RE: PH Heroes: Chevrolet Corvette
Discussion
I've had a C4 which had a pretty bone-jarring ride but the C5 Z06 was far better though not exactly limo-smooth. My Z28 was way too soft as standard and because it flexes so much, it took a Bilstein damper and spring kit, uprated sway bars and welded on front/rear subframe connecvtors to make it rigid enough to exploit the handling. Still not as good as the Z06 but better than the C4.
anything fast said:
C5 vette 175 mph 0-60 4.7
These are numbers we like!anything fast said:
both standard cars have a bone shaking ride, on flat road they are fine, go over a bump and you can feel the back end bounce and i have driven plenty of corvettes
The only "modification" to my C5 was ditching the runflat tyres and fitting some Michelin Pilot Sports. Really transformed both ride and handling. Highly recommended unless you live somewhere that has smooth roads. i.e. not the UK!300bhp/ton said:
Gary C said:
badgerracing said:
I had a convertible Mustang booked for a couple of days with Hertz for a trip from LAX down to San Diego last year. When I arrived the clerk excitely uttered the words "can I offer sir something a little more interesting?"
In my jetlagged state I mumbled a vaguely positive response to which he followed: "Well it would usually be $150. To you sir, $80. No, $50." without even saying what the upgrade was. I wasn't in the mood to make any hard decisions, so just agreed.
He led me out to a yellow convertible Corvette. Best £35 I've ever spent, even if it was gridlock traffic most of the way.
Lucky you, I got an 'upgrade' to a Mecury Grand MarquisIn my jetlagged state I mumbled a vaguely positive response to which he followed: "Well it would usually be $150. To you sir, $80. No, $50." without even saying what the upgrade was. I wasn't in the mood to make any hard decisions, so just agreed.
He led me out to a yellow convertible Corvette. Best £35 I've ever spent, even if it was gridlock traffic most of the way.
4.6L ford V8, slower than my 1.2 Polo !
Still, the boot was huge and we would have struggled a bit to get the luggage in the compact and the air con worked well.
It's listed here at 7.5 sec 0-60mph http://www.carzunlimited.com/carz-style/specs/merc...
Edited by 300bhp/ton on Wednesday 22 September 13:07
Quite enjoyed it in a peverse manner,
but the awkward access into the drivers seat highlighted how far behind car design it was. Huge torque that was wasted by a slushbox too eager to change down. Wallowy suspension that did not really ride that well compared to a 5 or six series.
BLUETHUNDER said:
anything fast said:
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In all fairness the ride is completely different. The Vette is a lot lighter,and the handling is in a different league.lighter???
C5 Vette apparently weighs 1480 kg, a 2001 trans am weighs 1560 kg.. hardly an elephant!!!
the WS6 Ram Air trans Am has a limited top speed at 165 mph, 0-60 in 4.9
C5 vette 175 mph 0-60 4.7
My one 0-60 in 4.0 dead, no speed limiter, no idea how fast it will go but with 585 BHP will easily do more than 175, mine has the standard WS6 pack but with a full upgrade on springs, shocks, bushes, anti roll bars, pan hard rod, trailing arms etc (will easily out handle with similar age vettes)
both standard cars have a bone shaking ride, on flat road they are fine, go over a bump and you can feel the back end bounce and i have driven plenty of corvettes, a standard TA is nicer to drive as its a more softer set up... mine is something else as it is set up for handling which compromises ride quality...and has very very hard ride and little give in the suspension but it does corner very well now..
I'm sorry but i have to disagree. Ive driven both. And they both feel completely different. I have never had a bone shaking ride in the Corvette. The ride is a hell of a lot more compliant. The T/A feels a big heavy car. And it shows in its handling. You cant throw them in to the bends like you can a vette. Ive tried. As for top end speed. I have managed a flat out 183mph from mine. A little more than the manufacturers stated figures.BLUETHUNDER said:
Z28fan said:
anything fast said:
the older C5 vette can be had for as little as 12k, LS1 V8, reliable great fun and stunning looking.. had my heart set on one, even found a mint one in torch red with 32k on the clock for only £14,000. Was all set to buy it and then by fluke cames across a 2001 Trans Am Ram Air with the same LS1 V8.. (except it had supercharger conversion and 600 bhp!).. Had i not seen it i would have a red vette in my garage..
I hear you on the TA... the late model ('97+) Camaros and TransAms both come with the LS1 and are amazing value at under £7.5k for a tidy one and not a whole bunch more for a minterC5 Vette apparently weighs 1480 kg, a 2001 trans am weighs 1560 kg.. hardly an elephant!!!
the WS6 Ram Air trans Am has a limited top speed at 165 mph, 0-60 in 4.9
C5 vette 175 mph 0-60 4.7
My one 0-60 in 4.0 dead, no speed limiter, no idea how fast it will go but with 585 BHP will easily do more than 175, mine has the standard WS6 pack but with a full upgrade on springs, shocks, bushes, anti roll bars, pan hard rod, trailing arms etc (will easily out handle with similar age vettes)
both standard cars have a bone shaking ride, on flat road they are fine, go over a bump and you can feel the back end bounce and i have driven plenty of corvettes, a standard TA is nicer to drive as its a more softer set up... mine is something else as it is set up for handling which compromises ride quality...and has very very hard ride and little give in the suspension but it does corner very well now..
I like the the T/A. But as a drivers car it has no appeal for me. Great all round cruiser. But something i couldn't turn up at the track in and enjoy.
anything fast said:
In standard form the vette is a slightly superior driving machine, but thats just it... slightly.. a 6 speed LS1 Ram TA has the same power as c5 vette(although GM always underated them to justify the extra cost for a vette!!), same gearbox and the only metal on the outside is the doors and rear quaters (the rest is made of plastic and composites with the right mods a 98-2002 T/A can be ace.. plus it looks far more menacing.. the vette looks a tad girly next to a mean ram Air TA.. mine will be featured in magazine soon so you will see what i mean... people move over when they see this black monster coming up behind them!! But i do love vettes.. would still have one but it would have to be a Z06.. or an old ZR1..the standard C5 is just too soft and sedated for me....
The 4th gen requires a lot of mods to approach the Vette as a driving machine. the Vette is a bespoke sports car and power is nothing to do with it. The Vette has a transaxle at the back for better weight distribution and IRS. The only metal on the outside is actually the hood and rear quarters but there is still a full metal cage under there. the 4th gen is also quite floppy - jack one corner and all the rest stay on the ground unless you weld in subrame connectors. I'm not disagreeing that a properly modded 4th gen can be competitive with a Vette but you need new suspension, springs, sway bar, LCAs, SFCs, strut brace and prefereably an aftermarket torque arm and A-arms - by which time, unless you need 4 seats, the Vette is the cheaper item (and has Bilsteins as standard). As with any Vette, you need the Z51 package or a Z06.The C6 lapped the TG track in 1:26 with I think the 400hp engine which was still 2 seconds faster than the 415hp Roush Mustang which is a far better handling car than the 4th gen. (I've had all 3).
LuS1fer said:
anything fast said:
In standard form the vette is a slightly superior driving machine, but thats just it... slightly.. a 6 speed LS1 Ram TA has the same power as c5 vette(although GM always underated them to justify the extra cost for a vette!!), same gearbox and the only metal on the outside is the doors and rear quaters (the rest is made of plastic and composites with the right mods a 98-2002 T/A can be ace.. plus it looks far more menacing.. the vette looks a tad girly next to a mean ram Air TA.. mine will be featured in magazine soon so you will see what i mean... people move over when they see this black monster coming up behind them!! But i do love vettes.. would still have one but it would have to be a Z06.. or an old ZR1..the standard C5 is just too soft and sedated for me....
The 4th gen requires a lot of mods to approach the Vette as a driving machine. the Vette is a bespoke sports car and power is nothing to do with it. The Vette has a transaxle at the back for better weight distribution and IRS. The only metal on the outside is actually the hood and rear quarters but there is still a full metal cage under there. the 4th gen is also quite floppy - jack one corner and all the rest stay on the ground unless you weld in subrame connectors. I'm not disagreeing that a properly modded 4th gen can be competitive with a Vette but you need new suspension, springs, sway bar, LCAs, SFCs, strut brace and prefereably an aftermarket torque arm and A-arms - by which time, unless you need 4 seats, the Vette is the cheaper item (and has Bilsteins as standard). As with any Vette, you need the Z51 package or a Z06.The C6 lapped the TG track in 1:26 with I think the 400hp engine which was still 2 seconds faster than the 415hp Roush Mustang which is a far better handling car than the 4th gen. (I've had all 3).
Sadly my budget can not stretch to a C6... otherwise i would have one!
anything fast said:
In standard form the vette is a slightly superior driving machine, but thats just it... slightly.. a 6 speed LS1 Ram TA has the same power as c5 vette(although GM always underated them to justify the extra cost for a vette!!), same gearbox and the only metal on the outside is the doors and rear quaters (the rest is made of plastic and composites with the right mods a 98-2002 T/A can be ace.. plus it looks far more menacing.. the vette looks a tad girly next to a mean ram Air TA.. mine will be featured in magazine soon so you will see what i mean... people move over when they see this black monster coming up behind them!! But i do love vettes.. would still have one but it would have to be a Z06.. or an old ZR1..the standard C5 is just too soft and sedated for me....
gotta say as much as I like the 97+ WS6 the added rarity value of a hard-top SS just swings it for for me - all I need to do now is match your extra power lol.... or at least that would be the case were I not having to sell mine 
anything fast said:
both standard cars have a bone shaking ride, on flat road they are fine, go over a bump and you can feel the back end bounce and i have driven plenty of corvettes, a standard TA is nicer to drive as its a more softer set up... mine is something else as it is set up for handling which compromises ride quality...and has very very hard ride and little give in the suspension but it does corner very well now..
Put different springs on it. My '02 Firehawk is lowered 1" (25mm) with BMR progressive rate springs. It corners flat, but has a comfortable ride.I was there this time last week! We had a Chevvy. Ok, a 7 seat Traverse with wooden brakes and an asthmatic 3.6 V6 but 2 seats weren't enough for the little one, the in-laws and 6 cases. One day I will go back and rent a C6 although that will be a classic by then!
View from the room in the Mandalay
View from the room in the Mandalay
Edited by newdogg06 on Friday 8th October 15:51
Edited by newdogg06 on Friday 8th October 15:52
I was there this time last week! We had a Chevvy. Ok, a 7 seat Traverse with wooden brakes and an asthmatic 3.6 V6 but 2 seats weren't enough for the little one, the in-laws and 6 cases. One day I will go back and rent a C6 although that will be a classic by then!
View from the room in the Mandalay
View from the room in the Mandalay
Edited by newdogg06 on Friday 8th October 15:51
Edited by newdogg06 on Friday 8th October 16:42
I was there this time last week! We had a Chevvy. Ok, a 7 seat Traverse with wooden brakes and an asthmatic 3.6 V6 but 2 seats weren't enough for the little one, the in-laws and 6 cases. One day I will go back and rent a C6 although that will be a classic by then!
View from the room in the Mandalay
View from the room in the Mandalay
Edited by newdogg06 on Friday 8th October 15:51
Edited by newdogg06 on Friday 8th October 16:42
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