As promised I'm going to do my comparison of the C4 and the C5. Not to disparage either one but to give my honest evaluation of the 2 cars.

As many of you know I purchased a FRC in January and sold my 90. I made the switch due to wanting a manual and a car my wife and I could take on a trip comfortably because that's what I intend to do with it. I chose the FRC because IMO it's the meanest looking vette I ever saw and so my favorite as of now. If I just wanted something to tool around here with I would have kept the 90.

Cost:

The C4 right now has truly the best value going IMO, but the C5 is coming down quickly and when the C7 comes out it will be the new C4 which became the new C3 in cost factors.


Looks:

To me the FRC is the best looking vette I've ever seen but I know that's subjective. But to me it is. I also like the looks of the C4 and to this day I notice them coming down the highway. So looks is really a personal thing. But I give the edge to the FRC. I will say I like the looks of the C4 over the C5 coupe, but that's just me.

Interior:

I think the C5 doesn't get the credit it deserves on the interior personally. It seems to be of equal quality in workmanship it's just different. I prefer the seats of the C4 over the C5, as far as sitting goes, but I like the looks of the C5 sport seats really well. But I don't have them. On the highway the C5 is more comfortable. I like the gauges of the C5 better in looks but as far as functionality it's equal. I do miss the speedo in the C4 though. The C5 is easier to get in and out of.

The interior of the C4 has options I miss. Like the ambient lights in the doors, and the fact you can put a double din HU in without the cost of a 400 buck bezel the C5 requires.

The C4 is also put together so that the interior is way easier to take apart. The C5 is held together with the typical plastic grommets and such.

I give the to the C4 on the interior.


Driveablity/performance:


I can feel the difference of the 350 HP over the 250 of the 90. It's way noticeable and quicker. I haven't pushed it hard yet though, but I know it's there. I have a dyno sheet that has it at 307 at the rear wheels.

On the highway I prefer the C5, on a curvy country road I miss the C4. As we all know, you strap a C4 on and in that venue it's very noticeable. I feel like I'm falling out my seat in the C5. Hopefully I'll get used to it.

The C5 does ride a lot better over rough roads. It's very noticeable, but on the open highway, or curvy road, it's about even to me.


Build quality:

I'd say it's a toss up. They both have their issues, but different issues. Some of the issues on the C5 are weird though. Like the steering column lock? What's up with that?

Mods:

There are tons of mods for the C5 both performance and looks. I don'tknow if they have more, but they market them more.



Cost of ownership:


Don't know about taxes yet but my insurance went up about 170 bucks a year for the FRC.

Parts are way more expensive for the C5 as well. Until you experience the parts cost factor of the c5 or c6, you haven't witnessed a true corvette tax. At least on the C4 parts are reasonable.


Overall:

I like my FRC really well. It's a blast to drive and gets over 30 MPG on the highway. I average 24 to 26 in City/Highway, and I drive an equal amount of both.

Have you ever experienced an automatic attachment to a car? Like when I first got my 90 it still seemed like it was the PO's car. As time went by though that did change. But the day picked up the FRC it seemed like I had owned it since it was new. I don't know, kinda weird really.

So in closing if you're thinking of going to a C5 just to change cars I would say don't do it. But if you're like me, and like the C5, I'd say you won't be disappointed. You will miss the C4 some though because I do.

If I had the LT4 I doubt I would have changed cars. And even though I don't race around it's nice knowing I can

Feel free to ask any particualr questions I didn't answer.

Edit: I don't know what they're called but I also miss the side lights that come on with the blinkers and when you put it in reverse. And also, the C5 doesn't have a spare tire so they run with run flats that are expensive and noisy on the highway. Some guys just put normal tires on and carry an air pump and tire seal.

Oh yeah, I've already spent 500 bucks on things

 

Thank you for that, I for one enjoyed your write up. I have only had the opportunity to drive C4's and one C6. So it is nice to get an opinion of a former C4 enthusiast on a C5.

 

Very good write up and interesting comparisons.

My first C4 was a '92 vert and I had owned 3 C3's prior to that. So initially I experienced many of the things you saw going from a C4 to a C5.

I had my 92 for over 7 years and I really came to love the car for what it was in terms of styling, performance, and technical innovations and the color (Polo Green and tan top and interior) compared to the C3's. I drove that car across country and back for the 50th Anniversary celebrationl in Bowling Green. That was 6600 miles in 11 driving days. At the time I thought there would be no way I could have done that in any of my C3's.

In '05, I bought an 02 coupe from a CF member and I remember driving home from CA back to WA and I couldn't believe how much more comfortable it was and how much better it handled. And this coupe has at least 3 times the interior storage capacity that my 'vert had.

Guess there are always enough improvements in each generation that makes one car better then the one before it.

I can't address performance between my old stock 92 and the 02, as the 02 is supercharged and spits out 443 rear-wheel HP. That's a good 200 HP more than the 92 had . But gas mileage is very close with both cars. I have seen honest 32MPG in both cars at speeds over 80 going thru an entire full tank of gas. And that's with calculating by hand, not what is displayed on the DIC.

I still have an 87 C4 that is my autocross and track day car so I have the luxury of driving both those generations. The 87 is a rough ride, it's loud, you sort of wear it when you get in (that's the one thing I really liked about the 92 cockpit!), and you have to be on top of it all the time. Just like a true sports car.

The C5 in stock form is what I would like to call a true 2-seat GT sports coupe. It has the basic elements of a sports car, but more refined. Until you drive it like one.

 

Thanks c4cruiser that's one thing I meant to address and failed to. The c4 seems to be more fun on a curvy road for different reasons but the C5 corners like it's on rails, as I've heard others say, maybe that's why I feel like I'm sliding out of my seat. I know a lot of C5 owners replace the seats, as they have rail issues anyway.

I didn't think there was any way a car could corner better than the C4 but I was wrong. I guess it's all in the suspension.

 

The post is accurate to include to the fact the FRC would be the only C5 I would buy. I would take the LS1 or LS6 out and shove a LSX Stroker block in there with a Maggie

 

I agree with most everything said. I loved my 93 but don't regret moving to the 2004. The six speed is really tight, makes shifting a blast. It also has a HUGE power band in 2nd and 3rd gears, it really gets moving fast. I do have the sport seats in mine, they are very comfortable and I prefer them over the C4 seats and I really don't miss climbing in and out of the C4, it was just not pleasant.

The C5 does have some strange little quirks, I too dislike the steering column lock, but about $70 and 30 minutes and it can be bypassed. I also don't like the 1st to 4th lockout, but it can also be bypassed. The run flats feel like four rocks on cold days until they warm up, but having experienced a flat, the 200 miles extra you get was a god send.

My 04 has every option available on a C5 and it's great. I love the feel of the interior, the ride adjustment is very effective and it just sounds great. If I had a complaint it would be the front seems lower than the C4 so it tends to "rub" more often.

Other than that, I love it. I look forward to the day the next C4 gets on the road, but that's a few months down the road. It will be a track car and the C5 will remain my daily driver.

 

Thanks for the write up. It was very interesting to hear it knowing your experience with both generations.

 

I went from an 89 convertible to a 98 convertible (perfect for a dyslexic like me). I agree that the C4 hands down has a better seat feel. I did not have the sport seats in my C5 and if taking a curve aggressively you were either pinned to the door or pinned to the console. For that reason I never got to push the handling envelope on the C5 like I did with the C4.

 

I have a 375 rwhp heads/cam/4.10's 94 LT1 and a 580 rwhp Lingenfelter twin turbo 01 C5. I grew up with Chevelle's Camaros ect, and the C4 feels more like one of the old Muscle cars. The C5 will outdo the C4 in every way, but at times it is almost too refined for my taste. If I was forced to sell one, I'm afraid the C5 would have to go. But, I purchased the C4 new, and we have been through alot together.

Just my 2 cents.

 

Thanks for the info. I've had my C4 since last Sept (my first Vette), and plan to drive it until late into 2012 at which time I intend to sell it so that I can experience a C5. I had always heard that the C5 is more refined in almost every way, but I don't get that feeling from your write-up. I'll eventually start hanging around the C5 forums to get a good feel for them before I take the plunge.
BTW, I DO love my C4!!

 

for anyone considering getting another corvette, I strongly urge you not to trade-in your c4.

Think about it. How much is a dealer going to give you for it? 4k? 5k? if you are lucky.

Its worth it for it to instead sit in my driveway under a cover vs. get raped by some dealer (stealer)

 

Nice write up Mike. Makes me feel better about mine.
Sometimes I really think about moving to a '03-'04 C5, or even an early C6.
But my car is paid for, and it really does everything I need out of it.
So, I still have it.
I'll probably have to do something though before I drive the wheels off this one.

 

Some people are like 'yeah, the 6speed c5 i bought is so much faster and more fun than the 90 c4 slushbox I traded in'.

If you are saying this, than you didnt mod your c4 appropriately. C4's came in stickshift also.

yes, c4's are tricky to mod. very little aftermarket support, and due to this EXPENSIVE to mod. But our guys have done it. Aaron at AKS Racing, has 9xx +RWHP out of a 90 vette with SBC. lcvette has got 900 rwhp out of a turbocharged ltx c4 vette.

PLRX has coil-overs and some suspension mods on his vette, I wonder how it would compare to a c5 handling-wise.

I guess some of my attitude comes from when I first got my c4 in 2001 and could rarely get a wave back from a c5. Theres also a lot of c4 bashing that goes on this website. As a result, Ive found myself to be better friends with mustang/camaro/firebird guys than the newer corvette guys.

Ill probably own a c5, as they become a better and better deal everyday, but I will never, ever get rid of my c4.

Thats just me. Ignore my rant and enjoy your new ride.

 

I have always thought the c5 was a great looker. I ended up buying my 1994 conv because i loved the color scheem on it. I remember years ago going into the corvette museum and seeing the 1,000,000 corvette and thinking that thing was a beautiful car. now i own one that looks like it but with the later interior which I like even more than the 1,000,000's. I wish corvette would keep their offering up on the loud colors on interior. I love my bright red seats and carpet. Its loud and it looks good.

 

It's in the handbook (no waves to C4 owners)- [que Hekking] so try not to get too bunched up.

You can't compare modifying unless you do it to both cars. Put coilovers on the C5 and you've just out raced the C4 again. Same with any engine work.

 

You have the Z51 Suspension on your FRC, but if you compared the Base Suspension C5 to, say the C4 FX3, the C4 would win. The Base (especially pre 01 with Nylon endlinks) handles like a Ford Taurus. The good thing is, for $600 (Bilstiens, C6 Sways & Metal e.l.s, then lower it 1") and the C5 is back on rails.

The Sport seats for the C5 are nice (and more comfortable on the hiney if you're a 34"+ pant size) for the long haul. Replace the skins with some 'non-shiny' leather on the Sport seat, and you'll grip just fine.

The 'rail' issue is some 15c washers. If you ever get the 'rockin seat', there's an easy fix for it.

 

Thanks for the write-up, I enjoyed reading your comparison.

B17Crew

 

 

I enjoyed your write up.

I have had 5 C4's and still have 2 of them. I also have a 99 FRC. They are quite different.

The FRC has better trunk storage which is handy for me and gets a little better mileage and is faster too. (stock vs. stock).

The C4's seem to handle better to me, and I like the feel of them better. They seem a little less refined and it is fun.

I like both of them and don't think you can go wrong with either of them.

 

What is a FRC C5 vette compared to the other C5's?