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A lot of guys have bailed on the C5 for the bigger engine but I still love the looks, and imo is the best bang for the buck. Especially the Z06. It all depends on what you want to spend. I didn't want to be drowning in car payments and being I cant leave anything stock I wanted to have the financial freedom to do what I wanted to it.
+1
As much as I would like a some more low end torque, the price tag just isn't worth it to me. Love my C5Z
You didn't give us much info to go buy, so... I;d lean towards the 2008 which has a few more ponies under the hood.
The main thing I am looking for is how comfortable the car is to drive and of course I love the speed. I have driven my Mustangs, 95, 05, and now my 2011 all over 185K and they hold up. I like to cruise! I understand the seats have been improved through the years. My Mustangs have been convertibles but I am looking for a Targa Top. I had a Porsche 9llt and it was great, wish I still had it! I don't understand why Corvette drivers don't drive their cars more!
When I sold my 911 and went vette shopping I looked at all the gens from C5 to C7. I just plain love the looks of the C5, C6 not so much, C7 is way to angular and "starwarsy" for me. An added attraction of the C5 is how little, comparitively speaking, it takes to get into a really nice, low mileage, and well taken care of C5. I chose the C5 (vert of course) with its nice performance level with the ability to upgrade that performance with everything from simple mods to get around 400 horses to supercharging (my favorite) to push past 500. Even in basically stock form I think the C5 is the visual and performance car bargain of the century! It really boils down to what appeals to you. Get into the drivers seat of each and see what you think. Good luck with whatever you decide!
The main thing I am looking for is how comfortable the car is to drive and of course I love the speed. I have driven my Mustangs, 95, 05, and now my 2011 all over 185K and they hold up. I like to cruise! I understand the seats have been improved through the years. My Mustangs have been convertibles but I am looking for a Targa Top. I had a Porsche 9llt and it was great, wish I still had it! I don't understand why Corvette drivers don't drive their cars more!
You should be happy to know mine is a daily driver
I have a Windrestrictor I have yet to install in my coupe, it's supposed to make driving at speed with the targa top off more tolerable.
Is your definition of a comfortable ride a firm ride or soft ride? If it is a firm one, then a base model C5 with C6 Z06 shocks and Z51 sways are the way to go. If it is a soft ride, then a 2003-2004 F55 (magneride shocks) with C6 Z51 sways would probably be what you want. You can get an older F45 car and upgrade it to F55, but that's about $2400.
You should be happy to know mine is a daily driver
I have a Windrestrictor I have yet to install in my coupe, it's supposed to make driving at speed with the targa top off more tolerable.
Is your definition of a comfortable ride a firm ride or soft ride? If it is a firm one, then a base model C5 with C6 Z06 shocks and Z51 sways are the way to go. If it is a soft ride, then a 2003-2004 F55 (magneride shocks) with C6 Z51 sways would probably be what you want. You can get an older F45 car and upgrade it to F55, but that's about $2400.
I got really spoiled with my 2013 T6 R-design Volvo, bought it in CA and drove it home to WA state, extremely comfortable for driving long hours! I would like my vette to be the same type. I'm looking at a 2008
with 42k miles for 23,600 and a 2008 with 67k for 20,900, on. These sound good........but I live far away and will have to plan trips in opposite directions.
I know there are lots of opinions on how stiff is too stiff when it comes to suspensions but......
I bought my C5 to autocross it and take long trips with the wife. These are two very opposite goals to have for one car. Originally I was thinking base C5 with the C6 Z06 shocks and C6 Z51 bars. I ended up buying a 01' Z51 car that the previous owner put C6 Z51 bars and Bilstein shocks on. Is it stiff? Yes. Is it comfortable? Yes. On rough roads it beats you up a bit but on normal highway cruising my wife and I are is very comfortable. We are planning on driving it to Bowling green in May and to Florida (from NW PA) in November and have already put over 1,000 miles on it since buying it in Feb.
First autocross is May 7th so we'll see how that goes. I'll be severely limited by the tires (6yr old Pilot sports) so I'm just focusing on learning to drive all over again. (wait... the drive wheels are at the BACK now!? lol)
I got really spoiled with my 2013 T6 R-design Volvo, bought it in CA and drove it home to WA state, extremely comfortable for driving long hours! I would like my vette to be the same type. I'm looking at a 2008
with 42k miles for 23,600 and a 2008 with 67k for 20,900, on. These sound good........but I live far away and will have to plan trips in opposite directions.
If you are looking at C6 Corvettes, you should try to fine one with the F55 Magneride suspension.
The main thing I am looking for is how comfortable the car is to drive and of course I love the speed. I have driven my Mustangs, 95, 05, and now my 2011 all over 185K and they hold up. I like to cruise! I understand the seats have been improved through the years. My Mustangs have been convertibles but I am looking for a Targa Top. I had a Porsche 9llt and it was great, wish I still had it! I don't understand why Corvette drivers don't drive their cars more!
Nice to read that you actually plan on driving it. If your intent was to buy a car that'll see only a couple of thousand miles per year (if that) and keep the car for a long time then I'd lean, long-term-value wise to the `01 Z06, which will almost certainly become the most valuable of all C5s.
The main thing I am looking for is how comfortable the car is to drive and of course I love the speed. I have driven my Mustangs, 95, 05, and now my 2011 all over 185K and they hold up. I like to cruise! I understand the seats have been improved through the years. My Mustangs have been convertibles but I am looking for a Targa Top. I had a Porsche 9llt and it was great, wish I still had it! I don't understand why Corvette drivers don't drive their cars more!
Even though I do not like the C6 Base coupe look, if targa top is part of your criteria, if it were me, I would look at the C6 Z51 models in 08 or newer.
If you can afford it, the C6 Grand Sport is a nice car and I do like the looks of the C6 wide bodies.
Last edited by bikeriderga; Apr 11, 2017 at 01:52 PM.