Thinking about a C5
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Thinking about a C5
I live in Colorado and right now use a Nissan Titan as my DD. I have been looking for something that gets a little better MPG's than the truck to drive to work (about 17 miles) and use for road trips. In trying to figure out what car I want, I came across info on the C5 getting way better MPG's than I would of thought while being more fun than most everything I had been looking at.
I head up into the mountains to go flyfishing as much as I can. Some of the places I go, I would not think of taking a C5 due to the rough roads. I would take my truck to those places. Other places I go to are paved until the parking lot, or have short trips down gravel/dirt with some slight washboard surfaces. I want a car that can be taken to those places. I know it is a difficult question without knowing what the conditions are, but would you take stock C5 coupe down dirt/gravel roads, albeit slowly, or will the front end and rocker panels be damaged?
Below are some links to representative roads. Thanks in advance.
http://www.parkcountyheritage.com/he...venmile-canyon
http://travel.webshots.com/photo/220...14798694kYlcpx
http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/97029298/Flickr
I head up into the mountains to go flyfishing as much as I can. Some of the places I go, I would not think of taking a C5 due to the rough roads. I would take my truck to those places. Other places I go to are paved until the parking lot, or have short trips down gravel/dirt with some slight washboard surfaces. I want a car that can be taken to those places. I know it is a difficult question without knowing what the conditions are, but would you take stock C5 coupe down dirt/gravel roads, albeit slowly, or will the front end and rocker panels be damaged?
Below are some links to representative roads. Thanks in advance.
http://www.parkcountyheritage.com/he...venmile-canyon
http://travel.webshots.com/photo/220...14798694kYlcpx
http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/97029298/Flickr
Racer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 351
Likes: 1
From: Laurel Maryland
St. Jude Donor '11
Many people use their Corvette every day for anything. For me, I would not buy a Corvette for the use you are describing. Heck, I won't even take mine out of the garage if its raining. When I was searching for my Vette I was also interested in a Jeep Wrangler and really considered buying one instead. I am glad I went the Vette but if I were doing the things you intend to do with it I would have bought the wrangler for sure. But, as they say, it's your money do what ever you want.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,075
Likes: 109
From: Longmont Co
I live a half mile off the pavement. I just go real slow until I get to the asphalt and it does fine. But the road is always pretty well plowed. I would pass on washed out roads, or anything too uneven. Also the clearance on the front air dam is really low, so steep inclines are out. Unpaved parking lots and such would be fine. I could only read two of those pictures, the first two (the parts the pictures were of) look fine, go slow.
Last edited by markKlein; Mar 13, 2011 at 07:43 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 5,472
Likes: 1,058
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
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
I want the C5 to get to these roads! It's nothing for me to drive 150 miles to fish for a day. It would be a blast on the paved mountain roads and I have a sickness that prevents me from going to the mountains and not fishing. I thought it may be a longshot on the secondary roads with the ground clearance. I cdon't think I can live without a truck enough to replace it with a Subaru and still get a C5. I was hoping the car could handle what I consider mild conditions. I guess living in CO for so long has skewed my idea of what mild conditions are 
. Maybe down the road when I feel like a 3rd vehicle........
By the way, I have lurked on here for a few weeks and you guys have a great forum.
. Maybe down the road when I feel like a 3rd vehicle........By the way, I have lurked on here for a few weeks and you guys have a great forum.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
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
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,877
Likes: 39
From: cincinnati ohio
Cruise-In V Veteran
I think if I were you I would be looking at SSR.They are built on a Trailblazer chassis and have plenty of clearance and the ability of a small pickup.03-04's have 300 hp and 05-06 have 390 hp with the LS2 motor.Plus they are cool as can be without being a Vette.
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,360
Likes: 24,783
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 '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
I would not drive my car on those types of roads, but the C5 does make for a very nice daily driver. The gas mileage is very good and the car is comfortable. For those times you need to go on crummy roads, take the truck.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 7,604
Likes: 8
From: Belleville Il
I'd say go for it,,with a couple of provisions. 1. I'd install a decent set of "splash guards. C6 guards seem to be popular here,,modified to fit the C5. 2. I'd have the clear protective film put on the nose,,and along the rockers and lower part behind the wheel wells to protect the paint!! Other that that,,I say go for it and enjoy. You will really get a bang out o the mileage increase!!
Navigator
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Warren MN
I drive one mile on a road like those to get to pavement. No big problem with clearance.
Did you say how far you would travel on gravel? MPG will be about 8 idling slowly. The car will get dusty and expect some gravel rash in wheel wells and small gravel particles find a home in the engine compartment in various places. If you are driving more than about 2 miles on gravel, you will get tired of it, do as most others have posted. If short distances, go for it. You will get to wash her often, have fun.
Did you say how far you would travel on gravel? MPG will be about 8 idling slowly. The car will get dusty and expect some gravel rash in wheel wells and small gravel particles find a home in the engine compartment in various places. If you are driving more than about 2 miles on gravel, you will get tired of it, do as most others have posted. If short distances, go for it. You will get to wash her often, have fun.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,724
Likes: 2
From: Holland Landing Ontario
I probably wouldn't make a habit of driving my car on those roads, but in my opinion, it would handle them easily. Therefore, I say "go for it".
If you do, look for a nice coupe. You will be amazed at the cargo are they provide.
If you do, look for a nice coupe. You will be amazed at the cargo are they provide.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 11,069
Likes: 1,287
From: Central Ma
Those roads look perfectly graded and dry. Are they like that all the time?
If you don't mind making a mess of the car/paint, why not?
You will make a mess of the paint though.
Good luck.
If you don't mind making a mess of the car/paint, why not?
You will make a mess of the paint though.
Good luck.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 478
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio TX
I would never drive my C5 on roads like that... But I had a C4 that is a bit further from the ground and I didnt mind beating on a little more (cheaper) I took that car up mountains and rough trails all over Arizona, had a blast, the car remained in great shape and I had alot of fun watching the jeep guys stare at the red vette drive past em up some pretty rough trails. Also daily drove the car and towed a boat with it. Way tougher car....The C5 is still my fav though.
