How safe is the C5?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 16,154
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From: Kali
St. Jude Donor '11
How safe is the C5?
For some reason I am starting to be a bit of a chicken**** when driving my vette.
It is so low to the ground that even a camry looks scary...
I am particularly concerned about side impacts and frontal impacts...
Does anyone have any stories to share?
I guess the ones that don't have the stories because they are 6feet under would be a better group to poll but I am still curious.
It is so low to the ground that even a camry looks scary...
I am particularly concerned about side impacts and frontal impacts...
Does anyone have any stories to share?
I guess the ones that don't have the stories because they are 6feet under would be a better group to poll but I am still curious.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,251
Likes: 16
From: Phoenix Arizona
For some reason I am starting to be a bit of a chicken**** when driving my vette.
It is so low to the ground that even a camry looks scary...
I am particularly concerned about side impacts and frontal impacts...
Does anyone have any stories to share?
I guess the ones that don't have the stories because they are 6feet under would be a better group to poll but I am still curious.
It is so low to the ground that even a camry looks scary...
I am particularly concerned about side impacts and frontal impacts...
Does anyone have any stories to share?
I guess the ones that don't have the stories because they are 6feet under would be a better group to poll but I am still curious.
wE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE!! 
its a lot safer than my motorcycle ...
that i have been driving for 35 years
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 25,889
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From: Virginia Beach
CI 3-5-6-7-8 Veteran
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 30,770
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From: Down the Shore New Jersey, Elev.3 feet
St. Jude Donor '17
Was told by the "vette tech" at the dealer that if you are going to be in an accident...you would want to be in a vette, said they are very safe.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,385
Likes: 160
From: Orlando FL
I got rearended a couple of years ago by a 1989 Dodge Ram 1500. He was going about 35-40mph and oblivious to the changing speeds on the interstate. There was more visible damage to the front end of his truck than my Corvette that was pushed into a Ford F150 in front of me. Other than my back that hurt for a day and a skinned head from scraping the sunvisor, I was not injured. The C5 was testimony to its crash worthiness. I had it fixed (no frame damage but front and rear crash beams replaced).....it drives and looks better than new!
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 14,440
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From: MD
St. Jude Donor '11
The C5 is probably one of the safest vehicles on the road. The hydro-formed chasis and passenger compartment makes it extremely safe. I've even seen C5's complete roll over and the passenger survived with minor injuries. Drive safely and don't worry about it.
Former Vendor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 8,995
Likes: 2
From: Spring Texas
St. Jude Donor '08
Collision aside, I feel much safer driving my vette than the family Tahoe. I feel like i have significantly more control especially in the area of braking (the Tahoe has 2 piston front calipers and drum rears 
) The vette will do what I want it to 4 times faster than the Tahoe simply because of it's design and handling.
Compared to the first vette in the family (a 1985 coupe) The C5 is "smarter" and smoother to drive. The 85 felt every bump in the road and was highly sensitive to throttle and steering. The brakes left much to be desired, but this was a problem specific to our particular car. There was a small leak somewhere in the brake lines that was never completely fixed. It would stop on a dime, but sponge to the floor after.
A far as my confidence in collision avoidance, the C5 gets an A+
) The vette will do what I want it to 4 times faster than the Tahoe simply because of it's design and handling. Compared to the first vette in the family (a 1985 coupe) The C5 is "smarter" and smoother to drive. The 85 felt every bump in the road and was highly sensitive to throttle and steering. The brakes left much to be desired, but this was a problem specific to our particular car. There was a small leak somewhere in the brake lines that was never completely fixed. It would stop on a dime, but sponge to the floor after.
A far as my confidence in collision avoidance, the C5 gets an A+
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Visalia CA
100%No matter how safe a driver you are, if you can't RESPOND to the idiots on the road, you're in trouble!
Race Director
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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
I agree - I've seen plenty of pics over the years of totalled C5's and most of them the occupants walked away with minor injuries if any.
The car has a very low center of gravity, so there's not much chance the car will flip. The hydroformed frame rails are extremely strong. I don't feel unsafe in my car at all.
The car is a real tribute to those engineers that designed it.
The car has a very low center of gravity, so there's not much chance the car will flip. The hydroformed frame rails are extremely strong. I don't feel unsafe in my car at all.
The car is a real tribute to those engineers that designed it.
Former Vendor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 8,995
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From: Spring Texas
St. Jude Donor '08
correction: there is a time I feel a little woozey in my car....that's being on a 2 lane highway next to a Semi. or worse behind 2 semis in both lanes. A couple of weeks ago I saw a semi on the other side of the highway lose a tire that went flying near 50 feet into the air. Collision avoidence only works if there's enough room to avoid.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 165
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For some reason I am starting to be a bit of a chicken**** when driving my vette.
It is so low to the ground that even a camry looks scary...
I am particularly concerned about side impacts and frontal impacts...
Does anyone have any stories to share?
I guess the ones that don't have the stories because they are 6feet under would be a better group to poll but I am still curious.
It is so low to the ground that even a camry looks scary...
I am particularly concerned about side impacts and frontal impacts...
Does anyone have any stories to share?
I guess the ones that don't have the stories because they are 6feet under would be a better group to poll but I am still curious.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 16,154
Likes: 0
From: Kali
St. Jude Donor '11
I certainly hear you guys on the collision avoidance... the brakes and handling are second to none... and I have avoided 2 near accidents when ppl didn't SEE me and tried to merge ON TOP of my car...
The Active handling feature is amazing as well..
But all that said and done.... I am a bit scared of getting T boned by a burban...
Good to hear that the frame rails are super strong though... that makes me feel better about frontal and rear collisions.
The Active handling feature is amazing as well..
But all that said and done.... I am a bit scared of getting T boned by a burban...
Good to hear that the frame rails are super strong though... that makes me feel better about frontal and rear collisions.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 17,541
Likes: 2
From: Manhattan, KS Missing SoCal since 2005
I certainly hear you guys on the collision avoidance... the brakes and handling are second to none... and I have avoided 2 near accidents when ppl didn't SEE me and tried to merge ON TOP of my car...
The Active handling feature is amazing as well..
But all that said and done.... I am a bit scared of getting T boned by a burban...
Good to hear that the frame rails are super strong though... that makes me feel better about frontal and rear collisions.
The Active handling feature is amazing as well..
But all that said and done.... I am a bit scared of getting T boned by a burban...
Good to hear that the frame rails are super strong though... that makes me feel better about frontal and rear collisions.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
THere is no car that is safe. Every accident can be a risk of death. If you are afraid to driving your corvette, bring it over, I'll drive it haha.
From what I've read and researched, they are durable and safe. Again, the tests they do on cars is not a exact duplicate of a crash, you can never predict how an accident will result. So no matter what car you drive, the risk is always there.
From what I've read and researched, they are durable and safe. Again, the tests they do on cars is not a exact duplicate of a crash, you can never predict how an accident will result. So no matter what car you drive, the risk is always there.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Not on either liberal coast.