Am I alone?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 20,030
Likes: 289
From: Wylie TX --> Less is More, except under the hood !
Just my opinion of course, but its the big window that ruins the lines of the coupe for me.
When I was looking to get my sports car it was either a C5Z06 or a Viper.
Nothing else looked good to me.
Toque
When I was looking to get my sports car it was either a C5Z06 or a Viper.
Nothing else looked good to me.
Toque
Team Owner
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 21,473
Likes: 356
From: Palmdale, Ca----- 2009 Cyber Gray 4LT A6 F55 452 RWHP 422 RWTQ- RIP 1998 C5 734 RWHP & 585 RWTQ-----
Well I agree I like the coupe much better - but it is going to come down to personal preference.
Kinda like A4 vs. MN6 - for me I like the auto's way better. For driving, drag racing, traffic etc. I am done with rowing gears
Thanks,Matt
Kinda like A4 vs. MN6 - for me I like the auto's way better. For driving, drag racing, traffic etc. I am done with rowing gears
Thanks,Matt
Pro
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 508
Likes: 3
From: Tallahassee, FL
I have to say that I find the C5 Coupe body much better looking than the C5 Z06. The long sweeping window makes the whole difference. The car looks much smoother and aerodynamic (though it may not be so). The Z06's non-body colored rear brake vents look very tacky (functionality aside).
However the Z06's performance obliterates the Coupe, which is why I chose the Z06 (and buying one this spring).
Am I the only who'se ideal Vette is a Coupe body with an LS6 engine, tranny & suspension?
However the Z06's performance obliterates the Coupe, which is why I chose the Z06 (and buying one this spring).
Am I the only who'se ideal Vette is a Coupe body with an LS6 engine, tranny & suspension?
Also, I'm pretty impressed by the cargo room in it. When the wife and I picked it up, we had 2 bags of luggage (made a weekend trip out of it) and a few boxes of spare parts the P.O. included. Still had room for more. ANd if you don't like the non color matched side brake ducts, get a black one, I did.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,237
Likes: 11
From: Lacombe Louisiana
Actually I think most people prefer the coupe -- I sure do! And with the right mods the coupe can perform as well, or better, than a Z06. The FRC reminds me of the hardtop midyears. I always liked the fastback midyears better also. They also remind me of the difference in the look between the early Mustang coupes and fastbacks. 
Safety Car
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,237
Likes: 11
From: Lacombe Louisiana
FRC styling looks like your grandma's Buick.Since I regularly spank ZO6's with my mildly modded coupe(dont even run headers) at the track,performance is a non issue.Heck,even GM dropped them.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 20,030
Likes: 289
From: Wylie TX --> Less is More, except under the hood !
I'm glad I got one of the few Z06's made. Had it not been for the Z06 I would be driving a Viper...
Toque
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Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,201
Likes: 2
From: Frederick Md
Old thread...BUT I will still repkly....
NO...NO...NO...the couple is the worst looking c5 they produced...the FRC, the ZO6 and the all convertibles all look better to my eye then the standard couple with that huge chunk of glass behind you....
When I was looking to buy my C5 (in 1998-99) I ruled out the coupe and looked for a FRC or Convertible... had to have a Z51 suspension and it had to be a 6 Speed ...ended up with a Convertible ...
Bob G
NO...NO...NO...the couple is the worst looking c5 they produced...the FRC, the ZO6 and the all convertibles all look better to my eye then the standard couple with that huge chunk of glass behind you....
When I was looking to buy my C5 (in 1998-99) I ruled out the coupe and looked for a FRC or Convertible... had to have a Z51 suspension and it had to be a 6 Speed ...ended up with a Convertible ...
Bob G
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,962
Likes: 254
From: Richmond, Ky
I'm using this quote for the subject matter not to agree or disagree with the statement. But if we are going to use the aerodynamics of the the car to justify which is " better " I would like to know at what speed the coupe design starts to offer this advantage or the speed at which the FRC design becomes a detriment to speed.
I'm betting that horsepower will be the deciding factor in most top end contests. If aerodynamics said that my FRC would outrun a coupe with the exact same horsepower by 10mph if I put a wing on the back, would I do it? Hell no. So it goes back to looks and since I can't afford 3 Vette's right now I had to go with the best body style available first.
Last edited by f6john; Mar 8, 2011 at 01:19 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 73,568
Likes: 33
From: Somewhere in Mo
St. Jude Donor '09-'10, '14
I'm using this quote for the subject matter not to agree or disagree with the statement. But if we are going to use the aerodynamics of the the car to justify which is " better " I would like to know at what speed the coupe design starts to offer this advantage or the speed at which the FRC design becomes a detriment to speed.
I'm betting that horsepower will be the deciding factor in most top end contests. If aerodynamics said that my FRC would outrun a coupe with the exact same horsepower by 10mph if I put a wing on the back, would I do it? Hell no. So it goes back to looks and since I can't afford 3 Vette's right now I had to go with the best body style available first.
I'm betting that horsepower will be the deciding factor in most top end contests. If aerodynamics said that my FRC would outrun a coupe with the exact same horsepower by 10mph if I put a wing on the back, would I do it? Hell no. So it goes back to looks and since I can't afford 3 Vette's right now I had to go with the best body style available first.
The coupe is 1 to 2 miles an hour more top speed because the wind flows off the rear hatchback better. But at only 1 to 2 miles top end, it's hardly more aerodynamic.
The FRC is 1 to 3 tenths quicker in the 1/4, which is a lot on a track.
Don't let them try to convince you otherwise. The FRC/Z06 is the meanest looking vette I ever saw. If a coupe was all that was offered I would still be driving my 90.
Last edited by RetiredSFC 97; Mar 8, 2011 at 01:49 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,050
Likes: 1
From: Los Angeles CA
I also like the coupe/non FRC. I can see why the FRC style is lighter because that back glass on the coupe can't be that light. But I also like the sweeping look of the back on the coupe. Best of both worlds to me is to save all my pennies and get a C6Z06. If the FRC style was so great how come the C6Z has a coupe back too?
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 30,897
Likes: 45
From: Picking on the weakest kid in the yard.
You're a funny guy!Reviving long dead threads is against the rules.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 184
From: Ohio
I have to say that I find the C5 Coupe body much better looking than the C5 Z06. The long sweeping window makes the whole difference. The car looks much smoother and aerodynamic (though it may not be so). The Z06's non-body colored rear brake vents look very tacky (functionality aside).
However the Z06's performance obliterates the Coupe, which is why I chose the Z06 (and buying one this spring).
Am I the only who'se ideal Vette is a Coupe body with an LS6 engine, tranny & suspension?
However the Z06's performance obliterates the Coupe, which is why I chose the Z06 (and buying one this spring).
Am I the only who'se ideal Vette is a Coupe body with an LS6 engine, tranny & suspension?
The BIg Dog
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,789
Likes: 8
From: Myrtle Beach SC
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
This is a true story . I said I would never own a big butt C5 but if I did it would have to be a FRC cause they were so cool looking when I was a C4 guy. That and I figure they had to be more rigid after driving a spagetti framed C4. Come last Xmas my wife graduated from nursing school and told me I could get a new Vette because my C4 was becoming such a money pit and was unreliable. So I started looking for the best car for the money I was willing to spend ($15K +-) pickings were slim in the under 50k mi cars till I found mine listed for $16.9k w/41k mi. Got it for $10k and my C4. Never even thought twice about it not being a FRC because it was a 1 owner well taken care of car with almost new tires on it. It wasn't torch red either another thing I wanted. Do I regret it? NO WAY love my car. If I could have got a TR 41k mi FRC I would have taken it over this car all things being equal but the coupe DOES look better in my garage than what I thought it would. So it is possible for a FRC lover to be happy with a coupe. That is my story and I am sticking with it.