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In an effort to obtain as “balanced” a set of responses as possible, I am posting this in the C3 General Discussion Forum and the C5 General Discussion Forum…
The scenario: You currently own a REAL NICE '82 (probably one of the nicest ones around; red with a black gut, all stock, a real attention getter). Besides your wonderful wife, it is your other pride and joy, and you really enjoy driving, cleaning and tinkering with it. You have said numerous times over the years that you never intend to sell it.
But then, as much as you love it, you're wife's not too crazy about it (rough ride/noisy/A/C not as good as today's cars/generally not what could be considered a comfortable car, especially by today's standards; you know how these cars are). Therefore, your wife is not always necessarily enthusiastic about driving or riding in it.
Say an opportunity presents itself that you might be able to obtain a brand new (2006 or 2007) C6, or if not that, an almost new C5.
You only have one garage space to house one Corvette. Would you keep the '82, and all of its "nostalgia coolness," and its needed tinkering that you immensely enjoy, or give up that stuff and sell it to provide a garage space for the newer car?
Save the money you were gonna use for the C5/C6 (12 months worth of payments), don`t buy a car yet. Use that money to build a second garage on your house. Fast forward 12 months, buy the EXACT SAME C5/C6 that you would have bought. It`s now a year older, and cheaper by AT LEAST the price of your new garage. Now you have the same two Vettes and spent the same money (or less) but your house is worth more, and your C3 is probably worth more too.
Only you can answer that question. I, on the other hand, believe in multiple Corvettes... (They get lonely in the garage, and need company)
I agree, multiple corvettes is the only way to fly! I have a C3 & a C4, but if I had to choose just 1 (I'd get ride of the wife first (which is probably why I am divorced twice!)) I would prefer the C4, or in your case the C5 or C6. JMHO, but if you were smart you would never listen to my advice!
if the car is to be used as a daily driver, I'd go with the C5. My 79 was my daily driver for a few years so I speak from experience. Between mpg, reliability, comfort, the C5 wins hands down.
If the car is to be used recreationally, I'd keep the 82.
I have a C3 because when I did a 5 year cost analysis, the C3 was less expensive than a C5/6 (and I already had a C4 once in the 80's and think the C3s look cooler) to buy, insure, maintain and operate.
But if I didn't have the economics to consider, I would grab a C5 vert or hardtop in a heartbeat (C6s haven't grown on me yet...) for the improvement in systems, handling, and overall comfort; and pass the C3 to the next owner to enjoy.
The C5 is a completely different car. You need one of each. If your cruising the local scene I had rather drive my C3. If the wife and I decide to take an all day or weekend cruise the C5 wins hands down. Much more comfortable car to sit in all day. Still, just not the same as a cammed up muscle car from the past.
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.