should I buy C5 or a C4?
#61
I love my C4. Weekend only car. I'm feeling it climbing in and out of it. Parts are not as plentiful as when I bought it, but it's a ZR1. My base C5 is much more driver friendly, easy to mod, and my daily driver. Depends what your long term plan for the car is. The C5 is better in every way. Do your research and find exactly what you want. Don't just buy a good deal or you will later regret it.
#62
Ok now I need to go into the garage and tell my C5 I love it too.
#63
Advanced
I had the same choices last year when I was looking and opted for a 92' C4 LT1, 300HP, 6 speed. 69,000 miles.
Paid $6,900. So glad I did, the C5 does nothing for me but it's all a personal thing. My car turns heads every time it leaves the garage.
I don't regret it a bit.
BTW- Corvette brotherhood should not crap on other model years, they're all beautiful. Just sayin...
Paid $6,900. So glad I did, the C5 does nothing for me but it's all a personal thing. My car turns heads every time it leaves the garage.
I don't regret it a bit.
BTW- Corvette brotherhood should not crap on other model years, they're all beautiful. Just sayin...
#64
Race Director
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2023 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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My choice would be the C5 for many of the reasons listed in the above posts, good luck !
#65
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2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
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Having owned a few C4's and owning one currently, and then comparing it to my C5. It's a no-brainer why I went outside the box and tried something different, when I bought mine in '04. It took less than a few hours to realize I had made a good decision moving on. I had a ZR-1 and I absolutely loved that car, truly a performance bargain. That being said, in my opinion, debating on what generation to buy between these 2 is like apples and oranges. The C5 is a totally different platform and will give you a different "feel" than sitting in any C4. I love the C4's and they are capable cars, and you can have a lot of fun with them. I can only speak from experience regarding the maintenance and reliability of both and I've found the C5 to be a better built platform, and far less maintenance issues or quirks over time. I'm not getting into the debate of which one looks better, because I love them both and they each have their unique features and driving experience. My advice to anyone that is in the market is this: Drive the damn thing, and that's going to give your ultimate answer in the long run. One car can look better (subjectively) but, may not be to your liking of the drive experience. No one buys a Corvette with practicality in mind, it's meant as a pleasure outlet. You can definitely pick up both of these generations for relatively cheap these days, if you still can't decide. That's honestly the end of the debate if you want to own both. Just my .02
Good luck with your decision, those are always nice problems to have....
Good luck with your decision, those are always nice problems to have....
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H. I. McDunough (10-06-2018)
#66
Burning Brakes
I agree with the last owner, both are corvettes, for ease of getting in our out, its the C5 hands down. Fact, not opinion. If someone gave me a C4, I'd drive like I stole it, just like my c5 and then I would have two vettes! But I want a C3 to go with my C5, then a C7.
Last edited by 57gman; 10-04-2018 at 10:54 PM.
#67
Kind of wish I kept my C4 as I put so much into it...and then sold it. But my 99 is a much better car...crappy stereo though. My 92 had a VERY good one and was easier to fiddle with as it came with a half way decent one already that the original owner put in. I havent done anything to the 99 yet though. Just tires.
#68
Race Director
Weekend cruiser -96 c4 lt4 6spd.
daily driver go c5.
the c5 was redesigned around golfbags and a bigger customer. Which is why the car is bigger / rides better. If you play golf, the c5 is your car.
c5 easier to mod, but the c4 can be modd to.
as to which $/ hp gets your more, c5 wins bang for buck. But both cars can kill you real fast.
Both great cars.
daily driver go c5.
the c5 was redesigned around golfbags and a bigger customer. Which is why the car is bigger / rides better. If you play golf, the c5 is your car.
c5 easier to mod, but the c4 can be modd to.
as to which $/ hp gets your more, c5 wins bang for buck. But both cars can kill you real fast.
Both great cars.
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H. I. McDunough (10-06-2018)
#70
Melting Slicks
#71
Racer
in the end, it comes down to personal preference. I like c4s. They're really cool cars and you can pick two pristine ones up for the price of a good C5 'Vert...but there is no way I could daily-drive one.
In a few years, the C5s will be in thie same situation as the C4s, and the C4s will start climbing in value as they become rarer and unmodded ones become harder to find. That's the way it goes with these types of cars...even the least desirable C3s are climbing pretty quickly now.
Last edited by 70RT440; 10-06-2018 at 01:46 PM.
#72
Melting Slicks
Wow...harsh.
in the end, it comes down to personal preference. I like c4s. They're really cool cars and you can pick two pristine ones up for the price of a good C5 'Vert...but there is no way I could daily-drive one.
In a few years, the C5s will be in thie same situation as the C4s, and the C4s will start climbing in value as they become rarer and unmodded ones become harder to find. That's the way it goes with these types of cars...even the least desirable C3s are climbing pretty quickly now.
in the end, it comes down to personal preference. I like c4s. They're really cool cars and you can pick two pristine ones up for the price of a good C5 'Vert...but there is no way I could daily-drive one.
In a few years, the C5s will be in thie same situation as the C4s, and the C4s will start climbing in value as they become rarer and unmodded ones become harder to find. That's the way it goes with these types of cars...even the least desirable C3s are climbing pretty quickly now.
#73
Remember having a 1991 coupe jacked up the passenger front side and the clear roof cracked. Shame GM let this C4 platform go on for so many years.
#74
Safety Car
#75
Racer
Agree with the C5-ers!
Agreed! My C5 is a 98 vert is fun to drive and has aged better than me! Bystanders praise it when they see it. No comparison with the C4 design which looks dated to me. But it's your money and your choice. Best of luck either way.