Drove a C6 Grand Sport, now I want one
 

So I had the pleasure of driving a friends C6 Grand Sport this weekend. We swapped cars (he took my C5 vert and I his C6 GS). I was detailing it for him Saturday and we were meeting Sunday for a car show, so it was easier to just swap cars and meet in the morning. Well, I'm hooked. What a difference from one to the other. I understand a base convertible shouldn't compare to a GS, but jeez was that GS nice to drive! It pulled so much harder, it rode so much nicer, the seats were very comfortable and that wide body..... ooh laa laa! Unfortunately for me, I can't have both, so I'd have to get rid of the vert to make room. With winter here in the northeast just around the corner, I'd get hosed trying to sell it now. We'll see what next spring brings.... in the meantime, here's the offending C6 GS and my C5 vert (in the event someone here is interested in mine :cool:

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...2fe73845b3.jpg

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...356094883f.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...ca08f557be.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...5477573983.jpg

Love your vert, but the GS's are amazing machines. I made the switch from a lightly modded '04Z to an '09 ZR1, and have loved every minute of ownership. Take the plunge, brother. You won't be disappointed. :cheers:

The old girl:

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...a0c3370753.jpg

The new babe:

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...7a15ec5f28.jpg

Just to compare try a narrow body C6.
I drove the GS and the base convert when I was shopping for my 60th Anniversary Edition and went with the narrow body.

Why?

Drive a C 6 Z06 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:willy::willy::willy:

It sue is nice not making payments, but tempting

To be fair a C6 GS is virtually better than every C5 in every way. You get the already really good LS3 with a lot of C6 Z06 style enhancements and underpinnings (you don't get the all aluminum frame the C6 Z06 has though). Just like the C7 GS that followed it proves the C6 GS is an incredible value.

Subsequent value wise too they're going to be cars that retain value. When 08/09 market crash hit and GM went through their woes Corvette production numbers plummeted. Consequently because the C6 GS could be ordered with so many options - auto or manual, targa or convertible, interior and exterior options, etc - it produced some very low production number models and for certain there are a good handful of C6 GS owners that own cars that possibly no more than a dozen of the same type exist from Bowling Green.

People are always asking whats the best modern Corvette to buy in terms of collect-ability and the C6 GS will be a sure bet, especially if you go for really hard to find packages.

I really like my C5, but I have been getting the itch to go to a newer model and have been on the search for a C6 GS. Yes, they are very nice rides and the wide body styling is :smiliedrool:.

comparison
 

I apologize for high jacking your thread but what kind of wind blocker is that on your drop top?

I'm leaning towards the GS for the convertible option

I actually don't know the brand. It came with the car when I bought it. It works well with cutting down on cabin air flow with the top down. I only put it in when my wife is with me and she complai….. asks to put it in. It's just a black tube type frame and black screen.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...e3da0ec55c.jpg

I drive a C6 z51 2009 6spd and my C5Z (moderately modified - bolt ons, square setup, improved driving position, ti-supermod) and I have to say, the balance of the two is very tough and I often lean to my C5Z. My car is more nimble, feels smaller, has better upward visibility, is much sharper on center (despite comparing to 09 steering) and is a very good compromise for daily use, with much enhanced capability. That said, if I apply that recipe to the C6, I imagine this debate would renew.

I think the point is, proper modification to enhance the weaknesses of the C5 vs the C6 can entirely redefine the conversation. There are some inevitable up side to the C5 chassis vs the C6, albeit few. I think the seating position and outward/upward visiblity is much better in the C5. Though the C6 allows better visibility to placing the front corners of the car because youre seated higher in the chassis.

I'd love to go C7 GS, but I just absolutely can't part with my C5Z...it's terrible because I really want the Gs...lol. C7Z signed me off with the supercharger...I want none of it...I'm a purist. I've owned a myriad of forced induction cars I've built spanning 15+ years, all entirely by my hand. I've worked hard to build the compromises in, make it usable...it's just not what I want out of a combination, track capable platform.

I guess I'm still just spoiled silly from my '73 C3 days. I've driven a couple of C5s, and a couple of C6s -- though not GS or Z06 variants. I prefer the 5.

@OP it isn't going to surprise anybody that the newer generation of car is going to be more refined. There's still a tremendous amount of similarity in parts between the C5 and C6 chassis. That was a major complaint of C6 owners when they were buying them new was that there wasn't a whole lot of difference in the suspension going back to the C5. Many of the part numbers had never changed. But as the years went by from 05 through 13, there definitely was some improvement to various components. The LS3 made more horsepower and torque and all that, and by default any C6 is newer than any C5. So they're just plain newer. With that, comes all the cost of newer, and that is what determines which one we buy. Let's not BS each other here, if cost was no object, we would all have a new ZR1 C7.

A C5 that's well maintained is still a pretty darn nice car. But if you prefer the look of the C6 the way I do, and the push button start, no keys... Well then it's pretty tough to not want the newer one.

Very nice GS, and @TRLs6, nice ZR1. :thumbs:
Uhhhhh, something like that...... :hide:
Take the plunge Jack. You only go around this rock once my friend.

You can have both...
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...f57bb14af6.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...b7f2e70f90.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...ceda7cca9e.jpg

[QUOTE=BAT;1598128024]So I had the pleasure of driving a friends C6 Grand Sport this weekend. We swapped cars (he took my C5 vert and I his C6 GS). I was detailing it for him Saturday and we were meeting Sunday for a car show, so it was easier to just swap cars and meet in the morning. Well, I'm hooked. What a difference from one to the other. I understand a base convertible shouldn't compare to a GS, but jeez was that GS nice to drive! It pulled so much harder, it rode so much nicer, the seats were very comfortable and that wide body..... ooh laa laa! Unfortunately for me, I can't have both, so I'd have to get rid of the vert to make room. With winter here in the northeast just around the corner, I'd get hosed trying to sell it now. We'll see what next spring brings.... in the meantime, here's the offending C6 GS and my C5 vert (in the event someone here is interested in mine :cool:

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...2fe73845b3.jpg

If you pull the trigger buy the same color as your buddy's. It perfectly matches the shutters and front door on your house. What would look better in the driveway?

The wide body C6 is the best looking Vette since 1972 IMO but that front license plate has got to go.

K-Spaz, you have a beautiful 427 vert! Is that Night Race Blue Metallic? Very nice. :flag:

​​​​

I have a 2011 GS and I honestly think that as the years roll by, the C6 GS will become one of those classics people will always want.

It's that last of the true corvettes that were all American styling, not a botched move to euro influences like the C7 is.