I am a current forum member and 1990 C4 owner. Love the car but have gone as far as I want with putting money into it.

I am considering a C5 but would like to know how it compares to the C4 other than being a newer model.

- C4 s tend to ride hard - how does the C5 compare - not including the
Z51s!!
- I want another auto with a 3:15 axle- are the autos generally trouble
free when maintained properly??

- the C 4 L 98 engine is somewhat limted unless you go with a heads
and cam package -how well do the LS 1 bolt ons work?

- Can I go with after market headers on an NY emissions vehicle?

- What are some of the common problems?? trouble codes, leaks, fit
and finish, electrical?? -what should I look for when considering a
purchase other than the obvious visual and mech. inspection??

Any input would be appreciated especially from former or current C4 owners.

Thanks

 

Hey,

I had a '87 Coupe prior to my C5 and i am more than impressed!

My C4 was supercharged and only went .04 seconds faster than my C5 did STOCK!

Ride quality resembles that of a BMW or Mercedes compared to that of any C4 i have ridden in. This coming from a guy with a Z51 car at that! lol

The bolt on world is ENORMOUS for the LSx motors! Simple bolton's could result in 350rwhp and running 12.0's!

The couple little things i had to deal with on my C5:

1. The side markers were a little corroded and only worked when they wanted to. Shot of wd40 and havent had a problem since.

2. The gas gauge would stick and jump around pretty frequently. Two bottles of techron later...no problems.

3. Gas filler tube apparently is too small and creates a vacuum that wont let you fill the tank...i havent addressed this one yet.

4. Actuator for the HVAC vents has some stripped gears and i can hear the motor running quite often...havent addressed this one either.

5. Lastly the seat tracks have some bushings that wear out that cause the seats to rock back and forth when you brake...i know how to fix this...i just havent yet.

Goodluck finding a C5! They truly are amazing cars!

 

Click the "Sticky" on top that is title 'Weights, measurements.......' Don't the info scare you off.

 

I had a 96 cpe prior to my 2000 cpe.
1. Chassis feels more stable, but w/ the longer wheelbase seems
to have less immediacy (?) to inputs.
2. A4 on both cars, the c5 seems to shift more firmly.
3. Selective suspension is a plus on the c5.
4. Interior quality and space seem to be a wash.
5. LS motor just wants to GO.
6. Top off the C5 is much better than a C4 with the top off.
No loss of stiffness, and no change in handling at all.
7. Great joy to drive either car, but I do like the C5 much
more than my C4.

Just my.02 worth.

 

When getting inside, not dropping down into a C4 "bath tub" is nice too. Some guys hate it though, since they can no longer get a "peek-a-boo" when assisting the dress-wearing ladies out of the passenger seat.

 

See above

 

Thanks to all for the responses and suggestions !!

 

When looking for my first vette I drove C3's first. I really thought that I wanted one but the really nice ones were very pricey. So I thought I would check out the C4's. Drove a couple of very clean ones and was impressed with the advancements! Then drove a POS C5 because it was cheap. WOW, that POS was a way better car, performance wise , than anything I had driven. Six C5's later I bought one! Nothing bad about the others but you will not miss your C4 very often!

 

flatbush, All you have to do is drive a c-5. There is no comparison between the cars. I have owned 18 Vettes over 42 years from c-1s to c-5s. The c-5 is the best Corvette ever built period! Please, no whining from the c-6 crowd. The c-6 is a very fine car but overall I personaly prefer the c-5! Sometimes less electronic stuff is good. Overall I love all Vettes but the c-5 rules!!!!!!!!!!!!
c-5s forever, Dave

 

My first vette was a C2 67 that was 8 yr old when I bought it. The second was a C3 80 that I bought new and still have. My third was a C5 98 bought new. The C5 was a quantum leap forward over any previous generation. No offense meant, to earlier years.

I can not tell you how much better the C5 is short of writing a book. I still have a C5 and I also have a C6. I would say the C6 is an incremental change from the C5. The C5 was a giant leap. Don't get me wrong I like my C6, but my 98 is still the one to beat. It is like a dance partner that knows all the right moves.

 

Just go drive a C5 and it'll more than answer all of your questions!

 

This comes from Wikipedia which I believe sums it up nicely,

>
Production of the C5 Corvette began in 1997 and ended with the 2004 model year. The C5 was a major change from the long-running C4. The transmission was moved to the rear of the car to form an integrated rear-mounted transaxle assembly and was connected to the engine by a driveshaft. Gone were most of the squeaks and rattles of the C4. The new C5 was judged by the automotive press as improved in nearly every area over the previous Corvette design.
>

 

I'll agree with many here as the C5, at least the base car I have, rides almost as nice as my Toyota Tundra with the Heavy Duty Bilsteins I just had put on, it rides that nice. I took a 130-mile drive from MA up here to VT and even on washboard/frost heaved highway, it rode like a dream, no creaks, rattles, nothing.

I got to drive my buddies C4 right before he traded it, and while it was only for about 25 miles, when we picked up his 2002 C5 Z51 with 9,000 miles/M6, it was a pretty big difference. Even with the Z51, it rode so much smoother/nicer. I suspected that the car was a bit tighter than mine, of course the difference from 32,000 miles to 9,000 is a big difference, but I opened the glovebox and sure enough, Z51 was stamped on that tag.

Yeah, you do need to test drive a C5. One drive for both me and Eckdog1 and we were hooked. I also like that many on here who have owned or driven C6's prefer the C5, now that is saying something.

 

C5 over c4

 

Had a 89 c4 before my c5 hugh difference across the board better ride,handling and performance you will not be dissapointed.

 

C5 vs C4

Much of the changes are subjective, as to appearance form, et., but the objective areas such as performance, getting in and exiting, sophisticated management system/s, etc, are the real deal. I, too, think that the C5 is the best Corvette ever built. Good luck with your choice.

 

I think you'll find that the C5 is vastly improved when it comes to ride, power, ergonomics and even fuel economy compared to the C4. I had four C4s and now two C5s and while the C4s are very good cars, the C5 is just a better platform. The LS1 engine is very reliable as is the tranny, and bolt ons work well.

The ride is much better than the C4 - not as harsh for sure. Common problems include column lock, leaking differential seals and rocking seats.

I've got some Word files that might help you out. PM me your e-mail address and I'll send them to you.

 

I prefered the ride in my Z52 '88 Vert to my Z51 "01 Vert.
It C4 had much more road feel. = exhilaration
But the C5 has more acceleration, more electronics, and more storage.

 

I very recently "upgraded" to a C5. The ONLY thing I miss from my C4 is the seats. Unless I inherit scads of dollars or hit the lottery so I can add a Callaway TT Aerobody to the collection, I will never go back!

 

I had an 88, 96 LT4 and now the 01. The C5 has a more comfortable interior and rides nicer. I like the style of the C4 better but the C5 is a nicer car to ride in. I cant say the LS1 is any quicker than the LT4 stock to stock. They say modded the LS1 will outperform a modded LT4. If you decide to move up I gaurantee you wont be dissapointed.

With the economy in the toilet you may even want to consider going up another step to a C6 if the finances are there. I have seen add's for 05's and 06's under $40K. Corvettes get better with each passing generation.