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Which Corvette?

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Old Apr 8, 2017 | 10:26 AM
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Default Which Corvette?

I'm looking to buy my first Corvette. I am wondering which year would be best........2004-2008? I love to drive putting 190,000 miles on my 2011 Mustang but am looking forward to driving a vette!
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Old Apr 8, 2017 | 10:37 AM
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That's a hard question to answer. The 2004 has all the refinements that the C5 model had to offer and is a very good car. The 2005 was the first year of the C6. The 2008 was a further refinement of the C6 and came with the LS3 motor.

Spend some time in both the C5 and C6 sections of the forum - read up on common problem areas and also on owners experiences with the cars. And most of all, just go test drive some examples of the years you are interested in and see which ones appeal to you.
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Old Apr 8, 2017 | 10:43 AM
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Best looking, that's easy, the C5. It would be personal preference but like Jack suggests, drive and compare.
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Old Apr 9, 2017 | 12:18 AM
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C5 Z06 or a C6 Z06. Coming from a pony car and wanting to experience the WOW factor of the Corvette, those are the top two (unless you can afford a C6 ZR1)...
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Old Apr 9, 2017 | 07:44 AM
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It also depends on your budget. Nice C5Z06 $25k and nice C6Z06 $35k on up.

Last edited by 69L48Z27; Apr 9, 2017 at 07:45 AM.
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Old Apr 9, 2017 | 08:37 AM
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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.
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Old Apr 9, 2017 | 10:01 AM
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I like the c5 no headlight look
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Old Apr 9, 2017 | 10:09 AM
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Drive them both and decide. Neither would be bad choices, just personal preference.

Personally I like the c5z most, so I chose that, but there are reasons to go with both, and in essence they are very similar cars.
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Old Apr 9, 2017 | 10:10 AM
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I don't like the look of the C5 FRC/Z06, but I prefer the interior room of the c5. So I went with a coupe c5, it's got less ponies but I like the roofline better.
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Old Apr 9, 2017 | 10:21 AM
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Originally Posted by pghjeeper
I don't like the look of the C5 FRC/Z06, but I prefer the interior room of the c5. So I went with a coupe c5, it's got less ponies but I like the roofline better.
Commie!!
Actually I started out with coupe and went the other way Z06/FRC.
But everyone has their personal taste, but nice to have all the choices on the same model.


OP, agree with the rest, get your azz in the seat, as thats the best way to make the right call.

It will speak to you from there.
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Old Apr 9, 2017 | 10:42 AM
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Best value would be a c5 that someone has kept nice. You may even find a great deal on a nicely built one at a fraction of the cost to build it.

Good luck
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Old Apr 9, 2017 | 11:12 AM
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Originally Posted by pghjeeper
I don't like the look of the C5 FRC/Z06, but I prefer the interior room of the c5. So I went with a coupe c5, it's got less ponies but I like the roofline better.

You can always mod a non-Z to perform like a Z, but you'll never be able to make an FRC look like a hatchback...
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Old Apr 9, 2017 | 11:37 AM
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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.
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Old Apr 9, 2017 | 11:41 AM
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Originally Posted by bikeriderga
C5 Z06 or a C6 Z06. Coming from a pony car and wanting to experience the WOW factor of the Corvette, those are the top two (unless you can afford a C6 ZR1)...
100%
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Old Apr 9, 2017 | 01:47 PM
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Originally Posted by novasscnc
I like the c5 no headlight look
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Old Apr 10, 2017 | 08:18 PM
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Default excellenet idea

Originally Posted by Vetteman Jack
That's a hard question to answer. The 2004 has all the refinements that the C5 model had to offer and is a very good car. The 2005 was the first year of the C6. The 2008 was a further refinement of the C6 and came with the LS3 motor.

Spend some time in both the C5 and C6 sections of the forum - read up on common problem areas and also on owners experiences with the cars. And most of all, just go test drive some examples of the years you are interested in and see which ones appeal to you.
Thanks for the advise. I plan on spending time with cars within these years.
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Old Apr 10, 2017 | 09:12 PM
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If I had to keep it stock I would get the 2008.
Since I wanted a car to modify I chose the C5.
I like the look of the C5 better. It has a more old school feel.
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To Which Corvette?

Old Apr 10, 2017 | 11:22 PM
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First Vette? Most will say buy the newest Corvette you can afford. With that being said the C5 and C6 are two completely different drivers. The C6 seems is a bit more refined with more of a modern look and tame driver feel(base C6). The C5 is a bit more aggressive and has more of sports car feel IMO. If you like more of an updated technological aspect go with the C6. If you are looking more for a drivers car go with a C5. Regardless, you can't go wrong with either. I test drove both and ended up with a C5 model because I was wanting more of an updated raw feel compared to the C4 I owned.
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Old Apr 11, 2017 | 12:36 AM
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I love the look and styling of the C5 Corvette. I have already put in several mods to refine it and really make it last.

Insulation kit courtesy of Vettenuts, HID retrofitted ACA headlights, Morimoto LED fog lights, modifications to the lighting so that I have white daytime running lights, lighting that also serves as side turn signals in the fender cove, and a bluetooth stereo. Next is modifying the headlight control module so that it actually closes with HID lights (mine currently don't), custom high 4 mod, modding rear fog light into the reverse light, custom LED halo taillights, and modifying the turn signal system. At some point in the far future would be a LS3 swap... maybe LS7.
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Old Apr 11, 2017 | 12:46 AM
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Originally Posted by Tsumi
I love the look and styling of the C5 Corvette. I have already put in several mods to refine it and really make it last.

Insulation kit courtesy of Vettenuts, HID retrofitted ACA headlights, Morimoto LED fog lights, modifications to the lighting so that I have white daytime running lights, lighting that also serves as side turn signals in the fender cove, and a bluetooth stereo. Next is modifying the headlight control module so that it actually closes with HID lights (mine currently don't), custom high 4 mod, modding rear fog light into the reverse light, custom LED halo taillights, and modifying the turn signal system. At some point in the far future would be a LS3 swap... maybe LS7.
Let me guess...........you like lighting
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