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I do miss the ease of entry/exit that the C5 has over the C7. Also, the increased room under the hatch, which was important as the C5 was my only car. Other than that, I would not go back. The C7 has better handling, power, interior quality/fit/finish, gets MUCH better gas mileage on long trips and better looks (to me).
Went from a beautiful 04, C5 coupe to a 2014 Z51, M7 coupe. I still think the C5 is one of the best looking Vettes ever. That said, the C7 interior is way better than the C5. However, the biggest improvement for me is the improvement in handling. When the C5 rear broke loose, it was a handful, difficult to recover without getting completely out of the throttle. The C7 computers do a much better job of recovering a loose rear end. A little "dirt tracking" lift of the throttle and it comes right back. The net result is I have much greater confidence in the handling of the C7 and push it way harder than I would the C5. Realistically, if I pushed the C5 as hard as I've pushed the C7, I'd probably have taken out a wall or a tree. Hate to say it, but there it is.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
I've previously had (in order) a 92 C4, an 01 Z06, a 91 C4 ZR-1, an 03 Convertible, a 2013 GS (supercharged ~800HP), and now own a 91 ZR-1 making 600HP and a 2015 Z51 that's my daily driver. I've enjoyed all of them, but the C7 is by far the nicest, and if I could have only one car, it would definitely be the C7 (unless of course I upgraded to a C8). The C7 has just so much going for it, and is the culmination of all the Corvettes that have come before it, and the last of the front engine, rear drive Corvettes (and the last of the manuals). The C7 is a big improvement on the C5 in pretty much every way.
I've gone from C3 to C5 to C6 and now to my C7. The only thing I miss about the C5 is that ledge on the door sill for me to push on to help me out of the car . Other than that, C7 is way better in every way.
I have both, 17 GS and 03 z06. I like both but the Z is more fun to drive for ME. More room in cabin, quieter, smoother, onboard diagnostic on DIC, love the pop up headlights, love the FRC look, and NO TC issues. Knowing what I know now when GM bought my 16 stingray back I would have looked for a low mile C5 2004 Z06 and bought it. I use my car as a cruzer only, no track no dragging just mostly pleasure and the Z does all that for me. In fact I hardly ever drive the GS anymore, should sell it. MY 2 cents
The onboard diagnostics was a neat feature. The also quieter cabin. C6 and C7 interiors got noisier with the wider tires. I also am fond of the modding options available for the ls platform. There's a lot of cheap ways to add 50% more hp. Minding the fact my c7 z06 is already well beyond any full bolt on cam car I ever built and has suspension to match.
I sold my 03 C5Z to buy my 15Z. My C5 was highly modded with a built LS7. Power wise, the two are similar but the C5 was lighter and the power delivery was raw and linear with great top end. The interior on the C5 sucked but I overlooked for the sake of "lightness". The C7 is better in almost every way as it should be with 12 years of innovation compared to the C5. I did fit much better in the C5 however (yes I'm a big guy). I do miss the big cam but there was always that fear with a highly modded car that when I went out, I might come back home on a flatbed LOL. I've kept the C7 stock for the reliability but the modding itch is starting. Do I miss the C5? Yes. You just don't see many around these parts. Do I love the C7? Oh yeah.
Seems to me that a 01-04 C5 is a great bargain compared to a C7. Seeing nice clean C5s around $12000-15000 that's a lot of car for not much money. If money is not a question sure C7 or order a C8. For just a car to play with on the weekends the C5s and even the C6s hard to beat.
Went from a 98 vert -> 04 -> 07 -> 10 GS -> 19 GS. They got better every iteration. The only thing I miss about the C5s were the pop-up headlights. I DO NOT miss the crazing that happened on the headlights of both C6s that I owned. My C7 is hands down the best car I've ever driven and it's the most amount of fun one can have with their clothes on
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.
. Other than that, C7 is way better in every way.
