Mr.Evil

I've taken delivery of a 99 C5 Coupe w/stock suspension, but I can still take it back and buy a 2000 Hardtop. I plan on making it a steetable race car, so engines don't really matter much. But suspension will.

Is it worth keeping the 99 C5 and just upgrade the suspension, or taking it back and getting the HardTop?

Thanks,
Shane

3Vettes@Home

Z51 has stiffer springs, larger sway bars, & bigger shocks :cheers: Both of my C5's have Z51 & I like them that way :D

70L46

The Z51 package also included a power steering fluid cooler.

Fast Mover

Get the Hardtop.You wont be dissapointed

Snake Slayer

Dump the stock suspension add T-1 sway bars and Bilsteins.

Cecil

Jim 47

Welcome to the Forum Mr. Evil. The 2000 Hardtop (FRC) is your best bet for a streetable race car, not the coupe. The FRC is about 100 pounds lighter, it comes std. with the Z51 suspension and a 6 spd., has a power steering fluid cooler, and , of course is better looking then the coupe! :D Also the 2000 has a few upgrades over the '99, so overall, unless there is a glaring deficiency with the 2000 Hardtop, the 2000 is the better choice. :yesnod: Good luck with your project.

Mr.Evil

Any place I can research the differences? Im pretty sure Im going with the hardtop tho. I've been driving the coupe all weekend and Im already disappointed in the stock non-Z51 handling.

Fast Mover

00 Hardtops received the latest version of Z51. Expect a tighter more precise driving car, less chassis flex,more rigid frame.

Jim 47

Mr.Evil:

There was an artical on the C5 Hardtop in the September 1998 issue of Automobile Magazine which says that the chassis stiffness is 2.5 hertz better than the Coupe. I haven't seen any specs. on the suspension, but the 2000 does have an improved Z51 suspension over the 1999 Hardtop. Overall the Z51 suspension includes stiffer springs, better "sports" shocks, and larger stabilizer bars at front and rear. The Hardtops standard 6 spd. comes equipped with a 3.42:1 rear and the latest version of GM's variable-effort rack and pinion steering.

The only negative I can see is that the Hardtop has the std. issue seats (to save weight) and not the "sports" seats, which are options on the Coupe and Convertable.; The curb weight is 3153 lbs with a 51/49 weight distribution. I think that all other specs. other than the body shape are the same as the Coupe and Convertable. Everything else being equal, the Hardtop (FRC) should be quicker and handle better than the Coupe. :yesnod: It really is a blast to drive. :D

AZ99FRC

OTOH, the standard seats are rock solid. From what I've read on this forum, the sport seats rock! To me, that would be a major distraction to have my butt moving all over the place when I'm trying to set up for a hot corner. I think you'll love the 00 FRC. My only gripe with mine is I have an early 99 with no HUD. If I had that, life would be perfect...yeah, right.

c5chris

Get the Hardtop. It has the superior suspension plus some other goodies....especially Competition Mode built in in its Traction/AH functions. You wont be disaapointed.

Mark C ZX9

Love my hardtop. Handles TIGHT. Very predicatable.

I haven't driven the C5 coupe so I cant comment on that. It would be nice to have the removable top sometimes but my wife's car is a convertible so it's no biggie. I doubt there's much difference between the hardtop and the coupe in the real world.

I think the biggest difference with a C5 is tires. I went from old runflats with 29k on them to new non-runflat tires and that made a HUGE difference.

Nekbyter

Go with the 00 FRC, you won't be sorry.
I never had a vette that handled as good as my 00 FRC.

GraveDigger

I fell in love with the looks of the corvette, but when I drove several coupes I was very disappointed in the ride and the general feel of the car.
several that I drove rattled, creeked and felt like riding in a $40k buckboard. I finally decided this was not the car for me. Six months went by and I fell in love all over again with the look of the car and drove several 2000 hardtops. The car was so much more solid it was like night and day. Much tighter as well as better overall feel. After buying a torch red hardtop I replaced the runcraps with Bridgstone OS2's and OS3's on ZO6 repo.s and Isolated the trunk compartment with a custom stereo. Now the car is very quiet and has a very smooth ride. I can't take the roof off, but I can live without that, if you can too go with the hardtop. you won't be dissapointed.
P.S. It looks better too.
:jester

Fast Mover

I could not have said it better myself! :cheers:

Mr. Evil

Thanks for the input guys. I have pretty much made up my mind. The C5 seems way too loose (no Z-51). Plus, this particular one already seems like its a bad build quality or something. Its already rattling like a Trans Am or Z28 after a few years.

63 Forever

Please explain the difference in the runflat/non tires, Use as much detail as you wish.