It's a fixed roof coupe, no targa top but has a trunk like the Z06. It's the first one on the cover in the poster;

 

FRC (Fixed roof Coupe):


Standard Coupe:

 

I owned a 64 coupe, 71 coupe, 02 coupe and 03 Z06 prior to purchasing my 92. I really enjoyed them all but I like my 92 the best. It seems to ride more like a true vette than either of my C5s. Now that I have the LS3 hot cam in the 92 it out performs any of my previous vettes by far. I will always have my 92 no matter what other toys I acquire. That obviously did not happen with any of the others.

 

nice comparison. I too love the roofline of the FRC reminds me of a 62 vert with a hartop on it
The interior on teh C5 I love, the dash/gauge layout, more roomy no comparison. It feels a little on the dull side but you get used to it, nice for road trips.
The 89 I had felt like mine right from the start the Z never did really. Weird. Some cars fit ya some dont.

Enjoy the C5, they are nice cars.

 

we'll have to agree to disagree.

http://wikicars.org/en/Callaway_Sledgehammer_Corvette

and it did that in 1988

Are there more ultrafast c5/6's on the road right now than C4's? I guarantee there are. Ill also not argue that building an all out c5 will be cheaper and easier than achieving the same performance goals on a c4. But its possible to build a c4 to keep pace with the best and brightest mod'd c5/6's IF you know what you are doing.

This is a misconception that many members here, like yourself, appear to have that the C4 is some kind of lowly inferior car.

Maybe, for a dyno queen number sake comparison, an iron block truck LSx motor all tricked out will make more power than a similar mod'd SBC or LTx motor.....But big deal to make 1XXX hp with an LSx. Unless Im driving 200 MPH that doesnt really benefit me. Noone is going to get traction for any kind of racing that I know about.

 

fixed

 

I owned an 87 coupe and currently own a 89 vert and 2000 FRC, my observations

Seating

the seats on the 84-90 vettes are incredible, the fat boy seats on the later C4 and C5's are all things being equal, about the same or marginal for a sportscar.


Interior Quality

The C5 defineltly shines in this area. I don't care how much time and money you spend on a C4 the interior fit and finish is pour at best. I've driven C4's for nearly 20 years and you can never seem to get rid of the squicks and rattles. While installing a double din sterio in the C5 is expensive, the C5 bose system is hands down a better system than the C4 bose system. Install an amp, 12" sub and I-pod adaptor in a C5 and you have a rockin system.

Mods

The C5 after market is full of add on hp mods, lighting mods, interior and exterior mods. These mods range in price from very inexpensive to incredibly expensive. The C4 is limited to a very small amout of available mods. Most appear to be expensive and/or require a lot of owner creativity.

Ride/Drive

There is no doubt in my mind that the drive fun of a C4 is better, only because the C5 is much more confident and refined. The seat of the pants fun in the C4 is boring in a C5. Push the **** out of the C5 and no C4 could even come close to keeping up. The passenger ride on the C5 is superior to the C4 in every situation.



I've read these posts over the years, and most C4 owners believe they own the last of the true sports cars. I heard these same statements from C3 owner when I bought my first C4. In turn I remember hearing old guys with straight axel cars saying that the only true Corvette sportscars were built before 1967. The reality is all Corvettes from 1953 to 2011 are sportscars, yes they have been refined but, I'm not willing to give up my HID and 400hp to go back to plastic side curtains and 200hp.

I guess what i'm trying to say, be proud of what you got, each of us has worked hard to get it, and respect the each other because were all part of the Corvette fraternity.

Dave

PS Save the wave

 

Couple other things I thought of.

The Clam Shell hood gives better access to the engine bay for working on it, but the C5 has more storage room in either the trunk of the FRC/Z06 and back hatch area on the coupe.

They're both nice cars, just different!

 

 

THanks for the write-up!
I am interested also in trans comparisons, I mean for manual cars. I drove a friend's 06 GTO (T56) and I have to say much prefer my ZF6

Also no complaints with the interior of my 96 - I love it! No rattles/ squeaks. Maybe I lucked out and got a good one. I also like the interior styling of the C5

Agree on FRC styling.
As far as late C4/ early C5, as a total package I'm 100% with the C4. An 'upgrade' from an LT4 for me would be a C5 Z06
More driving impressions please!

 

I can't compare the manual trannies because I've never driven a C4 manual. I do want to drive RollaMo LT4's maybe this summer to see what the difference may be.

I have a MGW shirt throw and it seems you have to really be aware of what you're doing or you'll miss a gear or not get it all the way in. But I contribute that to my lack of experience with a manual vette.

I agree with the poster who said in second and third there's some serious get up and go. Put it in second and hit the gas and a blink of eye your runninng 60.

One other thing I did notice is the steering isn't as tight on the C5 as it is the C4. But I'm used to it now so it's not an issue.

It's a good vette. If people prefer the C4 I certainly understand that as I like the C4. But if someone prefers the C5 I can understand why they do.

I also need to mention the FRC is a low option car built for performance, and I do have way less options than I had with the 90, but it's not a deal to me.

 

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Since, I've never driven a C5, maybe we'll have to trade for awhile during one of the legs of Power Tour.

 

I own both and don't have any misconceptions about the C4. For what I own, it is inferior to the C5, but not lowly.

We are comparing stock to stock, and there are many variables to this.

The C4 came in 5 different models where the C5 only 2 (I'm talking engine configurations).

If you compared a C5 auto vert to a 95 ZR1, I would think the C4 is a more potent beast.

The early C4s are quite different from the later in both hp, handling (fx3 option) and interior fit/finish, where as the C5 offered basically 2 motors (LS1 & 6) and interiors are almost identical with few options i.e. Sport seats vs. regular etc.

 

..and if you throw in the C4 Vert, there's almost zero luggage space unless you have the top up, which defeats the purpose of a nice Coast Highway cruise up the Cali coast.

I agree with the access to the bay, but seems there's so much more packed in the way on the C4 (LTx) vs. the C5. There's no AC, ECM or Overflow tank in the way of getting to things like spark plugs. I found the C5 much easier to change plugs than the LTx.

Did your C4 have 9.5" fronts? I noticed the same as the C5 seems a bit more 'squirly' with the 8.5 fronts.

Shifting, replacing clutch fluid and doing the pump/remove system to really clean it out along with changing tranny fluid will help solve alot of that 'hard crunch' in shifting. Did mine and noticed a huge difference. The MGW is known for being a tough shifter. If you ever want to change it out, get a C6 shifter, cut off 1" and drop a hurst ball on it. Real short throw and quite smooth.

 

C5 doesnt get the clamshell but will say theres a lot less going on in the C5 eng compartment in comparison, very easy to work on.

If it werent for all the electronic glitches in them that seem to plague most gens of Vettes Id have one. Thats one thing about Vettes that drives me nuts..such neat cars but damn they have never got their wiring stuff sorted out to be reliable long term just dont trust GM electronics.

 

I loved both of my C5s and would love to own another one day. My C4 was easily obtained and is a real PITA with all the little ailments that keep coming up, but it is fun to drive and still looks good for an 18 year old car.
I do think the C5 is a better car, hands down, my 99 FRC was a beast.

 

Mike's white '90 had the OEM 9.5s all the way around.
It wasn't until the 1993MY that started with the staggered smaller wheels up front thing.

 

Don't think anyone means any disrespect, but if your throw the ZR1 out of the equation, the C5 is a superior car, hands down. The C4 is a good car, fun to drive but a stock LT1 C4 is not in the same class as a stock LS1 C5, sorry.

 

Good thread.

I went for a C5 convertible since they also have a trunk. Amazing the amount of luggage you can pack in there.

The C5 is a great highway cruiser and also can handle the twistys but the C4 has more of the "low to the ground" sports car feel even though stock to stock it won't hang with the C5.

 

You cant ask an avocado tree to give you apples.