Thoughts on C5 Corvettes?

"BJohnson11" (brettjohnson01)
06/15/2014 at 01:57 • Filed to: None

My parents really want me to get a new car, so much so, that they'd probably help me buy one. The 2000 Expedition I'm driving now is on its last legs (though I'm convinced it'll survive two more years till I'm done with college): it's got 250k miles, has a bunch of little exhaust leaks (cracked headers), the passenger airbag I'm pretty sure is defective, it gets awful MPG, the list goes on. I like the idea of a C5 Corvette I think, but the lack of practicality, probably high insurance rates, and a god awful interior are making it seem less appealing. That said, it'd be quick and fun, especially compared to the boat Expedition I'm driving now.

DISCUSSION (44)

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > BJohnson11
06/15/2014 at 02:01

Great car if you don't drive 50+ miles every day. They're okay on gas and have a million parts in the aftermarket for everything you could possibly want to change or upgrade.

My suggestion is to get one with the "Fixed Roof Coupe" option and/or the Z51 handling package, but stick with the base model.

Vi517, JDX Racing > BJohnson11
06/15/2014 at 02:04

I don't know too much about them, but I think I heard somewhere that "Corvettes were taught how to handle in the C6 generation." I have know idea if that is true, but that's all I've heard about the C5.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > BJohnson11
06/15/2014 at 02:05

As much as I like the Corvette, I wouldn't get one if I were you. Get something more fuel efficient and cheaper to insure until your out of college. They aren't that cheap to buy anyway.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > BJohnson11
06/15/2014 at 02:07

I drove a manual vert for about 10 minutes and I loved it.

benn454 > Vi517, JDX Racing
06/15/2014 at 02:07

Corvettes have been good handling cars since the C4.

GhostZ > BJohnson11
06/15/2014 at 02:08

If you want cheap speed but want to spend enough money to make it reliable, there's no better alternative. It comes with a lot of compromises however.

What do you want the car for? What's your budget? What are your limitations?

benn454 > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
06/15/2014 at 02:10

You can get 30 mpg on the highway in a Corvette if you don't drive it like an asshole. Low drag + Lots of low end torque + Tall 6th gear = cruising at 70-80 under 2000 RPM.

Shifty > BJohnson11
06/15/2014 at 02:10

I have a 2000 FRC, and it's a great handling, stopping, pretty good gas mileage machine. Tough to beat for the money.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > benn454
06/15/2014 at 02:12

With that much power under your right foot, do you really think 30MPG is gonna happen?

midengineer > BJohnson11
06/15/2014 at 02:15

Go on YouTube and listen to glorious v8 noises then come back and tell us what color you're looking for. (Still on a 'vette high from a local meet earlier)

benn454 > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
06/15/2014 at 02:20

As long as you don't drive like an asshole doing over 100 in a 70, yes.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > benn454
06/15/2014 at 02:21

Corvettes kinda encourage you to drive like an asshole though.

NotUnlessRoundIsFunny > BJohnson11
06/15/2014 at 02:29

Great price / performance, lots of aftermarket and enthusiast support, and a total blast to drive. You can live over the Tupperware interior when you're having so much fun driving.

BUT, be sure the insurance won't kill you, and you'd better be able to resist temptation or you can get yourself into all sorts of trouble.

benn454 > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
06/15/2014 at 02:30

Yeah, but it's up to you to resist the temptation. Or the trooper hiding up there around the blind corner will be more than happy to help you.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > benn454
06/15/2014 at 02:32

I can't resist the temptation in a car making 250 horsepower, I can't imagine trying to resist myself in a car making 100 or so more than that.

You have to learn to watch out for the troopers.

mcseanerson > BJohnson11
06/15/2014 at 03:39

The answer is always miata. Seriously that's what I decided. Rode in a miata and a C5 back to back at an autocross and the miata was quicker. The miata with less power and smaller tires is a better tool for learning and having fun. Once you've gone as fast as you can a C5 is a good place to graduate to. That's my plan at least.

Manuél Ferrari > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
06/15/2014 at 03:51

Don't worry you'll eventually get good at resisting temptation. Once enough tickets pile up you'll drive like a grandma most the time even with 400+ HP

At least that's what happened to me

Manuél Ferrari > BJohnson11
06/15/2014 at 03:57

GO FOR IT!!!!

anothermiatafanboy > benn454
06/15/2014 at 04:07

Yes on the freeway the Corvettes torque and gearing pay dividends, but is highway driving all you do? Having a little fun with the Corvettes power in the lower gears will halve that 30 mpg figure quick.

offroadkarter > BJohnson11
06/15/2014 at 04:08

a C5 manual LS1 can pull up to 30mpg highway with its double overdrive T56 tremec

do it, and do it now.

benn454 > anothermiatafanboy
06/15/2014 at 04:14

The same goes for any other sporty car.

anothermiatafanboy > benn454
06/15/2014 at 04:17

I don't think that's totally fair. A corvette will get an honest 30 on the freeway and 15 if your bombing around the city. My Miata will get the same 30 freeway, but it returns 23 for me bombing around town. Corvettes are more speed sensitive with regard to their gas mileage than other sporty cars, no?

Loping Camshaft > BJohnson11
06/15/2014 at 06:08

The fastest/cheapest stock car there is. Takes mods easily from the huge aftermarket. Can get 30mpg. Reliable and easy to work on, relatively cheap parts. I would be sure to check on insurance rates before buying.

There is the interior issue, and the "old guy with chains" stigma, but if it's in the budget, a Z06 deserves nothing but respect and also should hold it's value, or maybe even increase in the next few years.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > BJohnson11
06/15/2014 at 08:59

I see your not a middle aged man so the answer is no. :)

crowmolly > BJohnson11
06/15/2014 at 09:19

Youngest one is now 10 years old. How good are you with a wrench? It shares a lot of engine parts with other GenIII/4L60E/T56 cars but other things are strictly vette only and can be expensive.

Where do you live? That matters too.

Jayhawk Jake > BJohnson11
06/15/2014 at 09:58

The C5 interior is fine, even good. When it was new and cost $50,000, it's pushing it, but for what they cost now (~15k) it's plenty nice

signintoburnerlol > BJohnson11
06/15/2014 at 10:03

Do it. Fun car, small problems that are easy fixes.

BrianNutter > BJohnson11
06/15/2014 at 10:32

get one. If you cant drive a 2 seat car (with a large trunk) while you arre single and in college; its not going to be any easiee when you are married with kids wife and a job. I wouldnt waste time with anything else.

BJohnson11 > crowmolly
06/15/2014 at 11:49

Pretty mechanically inclined (used to work in an engine machine shop building engines). I live in the Central Coast of California (San Luis Obispo).

BJohnson11 > mcseanerson
06/15/2014 at 11:49

I'd consider a Miata. I'm just not huge on them. But I understand the idea of learning in a miata then "graduating" to a C5.

BJohnson11 > GhostZ
06/15/2014 at 11:52

Car would be a just regular use car. I don't have any crazy commutes or anything as it is, so it'd be a car for me to have fun and get around with while in college while it wont rack up the miles, then probably keep it once I start my career elsewhere until I have the need for a different car.

Budget is unknown. By the end of summer I'll have around 15 grand saved up, but like I said in the post, my parents may be willing to help out with a car purchase, so who knows. Wouldn't want to blow my whole savings on a car though.

GhostZ > BJohnson11
06/15/2014 at 12:09

I'd recommend a 1999-2004 Mustang GT or (if you can find one) SVT.

That way, you still get 4 seats, don't have to pay more for a hard top, you still get absurd power, and the insurance will be a little better than in a Corvette. They're also more comfortable and easier to get in and out of (in my opinion).

You can also get a Mustang GT for ~$10000, giving you plenty of extra money. You'll be hard-pressed to find a decent hardtop C5 for that budget. It's always better to buy a well-cared-for but slightly cheaper car than one that is beat up but more expensive originally.

If you get an SVT, you'll also probably be able to sell it for more than you paid for it. They've been appreciating well in the last 5 years, while the GTs have gone down in price.

With the SVT's independent rear suspension and the possibility for a pulley swap for ~400 HP that your insurance company doesn't know about, it can be just as fast as the corvette.

When I went to college, I could have bought this beautiful 2004 SVT cobra for $12000 that was for sale back then to take with me, with only ~40000 miles on it. Now the same car costs roughly $17000.

BJohnson11 > GhostZ
06/15/2014 at 12:13

Hmm I was looking at Cobras a couple years back. I do love the idea of a supercharged, IRS Cobra. Of course, this video helps feed that desire more.

GhostZ > BJohnson11
06/15/2014 at 12:16

They're one of the cheapest cars to wrench on. Working on Mustangs is like playing with car legos.

crowmolly > BJohnson11
06/15/2014 at 12:32

You're good. Go for it IMO.

Seems like you have the experience to dick with the stuff that might go over time (EGR, O2 sensors, suspension bushings, shocks and springs, etc) in addition to living in a state when you can use it year-round with no weather concerns.

I leave you with this. The only thing saved in my youtube favorites list.

mcseanerson > BJohnson11
06/15/2014 at 12:48

It all depends on what you are going to be doing. My primary goal is fun at an autocross or rallycross or track days. That's why I rode in cars at an autocross to pick what I wanted. I advise all my friends to do the same if they want to autocross or at least test drive as many different things as you can. You'll know what you want at the end, logic be damned.

bae125 > BrianNutter
06/15/2014 at 15:39

^^ This. If you like it get it. You're in the right part of the country weather-wise...go for it.

jdrgoat - Ponticrack? > BJohnson11
06/15/2014 at 17:07

I'll just try to add on to what other people are saying.

As far as insurance goes, I wouldn't expect it to be too bad. Having old guys who only drive them gingerly on the weekends in the statistics really plays in our favor in that regard. I was shopping for a Corvette last year (27 year old male, btw), and it was about $10 less per 6 months than my GTO is. I would wager that insurance on the Mustang GT could be higher, thanks to the demographic that drives them.

The fuel mileage is good, especially considering the capabilities of the car. If you drive anything like I did in college, it's a little bit of driving, but it's all city. The GTO did about 14 during that. A Corvette weighing 500lb less should just do better.

If you are also considering a Mustang GT, then I need to suggest that you check out a GTO. Same drivetrain as the Corvette, and a way better interior than either of them. You can find them in your price range, too...

bubblestheturtle > BJohnson11
06/15/2014 at 18:07

My only real problem with a C5 is that it is not a C7.

claramag, Mustaco Master > GhostZ
06/15/2014 at 23:31

Mustangs: For wrencheads who like to see the ground beneath the engine

"Oh no I was replacing my injectors and I dropped my socket whatever will I do oh there it is on the ground I can see it from up here"

GhostZ > claramag, Mustaco Master
06/15/2014 at 23:41

Not as bad as small-block (LA) mopars though.

Kinja'd!!!

That's about 1 foot of clearance on either side.

anothermiatafanboy > BJohnson11
06/16/2014 at 01:15

this video makes me weiner get all big and stuff.

quarterlifecrisis > BJohnson11
06/16/2014 at 09:18

I DD a C6 - the only lack of practicality is its low(ish) and has 2 seats. C5s and 6s have huge areas under the back hatch, so space is never a concern. It gets good mileage on the highway, its comfortable...it does everything a commuter should do. You have to plan entrances to parking lots a little more thoroughly at times...that's about it. I say do it.

StoneCold > BJohnson11
06/29/2014 at 19:38

"but the lack of practicality"

Fun fact I learned with my brother-in-law:

You can fit 9 bags of groceries in a 2002 Z06 AND a set of golf clubs.