You know, the direct injection is the most alluring feature of the new car for me. I was considering why this really nice modern version of the car I currently enjoy is no more than an attractive curiosity to me. I think it's the money.

Could be that the excitement of the hot rod days of the 1960s spoiled me, although I drove English sports car through that period. I think I am more into sailboats. Some guys like motor boats.
Some guys like cars better than boats. I like faster than the wind by sail. Used sailboats are cheap now, with C7 money a guy could sail to the south sea islands.

 

Can't understand why, a Celica would be much cheaper and still look the same.

 

Saw my first one in real life tonight. I have been watching all the threads in anticipation the past few weeks and really was expecting it to look better in real life. Of course it was a red one, and it was at night parked in a Best Buy parking lot, but I drove right by it without noticing it at first. In the rearview mirror, at first I thought it was a C6 from the front, then I noticed that chrome bar in the front grill. Could this be the C7 and I just missed it?

So I drove around the block and approached if from the rear and sure enough, it was a C7. I circled the car twice and I am not sure exactly what I think? Maybe seeing it in the daylight will make a difference, but my general impression was that it surprisingly looked like a C6 with a Camaro rear end. I expected a lot of things, but from the photos I was not expecting it to remind me of a C6. I guess it is mostly because it "looks" so "small" (just like the C6). It does look much better than the C6, but that is not saying much. The stingray logo on the side also looks out of place to me. I am anticipating that the interior will look great, but I did not want to approach the car with nobody around.

I have no doubt it will be a great car, may even get one someday, but I was really shocked that I was happy to be driving home in a C5!

 

...or a Carolina Panther

 

C7's are awsome (IMO) I like everything about it...went for a ride in one at the Chevy hot lap track at the Sema show, damn what a nice adrenaline rush!!!

Everyone can say what they want, but hands down that is one BAD *** machine! Pound for pound and dollar for dollar GM hit it out the ballpark. Some of you keep talking about built c5's yada yada yada it's still just a c5 in the end, I enjoy my c5 I drive the hell out of that car in all weather conditions and it's been very good to me, but as soon as I can upgrade I'm gone and I will not be looking back!!!

 

I was thinking of selling my 2003 coupe and 1974 stingray and buying a 2015 Stingray ....................................

What an awesome car, I wouldn't compare it to other generations,
The 2014 is in a league of its own IMHO

 

Lots of hogwash in this thread. The OP has no valid points. And many of you can keep saying "Camaro tail lights" until your faces are blue. But that won't make it true.

I know right off the bat that anyone who's saying that the tail lights are Camaro tail lights and also claiming to see them in person are BSing. I've taken my C7 to lots of car shows already and never once has someone said that after seeing them in person they still felt they looked like Camaro lights. Most said, "they look completely different in person." And in fact, they do.

But to get off that subjective stuff, I want to draw the OP's attention to that thread he mentions. (It's not a section. It's a thread. ONE thread.) It's a few people that have had some issues. YES there will be issues with the first year of this car. And while there are going to be issues, it's important to keep in mind that the 1997 C5 wasn't without it's crazy number of flaws; some of which continued throughout the entire generation.

I've personally owned and daily driven 2 C5s. Both of my C5s were Z06s to boot. Both cars were very fast and very fun cars. Were they without their issues? Nope. And it's not like they were first year cars too. And both of them had similar issues too. Both had an EBCM go out. Both of them had the column lock issue. And it's not like these things aren't expected either.

My C7 also hasn't been completely perfect either. I've got one stupid little issue going on with it. The center screen sometimes doesn't go up without hitting the screen up/down button a few times. I know I can have it fixed (after all it's under warranty), but it's not a big issue that bothers me since I don't put anything behind it anyway.

For those talking madness about modded C5s vs stock C7s. Let me just ask: Who cares? It's actually a very stupid comparison. OF COURSE you can get a C5 for less and mod the crap out of it. If you're going for that kind of performance, I recommend it! If you spent $70K on a C5 or a C7, the C5 is DEFINITELY going to be the best performer.

BUT... Make a C5 comparable in ALL categories to the C7, and you're going to spend a lot more than $70K on the C5.

How many of you leather wrapped your ENTIRE interior in your C5? Who installed it? You or an upholsterer? How much did that cost? I seem to recall lots of threads of people doing full leather wraps on their cars and spending over $10K.

How many of you have after market stereos? I'm sure anything aftermarket will be good enough to be on par with the C7, but you're still spending it. But don't forget to add bass without sacrificing trunk space. And don't forget to get navigation and stuff. And make sure you add the backup camera too.

How many of you replaced your seats with something more comfortable and holds you better? Did you get those seats with seat heaters? Maybe... How about seat coolers? I doubt it. That'd be an expensive custom job, wouldn't it?

Any of you replace your headlights with fixed lights and/or HIDs? How much did that run you? Did you get bi-xenons? I know those are costly too. What about your tail lights? Are they the LEDs? Perhaps you got the halos? Yes, those add up too.

How about upsized wheels and brakes? Going 19s and 20s isn't exactly cheap, unless you like ugly wheels. And bigger brakes will cost you. The C6Z brakes are good bang for the buck, but that's already $2K + you HAVE to have bigger wheels. They don't fit in C5 wheels. 18x19 at the minimum. Don't forget to buy good tires too. You can't move your tires over to a taller wheel. ($$ Chaching! $$)

Now lets get into performance. This will get tricky. Making more power and torque isn't just as simple as throwing a set of heads and cam at the car. There's driveline, tuning, reliability, fuel economy, etc... You have to take these into consideration. Because even if you manage to make 415 RWHP, you're already replacing the clutch getting crappy economy. (Well, crappy as far as a Corvette is concerned. I'm sure you're still getting 26 MPG with heads/cam). In any case... $$$. Don't forget to beef up the transmission. $$$. I'll say this, though, the LS6 doesn't need a dry sump, so you can save money there.

You're obviously not going to get PTM in a C5... Sorry, but to do that, you might as well just buy a C7. And without PTM, the eLSD is also out of the question. So you're not going to be able to buy two of the major performance factors in the C7.

You're going to want better balance, so move the battery to the trunk. That's not a lot of money, but it takes time and you need good wire to make it work well.

I'm not sure how much they cost, but you'll want a set of Billy Boat dual mode mufflers. Some of you go straight pipes with no mufflers... Ew. But that's on you. I know some of you really want to draw attention. And if people aren't looking at your car, perhaps they could be deafened by it. I know how it is... I have 20 year old friends with F-bodies. Everyone wants to be the loudest. Either way, you're changing your exhaust here. $$$

Don't forget that you're going to want the carbon fiber hood. I don't recall how much those are off the Z16s, but I'm sure you can get one for around $1000... Just needs paint!

I don't know how much you'd have spent by now, But I'm guessing that with a $15K C5 and all the upgrades above, you're probably in the $45-50K mark. Maybe more... Depends on what kind of deals you find, I guess. I'm sure you could get lower prices on stuff if you don't buy new. But at the end of the day, you HAVE to be happy with your car because you don't want to have to sell it. Nobody who is asking $45K for a C5 is actually trying to sell it.

Here's what I got for just under $70K:
3LT Z51 in Laguna Blue
Full sueded/leather wrapped brownstone interior
7-speed Manual
Magnetic Selective Ride Control
Performance Traction Management
NPP 4-valve exhaust
Laser Projected HUD
TWO roofs (clear and carbon fiber painted body color)
19 inch and 20 inch wheels wrapped in Michelin's newest technology performance tires
Carbon fiber hood
Bi-Xenon headlights
LEDs everywhere!
10-speaker sound system with way too much bass.
And a host of all the other things a new Corvette comes with.

Was it a good deal? Hell yes. Could I have a much faster C5 for the same money? Absolutely. Do I regret selling my C5 for a C7? Nope.

Here's my very honest opinion about both cars:

My C5s were two of the most awesome cars I've ever owned. They were more raw feeling and gave me the most feedback. They were highly composed on the road and drove like any other car when I was wasn't hammering the gas. The 6-speed manuals in both never let me down. They looked cool (and in my opinion, they're one of the best looking Corvettes ever.) The C5 will always look amazing to me. It's the car I said when I was a teenager that I will own no matter what it takes. No other car did I say that about, not even the C7. The C5's interior was lacking only in comparison to the C7, but I was NEVER unhappy with it. Both my C5s I got at super low miles and both still smelled like new car and leather when I got them. They both turned heads, though my Electron Blue Z06 turned heads the most. People used to take pictures in front of it while it was parked in parking lots.

But my C5s also had plenty of issues. Many of them came from me modding them. Had I never modded my 2003 Z06, I'd probably still have it to this day and loving it just as much as I did the first day I bought it. It was a fantastic car and now a friend has it and is enjoying it. I see it now and then and I do somewhat miss it. I was hoping to keep it and still have the C7, but things didn't work out the way I planned.

The C7 is a totally different Corvette. It feels more balanced and more confidence inspiring. I feel like I can drive it harder and not end up turned around. The steering is very nice, especially at speed in sports mode. The engine sound is totally different from what I'm used to with my LS6s, but I'm getting used to it and knowing where/when to shift by sound, rather than by watching the tach. The heads up display is nothing short of astounding. It's 10x more clear than the HUD in either of my C5s, and displays far more information, most of which I want to see there. The interior on the C7 is a game changer. I've had lots of C5 and C6 guys in my car and they all say the same thing: "Home run." I even have a friend that generally hates GM stuff, and I couldn't believe my ears when I heard him go on about how amazed he was with the car and how he finally things GM made a Corvette he'd own. And a C6 ZR1 guy I know from Bob's Big Boy sat in it and couldn't believe how much better the interior was over his 4LT. And to be honest, the interior is the MAIN reason I sold my C5 for a C7. If it had to be one or the other, the C7 was going to win this battle hands down.

The C7 has some drawbacks too. The interior definitely feels tighter. I'm 5'7" and 150 Lbs. I'm in pretty good shape and I have to admit I wouldn't want to be passenger in this car for a long road trip. The passenger side feels a little claustrophobic for me. The driver's side is tight, but not as bad. However, as the driver, once you get going, it's not something you notice. Everything seems to be well-fitted and ergonomically placed. The suspension is pretty great, but honestly, it's also really rough too. I actually feel that my C5 Z06s road a bit smoother on the streets than the C7. When I went on my test drive in my C7, I didn't really feel the rough ride so much, but after a full month of driving the C7, I can definitely feel it. In respect to the 3 years I was driving my last C5Z, I never felt that the ride was too rough.

The C7 has its pros and cons. I bought my C7 knowing full well that it was going to be a first year with plenty of issues. I didn't and still don't have a problem being a guinea pig. I'm not mad at all, and in fact I feel pretty happy that being C7 number 2895, I've had far less issues than many that have had issues. I've had one super minor issue in this entire month and there have certainly been a hand full of cars with some more than minor issues. One such owner had an issue with his automatic transmission not shifting into reverse that almost caused him to be stranded!

Again, they're not without their flaws. No first model is. 1997 had bad piston rings and a host of electrical issues. 2005 had exploding differentials and another host of electrical issues. 2014 has had a good number of electrical issues. I'm pretty sure that the C8's first year will be electrical issues too. But SOMEONE is going to have to be the beta testers for these cars. I don't mind doing it because every time I show up to a car show, I draw in waves of crowds. I got lots of thumbs ups with my C5s, but never drew in crowds. Especially like this. There was one time I spent the better part of 2 hours answering questions and talking with enthusiasts.

So which car do I like more? Either my C5 or my C7? I couldn't answer that question. I love them both for their own reasons. They're both TOTALLY different cars with completely different personalities.

And by the way, calling the C7 a POS is pretty lame and shows your ignorance. The C7 is definitely not a POS. It's a fantastic car and more than a bargain when compared to equivalent cars - which might I add are far and few.

 

Jesus could deliver a C7 but it doesn't even matter. In the end it's all about being happy with what you got.

If a guy is happy with the C5, no matter what a C7 is....he's going to be happy with his C5.

I don't know.....but for me this is getting petty and I would rather go back in my shop and fondle my car.

 

We recommend the PRT for the C5...

FYI - we now have Fusion Bi-Modal Exhaust for C7.

 

I saw the C7 today and checked it out, nice car....but not worth losing my C5 over. I don't know, the seats were super and the interior was a definite upgrade, just not enough to push me away from my C5.

I'd rate the C7 interior on par with a Mustangs, not bad at all in the big scheme of things.

 

Wow , my eyes went crossed reading all of that. Sounds like your not even convinced if you like the C7 better.

 

I saw 2 at the track and IMHO, they looked like Imports.

 

That was the point, though. I'm not saying one car is better than the other. They both have their pros and cons. They're both COMPLETELY different cars and one can easily be better than the other for certain specifications.

I would honestly say that I love the C7 just as much as I loved my C5s. I would be happy with either.

 

Holy **** dude. Don't bother with people who diss on the C7. It happens, and will continue to happen with every generation. It's the same people who diss on a past generation, and yes, there will be those who own a C7 that will say the C5 or C6 is a worthless POS, just like some say the C4 is crap. Those aren't car guys nor are they Corvette guys. They are me people.

Don't let people on the internet get under your skin.

 

I don't own a C7, but I have driven one. Three things I don't like about it:

1. The butt is too gaudy.
2. The steering wheel is ugly.
3. The dash/console handle badly needs to go. It's in the way and ugly.

 

Wow a import are you serious?...lol oh well if you say so.

 

C7 and mustang in the same sentence? What?

 

I love my C5. Its a great solid, beautiful sports car. I also love the C7s style and upgrades
(so does Tony Stewart). 70,000 is the absolute high end of cost on the C7. Its going to take a few years but I think it will be legendary. First year production, especially on this automobile is going to be rocky.

 

Styling is subjective, you like what you like. If someone is trying to state the C5 platform is on par with the C7 platform stock for stock, that is incorrect. Looks like some of the C5 section has caught the "gangreen with envy" infection the C4 section had years ago. Those threads were so embarassing to read....glad they finally grew out of that phase. Fight the infection, C5 section, FIGHT IT!

 

I'm pretty sure no one is that ignorant, however most have C5's that are far more powerful, customized, and just better cars than a stock C7. The C4 guys way back when had a pretty hard time overcoming the LS platform from the very start.

The LS platforms are so much easier to upgrade, as well as the C5/C6 suspension and drivetrain.

So no one is saying what I "think" you were implying. The new C7 is nothing but an extension of it's previous generations, NOT the end all and be all.