Mar 6, 2015, 01:34 PM
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C5 vs C6
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,740
Likes: 5
From: Central FL
I love my 01' it's the exact car I want Torch Red/Black 6 speed Convertible fully loaded, I would not be as happy with any other C6 except a Red or Black 6speed Convertible, a Silver automatic Coupe will not do it for me and I love the Z06 and ZR1 but I know I would miss dropping the top on a nice sunny day or cool night and I LOVE Torch Red and that didn't come out till 2010 so paying around double what I paid for my car(I paid $15800 in nov 12) is DEFINITELY not worth the price difference so I'm happy with my C5
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,139
Likes: 28
From: Oviedo Florida
I like the C6 and looked at a couple before buying my C5. I do love my C5 though and don't feel one bit like i'm missing out on anything. The C6 to me just wasn't worth the extra money I would have to cough up. After thinking long and hard about it The main thing I liked over the C5 was simply that it was newer and therefore wouldn't need as many things replaced/cleaned up as the car that was 7 years older would. I absolutely hate the head lights on the C6 they remind me of the old mitsubishi 3000gt. I like the sharper body lines but those damn headlights ugh… Anyway in the end I know that I never leave any vehicle alone I always make it mine and usually to a rediculous expense. So swapping parts and doing mods is all the fun for me and getting to turn my car into MY car is what its all about. The C6 would cost me more out of pocket and eat into my mods funds and wouldn't give me the excuse to redo things. I might bump up to a C6 one day if it was the right car at the right price but i've got too much invested in mods and far too much planned for my C5 to consider selling for a bone stock C6 (with horrible looking headlights
)
)
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,959
Likes: 217
From: Victoria tx
taking into consideration that I wouldn't get a lot for my car, id just add to my garage. if I were to get rid of mine it would have to be for a c6z. im not interested in the grand sport at all and I think im the only one in the world that doesn't like them. the base c6 looks cheap but the wide body and everything of the z is jawdropping. it all comes down to value really. what I mean by that is its better to have 2 corvettes than to give one away for another one.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,017
Likes: 169
From: SE VA VA
When you see them separately, the C5 and C7 are very similar, but
When the C5 and C7 sit side by side...big difference.
For example, the curviness of the C5 has changed to all angles on the C7...C7 wheels are closer to the corners, forcing a change to the front end.
all the angles on the C7 make it look like it sits lower and wider, but that could be perception - I haven't checked specs to see.
The change in the rear hatch/window design makes for a big blind spot on the right corner.
The top of the door is higher (or the seats are lower, one of the two)
And the skid things under the nose that helped prevent you from crunching the front end on those concrete parking lot things - not on the C7
I'm on the 'wrong computer, otherwise I'd post the side-by pictures I have of mine.
Last edited by aj98; Jun 12, 2014 at 12:00 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,740
Likes: 5
From: Central FL
taking into consideration that I wouldn't get a lot for my car, id just add to my garage. if I were to get rid of mine it would have to be for a c6z. im not interested in the grand sport at all and I think im the only one in the world that doesn't like them. the base c6 looks cheap but the wide body and everything of the z is jawdropping. it all comes down to value really. what I mean by that is its better to have 2 corvettes than to give one away for another one.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 901
Likes: 2
From: Palm City Fl
I had, and still have, a 99 A4 coupe (the wife's car) when I was looking for a Vette for me. I had the check written to by this beautiful 08, black on black, 3LT Z51. All would have been well and I would have driven it home if the fata** sales manager had kept is sleezy nose out of the deal. I got pissed at his lies and told to where to put his car and left. 
I ended up with my 24K mile totally stock 02 Z06 instead. I am very happy with my Z and would not trade it for a C6, even a C6 Z06. I will say I would have been happy with the Z51, and most likely wouldn't have as much money tied up in it as I do my Z06 (due to mods) as that was just an amazingly fast car as it was. It felt much faster than my stock Z06, which is now at 500whp 
. I would however trade the wife's 99 for an 08 or newer C6. 
then I would have the best of both worlds. Gotta say, the 99 has been a great car, I love the break from shifting and, with the headers, high flow catts, LS6 intake and tune, it is a very fun car to drive also. 
I ended up with my 24K mile totally stock 02 Z06 instead. I am very happy with my Z and would not trade it for a C6, even a C6 Z06. I will say I would have been happy with the Z51, and most likely wouldn't have as much money tied up in it as I do my Z06 (due to mods) as that was just an amazingly fast car as it was. It felt much faster than my stock Z06, which is now at 500whp . I would however trade the wife's 99 for an 08 or newer C6. then I would have the best of both worlds. Gotta say, the 99 has been a great car, I love the break from shifting and, with the headers, high flow catts, LS6 intake and tune, it is a very fun car to drive also.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,959
Likes: 217
From: Victoria tx
well my personal preference, don't anyone get mad, I just think the gs is pointless for me personally. if I want a wide body then im getting a zo6. corvette never mismatched parts. if you wanted to get a c6 with the fenders, before the gs came out, you had to get a z. no way around it. now they offered it. I personally don't like the double vents on the fenders, looks like a shark torso. but that's just my opinion. a friend of mine got a beautiful silver gs and was at the light next to a silver z and he felt like a sell out. he knew his looked just like it but wasn't. within a couple of days he was in a silver zo6. like I said guys it is just my personal preference. Im not too keen to the removeable top. my c4 was that way and It was too hot in south texas. so that doesn't appeal to me. if im going to get a car that looks like a z then im going to get a z.
however I do not knock anyone that likes a gs. I think they look good and to each their own
however I do not knock anyone that likes a gs. I think they look good and to each their own
New Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 0
Likes: 0
Sweet drive in a '04 Blk on Blk 6-speed - had a few scratches that were poorly touched up - but really soild car with only 28,000 on it - got another one to look at Saturday...getting close - yep C6 is out, seems I share the same thoughts as most of the other pro-C5 guys...
In my world Corvettes do not have headlights...unless it's a '58
I will say my C4 has my heart, it's a matter of simply wanting to upgrade before I pull an early retirement.
In my world Corvettes do not have headlights...unless it's a '58
I will say my C4 has my heart, it's a matter of simply wanting to upgrade before I pull an early retirement.
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Drifting
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,320
Likes: 204
From: Calabash, NC
Agree that all comes down do preference and budget. Love the C5 and the C7. Personally looking to see what will be offered with the 2015 Z06. For the time being I'm very happy with the C5 and I would like to find a way to keep the C5 and move into a C7. I'm happy with the C5 and do not see a need to move to C6 in the mean time.
Bob
Bob
Pro
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 528
Likes: 4
From: Burlington WA
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15-'16
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I looked at both the C5 and C6 when I was shopping for a vette. I just like the looks of the C5 better. I ended up with a 97 Torch Red A4- 80,000 miles. I loved it and had it for 3 years. I then found a 99 Magnetic Red A4 with 29,000 miles and got it too. About 2 months ago, I traded my 97 for a Torch Red (same color) convertible so I could have a coupe as well as a convertible. I love the convertible. I never have been looking for a C6 and even it they were the same price and a couple years in age apart. I just love the C5, it just looks better to me and I like the headlights better. That is just my opinion and I have to drive them - I am very happy with them both.
2nd Gear
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Syracuse NY
How much more does the c5Z have vs the c6? my brother just bought a c6 last summer and my wife and I fell in love with it, After I get settled in to our new home at cherry point I will be purchasing a new toy. reading through thread after thread on this forum you guys have turned me towards the c5Z, but my wife and I love the targa top which it does not have. I guess the real question is, will it blow by my brothers stock base c6? very competitive family
very competitive family
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,789
Likes: 3
From: Jacksonville FL
How much more does the c5Z have vs the c6? my brother just bought a c6 last summer and my wife and I fell in love with it, After I get settled in to our new home at cherry point I will be purchasing a new toy. reading through thread after thread on this forum you guys have turned me towards the c5Z, but my wife and I love the targa top which it does not have. I guess the real question is, will it blow by my brothers stock base c6? very competitive family
very competitive family
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,938
Likes: 62
From: Columbia SC
Prior to buying my 04 Z06 I was looking at the 08 C6 Z06 but for a weekend toy and car show car I was not willing to zpend that kind of money. I do like the C6 Z06 but I love my C5 Z06. This is the 3rd corvette I have owned. My first was a 96 vert Red/Blk and that I had a 00 vert MY/Blk 6 speed. I knew I wanted a Z06 and after looking at the C6 and C5 I found a very low miles (18,880) one owner Blk/Blk 04 Z06 and it is exactly what I wanted for how I am going to use it. 
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,740
Likes: 5
From: Central FL
If that's how you feel then you probably won't be happy with a C5Z especially on those nice sunny days when you want to go for a cruise and take the top off...I would look for a 08+C6 they are a hair faster then a C5 Z have several improvements and the top comes off...if you compare an 02Z to an 08 coupe you're probably looking at a few thousand more for the 08 the later Z's are really close in price right now to LS3 cars...
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 84
Likes: 5
I have never liked the C6 front end , and I also don't like the headlights. The C5 pop ups headlights are concealed when down and when they are up its dark so who cares. I do like the rear end about as well but the wide body cars have enough positives to make up for the negatives and I would consider one of those. But honestly my car performs so well compared to a normal car that I'm not sure I would ever spend the money. I considered the C5 to be the buy of the century for how much performance and looks you get for 15k.
Last edited by groundstrike; Jan 19, 2015 at 09:34 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 4,835
Likes: 1,850
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 like the C6 and looked at a couple before buying my C5. I do love my C5 though and don't feel one bit like i'm missing out on anything. The C6 to me just wasn't worth the extra money I would have to cough up. After thinking long and hard about it The main thing I liked over the C5 was simply that it was newer and therefore wouldn't need as many things replaced/cleaned up as the car that was 7 years older would. I absolutely hate the head lights on the C6 they remind me of the old mitsubishi 3000gt. I like the sharper body lines but those damn headlights ugh… Anyway in the end I know that I never leave any vehicle alone I always make it mine and usually to a rediculous expense. So swapping parts and doing mods is all the fun for me and getting to turn my car into MY car is what its all about. The C6 would cost me more out of pocket and eat into my mods funds and wouldn't give me the excuse to redo things. I might bump up to a C6 one day if it was the right car at the right price but i've got too much invested in mods and far too much planned for my C5 to consider selling for a bone stock C6 (with horrible looking headlights)
) I felt exactly the same way when I was choosing between a C6 and a C5. I really liked the overall looks of the C5 more. I didn't care for the headlights or the interior of the C6 at the time. I have to say though, it was tight and handled really well when I test drove the one I was considering. However, I didn't notice a difference in power which was odd. It could have been the gearing..? Ironically, though, as I was still contemplating the C6's at a local Chevy dealership, the place that was selling a nice Lemans Blue C5, couldn't move it along for some reason. The dealer calls me up while I'm C6 shopping and says "I'm gonna make you a deal you can't refuse!" Well, he was right... That was 7 years ago in 08'!
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 4,309
Likes: 13
From: FW/d Texas
Overall I like my C5 vert a little better than the C6 vert .. mainly because of the hidden headlights. I did consider a C6 vert when I got my '04 a couple of years ago to replace my '01 vert that I 'had' to sell when I lost my job in '09. That said .. I guess if I could afford one I would get a 60th anniversary C6 .. a convertible Z06 would be nice ! Doubt I'll ever be able to do that tho ! I'm satisfied with my '04 vert .. has enough power to be fun without getting into too much trouble on a cruise with the top down and stereo blaring ! 
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 227
Likes: 5
From: Langley BC
I absolutely love the c5 Z06. I have owned two of them in the past and each I have regretted selling. When I bought my current C6 Z06 I was looking for another clean low mileage C5Z. The C6Z just performs so well from the factory and offers so much car for the money that when I found a low miles C6Z for under $10k more than the clean low miles C5Z's were selling for it just seemed like a no brainer to me since ultimately I would upgrade the C5Z in almost every aspect to perform as well as the C6Z. I wish GM had built a C5R street version as a limited sales production car, I would definitely have bought that
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 6,366
Likes: 249
From: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Not in the least. From day one I have never liked the C6 and I still don't. I'd rather keep modding my C5 and keep it, than settle for a C6. My z Is so much better looking. And as for the C7, I'd only switch when I can afford a Z06 C7.