is much faster, better in general, upkeep would be less, etc, etc.

Go with the C5, can't believe you're serious.

By the way, you must be one rich kid.

 

You can find plenty of C5's for < $20k. even 2000, 2001 coupes over 100k miles. Many are very well maintained because corvette owners can be like that. But for less than $15k I think you start to get into junk territory. Plenty of nice rubber bumper C3s around for $10k. Have you considered a C4?

Before you buy either, make sure your insurance will be affordable.

Advantage C3: Plenty of help available here.

 

ya i could only wish i was rich. im constantly doing yard work and odds and end jobs for people. i worked at a convenience store for about a year, and soon will be starting with a landscaping company. i save everything i can. all i really pay for is gas, supplements for my lifting, and odds and ends. its been hard not spending all this money but a vette is the one thing i truely want. haha you guys are all split on the decision too. most of you are saying c5 for its daily driving luxery, but thats not one of my bigger concerns. i love the rough ride of an older car. besides i dont do much driving. maximum of maybe 15-20 miles a day. also, i could pick up a c3 in decent shape for slightly cheaper then a c5. i think im pushing more towards the c3 at the moment, but im loving the opinions! thanks

 

insurance fortunantly isnt something i have to worry about. my wonderful parents agree to pay my insurance as long as i stay in school. thats the one thing they do buy me, everything else is on me. if the vette is much more then the camaro im sure ill have to pay the difference, but everyone keeps telling me insurance on their vette is cheaper then their camaro? iv seen some pretty nice chrome bumber c3s for 10-15k, while the c5 usually ranges 15-20. i considered a c4 for a while but that ultimatly got ruled out. love the c3 and c5 so much more, and figure, ill have the car for a looong time, might as well save the extra and get the one i want

 

Insurance is a killer. No matter what your circumstances may be, here in Canada, if you're 18, your insurance will be $330 (minimum, even after the school discount, good student discount etc.)

So let's see:

$30,000 Vette * 1.13 Sales Tax * 1.06 Financing = Roughly $36,000.

$36,000 over 60 months (usual term) = $600 a month.

Add in the wonderful insurance and I may as well buy another house.

 

Let's look at it this way, considering I know a little more about you now.

You're a self-proclaimed grease monkey.
You appreciate classic looks.
You enjoy fixing and working.

... aw just go with the C3!!!

 

haha ya, i think im getting pulled to the c3 more and more. besides, ill be able to get it sooner. iv put away about 5k so far, but the way i have my summer worked out, ill be making atleast 8k. id like to get the car by the end of the summer, and looking on that big famous auction site, i think i can find a c3 in pretty decent shape for under 15k. the c5 however will be a little more. o yea, forgot to add. either way it has to be manual. my camaros an auto and i cant stand it, would never own an auto vette! if i go c5, id only go with a convertible, c3 id prefer convert but i could deffinantly settle with a hard top or t-top car. besides, the family (all chevy family) prefers the older muscle cars. haha i think im getting closer to decision. still like to hear more opinions though