C-5 vs C-3
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 5,284
Likes: 235
From: Rockledge FL
I solved that problem by getting both.
The C5 is my daily driver. The C3 is my fun car. Yes it does not handle as well. It is hot, loud, not as reliable and not near as comfortable but when I fire up the 454 (now sporting side pipes) I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that if I had to get rid of one, the C5 would be history. Not to mention that the 454 in the C3 has been upgraded to the point where on a straight run will destroy the LS1 in my C5. Now yes it gets 8 mpg on a good day but who cares.
The C5 is my daily driver. The C3 is my fun car. Yes it does not handle as well. It is hot, loud, not as reliable and not near as comfortable but when I fire up the 454 (now sporting side pipes) I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that if I had to get rid of one, the C5 would be history. Not to mention that the 454 in the C3 has been upgraded to the point where on a straight run will destroy the LS1 in my C5. Now yes it gets 8 mpg on a good day but who cares.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,372
Likes: 2
From: Ramona CA
I solved that problem by getting both.
The C5 is my daily driver. The C3 is my fun car. Yes it does not handle as well. It is hot, loud, not as reliable and not near as comfortable but when I fire up the 454 (now sporting side pipes) I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that if I had to get rid of one, the C5 would be history. Not to mention that the 454 in the C3 has been upgraded to the point where on a straight run will destroy the LS1 in my C5. Now yes it gets 8 mpg on a good day but who cares.
The C5 is my daily driver. The C3 is my fun car. Yes it does not handle as well. It is hot, loud, not as reliable and not near as comfortable but when I fire up the 454 (now sporting side pipes) I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that if I had to get rid of one, the C5 would be history. Not to mention that the 454 in the C3 has been upgraded to the point where on a straight run will destroy the LS1 in my C5. Now yes it gets 8 mpg on a good day but who cares.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Sorry to hear that. Another reason why my wife and I keep our money seperate. We each take care of our responsibilities and I don't let her ask me about my money nor do I ask her about hers. (Although we inform each other on everything) But we were adults with our own careers when we met so it is somewhat different than some folks.
To answer your question. If you want a Cruise in or show car go with the C3. If you want something to drive and/or take trips in go with the C5.
And never discount any vette until you look, drive, and check them out. A C4 is fine car and in some cases better than a C5.
But I've had both and have a FRC now, which is my favorite vette of all time actually.
To answer your question. If you want a Cruise in or show car go with the C3. If you want something to drive and/or take trips in go with the C5.
And never discount any vette until you look, drive, and check them out. A C4 is fine car and in some cases better than a C5.
But I've had both and have a FRC now, which is my favorite vette of all time actually.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,372
Likes: 2
From: Ramona CA
Thank you for your most understanding response. Marraiges are complicated life forms that are tough as you know. We keep our finances seperate to (she makes over ten times what I make and thats why). I won't give in again thats for sure. I haven't been myself in a long time.My daughter passed away last year on Mothers day. The vette purchase was a reaction after the fact. It was theraputic when I drove it on a nice day with the top down.I should have sold my classic carfor a loss and kept the vette. I lost as much on the sale at the end as I would have for the NOva, but who knew it would play out that way. The Nova will sell this fall no matter what,and I'll be on the hunt once again. Thanks again. By the way whats a FRC?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 5,284
Likes: 235
From: Rockledge FL
B.S.! What are you smoking.You must have an automatic in that C5 with a 2.56 rear end. While your smoking the tires in that C3 a C5 with a 6 spd. and active handling will be gone. When your C3 hits about 100 mph it's all used up. A 6 spd. C5 can get to 140 so fast your C3 won't know what hit it. That's just a normal C5. A C5 Z06 will definitely smoke your C3. My C6 Z51 with MZ6 will rock your C3s world.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 234
Likes: 0
From: Anchorage Ak
You poor thing must have got your feelings hurt. Did I make you feel bad? Yes the C5 may have a higher top end but from a dig, the ZZ454 matched to the 200r4 will be so far out in front of my C5 that it would be embarrassing. I have ran these cars against each other swapping out drivers enough that I sort of know what I am talking about. Your car may be ungodly fast but my own C5 is slower than my own C3. Stock for stock would be no contest but the 11K engine/tranny swap more than makes up for it. Now go unbunch your panties. Bottom line, if I was forced to torch one, there would be a black pile of Canada's finest in the driveway. Not to mention the C3 is worth twice as much.
I just picked up a '69 two weeks ago, it's a 350/350. Buutttttt, I have a '69 427 that will be going between the frame rails this winter.
I wouldn't trade my C5 for anything, or the C3. They are completely different cars. For those of us that love muscle cars the C3 fits the bill, yeah its rough around the edges. But who gives a s##t? I didn't buy it to trip in, local cruises, around town and the occasional out of town jaunt. Plus it brings back many memories!
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,372
Likes: 2
From: Ramona CA
You poor thing must have got your feelings hurt. Did I make you feel bad? Yes the C5 may have a higher top end but from a dig, the ZZ454 matched to the 200r4 will be so far out in front of my C5 that it would be embarrassing. I have ran these cars against each other swapping out drivers enough that I sort of know what I am talking about. Your car may be ungodly fast but my own C5 is slower than my own C3. Stock for stock would be no contest but the 11K engine/tranny swap more than makes up for it. Now go unbunch your panties. Bottom line, if I was forced to torch one, there would be a black pile of Canada's finest in the driveway. Not to mention the C3 is worth twice as much.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
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
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
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 14,345
Likes: 4
From: Hartselle AL
St. Jude Donor '09
This thread is like the holiday family get-together arguments.
It is an apples to oranges discussion.
Our '78 is a fun car but for comfort and raw performance it can't touch the '02 Vert. However, the '78 turns far more heads and gets more comments and
than her grand daughter could ever hope for.
Now, if you add the following to a C3, you could probably get to about 80% close to a C5:
- Street Shop frame (http://www.streetshopinc.com/)
- LSx engine
- 5 or 6 speed manual trans.
- C5 sport seats
- Good sound barrier materials and A/C duct work.
It is an apples to oranges discussion.
Our '78 is a fun car but for comfort and raw performance it can't touch the '02 Vert. However, the '78 turns far more heads and gets more comments and
than her grand daughter could ever hope for.Now, if you add the following to a C3, you could probably get to about 80% close to a C5:
- Street Shop frame (http://www.streetshopinc.com/)
- LSx engine
- 5 or 6 speed manual trans.
- C5 sport seats
- Good sound barrier materials and A/C duct work.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,119
Likes: 156
From: Huntington tx
Yep just as I suspected your C5 has a A4 auto with a 2.56 rear end. Don't generalize about C5s. Your C5 must be a dog with the performance of a Buick. My son-in-law had a '69 Yanko Camaro with a 427 and 4.11 rear end. It ran good. His C5, my C5 and my C6 would smoke that thing any day of the week. Top end or off the line. Can't beat technology. Your C3 is impressive. Today it has a higher resale value than a C5. Only because C3 numbers are dwindling. About parity in value with a C6.
Been around plenty of C3's and wondered if he's got a lemon C5 ? Seriously.......it's gotta be a NASA editon to smoke a C5. Not saying it can't be done...also been at the dragstrip seeing all kinds of Cars with big inch shoehorned in machines.
But it ain't natural.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 812
Likes: 2
From: Metairie Louisiana
Depends on what makes you happy. If you want the quinessential C3 (steel bumper, big block, in good shape) it'll cost alot. The C5, a better car, can be had in nice shape for $19,000ish...depends on what you want and what you're willing to spend.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 42,487
Likes: 47
SPARTAN
CI 3-4-5-6-8-9-10 Vet
CI-9 AutoX Winner
CI-3 Go Kart Champ
St. Jude '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11
B.S.! What are you smoking.You must have an automatic in that C5 with a 2.56 rear end. While your smoking the tires in that C3 a C5 with a 6 spd. and active handling will be gone. When your C3 hits about 100 mph it's all used up. A 6 spd. C5 can get to 140 so fast your C3 won't know what hit it. That's just a normal C5. A C5 Z06 will definitely smoke your C3. My C6 Z51 with MZ6 will rock your C3s world.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 6,993
Likes: 25
Surely you must be joking. My '69 with a small block would run door to door with those "normal C5s" through the 1/4 mile. That's while running P225/70R15 all season tires, too. If you're concerned with what happens above 110mph, then absolutely, that normal C5 is faster... eventually.
The heat in the cabin and the 10mpg were kinda of a downer though.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 42,487
Likes: 47
SPARTAN
CI 3-4-5-6-8-9-10 Vet
CI-9 AutoX Winner
CI-3 Go Kart Champ
St. Jude '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11
Let's see what was in my small block, since the original 350/350 was long gone by the time I owned it:
Cast iron 4-bolt main GM block
World Products Stock Replacement heads
Edelbrock Performer Intake
Comp Cams Hydraulic Cam
Holley 600cfm carb
etc...
Nothing fancy. Nothing expensive. About as comparable to a stock engine as you can get without using stock parts. It seemed to do ok.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,694
Likes: 0
From: Oregon
I own both.. As for speed and handling, the C5 kicks,, but for reliability, the C3 is the car.. NO computers to fail, No dead batteries, No 2mph fuel shut off, No stress.. Just smiles.. When I go out to the garage, I usually choose my 79 C3 over my 18k mile 98 C5... Just my opinion.. Might I add, the C3 gets way more looks and thumbs up when I cruise..
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 10,063
Likes: 17
Surely you must be joking. My '69 with a small block would run door to door with those "normal C5s" through the 1/4 mile. That's while running P225/70R15 all season tires, too. If you're concerned with what happens above 110mph, then absolutely, that normal C5 is faster... eventually.