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c5 from ol c4 guy

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Old May 7, 2009 | 05:16 PM
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Default c5 from ol c4 guy

I posted this on C5 forum earlier but in interest of fairness thought it should go here too!!

Hi everyone
just joined forum and I'm an old guy (see username) who is currently thinking about getting a C5 vert 6spd having owned 6 other vettes (3
C4's) over the past 30++ years. Anyone here have any thoughts (ha ha) about C5 v. C4 having had both in past?? Currently am vetteless and hoping to cure this problem soon.

Rich R
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Old May 7, 2009 | 05:24 PM
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Originally Posted by ol rich
I posted this on C5 forum earlier but in interest of fairness thought it should go here too!!

Hi everyone
just joined forum and I'm an old guy (see username) who is currently thinking about getting a C5 vert 6spd having owned 6 other vettes (3
C4's) over the past 30++ years. Anyone here have any thoughts (ha ha) about C5 v. C4 having had both in past?? Currently am vetteless and hoping to cure this problem soon.

Rich R
I haven't had a C5 but been around a lot of them. It depends on personal style and choice. You having been a corvette owner before you know what they say, the newest lowest mileage you can afford. good luck in your search I did hear the early C5s had a steering lock problem maybe? That's something I would check out.

Last edited by RetiredSFC 97; May 7, 2009 at 05:26 PM.
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Old May 7, 2009 | 06:00 PM
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This thread is going to grow big and will deliver!!

Opinions are many; performance, interior, exteriors, etc.

My view on the C5, I care less about the fat butt it has. The LS engine makes ridiculous power with bolt ons. Add a centrifugal supercharger and they crank up to 600~700 RWHP.

I love the way the C6 Z06 look and the LS7 is no joke. All generations have their flaws, the good, bad and fugly.

You can contact a C5/6 owner and get data from them. You'll hear the rear differential seal, draining the battery, steering column lock, etc

$0.02
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Old May 7, 2009 | 06:57 PM
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from more recent previous posts here, the c5 vert is probably going to be "better" engineered.. i.e. rigidity.

You've obviously not new to the c4 (having owned a few), so i guess for you there wont be any surprised there... the c5 (certain models) did come with the HUD (heads up display) which can be a nice feature regardless of age...

the c5 is also probably a little more practical to get in and out of? As you know (from owning previous C4's) they're not he easiest thing to get in and out of.

much more aftermarket support/interest in the LS-x and current vette' drivetrains..

the C4 ZF tranny is awesome though! (even though the clutch setup is a bit unusual).

either way, it's a VETTE'.
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Old May 7, 2009 | 07:37 PM
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I had planned to add a C5 this summer, but I now have some engine work to do to my C4, so that's on hold for a while. I've read about a piston slap problem that I believe was corrected in the '02 models, a problem with seats rocking, HVAC display failing, and battery leakage in some early models. I'm sure they have their fair share of quirks, just like any other car. But I wouldn't mind having one in my garage.
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Old May 7, 2009 | 08:07 PM
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C5's make great beaters..JK.. I have a C5 as a DD 04 with 130K+ miles no issues at all.
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Old May 7, 2009 | 08:26 PM
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cash in your 401k and go buy a new blue C6 ZR-1
us old guys are getting to old to work on cars all the time
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Old May 7, 2009 | 09:36 PM
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I own a C4........BF owns a C5. I love the C4, but the C5 wins hands down as far as comfort, power, the targa top removal and other options it has. IMO

I have actually had my C4 up for sale so I could upgrade to a C5.

Laura
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Old May 7, 2009 | 10:17 PM
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cashing in the 401K....if I did it a year ago I coulda bought a friggin Ferrari....now maybe a used C-5... ok maybe not that bad but still never bought a new Vette yet and don't plan on starting now with so many good clean ones out there with a few miles and all the depreciation already done.

Rich R
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Old May 7, 2009 | 11:34 PM
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Skip the C5 and get a C6.....
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Old May 8, 2009 | 12:08 AM
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Originally Posted by ol rich
just joined forum and I'm an old guy (see username)
Does "ol rich" refer to your given name or your financial status?



Originally Posted by ol rich
cashing in the 401K....if I did it a year ago I coulda bought a friggin Ferrari....now maybe a used C-5...
I know what you're saying. This stock market is worse than a divorce; I've lost more than half my assets and still have my wife.

Seriously, the C5 is a better car but IMO doesn't feel as much like a sports car as a C4.
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Old May 8, 2009 | 06:57 AM
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the biggest mistake i made in cars was getting a lowly joke of an L98 ('90) and modding it. and one glaring miscue was not getting it stroked out to a 383. but i don;t think i would have been happy with that in the medium to long run anyway.

if i had to do it over again, i'd start out with a hugely superior platform in which to add some power -- the C5/Z.

the rattlebucket C4 is an overall disappointment both in looks and in performance. to me, they've been looking too OLD and out of date, and my personality doesn't flow well with that. old is a basic turn-off to me.

just get yourself a C5 6 speed and never look back -- there should be plenty of them out there to look at. take it from me on that one.

Last edited by Red Tornado; May 8, 2009 at 06:59 AM.
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Old May 8, 2009 | 09:13 AM
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I think that you should buy a C4 and then come here and endlessly complain about every aspect of the car. That way if something happens to Red, we'd have a backup.
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Old May 8, 2009 | 10:53 AM
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Originally Posted by Relic
I think that you should buy a C4 and then come here and endlessly complain about every aspect of the car. That way if something happens to Red, we'd have a backup.
Yea, we sure wouldn't want someone to have an opinion on this forum would we............ if Red wants to bash his car, let him. If you like yours, shouldn't matter to you, it doesn't bother me.
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Old May 8, 2009 | 10:59 AM
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Originally Posted by EvanD
Skip the C5 and get a C6.....
Saw a repo 07 in LA a couple of weeks ago for $26k. It was
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Old May 8, 2009 | 11:02 AM
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Originally Posted by Jon Hekking
Yea, we sure wouldn't want someone to have an opinion on this forum would we............ if Red wants to bash his car, let him. If you like yours, shouldn't matter to you, it doesn't bother me.
good post, and thanks......it's people that unfortunately view their car as a personal extension of themselves and their worth (which is terribly immature), and get all undone when someone else provides a personal opinion of their own car that differs from the groupsex-groupthink mentality.

i remember the groupthink "i gotta be with only those that think just like me" mentality waaaaaaay back in high school.
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Old May 8, 2009 | 11:03 AM
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Originally Posted by Jon Hekking
Yea, we sure wouldn't want someone to have an opinion on this forum would we............ if Red wants to bash his car, let him. If you like yours, shouldn't matter to you, it doesn't bother me.
Then why do you bother to comment? I merely expressed an opinion, it's my opinion that Red's relentless and complete bashing of the car is tiresome. So, you want to defend Red's right to an opinion, but not mine?
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Old May 8, 2009 | 11:04 AM
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Originally Posted by Relic
Then why do you bother to comment? I merely expressed an opinion, it's my opinion that Red's relentless and complete bashing of the car is tiresome. So, you want to defend Red's right to an opinion, but not mine?
we can go all day if you wish, PM me for direct communication
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Old May 8, 2009 | 11:07 AM
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Originally Posted by Red Tornado
we can go all day if you wish, PM me for direct communication
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Old May 8, 2009 | 11:18 AM
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Originally Posted by Red Tornado
good post, and thanks......it's people that unfortunately view their car as a personal extension of themselves and their worth (which is terribly immature), and get all undone when someone else provides a personal opinion of their own car that differs from the groupsex-groupthink mentality.

i remember the groupthink "i gotta be with only those that think just like me" mentality waaaaaaay back in high school.
You over analyze, and aren't particularly insightful. It's just tiring to hear, over and over. I get it, the C4 is not a C6 or even a C5. As for styling, that's subjective.
The people in this section, at one point bought a C4, well, the vast majority have. If you buy something, you have decided it's worth your money to purchase said item. I suspect most of the owners actually like what they've bought.
So, you coming here, constantly berating the car, is like telling anyone who likes their car, they were stupid for buying it. It's your right, it's not against the rules, but it's childish.
While both my car and I are old, my car is in no way an extention of me. I was never, ever considered fast, my car once was.
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