Scorching Take - The C5Z looks better than the JZA80

"Discerning" (discerning2003c5z) 03/09/2018 at 08:40 • Filed to: 2019 Supra, Scorching take, C5Z

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With all this talk of how the Supra prototype “doesn’t look as good as the old supra!!1!” I thought I’d stoke the flames and bring things into perspective. You see, styling is 100% subjective. Some people, like myself, think this:

Looks better than this:

Now, you might disagree with me. A perfectly sensible person might reply “Are you blind? You worthless sack of know-nothing garbage. Have you any sense? Are you a REAL car enthusiast?!”

But the good news is it doesn’t matter. Because everyone likes different things. It’s the reason why the Murano Convertible ever left dealer lots.

You might look at the Supra and think it’s the best looking car ever. Someone else might look at it and think it’s bloated, has goofy headlights and weird tail lamps, that the little hole in the 1/4 panel looks like an afterthought compared to the C5Z and that the hole under the headlight looks like a cartoon smile. Or that the rear only looks acceptable with a massive wing and that it looks absolutely awful de-winged. That person might even conclude that the whole design is neither edgy or curvy and that it’s just stuck in the middle of a blob-like state.

In case I haven’t prodded enough people, I will conclude with this: I owned a C5Z and one of the few things I DISLIKED about it was the pop-up headlights. Pointless, heavy, noisy, awful things that looked ridiculous at night.

I’ll see myself out

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > Discerning 03/09/2018 at 09:07

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Current C5Z enthusiast here, and I like the popup headlights because it looks so good when they are down that I can forgive them when they are up.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Discerning 03/09/2018 at 09:17

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While I absolutely agree with you on all fronts, pop-up headlights are just objectively better looking both in popped-up and down configurations.

It is possible to muck them up though (see Cizeta-Moroder V16T), but as a concept they’re on par with ‘square black front grille and quad-headlights’.

BeaterGT > Discerning 03/09/2018 at 09:22

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Obvious C5Z bias aside but for me, the Supra never reached that “legendary” status and a F&F movie certainly wasn’t going to change that. Or all the examples looking like a clapped-together 240.

As for your take on the pop-up headlights... how dare you! I mean they obviously have a point, and sure they might be a little heavy, but they’re just so cool (when down). This is one of those subjective things, isn’t it? :)

VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely > Discerning 03/09/2018 at 09:28

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If I were to really sit down and think about it, I would think that the C5Z looks slightly better than the Supra - but the Supra is years older in design.

Since the C5 design is late 90's-mid 2000's, and the Supra started looking that way in 1993-94 until the end of its gen 4 run, that can sort of explain the design discrepancy.

I like both about equal amounts, and I do think even as an import fan the rear and taillights of the Supra were a little worse compared with the rest of the design ethos. The C5Z rear definitely holds up better over the years.

So I guess I kind of agree with you. But I like the C7 design the most, even the silly, super busy, overwrought Z06 and ZR-1 designs.

Discerning > BeaterGT 03/09/2018 at 09:33

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I wanted to make sure to stir pot evenly.

I didn’t hate them when they were down, but I didn’t like them when they were up. The added weight is what irked me the most. But they wouldn’t stop me from getting another C5.

Discerning > VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely 03/09/2018 at 09:35

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C7 really does it for me

BeaterGT > Discerning 03/09/2018 at 09:39

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Do you know how much weight is saved by moving to the fixed ones? I always wondered how much drag/instability they introduced when up.

Discerning > BeaterGT 03/09/2018 at 09:47

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I’m sure there’s a thread on corvetteforum with drag coefficient statistics and specific weights down to the milligram, but I don’t know off-hand. I recall numbers as high as 20 lbs per headlamp and as low as 10 per lamp. Aftermarket solutions include the ugly frog-eye modeled after the C5R and a decent looking alternative created by a CF member that is flush with the C5 lines. I think that alternative was picked up by other vendors as well. Either flush option is about 6lbs if I remember correctly.

BeaterGT > Discerning 03/09/2018 at 09:54

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That is pretty light! Here’s a pic of my beater Z currently thawing out for your time.

JeepJeremy > Discerning 03/09/2018 at 10:07

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I’d take any vette over a Supra.

Discerning > BeaterGT 03/09/2018 at 10:08

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I enjoy a red C5Z. I feel like every C5Z I see is either Black or Silver. Here’s the yellow one that I foolishly traded in a bit ago. Picture is 4x4 certified and prior to lowering.

BeaterGT > Discerning 03/09/2018 at 10:15

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Looks super clean, the first one I almost picked up was yellow.

Mine is 4x4 status as well but I drive it everywhere so it’s almost necessary, maybe I’ll tinker with the lowering bolts once it warms up.

DutchieDC2R > Discerning 03/09/2018 at 10:42

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Im a Supra fanboy, I love it. I do know, however, that its not the prettiest car out there, it is prettier than a c5z though...:p

Snailkite > Discerning 03/09/2018 at 11:10

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I agreed with your take. The Supra is just a bland blob.

Hotter take: the C5 still looks better than any more recent corvette.