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I know there is always somebody faster but how do you guys do when you line up against all the new stuff out there... Mustang, srt8 cars, and Camaros. I'm not looking for a street racer just wondering if C5S are still competitive.
The time for the stock C5 has come and gone when it comes to competing with the modern V8 cars. As a corvette it is timeless just like most corvettes. When these C5 were new not much could touch them. I am the original owner, I know what this car was capable of doing when it was new.
The C5's lack of pace compared to its modern peers is often mentioned, but really that is the case only in a straight line. The car still has pretty good suspension geometry, has a very low CG, and is relatively light. In the twisties a C5 can hold its own...then get walked once the road gets straight again.
Last edited by Clairvoyantwolf; Jul 28, 2018 at 03:46 PM.
The time for the stock C5 has come and gone when it comes to competing with the modern V8 cars. As a corvette it is timeless just like most corvettes. When these C5 were new not much could touch them. I am the original owner, I know what this car was capable of doing when it was new.
I guess what your saying Frank, it's sort of like us, In our hey day,
We could keep up with anyone. Not so much anymore. The C5 had it.
And still is respectable. It's about knowing you have the power��
my c5 has more than I can safely use on the street.The newer cars have more hp but it usually comes down to which driver has the biggest stones and the ability to stay out of the trees.
To be fair, no one with any common sense in most modern v8s would pull up next to a c5 and automatically assume their gonna blow the c5s doors off.
pre-18 mustangs, scat packs, even camaro SS' will get a damn good run for their money from a stock c5z with a good driver (especially if the other car isn't an AUTO with a mediocre driver)
The C5 is one of the best values on the used market right now in terms of reliability and performance
^^^ I agree with the above....C5 vettes are a performance bargain right now. They still handle really well, they're only truly lacking in straight line performance when you get down to it and it isn't that hard to address that issue. To be honest, my current C5Z is going to remain mostly stock because they're just really good cars from the factory. I could get a new Camaro or Stingray, even a ZL1 or Z06 if I wanted to, but I'm pretty happy behind the wheel of my C5.
Wouldn't the problem with straight lines be limited to shorter straight lines? Sure, that Rustang or Chromero might get to the end of a 1/4 miles faster, but where is top end?
I guess if you are actually drag racing or doing Track Days, some of the newer stuff has some better technology, but as mentioned, there's a ton of performance goodies for the C5 that can make it competitive in those arenas. When I go to the local drive in where the car clubs hang out and I'm parked next to a new Shelby mustang, there's no comparison.... the Mustang looks like a Taxi Cab next to my C5. Not that I don't like the new Mustangs, but they still aren't a Sports Car to me.
I guess if you are actually drag racing or doing Track Days, some of the newer stuff has some better technology, but as mentioned, there's a ton of performance goodies for the C5 that can make it competitive in those arenas. When I go to the local drive in where the car clubs hang out and I'm parked next to a new Shelby mustang, there's no comparison.... the Mustang looks like a Taxi Cab next to my C5. Not that I don't like the new Mustangs, but they still aren't a Sports Car to me.
Well in terms of styling the C5 design has certainly stood the test of time. The sports car proportions are near perfect. Furthermore, and critically, it lacks the menacing vents, bulges, and edges of modern performance cars and instead has soft curves that subtly come together in a cohesive whole. Same reason why a WWII era P-51 or Spitfire is considered "pretty," but a BF-109 is not:
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
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There are a lot of newer cars that have more HP than the C5 and at least for a while can accelerate faster. But overall handling, fuel efficiency, and looks go to the C5, at least for me.
For the price you can get a C5 for, it's hard to beat.
My C5 has nothing to prove and it gets better gas mileage than my SS Camaro. Some guy in a V8 suv tried to run down my stock C5 and it didn't work out to well for him. Maybe he wanted to see if they still got it....
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
its not the other v8s its the big white workerman vans that ride my ***...…. when we enter the turns I just subtly accelerate and they follow me right on my ***......however my car gives no clues of speed since the body doesn't roll and then soon they start to wobble and have to slow down. as for the other v8 cars they just never really know whats under your hood and those of you supercharged guys have humbled them before....so they become shy around the rest of us.....
I guess if speed was all I was concerned with, I have another option for that, but that's not why I bought my C5......it has a whole different cool factor.
I know there is always somebody faster but how do you guys do when you line up against all the new stuff out there... Mustang, srt8 cars, and Camaros. I'm not looking for a street racer just wondering if C5S are still competitive.
C5zs can keep up with about 85 % of what's out there. That includes Musshoss GTs, Camaro SSs, and base C7s.
Base C5s can hang with about 60% of what's out there. In stock form, just don't challenge Musshoss GTs, Camrado SSs, or Challenger SVTs.
To keep up with all but about 90% of the cars out there, slap on a Supercharger, do a little suspension work, and get great tires. Do that on a Z06 and you will be close to hanging with the 95% crowd. Do it on a base coupe and you are in the 90% group.
You will still lose out to the Hellcats, Demons, ZL1 Camaros, and C7 Z06 /ZR1s, Cadillac CTS Vs and newer exotics, but that is going to be less than 6% of the cars on the road.
C5s VS the world...
