Caravaggio Steering Wheel
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 637
Likes: 0
From: Laurel MD
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
Caravaggio Steering Wheel
OK, I think I have enough Go! for now (I know that is practically a sacrilegious statement but I did caveat it with "for now"), so I'm working on adding some Show, as well as fixing the things that make me envy the C6. I already have plans for an AVIC D3 and some of C5KIDD's bezel handiwork, now I'm focusing on my other huge interior complaint... our steering wheel! I have always thought it was too wide, and lacked the proper thumb grip slots and feel that a world class sports car should have. My mom's Audi A4 has a sportier wheel for crying out loud. Anyway, I was checking out Caravaggio's website and really like the looks of their C5 replacement wheel, so I'm looking for comments from people who have it.
Do you like it? Overall opinions good and bad
Have you had any issues with swapping it for the stock wheel? Airbag codes or problems...
And did you go for leather or Alcantara?
Thanks in advance for helping me spend my money!
Do you like it? Overall opinions good and bad
Have you had any issues with swapping it for the stock wheel? Airbag codes or problems...
And did you go for leather or Alcantara?
Thanks in advance for helping me spend my money!
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 120
Likes: 0
From: Minneapolis Suburbs MN
I don't have one, but I thought the Caravaggio wheel was simply a reskin of the stock wheel - so no smaller, just adds padding and thumb grips. Looks good, but maybe not what you are after.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,718
Likes: 13
From: Katy TX
St. Jude Donor '12
I've got one. VetteEssentials had taken it as a core, so I got it from them. Personally, I love it. The handgrips are great.
As for shows, etc. Not as many people notice as I expected. They see the leather is custom, but don't always notice the grips. Still, I love it.
If you did the suede, I bet it would get noticed more. I also recommend going with some other pieces at the same time to help finish the look. Personally, I'm saving my pennies for the Carvaggio sport seats (among many other mods....).
I haven't had any problems with codes, fit, etc. I had a local Vette Mechanic do the install. It isn't perfectly straight, but I'll have that corrected with the next alignment.
Here's some pics. I don't have any from head on.
If you really want to see something cool - check out Carvaggio's C6 sport wheel.
chris
As for shows, etc. Not as many people notice as I expected. They see the leather is custom, but don't always notice the grips. Still, I love it.
If you did the suede, I bet it would get noticed more. I also recommend going with some other pieces at the same time to help finish the look. Personally, I'm saving my pennies for the Carvaggio sport seats (among many other mods....).
I haven't had any problems with codes, fit, etc. I had a local Vette Mechanic do the install. It isn't perfectly straight, but I'll have that corrected with the next alignment.
Here's some pics. I don't have any from head on.
If you really want to see something cool - check out Carvaggio's C6 sport wheel.
chris
2018 Grand Sport
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 755
Likes: 21
From: Tarpon Springs Florida
Ryan you must be making too much money on that deployment 
LOL you trying to keep up with the wife's car ??? I think it would look good in your car. Look at my avatar...bought me a 61 while you been gone.
Joe
LOL you trying to keep up with the wife's car ??? I think it would look good in your car. Look at my avatar...bought me a 61 while you been gone.Joe
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Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 4,251
Likes: 7
From: Woodbridge Ontario
Unfortunately.
I've tried many times to convince John to customize an adaptor to get a C6 steering wheel to fit our C5's, but he suspects that the RND for it would not be worth the cost/profit ratio.
So I settled for a C5 steering wheel, had it wrapped in alcantra like the Ferrari's and Lambo's.
The thicker than stock steering wheel really gives it a nice feel.
I've tried many times to convince John to customize an adaptor to get a C6 steering wheel to fit our C5's, but he suspects that the RND for it would not be worth the cost/profit ratio.
So I settled for a C5 steering wheel, had it wrapped in alcantra like the Ferrari's and Lambo's.
The thicker than stock steering wheel really gives it a nice feel.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area CA
I'd really like to swap out our steering wheels for the C6 one if possible. Does the wiring for the airbags work? What's required to make it physically adapt also? I unfortunately have absolutely no research on this and have never even seen the back of these wheels. Is it possible to just CNC out an adaptor for this?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 637
Likes: 0
From: Laurel MD
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
I'm making enough, gotta keep my car fresh so I don't go buy a C6 Z06 and put myself in the poor house
Nice addition to the garage there Joe, can't wait to see it when I get back.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 637
Likes: 0
From: Laurel MD
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
Unfortunately.
I've tried many times to convince John to customize an adaptor to get a C6 steering wheel to fit our C5's, but he suspects that the RND for it would not be worth the cost/profit ratio.
So I settled for a C5 steering wheel, had it wrapped in alcantra like the Ferrari's and Lambo's.
The thicker than stock steering wheel really gives it a nice feel.
I've tried many times to convince John to customize an adaptor to get a C6 steering wheel to fit our C5's, but he suspects that the RND for it would not be worth the cost/profit ratio.
So I settled for a C5 steering wheel, had it wrapped in alcantra like the Ferrari's and Lambo's.
The thicker than stock steering wheel really gives it a nice feel.
How is the suede holding up? I am really thinking about getting this set-up but I'm concerned about the suede getting spots or developing wear patterns since my Z is practically a daily driver. Thanks for the help.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,774
Likes: 363
From: Midland TX
How is the suede holding up? I am really thinking about getting this set-up but I'm concerned about the suede getting spots or developing wear patterns since my Z is practically a daily driver. Thanks for the help.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 4,251
Likes: 7
From: Woodbridge Ontario
John folds the leather around the seam points of the plastic front of the air bag. I'm not sure if John's ever tested it, but the seams are there, so I doubt with the force of an airbag going off it would be impeded in any way by the leather seams. If you look carefully at my pic, you can see them.
Last edited by tlaselva; Dec 14, 2007 at 02:27 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Paducah KY
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Cruise-In VIII Veteran
I have a caravaggio steering wheel and it does have a better feel and looks much better than stock.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,417
Likes: 2
From: Annapolis MD
I'd really like to swap out our steering wheels for the C6 one if possible. Does the wiring for the airbags work? What's required to make it physically adapt also? I unfortunately have absolutely no research on this and have never even seen the back of these wheels. Is it possible to just CNC out an adaptor for this?
Apparently, only the wheel-side spline of the column is different (I suspect it was deliberate by GM to make it not backwards-compatible). So IN THEORY, you could swap in a C6 column to a C5 because the rack-side spline is the same. You'd also need AT LEAST to make the steering position sensor work, as well as marry the airbag electronics since the C6 bag is smaller than the C5. I'm not saying it can't be done - ANYTHING can be done with enough dough. Even if you made an adapter, you'd still have the airbag electronics to deal with, and from what I understand, the C6 has 'smart airbag' technology that the C5 doesn't have, so it might be tricky. [Although you'd think the bang wire is the bang wire, right?]
This has sort of been on the back burner for me as far as trying to find the parts and explore this option -- I have several other car-project sticks in the fire at this point. The Caravaggio C6 wheel IS amazing, though!!
Last edited by JohnTheStigGalt; Dec 16, 2007 at 12:18 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,718
Likes: 13
From: Katy TX
St. Jude Donor '12
If someone figured out how to make that Carvaggio C6 wheel work, the cost wasn't unbearable, and the wheel didn't block all the guages on the instrument panel, I'd be making the switch.
It's just a cooler wheel.
chris
It's just a cooler wheel.
chris
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 10,233
Likes: 21
From: Baltimore suburbs Maryland
Here's what I've been able to glean from asking a number of different folks who have pieces of the puzzle:
Apparently, only the wheel-side spline of the column is different (I suspect it was deliberate by GM to make it not backwards-compatible). So IN THEORY, you could swap in a C6 column to a C5 because the rack-side spline is the same. You'd also need AT LEAST to make the steering position sensor work, as well as marry the airbag electronics since the C6 bag is smaller than the C5. I'm not saying it can't be done - ANYTHING can be done with enough dough. Even if you made an adapter, you'd still have the airbag electronics to deal with, and from what I understand, the C6 has 'smart airbag' technology that the C5 doesn't have, so it might be tricky. [Although you'd think the bang wire is the bang wire, right?]
This has sort of been on the back burner for me as far as trying to find the parts and explore this option -- I have several other car-project sticks in the fire at this point. The Caravaggio C6 wheel IS amazing, though!!
Apparently, only the wheel-side spline of the column is different (I suspect it was deliberate by GM to make it not backwards-compatible). So IN THEORY, you could swap in a C6 column to a C5 because the rack-side spline is the same. You'd also need AT LEAST to make the steering position sensor work, as well as marry the airbag electronics since the C6 bag is smaller than the C5. I'm not saying it can't be done - ANYTHING can be done with enough dough. Even if you made an adapter, you'd still have the airbag electronics to deal with, and from what I understand, the C6 has 'smart airbag' technology that the C5 doesn't have, so it might be tricky. [Although you'd think the bang wire is the bang wire, right?]
This has sort of been on the back burner for me as far as trying to find the parts and explore this option -- I have several other car-project sticks in the fire at this point. The Caravaggio C6 wheel IS amazing, though!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,417
Likes: 2
From: Annapolis MD
Yeh, the C5 wheel is really just a Chevy Cavalier wheel (much like the HVAC)... The wheel is the ONE thing I really wish the factory hadn't skimped on in the interior. The rest of it doesn't bug me so much.