Ok, before I even begin I know these topics can be a bit annoying because only I can decide whether or not the c5 is right for me. But, hear me out. I feel compelled to ask for a couple reasons, mainly because the closest c5's within my budget are all out of state. So I'd like to get a better idea before traveling that far for a test drive, or possibly deciding against it. I have a few local ones, but they're much more expensive and I'm not interested in wasting anyone's time. Second, after doing plenty of research it seems like there's some huge discrepancies regarding the handling dynamics. I've seen reviews where the c5's steering feel is touted as organic, just to see a bunch of other reviews criticize it for being numb. Some people say it handles like a Miata, others say it handles like a big GT or old Cadillac.

My current car is a 2015 GTI that I don't really feel is worth the money anymore. It's a nice and capable car for a FWD hatch, but it's become a bit boring. My biggest issue is how numb the steering and chassis is. So I'm worried about switching from one car with minimal feedback to another that's just the same, despite the Vette obviously being in an entirely different league.

Also, the c5's that are in my budget are both autos and base models. My GTI is DCT and my car before that was a 5spd 944, so I'm not sure how I'll feel about not having any control over the gears. I do go to the track as well, which is another question mark with the a4.

Really interested in hearing what you guys think. I know the Corvette is a monster, but I think how it feels is more important to me than overall capabilities.

Thanks.

 

so i have a nc miata as my daily driver and have had 7 other miata's . I just bought a kinda roached out 2001 c5 so far yes it feels alot like my nc miata with alot more power. Think after i'm done fixing the problems mine has i'll actually like the vette better then the nc 2006 - 2014. but the aglity of the older miata vs the vette the miata has it .
i'm not a small guy the vette has so much more room and the parts are actually i'm finding are cheaper then the miata performance stuff .
Just make sure you know what your buying in the c5 i payed 7k for mine i knew i needed 6k to get in back in shape

 

There was a book that came out in 1982 called "Real Men Don't Eat Quiche". One of the entries in the satire was that real men drive automatics because they are confident enough to let the car change gears for them. The point of it is don't get hung up in the juvenile stick shift fanboy bullcrap. The A4 is a good tranny and will beat a stick in the 1/4 mile. If the base model with an A4 is whats in your budget there is nothing wrong with it. Its a fine car that is fun to drive and makes your GTI feel like a dog.

 

That's actually not true.

The 6 speeds have 3.42 gears and put down a little more power at the wheels (of course it's the same engine, but with less drivetrain losses) , but there is nothing wrong with an automatic if that's all that can be found in his price range.

When I was shopping, I saw a few lower priced 6 speeds but they had higher mileage. Specifically I remember a '98 coupe for 8500 but with 160k miles. At the time, I thought that was really high mileage. But these engines can last much longer.

If the OP thinks he would prefer a stick, I'd recommend holding out for one. They are out there but one will be harder to find than a low priced auto.

 

Regarding steering feel, they are a little numb in the center, but they have good feedback while making a turn. I know one member here owned both a C6 Z06 and C7 Z06 and planned to go back to a C5 Z06 because he liked the driving experience better.

 

prob best for you to get out there and test drive a few and ride in a few. I would test drive anyway....even if out of your price range and possibly get up w some local corvette club members and look at their vettes and go for a ride w them. Hard to say if the feedback will be what you are looking for but most people enjoy the C5 for the $$. They are comfortable, perform well at the price point, are mostly reliable and respond well to mods. Don't be afraid to travel to get the right vette at a good price point. You aren't gonna get P car feedback from the road nor are you going to get the an up to date tech interior but the C5 works well for what it is. You can always add seats, stereo etc to help if that is an area you need to improve. The Z06 gives better road feedback over the coupe and vert some say.

 

Because none local had what I wanted, I had to travel 200 mi. for mine. But I figured it was a small price to pay, plus it was a good reason to go on a road trip.

 

I’ve had two six speed C5s and now an A4 and there is nothing wrong with the automatic tranny. I can have just as much fun driving the car as I did with the manual tranny. The automatic versions outsold the manuals so you will find more of them for sale now.

I think the steering on the C5 works well and the car is comfortable to drive. Yes, the C5 doesn’t have all the techno gizmos of the newer Vettes, but sometimes that is not a bad thing.

Drive a number of examples of both transmission versions to get a feel for what works for you. It may be that neither will be the right car, but better to know it before you buy rather than after. Good luck and hope you find what you are looking for.

 

Compared to a GTI or Miata you will find the C5 is a BIG car, much larger in size and weight. It goes like hell in a straight line but the small vehicles will handle better in an autocross environment.

 

What's your budget?

 

You probably just need to go drive some cars.

C5s are old now, and they can be a bit all over the place. Ex: a low mileage car that appears to be in good shape could be anything but. Owners seem to be on a tinge that tires can somehow last 10 years or, at worst, some are still on the originally supplied run-flats that are now dangerously old. Old tires will give you tremendously terrible feedback on the car. You could also be out money on servicable items that have never been serviced before (hoses, bushings, plastic radiator sides, column lock issues, etc), and that stuff will add tremendously to your budget quick as C5s still get a "Corvette tax" something fierce. Regardless of the C5 you buy you should immediately have a side budget of between $500-$1,500 right off the bat in case anything crazy shows up.

The reason why automatics are so much cheaper is because there are so many more made. Excluding the 99-00 manual only FRCs and 01-04 manual only Z06s, manual transmission base targa and convertible models account for roughly 19% to 24% percent of total yearly production depending on year. I can tell you it took quite a while - as in years - for me to find a "good" six speed targa top in acceptable condition that ticked all the boxes (exterior and interior colors, options, etc) just due to the utter high proliferation of automatics on the market. At times I almost felt like giving up as I'd come across a car that had all the right things going for it only for it to be an automatic. My primary driving force behind getting the manual was the gas mileage, which blows the automatic out of the water. On a recent 1,000 mile trip my C5 saw confirmed +33 MPGs, which would be impossible for an A4 even with the best of sorcery mileage tunes.

You'll also want to really divulge into the stickies and read about some of the glaring issues of ownership. Column lock issues and recalls aside, an example that people are mentioning is steering. The C5 utilizes a speed-sensitive steering mechanism that adjusts the power assist based on the vehicle's speed. However 1997-2000 models no longer have the ability to buy the steering wheel position sensor (SWPS) new and and it has been discontinued for years now. Used working parts can get into the $500 range. A failed SWPS can cause everything from in-op ABS and traction control all the way in the most extreme cases to preventing the car from operating to it's full potential.

 

I'm with IMEXCITD who posted above. Seek out a ride, find a local vette club and go to their meeting/events. If you expand your search considerably you will find very nice C5's out there to be had. I love manual trans cars for my fun vehicles, not so much for commuting in heavy traffic. Your driving environment should count in your decision making. Just my opinion but I do believe C5's are a great buy in a performance car. Good distance traveling car, pretty roomy and comfortable, very reliable, pretty damn quick and fast even in stock configuration, and if you are so inclined readily modified to put out some pretty serious horsepower and speed. Look around and get some seat time to help with your decision making. Good luck and best wishes!

 

If you're dead set on getting a 6-speed, make sure you drive one first. The OEM shifter wasn't that great when new, and will likely be even worse with 15+ years of wear and tear. It's not on the level of a Porsche transaxle in terms of feel.

Handling-wise, the biggest difference for you will be the size of the car. The width really does a lot to lessen the sensation of body roll (although the crap seats will offset that by letting you slide all over the place). As others have said, the on-center feel of the steering is sort of vague/numb, but it's fairly communicative otherwise. If you're looking at base-model cars, it's worth checking to see whether they're still on run-flats when you drive them. Run-flats, and especially the OEM Goodyears, are not nearly as sensitive as good traditional performance summer tires. The stock suspension bushings are also pretty soft, and even on low mileage cars will probably have a lot of age so they may be dead.

 

In the C5 era the manual is faster and quicker than the automatic. Today, the C7 automatic is faster than the manual. Still, if I was to buy a C7, I'd get the manual.

 

Get a C5 Z06 if you want ultimate road feel out of a C5. Suspension and steering is tighter than a base C5, lighter weight (3,100 lbs), and the LS6 has a very snappy throttle response.

 

The C5 will feel old. The steering wheel is huge relative to my M3, Chevy Volt, and even my Wife's G37. The seats are pretty bad for performance driving (i.e. they don't keep you secure).

Don't get me wrong, I have lots of fun driving my C5 but comparing it to a 2015 car with a dual clutch is not ideal. The other thing to mention is the C5 was really meant to feel a lot more numb than the C4. It rides way better and drives way better but if you are looking for a race car feel a Z51 C4 will give you more of a race car feel.

 

What do you want to do with your car? I wanted a manual because I like shifting gears. It is fun to shift and return to my past where I have many standard shift cars. For me a sports car is a standard shift vehicle but since I am retired, I do not drive in stop and go traffic. Whatever you decide, go for the least mileage, best mechanical/electrical trouble free car your budget can handle. BTW, the outside road issues with normal wear and tear were never an issue. But the interior care was. After 3 ½ years of ownership in my 04 vert that took 6 months and 4 states to find, I am very pleased with my selection.

 

a 2015-2018 GTi with a $600 tune has 300-315 wheel HP and 370-385 wheel torque. Pretty unbeatable performance for $600 on top of the car you already have. Just saying...

I daily a 2017 GTi 6mt that has 303/370 wheel power. I also have a 2001 vette 6mt with Longtubes, no cats, X pipe, Stingers, intake and tune.... unknown power. The GTi holds it own but it's certainly not apples to apples either. I wouldn't pick a different daily, and I wouldn't pick a different "fun" car at this point in my life.

Got rid of a 2016 Stage 2 STi for my GTI and I'm so glad I did. Hated the subie....

 

yeah as others have said c5 seats are almost always tore up . Thats 1k to fix the 6spd trans is a hit or miss weather is needs to be rebuilt that 2700 plus clutch and install . If you want handling even the z51 package need new sway bars thats another 400 or so.
Keep your eyes open when you buy a c5 don't fall in love and pull the trigger on the 1st one you see .

 

Appreciate all the great feedback. You guys are right, I'm going to find something local to test drive first and go from there.

About 13k or less, ideally.

Z51's refer to the handling package? If so, I was able to find this one - https://www.carfax.com/vehicle/1G1YY22P7T5119875

True. I still love the GTI, but unfortunately I think I was trying to turn it into something it's not meant to be. Right now I have a 26mm RSB with poly endlinks and while that made an amazing improvement at the track, it feels like my rear end is going to fall apart on bumpy roads. I had an MAP stage 1 tune and would get a ton of heat in the cabin every time I floored it. Not sure if that's normal, but I didn't feel comfortable leaving it on. I don't mind the added harshness from all my mods, I have plenty more, but it feels like I sacrificed comfort without getting a lot in return for sport. The trade-off just wasn't there. So instead of frankensteining this car with more mods I think it'll be best if I go for a platform that's more fun oriented from the start. Would love to keep the GTI and leave the suspension stock if I could afford both though.