C5s
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 603
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From: Baltimore County MD
C5s
Just read an interesting article on C5s . Long story short --not many are bought---not many are sold---not many are driven. IMO, good car under the hood, but like the looks and fun of the C4 better. Totally subjective like music and art, I know. May like the C5 a lot more if/when my opti starts acting up.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 4,648
Likes: 1,059
From: N.E. Ohio OH
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
there are 2 C5's that have been sitting at a local dealership for months. Now they are sitting out in the weather getting rusty. both are relatively low mileage cars so there is no reason why they are not selling.
on the other hand, we have seen numerous low mileage well maintained C4's sell rather quickly around here.
on the other hand, we have seen numerous low mileage well maintained C4's sell rather quickly around here.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,230
Likes: 418
I would like to see this article if it could be posted. I find it hard to believe that C5s are not driven since I see a lot of daily driver C5s around my area. C4s - not so much (never mind the earlier generations).
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,751
Likes: 275
From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Just read an interesting article on C5s . Long story short --not many are bought---not many are sold---not many are driven. IMO, good car under the hood, but like the looks and fun of the C4 better. Totally subjective like music and art, I know. May like the C5 a lot more if/when my opti starts acting up.
My next Corvette will be a black C6 coupe, just got to wait for the price to come down. I cannot justify mortgaging the house for another corvette, they are damn expensive over here in Oz ....not to mention the Ozzie dollar down to 74 us cents....
Right hand drive ones in Oz
C6 ZR1 180k ZO6 130K plain Jane C6 70k to 80k...
Pity the value of the C4 has dropped so much,
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,691
Likes: 71
From: Phoenix Arizona
The article was posted here somewhere, maybe OT. It was all BS. C5s are driven just as much as C4s, probably more so. Most C4s are seldom driven anymore, while many C5s are still daily drivers, with the average one about 135k miles (that means half of them are over 135k). One of their big pluses is they are newer. This is a C4 forum, so you are going to get a lot C4 rah rah. C5s are about where C4s were 5 to 10 years ago. They're great cars, fast, comfortable, economical, very reliable (for a 13 to 20 year old car), and a great value for about $10-$12k. A C6 will set you back about $10k more.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,179
Likes: 673
From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
And the author of the story must be smoking something....
IMHO anyone that enjoys driving a C4 will appreciate the C5 as well.
Better comfort, reliability, power and handling are the advantages of the +1 generation.
Equally, the C6 has distinct styling advantages over the 5.
But as we've seen, each passing gen leaves different niches in the market.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,275
Likes: 165
From: Utah
I took a 2002 C5 out for a test drive before i started building up my C4.
I was not impressed at all, the car drove like my wifes saturn aura, i did not feel like i was driving a sports car at all.
Then other things in the car felt cheap, and reminded me of my mothers 97 Pontiac sunfire.
I was not impressed at all, the car drove like my wifes saturn aura, i did not feel like i was driving a sports car at all.
Then other things in the car felt cheap, and reminded me of my mothers 97 Pontiac sunfire.
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Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
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Likes: 763
I've had a couple C5's (2000 Z51 coupe, and a 2004 Z06) - both nice cars. the 04Z was a fun ride, the Y2K coupe, and great long distance cruiser. I would be open to another, in fact, wouldn't mind having a (real) 50th anniversary coupe. i'm trying to get down to one corvette, and since I can't part with my 85, I really don't see another C5 in my future, but then again, who knows???
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 4,648
Likes: 1,059
From: N.E. Ohio OH
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
Back before I got back into a Corvette, I wanted a 97 through 99. I started doing a lot of reading about them. I also started scanning the ads. It turned out that most of them (C5's) that I saw for sale were in the 70K+ mile range. The prime age that maintenance, such as clutches start needing to be done.
I also found out about the maintenance costs for C5's and beyond. That is why I chose a C4. While a lot of parts are out of production, you can find them if you are diligent enough and you can still work on them yourself. Plus you don't have to tear so much out to do things like replace a clutch, which adds up if you have to pay someone to do it.
I would like the performance potential of the LS engines, but I couldn't justify buying a car and having to spend potentially 1000's just to keep it going when I could spend that same money to make a C4 better.
I know I would have probably had to spend another 10 or so to get a C5 with the mileage my car has, that 10 will buy a lot of performance parts, a lot.
I also found out about the maintenance costs for C5's and beyond. That is why I chose a C4. While a lot of parts are out of production, you can find them if you are diligent enough and you can still work on them yourself. Plus you don't have to tear so much out to do things like replace a clutch, which adds up if you have to pay someone to do it.
I would like the performance potential of the LS engines, but I couldn't justify buying a car and having to spend potentially 1000's just to keep it going when I could spend that same money to make a C4 better.
I know I would have probably had to spend another 10 or so to get a C5 with the mileage my car has, that 10 will buy a lot of performance parts, a lot.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,181
Likes: 286
From: Puyallup Washington
I have had 3 C4 Corvettes and 2 C5 Corvettes. My first was a 1991 automatic coupe with 47000 miles on it. I sold it to buy a 2002 Z06 with 22000 miles. I then bought a 1992 automatic with 49000 miles. Then I added a 84000 mile 1991 coupe with a 6 speed and a supercharger. I sold the 1992 and then bought a 2000 convertible with an automatic and 34000 miles.
So now I own the 1991 supercharged 6 speed, the 2000 automatic convertible and the 2002 Z06 6 speed. All are great cars to drive and are totally different from each other. The 2000 is a somewhat refined nice cruiser, the Z06 is a beast, and the 1991 is a high powered go kart.
All are fun.
So now I own the 1991 supercharged 6 speed, the 2000 automatic convertible and the 2002 Z06 6 speed. All are great cars to drive and are totally different from each other. The 2000 is a somewhat refined nice cruiser, the Z06 is a beast, and the 1991 is a high powered go kart.
All are fun.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,396
Likes: 129
From: Plainfield IN
My first Vette was a '03 - bought it in '04. Prior I have driven C3 & C4 and found the C5 to be a very nice "luxury" 2 seat sports car - didn't have the race car feel of the C3 or C4.
Don't get me wrong there's nothing wrong with that, but I think the C4 ('94) is the cats meow!! If I was to go back to a C5 it would only be due to the "getting in & out" of my C4 - back/leg issues. It's a bitch getting old - lol.
Don't get me wrong there's nothing wrong with that, but I think the C4 ('94) is the cats meow!! If I was to go back to a C5 it would only be due to the "getting in & out" of my C4 - back/leg issues. It's a bitch getting old - lol.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,426
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From: Pennsylvania
[QUOTE=zr1fred;1593898416]The article was posted here somewhere, maybe OT. One of their big pluses is they are newer. This is a C4 forum, so you are going to get a lot C4 rah rah.
Yes, only one generation newer. Hardly see that as a "big plus". C5's are now 20 years old. Not new to anyone anymore. And yes, this is a C4 forum. Are we supposed to come here and just rah rah about C5's? Wouldn't be much of a dedicated C4 forum now then would it? Face it, for the most part anyone with any certain generation of Corvette joins the specific forum that suits their generation of Corvette and most do rah rah about their specific car generation. Just as we certainly do in this C4 forum. Basically because we like them to begin with.
Yes, only one generation newer. Hardly see that as a "big plus". C5's are now 20 years old. Not new to anyone anymore. And yes, this is a C4 forum. Are we supposed to come here and just rah rah about C5's? Wouldn't be much of a dedicated C4 forum now then would it? Face it, for the most part anyone with any certain generation of Corvette joins the specific forum that suits their generation of Corvette and most do rah rah about their specific car generation. Just as we certainly do in this C4 forum. Basically because we like them to begin with.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,002
Likes: 99
From: Emmaus pa
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,528
Likes: 752
From: South Dakota
I see both C4's and C5's for sale all the time. Prices on both have gotten pretty low.
I have had both C4's (7) and C5's (2) and still have both generations. They are both great cars, but different. Both have their good and bad points. Either one could be the better choice depending on your needs/wants.
Try driving both to compare and with prices so low, and if you can get both, go for it.
I have had both C4's (7) and C5's (2) and still have both generations. They are both great cars, but different. Both have their good and bad points. Either one could be the better choice depending on your needs/wants.
Try driving both to compare and with prices so low, and if you can get both, go for it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,841
Likes: 19
From: CLT, North Carolina
I don't know why anyone would think C5s are not driven but I saw that tag in a recent Barrett Jackson write-up which labeled a C5 that went across the block: "C5, the cars that are never driven"
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 603
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From: Baltimore County MD
Good job finding the article
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 174
Likes: 4
From: West Palm Beach Fl
there are 2 C5's that have been sitting at a local dealership for months. Now they are sitting out in the weather getting rusty. both are relatively low mileage cars so there is no reason why they are not selling.
on the other hand, we have seen numerous low mileage well maintained C4's sell rather quickly around here.
on the other hand, we have seen numerous low mileage well maintained C4's sell rather quickly around here.
I can't honestly say there is anything about my C4 I like more than I did about my C5 except the C4 has less blind spots and is easier to drive over speed bumps and dips. I've driven a few C6s and I can say the samething. There was nothing I liked about my C5 more than those C6s I had the pleasure of driving. The only thing better I guess is working on the car. The C4 is a breeze to work on while the C5 presented a few more challenges to work on. Plus C4 parts in general I find to be cheaper. Just one blokes $.02.