C4 vs.C5 - an Objective Comparison
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 2,305
Likes: 1,581
From: East Metro (Twin Cities) Minnesota
St. Jude Donor '21
C4 vs.C5 - an Objective Comparison
First off - I love all Corvettes - and if I had the time/money & space (think Jay Leno) I would have at least one of each generation.
That having been said, we all have to be smart consumers to determine what Corvette best suite our wants, needs and checkbook.
It is cold here (MN) and I thought I would satisfy my curiosity as to what the real measurable differences are between the C4 and C5.
I took the time to pull all this data into a video to share with you - in case you ever wondered. Cheers!
That having been said, we all have to be smart consumers to determine what Corvette best suite our wants, needs and checkbook.
It is cold here (MN) and I thought I would satisfy my curiosity as to what the real measurable differences are between the C4 and C5.
I took the time to pull all this data into a video to share with you - in case you ever wondered. Cheers!
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 14,674
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From: NEwhere Ohio
C8 vs C4 - I would go C4
If you gave me a 62 corvette grand sport and told me thats the only corvette i can drive.
i would immediately put a 1996 corvette grand sport body kit on it.
i hate golf so i have no need to be able to fit golf bags into my c4, thats part of the reason i dont have any desire for the other models.
the c5 (or any newer corvette) is perhaps a better choi d for those who dont know how to, or simply dont want to (which is fine) mod their c4 to achieve the performance the newer corvettes are doing.
If you gave me a 62 corvette grand sport and told me thats the only corvette i can drive.
i would immediately put a 1996 corvette grand sport body kit on it.
i hate golf so i have no need to be able to fit golf bags into my c4, thats part of the reason i dont have any desire for the other models.
the c5 (or any newer corvette) is perhaps a better choi d for those who dont know how to, or simply dont want to (which is fine) mod their c4 to achieve the performance the newer corvettes are doing.
Last edited by dizwiz24; Feb 13, 2021 at 03:19 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 54,073
Likes: 9,398
From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2015 C2 of Year Finalist
C8 vs C4 - I would go C4
If you gave me a 62 corvette grand sport and told me thats the only corvette i can drive.
i would immediately put a 1996 corvette grand sport body kit on it.
i hate golf so i have no need to be able to fit golf bags into my c4, thats part of the reason i dont have any desire for the other models.
the c5 (or any newer corvette) is perhaps a better choi d for those who dont know how to, or simply dont want to (which is fine) mod their c4 to achieve the performance the newer corvettes are doing.
If you gave me a 62 corvette grand sport and told me thats the only corvette i can drive.
i would immediately put a 1996 corvette grand sport body kit on it.
i hate golf so i have no need to be able to fit golf bags into my c4, thats part of the reason i dont have any desire for the other models.
the c5 (or any newer corvette) is perhaps a better choi d for those who dont know how to, or simply dont want to (which is fine) mod their c4 to achieve the performance the newer corvettes are doing.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 14,674
Likes: 751
From: NEwhere Ohio
I remember when i got my c4 in 2001.
the ‘golf course type’ c5 crowd was so snooty they wouldnt wave to any lessor corvette.
After all, they could get their golf bags in the car, and had a softer ride , easier entry/egress into their pride/joy and ‘the lsx magic’.
now, I am going to say that same crowd I learned to hate wouldnt be caught dead in an ‘old’ c5.
Did they move on to the c7/8 ? Are they dead ?
surprisingly, c7 guys actually acknowledge me so Im going to guess the snooty golf course type guys in the c5’s are dead or in nursing homes by now.
havent seen enough c8 to get a gage on that group.
The current c5 crowd is not who i am referring to. They are a cool group of guys
the ‘golf course type’ c5 crowd was so snooty they wouldnt wave to any lessor corvette.
After all, they could get their golf bags in the car, and had a softer ride , easier entry/egress into their pride/joy and ‘the lsx magic’.
now, I am going to say that same crowd I learned to hate wouldnt be caught dead in an ‘old’ c5.
Did they move on to the c7/8 ? Are they dead ?
surprisingly, c7 guys actually acknowledge me so Im going to guess the snooty golf course type guys in the c5’s are dead or in nursing homes by now.
havent seen enough c8 to get a gage on that group.
The current c5 crowd is not who i am referring to. They are a cool group of guys
Last edited by dizwiz24; Feb 13, 2021 at 03:36 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 1,925
Likes: 610
From: Orange, CA
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 14,674
Likes: 751
From: NEwhere Ohio
i was amazed at how buttery smooth the shifter was and how much vision i had out the rear hatch (vs my 93 vert with the top up)
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 2,305
Likes: 1,581
From: East Metro (Twin Cities) Minnesota
St. Jude Donor '21
I remember when i got my c4 in 2001.
the ‘golf course type’ c5 crowd was so snooty they wouldnt wave to any lessor corvette.
After all, they could get their golf bags in the car, and had a softer ride , easier entry/egress into their pride/joy and ‘the lsx magic’.
now, I am going to say that same crowd I learned to hate wouldnt be caught dead in an ‘old’ c5.
Did they move on to the c7/8 ? Are they dead ?
surprisingly, c7 guys actually acknowledge me so Im going to guess the snooty golf course type guys in the c5’s are dead or in nursing homes by now.
havent seen enough c8 to get a gage on that group.
The current c5 crowd is not who i am referring to. They are a cool group of guys
the ‘golf course type’ c5 crowd was so snooty they wouldnt wave to any lessor corvette.
After all, they could get their golf bags in the car, and had a softer ride , easier entry/egress into their pride/joy and ‘the lsx magic’.
now, I am going to say that same crowd I learned to hate wouldnt be caught dead in an ‘old’ c5.
Did they move on to the c7/8 ? Are they dead ?
surprisingly, c7 guys actually acknowledge me so Im going to guess the snooty golf course type guys in the c5’s are dead or in nursing homes by now.
havent seen enough c8 to get a gage on that group.
The current c5 crowd is not who i am referring to. They are a cool group of guys
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Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 14,674
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From: NEwhere Ohio
as much as i pretend like i hate the LS
id have a supercharged alum ls3 if i could choose, im just afraid i’ll lose a season with my car down as i fabricate brackets and re-buy expensive exhaust pieces i already have.
i believe you can get in plenty of trouble with either setup
id have a supercharged alum ls3 if i could choose, im just afraid i’ll lose a season with my car down as i fabricate brackets and re-buy expensive exhaust pieces i already have.
i believe you can get in plenty of trouble with either setup
Last edited by dizwiz24; Feb 13, 2021 at 04:48 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,295
Likes: 326
From: Central Pennsylvannia
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
I've driven them both, I liked the C5, or C6 cars just fine. They didn't feel like a C4 and depending who you are, that's either a good thing or a bad thing. I thought the later model corvettes were very refined, but they didn't give me the stomach sensation like the C4 did.
I drive a mint condition 96 convertible 6 spd, its got a slight air intake mod, and muffler deletes. its a torch red car with Chrome Z style rims...i pulled on to the boulevard in October, and a guy was sitting in a C7 car, watching and hearing me pull on the boulevard, not only did he stop and stare!...but he looked the car up and down, waved! and put TWO thumbs up!
Chris
I drive a mint condition 96 convertible 6 spd, its got a slight air intake mod, and muffler deletes. its a torch red car with Chrome Z style rims...i pulled on to the boulevard in October, and a guy was sitting in a C7 car, watching and hearing me pull on the boulevard, not only did he stop and stare!...but he looked the car up and down, waved! and put TWO thumbs up!
Chris
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,706
Likes: 485
From: Everett WA
C4 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
I have a pretty nice 95 and a pretty nice 04
I bought them used with about 30K on each
I've put 110K on the 95 over the past 15 years and 50K on the 04 over the past 10 years.
If I'm going to a car show........ I take the C4.
If I'm playing hare & hound with few other cars on back roads ....... I take the C4.
If I'm going anywhere with my wife and the drive is more than an hour ....... we take the C5.
The C5 is faster, has more foot room, carries more luggage, is more comfortable to use for a multi-day cruse .......
The 95 is WAYYYYY more fun to drive. Handles like a slot car and has a cockpit that you sit in... and if I had to get rid of one of them.... I'd keep the 95.
I bought them used with about 30K on each
I've put 110K on the 95 over the past 15 years and 50K on the 04 over the past 10 years.
If I'm going to a car show........ I take the C4.
If I'm playing hare & hound with few other cars on back roads ....... I take the C4.
If I'm going anywhere with my wife and the drive is more than an hour ....... we take the C5.
The C5 is faster, has more foot room, carries more luggage, is more comfortable to use for a multi-day cruse .......
The 95 is WAYYYYY more fun to drive. Handles like a slot car and has a cockpit that you sit in... and if I had to get rid of one of them.... I'd keep the 95.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,432
Likes: 3,285
From: Hartford WI
I remember when i got my c4 in 2001.
the ‘golf course type’ c5 crowd was so snooty they wouldnt wave to any lessor corvette.
After all, they could get their golf bags in the car, and had a softer ride , easier entry/egress into their pride/joy and ‘the lsx magic’.
now, I am going to say that same crowd I learned to hate wouldnt be caught dead in an ‘old’ c5.
Did they move on to the c7/8 ? Are they dead ?
surprisingly, c7 guys actually acknowledge me so Im going to guess the snooty golf course type guys in the c5’s are dead or in nursing homes by now.
havent seen enough c8 to get a gage on that group.
The current c5 crowd is not who i am referring to. They are a cool group of guys
the ‘golf course type’ c5 crowd was so snooty they wouldnt wave to any lessor corvette.
After all, they could get their golf bags in the car, and had a softer ride , easier entry/egress into their pride/joy and ‘the lsx magic’.
now, I am going to say that same crowd I learned to hate wouldnt be caught dead in an ‘old’ c5.
Did they move on to the c7/8 ? Are they dead ?
surprisingly, c7 guys actually acknowledge me so Im going to guess the snooty golf course type guys in the c5’s are dead or in nursing homes by now.
havent seen enough c8 to get a gage on that group.
The current c5 crowd is not who i am referring to. They are a cool group of guys
"Wah!!! They boys in the sandbox don't want to play with me.!! Pay a hooker for the "Girlfriend Experience" if you are that hard up for acknowledgement. If I could give you all the acknowledgement I got, I would since you are so desperate they acknowledge you. I don't remember signing an agreement to enter the "Corvette Brotherhood" and got the secret handshake instructions. Every time this comes up, all you got is butthurt because the big boys didn't want to play with you. Maybe Biden can pass a law that if you buy a Corvette of any generation and retroactive to C1, they have to agree to wave and polish your ******* or surrender the car.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 17,338
Likes: 6,509
From: Melbourne, FL
Really, the only c5 look I find myself liking are the mature colors. The dark green, dark blue, and dark red metallic are really the only colors I find the c5 looks good in. Except the z06 and frc... It doesn't look good in any color. Clearly, others disagree.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,432
Likes: 3,285
From: Hartford WI
My simple comparison is that there is more support for the LS platform
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,432
Likes: 3,285
From: Hartford WI
I personally have no interest in color other than a white or light color picks up less heat. HERE. That said, in a used car, you don't get to specify the color like you would if you bought it new.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 17,338
Likes: 6,509
From: Melbourne, FL
I personally have no interest in color other than a white or light color picks up less heat. HERE. That said, in a used car, you don't get to specify the color like you would if you bought it new.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,432
Likes: 3,285
From: Hartford WI
If the color is the only important thing, absolutely. Like I said, it won't be as easy as a new car so you have to be willing to keep looking and may have to sacrifice other things and time.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 54,073
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From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2015 C2 of Year Finalist
there is exception to this. But for the most point it’s been my experience. I think the ship has sailed over 20 years ago for the aftermarket manufactures to make anything for the L98 or the C4 LT-1/4