Well...I'd take a C6 ZR1 also 
Are C5 Owners Really...
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 552
Likes: 1
From: Sacramento Tennessee
Are C5 Owners Really...
Are C5 Owners Really... Haters of the C4? I own two of them but have owned a third. In the C4 forum it is always stated that nothing but trash-talk is being said over here about our cars. It just doesn't make any sense to me. Aren't we all fans of the cars regaurdless of which generation it comes from? I would jump at the chance to have another Vette and what year it comes from doesn't mean a thing to me. Some cars are faster than others, some have smoother rides than others.... so what? I'm sure the owner of a C2 Corvette loves their car as much as the guy who just picked up his brand new Z06. Is it the speed/accelleration difference? Speed is nothing but a dollar amount, how fast do you wanna go.... how much money do you have to spend? Will you wave to a C4 or older Corvette and if you do wave do you wave first? Just trying get a clearer picture if we are all one group of cars buffs or a group of poisers. Copper
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,529
Likes: 0
From: 1000 Oaks CA
St. Jude Donor '08
I don't know much about the C4 but I like the later model C4's. The earlier ones have a weird looking rear. The interiors of the C4's are just plain nasty. I wouldn't mind owning a C4 if I find a clean one that has been taken care of. And I definitely wave to C4 owners!
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
My first Corvette was a '99 but to tell you the truth, I would like to have one of each year. They all look nice too me. The only one I ever rode in before the '99 was I think a '71...but not postive. I remember the car was orange but got up and moved! Now I'm in a '07 and love it. Saw a '60 going down the freeway on Friday and sure wish I had it.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 3,816
Likes: 16
From: Anchorage Alaska
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
I hear what you're getting at, OP. My feelings are that you're right... there is a lot of smack being talked here about C4's. However, I also feel that it's all good-natured ribbing and that, hopefully, MOST of those who are "bashing" C4's are doing so in jest and actually do appreciate them. But of course, most of us here in C5's are fans of our own, first and foremost. I can't tell you HOW it became fashionable to belittle C4's, and I know that it gets annoying to some... but, I can appreciate good-natured ribbing as much as anyone so I can't say I'm really bothered by it. WHy, I'm sure the fellows in C6Gen talk smack about C5's also. Maybe it's just the "newer is better" mentality coming out. I can't lie; I have a twinge of that too. But at the end of the day, I like to think we're all Corvette owners who have as much right to shoot the sh** with any other Corvette owners, generations aside.
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I guess you'll get the jerks in any car Forum
I'd say from my experience that any true enthusiast loves a Corvette of any year, C1 through C6. I can appreciate a thing of beauty and it was the C4 that started my longing to own one of these great cars. I appreciate the C4 and I wave madly at Vettes of any year.
Now the switch from the C4 to the C5 was a massive improvement in performance..........................
I'd say from my experience that any true enthusiast loves a Corvette of any year, C1 through C6. I can appreciate a thing of beauty and it was the C4 that started my longing to own one of these great cars. I appreciate the C4 and I wave madly at Vettes of any year.
Now the switch from the C4 to the C5 was a massive improvement in performance..........................
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,389
Likes: 5
From: Northern Virginia
I do not think the trash-talk is as bad as you're making it sound. People do make comments that I have read, but it always seems like it's just kidding around. C6 guys do the same thing to the C5 folks. I think everyone here can appreciate a corvette no matter what the year, but it's always in good fun to break some ***** on the forum lol... Lastly, I wave at everyone driving a vette.. we're all family, right? 
I say as long as you like what you have, **** the naysayers! Don't take people online too seriously, ya know? It's all in good fun
I say as long as you like what you have, **** the naysayers! Don't take people online too seriously, ya know? It's all in good fun
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,700
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma city Oklahoma
I never understod it either, I owned a 96 for a long time and loved it. Now I do prefer the later model C-4 compare to the early becasue of the overall int and ext look. I would still like to get another C-4 someday and keep my current c-5. As long as you like what you have dont worry about pleasing everyone. Just be glad you are in a vette and not one of the many P.O.S cars that soem people have to drive!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,868
Likes: 770
From: Kelso Washington
St. Jude Donor '09, '13, '15
Hell no....the C4 got me re-interested in the Corvette. It was a major step in the right direction both in engineering, but also design, and especially in build quality.
Not a hater here!
But totally a C5 lover!
Not a hater here!
But totally a C5 lover!
Drifting
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 1,966
Likes: 0
From: Baton Rouge LA
I owned a 1991 ZR-1 for over 10 years, and owned it for 3 years with my 2002 ZO6. I find no trash talk on the C5 board. But make no mistake about it. The C4 structure (frame-body, and hence, control and ride) are light years behind the C5. I consider the ZR-1/LT5 to be the most technology advanced world class car ever to be made by Corvette. But it was stuck in a C4 body, which is a shame.
No, no trash talk. There is a realization, at least by me, that for all its structural ills, the C4 was an entirely new Corvette that did much to move the Corvette back on the world stage. It had gotten to the point with the C3 that many parts of Europe thought of it as a pimp car. In that sense, the C4 was great. But the C5 ironically, benefited from its many delays to finally have time to solve the structural issues that make the C5 such a good automobile. Not just a Corvette, but a fine car.
But I will always value my ZR-1 the most, and think it was a finer effort even than the new ZR1 which is, after all, largely an aftermarket car.
I believe my C2 split window Stingray and my C4 ZR-1 were much more historically significant cars. But the C% is a better automobile.
No, no trash talk. There is a realization, at least by me, that for all its structural ills, the C4 was an entirely new Corvette that did much to move the Corvette back on the world stage. It had gotten to the point with the C3 that many parts of Europe thought of it as a pimp car. In that sense, the C4 was great. But the C5 ironically, benefited from its many delays to finally have time to solve the structural issues that make the C5 such a good automobile. Not just a Corvette, but a fine car.
But I will always value my ZR-1 the most, and think it was a finer effort even than the new ZR1 which is, after all, largely an aftermarket car.
I believe my C2 split window Stingray and my C4 ZR-1 were much more historically significant cars. But the C% is a better automobile.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,172
Likes: 1
From: Sartell Minnesota
i wish GM would have just burned or skipped the whole 4th Gen lol i kid i kid i love 4th Gen's along with all other Gens. C5's get alot of hate from the C6 guys. It seems that they forget their roots
lol i kid i kid i love 4th Gen's along with all other Gens. C5's get alot of hate from the C6 guys. It seems that they forget their roots
CF "Young" Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,034
Likes: 26
From: Cupertino CA
St. Jude Donor '12
Same here. Started with the '86 my dad gave me as a grad present a few years back. That thing's been through the family and dad's driving it again as a DD to keep the miles of his XLR. I bought his '01 vert off him, and have warned him to keep my '86 in good condition cause I want it back when he's done with it.
I love C4's, and always find the 'hatred' towards them rather amusing, especially since many of the haters were C5 owners that are now finding their generation is become the 'cheap vette' (the old threads of "kids are buying our cars" crack me up).
I accept that the '86 isn't nearly as refined a car as my '01, but it's still fun, and has incredible potential for becoming a track car in the future.
I love C4's, and always find the 'hatred' towards them rather amusing, especially since many of the haters were C5 owners that are now finding their generation is become the 'cheap vette' (the old threads of "kids are buying our cars" crack me up).
I accept that the '86 isn't nearly as refined a car as my '01, but it's still fun, and has incredible potential for becoming a track car in the future.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,192
Likes: 7
From: Charlotte N.C
I presently own a c3 and c5, I had a c4 and sold it to make room for the c5. I have never seen any type of hate for c4s. Bottom line a corvette is a corvette regardless of year, color, options, I lovem all and enjoy interacting and waving to all owners of all years. This is what being a true corvette lover, enthusiat and owner is all about. I go to Carisle and I feel like I am in heaven because so many of the corvette people I come in contact with are do to earth and sincere people with one common interest, a true passion for the only true American sports car.....the CORVETTE