My neighbor has a 96 C4 that is perfect! He has never driven the C5 and asked me if he could just give mine a little test drive. With me in the car (of-course) he took the C5 for a litte test drive out on the free way. Ken, my neighbor, said he could not believe the difference in his vette and mine. Ken said the C5 is in another class than his C4. he loves his C4 and said he thinks the C4 is a class above most sports car, BUT, the C5 is in the same class as the $100,000 cars you see driving down the strip here in Myrtle Beach during the summer time. Ken was very up front about the cheap interrior and the poor leather seats, but said the overall performance of the car was UNREAL. I love getting input from a fellow vette owner who will give me a true evaluation of what he thinks compaired to some auto writter (Road and track, consumer reports, on & on). All aside, as a past C4, C3 owner, I too agree, the C5 is one bad machine and is the BEST LOOKING sports car on the road....

 

Yep, I've driven many C3's in my younger years, and owned a c4 for awhile. True. The C5 beats 'em all hands down, although they all are wonderful in their own right. I haven't driven a c6 but I hear they are even better. I doubt I ever find out unless I have a rich relative ready to drop over dead that I don't know about. Enjoy your ride!

 

Actually an LT4 should give our LS1 a run for it's money. Age and many other factors surely weigh in but on paper anyway....

Styling on the other hand is a no brainer. The C5 had a really romantic and sexy look that no other auto has.

GM obviously gave the C6 a PG-14 rating as it just doesn't have the lines that make our cars what they are to us and to other admirers.

JMHO

 

I've never driven a C4, but this week I got to sit in one owned by a guy I work with. I thought it was hard to get in and out of. I felt like I had to crawl down and into it, versus just sliding into my C5. Don't get me wrong, it is a cool car. I would like to have the opportunity to drive one some day. I lusted after a C4 like every other generation until I was fortunate enough to get mine. I spent all afternoon yesterday cleaning it and oh do I love my car. All Vettes are cool. Dan

 

for those of us who have owned c4s who now have c5s, we cannot get over the differences in all areas. mind you, the c4 is not a slouch in any department----but the c5's improvements in power, room, convenience, et cetera...are nothing short of stunning. bub

 

I have owned both generations , loved the C4 , had a few C4s , but now driving a C5
the difference is huge !

 

I have a 78 Pace Car, an 88 cpe and recently bought an 01 cpe. Ill tell you the 78 is always fun to drive but its almost a Flintstone car compared to the 88. Then I bought my 01 and WOW, Its hard to believe how much nicer it is, and not just because its new. Chevrolet keeps redefining the Corvette immensely as the generations progress. I dont know if I'll ever want to get back in either one of them. The 01 almost drives it self.

 

I have to agree with your neighbor. I had several C3s and four C4s in the past and by far the C5 is the winner. I liked all my previous Vettes, but in terms of overall performance, ergonomics, etc, the C5 can't be beat.

 

We still have both and I love both. Each car has it strong points. Ride and the getting in and out goes in favor of the C5 for sure but the C4 feels like your in a fighter jet once inside.

 

The C5 is world class...best darn bang for the buck

 

Story

I always like reading these stories about how people come to the realization that technology keeps moving on based on lessons learned over the last 50+ years and newer really is better. I have to agree the C5 is a great driver but when it comes to raw go power I will take my old 91 LT5 any day.

 

Never had a C4 but just joined the Vette Crowd a little while back with an 03 Z06.

It is really fun Once I drove it, there was no way I wasn;t driving home in it

Nate

 

Modded C4's can suprise ya, mine sure did. Miss her still. But my modded C5 is truly in another class.

 

I've driven several C4's including ZR1's and I wouldn't own one. The C5 is the exception to the GM rule.

 

I had a 96 coupe drove that until I got my current 04 Vert and will probably trade that for a C6 Vert.

 

Sat in an 84 the other day, "crossfire injection", wow, I just couldn't believe the difference.

 

First, let me say I love our 2000 C5! But I still miss the `96 convertible....yes, it was difficult to get in and out of with a bad hip, but once you were strapped in it just wrapped around you and you were riding "a rocketship on wheels" to quote old GM advertising.

Given the opportunity, I would buy back the `71 coupe I sold in 1998. Of all the generations, the steel bumper cars (`68 - `72) still have the best lines to my eye.

What all this boils down to is, if I had space and money was no object (it is) I would have several Corvettes of all generations. Love them all for what they each are.

Now I have to go to the garage and polish our beautiful DBGM C5

 

Refine Refine Refine. I love my C5 too. I think in 20 years the C8 guys will be laughing at us too

 

Well I owned a 95 LT1 6 speed car for close to 10 years before buying a C5 ... and I still LUST over 96 Grand Sports...

I like the interior of the 95 Better.. I felt like I was "enclosed" in a "cockpit"... .the C5 does not feel nearly as good to me...

I liked the clam shell hood on the 95 also...made it easier to get at the engine ...

NOW getting into the 95 was only a small problem...GETTING out was a MAJOR problem... can't tell you how difficult it was for a 60 year old (+)
guy to bend twist, and crawl out of that car...

The SOB Optispark never gave me a problem BUT I dodged puddles for years....

Taking off the top on the 95 was not real easy...BUT driving the car without the top off was (OK lets just say SCARY).. as a result I never took the damn thing off... someone in the Corvette newsgroup refered to
C4 as flexable flyers... and my gosh thats a good discription...

My C5 is a convertible...but getting in and out is so damn much easier
then the 95 ...AND the C5 has a freaken TRUNK.... which is simply wonderful... and I do not haul golf clubs ... but I do normally haul a chair,
and a beer cooler to the Saturday night Crusie ins... the Trunk helps...

Styling wise... I do not care for the front of either car.... (no personallity)
and I likes the *** end of the 95 better then the BIG BUTT (my wives term) of the C5 ... overall however the C5 is better...

I also own 64 & 72 Ragtops (sorry guys but the C5 will be history before either of them are) ..they are machines..pure and simple ... And I own a
"slightly modified 76 4 speed car... (my favorite overall car to drive)...and the wife has her own 79 (automatic) Corvette that she drives with me in the passenger seat on real nice summer evenings just to enjoy the scenery and we always stop at an ice cream place ...

Just my thoughts.... and I am serious about LOVING the 96 Grand Sports..
one day ..I'll find one..

Bob G.

 

I had a VERY high dollar C4(LPE-383) and don't miss it in the least. The c5 is newer, tighter,handles better, rides better and is only a few tenths off(three mph) in the 1/4 than my former car.

I wish the Z06 was around in 1997 when I sent my c4 to LPE. I'd have saved a lot of $. Hindsight is always 20-20!