Update to ZR1 or C6?
Although they are coming down in price.
07-18-2017, 12:57 PM
#142
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
I'm going to get flamed ROYALLY for this but...
but here's my thing with the C5 (other than its ugly as all sin)...
Chevy/GM went through some automobile changes and they changed the quality of their vehicles across the board. i'm not sure what the time period was but for example my 2011 Malibu LTZ was "not" what Chevy used to be, in fact that was a GREAT little car with the V6...or the Cruiz is a good example of a new direction with a totally refined interior (and yes i know the Cruiz was a different base car...but it was the beginning of something good for GM). I mean the early 2000's Impala's and Monte Carlos couldn't compare to imports when considering interior refinements and factory options. Almost everything that GM offered as an "option" was standard on imports (simple example was a/c...it wasnt that long ago that a/c and abs were options on domestic cars but standard on asian imports).
So with all that said...I don't view a C6 the same as I view a C5.
plus it seems to me that most people that have never driven or owned a Corvette ALWAYS gravitate towards the C5, especially when comparing to a C4. MY theory on that is because when they see a C4...it's such a dated look that most associate with the late 80's and THAT was a long time ago folks!!! and the "new and fresh" curvy lines of the C5 just seemed to appeal to the younger people.
i actually VERY MUCH enjoy the look of the C6 (although i have never driven one) and not so much liking the C7 at all (i think its just over engineered and way over the top and the "Stingray" emblem is so tacky it's embarrassing)
back to the C5...when i sit in one (yes i've driven many of them) i see a stereo, power window switches, heater controls ect ect ect that were identical to what you found in a Cavalier (or Cobalt) and that didnt sit well with me at all since when you sit in a C4 you will be hard pressed to find ANYTHING that they shared with another GM vehicle of that generation...in other words the C4 Corvettes were CORVETTES.
There is LOTS of hate for the C4 Bose stereo's but if I'm not mistaken the C5 Bose stereo's are ...worse? is that even possible?
It's because GM went CHEAP with the C5...after all the C5 was just a test car to see if the Corvette brand was going to continue past 1996 (hence the limited production numbers for 1997...the delay in production was a result of GM making the decision to move forward). and for people that dont know...1996 was being tossed around at GM as the last year of the Corvette because they were so expensive to make. the "dwindling sales" argument isn't very solid as they only averaged around 22k units per year for late model C4's (and it was the era of Gas Tax and Fuel Economy)
So I will give the C5 ONE bit of credit...it did save the brand!!!! but thats it...otherwise I'm not interested in owning one at all.
1996 was the LAST REAL CORVETTE
but here's my thing with the C5 (other than its ugly as all sin)...
Chevy/GM went through some automobile changes and they changed the quality of their vehicles across the board. i'm not sure what the time period was but for example my 2011 Malibu LTZ was "not" what Chevy used to be, in fact that was a GREAT little car with the V6...or the Cruiz is a good example of a new direction with a totally refined interior (and yes i know the Cruiz was a different base car...but it was the beginning of something good for GM). I mean the early 2000's Impala's and Monte Carlos couldn't compare to imports when considering interior refinements and factory options. Almost everything that GM offered as an "option" was standard on imports (simple example was a/c...it wasnt that long ago that a/c and abs were options on domestic cars but standard on asian imports).
So with all that said...I don't view a C6 the same as I view a C5.
plus it seems to me that most people that have never driven or owned a Corvette ALWAYS gravitate towards the C5, especially when comparing to a C4. MY theory on that is because when they see a C4...it's such a dated look that most associate with the late 80's and THAT was a long time ago folks!!! and the "new and fresh" curvy lines of the C5 just seemed to appeal to the younger people.
i actually VERY MUCH enjoy the look of the C6 (although i have never driven one) and not so much liking the C7 at all (i think its just over engineered and way over the top and the "Stingray" emblem is so tacky it's embarrassing)
back to the C5...when i sit in one (yes i've driven many of them) i see a stereo, power window switches, heater controls ect ect ect that were identical to what you found in a Cavalier (or Cobalt) and that didnt sit well with me at all since when you sit in a C4 you will be hard pressed to find ANYTHING that they shared with another GM vehicle of that generation...in other words the C4 Corvettes were CORVETTES.
There is LOTS of hate for the C4 Bose stereo's but if I'm not mistaken the C5 Bose stereo's are ...worse? is that even possible?
It's because GM went CHEAP with the C5...after all the C5 was just a test car to see if the Corvette brand was going to continue past 1996 (hence the limited production numbers for 1997...the delay in production was a result of GM making the decision to move forward). and for people that dont know...1996 was being tossed around at GM as the last year of the Corvette because they were so expensive to make. the "dwindling sales" argument isn't very solid as they only averaged around 22k units per year for late model C4's (and it was the era of Gas Tax and Fuel Economy)
So I will give the C5 ONE bit of credit...it did save the brand!!!! but thats it...otherwise I'm not interested in owning one at all.
1996 was the LAST REAL CORVETTE
The car guy at the club who's been in car sales for 50 years pretty much said the same thing. He said C4's were expensive to build and GM needed to figure out a way to cut costs.
07-18-2017, 01:01 PM
#143
Drifting
The car guy at the club who's been in car sales for 50 years pretty much said the same thing. He said C4's were expensive to build and GM needed to figure out a way to cut costs.
my two favorite C5 color combo's would be Pewter Vert with black on black or a Carmine Red Coupe with tinted roof and chrome wheels...but i just cant do it...my brain tells me a C5 isn't a real Corvette haha
Last edited by mark970; 07-18-2017 at 01:05 PM.
07-18-2017, 01:06 PM
#144
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
yup, thats the impression i've had for 20 years...and for me it shows in the C5 as "I" believe its a very cheap car with a nice drive train. i've test driven many and come close to buying a few but i just cant do it...my two favorite C5 color combo's would be light pewter vert with black on black or a carmine red coupe with tinted roof and chrome wheels...but i just cant do it...my brain tells me a C5 isn't a real Corvette haha
I've driven a 98 vert before actually purchasing a 92 coupe. I wasn't impressed with the 98's interior/ seats. My 92 is loaded with all the options (no clear targa) and oozes quality to me.
07-18-2017, 01:10 PM
#145
Team Owner
I don't know about quality from GM for a while. Wonder why they have an Obama appointed CEO?
07-18-2017, 01:54 PM
#146
Race Director
Performance for the money, zr1. Resale, zr1. Uniqueness. Zr1.
That said, i wouldn't buy a zr1. It's hard enough to keep a c6 at legal speeds with the HUD. A zr1 has similar power with no hud. I can see the speeding tickets already.
That said, i wouldn't buy a zr1. It's hard enough to keep a c6 at legal speeds with the HUD. A zr1 has similar power with no hud. I can see the speeding tickets already.
Last edited by FAUEE; 07-18-2017 at 01:54 PM.
07-18-2017, 02:43 PM
#147
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Dec 2005
Location: Where Woke Goes to Die
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Dont care what anyone here says... Ive owned the 92 ZR-1 and 2 02 Z06's.... The ZR-1 was a thrilling automobile and mine had about 45k miles on it.... It was a heavy breather that never seemed to run out of breath. Really was a Beast, as it is appropriately named. I loved that car and still do even though I sold it to a kid who royally f@#ked it up!!!
The first Z06 I had I bought with 15k miles on it. Essentially a new car... Absolute phenomenal automobile. Very fast and did pretty much everything right. The seats were too wide and I slid around in them a bit... other tahn that, never had a single issue with the car. Bought another one with higher mileage so I could mod it up a bit. Cammed it, full exhaust and some other stuff.... 411/385 to the wheels.... At 76k miles another problem free car..... The Bose system was excellent, never had a problem with that either.... Better A/C, Better all around pretty much......
Now on the subject of the C4 not sharing things with other cars.... Really? The manual A/C panel and switches are just alike, the T/S lever, the same, the radio, the same, headlight switch, the same....Shifter and **** **** for Auto, same, seat belts, same... Lots of similarities between the F & G body cars, both of which Ive owned...
All that said, I loved each car the same, for different reasons... The ZR-1 was a brute, nostalgic, the LT-5... and raw as was mentioned... The Z06's, blistering fast from the start and a ton of fun... a race car in sheeps clothing... handling was incredible on both.
I would be proud to own either one and both if I could, like I once did.... My wife keeps selling houses like she is, I might have a chance to!!
The first Z06 I had I bought with 15k miles on it. Essentially a new car... Absolute phenomenal automobile. Very fast and did pretty much everything right. The seats were too wide and I slid around in them a bit... other tahn that, never had a single issue with the car. Bought another one with higher mileage so I could mod it up a bit. Cammed it, full exhaust and some other stuff.... 411/385 to the wheels.... At 76k miles another problem free car..... The Bose system was excellent, never had a problem with that either.... Better A/C, Better all around pretty much......
Now on the subject of the C4 not sharing things with other cars.... Really? The manual A/C panel and switches are just alike, the T/S lever, the same, the radio, the same, headlight switch, the same....Shifter and **** **** for Auto, same, seat belts, same... Lots of similarities between the F & G body cars, both of which Ive owned...
All that said, I loved each car the same, for different reasons... The ZR-1 was a brute, nostalgic, the LT-5... and raw as was mentioned... The Z06's, blistering fast from the start and a ton of fun... a race car in sheeps clothing... handling was incredible on both.
I would be proud to own either one and both if I could, like I once did.... My wife keeps selling houses like she is, I might have a chance to!!
07-18-2017, 03:05 PM
#151
Team Owner
Pro Mechanic
my next newer corvette will be a C6...i just have no idea when that will be, not until they are much cheaper than they are now, so another 10 years maybe!!! 
I'm hoping i can give it a ZR1 appearance (which means i hope i can put ZR1 fenders on a base...hopefully its not wider that far forward)
I'm hoping i can give it a ZR1 appearance (which means i hope i can put ZR1 fenders on a base...hopefully its not wider that far forward)
07-18-2017, 03:23 PM
#153
Drifting
C5 ZO6 does have a better appearance to it...Omg some people are so sensitive. C5 fan boys need to stop being butt hurt in a C4 forum.
but for me, it's both the front and rear bumpers that kill the C5 for me. Sure the Z roof and vents add an nice appeal...it's still a C5
but again, this thread isn't even about the C5 Z06
but for me, it's both the front and rear bumpers that kill the C5 for me. Sure the Z roof and vents add an nice appeal...it's still a C5
but again, this thread isn't even about the C5 Z06
Last edited by mark970; 07-18-2017 at 03:36 PM.
07-18-2017, 03:54 PM
#154
Racer
From every jeneration from C1 to C7 the late model 79-80 C3 and late model C4 93-95 look the best , looks like Art standing still but the combinashion of LT5 and C4 body lines conferm this was the last REAL Corvette ever made but dats just my person opinion brothers.
Last edited by Retired Mechanic; 07-18-2017 at 04:02 PM.
07-18-2017, 03:58 PM
#155
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Dec 2005
Location: Where Woke Goes to Die
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C5 ZO6 does have a better appearance to it...Omg some people are so sensitive. C5 fan boys need to stop being butt hurt in a C4 forum.
but for me, it's both the front and rear bumpers that kill the C5 for me. Sure the Z roof and vents add an nice appeal...it's still a C5
but again, this thread isn't even about the C5 Z06
but for me, it's both the front and rear bumpers that kill the C5 for me. Sure the Z roof and vents add an nice appeal...it's still a C5
but again, this thread isn't even about the C5 Z06
07-18-2017, 04:06 PM
#156
Racer
93-95 C4/ZR1 Seats TO ME feel so good , it is almost like sitting in a paded bathtub and driving , it is qwite an unreal experense of comfort , torqe e speed of ZR1 , no wonder they are grate 4 cruizing.
07-18-2017, 04:30 PM
#157
Pro
In the end, they are all Corvettes. Even though I have favorites, I love them all. I surely wouldn't mind a C5 Z06. All the colors look good, but today, my vote is for Millenium Yellow.
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Retired Mechanic (07-18-2017)
07-18-2017, 04:32 PM
#158
Drifting
so why you busting MY bawlz then? I could have sugar coated things I guess so for that I apologize. There have been plenty of people today that have shared their reasons for why they don't like the C5.
07-18-2017, 04:38 PM
#159
Drifting
Well as a corvette fan myself, I know that with the addition of a fixed roof coupe, new thin spoke Y2K wheels, millennium yellow and carmine red and the nice light weight exhaust...C5'S did have some nice early improvements.
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Meanmyz (07-18-2017)
07-18-2017, 05:08 PM
#160
Team Owner
They may all be Corvettes but I'd go for newer tech over older any day of the week. Only way I'd take anything older than a 86 is if I was flipping it. If I am buying to keep, it has to be C5 and up once my motor breaks.