C5 vs C6
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,962
Likes: 254
From: Richmond, Ky
C5 vs C6
I am entertaining the idea of buying a Corvette and I would like a little insight as to the reasons for choosing one generation over the other. The car would not be an everyday driver but not a garage queen either. I am inclined to stay in the 20K +/- range so I know that would eliminate most if not all C6's. So I need reasons to spend more money for a C6 or good reasons why I would be just as happy or more so with a C5. Here is my current take on on the two. I prefer the exterior styling of the C6. I have to give the edge to the C5 interior styling. I think I would prefer the LS-2 to the LS-1 for no particular reason other than the horsepower. I would probably consider either transmission but am looking at a C5 6-speed. My wife would be driving this car also but she likes manuals too. I have never owned a Corvette and have only driven one C5, a 2000 FRC, but only for a few miles and that was several years ago.
Any thoughts, suggestions and opinions appreciated.
Any thoughts, suggestions and opinions appreciated.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 4,831
Likes: 1,847
From: NJ
2025 C8 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2023 C8 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C7 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I say C5 for looks and styling. But if it's power you want, save up and get a C6 Z06. 
Pro
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 656
Likes: 5
From: Wright City MO
I can understand your delema. I own a 97 and love the car and have done a lot to it and frankly, it looks almost new. I keep toying with the idea of a C6 also but keep going back to the C5 styling. If anything I may consider a newer C5 but we will have to see. I am sure you may get a wide range of varied opinions. C5 prices are really good right now and you can get into a nice C5 for the money you are looking to spend just don't rush into anything; study the car carefully and get someone in your local area who is a forum member or someone from a local Vette club to help you look over the one you find.
Bottom line for me, C5...
Bottom line for me, C5...
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
I had and eventually gave away to my son, my '99. I miss that car! I currently have an '07 Z51. The '99 was a much more comfortable car to drive long distances in, more leg room if you are tall as they took out two inches of interior space on the C-6 which came from the leg room area. Out here, we have serious mountains and the roads on them. The C-5 would scream up and down those roads without even thinking about it and glued to the road the whole time. Tires make a difference there of course. The C-6 does real well too but not the same. More effort on the steering is needed although I hear they fixed that in '08 but I've not driven one. The C-6's have more power without a doubt and comparing that fact to the '99 which was rated at 345Hp as opposed to my '07 rated at 400Hp, the C-6 wins easily. Get up and go is something else but with a few mods to the C-5, you can get there too. One last thing, my '99 got great mileage on the freeway, 30-34mpg while just rolling out there. My C-6 is has the MZ6 tranny therefore the mileage is reduced. I average 26 on it driving the same conditions that I did on the C-5.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,903
Likes: 1
From: You know your drunk when you swerve to miss the tree then you realize its your air freshener! Covington Ga
I say get a 01+ C5 do a few mods and your up there with a C6 and you would still have less money in the C5. Just my thoughts. Good Luck.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 11,992
Likes: 1,331
From: Middletown, DE
Best advice here -- some folks think the C6 is really a C5.5; others see it as a huge improvement. Depends on whether the upgrades feel really noticeable to YOU, I'd say.
One thing, the post-2000 C5's are well in your price range. They deliver 375 ft-lbs torque vs. 400 ft-lbs in the 2005-2006 C6. Probably not expensive at all (good tune and true CAI, perhaps) to get a C5 really close on the torque side -- then you are left with the 50 HP shortfall which, given near-equal torque, would only be noticeable above 5500 RPM. So, I would not necessarily let the engine be the deciding factor...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 5,466
Likes: 1,053
From: Chester County Pennsylvania
2025 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C6 of the Year Winner - Modified
2020 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I was in exactly your situation last year and I ended up with a C5. I originally thought I wanted the C6 because of the additional HP. But after driving two C6's, both convertibles, one a 2006 and one a 2008 and then two C5's, the C5 won hands down for me. It had more interior room, nicer interior (at least for me) and I just liked the way it dove better. I now own a 2004, 6 speed roadster and i love it. Only C6 I would consider buying would be a Z06.
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 367,969
Likes: 24,705
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '25
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
The C6 will offer you the latest styling, more standard HP (unless you go with a C5 Z06) and perhaps a better quality interior than the C5. Plus the C6 has all the technological improvements that comes with a new model. But, for the price difference, it's going to be very hard to beat the C5. You can do a lot of modifications performance and appearance wise for the cost difference.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,833
Likes: 4
From: Calgary, Alberta
I was in exactly your situation last year and I ended up with a C5. I originally thought I wanted the C6 because of the additional HP. But after driving two C6's, both convertibles, one a 2006 and one a 2008 and then two C5's, the C5 won hands down for me. It had more interior room, nicer interior (at least for me) and I just liked the way it dove better. I now own a 2004, 6 speed roadster and i love it. Only C6 I would consider buying would be a Z06.
I drove my Friends '08 Roadster for a weekend, the interior is smaller, so is the trunk, compared to my '02 Roadster. The C5 just seems to ride nicer also, and better gas mileage too.
CF Community Team
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 19,357
Likes: 5,242
From: Cape Cod, Mass.
2025 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2025 C8 Z06/7/E-Ray of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2021 C8 of the Year Finalist Unmodified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C1 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2017 Corvette of the Year Finalist
2016 C2 of Year
2015 C3 of Year Finalist
I have had both and prefer the C5. In the price range you are talking, low twenties, you would be looking at a high mileage 05. I would much prefer a well kept, low mileage C5. My C6 was a nightmare that GM ended up buying back. Too many useless gadgets in the C6 like keyless ignition and doors. My C6 was so problematic, that in the 2 years and 12,000 miles I owned it, probably half of that time it sat in the numerous dealerships that tried to fix it's numerous problems.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 2,784
Likes: 1
From: Silicon Valley
This one's simple: The newest car is always the best.
In our debtor nation of Drunken Sailors, it's what you can responsibly afford.
In our debtor nation of Drunken Sailors, it's what you can responsibly afford.
Last edited by ronssito; Feb 15, 2010 at 03:39 PM. Reason: Oops, failed again!
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,949
Likes: 10
From: Monticello MN
CF Community Team
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 19,357
Likes: 5,242
From: Cape Cod, Mass.
2025 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2025 C8 Z06/7/E-Ray of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2021 C8 of the Year Finalist Unmodified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C1 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2017 Corvette of the Year Finalist
2016 C2 of Year
2015 C3 of Year Finalist
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 130
Likes: 0
From: Eugene Oregon
Vert?
If you're thinking about a convertible, the C5 has considerably more trunk room than the C6. We do a lot of touring in our C5 'vert and love it. I've not driven the C6, but rode in a buddy's C6 Z06 several times. If raw horsepower is what you're after, that would be the car.