Great response :yesnod: :yesnod: :yesnod:
Thanks for being candid.
I am a nuts and bolts type of car owner. If I do not know something about a repair, my local mechanic has a new friend (or pest).
I have built Chevelles in the past and even tackled a 86 monte carlo ss engine rebuild with all the electronic connections. It was a joyful "pain" compared to major repair on the chevelles.
I would hope a C5 or C4 would keep me out from under the hood. These are the best made American cars to date. I can not imagine staying under the hood every weekend with either.

As for you not rebuilding your motor due to low mileage, I admire you. I plan (hope) to drive my vette anytime and "anywhere" regardless of the mileage.

:) :) :) :) :)

 

Everyone has been so helpful here. That is appreciated :chevy :chevy

C5 vs C4...the "battle" rages on... :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

 

I have both and love them both but the C5 is great. If your wife is driving it she will want the c5 as it has easy exit. I love my GS but there is no comparison in ride handling or power. Try to get active handling in the C5 :cheers:

 

Just a side note regarding the removable roof panel. My GF never attempted to take the top off her C4. I couldn't stand it and finally took it off. I soon realize why she never removed it. you need a tork socket and wrench to remove it. The roof panel is actually part of the frame rigitity, when you remove it the frame will twist more.

The frame in the C5 is so stiff than it will be the same platform for the C6!

O.K. back to the roof panel. The roof panel in the C4 is much heavier than the C5. Once you unbolt the roof panel retaining bolts in the C4 you have to pull it off and store it in the C4 hatch. Pulling it off is not the issue but putting it in the C4 hatch area is an effort.

Compare this to the C5 roof panel. It may weigh 8-10 lbs. You unlatch the single rear latch by depressing the latch lever, then rotate the left and right roof panel latch and the roof is free. pull off and place in the hatch area of the C5 which is at least a foot higher. A piece of cake.

you will never see a C4 on the track or in an autoX with the roof panel removed. When I AutoX I have the top off, They won't let me run with the roof off in track events.


[Modified by Gary2KC5, 9:25 PM 10/21/2001]

 

Your info was great :yesnod: :yesnod:

I did not know the C4 had screws to remove to get the top off.
I have heard complaints though from C4 owners about the coupe decklid trying to blow away from the seals when traveling at highway speeds with the top off.

The C5's that we have driven, verts and a hardtop seem to handle great with the windows or Top down. I will have to try a coupe with the top off.
Also, my wife will be the one to remove the top, If she can. :) :)

 

>How does the C5 coupe handle with the top off?

Perfect! Unlike the C4 Coupes that really got weird with
the top off, the C5 is perfect. No Contest - the C5 is the winner

Dick
.

2001 Black Coupe with glass top


ps: Maybe I shoud have said "Very Carefully in the Summer". The tops
get very HOT to the touch in the summer. For this reason I keep a pair
of cheap soft work gloves in the hatch for use when removing the top
in the summer. You only have to be burned once to learn...and you
don't want to drop it.


[Modified by Dick Kriss, 9:07 AM 10/22/2001]

 

duh... :rolleyes:

 

I bought the C5 because of the space inside. I'm 6'2", 230 pounds and I feel too snug in a C4. My $0.02.

 

I've got so much more leg room in the C5 than I did in the C4. More trunk room to boot. I do miss the toquey feel of the c4 though.

The c5 still smells new!

 

I owned my 96 CE for about 15 months. It was my daily driver and it was a fantastic car. If I had the means I would have both cars at the same time (my 96 and my ZO6). I have had my ZO6 for only about 2 months. I dont use it as a daily driver either. Not to put down the C4 (they are awsome in their own right) but I must say the ZO6 (and any C5) is much superior. :cheers:

 

Do you really think that GM would downgrade the car when they changed from a C4 to a C5?

 

I did not expect a downgrade.

My idea from the beginning was "bang for the buck for a first time vette"
C4 and C5 vettes offer alot of great features.

Thanks for your opinion

 

I've been wrasting with this one lately too. But I'm coming from the perspective of a C4 owner. I have a '91 Corvette that I use driving to work about half the time and also for track events on the weekend. Mine is set up pretty well for track events and rides reasonably well, but nothing like the C5 - those are just silky smooth in comparison. I think outright lap times are pretty close given similar HP output, but the C5 rides much better and might be easier to drive - certainly is easier to get in and out of.

I'm trying to decide if I'm better off building a 450hp 383 for my '91 or upgrading to a C5. If I get a C5 I want a modified version, probably at least a heads and cam with full length headers to get into the same ballpark HP. I'd be happy with the power level of a Z06 stock or w/ minor mods. The concern there is cost.

If I look at it rationally, I can spend $10K on my '91 that is in very nice condition and it will be every bit as fast as a Z06 on the track. The upgrade to a '98 Z51 coupe or a '99 FRC plus some power upgrades and things I need for the track would cost $20K-$25K. Going all the way up to a Z06 of say a 2001 vintage would cost me another $10K.

So do I spend $10K on making the C4 better?
$20-$25K to upgrade to a moddified C5 LS1 car?
$30-$35K to upgrade to a Z06??

I'm less inclined to go the Z06 route because that starts to become a lot of money to put in harms way on a road course. In general the C5 platform scares me from a maintanence perspective - the C4 is much simpler traditional SBC technology with easier access to engine and trans and clutch. I tend to do all my own work and also have built cars from the ground up and had several older hot rods. Also if I get the Z06 I'd have to sell my '68 Camaro which I'd rather not do. If I stay with the C4 I can buy a nicer daily driver sedan as well - since I'm in sales I need a 4-door available quite a bit. I'm also concerned with the oil consumption issues w/ the LS1/6 and with the heat problems with the trans / rear end under severe track conditions.

Lot to think about, there is no simple answer. Sure if it were the question of which is a better street car - that's an easy one - C5. Becomes a lot more complex in my case.

Scott
'91 Corvette
'94 Infiniti Q45
'68 Camaro
'01 Suburban

 

I appreciate your commentary.

Hopefully, I will not be faced with all the decisions you have discussed.
My plans are to buy a Corvette as is and make NO modifications. I want to enjoy it as a factory correct toy. If I want to tinker on something My 625 horsepower Pro Street Chevelle should provide a proper distraction...

 

The c5 is obviously a better car. They would still make the c4 if that wasn't true. I didn't like the more luxurious (refined) feel of the C5 when I drove it, but I'll own one at some point for sure! The C5 handles bumps SOOOO much better than the c4, and the interior seems less prone to rattles. The only disadvantages I saw to the c5 was really poor visibility, and compared to the c4,it had BENCH seats... I couldn't see to merge on the freeway, and just hit the gas and took a chance -BOY those things are fast above 60mph!! :cheers: And PLENTY of legroom for a 6'7 guy like me, but sadly enough, no extra headroom. The car was noticably stiffer. I couldn't believe how well it rode!! The c5 has what.. 1500 less parts? Less things to break.. Only thing I can say I REALLY dislike is the engine bay. It's very blah, and I haven't seen any dress up kits that really turn me on.

 

I have owned my C4 for 12 years, I thought it was a pretty solid car until I drove my C5.

I have had my C5 now for almost a year and It AMAZES me every time I drive it!

You should buy the newest corvette that you can afford.
there have been improvements made every model year, so the newest car will be the best.

 

Also C4's being less complex are not as problematic.

The C4 might be less complex, but it does have 1/4 more parts in it than a C5...

My wife is 5'2" and could remove and install the targa top(both solid and transparent) without a problem.

 

From all the advice, sounds like my wife and I need to go and try a C5 coupe
and remove the Targa top...

Thanks for the help