Take a C5 to Old Lyme, CT, give Reeves Callaway a check for $20,000, and you can have a very nice interior.

Cheers!

 

I disagree with you here. Safety should come first and if we have better technology to make things safer, then we should use it.

 

 

My C5 has brought me more enjoyment than any other car I have ever owned. The name Corvette says it all. If I had wanted a Lexus, I would have bought one. Nothing compares to a Corvette. Nothing.

 

I have both

 

Safety? Hmmm. Here's an infinite loop for ya.

DO WHILE Fibergalss NE safety

____ safety_counter = safety_counter + 1

END DO

 

As an engineer, I would sway more toward the Corvette than a Lexus. Let's turn the tables. Why can't Lexus or Toyota design a world-class frame that equals Corvette rigidity? How is it that Chevrolet can offer true SLA architecture suspension at all four corners and BMW (et al) can't? How can Chevrolet keep the weight down to 3100 Ib (Z06) and offer 405 HP naturally aspirated? Does the Lexus achieve 1.0 lateral g with that fine leather?

Also is there really a fault with the factory stereo? Honestly, the fidelity of the sound system is mostly dictated by speakers of which my Vette uses Bose. It seems to me "image" plays a role when people want to discuss their "premium brand" more than actual fidelity or SNR. And besides, if you're over 30, the frequency response of your ears is the limiter. Perhaps cabin noise is the real issue here but I prefer less sound insulation and wider tires for performance reasons.

As for interior. I don't find it cheap, but rather functional. I think this "perceived quality" problem is really people wanting a Euro/Luxury style more than a real quality issue. Mine hasn't broken per se.

If style, image, and status are important get a BMW or Lexus. Most everyone I work with buys into it. If a car truly engineered and designed for performance, from the ground-up - no band-aids, is critical, Corvette all the way.

Finally, if you want a car with a real race history, image, a legend, get a Corvette. Honestly, does anybody know the Chief Engineer or engine designers at Lexus? I'll take American engineering

... Chris

ps - I do agree about side airbags though

 

Again.....nobody is saying the Corvette is junk here. All some of us are saying is GM could provide more quality parts. They seem to be able to do it in other cars, so why not the Corvette? I'm not sure why some of you except less quality on certain parts with this Sport's Car. Would it cost that much more for GM to use better quality plastics? Or to put the leather shifter/parking brake boots back into the Corvette? Yes there are plenty of aftermarket companies that make upgraded parts for the Corvette but, why can't GM provide them in the car to begin with?

I think it's great that GM is able to keep the price of the Corvette down but wonder why options like dual climatic control get more priority than the trim that surrounds it. I'm not talking about wood grain trim here, just a better quality plastic trim.

 

The C-5 is the finest $ for $ sports car in the world, if you want to bash it fond another forum!

 

Chris,

From one engineer to another, I liked you post, but here are some points that you might want to consider:

"Why can't Lexus or Toyota design a world-class frame that equals Corvette rigidity?"

First of all, the CD on a 1995 LS400 is .29 (b4 Chevy even came close - the new Lex has a CD of .27 or lower (since 2001))

The master of stiff chassis design is Mercedes - they started the whole trend by building stung chassis - lets get technical for a moment - the minimum standard is for tensional stiffness is about 4000 Nm/degree - the stiffness is measured by using a pivot point on the other corner of the vehicle and by measuring the flex as force is applied to the chassis -engineers are then able to determine how much flexing happens during acceleration (when the engine is twisting the frame in opposite directions) and during heavy cornering when uneven forces act on the frame - a stiff chassis means a better calibrated suspension - I can assure you (until I look up the numbers) that Lex builds one of the stiffest chassis around.


" offer 405 HP naturally aspirated?"

Lets see - 405/5.7 = 71 h/l (Vette)
300/4.3 = 70h/l (Lex)

sounds about the same hp/liter

"Does the Lexus achieve 1.0 lateral g with that fine leather?"
The question should be do the seats in the Vette have enough lateral support for 1.0 g (u answer )


"Also is there really a fault with the factory stereo? Honestly, the fidelity of the sound system is mostly dictated by speakers of which my Vette uses Bose."

Hmmm, There are many many factors, lets start with the Stereo (the signal to noise ratio matters the most), so a system that amplifies (the same wattage) with the least amount of noise will sound clearer period - there is also signal processing and antenna sensitivity - the quality of the speakers and the placement of them have alot to do with the sound - also, more speakers (usually) equals better sound reproduction - Sit in a Lex and close your eyes, you will hear a system that is truly amazing (If I can buy a Mark L and put that in my Vette, I would - it just sounds so sweet)



"" It seems to me "image" plays a role when people want to discuss their "premium brand" more than actual fidelity or SNR. And besides, if you're over 30, the frequency response of your ears is the limiter."

Agreed there

" Perhaps cabin noise is the real issue here but I prefer less sound insulation and wider tires for performance reasons."

Yep - but, for me, the din gets old - especially when I have to drive over 2 hours - the ride is good – so points for the Vette engineers here.

""As for interior. I don't find it cheap, but rather functional. I think this "perceived quality" problem is really people wanting a Euro/Luxury style more than a real quality issue. ""

My seats rock – I now need new seattracks ($650 for the part alone), Plastic pieces are falling off, funny buzzing sounds come from the dash when I accelerate - this is a C5! I take care if it – its garaged and no one drives it but me – even the dealer (I tell em no test drives) its a convertible - and no matter what I do wind noise is loud at 70

"If style, image, and status are important get a BMW or Lexus. Most everyone I work with buys into it. If a car truly engineered and designed for performance, from the ground-up - no band-aids, is critical, Corvette all the way."

I don’t buy a car for the image - at least not anymore – When I was 17-25 flash mattered and I did not care about anything else – now that I am a bit older (and wise – I hope – I find that I want a car with more balance – the Vette engineers got things 90% right – but I think accountants had the upper hand when it came to the interior – as an engineer I can relate when u say this is the way it should be done and the finance dept says well u have $x deal with it – so u cut corners)

BTW: I bought the Lex because it did everything well - but I always wanted a Vette (Missed the old Vette) - so when the chance came I traded it in" - my point is that I wish they would not put a cavalier quality interior in this car - My Aunts’ Buick Rendezvous has a much nicer interior and that was a 29k suv - Cmon lets get a nicer interior in there, some Airbags, and I want a Stereo that is exclusive to this car - and yes, when I go to the dealer I want my Vette to be treated like royalty (because it is a special car) – I want to be greeted by a Vette fanatic who takes care of my car and gets it back to me with no scratches or marks.

Indeed, I love the Vette and as a Vette fan I feel that this car should get the credit it deserves – no cost cuts, no bottom line – heck, if I was GM, I would sell it a bit above break-even price, I would – why? Because it gives GM instant name recognition and advertises what Chevy can do if they put the $$$ into it. Remember the Chevy’s of the 50’s and 60’s – when cost was no object – wow these were awesome cars! Each one is work of art.

 

Thats only one ferrari... and its a race model of a regular production one.. Any other ferrari is plush on the interior... But yea.. Price / reliability is a whole nother world..

 

Shylor,

In general, people on this forum dont want to hear constructive citicism about the corvette because they misconstrue constructve criticism with inferiority and being unable to distinguish the difference, they take it personally.

Dont let anyone on this forum, or in life in general for that matter, influence you to say something you dont truly feel. Thats what these forums and free speech is all about.
.

 

You have pretty much summed it up!!!
Originally, I was down on the C-6 lines, but I have to admit... as with many of it's predecessors, the look starts to grow on you. If memory serves me, I didn't care for the C-5's when I first saw one way back when.
Haven't seen one (C-6) in person yet, but I can imagine that I'll talk myself into one soon after I do.

 

Time to stop lurking and log in to respond: This is a great thread; so much of it relates to me very personally. I had an LS400, traded it in for the C5 Vert I currently have, but missed it and bought an Infiniti M45 as a second car. One is not a substitute for the other even though the M45 is a hot rod. I have had too many issues with the vette and none with the M45; why?! My Chevy salesperson and service writer tell me because it's a sports car! I didn't agree with that and I don't think many if any of you will agree with that! Cost cutting? The warranty claims for the C5 must be humongus. Sounds like a penny saved and dollars lost to me. Plastic is OK, I just don't want to see gaps. When there is an issue, fix it once and not two or three times (seat rocking, rear end oil leaks, and column lock). This stuff isn't rocket science! Nonetheless, the C5 is a great car to look at and drive. Can't be without a vette. I only have room in my garage for one car; the other is taken up with motorcycles. The M45 stays outside on the driveway and the Vert is in the garage. I think all of you know why.

 

Plastics are okay with me also but only if they are the quality plastics. After a few years it shouldn't crack or make noise, the cheap stuff does. GM can use good plastics that sound and feel solid. I've had many less expensive vehicles that used good plastics, so why not my beloved Corvette? Granted the C5 was a big step in the right direction with the C4. I expected that same jump up with the C6, but don't see it. Doesn't mean I'm not interested in the C6 because I am. Just a bit confused why GM didn't do more.

 

Man! I just read this whole thread. I going to bed now.

 

Couldn't have put it better myself!! NiteNite...zzzzzzzz

 

AMEN

 

I would agree that the paint could be better, but for all other issues, I find the quality of everything else on my '02 C5 to be very good, I guess it's your definition of quality, and the definition that I use is "conforms to requirments"