C5 Corvettes...what do you know?
 

Other than poor interiors, what are downsides to these beasts?

Are they fun to drive?

best bargain in the sports car world if your metric is speed per dollar. I think they are very reliable and fun to drive if not the last word in refinement.

Downsides: plastiicy and rattly, c6s are getting pretty damn cheap too

Upsides: fast, well supporded, cheap and available everywhere

My daughter hit a rock with her car, totaled, she is unhurt. In fact we are going to get her stuff out of it as soon as she is out of the shower. Now we have 3 working people and 2 working cars. So I bought myself a spare daily driver, a 1990 C4 corvette with 73k miles. For the first time in 10 years the garage has been clean enough to get the a car in it. I love this car. It's my new wife. Go to the corvette forum and learn about the C5. From what I can tell they all had little quirks, but got better as they got newer. Just find out what the best C5 year was. Anyway, I'm really enjoying driving this $7500 car. Lot of car for the money & decent MPG if you drive nice.

Budget plenty for tires and brakes.

NMNA

I keep staring at this one. Sure, it's wrecked, but not totaled.
Only 5300 miles? What's the catch?
https://dubuque.craigslist.org/ctd/d/2003-chevy-z06-corvette/6350211862.html
It looks like this place specializes in reselling wrecked vettes.

Please buy it so I don't have to.

A C5Z is fun and very easy to drive fast.
The C5Z was considered close ratio with a freeway 6th gear.
Pulls 6th gear at 65mph at 1800rpm 28mpg+mph all day.

Great C5 info here.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums/c5-general-103/

They have first generation nannies so very invasive but can save the car.

Left stock they do great.
Cross the desert at 100+ with the AC on oil temp at 235.

Flog on track for 3 or 4 laps till oil gets hot then run cool down laps.
For serious track days they do great with some upgrades.

Video at Laguna my all stock 04 C5Z (nannies off) chasing a 14 GT350.
https://youtu.be/wKqCob6VH7o?t=11s

Just something I'm gonna throw out there that a lot of people don't think about, the Jaguar X150. (XK(R)

Aluminum block V8 with pretty much maintenance free timing chains instead of belts, aluminum body and chassis, multi way seats, 2+2 lay out, and hatchback.

I really like mine. Wouldn't trade it for a Corvette, but I would consider adding a Corvette alongside as they aren't apples to apples. A 2010 XKR if it is in the budget is a 500HP+ vehichle from the factory as stock.

Since I'm not exactly sure what you're looking for, I'm giving it a mention. I think they are a steal given the current market prices. I love mine.

I have driven the current gen Corvette, but not a C5. The current gen vette is one amazing experience, an absolute blast. The handling was very like my 944 in feel, just without the body flex. The power, 8 speed gearbox, wow!

My Jaguar feels a little stiff in the rear; it makes it really loose. Great if you want to hang the tail out on corner exits, not so good if you're actually trying to be fast rather than just look fast.


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...0feefd42c3.jpg

Agree XKR better car.
the XKR used over $20/25k is closer to used C6 prices.
Wonder how a C6Z would compare to the XKR?
https://youtu.be/CdrD3m7Xz4A?t=32s
C5 Vettes are a bargain, good ones around $15K.

The LS motors are near unbreakable. They go 200,000 miles often. Tires are expensive if you do not keep up on alignment. If you get a low mile one it will be a great bang for buck car. High mile cars will want attention, like any other car.

I now have a C5 Z06.

Downside is the stock seats, very very flimsy, they actually will "rock" on their base. I'll be ordering aftermarket as quick as I can.

I also contemplate changing the steering wheel out for sparco/momo leather.

My car has a full aftermarket exhaust, long tube headers, high flow cats, not much for mufflers. After forty minutes it is tiring, but we'll see how the seats change that.

Despite its downsides, I still bought it. It looks amazing and the sound is great(until ears get tired).

Fun to drive? It can break the rear tires loose in second gear when it comes on cam. Handling is like a stiffer 944.

Shifter doesn't have the greatest feel to it, I'm used to Porsches.

I didn't know they made the heads up display as old as the C5, it was a really neat toy feature. I'd seek one out that has it.

The dealer I went to let me try out multiple generations of the Corvette. The C5 was my favorite. The C6 has much better seats, but I believe that a C5 with aftermarket seats is going to be the better car.

I do like the amazing quick shifting eight speed in the C7, but I have more knee and head room in the C5.

If I had to choose just one car I'd pick the Jaguar, far more comfortable on the long hauls.

However, if it isn't your only car and you've got good roads to drive on the C5 Z06 is a car to buy.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1515974881.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1515974881.jpg

Worth noting that yellow car above is either a 1999 or 2000 model Corvette FRC (Fixed Roof Coupe), the budget model of the lineup with all the boy racer hardcore features. Relatively few were built in the only 2 years of production. If I were to have a recent Corvette looking for a vehicle at or near the bottom of the depreciation curve, it would be the 2000 FRC in yellow. That's a nice car! edit: Ah ok, it's a Z06. I'd still settle for the base FRC.

The C6 is way better looking and a better value in my opinion.

Are C6 vettes experiencing issues with "door sag" like all their predecessors? (Please say no.)

I actually think the C5 hatch is aging quite well and is very good looking. The FRC/Z06 are homely though.

C6 is a tremendous bargain though there are so many of them available used and pristine. A lot of c5s are pretty ratty and on their 7th owner by now.

Good value performance car.

I chose the Z06 to simplify shopping.

A FRC with the right mods is definitely going to be the better deal.

I've been looking for an XKR since august, just haven't found the right year and color combo at the price I want. I needed to get car shopping off my mind to lower some stress.

With the Z06, it would automatically meet the minimum power I was looking for, and the options list is pretty much blank. One car would be as good a buy as another.

I went to a place that perhaps about 30 Corvettes, explained my interest in the C5, and that I also wanted to try the C6 in case it was better. They brought out a plate and keys to a C6 and C5. I liked the C5 better except for seats(Which are replaceable).

Then I drove both C5 Z06's they had, and picked the one I liked better.

Easy shopping.

I do like all three Corvette body styles, but for picking one I'll take the leaner more muscular FRC over the sleeker hatchback. I also like simplicity, so no removable roof panel is a plus.

my Stepdad passed and left his 2000 Vette. ( i cant keep up with all that C nomenclature) my mom offered it to me.

it is a fun car. on a roadtrip..i swear i got 33mpg. i passed on the car..it just wasnt me. first it was an automatic tranny, and my Stepdad got that champagne color. bleech..instant AARP status.

i got pulled over doing 125mph..dead of night. thank goodness my cop brother and i have the same last name. i did get yelled at. by the cop and my brother..maybe my mom as well. that car had bad juju. :)

Me too - My choice is an early C6 zo6. Either generation is good value for the money.

They're pretty cheap to fix. I'm picking mine (C6 Z06) from my mechanic tomorrow after getting the bearings/rings replaced.