C4 Vs. C5
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,625
Likes: 1
From: Rhode Island
This thread is way off track. Here is the original question:
"Now the $64,000 question...are the C5s a better car? Is it a totally new car from the ground up or just a re-worked C4? Are they worth another $10k? I know a lot is personal preference and opinion but being a rookie corvette shopper, I need all the advice I can get."
Here are the answers:
Are the C5's a better car? Answer: Yes
Is it a totally new car? Answer: Yes
Are they worth another 10K? Answer: Yes
"Now the $64,000 question...are the C5s a better car? Is it a totally new car from the ground up or just a re-worked C4? Are they worth another $10k? I know a lot is personal preference and opinion but being a rookie corvette shopper, I need all the advice I can get."
Here are the answers:
Are the C5's a better car? Answer: Yes
Is it a totally new car? Answer: Yes
Are they worth another 10K? Answer: Yes
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,175
Likes: 237
From: Philadelphia Burbs
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
Originally Posted by Joel B.
Not sure if I should post this on the C4 or C5 forum so I just put it on both, hope that is OK.
Looking for a convert and like the C4s (esp. the price) except for the dash and lack of a trunk. I like the C5 dash (and interior) much better and of course, the trunk.
Now the $64,000 question...are the C5s a better car? Is it a totally new car from the ground up or just a re-worked C4? Are they worth another $10k? I know a lot is personal preference and opinion but being a rookie corvette shopper, I need all the advice I can get.
Looking for a convert and like the C4s (esp. the price) except for the dash and lack of a trunk. I like the C5 dash (and interior) much better and of course, the trunk.
Now the $64,000 question...are the C5s a better car? Is it a totally new car from the ground up or just a re-worked C4? Are they worth another $10k? I know a lot is personal preference and opinion but being a rookie corvette shopper, I need all the advice I can get.
(by the way, you've just seen an illustration of how a thread can get totally out of control)
I own both a C4 and a C5, and I believe that overall the C5 is a better car. It should be - the design is approximately 13 years newer.
The C5 was probably the most all-new Corvette ever, with very little carryover from the C4.
I'm not so sure that a 1998 'vert (there were no 1997 convertibles) is worth $10k more than a 1996 'vert, but I would say that, all else being equal (equipment, condition, mileage, etc.) it is worth a substantial uptick.
By the way, I love both my 1985 and my 2003 and intend to part with neither.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,240
Likes: 0
From: Cleveland OHIO
If you are going to drive the car everyday and want to leave it stock I would buy a C5. For a weekend/nice weather toy I would buy the C4 and save some money. You can do alot to a C4 with the money you'll save. I drove a couple of C5's and other than the lower sills seemed like the same crappy Chevrolet we all love.
Last edited by wayne lowry; Aug 26, 2006 at 10:55 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Im waiting for prices on either a FRC or 04 Z06 to come down more....Eventually I may have one in my garage.
FRC-Stripper Z06 for cheap
An 04 black/black Z06
If I ever get tired of the Z Im stepping up.
FRC-Stripper Z06 for cheap
An 04 black/black Z06
If I ever get tired of the Z Im stepping up.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 6,314
Likes: 508
From: South-central Missouri
Originally Posted by timemender
I wouldn’t have believed this if I hadn’t test driven a C6, but the C6 is much improved in handling and “feel” over the C5.
I love my '95 coupe, and I drove the C5 and C6. Excluding the C5 Z06, the C5...just didn't have that quantum leap in overall performance necessary to give me the "hots" to buy one. Nice cars, and an overall improvement, as one would expect: Just didn't ring my chimes.
The C6 was all together a different story! ONce again there is the cockpit feeling and the feeling of the road I get in my C4, and the zap of the LS2 is VERY exciting (I can only imagine what it would be like to drive a C6-Z06!!) Yep, I'll be a savin' my nickels n dimes for a while, but a C6 is in the cards. So, whomever is out there drivin' my "new" C6 - you be takin' good care of her, ya hear??
P.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,488
Likes: 1,352
Here we go again 
You need to drive both and a 97 is not worth $10,000.00 more than a 96. A 96 with the LT4 is only down 15 horsepower on paper to the LS1. The LT4 cars are every bit as quick.
You might like the C4 better you might not, we can't decide for you and neither can the couple of guys that are name calling. You don't have to buy a stock C4
ya know. A buddy of mine just bought a 94 and it's nasty quick and it's mint.
Only paid 15k for it.
You need to drive both and a 97 is not worth $10,000.00 more than a 96. A 96 with the LT4 is only down 15 horsepower on paper to the LS1. The LT4 cars are every bit as quick.You might like the C4 better you might not, we can't decide for you and neither can the couple of guys that are name calling. You don't have to buy a stock C4
ya know. A buddy of mine just bought a 94 and it's nasty quick and it's mint.
Only paid 15k for it.
Last edited by JD'S WHITE 93; Aug 26, 2006 at 01:41 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,186
Likes: 18
From: Scottsdale Az
Originally Posted by jonecap
A C5 feel more like a daily driver to me. If I were buying a Vette for a daily driver it would be a C5. However, for weekend drives, I like the sportscar feel of a C4. Just my $.02. Oh, and the price is better.
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Racer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 327
Likes: 1
From: Trenton Ga
the c4 is a very good car to drive daily if you by a 92 and up lt1 the l98 is not bad eiather and very cheap to work on, the c5 may have some better features than the c4. but guys you have to love the door seals they make it feel like a race car, and the c4 hood looks like a c2 and c3 hood you can see where the design team cept it like a vette. the c5 is its very on thing you would realy have to drive both and see which one you like for me i will have a couple more c4's before i look at a c5, i still want a six speed car a grand sport and a zr1 so i see at least three more in the future than maybe a z06
Racer
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 321
Likes: 0
From: Det.Mi.U.S.A.
Hello,
I think that you have to determine what you want to use the car for. Everyday Vettes are purchased through out all the generations with the buyer making an informed choice. The c4 offers many different choices for you depending on what you could want(grand sport,zr1 ect...). I even remember reading 4 years ago that the 85-86 c4 was the fastest vette autocrosser because of the front suspension(zero scrub or something) losing only to the z06.
When the c5 was created Dave Hill had mentioned that it was designed to attract more women and older buyers which I interpret as meaning a more comfortable user friendly daily driving Vette.
Any way you look at it you cant lose.
Good luck,
MDred85
I think that you have to determine what you want to use the car for. Everyday Vettes are purchased through out all the generations with the buyer making an informed choice. The c4 offers many different choices for you depending on what you could want(grand sport,zr1 ect...). I even remember reading 4 years ago that the 85-86 c4 was the fastest vette autocrosser because of the front suspension(zero scrub or something) losing only to the z06.
When the c5 was created Dave Hill had mentioned that it was designed to attract more women and older buyers which I interpret as meaning a more comfortable user friendly daily driving Vette.
Any way you look at it you cant lose.
Good luck,
MDred85
CF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,219
Likes: 2,870
From: Charlotte N.C.
Originally Posted by MDred85
When the c5 was created Dave Hill had mentioned that it was designed to attract more women and older buyers.
79 or dresser?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,094
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Hot Rod 90
get yourself a nice hopped up LT1 or a nice stock LT4.
take a C5 and drop it off the side of a mountain, the explosion at the bottom would be beautiful pyrotechnics indeed
take a C5 and drop it off the side of a mountain, the explosion at the bottom would be beautiful pyrotechnics indeed
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,625
Likes: 1
From: Rhode Island
Originally Posted by Hot Rod 90
get yourself a nice hopped up LT1 or a nice stock LT4.
take a C5 and drop it off the side of a mountain, the explosion at the bottom would be beautiful pyrotechnics indeed
take a C5 and drop it off the side of a mountain, the explosion at the bottom would be beautiful pyrotechnics indeed
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 22,209
Likes: 12
From: OBAMA IS HITLER
Originally Posted by newyiddy20
sounds like someone here is very sad because the Corvette has evolved since the C4 and he didnt get a few waves back
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,094
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Hot Rod 90
nope not in the slightest......you see i absolutely love the C6. like i said before, i'll take the c5 engine -- without the c5 body. never liked the c5 since day one, like it alot less ever since. sorry about that.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,240
Likes: 0
From: Cleveland OHIO
Originally Posted by newyiddy20
no need to apoligize......the C4 couldnt be made forever. the C6 is an improved C5( and not being insulting to the C6) and thats according to the designers and engineers. if you like the C6,you like the C5
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,094
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by wayne lowry
I like the C6 and do not like the C5. The looks of the car are what I can't get passed. The extra horsepower is great if you're 90 years old and afraid to work on your own car. I do not have that problem.
i refer to my earlier post....the C5 is the start of the ''world class" Vette,something the real hobbyist should have been proud of. in terms of everything,and i mean everything (styling subjective) its light years on the C4,as it should be. i can understand your point though,after having to look at the C4 for 14 long years
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 14,480
Likes: 132
From: PA
If I had $30,000 to spend and it came down to a base C5 coupe or a cherry '96 Grand Sport, I'd buy the Grand Sport everytime. Same with a ZR-1.
My first Vette was a '96 LT4 and the only reason I sold that was to buy a supercharged '97. Had the '97 been stock, I would've stayed with the '96. The Z06 on the other hand, really is a much better car in every single aspect.
My first Vette was a '96 LT4 and the only reason I sold that was to buy a supercharged '97. Had the '97 been stock, I would've stayed with the '96. The Z06 on the other hand, really is a much better car in every single aspect.