dleibman

Been holding off asking this dumb *** question since joining this forum and buying my first vette, 03 AE vert a little over a year ago. I’m 70 if this helps at all. LOL. My vette is stock oem. Read this forum at least once a day and it amazes me how many of you do mods to get the most hp out of your car just short of blowing them up and the thousands of $$$$ spent to go fast. Really how fast do you need to go unless your tracking the vette. Better question is, where do you have the place to do wot for any amount of time. Is it done for bragging right or such. I have yet to find a place that I can do over 90 for just a few seconds. Would like to see 100 just for the feel of it. Understand stock can give 171, why would you ever want to even go that fast. Just saying. In my younger days did street 1/4 mile street drags on LI, NY. Connecting Hwy, Cross Bay and Union T. Great fun but always ran stock. Sorry if this is a stupid question but would like answers to it. Thanks all, Fin 😄

Chris Draper

Gotta keep up with the C7 guys. A new Z06 has 640 crank HP from the factory.

Hell, even a new Mustang GT is faster than a stock C5.

But to be honest, it has nothing to do with top speed. Butt Dyno feel and sound are #1 for me. A stock C5, no offence, kind up drives like a truck to me. Cars have advanced so much in 20 years, a few mods can go a long ways in improving a C5.

Verrückt ZR1

I enjoy modifying my car. Has very little to do with speed (though it's pretty quick ) and more to do with personal satisfaction. I like knowing what the car is capable of, but don't feel the need to push it there every time it's driven. Stock Vettes are a lot of fun. Modified vettes- even more so.

USAZR1

Very well said.

Velocity_Vette

A 2019 V6 Camry puts out near as much power as a C5 Corvette does. A Focus RS puts out more HP than a C5 Corvette. 350 HP isn't really a whole lot in 2019. C5s are very quick but they aren't 'fast' stock. They were in 1997. They're not in 2019. That's one reason people are constantly modding.

The other is owners want a car that is 'theirs'. A modification of any sort is typically the easiest way to do this, and a power adder is more cred than faux chrome louvers and caliper covers.

RXTbone

This thread has made me chuckle a bit. I think you answered your own question - your 71 now, so the question - but you used to run the 1/4 when you were young. Like you, I don't feel compelled to build out cars anymore. Not only do I find it a waste of money, but there's too many cars out of the box with insane horsepower. It's not like the good old days where you had a race carb or headers to contend with on the street - it's not uncommon to see stock 500 HP cars nowadays. Good luck. But, when I was young - it was a completely different story. I wanted to be the fastest (never was), and was willing to spend every penny I made (not much)... and swapped cars like they were baseball cards.

I enjoy stock now, and leave the modding to the young bucks. My car is clean and unmolested. And, like you, stock is plenty fast. I do, though, have a very nice stretch of I-70 where 135 is easily achievable - fairly safely, too (if that's possible)...

~Josh

Because... ‘Murrica.

Evil-Twin

I'm 74 and fully understand your position. Lots of psychological reason why people mod. There are two types of mods, go fast mods, and aesthetic mods. Im sure you know the difference. But for anyone who mods, no matter what the flavor, the idea is to make it yours. Forget the track guys. They have a specific goal. But for many people who will never see a track,they mod because they can, and can feel the satisfaction of the sensation of speed, even if they do not exceed the speed limit.
For me, the sensation of sitting on the runway while the pilot put the boots to those 4 Pratt and Whitney., Rolls Royce or GE turbo fans
at 24000 Horse power each, is almost better than sex. But on the street, I personally can no longer see the need for speed. There is something about having enough Horse power to get out of a bad situation. For me, aesthetic mods, keep me interested and entertained. Adding some strategically over the years. They keep me from spending 70 or 80 K on a New Corvette. Since I do not feel the need for more Horse power, I have no desire to add more. I'm still thrilled with my car , every time I start it up. I get more compliments now then when it was New. OH BTW, in my time on earth, Ive found the secret of life.. and that is.." To Be Happy " and "I'm happy".

Bill aka ET

grampi50

Not a dumb question at all. Different strokes for different folks. When I was younger I liked modding cars and bikes to make them faster. I was really into fast bikes, but my motorcycle riding days are behind me. There are just too many people on the roads these days with their eyes on their cells phones instead of on the road, making it extremely dangerous for bikers. So I sold my last bike and banked the money to buy a C5. I figure a C5 will be just as much fun as a bike, and a lot safer. Plus I couldn't get my wife to ride the bike with me, but she will go in a Vette. The only mod I plan on doing to mine (other than cosmetics) is an exhaust system, and that's just to make it sound nicer. To me the C5 is plenty fast enough stock...I don't care if it's not as fast as some of the newer cars...

grampi50

I think you've got that backwards. 170+ top speed is still considered pretty fast even by today's standards, but there are plenty of today's cars that will out accelerate the C5...

dleibman

Thank you all and completely agree and understand everything said. I have made a few interior mods to make it my own. Get a kick every time I turn the key. She looks new and will keep her looking so. And yes !!!, out the door new cars with their hp is just amazing, 500+ hp. Good old days, add twin or trip carbs or big 4, headers and a hurst and you had it made and maybe a set of slicks in the trunk, lol I remember when. Thanks all, fin ��

Pounder

I'm pushing 70 and mine is modded and is to the floor on every on-ramp !!!! (almost, some old people think they can merge doing 30mph ???) also AutoX two of the three Vettes and maybe the 3rd also !!!!!

DDaaryl

Many owners here are exhibitionists having large egos and need to look different and special. Look at me, I have loud mufflers, a big stereo and extra bling on my wheels and tires. As a teenage I was there, all jacked up with big tires, a fancy 8-track, Thrush muffler, Cherry bombs chrome valve covers, a big Holley carb and lots of window stickers. I know I impressed a few other fools doing burn outs and drag races. Now I am an adult and no longer have those needs. I rather most people and the cops not see or remember me. No need to have $25k invested in a $14,000 car but happy to see others keep the economy and our supporting vendors doing well.

grantv

You drive a Corvette Ddaaryl, drive a minivan if you want to be anonymous.
OP, I love the sound of a modded car. I also like to tinker, and to make something the way I like it. Also, headers are pretty much standard fare on most cars I've owned. HP, more is nice, but I'm OK at whatever I'm at now (440 crank?).

captaineddie

I completely understand all points of view, but I must say that I'm one of those that's satisfied going normal speeds. I'm too old for much else.

Pounder

old is a number !!!! I'm still acting and thinking like a 25 year old !!!

knewblewkorvette

I have two C5s and they fit the criteria list in the bold. My 02 is heavily modified aesthetic to take to car shows. My 99 kind of looks like crap but she has 620 ponies under the hood. But when it comes to going fast, I've had my near stock 02 up to 167 mph and the 99 only to 150 mph. So stock is plenty fast, just not quick like a modified car.
P.S. I too loved being on the flight line when jets would take off full afterburners going. It would shake your insides, loved it!

Evil-Twin

I love being " IN " the jet being slammed back in the seat...I always poop my pants .. not really, I was going for the old coke out of the nose laugh there.

Josephu

Old is a number........Until that number catches up with you..

knewblewkorvette

I only got one incentive flight and it was in a FB-111. We were up almost an hour, flying through canyons in Turkey, doing zero G's, barrel roles, and buzzing boats on the Med Sea. It was a blast until the landing. We went from a high altitude to the runway in what seem like a second and then right back up to a high altitude. My stomach was still somewhere on the descent. I was blowing so much I don't remember the landing. I swear fighter pilots have an unwritten rule of making one I still have my flight helmet bag and the flight map.