ha ha like your thinking 👍🍻

 

Yeah, I'd think about that decision first. Especially if the C5 has sentimental value to you. Read my thread below:
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ring-a-c7.html

 

one might answer what is the price of happiness, but since you have stated you are ready to move on, use the conventional used car wisdom, buy the newest , best condition , low milage car that fits your budget, and put aside 20% of the purchase budget for fettering. One has to figure it is called conventional wisdom for a reason.

My own needs are not so conventional I am satisfied with an old C5, because all I really need or desire in a car is for the top to go down when a recreational drive is on the calendar, and that won't shame me in the eye of even the most superficial women. Any newer car would be just as unused, more overpowered, and all I would be gaining are better passenger comforts.

I like the C5 looks , and can manage without the status of a new car, and the cost.. I'm retired. And, as electronics rack up an ever higher attrition rate for old computer controlled cars , the C5 becomes more unique as time passes, is still a good car, and has the very important old car quality of being able to hang with modern traffic. I figure the C5 to be a platform worth pouring money into, when compared against most other choices to try to keep on the road.. In my state, a 25 year old car qualifies for an antique plate, and a 2003 car is getting pretty close. MY son said it was kind of weird to have to steer the car and also have to shift at the same time . The thing is getting ore unique and interesting by the day.

I think it is the pop up headlights design feature that makes the car almost impossible to find in a toy , non scale model , version. I figure a car without lights would be a hard sell to a kid looking for a toy, and disappearing headlights are not an easy thing to make look good on a budget. Child that I am, I managed to still have a few toy C5's , all Spanish 1/32 slot cars of high detail in the correct race liveries , for the most part, and a couple even have lights.

 

I don't know what C5 you are comparing ride quality to. Z51? Z06? I met a rather large Vette club in the Flint, Michigan area. Across the board, almost unanimously, they said the C5 was the better riding platform. IDK, I've got a 2000 C5 A4 Vert with the F45 suspension, and when set on "tour", it rides much better than my CTS AWD Premium. Maybe the guys I talked to were just C5 fanatics, or they had the "magnetic ride". Hard telling. I've also heard that the C6 has considerably less interior room than the C5. I've never been in anything newer than a C5, so I can't say one way or another, other than what I've been told. Some of the owners I've talked to had both the C5 and C6. But, good luck whichever way you go. Hard to buy a Corvette you won't like!

 

The C6 has an almost identical cabin to the C5. Slightly less headroom because of the seating angle. And no, any C6 with Mag. ride has a MUCH smoother ride than a C5. The C7's are even that much better.

 

My C5 with magnetic ride(F55)is a much smoother ride than the F45.

 

First I've heard. I'm sure like most things, it's subjective.

Edit: After educating myself a bit, in 2008 the C6 recieved the F55 upgrade. In tour mode, my ZR1 doesn't feel like a Corvette, so it stays in sport. Could a C5 ride smoother than that? Possibly. I know C7's do, and I didn't care for the "numb" feeling.

 

FWIW my 01 is a Z51 package rolling on C6z06 Shocks Hancock Evo Tires and C6Z06 18/19 Rims and the ride is amazing,she tracks extremely well at high speeds and is like driving on rails, hence my love for her and might be to hard to part!

I have done several creature comforts to keep her updated and satisfy my needs: LED’s, 1,000wattt Stereo and tinted windows so she may be all need for now.

we shall see, leaning towards keeping her, and agreed she is amazing ride and amazing lines!

 

'03-04 C5 had the magnetic F55 package. Tour is too soft for me so the time. Basically use it on rough roads and the Sport setting is just about right could be va notch firmer.

On my C8 I live in Sport, but will use Track when on the track or spirited driving with friends.

 

You should look into Jim Mero's updated calibration for your ZR1. It's the last thing I did to my 2010 before I sold it a couple of weeks ago.

For the OP, I've come full circle. Back in 2002, my then girlfriend's mother had a 2001 Coupe that I got to drive a couple of times, and it spoiled me to the point where I sold my '99 Trans AM and bought a 2003 Z06. After we got married, we traded the Z06 for a 2006 Z51 Coupe with the A6. That was a mistake to get the automatic because I'd been driving manuals most of my adult life and really missed it. So that car got traded a few years later for a 2008 Z06, which I modded the hell out of. I sold that in 2015 and bought a 2010 ZR1 a couple of years ago. All of these cars were fantastic in several ways, although the C6s felt more refined. In fact, the 2006 compared to the 2003 felt.... weird at first. It didn't feel like a Corvette. It drove too smooth. I guess that's why I had to jump back into a Z06 and then a ZR1.

I've been looking after that same 2001 Corvette now for over 15 years since my mother-in-law couldn't drive it anymore thanks to bad knees. And since I've sold the ZR1 with plans to get into a C8 HTC at some point (planning a 2026 to celebrate 20 years of Vette ownership with my wife in honor of our 2006 Coupe), the 2001 is getting prepped to be back on the road. It still has the Goodyear tires I put on it back in 2003.

So coming from someone who is also 6' 4" with a long torso and built like a linebacker, the C5 and C6 are the most comfortable models to own for big guys. I couldn't fit in a C7, so I skipped that generation entirely. I recently shoehorned myself into a C8, and while it was challenging to get in and out thanks to the seat bolsters, I can fit in it much more comfortably than the C7, but still not near as comfortable as I feel in both the C5 Coupe ('03 Z06 with the FRC had the roof halo at the back of my head, which was not safe if I were ever to get rear-ended) and the C6.

I already tracked down original wheels for the '01. They're sitting at Frank's Vettes with new Michelin PSS ZP tires. But for now, she sleeps while we endure Snowpocalyse 2021 this week. It had 39K miles on it back in 2002 when my mother-in-law bought it, and it only has 54K miles on it now. Bone stock down to the paper filter. Oh, and for nostalgia, that's the cover I bought for our 2006 Coupe 15 years ago.

 

The first 5 sentences are my exact thoughts I will always own a C5 (or 2 ) even though I'll have a C8.

 

I've had 3 C5s including the current Anniversary -- - and 2 C6s . . .similar handling and performance IMO but I feel like there's more driver's space in the C5 . . .

I also like the relative uniqueness of my 50th Anniversary but have my eye out for a 60th . . . .. the C8 is above my pay grade for now but a 50th Anniversary edition and a 2014 C7 are in the same ball park pricewise.

It's just a matter of putting your butt in the drivers seat and getting some seat time to feel what's right for you.

Good luck.

 

Decided to upgrade to nice white LEDs all the way around including Fogs, easy to see the difference from stock.

Washed and waxed, nice day fo a drive 🍻

 

 

My first Vette was a C6 and I loved it. Granted it was a 5 year old, extremely low mile car and it was the newest generation at the time. It was very different from my C5. It was an A6 auto and was built for quarter mile, straight line acceleration. My C5 is an FRC 6 speed and is a blast around turns. I have thought about jumping back to a C6 but I don't see the point with the C7 on the used car market and the C8 being the new hot ticket with a mid engine and all the tech. I'm keeping my C5, will continue to tastefully mod it and when the time is right I will be jumping to a C8.

 

Thanks for the mention Vinnie,

Hello Verruckt,

I invite you to visit my website www.jimmero.com. We have upgraded over 120 ZR1's. On my website you can view how much better your car will be for both ride and handling. But more importantly you can view the testimonials from the ZR1 customers that I have upgraded.

You can also fill out your information on my contact page so we can correspond if you have any questions.

Also, all my upgrades come with a 100% guarantee. You have nothing to lose.

Thank you for your time, Jim

 

Best answer yet!

 

I've also debated on upgrading to a C6 from my C5 but I just don't think a base C6 would be worth the jump. I do love the C5 so I may try to keep it and eventually pick up a C7 or C8. In my opinion, C5-C8 are all nice cars, though very different from one another

 

I had a C5 Z51 and sold it about 10 years ago. MY c5 was torch red and a 6speed one owner car. I recently bought a 2011 grand sport 6speed with mag ride, also a 1 owner car. They feel VERY similar as far as driving goes. The cabins are very similar, but the c5 definitely felt larger inside. The ride is better in the c6 grand sport than the c5. The c5 was lowered and did not have mag ride, the grand sport is stock height and has mag ride. If I turn off the mag ride it feels similar to the c5 did, would probably feel identical if I lowered the c6. Mag ride is a nice upgrade on the c6 but wont be as good as the c7 or c8. Anyone who says the mag ride on the c6 doesnt make it ride better probably has bad shocks. The grand sports will hug ruts WAY more than a c5 due to the much much wider tires. In the end the c6 has a better engine, better transmission (manual at least), and looks better IMO other than the stock crappy headlights. Good luck with your decision.

 

Owned 6 C6's and 2 C7's since my last C5. Currently needed a stable mate for My C7 Z06 and decided to go with a C5 instead of a C6 ! Liked the C6 Vettes too but bought a C5 ! Hope that helps?