Hold out for a C5?
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Hold out for a C5?
Ok, I've been surfing this site for over a year and I've seen a boat load of members travel over to the C5 side from the C4 side... which lends me to my question for former C4 owners:
Should I hold out a little longer and purchase a C5 or pick up a C4 right now?
What is some the main differences you guys have encounter? Which would you rather be driving? My list could go on, but I'll let you guys do the typing... if you don't mind!
Should I hold out a little longer and purchase a C5 or pick up a C4 right now?
What is some the main differences you guys have encounter? Which would you rather be driving? My list could go on, but I'll let you guys do the typing... if you don't mind!
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,511
Likes: 1
From: Winter Park Fl
I am a former C4n owner. I have owned 3 different C4’s for the last 12 years. I refused to drive a C5 because I knew if I drove one I would want one and I couldn’t afford the one I wanted.
In 2004 my finances perked up and I finely test drove a C5. Well I couldn’t get my order in fast enough! The C4 is a good car, the C5 is a GREAT car. There is no comparison.
IMO hold out for a C5.
In 2004 my finances perked up and I finely test drove a C5. Well I couldn’t get my order in fast enough! The C4 is a good car, the C5 is a GREAT car. There is no comparison.
IMO hold out for a C5.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,995
Likes: 61
From: Fort Wayne IN
Before I bought my '99 a few months ago I looked at both the C4 and C5. Loved the C4's looks, power, etc, but had a heck of a time getting in and out of it. People I talked to said if I could affort about $20k I should be able to get an early C5. That's what I ended up doing. Good luck - 
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,775
Likes: 0
From: St Marys GA
Did not own C4, but I'm a big guy and spent several months looking at a variety of cars before getting my 5K mi 02 vert last June. C5 was definitely the right choice and I have no regrets. It was a challenge at first doing the entry/exit with my size/age (60) and 2 titanium knees, but I quickly got the hang of it. I could probably manage a C6 but why?
Be sure to checkout "weights/measures..." sticky above.
Good luck; you won't be disappointed.
DBD
Be sure to checkout "weights/measures..." sticky above.
Good luck; you won't be disappointed.
DBD
Pro
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 631
Likes: 61
From: Amherstburg Ontario
Originally Posted by Tigershark3
Before I bought my '99 a few months ago I looked at both the C4 and C5. Loved the C4's looks, power, etc, but had a heck of a time getting in and out of it. People I talked to said if I could affort about $20k I should be able to get an early C5. That's what I ended up doing. Good luck -
I did the exact same thing in October.
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,387
Likes: 24,790
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 '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
I had four C4s before I got my first C5 (a '99). I liked each C4 that I had, but IMO, the C5 is just a much better overall car. Build quality is better, ride is better, ergonomics better, etc. If it were me, I would hold out a little while longer and then get the C5.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 127
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
Had a 92 6spd coupe---really nice car but now have an 03 6spd coupe. There is no comparison. Everything about the C5 is superior. I didn't believe the difference untill I drove the C5. 
HOLD OUT for the C5. Save the wave.
HOLD OUT for the C5. Save the wave.
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: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,719
Likes: 1
From: Los Angeles Ca
As a former/still owner of a C4, and a owner of a C5, well you know the rest, get the C5, I really do like my C4 and I wouldn't sell it, but the C5 is a different animal all together, they both have there pro's and con's but you will enjoy the C5 more. My .02
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 13,598
Likes: 1,353
From: Home of the VOLS ! Knoxville, TN. Tennessee
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '15, '16-'17-'18-'19
C4's are nice but
C5's are much better overall cars , no comparison .
hold out if you can , I've owned both generations , but after owning the C5 would never consider ever going back to C4.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,275
Likes: 6
From: Lake Oswego, Near Portland Oregon
Aah HAA! You have been driving an NSX! You will absolutely want a C5. The C4 for all its merits will feel a bit clunky in the handling and ride after the NSX. The C5 will have the finesse and POWER like the NSX onlyhas in nitrous NOx wet dreams!
There are also many handling products for the C5 that make it a real corner killer. The chassis is 4 times stiffer than a c4, so all the suspension stuff works much better. Ergonomics, aerodynamics, interior design, and all the other stuff are better in the C5 as well. With early cars going for high teens, they are a total steal and incredible bargain in the price to performance ratio.
The C4 was a GREAT technical leap over the C3, but the C5 was a HUGE refinement and advancement of that leap forward. The C6 lost the good looks and make only small technical detail changes. C5 is the top all around Vette for looks, performance and value.
If your going to finance, you may find the C5 easier to get longer time terms on, resulting in only slightly larger paymet compared to a C4, all-be-it for a few more years.
There are a lot of really nice 98 and 99 and even some 00 out there under 20 grand. Theyare the best buy in automotive history!
There are also many handling products for the C5 that make it a real corner killer. The chassis is 4 times stiffer than a c4, so all the suspension stuff works much better. Ergonomics, aerodynamics, interior design, and all the other stuff are better in the C5 as well. With early cars going for high teens, they are a total steal and incredible bargain in the price to performance ratio.
The C4 was a GREAT technical leap over the C3, but the C5 was a HUGE refinement and advancement of that leap forward. The C6 lost the good looks and make only small technical detail changes. C5 is the top all around Vette for looks, performance and value.
If your going to finance, you may find the C5 easier to get longer time terms on, resulting in only slightly larger paymet compared to a C4, all-be-it for a few more years.
There are a lot of really nice 98 and 99 and even some 00 out there under 20 grand. Theyare the best buy in automotive history!
Last edited by FiberglassFan; Jan 10, 2006 at 03:47 PM.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 460
Likes: 0
From: N. Potomac MD
Personally I think the C4 is a much much better looking car and the clamshell hood has no equal in gear head appeal. That said the c5 is technically a much much better engineered car. Also from a safety standpoint you are much more likely to survive a bad accident in a C5 than in a C4. Lastly the C4 will not pass new side impact testing.
Go for the C5 is my vote.
Go for the C5 is my vote.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
From: SF Bay Area (Norcal) California
Personally i think the C5 outshines the C4 in every way possible. I would think about getting other cars in general before i bought a C4. You'll thank yourself later so just wait for the C5.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,038
Likes: 0
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '03-'05-'06-'07
Originally Posted by DDL 2004
Thanks for all the responses guys... I think I'm leaning towards what I've always wanted = C5... 
Now parting with my NSX will be the difficult part!
Now parting with my NSX will be the difficult part!
it drives alot better than my c4 did....i still would like to have a silver 96 though 
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 11,308
Likes: 1
From: The Beautiful Greater Bay Area California
Originally Posted by ROADAPPLE
I am a former C4n owner. I have owned 3 different C4’s for the last 12 years. I refused to drive a C5 because I knew if I drove one I would want one and I couldn’t afford the one I wanted.
In 2004 my finances perked up and I finely test drove a C5. Well I couldn’t get my order in fast enough! The C4 is a good car, the C5 is a GREAT car. There is no comparison.
IMO hold out for a C5.
In 2004 my finances perked up and I finely test drove a C5. Well I couldn’t get my order in fast enough! The C4 is a good car, the C5 is a GREAT car. There is no comparison.
IMO hold out for a C5.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,219
Likes: 1
From: Somerset Co, NJ
YES!!Patience is a virtue (and a reward!) Hold out for the C5, its definitely worth the wait!
October of '94, I bought my first Corvette, a '92 A4 'vert, sold it in June '05 then got a '92 MN6 coupe in July, which was great, but I wanted something better. I was going to get a Grand Sport coupe for 20,000, and then I almost bought a '91 ZR1 for 24k, but I thought... I already had 2 C4's, the GS and the ZR1 are cool, but I need an upgrade, as "special" as a GS or ZR1 is, its still kind of a "lateral" move. (I always loved C5's(esp.Z06's) but figured I couldn't afford one. I held off on the GS/or ZR1, and after some searching, I found a pristine, black ,2000 FRC/Hardtop with 35k miles!!! It only cost me 4 more thousand than I would've spent on the GS, and the same price as the '91 ZR1!
Basically, the C4's are cool, but when you get in a C5 and drive it, you won't even think twice about getting a C4!(Even a GS or a ZR1!) The C5 is just a better car in all aspects, as is anything that is newer, and improved.
Believe me, test drive one and you'll know what I mean! When I test drove my C5 at the dealer, I was giggling like a little kid, I absolutely could not believe the difference. I just turned to the salesman, and said "Sold!"
October of '94, I bought my first Corvette, a '92 A4 'vert, sold it in June '05 then got a '92 MN6 coupe in July, which was great, but I wanted something better. I was going to get a Grand Sport coupe for 20,000, and then I almost bought a '91 ZR1 for 24k, but I thought... I already had 2 C4's, the GS and the ZR1 are cool, but I need an upgrade, as "special" as a GS or ZR1 is, its still kind of a "lateral" move. (I always loved C5's(esp.Z06's) but figured I couldn't afford one. I held off on the GS/or ZR1, and after some searching, I found a pristine, black ,2000 FRC/Hardtop with 35k miles!!! It only cost me 4 more thousand than I would've spent on the GS, and the same price as the '91 ZR1!
Basically, the C4's are cool, but when you get in a C5 and drive it, you won't even think twice about getting a C4!(Even a GS or a ZR1!) The C5 is just a better car in all aspects, as is anything that is newer, and improved.
Believe me, test drive one and you'll know what I mean! When I test drove my C5 at the dealer, I was giggling like a little kid, I absolutely could not believe the difference. I just turned to the salesman, and said "Sold!"
Last edited by C5Jimmy; Jan 10, 2006 at 05:51 PM.