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c5 from ol c4 guy

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Old May 7, 2009 | 03:16 PM
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Default c5 from ol c4 guy

Hi everyone
just joined forum and I'm an old guy (see username) who is currently thinking about getting a C5 vert 6spd having owned 6 other vettes (3
C4's) over the past 30++ years. Anyone here have any thoughts (ha ha) about C5 v. C4 having had both in past?? Currently am vetteless and hoping to cure this problem soon.

Rich R
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Old May 7, 2009 | 03:56 PM
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The C5 is a much refined car over the C4. Drive one and you'll see.
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Old May 7, 2009 | 03:57 PM
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my opinion, of course, but having owned both (among many other corvettes), you will not be disappointed with the C5. much more car, much better design. better suspension and handling (in my opinion). more sheer guts without mods, ease of entry and exit greatly improved. i had a 93 convertible which i really enjoyed (until it came time to get out of it after each drive, lol), but the C5 (i have an 04 commemorative edition 6sp convert) is a far superior vehicle. my wife hated the 93 because there wasn't any way to exit the car in a lady like manner, but loves the C5 for what that's worth (it goes a long way when you don't have to take the "other" car whenever you go out, lol! drive one and you'll see the differences immediately.
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Old May 7, 2009 | 04:07 PM
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OK, heres the truth. I have owned 18 Vettes over the last 46 years of driving. Six of these have been c-4s and two c-5s. After you drive a c-5 you will no longer want to drive a c-4 for any length of time! The c-5 is a better car in every way period. I am not slamming the c-4 as it was a great car and very hi tech for its day but as you will discover it is no match for the c-5! I even prefer the c-5 to the c-6, except for the added power of the newer motor the c-6 just does'nt feel like a Vette to me. To refined I guess. Just drive one!
c-5 Dave
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Old May 7, 2009 | 05:13 PM
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OK I'm getting the replies I expected as I have talked to other C5 owners recently and they all say the same pretty much. I suppose I should post this thread on the C4 forum too? But I will be driving a couple 5's in the next week and hopefully will see that I agree with you.
BTW checking the for sale stuff on this site I never get past page one of any list- has there been a problem that anyone knows of???(or shoul I post on the site problem area?
Thanx again for all input and comments.

Rich R
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Old May 7, 2009 | 05:30 PM
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Originally Posted by jrose7004
The C5 is a much refined car over the C4. Drive one and you'll see.
My dad had a 96 CE and I drove it. Its nice but nothing like my C5! Good Luck with the hunt, theres some good deals out there
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Old May 7, 2009 | 05:34 PM
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Welcome to C5, i had 383 Lpe C4 and now 01 Z06.
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Old May 7, 2009 | 05:40 PM
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The c4 was never really well accepted. The beloved C5 is probably the most popular generation ever. That says something.

C5 is the looker.
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Old May 7, 2009 | 06:16 PM
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Having owned both, the C5 is a much better car than the C4 in every way.
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Old May 7, 2009 | 06:41 PM
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I appreciate my Z06 for what it is.. a fantastically engineered machine. It's performance is better in every way over my old 1993 383 stroker LT1 coupe.

However, I prefer the looks of the C4 both inside and outside of a late C4 ZR1 to a C5 Z06. There is more of a un-refined feel to the C4 and more of a race car cockpit that you drop in to. I especially liked the sail panel that split the radio controls off from the passenger! But they are getting a bit long in the tooth for a daily driver..

for a weekend cruiser I would rather have a 1993 C4 ZR1! After a year the seats of my car still aren't comfortable.. (and I've replaced all the seat foam etc..etc..) whereas the C4 seats are exceptional!

BTW: I like the C6 Z06 better than them all...


..and the ZR1 better than that!



but really... is there such thing as a bad corvette?!?!? Heck I even love the '82 c3 and '84 crossfires.. everything has its uses!

All corvettes are good.. you just have to pick what is right for you and what you want to do and can afford..


.. for me its the C5Z06.. Love it!
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Old May 7, 2009 | 06:54 PM
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Lotta good thoughts here. If I could put my old C4 CLOTH seats in my C5 I'd be in heaven. Comfort-wise, they are close (although I prefer cloth) but for spirited driving the C5 seats do a pretty poor job of holding you securely while the C4 seats are halfway to racing buckets.

In every other way, I prefer the C5. And that matters a lot to me because it is my only car so I'd better love it!

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Old May 7, 2009 | 07:06 PM
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I have owned about 10 vetts. The newest I ever owned were C4's 93 /95 /96. I purchased a c5 2 weeks ago. Its a 01 convertible with 12,500 miles. I love the c5 and I told my wife if I would of purchased this car a couple of years ago I would own a c6 by now. My health has been poor for the past few months but if things improve by Christmas I WILL own a c5 vert with the power top.

Last edited by Daniagm; May 8, 2009 at 10:08 AM.
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Old May 7, 2009 | 07:17 PM
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man never looked back at the c4 after getting a c5 do it you wont believe the difference good luck
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Old May 7, 2009 | 09:53 PM
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I went from a 91 coupe to a 03 Z06 and I miss my 91. I like the raw feeling of the c4 and the jetfighter feeling I got from sitting behind the wheel. If you're into the raw/race car feeling then you will miss your c4.
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Old May 7, 2009 | 10:29 PM
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Originally Posted by Tunedprt91
I went from a 91 coupe to a 03 Z06 and I miss my 91. I like the raw feeling of the c4 and the jetfighter feeling I got from sitting behind the wheel. If you're into the raw/race car feeling then you will miss your c4.
As my username says-(ol rich) the "ol" part is true ,the "rich" not so much- so I'm WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYY past wanting the raw/race car feeling.. stopped doing autox about 25 years ago but still like handling and accel. And I guess the steering column lock issue is the C5 generations Optispark on C4's. Seems like a much easier and cheaper fix though.

Originally I was going to look for a 95 or 96 vert (modern AC refrigerant and glass rear window) but remembering all the times I had to throw golf bag in passenger seat on the 93 ( the others were coupes),a trunk would be nice I guess. I still like the looks of the 4 better but will drive a c5 or 2 next week and try to find a nice deal.
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Old May 7, 2009 | 10:58 PM
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'93 to '01, much improvement hands down.

You'll appreciate the work of the GM engineers on the 5th gen.
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Old May 8, 2009 | 08:18 AM
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Originally Posted by ol rich
Hi everyone
just joined forum and I'm an old guy (see username) who is currently thinking about getting a C5 vert 6spd having owned 6 other vettes (3
C4's) over the past 30++ years. Anyone here have any thoughts (ha ha) about C5 v. C4 having had both in past?? Currently am vetteless and hoping to cure this problem soon.

Rich R
I just sold my c4's and bought a 2002 vert.....I still like the c4s but the c5 is just a vastly different car....once you drive one I think you will understand what I am saying......have fun from another ol guy!
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Old May 8, 2009 | 11:36 PM
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I had two C3s and four C4s before getting my two C5s. All the previous cars were fun, but the C5 is a notch above any of them in terms of quality, ergonomics, performance, reliability, and fuel efficiency.
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Old May 9, 2009 | 12:05 AM
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I had a 1991 ZR-1, which was really an excellent car. But it was stuck in the C4 body, which was never stiff enough to be competitive with newer cars. Irony was, it probably would have been better had a last minute decision to have a targa not been made (by upper management over the engineer's objections, Thanks GM). So in comparison, the c% is a much better car. Very, very stiff body structure, allowing for much better tuning of and control of the suspension.

I would not go back to the C4 either, but I must say that there were some items that were better on the C4, but not enough to overcome the fact that the C5 is just a better car, structurally. It's so much better, that the details almost don't matter.

Regards
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Old May 9, 2009 | 08:34 AM
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I think you'll luv the C5. It's a great car in every aspect!
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