Wow Factor!!! C3 Vs. C5
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 230
Likes: 0
From: San Mateo, Ca CA
Wow Factor!!! C3 Vs. C5
I know a few of you have probably owned both a C3 and a C5 at one time or another.
I just was curious the different responses you recieved from the public between the 2 cars.
P.S. I posted this in the C3 forum, but there is much more action on the C5 forum...
I just was curious the different responses you recieved from the public between the 2 cars.
P.S. I posted this in the C3 forum, but there is much more action on the C5 forum...
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,809
Likes: 236
From: Utah
I have a 82 Crossfire. It's a fun car to drive and looks great. It has no where near the performance or ride quality comfort of my c5. I love driving it but you can definately tell it's a 25 year old car.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 233
Likes: 0
From: Korea
My dad owned a 1970 454, which I got to drive my senior year of high school a 13 years back.
I believe I turned more heads in the C3 than I did in my C5 and seems like there was more appreciation with a C3.
I believe I turned more heads in the C3 than I did in my C5 and seems like there was more appreciation with a C3.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 230
Likes: 0
From: San Mateo, Ca CA
Originally Posted by rudolph schenker
I have a 82 Crossfire. It's a fun car to drive and looks great. It has no where near the performance or ride quality comfort of my c5. I love driving it but you can definately tell it's a 25 year old car.
YEah, I dont wanna believe this.. but I know its true. I really want a C3 as my daily driver.. but after reading the C3 forums I realize this is a fairly stupid idea.
Still think its an awesome car tho.. I love the chrome bumpers on the early ones. just awesome.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 233
Likes: 0
From: Korea
I looked for a C3 before the C5, I found out a good C3 if you didn't want to do any more to it could end up costing more than a C5. At that point most of the early C3 I think are considered classics?
I definately would keep her in the garage.
I definately would keep her in the garage.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 230
Likes: 0
From: San Mateo, Ca CA
Well the other bad thing for me is, I am not much of a mechanic at all. And since it would be my commuter, I would need it fixed fast.. so me workin on it is not an option.
Too bad I couldnt just photoshop the problems out.
oh well...
Too bad I couldnt just photoshop the problems out.
oh well...
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
I owned a 68 vert for almost 22 years and as it grew older, more attention was heaped upon it, especially because it was always in very good condition. As for daily driving? Well, let's just say a Ford Lightning pickup blew it away on the twisties. The stock 327/350 was okay, but the ZZ3 (345/395) that was installed later was a much more potent beast - very close to my C5 in acceleration seat-of-the-pants feel.
It was nice while I had it, but I bought the C5 and never looked back. They really are night and day from each other. Lots of attention is fun, but driving satisfaction is a whole lot better, IMO.
It was nice while I had it, but I bought the C5 and never looked back. They really are night and day from each other. Lots of attention is fun, but driving satisfaction is a whole lot better, IMO.
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Instructor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 228
Likes: 0
From: Liberty Missouri
Just last weekend I took my 78 Pace Car and my 04 CE to a car show, parked them side by side, and the 78 got FAR more attention from the public. Yes, the C5 is worlds away the better car in every respect - but still, people love the C3's.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,334
Likes: 4
From: Midland TX
As you can see from my sig I have a C3 and a C5. I get many more looks and especially when driving the '72.
I had a high school aged boy yell "cool car" and give a at a stoplight a while back.
I rarely get a second look in the '03 (or the TR '99 before that). Heads do turn when the club gets together and we get a bunch of Vettes together.
when driving the '72.I had a high school aged boy yell "cool car" and give a
at a stoplight a while back.I rarely get a second look in the '03 (or the TR '99 before that). Heads do turn when the club gets together and we get a bunch of Vettes together.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 233
Likes: 0
From: Korea
Originally Posted by 72vette_454
As you can see from my sig I have a C3 and a C5. I get many more looks and especially when driving the '72.
I had a high school aged boy yell "cool car" and give a at a stoplight a while back.
I rarely get a second look in the '03 (or the TR '99 before that). Heads do turn when the club gets together and we get a bunch of Vettes together.
when driving the '72.I had a high school aged boy yell "cool car" and give a
at a stoplight a while back.I rarely get a second look in the '03 (or the TR '99 before that). Heads do turn when the club gets together and we get a bunch of Vettes together.
Man do I miss that Big Block 70 454, I used to drive it on the air base. Speed limit was 35, this was a 3 speed auto I think... didn't even have to press the gas pedal. 35mph was idle, I did have to ride the brake when the Security Police drove by, just incase it got out from under me.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,819
Likes: 1
From: Toledo Ohio
CI 6-7-8-9 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
Originally Posted by Blu Byu
Just last weekend I took my 78 Pace Car and my 04 CE to a car show, parked them side by side, and the 78 got FAR more attention from the public. Yes, the C5 is worlds away the better car in every respect - but still, people love the C3's.
A friend has a '78 25th anniversary and we some times park next to each other at events. We both answer about the same amount of questions. The older bunch (like us) ask him more and the kids ask me more. Its still fun. As a driver the C5 has it all.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,706
Likes: 551
From: St. Peters MO
C7 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
2018 C7 of Year Finalist
Originally Posted by rudolph schenker
I have a 82 Crossfire. It's a fun car to drive and looks great. It has no where near the performance or ride quality comfort of my c5. I love driving it but you can definately tell it's a 25 year old car.
I have an 82 and an 02. It's a kick to drive them back to back. They are both so much fun in their own ways. Some complain about the fit and finish of the C5. Apparently in 82 fit and finish wasn't a high priority.
The 82 is still a pretty good highway cruiser though and there is that view of the front fenders from the cockpit.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,469
Likes: 4
I sold my 75 about 4 years ago, and in the last few years I was noticing that it was getting more comments. I think that's because C3s were becoming pretty rare things on the street. Mine was in really good shape, with new paint, and it shined up real nice). Nowadays I hardly EVER see C3s on the road, so I bet it would be getting even more comments. Everytime someone finds out I have a C5 I get a comment, but the C3 STARTED conversations with strangers all the time.
I'd never want it back as a DD, though!
I'd never want it back as a DD, though!
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,036
Likes: 9,798
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
The late C3 just do not pull that much attention. But I had 2 early BB C3s and they got all sorts of attention. I bought the 69 in 72 as a daily driver and replaced it in 75 with a 71 LS6 that was my daily driver for 6 years. The LS6 is the one that made everybody ooh and awe. Whenever they saw it with the hood open with the big air cleaner that had 425 HP printed on it and saw the aluminum heads they were just amazed. The car looked like it was all engine. That said the C5 still brings thumbs up from the kids at the bus stop everytime I drive by them so they know what it is also. The guys with the BMWs and Porsches do not get any thumbs up.
Bill
Bill
Racer
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 323
Likes: 24
From: Boca Raton Florida
I've had two c3s both 73 one 454 and one 350. The 454 was awesome to drive and it sure turned heads and this was in the early to mid 90's. Horrible dd but hard to beat for a cruise at night. I really regret letting her go, but I did trade it in on a ZR-1, and now I wish I still had that. I beleive the C3's to have are in no order any big block, any LT-1, and a78 pace car with L-82. But all are great. The C5's not even comparable as far as comfort or performance but they are relatively commonly seen and c3's rarely are they seen.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 589
Likes: 1
From: Alberta
Drove a White 79 on a test drive at the local Pontiac dealer prior to getting my C5, and it turned ALOT of heads (it was also cool when I pulled it up in the college parking lot). They also had the rear window slats installed and it looked really cool. Problem I found was that the front end was SOOOO long, and on a test drive I was scared in the busy traffic to do much with it.
On another note with regard to the same vehicle, I took it on the highway with the salesman and it started to wobble rediculously and the exhaust was falling off. Then I did more research into the car and it was a hunk of junk. Thus ended my search for a C3 and I started looking for a C5.
On another note with regard to the same vehicle, I took it on the highway with the salesman and it started to wobble rediculously and the exhaust was falling off. Then I did more research into the car and it was a hunk of junk. Thus ended my search for a C3 and I started looking for a C5.
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