First post - C5 questions
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
First post - C5 questions
Hi, this is my first post in these forums. I am thinking about buying a C5 but first I have several questions...
The car I will buy will be a 97-00 based on my budget. It would have to be a targa 6 speed. No auto, hardtop, or convertible.
Here are my questions:
1) Were vettes in this year range offered without any power options? ie. no power windows, locks, remote, seats, etc. How hard would it be to find a vette without these options?
2) I have read that manual C5s force the driver to shift from 1st to 4th skipping 2nd & 3rd gears. Is this true? Can this feature be disabled?
3) I have also read that all C5s have traction control? Is this true? Is the level of traction control selectable (like the C6)? If you can't select the traction control from within the cockpit, how can it be disabled and enabled?
Thanks in advance for any help you can offer with these questions.
The car I will buy will be a 97-00 based on my budget. It would have to be a targa 6 speed. No auto, hardtop, or convertible.
Here are my questions:
1) Were vettes in this year range offered without any power options? ie. no power windows, locks, remote, seats, etc. How hard would it be to find a vette without these options?
2) I have read that manual C5s force the driver to shift from 1st to 4th skipping 2nd & 3rd gears. Is this true? Can this feature be disabled?
3) I have also read that all C5s have traction control? Is this true? Is the level of traction control selectable (like the C6)? If you can't select the traction control from within the cockpit, how can it be disabled and enabled?
Thanks in advance for any help you can offer with these questions.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 17,541
Likes: 2
From: Manhattan, KS Missing SoCal since 2005
Originally Posted by mx5_nos
Hi, this is my first post in these forums. I am thinking about buying a C5 but first I have several questions...
The car I will buy will be a 97-00 based on my budget. It would have to be a targa 6 speed. No auto, hardtop, or convertible.
Here are my questions:
1) Were vettes in this year range offered without any power options? ie. no power windows, locks, remote, seats, etc. How hard would it be to find a vette without these options?
The car I will buy will be a 97-00 based on my budget. It would have to be a targa 6 speed. No auto, hardtop, or convertible.
Here are my questions:
1) Were vettes in this year range offered without any power options? ie. no power windows, locks, remote, seats, etc. How hard would it be to find a vette without these options?
2) I have read that manual C5s force the driver to shift from 1st to 4th skipping 2nd & 3rd gears. Is this true? Can this feature be disabled?
3) I have also read that all C5s have traction control? Is this true? Is the level of traction control selectable (like the C6)? If you can't select the traction control from within the cockpit, how can it be disabled and enabled?
Last edited by thevettenet CA; Mar 5, 2005 at 11:45 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 16,270
Likes: 30
From: "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18-'19
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Here are my questions:
1) Were vettes in this year range offered without any power options? ie. no power windows, locks, remote, seats, etc. How hard would it be to find a vette without these options?
All Vettes came standard with the features mentioned -therefore it would be impossible to find one without....
2) I have read that manual C5s force the driver to shift from 1st to 4th skipping 2nd & 3rd gears. Is this true? Can this feature be disabled?
It's called CAGS (Computer Assisted Gear Selection). It was designed to help GM meet the CAFE standards and avoid a gas guzzler tax. It can by bypassed by purchasing a CAGS Eliminator for about $20 - but if you drive the car like a Vette and shift a slightly higher RPM's (around 2K) - it never comes into play.
3) I have also read that all C5s have traction control? Is this true? Is the level of traction control selectable (like the C6)? If you can't select the traction control from within the cockpit, how can it be disabled and enabled?
All Vettes have traction control - been on them since 1995. In 1998, Active Handling was introduced in addition to traction control. Both are controled with a single button on the console if so equipped. The JL4 Active handling can be turned off with traction control, or you can hold the button down and disengage traction control, leaving on active handling - Competitive Mode. Here's a pretty good write up on JL4 Active Handling.
http://www.idavette.net/facts/s1998/jl4k.htm
Good luck with your decision, and welcome to the forum!
1) Were vettes in this year range offered without any power options? ie. no power windows, locks, remote, seats, etc. How hard would it be to find a vette without these options?
All Vettes came standard with the features mentioned -therefore it would be impossible to find one without....
2) I have read that manual C5s force the driver to shift from 1st to 4th skipping 2nd & 3rd gears. Is this true? Can this feature be disabled?
It's called CAGS (Computer Assisted Gear Selection). It was designed to help GM meet the CAFE standards and avoid a gas guzzler tax. It can by bypassed by purchasing a CAGS Eliminator for about $20 - but if you drive the car like a Vette and shift a slightly higher RPM's (around 2K) - it never comes into play.
3) I have also read that all C5s have traction control? Is this true? Is the level of traction control selectable (like the C6)? If you can't select the traction control from within the cockpit, how can it be disabled and enabled?
All Vettes have traction control - been on them since 1995. In 1998, Active Handling was introduced in addition to traction control. Both are controled with a single button on the console if so equipped. The JL4 Active handling can be turned off with traction control, or you can hold the button down and disengage traction control, leaving on active handling - Competitive Mode. Here's a pretty good write up on JL4 Active Handling.
http://www.idavette.net/facts/s1998/jl4k.htm
Good luck with your decision, and welcome to the forum!
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 19,557
Likes: 1,470
From: I love you & miss you Linda
2017 C7 of the Year Finalist
St. Jude Contributor
Originally Posted by blacksedan87
2) I have read that manual C5s force the driver to shift from 1st to 4th skipping 2nd & 3rd gears. Is this true? Can this feature be disabled?
It's called CAGS (Computer Assisted Gear Selection). It was designed to help GM meet the CAFE standards and avoid a gas guzzler tax. It can by bypassed by purchasing a CAGS Eliminator for about $20 - but if you drive the car like a Vette and shift at slightly higher RPM's (around 2K) - it never comes into play.
:
It's called CAGS (Computer Assisted Gear Selection). It was designed to help GM meet the CAFE standards and avoid a gas guzzler tax. It can by bypassed by purchasing a CAGS Eliminator for about $20 - but if you drive the car like a Vette and shift at slightly higher RPM's (around 2K) - it never comes into play.
:
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,296
Likes: 24,776
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '25
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
All the C5's came with power windows and locks, and the driver's seat is power. The passenger seat could be had without power control. Like others have said, you can get a CAGS eliminator, which is very easy to install, to get rid of the 1-4 shift. Yes, all C5's have traction control. Some '98's and the '99-'00 had the option of active handling, which is a great feature safety-wise. You can get an adjustable suspension, but be forewarned that it is expensive if you ever have to repair it.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,819
Likes: 1
From: Toledo Ohio
CI 6-7-8-9 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
As I have a vert and it looks like all of your questions have been answered- I'll just sat Hello and welcome. 
Keep reading this Forum and asking questions. Good luck on finding just what your looking for.
Keep reading this Forum and asking questions. Good luck on finding just what your looking for.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 35,617
Likes: 167
Tech Contributor
Cruise-In 11 Veteran
NCM Ambassador
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'10
Originally Posted by blacksedan87
Here are my questions:
1) Were vettes in this year range offered without any power options? ie. no power windows, locks, remote, seats, etc. How hard would it be to find a vette without these options?
All Vettes came standard with the features mentioned -therefore it would be impossible to find one without....
2) I have read that manual C5s force the driver to shift from 1st to 4th skipping 2nd & 3rd gears. Is this true? Can this feature be disabled?
It's called CAGS (Computer Assisted Gear Selection). It was designed to help GM meet the CAFE standards and avoid a gas guzzler tax. It can by bypassed by purchasing a CAGS Eliminator for about $20 - but if you drive the car like a Vette and shift a slightly higher RPM's (around 2K) - it never comes into play.
3) I have also read that all C5s have traction control? Is this true? Is the level of traction control selectable (like the C6)? If you can't select the traction control from within the cockpit, how can it be disabled and enabled?
All Vettes have traction control - been on them since 1995. In 1998, Active Handling was introduced in addition to traction control. Both are controled with a single button on the console if so equipped. The JL4 Active handling can be turned off with traction control, or you can hold the button down and disengage traction control, leaving on active handling - Competitive Mode. Here's a pretty good write up on JL4 Active Handling.
http://www.idavette.net/facts/s1998/jl4k.htm
Good luck with your decision, and welcome to the forum!
1) Were vettes in this year range offered without any power options? ie. no power windows, locks, remote, seats, etc. How hard would it be to find a vette without these options?
All Vettes came standard with the features mentioned -therefore it would be impossible to find one without....
2) I have read that manual C5s force the driver to shift from 1st to 4th skipping 2nd & 3rd gears. Is this true? Can this feature be disabled?
It's called CAGS (Computer Assisted Gear Selection). It was designed to help GM meet the CAFE standards and avoid a gas guzzler tax. It can by bypassed by purchasing a CAGS Eliminator for about $20 - but if you drive the car like a Vette and shift a slightly higher RPM's (around 2K) - it never comes into play.
3) I have also read that all C5s have traction control? Is this true? Is the level of traction control selectable (like the C6)? If you can't select the traction control from within the cockpit, how can it be disabled and enabled?
All Vettes have traction control - been on them since 1995. In 1998, Active Handling was introduced in addition to traction control. Both are controled with a single button on the console if so equipped. The JL4 Active handling can be turned off with traction control, or you can hold the button down and disengage traction control, leaving on active handling - Competitive Mode. Here's a pretty good write up on JL4 Active Handling.
http://www.idavette.net/facts/s1998/jl4k.htm
Good luck with your decision, and welcome to the forum!
That about covers the questions, good luck in your search and welcome to the forum Paul
