c5 interior.......I like it!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,067
Likes: 46
From: Springfield IL.
Oldtimer
I also like the C5 interior. I like it much better than the C6. Keep hearring about up grading to a C6, I don't think so. My son-in-law has a 06 C6, and my wife and I both like the looks of our car better. The seats in his car are a little more comfortable, but it don't have 140,000 miles either. Been thinking about new foam, and covers. I'd like to find a low milage C5 to see if the seats would be more comfortable, before I replace though. Only thing is, I'm starting to worry about the ebcm, and that has me on the fence about spending the money on my car. Too bad there isn't a retrofit, to use the C6 ebcm.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 17,767
Likes: 3,695
From: The Sunshine State
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Well the interior has many, many ways to be changed by aftermarket vendor's there's no reason to just put up with any disappointment of the C5 interior. Personally I think the engineers and designers did a great job considering the financial constraints. I've done a lot with my interior, including the seat rebuild kit that forum member 'Maz' used and the results were great. 
If GM would have offered an "Interior Option A" that included full leather seats, leather steering wheel and a double din NAV system, I'm sure many original buyers would have jumped at it. I love the flow of the interior and the overall design so the good news is that any issues with material quality can easily be fixed!
Race Director
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 16,574
Likes: 13
From: Winfield IN
If GM would have offered an "Interior Option A" that included full leather seats, leather steering wheel and a double din NAV system, I'm sure many original buyers would have jumped at it. I love the flow of the interior and the overall design so the good news is that any issues with material quality can easily be fixed!
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,754
Likes: 167
From: Youngsville North Carolina
Try owning a couple of C4's, the earlier version and the later version interiors. THEN tell me how bad the C5 interior is, I'll laugh in your face! My C5 interior is absolutely incredible and gorgeous! I still have my 88 Torch Red C4 interior that took me a couple of years to work out the horrible ways they designed it. The KIA Sorento interiors they transplanted in the C6's are an abomination!
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Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,201
Likes: 189
From: beach
St. Jude Donor '13
Another vote for the design of the C5 interior here. It makes you feel like you're part of the car. The C6- not so much. As for Porsche interiors as an academic comparison, in my opinion with any miles, they really start to look worn and kind of ratty. I'm not defending the the build quality of the C5 interior as the materials are cheese, but I also owned a C4 in the past and it was horrific. The door panels were peeling in no time and it was an absolute rattle trap. It drove me crazy. I can tell you this- my car is tight as a drum with no rattles whatsoever. I hope they incorporate more of the design elements from the C5 in the C7.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 717
Likes: 11
From: Pleasanton CA
The interior is a TOTAL POS! GM uses the crapiest materials in it to increase its profit margins.
For all of you who love the interior.....perhaps you need to step into a German car and let me know how you feel......I also have an Audi and Benz, and their interiors are real quality.
GM interiors including the Corvette are among the worst in the world. Economy brands such as Hyundai superseded GM years ago.
LOVE the vette, especially as a track car.....but hate GM and all American car manufacturers....all %&^%^&!!!!
I love how they continue to make POSs that are close in price range to amazing cars.
My buddy has an E63, and Caddilac is always trying to convince him that the STS V is better......yeah.......SURE
For all of you who love the interior.....perhaps you need to step into a German car and let me know how you feel......I also have an Audi and Benz, and their interiors are real quality.
GM interiors including the Corvette are among the worst in the world. Economy brands such as Hyundai superseded GM years ago.
LOVE the vette, especially as a track car.....but hate GM and all American car manufacturers....all %&^%^&!!!!
I love how they continue to make POSs that are close in price range to amazing cars.
My buddy has an E63, and Caddilac is always trying to convince him that the STS V is better......yeah.......SURE
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: The Sunshine State
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Advanced
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 93
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From: Myrtle Beach South Carolina
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 228
Likes: 2
If GM would have offered an "Interior Option A" that included full leather seats, leather steering wheel and a double din NAV system, I'm sure many original buyers would have jumped at it. I love the flow of the interior and the overall design so the good news is that any issues with material quality can easily be fixed!
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 17,767
Likes: 3,695
From: The Sunshine State
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Finalist 2020 C7 of the Year -- Modified
2020 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C5 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
2018 C5 of Year Finalist
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 224
Likes: 1
From: Charlotte NC
I love the interior ... I just wish it was made with better material. Someday mine will be ... 
In the meantime I will just drive around with a big grin because everything else about the interior is fine with me. The silly little cup holder even works if you pick just the right size beverage container. It clamps hold of a Le Bleu water bottle and holds it just fine.
In the meantime I will just drive around with a big grin because everything else about the interior is fine with me. The silly little cup holder even works if you pick just the right size beverage container. It clamps hold of a Le Bleu water bottle and holds it just fine.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 252
Likes: 12
From: Fredericksburg Va.
Don't get me wrong I like my car. But come on guys the interior is cheap. The layout is fine.......but how about the door panels that the material comes away from the backing causing that bubble look. My drivers outside seat bolster has had to be fixed two times and mine is a 04. Seats are not very comfortable. Great car but they could have done much better on the materials used.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,713
Likes: 11
From: Virginia
Going to the other end of the scale, my wife has an SL 500. Everything about the interior of that car is excellent quality and put together very well.
Take out the cost of the double overhead cam V8, the retractable hard top, quality sheet metal and build quality, I'd guess the additional cost for the interior, seats included, would be about $25K.
But its a really nice interior.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 465
Likes: 72
From: Discovery Bay, Ca.
For the record - I like the C5 interior. I don't think it looks cheap at all.
However, I am not a fan of Chevrolet interiors. But, they are getting better. I wasn't crazy about the C5 shift **** or shift linkage in the Vette though so I replaced that with B&M shifter and C6 shift ****. I like it much better now. The only other $50 change I made was gage bezels to break up all that black in the instrument panel. It's perfect now.
I'm thinking about upgrading my stereo so that it will have Bluetooth, DVD, MP3 jack, SD Slot that wasn't available in 2003. It will cost me about $500. So, that's not a big thing to me.
Last edited by Mecinoid; Mar 6, 2012 at 02:30 AM.