I get defending what you own but a C8 is a lot faster than a C5 and a better car all around. The C5 is still the best performance bang for your buck though and it arguably the last raw driver's car Corvette (though that may be the C6 Z cars). C8 is a serious machine and I want one more everyday. A lot of coin to drop for a fun weekend car though for me.

 

I like my C5Z. FWIW it's a lot faster than a base C8... but there's more to it than just speed.
smaller, lighter, curvy, and it has a manual
I respect the C8 and look forward to future variants.

 

C8’s are nice but you could have a C5 in almost every color made or at least one for every day of the week for the price haha 😂

 

I have more HP than a base C8, and my car is lighter too. However, the DCT that you don't like is the reason why a C8 would still beat me in a race.

 

I have a C5 and absolutely love the car. Owned since new and over the years it has gone through a major transition. I also own a C8 and have much appreciation for what it is. Fact is my C8 on street tires vs street tires will effortless walk my C5 (tuned to almost 1K rwhp) 0-60 and often 0-100. My point is the technology to use every bit of those 495hp is pretty remarkable in the C8. But for raw driving enjoyment, the C5 is the one !!

 

very true from a stop... from a roll, c8 driver will get an eye full of good lookin taillights

 

I would like a couple of each generation. A beater Corvette is better than a really nice Honda lol 😂

 

There is a fun car out there for everyone.

It's great you found yours.

I own a C7 Z06 3LZ manual Convertible in Watkins Glen Gray w/black ragtop and a C5 Stingray manual Black/Black now, Have owned a C3 and C4. Waiting for a C8.

So far the C7 Z06 Convertible that I own now is the most awesome car I have ever owned.

Drove the C7 Z06 in the Ron Fellows Corvette Owner's Course in 2018 and the C8 Z51 hardtop in the next level driver's course recently at Ron Fellows in Pharump, NV. So I have a good idea what the C8 can do.

Raw grunt power of course goes to the C7 Z06. Handling and ease of driving on the course goes to the C8. Both awesome cars.

I still want a C8. Still would like the manual to be an option in the C8.

That being said, the C3, C4, and C5 were and are still fun to drive. C7 Z06 still most awesome.

Glad you are still happy with your present ride!!

 

You can't beat a modified C5. I was ready to
put 100k on a C8, actually 92k and some change.
I was ready to order and I said wait, Do you love
the C8, like you love my 2000. Well ...NO. I do
love a straight axle ,although, I don't fit in it.And I really
love a midyear big block. So I bought a 66 BB. Granted even
though I added 200 hp and upgraded the suspension,brakes,
ac, and inteior. It will never be a C8. But I love both the 2000
and 1966 vettes. A lot of C8 owners will like their vettes but few
really love them. A lot have already been flipped and most will be sold
once the waranty runs out.

 

Well, when my '97 LQ9 gets back from the engine rebuild, we'll have to see how it fairs against a C8. Until something else breaks....

 

Does the C8 ZO6 count as a C8? That is another story. I want one parked next to my c5 ZO6.

 

I have a C5/C6/C8 hands down the best is the C8. C5 and C6 are 6 speeds

 

^^SHEESH!!

 

So many factors in heads up runs. Glad the ol girl represented us well!

I dont have C8 money, and I likely won't for another 20 years seeing as I just got married and we're thinking house and kids. But even if I did I am very leery of GM as a manufacturer and how their dealerships, vette techs, and regional corporate warranty managers represent the brand. I paid for a new '00 off the lot which had everything possible go wrong with it: bsms fell off, dash lighting repeatedly went out, oil consumption from the rings, bad maf sensor, repeatedly lost idle and stalled, engine harness replaced, rear end leaked from day one, column lock broke while driving the car, clutch master went at around 20k miles. All this, but add to that how the dealer would turn a car back to me with no work done once, another time with no test drive because it still stalled, another time also no test drive because the column may have been unlocked but was grinding like a Californian with a pepper mill at a Texas steakhouse. Im sure there were more details to that saga which I have forgotten though I am amazed at how much I just recalled for something 20 years ago. A nightmare story for my then dream car purchase. It spent 9 of my last 18 months of ownership parked waiting either for parts or service. All of it I could have done for myself, but it was all still under warranty. And when I challenged and went the lemon law route the service techs handed in pictures not of my car and falsified copies of service records with hand written notes added to the back side after the fact.

So.... Let me tell you how much money GM has gotten directly from me over 20 years? ZERO. None indirectly either from the owners I have bought from as it turns out too.

I've had six new cars since then. That money went elsewhere, General.

Add to that mistrust of GM's representation of the brand the news I saw of new C8s. We had a local vette tech who I was beginning to trust. He was very knowledgeable indeed and I would never question his skills. He was, however, an avid salesman too. Planting fear in owners. Not telling them the full picture. Upselling them greatly on marked up parts. And scaring them out of ever doing anything for themselves on their cars. Those types are a captive market anyway though, not like most here on the tech and general forums.

Well he tried to explain and fight the dct fluid level / dead C8 transmission issues. His every comment, of course, was fully the corporate engineer line. I do understand how it is when you have a job you rely on and are stuck towing the company line. But he also had a bone stock C8 come in with an absolutely shattered block. He never explained what happened but did comment that there had been a few and corporate was having the engines wrapped and brought in for analysis.

So yes... To pay 100k for an incomplete product where the owner remains the guinea pig and goes without use of their vehicle for long periods because the product has significant driveline failures in the mix... And a company which I have seen absolutely walk away from their product and which I presume has been doing a LOT of quiet cover work on these early failures since they honored the warranties I saw... No way. No how.

And I love Corvettes! Which pains me. The C8 is a legit good looking piece and the first Corvette since 04 to entice me. I would love to own an awd C8 when they hit. Everyone doubted me at launch, but they showed a box frame in the nose and I knew the chassis was designed to allow the front wheels to be driven in the future. Eager to see it. It just won't be in my garage. Besides, I stick have a huge hankering for a Gen 2 Viper GTS I need to scratch.

 

I’m hoping for a C8 Z06 at some point.

 

beautiful C5 !!

 

Nice corvettes! I like your garage too!

 

Thank you, for clarification the Z06 is mine and the C8 was being paint corrected at 3D along with mine. That picture was taken in the 3D studio. This is my garage……..
Not as refined but Im not as well.

 

The 0-60 is a little deceiving related to how fast they are overall, as we all know they launch great but they are not much quicker if any quick than a base C7 or even a Ls3 C6 from a rolling start.