Not too old, not too new.

Had a conversation the other day with a buddy with a new 1LE Camaro. It is an amazing and beautiful car that does everything very well. We got talking about old versus new muscle cars. I'm an old car guy. I have a '34 Ford 3 window with a 392 Hemi and a '63.5 Galaxie 390 4 speed among others.

I know the new cars do everything better than my old beaters but to me, they don't have the same character. The smells, the feel, the rituals you go through to start them and run them.

I think the C5 is the "just right" compromise between old and new. Yes, C6 and up are better cars but cost more and have more electronics which I think isolate you more.

Occasionally I think about selling my C5 and building a C2 or C3 but I would have to spend a good sum of money to get them to C5 performance levels (plus, I have the other old cars).

Now one might argue that the C4 is more of the middle car between old and new. I've owned 2 of them, a '93 and a '96CE LT4 car. I liked them both but the C5 has the better build quality, ride and handling of the newer cars while the C4 still rattles and shakes like an old car. I do wish the C5 had a little less electronics in it though. My passenger side PDL is not working so I guess I have to fix the circuit board in there. I did the LMC5 and skip shift. It's those kinds of things that I don't like.

Overall, is there any other car that blends between old and new? Especially considering bang for the buck, I think the C5 is it.

 

I think it is the best 'bang for the buck' which is why I have one
I can 'afford' a toy up to 100k or so, but the C5 does it for me. Reasonably modern chassis & suspension design, proven powertrain with almost limitless modification potential, reasonable weight, etc. It was so good the basic underpinning were kept the same till the C8. The cars got more capable but also got heavier & more complex.

 

There's no question that I would take my C5 over a C6 or a C7. I really like the C8 though. Ideally, I'd like to have both. The C5 is simply a gorgeous car. It has aged really well.

 

My C5's name IS Goldilocks (from the previous owner, but after 261,000 miles in her care I figured it could stay), so I guess that's a yes.

 

It is hard to find much better than a C5 for price and performance. But I really like your 34 Coupe. My dream car is the Minotti 37 Ford, but they are few and far between and the prices of nice Hot Rods has sky rocketed....so not likely to happen for me.

 

FWIW, I sold my 6th gen Camaro 2SS and bought my '02 Z06 instead.
It was an amazing, capable and beautiful car though, and I sold it with the intention to order a 2021 1LE

After probably having to long to think about it, I decided I didn't want the $650-700 monthly payments and bought this
car for less than half of new a 1LE's cost, and to be honest, I think I'm enjoying it way more than I ever did my Camaro.

 

Perfect!.. The Goldilocks Corvette... It has the connotation which best matches its place in Corvette lore and fact!... Well phrased nickname for the perfect "not to hot - not to cold" turn of the century sports car... Bearish indeed!

 

I enjoy my '04 Vert and drive it 12 months when no rain/snow/ice. But my real 'love' is C1 and C2 models. Wish I could afford one.

 

Love my C5s, don't want a C6 or C7 but damn, I want a C8

 

I was growing up during the C2s (mid year?) run. I was 9 years old in 1963, and a young teenager at the end of its run. When we would race each other on our bicycles, we all had cards held in place to hit the spokes as the wheel turned, thus making an "engine sound". Of course, ALL of our bikes were "Corvette Sting Rays". It's kind of tragic that wealthy collectors have driven the prices to levels most cannot afford. Unless you want a divorce!!

 

Thanks. I think hot rod prices are going to be coming down soon. It's a topic discussed a lot on hot rod forums. Like Harley's, the hot rodders are aging out and will be selling off their cars (or their heirs will once they inherit them). Younger guys want 60's muscle cars instead of deuce coupes. The Minotti bodies were pretty expensive to begin with so they all got built into pretty nice cars and will probably hold their value for a while. You could probably buy a real '37 coupe, chop it and convert it to a 3 window for cheaper!

 

From a bang for the buck perspective, it is hard to beat C5 performance for the relatively low cost of entry.

 

I think the C2 is still the most beautiful Corvette ever made. I had a '64 a few years back but sold it to my best friend. If I sold my hot rod and the Galaxie I could probably get another one. I'd really like a '66 or '67 BB 4 speed coupe but I know it would not drive or ride or be as comfortable as my C5!

 

One of my favorite wish for cars is a minty orginal '67 4 speed, air coupe, alloys, side exhaust and triple black. Until that dream comes true (probably not!) I remain quite satisfied with my lightly modded black w/firethorn interior '99 6m vert. Best wishes!

 

I've owned 4 Vettes, 2, C2'2, and C3 and C5 the C2's are beautiful but for driveability the C5 can not be beat. BTW the last C2 I had was a loaded 66 Coupe with AC, 327/350, M20 and it was beautiful, but as I said driveability is just not there.

 

I’m not a “corvette guy” and definitely not a “chevy guy” (I always cringe when people call me either of those)

I bought my c5z because it was by far the best car for my wants and needs, and I genuinely love the FRC look more than any car. There’s a reason why I’ve never considered selling my z06 in the almost 9 years I’ve owned it, and it’s because it just ticks every single box for me.

to me it’s not just the best value car, it’s flat out the best car no matter the cost.

 

I could name a dozen cars I would prefer to have over the C5, most of them being inferior to the C5 in many ways but superior in classic charm and character.

 

I really enjoyed my C5s and yes, they are quite the bang for the buck. I enjoy my C7 too - time marches on and improvements are made. But as Crosis mentions, there are a lot of other cars that I would like to have if money was no object.

 

 

That damned money thing is always the fly in the ointment isn't it? Not having enough of it can definitely get in the way of acquiring our dream toys.