cramar

I'd like to get some opinion on this. I've been looking for my first Corvette (auto) for a few months now. My situation is such that I have a fixed budget with a maximum amount I want to spend. I would really like a convertible to cruise around and explore the countryside with the wife in fine weather. I can get a C5 vert well within my budget. But for just a few thousand more I can get into a C6 coupe (06-07) at the upper end of my budget. The prices for a C6 vert are just beyond my budget. Now my dilemma is as follows. Should I go for a newer technology C6 and just enjoy the targa roof, or should I get an older C5 to enjoy the full convertible experience (and save some coin)? The car will be garaged, not be driven in winter nor even in rain. I anticipate only driving it when I can enjoy the top down (or roof off). But newer is nicer (more hp, A6 paddle shift, more reliable, etc.). I'd like to get experienced vette owners opinion on this-C5 vert or C6 targa?

not08crmanymore

Get the C6,it's well worth the stretch.Much better in the power department,6 speed tranny,nicer interior and even the seats are slightly better!The coupe is 99.99% as good as the Vert. ESPECIALLY better then the 4 speed c5 tranny is the 6 speed c6 tranny in auto form there is no comparison!

BearZ06

C6 for sure!

FAUEE

If you're buying it without the intent of it being a sports car, I'd get a nice C5. As a touring convertible, it can do everything the C6 does.

If you're after it as a sports car, the C6 is the obvious choice.

To me it sounds like you want a touring car. I'd buy a clean C5 that's loaded out, spend some money on upgrading some comfort type stuff, and be happy.

That said, I have a C6 targa and couldn't imagine wanting a convertible over it, as to me its the best of both worlds. Sure it's not as open top of an experience, but I can put the roof on and have a legit roof when parked.

ExRedRacer

Get the C6...you won't regret it.

Of course if you ask this over on the C5 section, you'll most likely get another answer.

RicK T

No disrespect to the differing opinions above but.......a targa roof coupe is NOT the same experience as a convertible. A drive in a vert with the top down is a unique experience.

Yes a C6 is preferable but if your choices are truly a C5 vert or C6 coupe I suggest the C5 vert. If you can find a nice one for a good price and next year or two decide it isn't what you wanted or expected you could probably sell it and not lose much, if any, money.

Maybe find a way to try both before you buy. Get with a local Vette club and ask for demo rides.

Good luck whatever you chose.

Jimmy52

I've had 2 C5 verts before moving up to my present 05 C6 vert and I couldn't be happier. Why are you looking at 06-07's only? I'd look at the 05's too. Their identical to an 06.

ben dover

C5.

Baxter's Dad

Most likely because the "06 and up have the A6 paddle shift vs. the '05 floor mount 4 speed auto.

Jimmy52

As all 3 of my vettes have been manual 6spds, I've never given an auto any thought.

Stavesacre21

Couldn't have said it better. The C5 is an amazing touring car IMO. For straight up country road cruising, I'd go as far as to say I liked it just a hair more than the C6.



I'll tell you one thing...if it's truly a convertible you're after, no amount of targa top removal will suffice in a coupe. If you've never known the feeling of a convertible, you probably won't know what your missing. However, if you've had one before in the past, you'll know that it's just not the same.

I found myself in a similar instance a short while back, although my dilemma was either a C6 vert or coupe. I'd just sold my C5 convertible in December of 2012, so i'm not foreign to the vert-specific state of mind. My issue was that I REALLY wanted to run my Corvette on a few different tracks (Talladega, Road America, Mid-Ohio), but most if not all of them tracks required either a roll bar or a coupe. I thought it over for MONTHS trying to decide which way to go. In the end, I came to the realization that although I would maybe run on a actual road course 3-4 times in the lifetime of the car, that didn't warrant getting a coupe over a convertible. I just get too much enjoyment out of a completely open car.

Having owned both a C5 and C6 and taking in exactly what you plan to use it for...a C5 vert, hands down. Thinking you'll be happy with a targa-top removed IS NOT a substitute for a convertible, it's an alternative. While it's true that the C6 is newer and has some newer toys, there's a reason why it was called the C5 1/2 at launch. It just not a HUGE step up IMO.

IMHO, if you are going to go with a C5, go with a 02-04 if possible. The top was slightly tweaked and most of the bugs were worked out by the final 3 years. I'd stay away from the 98 and 99 convertibles, as they seemed to have more issues.

Also, I'll play the devils advocate and whisper into your ear that a 2005 convertible couldn't be more than a few grand over a 2004. You just have to search, and be willing to travel.

cramar

Thanks for all the comments so far. For the two who mentioned 05s, the reason I wanted to skip that year is the differential problem and especially the paddle shift A6 on 06+. More than worth it!

Don-Vette

Get the C6,you will never regret it!!!

Hameister

Want a leisurely boulevard cruiser only = C5 vert

Want a far more refined sports car, with advanced technology = C6

swampmaster

Ok, it's up to you, but for me the C6 coupe is superior. Unless your looking backwards you can not tell the difference with the targa off or a convertible top down. Biggest problem is it's more trouple, takes two minutes, to remove and store the targa. The benfits of the targa are: 1) much more storage room in the hatch for luggage or other stuff. 2) much less wind noise and much more secure 3) Much less likely to be broken into; a ravor knife goes right through a convertible with no noise and there goes $3k plus. 4) last longer and does not need to be replaced every ten years. I've owned two convertibles and I don't think I want another.

Sargevette

I went from this:



To this:



Both awesome cars. No regrets going to a C6.

Scuba Ghost

Buy the latest model you can afford. IMO the C6 is miles ahead of the C5. Yes I had a C5 and now own a C6.
Get the C6....you won't be disappointed.

RJRSW

I have owned around 25 vettes and 20 of them were converts. The last time I bought a coupe was in 1984 because there were no converts built but replaced it with a 86 pace car convert as soon as they were available.

The difference between a convert with the top down and a coupe with the targa roof off is night and day and not remotely the same. The coupe with the top off is much closer to the feeling of a sunroof than a convert. It is so much quicker to put the top up or down on the convert than to deal with the targa top. I rarely ever took the targa top off on my 84 because it was such a hassle.

There is nothing wrong with the C5, they are a nice car and I would go with a 2001 or later C5 convert any day over any C6 coupe.

These pics are of my 2001 C5 convert and 2007 C6 convert and most non vette people think the C5 is the newer car of the two.

dvilin

Since the added power is not that big an issue, nor many of the other C6 features to you in what you are looking for, get the C5. It will meet all your needs without stretching your budget.
You will have a nice looking, Vert, to cruise around on nice days with your Wife.
Do not consider a C6 and taking the top off, not even close to the same as a Vert.

billyboy47

c6 coupe, hands down. in my opinion, the rag top looks dull and flat with the top down, like a model walking down the runway with no make-up on, boring. the coupe on the other hand, really shows off it's lines and beauty. with or without the top on. i've had both, will never go back to a rag top again. like i stated, it's my opinion, to each his own. please, no thumbs down.