neat

I've been thinking about a C5. So, I test drove a couple. A 99 FRC and an 02 Zo6.

During normal driving, both cars felt so... Normal. Just like driving an Impala or something. There was no inclination that a superb sports car was under my ***. I drove away from the dealer in my 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix, GTP. And to be honest, unless I had the loud pedal on the floor, the experience was the same between the C5 and the GTP. Just your standard mid-grade GM car for that era.

My C4, for all it's shortcomings, always lets me know I'm driving a Corvette. Every time I crawl and clammer out of it, cursing the whole time, I know that I was undeniably driving a sports car. I never got that feeling from a C5.

What do you guys think? I'm especially interested in hearing from those who have had both cars.

BlackbirdZ07

A couple months ago I was considering "upgrading" so I drove a C5 Z06, a regular C6, and a C6 Z06. I was surprised by the C5 Z... honestly it felt the best to me. It felt a lot like my '92, but the chasis was stiffer and it was much faster. It sounded great and had a sort of racecar feel. But I agree with your assessment, there was nothing really special about any of them, especially the C6's. So I bought a 2001 Porsche 996 twin turbo.

Churchkey

Had an 89 vert auto trans & a few years later added a 99 FRC 6 speed. It did not take long to get unhappy with the 99. I missed the cockpit feel of the C4, the 99 seats were wide & flat. I thought I needed a 5 point harness to keep my skinny butt in place. Hated the cockpit noise from the run flats. I purchased the aftermarket plug to seal off the trunk area from the cockpit. It did not help much. The ride was much softer than the C4 & did not feel like any Vette I had drove or been in. (C2's & C3's + my C4)

Performance wise the 99 was sort of quick, faster than the C4 and 29 to 30 mpg on the interstate was a big plus. IMHO the C4 with base suspension would out corner the 99 FRC.

I put the 99 up for sale 4 months after I bought it.

In the mean time the Mrs. Tbird is long in the tooth & she is now using the 89 Vette for her DD. I sell the Bird & she will not give the 89 back until I buy her a Jag. (insert expletive here)

Fast forward about 6 years: Bought the wife a XJS vert (her dream car). sold the 89 Vette since I only put about 200 miles a year on it due to owning 6 other vehicles & regretted that move the minute I saw the taillghts leave the driveway.

After relocating from the "plywood state" FL the hunt was on for another C4 with the options I wanted. Early body & late interior = 1990 coupe, 6 speed, Z51 suspension, J55 brake package, black sport seats, one owner southern car in one of 4 colors & no more than 40K on it. Took a year to find it hunting internet web sites & watching print ads. Scored it 21 months ago & this one is a keeper until it gets crashed.

88yellow

We have an 87 vert and an 88 coupe. We also had an 01 vert until last May. We hated the C5, very uncomfortable car. We took it on a 3000 mile road trip and the whole trip we wished we were in one of the C4's. Last May we traded the C5 for a C6 vert, we still like C4's better. When we travel we take a C4, most of the time the vert.

VetteMed

Had a C5, 2001 Convertible --- sold it to get into a C4. The C5 was fast enough, and handled well, but was just "meh" overall. Not much there to get excited about, I could have just as easily been driving a fast Buick or Toyota.

RichS

We have had the GS since 2001. In that time we have had a 03 coupe, a 02 ZO6, and now the 08 Coupe. Notice what has not been changed out?
I do really like the 08 (the blower helps lol)and is a great cruising/highway car. The C5s were great also. I think they are all nice cars and each have their good and bad points. I do think the C4 is more of a workout driving on the highway with the bigger tires. I also like the Sport seats in the 96 vs all the C5s and C6. There is more room in the later cars also for me (6'3") Especially with a helmet on

eylesda

I've got a 1987 C4 auto coupe and a 2003 C5.

The C4 rattles and bangs around on anything but smooth roads whereas the C5 absorbs most of it.
The C5 is more comfortable and civilized and the C4 is a lot more fun because of it's lack of refinement.

Because the C4 is low and red the kids round here think it's a Ferrari.


Hard to choose so I guess I'll have to stick with them both!

plmkrzy

I have a C5, 2003 Anniversary Coupe and had a '94 convert. I loved them both but they are two different cars. I had to sell the '94 and regretted it for almost 5 years. Finally I found a '95 convert. and I'm back to two, C4 and C5. The C4 I feel is a much nicer car as far as "sports car", the C5 is more of a "luxury sports car". Sometimes I feel the C5 is just too big and wide. Just my feelings. I love the C4, but it is a horror to get in and out of. It does "put fun into life".

C5Jimmy

Neat, I know what you're saying. I had 2 C4's ( a '92 auto vert & a '92 6 spd), and from "peer pressure" ( CFNE members , LOL!) I sold my 6 spd (mistake) and found a black 2000 FRC hardtop. back in Dec '05. I paid 24k for it, put down 12 and financed 12 (another mistake)! To make a long story short, I got rid of it after 11 months because I was BORED! Don't get me wrong, C5's are great, an improvement over the C4, etc etc...BUT its the simplicity and feel of the C4 that can't be beat, you know you're driving a sports car, and the C5 is a little too plush, something was missing, so I got bored, and did a 180, and traded it in on an automatic '06 Mustang GT! I liked the retro looks. Now after 3 1/2 years of the GT, I'm thinking of selling it,( I still have 30 payments left...!+*&%^$!) getting cash in hand, and getting my butt back in a C4, I miss it! My last C4 was paid in cash, no financing, all mine! I learned a couple of lessons, I like C4's better than C5's, and never finance a toy, keep it simple! IMHO anyway.

FOURSPEEDVETTE

I don't own a C5 but I have driven a few. I find them fast and still a Corvette, but there is definitely something missing in the personality of it. It has a Firebird looking front end and it's too much like the family car. No real sports car feel to me. Strange as it may seem to some, I do like the "big butt" on the C5.

Pres712

I bought my first Vette in '67 another in '69, both verts. Said I would not buy a new one until GM started making a convertible again. 1986 came by and I stopped in the dealership where they had a new white/red. Having all "sticks" prior and now at the ripe old age of 46, decided that I needed an automatic. Big mistake but advance to 2005 and got re-married. New wife wanted a Vette so we purchased an '03 vert BUT, she said it had to be a stick. Guess which car we take more? I like to shift. Now I am 70, still have the '86 with 209,000 miles on her but completely restored, new seats, new paint, etc. And she still wins shows! Love her but still wish she was a stick!

sfc rick

I have them both, and love the C5 as well as the C4. Would I go back to the C4?

NO, I love the C5!

Yea the C4 looks great still and has a little more snap in handling, BUT the C5 is better on the interior and the performance is better.

Personaly, I like the earlier C4 interior space more than the late C4 interior. The C5 is much better overall.



But now I'm looking forward to getting a C6 Z06.....so life moves on.

doubleD

I bought a 2000 new 10 years ago. 1 year ago I bought a 1996 coupe with 35,000 miles super condition. They are 2 entirely different automobiles.Drive different, perform different. I love them both. The 2000 is quicker and fuel mileage is better but the 96 drives and rides in it's own way.FUN, FUN, FUN !!!!!

cv67

Every C5 Ive been in or driven I can hear road noise from the tires never from a C4 maybe the squeaks covered it up
C5 defintely more comfortable less clutter on the dash and stopped on a dime, felt as you say a normal car very user friendly with the C4 more of a raw feel, you work a little more to drive it. No Vettes for me at this time.

96 lt-4

Guys in the C4 section prefer it to the C5....go figure.
My opinion for the C5 is more refined(less road feel)except for the seats.They do everything well comfortably(are vettes supposed to be comfy??).
The C5 is a different breed than the C4.Kind of like it took Chevy until 97 to get the vette out of the 80's technology and comfort wise.Don't get me wrong I loved the 80's and my C4.People look at me funny when they see Ratt,Dokken,OZZY,DIO,Judas Priest, and other bands of the day on CD in my car.
If I were to have a C5 it would be an 01-04 Z06 and would likely be more of a highway/trip car.They need the least amount of upgrades to keep ahead of the latest perfomance trends.

Blue 92

Two different cars, two different feels.

The C4 is more 'raw', feels smaller and more agile. The C5 has a more refined feel to it.

I enjoy both of them.

Shaf1970

Agree

Jon Hekking

Can't believe I'm replying to this, cat and dog behave yourself here.........

I just added a C5 to the garage (a chance to insert photo here);


Here's the deal, both cars are different, you definitely feel the road more with a C4 and the handling and power are adequate. I had the same complaints with the C5 before I bought one, felt a little too refined and tame but after driving several, I became more aware of the differences.

The C5 handles better than it gets credit, but you can't really tell. When it comes right down to it the thing sticks to the road great, corners very well and stops on a dime and the additional horses don't hurt either. The thing is you can't really feel it as much as you can in a C4. You feel every move the C4 makes, not the case in a C5.

On the plus side, the C5 is way more comfortable, is much more user friendly and most importantly I can get in and out without blowing a disc in my back. I love the C4, but if you're just cruising the C5 is better than the C4 just as the C4 is better than the C3.

They are all GREAT cars. Also, don't think the back side is too large....... is it?

pologreen1

The consensus is that the c5+ cars are more suited for general driving, to me that is why you don't get waves and stuff, because the corvette somewhat lost it's culture, and went mainstream where anybody can be drawn to it.

It takes a certain type of person to want to drive a C4 especially a z51 car.
I could have had, and still could have a c5 +, and choose not to.
(I'm cheap, and the car is not exciting)

Old87owner

Sorry, but I could not help but not think of Sir Mixalot and I like big butts and I cannot lie