Soundmaster

hi all,
New poster but referred to this forum often in the past.
In 2015, I purchased a 2004 C5, 1SB package. I loved the performance but was forced to sell it due to a growing family & the need for more than 2 seats.
I 'replaced' it with a 2013 BMW 135i, which while shockingly fast/potent, simply doesn't provide the thrill that owing a vette did!

So I'm now seriously considering a 2009 C6 (3LT package with 6-sp AT). Of course, I'm aware of the boost in engine/HP/torque, but how truly do the C6s compare to the C5s?
My gripes with the C5 was the harsh ride and crappy interior....and the sluggish 4-sp AT. (I live in a terribly congested area and a manual just doesn't suffice here.) I expected the harsh ride and craptastic interior, but living with that every day did leave a bit to be desired. (To be fair, the BMW's ride is also a bit 'harsh', but the fit and finish is quite good!)

Has anyone had experiences owning both?
How much better (aside from the power & tranny) is an '09 3LT than an '04 1SB (both with auto trans)?

Makdaddy

My wife and I drove both C5 and C6 used last year
we preferred the C6 both in coupe and convertible.
We bought an 07 Coupe
We found it to be quieter and a little more comfy what what its worth

saplumr

2006YellowC6

It was for me.

KemahC5

As much as I enjoyed my 2004 C5, 2012 Grand Sport is a tremendous improvement.

TraceZ

Even during the 7 years I owned and enjoyed my 02 convertible I lusted for the wide body C6. I had a buddy with an 09 Z06 and it made my mouth water.
Last year I purchased a 2013 Grand Sport coupe.
The wide body C6 coupe has a presence that I've never felt from any C5. I think it is the best looking Corvette since the C2.

R&L's C6

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^this^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^

Dano523

I have owned M5's as well as some other higher performance 4 seaters, but your talking salon verse sport car, so really apples to oranges.

Even if you talking I8 to C6 with both begin a two seater, still not in the same league regarding power.


As for a C6, would suggest that you look for a z51 option or GS model over a base vet.
The C6 will always have more powder than handling abilities, so by going with a upgraded suspension packages, it narrows the difference down a great deal instead.

As for rougher rides, even the base model has a rougher ride to start with, but this is a good thing, since it's road feed back to tell you the road conditions under you, and just how much you can push the car for the amount of traction it will have at any give time.

As for the C5 to C6, your talking about 100hp difference to start with, sharper handling, and a few other features too. So even here, still sort of apples to oranges, unless you are coming out of a c5 z06, and getting into a C6 z51 option package. Here power is about the same, but the C6 will carve sharper/cleaner lines on the track over the C5 instead. Hence where the C5 z06 tended to get cornering sloppy, the C6 will hold a tighter line at the same speed isntead.

As for ringing a BMW 135i around thinking it was fast, and then stepping up to a C6, your in for a rude awaking, since the C6 has a lot more HP, and it will not be afraid to use it try to kill you every chance it gets (even with the all the nannies still on). I bring this up, since race guys in Miata prepped cars think they are fast around a track, until you put them behind the wheel in race prepped C6, and they find out quickly that they are out of their league with all the extra HP on tap instead.

As for automatic over manual, all depends how you plan on using the car. Most of my time in the C6 is high speed road coarse work, and with the A6 having way too slow of a down shift times, run the M6 instead. If all your going to do is straight line race the car around , then the A6 does up shifts faster than you can a M6 isntead.

Corvette_Ed

I'll put it a little more simply. I loved my C5, but it's like an ex-wife compared to my C6. Something I was fond of at the time, but now is thankfully just a memory.

windyC6

Well...contrary to the bias and in denial......the crappy interior is still there. And the harsh ride is still there and always will be. Just depends on what you suspension you have on just how harsh it is. I hate to use the term up-grade because the term is thrown around too often in this forum when discussing these vettes....but with that said i'd rather have a C-5 in pristine condition then a C-6 POS, but over-all and all things being equal the C-6 is an up-grade if for no other reason than because it's newer.......good luck

windyC6

HAH....A 68 is better than a 67 ??........I don't think so !!!!!.........

LDB

I had a C4, C5, and C6, driving each as a daily driver for 60-80K miles over 5-7 years. My opinion is that while each was better than the last, the C4 to C5 improvement was vastly greater than C5 to C6. While the C6 was better than the C5, the C6 was more like the C5 and a half, than a true new generation. It was like they were fixing some shortcomings in the C5, but it wasn’t a totally new and dramatically better car. In contrast, the C5 was substantially better than the C4 in all respects, clearly a new and better car. So my guess would be that if you’ve owned a C5, you will find the C6 better, but not dramatically better.

Makdaddy

I would suggest looking for known defects for any year you buy
That way you have no Big Dollar surprises after you get it home
I found out the hard way
Balancer bad, gas smell from pump ect

Corvette_Ed

You've made two posts on this forum, and both were to start threads asking pretty much the same question....

Jeff T.

Since you owned a C5, drive a C6.

Why trust us...

449er

I prefer the exposed head lights & the body lines in general on a C6, more hp too...always a good thing!

saplumr

Before you over celebrate you need to understand what a generation consists of. Neither the 67 or 68 was a generation, both were simply model years.

C6KWJ

ajani

c7 would be a nice upgrade, but c5 to c6 is like comparing iphone 4 to 4s. its not a bad upgrade though

z06clif

couldnt be more true. My c5 was nice but the c6 is way better in every category.

Clif