C5 Think twice
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PLRX (10-26-2017)
10-25-2017, 02:14 AM
#63
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Aug 2002
Location: Ventura County, CA
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St. Jude Donor '05-'06,'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21-'22-'23
When it was time for getting another stable mate for my 87 I thought about a cheaper C5, maybe even getting a loan if the car was right....drove a couple, aside from some added refinements and power, the car just didn't feel right to me, especially that butt. Ended up with a low mileage senior owned 94.
Just find the body style you like, buy it, mod it if that's your thing and enjoy
Just find the body style you like, buy it, mod it if that's your thing and enjoy
10-25-2017, 11:16 AM
#64
Melting Slicks
Wow, this thread got far afield! Corvette owners are rarely shy about their opinions.
Exactly, and the C5 forum reflects that.
I was never a fan of C5 styling but bought one to flip it. What I found was that it's the best all around Corvette (of 7 owned) and gets WAY more positive remarks than my C4 ever did in 32 years of ownership. I enjoy the quick, if more raw, C4 plenty or it'd be gone.
The C5 Vert is fast, smooth, economical, trouble-free, comfortable, has usable storage, is very capable in the twisties, way easier entry/exit and the 6-speed is hardly an issue in SoCal traffic, especially with the amazing torque of the LS1. The stock headlights are just fine for these old eyes (hate the too-directional LED and projectors lights in oncoming cars). Cars I owned with them showed their limitations.
C5 tech level is moderate and self diagnosable/repairable compared to the C6, in the one issue I fixed.
Owning a C5 has been a very pleasurable reversal of my expectations.
I was never a fan of C5 styling but bought one to flip it. What I found was that it's the best all around Corvette (of 7 owned) and gets WAY more positive remarks than my C4 ever did in 32 years of ownership. I enjoy the quick, if more raw, C4 plenty or it'd be gone.
The C5 Vert is fast, smooth, economical, trouble-free, comfortable, has usable storage, is very capable in the twisties, way easier entry/exit and the 6-speed is hardly an issue in SoCal traffic, especially with the amazing torque of the LS1. The stock headlights are just fine for these old eyes (hate the too-directional LED and projectors lights in oncoming cars). Cars I owned with them showed their limitations.
C5 tech level is moderate and self diagnosable/repairable compared to the C6, in the one issue I fixed.
Owning a C5 has been a very pleasurable reversal of my expectations.
Last edited by whalepirot; 10-25-2017 at 11:21 AM.
10-25-2017, 04:34 PM
#65
Drifting
Wow, this thread got far afield! Corvette owners are rarely shy about their opinions.
Exactly, and the C5 forum reflects that.
I was never a fan of C5 styling but bought one to flip it. What I found was that it's the best all around Corvette (of 7 owned) and gets WAY more positive remarks than my C4 ever did in 32 years of ownership. I enjoy the quick, if more raw, C4 plenty or it'd be gone.
The C5 Vert is fast, smooth, economical, trouble-free, comfortable, has usable storage, is very capable in the twisties, way easier entry/exit and the 6-speed is hardly an issue in SoCal traffic, especially with the amazing torque of the LS1. The stock headlights are just fine for these old eyes (hate the too-directional LED and projectors lights in oncoming cars). Cars I owned with them showed their limitations.
C5 tech level is moderate and self diagnosable/repairable compared to the C6, in the one issue I fixed.
Owning a C5 has been a very pleasurable reversal of my expectations.
Exactly, and the C5 forum reflects that.
I was never a fan of C5 styling but bought one to flip it. What I found was that it's the best all around Corvette (of 7 owned) and gets WAY more positive remarks than my C4 ever did in 32 years of ownership. I enjoy the quick, if more raw, C4 plenty or it'd be gone.
The C5 Vert is fast, smooth, economical, trouble-free, comfortable, has usable storage, is very capable in the twisties, way easier entry/exit and the 6-speed is hardly an issue in SoCal traffic, especially with the amazing torque of the LS1. The stock headlights are just fine for these old eyes (hate the too-directional LED and projectors lights in oncoming cars). Cars I owned with them showed their limitations.
C5 tech level is moderate and self diagnosable/repairable compared to the C6, in the one issue I fixed.
Owning a C5 has been a very pleasurable reversal of my expectations.
10-25-2017, 04:51 PM
#66
Team Owner
10-25-2017, 07:38 PM
#67
Race Director
If you want your problems to be behind you in a Corvette, you need a warranty and a loaner car. Even a brand new car can have issues.
The laundry list of C5 problems is long and fairly severe. Have an EBCM issue and you'll wish you just had an optispark to deal with. It seems like C5 problems are less common, but more severe. C4 problems are more common likely due to age and general cheapness - expect the c5s to follow this pattern soon), but less severe.
Last edited by FAUEE; 10-25-2017 at 07:40 PM.
10-25-2017, 07:54 PM
#68
Team Owner
The laundry list of C5 problems is long and fairly severe. Have an EBCM issue and you'll wish you just had an optispark to deal with. It seems like C5 problems are less common, but more severe. C4 problems are more common likely due to age and general cheapness - expect the c5s to follow this pattern soon), but less severe.
10-25-2017, 11:05 PM
#69
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Aug 2002
Location: Ventura County, CA
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St. Jude Donor '05-'06,'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21-'22-'23
I'm sure there the C2 and C3 groups were saying that about the C4 when it came out. OMG!! All those electronics. I can rebuild a carb for less money than it takes to diagnose and fix the C4. All those modules could go wrong. What if the mechanic keeps going at it? It will cost a fortune.
10-25-2017, 11:10 PM
#70
Team Owner
As I have said before, my grandpa doesn't understand Dad when he was younger. Dad won't understand me and I won't understand my kids. Older generation never will really understand the next and so on. Longer they live, the more it will come out. The wife is fond of telemedicine. Great concept. Now how to get the old geezers to understand that it is a good thing?
10-25-2017, 11:42 PM
#71
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Dec 2005
Location: Where Woke Goes to Die
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As I have said before, my grandpa doesn't understand Dad when he was younger. Dad won't understand me and I won't understand my kids. Older generation never will really understand the next and so on. Longer they live, the more it will come out. The wife is fond of telemedicine. Great concept. Now how to get the old geezers to understand that it is a good thing?
10-26-2017, 08:20 AM
#72
Drifting
They're as much problem as any Corvette. Maybe a little worse than the C6.
If you want your problems to be behind you in a Corvette, you need a warranty and a loaner car. Even a brand new car can have issues.
The laundry list of C5 problems is long and fairly severe. Have an EBCM issue and you'll wish you just had an optispark to deal with. It seems like C5 problems are less common, but more severe. C4 problems are more common likely due to age and general cheapness - expect the c5s to follow this pattern soon), but less severe.
If you want your problems to be behind you in a Corvette, you need a warranty and a loaner car. Even a brand new car can have issues.
The laundry list of C5 problems is long and fairly severe. Have an EBCM issue and you'll wish you just had an optispark to deal with. It seems like C5 problems are less common, but more severe. C4 problems are more common likely due to age and general cheapness - expect the c5s to follow this pattern soon), but less severe.
Sorry guys. That was my too subtle tongue-in-cheek jab at the big **** on the C5.
I have no doubt that every generation has issues.
10-26-2017, 08:23 AM
#73
Drifting
They're as much problem as any Corvette. Maybe a little worse than the C6.
If you want your problems to be behind you in a Corvette, you need a warranty and a loaner car. Even a brand new car can have issues.
The laundry list of C5 problems is long and fairly severe. Have an EBCM issue and you'll wish you just had an optispark to deal with. It seems like C5 problems are less common, but more severe. C4 problems are more common likely due to age and general cheapness - expect the c5s to follow this pattern soon), but less severe.
If you want your problems to be behind you in a Corvette, you need a warranty and a loaner car. Even a brand new car can have issues.
The laundry list of C5 problems is long and fairly severe. Have an EBCM issue and you'll wish you just had an optispark to deal with. It seems like C5 problems are less common, but more severe. C4 problems are more common likely due to age and general cheapness - expect the c5s to follow this pattern soon), but less severe.
Sorry guys. That was my too subtle tongue-in-cheek jab at the big **** on the C5.
10-26-2017, 08:26 AM
#74
Race Director
I maintain the C6 is the least problematic generation as its really an evolution. The LS platform wasn't new. The platform was very much an evolution. The electronics had 10 years to mature in reliability.
That's just my opinion though. And even my C6 has had a very few issues and it's a 2012.
10-26-2017, 11:29 AM
#75
Melting Slicks
Indeed. A news recent news piece spoke of the increase in problems with newer cars. I experienced this firsthand with two new 7 series BMWs; became untrustworthy junk well before 100k.
A new Subaru Outback was Lemon Lawed for faulty electronics that the dealer, even with factory support, could not fix. After months of research for a reliable new car, the Sube choice was not good.
In both cases, failures were not a major component, but crucial to the car's use. The BWM, while shiny and nice, lost the trust of my wife to take it to the store and back. That had really accelerated after a once-simple battery change.
Predicting that C5 issues will increase with age is like saying the sun will rise tomorrow. Whether due to financilly driven lack of manufacturer support, component complexity that few shops understand, let alone fix, the more common requirement for dealer-only computer tools for even simple things, throwaway mentality or other factors, simplicity reigns (again) for longterm ownership. I distrust the totally integrated e-packages which go obsolete or disfunctional in short order. Hell, many of the Subaru's premium features never worked due to software bugs or incompatibility, from day one.. and it worsened.
I drive older cars.... for as long as I wish to home-rebuild parts, on a relatively infrequent basis.
A new Subaru Outback was Lemon Lawed for faulty electronics that the dealer, even with factory support, could not fix. After months of research for a reliable new car, the Sube choice was not good.
In both cases, failures were not a major component, but crucial to the car's use. The BWM, while shiny and nice, lost the trust of my wife to take it to the store and back. That had really accelerated after a once-simple battery change.
Predicting that C5 issues will increase with age is like saying the sun will rise tomorrow. Whether due to financilly driven lack of manufacturer support, component complexity that few shops understand, let alone fix, the more common requirement for dealer-only computer tools for even simple things, throwaway mentality or other factors, simplicity reigns (again) for longterm ownership. I distrust the totally integrated e-packages which go obsolete or disfunctional in short order. Hell, many of the Subaru's premium features never worked due to software bugs or incompatibility, from day one.. and it worsened.
I drive older cars.... for as long as I wish to home-rebuild parts, on a relatively infrequent basis.
10-26-2017, 11:32 AM
#76
Melting Slicks
Indeed. A news recent news piece spoke of the increase in problems with newer cars. I experienced this firsthand with two new 7 series BMWs; became untrustworthy junk well before 100k.
A new Subaru Outback was Lemon Lawed for faulty electronics that the dealer, even with factory support, could not fix. After months of research for a reliable new car, the Sube choice was not good.
In both cases, failures were not a major component, but crucial to the car's use. The BWM, while shiny and nice, lost the trust of my wife to take it to the store and back. That had really accelerated after a once-simple battery change.
Predicting that C5 issues will increase with age is like saying the sun will rise tomorrow. Whether due to financilly driven lack of manufacturer support, component complexity that few shops understand, let alone fix, the more common requirement for dealer-only computer tools for even simple things, throwaway mentality or other factors, simplicity reigns (again) for longterm ownership. I distrust the totally integrated e-packages which go obsolete or disfunctional in short order. Hell, many of the Subaru's premium features never worked due to software bugs or incompatibility, from day one.. and it worsened.
I drive older cars.... for as long as I wish to home-rebuild parts, on a relatively infrequent basis.
Here, too, black is slimming!
A new Subaru Outback was Lemon Lawed for faulty electronics that the dealer, even with factory support, could not fix. After months of research for a reliable new car, the Sube choice was not good.
In both cases, failures were not a major component, but crucial to the car's use. The BWM, while shiny and nice, lost the trust of my wife to take it to the store and back. That had really accelerated after a once-simple battery change.
Predicting that C5 issues will increase with age is like saying the sun will rise tomorrow. Whether due to financilly driven lack of manufacturer support, component complexity that few shops understand, let alone fix, the more common requirement for dealer-only computer tools for even simple things, throwaway mentality or other factors, simplicity reigns (again) for longterm ownership. I distrust the totally integrated e-packages which go obsolete or disfunctional in short order. Hell, many of the Subaru's premium features never worked due to software bugs or incompatibility, from day one.. and it worsened.
I drive older cars.... for as long as I wish to home-rebuild parts, on a relatively infrequent basis.
Here, too, black is slimming!
10-26-2017, 12:52 PM
#78
Melting Slicks
Member Since: Mar 2006
Location: Land of the free, home of the brave...
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The Real Reason C4 Production Was Stopped....
FYI - The fact is they stopped making the C4 because it would have been almost impossible to continue to modify it to meet government regs mandated for model year 1997 and beyond. This is detailed in the book "All Corvettes Are Red" by James Schefter. Good book by the way.....
10-26-2017, 04:34 PM
#79
Melting Slicks
FYI - The fact is they stopped making the C4 because it would have been almost impossible to continue to modify it to meet government regs mandated for model year 1997 and beyond. This is detailed in the book "All Corvettes Are Red" by James Schefter. Good book by the way.....
What government regs?