I went to the dealership today to pick up a cargo net I ordered. They had a very low-mileage C6 on the lot. I decided to take a test drive.

It was a 2008 1LT base model with automatic and was completely stock.

I liked it for the most part. I liked the automatic more than I thought I would. I guess I'm getting old. (Actually, I know I'm getting old, but that's beside the point! )

My car is a Z51 6-speed model. Compared to mine the C6 was smoother and quieter. The LS3 is a heck of an engine. Even in stock tune with the automatic tranny, the car had impressive acceleration.

The base suspension felt like it would be easier to live with on a daily driver basis. Mine feels fairly harsh by comparison.

I'm fairly tall, 6'1"; I had enough room, but definitely felt more cooped up than in mine.

I still like my C5 and I'm not trying to stir the stink-pot. I just thought I'd report my impressions from the experience.

 

You should be banned! J/K. Seriously, no matter how well they drive, they just can't compete when it comes to looks.imo.

 

Benedict Arnold!

 

I also drove a C6 but it was a friends Z06. The car handles amazingly and yet rides nicer than my C5 Coupe with standard suspension. I did not notice the cabin being smaller but others have said the same thing as you. I am 5'11 so maybe that is why. However my friend who owns the car is 6'7" and he loves it. Imagine any other sports car he could fit in comfortably. The C5 and C6 are truly amazing cars. The C6 is more refined and faster and I would love to have one but I still love my C5 and will never part with it..

 

In one of my prior treads I had talked about how each model year has improvements over the prior models. I would have been shocked if you had reported that the C5 was so much better in performance with both being equal (Stock). With that being said I am sure the C6 is a good car. I like many others prefer the C5 even with the difference in stock power. I am happy you enjoyed the test drive. With that being said, now do you want a C6?

 

Yup, I also have tested a C6. What I did like was that the interior finish and materials are an improvement over the vas expanses of plastic in my C5.
I thought the paddle shifters were a gimmick, but boy howdy, did that car accelerate well.

 

Glad you guys got to drive one.

I prefer the exterior looks of the C5 myself, but I would LOVE to have the paddles in mine.

 

I have also driven a base C6. I didn't find any real difference in the ride or handling. I drove a six speed and my car is also a six speed so I can't compare the automatics. I did notice it had more power, a nicer interior and more upgrade items although it felt a bit more cramped to me than the C5. Certainly not enough improvement for me to trade my C5 with 13,000 miles on it for a C6. Especially when they offered me $15,800 for my car and the new one is over $50,000. Instead, I decided to spend a few grand on my C5 to add some of the niceties and improve performance a bit. I'll wait for the C7 and hope for a bigger leap forward.

Phil

 

I've driven several C6s, all manual trans, like my C5. I did not see that much improvement to make me want to buy one. I also like the looks of the C5 over the C6. I do agree that they ride better.

Hopefully my C5 will last (1998 now has 130,000 miles), but there would be worse things than HAVING to buy a C6.

 

Not yet.

I am, however, getting closer and closer to retiring. I'll probably sell/trade mine to get into a newer one before I do.

Alan

 

I drove a convertable C6 automatic several years back for about a week when I went to vacation in Florida. The acceleration was nice once in motion. I really didnt like the rest of the car for the most part. Its also not a good looking Corvette imo. The sides are soooo flat. I was cured of my curiosity for the C6 at that point and was very happy to get back to my C5Z. I would like to drive a C6Z06 and love the looks of them.

 

Are you talking REAL paddles or those flaky buttons they stuck on the automatic cars? I drove a friends C6 with the buttons on the steering wheel and those were a joke IMHO.

 

I've driven a number of them but I don't want one. At least not yet.

 

I mistakenly sold my C5 about a year ago and thought I had been cured of the need for a vette. Well....as time passes, I just can't stand it. WOuld give anything to have my C5 back, but it's gone, stripped and made into a track car. I talk to the guy who bought it from time to time, and just listen to all the mods, blah blah. I liked it the way it was.

Since - I've driven a few of the C6's and after not having one, it is pretty easy to appreciate some of the improvements they have made in the cabin for noise reduction and the LS3 is mean machine - that extra 100 HP is definately noticed. The ride is smooth, quiet and a joy to drive.

While the C5's overall beauty can't be matched in design, the C6 makes up for it in other areas. Behind the wheel, it is easy to feel the C5 in it. The body style has grown on me over the 5 years of the C6, so I'm going to pull the trigger on one hopefully next week.

An 08 1LT, which is fine as I'll do a lot of my "DIYGUY" mods that I did on the C5. I'm looking forward to the new ride, but won't bail from the C5 section. Still captures the thrill of stories of how beautiful the car is, which it is.

I'm getting a great deal if the one I've nailed down happens.

Getting stoked again. It's been like a friend that went away and never wrote back.... and now coming back in a new package.

C5's live the legend like no other.

 

I refuse to do it



I love the C5, started out hating the C6, have grown over the years to where Im sure if I drove one, its not that I wouldnt appreciate the C5 but I might be plauged more often about thinking about upgrading.

For me anyway, no sense in stirring the pot unnecessarily

 

Must admit the 6's are slowly growing on me,,but still feel no compulsion to drive or own one!! IF the opportunity arose to drive one,,I'd do it for sure,,just not going out looking to do so!! Besides,,I still owe money on this one!!

 

Buy the C6 for your wife, then borrow it!

 

I also sold my 01 coupe alittle over a year ago and said I was done with the sports cars but after awhile I keep looking at vettes and decided to sell my truck and get back into one.. well my mind was made up between a Z and a C6 drove both cars each having there own positives and negatives I wasnt able to drive a LS3 because I decided that was stll more than I wanted to spend on a weekend car but I drove 3 C6s two 6-speeds and a auto all lt3s the car is nice insided but cramped definitely felt like there was more room in my coupe and the Z for that matter, the ride was a big improvement along with the noise but was not impressed with the LS2 at all I decided to go back with the C5 and bought a Z and love it more power than my coupe even though I had some work done to the coupe and I fell that its faster than an LS2 C6. with that being said I would love to own a C6Z one day

 

Awe, I will keep my primative, harsh, faster C5 over a C6 anyday...

 

I can't get over the carp look. Just looks funny to me.