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Almost all the weak points of the C5 can be addressed without much difficulty or expense.
- People complain about the seats not having enough bolstering to keep you in place...you can buy nice aftermarket seats and sell your stock ones for what you paid for the new ones.
- Interior is easily improved...get a double DIN head unit, some leather coverings here and there (eg. real leather console lid cover with red stitching for $35 shipped on ebay), nicer shift **** (cheap), different ***** on the HVAC controller. Between these easy/cheap things you already have a tremendously improved interior.
- Pop-up lights are a Corvette distinguishing feature for multiple generations, and really enhance the look of the car when the lights are down.
Great points and something you can't get with any other car is the unique characteristics a Corvette, in this case a C5 corvette, brings to the table. Address the interior issues and tell me what vehicle handles, drives, and looks as good as a C5 for C5 money? There is nothing out there like it, IMO.
To each their own I guess...I prefer the more gradual sloped rear on the hatchback coupe myself...
The coupe and the convertible (with the top down) are the sleekest, but I have to say, I have never seen a C5 convertible driving around with the top down. If the FRC had been the only design offered, I would have never bought a C5 (lots of people disagree).
Well, there was a time in my life where I heard "is that one of the vettes that still has the solid rear axle?". Try to buy one now.
I bought my 2001 at what I consider rock-bottom price for it's condition; It will do nothing but increase in value.
A friend has a '67 convertible that's not nearly as fast, or as comfortable or stylish, and the damn thing is worth $60K!!
Today mine has about 400hp gets 28 mpg highway, still has tech other cars don't (ability to read codes)(active handling)(tpms) just to name a few !!! I have driven mine well over 700 miles at one time, got out with no sore body parts (I'm 66)(stock seats)still looks great at 18 years old, (original paint) for style and condition !!!! To this day (and I have had many) it is by far the best all around vehicle I have driven and owned !!!
Lol! They are the least good looking in my book...
I'm just being facetious, if you want to know the truth, after I bought my 17,000 miles 01 vert from the dealer I went back to get my plates and he had a 2002 red metal flake hatchback for about the same price with only 6000 miles on it, and it was the old "I wish I'd bought that one instead" for a few weeks..... I think all C5's are beautiful.
I'm just being facetious, if you want to know the truth, after I bought my 17,000 miles 01 vert from the dealer I went back to get my plates and he had a 2002 red metal flake hatchback for about the same price with only 6000 miles on it, and it was the old "I wish I'd bought that one instead" for a few weeks..... I think all C5's are beautiful.
Killer combo with the tan interior. This one was perfect. Some rich old guy bought it new, and then died - his wife left it in the climate control garage where he had a collection of sports cars, she apparently would go get one every once and a while and sell it when she needed some extra pocket change. I ate my f***king heart out.
Last edited by WoodyJohnson; 06-19-2017 at 04:41 PM.
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16'-'17-‘18-'19-'20-'21-'22-
'23-'24
To each their own I guess...I prefer the more gradual sloped rear on the hatchback coupe myself...
Originally Posted by Ruby Supercar
C-5 Underpowered? What are you, a top fuel driver? Mine is rock stock and hauls ***. 350 hp is plenty on public roads. My 2001 targa coupe though not acquired new is still the best, most fun vehicle I've ever owned. Wouldn't trade it for a new Ferrari! When I drive the freeways, I feel like a Hawk among Chickens. ;-)
Yes, I too think they are under powered. My 02 has about 400 hp but feels like a dog compared to the 98 I had with 905 hp. Many of today's new cars can outrun the C5, even a base 8 cylinder Mustang has 435 hp and a base 8 cylinder Camaro has 455 hp.
I could have purchased any year corvette I wanted. However, I chose the 2003 ZO6 because it's the 50th anniversary model. And frankly, I think the C5 is the best looking Corvette ever designed. And my interior still looks new. It's amazing what a little conditioner will do to leather or vinyl for that matter as long as it's not sitting in the sun all it's life.
My C5 original interior has sports car all over it. Not overly cushioned, not overly plush, some cheap stuff, but just right. I wanted to get into a C2 clone as close as possible but not pay the price for a real one. I got it with my ’04 vert
I guess I am the odd man out. I think that the C5 interior looks as good as a C6 or C7. They all have plastic components. Any interior in any car looks plastic. My 2004 does not have all the bells & whisles of a newer one, but if I want them I can add them. I don't have 600 hp, but it gets me where I want to go fast enough.
I think the C5 is by far the best design to date.
I like the layout of the interior but not the plastics so I bought some leather for the doors and dash among other things. Now I don't have too many complaints.
I'll admit that I'm getting to be somewhat long in the tooth, but that longevity has allowed me to experience a fairly large slice of the automotive pie over the years. I've been through the American muscle scene, British and Euro types as well as earlier vettes. I'll admit the C5 interior dash and door panels etc, has a bit of a plastic look, its certainly not hand stitched glove leather, but I don't find it offensive and personally I've found the sport seats fine, even for long trips and I like the interior layout. I still don't know where you can get the C5's level of performance and sophistication for such a paltry sum. More than enough power and speed at just shy of 400 horses to keep me happy. All in all I enjoy my driving time in my 6M C5 vert more than any of my earlier rides and that includes BMW's and 911's. I don't miss the unreliability of British cars and I don't miss the expense of maintaining German cars. The C5 is cheap to keep by comparison and dead reliable. Lastly, is there anything more beautiful than a well kept C5 (outside of a '67 vette coupe)? Just spectacular aero type styling that, in my opinion, puts just about anything else on the road to shame. Anyway, just my opinion on the jewel we call a C5. Best wishes to all!
I guess I am the odd man out. I think that the C5 interior looks as good as a C6 or C7. They all have plastic components. Any interior in any car looks plastic. My 2004 does not have all the bells & whisles of a newer one, but if I want them I can add them. I don't have 600 hp, but it gets me where I want to go fast enough.
I think the C5 is by far the best design to date.
I have no issues with my C5 interior either. The HP is well enough for me to use in everyday traffic and on expressways.
To each its own. I've used my in dash navigation on my DTS once in 10 years, so I don't need that in my C5. Just my 0.02cents
the best looking one is the one you own !!!! that said I did not buy a ZO 6 because of the FRC roof line, been kicking myself since, could really overlook the roof for all the other pluses and now it has grown on me !!!
06-19-2017, 03:31 PM
The coupe and the convertible (with the top down) are the sleekest, but I have to say, I have never seen a C5 convertible driving around with the top down. If the FRC had been the only design offered, I would have never bought a C5 (lots of people disagree).
