NDMike

I haven't used this in a while, so be patient. Anyway, I have both a C4 and a C5 and recently test drove a C7. The C5 is just a great Corvette and I agree with Bradley Brownell as to the styling and overall quality of the car. Like his, mine has the pewter metallic paint. Very classy and draws a lot of praise.

Pounder

IMXCITD

David Shiel

I will keep it as long as I live. My favorite of the 8 which I have been privileged to own. I love the feel with the Z51 bars and stiff construction; the sound and added power up to 390 with the headers, X pipe and Borla and tune; and, most of all, the awesome profile and timeless looks. Love the pop-ups. It is easy to upgrade anything one does not like.... lighting, seating, etc. It was built to love. Fire it up and grin when people ogle it. Can't use more power on the roads today anyway. Best $20K I ever spent for a like-new $54K car which would in today's iteration cost $75-80K.
Dave

747jock

Fully agree; I bought my 2001 Bowling Green convertible 5 1/2 years ago for the paltry sum of $17K and have a total of $26K invested it in now. That includes custom seat covers, new carpeting, sound deadening, carbon-fiber console and instrument surround, an engine bay full of Atomic Orange/carbon fiber pieces, Kooks Headers and Magnaflow exhaust, a Torker cam and 42lb injectors plus dyno-tuning by Virginia Speed (VA Beach), Z06 shocks and swaybars, all new Michelin Pilot sport run-flats, repainted hood and front end, LED taillights and backup lights, German-spec glass headlights, carbon-fiber steering wheel, custom-painted underhood pad, and many other mods. My 6-speed beauty is dyno'd at 390HP at the rear wheels and still gets over 25mpg on the highway. I've had absolutely no major mechanical problems since I've owned it and have taken it from Virginia to Nashville and back without missing a beat. Bang-for-the-buck, you cannot beat a C-5. Like Dave said, I fall in love with it every time I walk in the garage; it's a timeless beauty worth hanging onto.

newmo30

I have 63 roadster and a 64 coupe but I love my C5 pewter 6 speed coupe. I drove from Jersey to Bowling Green and then on to Tennessee. Absolute pleasure to drive and great gas mileage!

Dean Prevolos

My first two Vettes were C4. Then I bought my C5 Hardtop and have enjoyed it for many years. I even ordered a C6 and drove it for several years and traded it in on a 911.

BUT I STILL HAVE THE C5! I always enjoy going through the gears and how it handles on the road. It has been reliable and I would agree that I love that car.

sfc rick

The insanity posted in this thread, just wait till the haters find out about this.


BTW, Love the C5!

friou

I was going to comment but the forum members above beat me to it and said it all! I will repeat my often made statement that "the well chosen C5 is the performance car buy of the century". Don't think I'm wrong there cause I'm loving mine and I've owned a passel of performance cars of many varieties over many years! When you look at the capabilities, in so many areas, for such a paltry sum, I still find it just amazing. Ok, I ended up throwing my 2 cents in anyway, just can't help but get enthusiastic over the C5! Y'all take good care!

NDMike

While we're on this subject, it strikes me that the C5 proportions, the body design, is somehow more aesthetically pleasing than the C6 (which seems "stubby"...truncated) and the C7...which seems to have too many elements of the Camaro. Re my C4...I've always liked the long hood design, but you pay for it in the rear deck. The C5 is 3 inches wider and longer overall (but lighter), solving the rear deck space problem (for golf clubs, mainly).

7thcavalry

All Corvettes are special and I genuinely adore every Corvette I see. I am pained to see any Corvette in demolished condition or lacking attentive care. I suppose it comes from a youthful fascination with a 1961 dual quad Corvette with white exterior, silver coves and red interior owned by my best friend’s older brother. He would “borrow” it when circumstances were favorable and one day I succeeded in getting in the driver’s seat.

I purchased my sixth Corvette since 1967, a whisper white C5 convertible in April, 2004 with a grand total of six miles on the clock. Today is has nearly 59K. Only maintenance issue beyond fair wear and tear was a power window failure some years ago. I found Michelin run flats far superior to the factory installed Goodyears. The ride is far more quiet and traction very superior. I remain after fourteen years completely enthralled with the appearance, performance, comfort and smile in pride when I watch envious eyes enjoy my baby.

I’ve noted preceding comments concerning horsepower, other performance thoughts and appreciate these individual concerns. I always had manual transmissions before the C5 and believe the latest generation automatic transmissions leave little to be desired beyond the act of manually shifting the car. One does not miss a manual transmission if stuck in Atlanta rush hour traffic!

I have occasional thoughts of saying goodbye to my Corvette but as long as I can safely drive it, it will enjoy its garage with the wife’s 2002 Thunderbird.

Vetteman Jack

While I can't say I haven't wanted to make the move to the C7, I have a hard time doing so since I would in reality have to say goodbye to the C5 (as well as a bunch of cash to boot ). I've had my current C5 for a little over seven years now and it has been absolutely problem free - only minor maintenance items have been needed. Not many new cars can make that claim anymore.

Looks like the C5 will be in the garage for quite a while longer.

ttiros

Haven't driven mine in 3 weeks due to weather. Just drove mine tonight to buy some Stabil and truly realized how much I missed driving it.

7thcavalry

I seem to enjoy a similar "rush" each time I fire up my baby as well. There are few things in life that beat the enjoyment of turning a Corvette onto a thoroughfare to cruise for awhile. Fortunately our weather in Dixie seems to allow more opportunity to do just that! Thank you for the comment!

George

IMXCITD

RIKKI Z-06

I too love my C5. There is nothing about this car I dislike.

Rico7142