Just had first C5 test drive
Discussion
Well, after lusting after these things since they were released (best looking <£100k car of the modern era IMO), I finally got to drive a red 2000 targa auto yesterday, thanks to the nice chaps at Atlantic Sports Cars in Luton.
First impressions were along the lines of "Waaargh, this rocks . . . " etc, difficult to be objective with an LS1 chucking you up the road and a sports exhaust bellowing in your ears! Got on OK with the LHD, loved the HUD, autobox was very eager to kick down and gave good throttle response, not too slushy which was a concern. Although I'm a big fan of autos in a lot of cases, I would still need to try a manual car before buying, and see how they compare.
However, the ride was more GT than sportscar, and the brakes had good stopping power but rather lacking in feel - basically I'm worried that despite the horsepower (which was more than adequate) it may be too "soft" for me. I'd like something that's capable of being hooned around a track (not interested in ultimate pace or laptimes, just something fun that won't go to pieces or fall to pieces!), and it would be my third car, so I'm not too worried about comfort etc.
Is it easy to upgrade suspension and brakes on the "vanilla" C5, or does it make more sense to go for the C5 Z06 if I want an "edgier" car? Besides bhp, how much of a difference is there between the standard car and the Z06?
First impressions were along the lines of "Waaargh, this rocks . . . " etc, difficult to be objective with an LS1 chucking you up the road and a sports exhaust bellowing in your ears! Got on OK with the LHD, loved the HUD, autobox was very eager to kick down and gave good throttle response, not too slushy which was a concern. Although I'm a big fan of autos in a lot of cases, I would still need to try a manual car before buying, and see how they compare.
However, the ride was more GT than sportscar, and the brakes had good stopping power but rather lacking in feel - basically I'm worried that despite the horsepower (which was more than adequate) it may be too "soft" for me. I'd like something that's capable of being hooned around a track (not interested in ultimate pace or laptimes, just something fun that won't go to pieces or fall to pieces!), and it would be my third car, so I'm not too worried about comfort etc.
Is it easy to upgrade suspension and brakes on the "vanilla" C5, or does it make more sense to go for the C5 Z06 if I want an "edgier" car? Besides bhp, how much of a difference is there between the standard car and the Z06?
Its pretty straightforward to upgrade the suspension and brakes of the C5, there are plenty of bolt-on suppliers. Have a look at the "C5 technical" section of corvetteforum.com for the latest information. I found the standard brakes of the C5 worked OK on track days but if you want to use your vette specifically for track days then the Z06 is the way to go. Apart from being lighter, more powerful, more rigid, firmer suspension and wider tyres it also has lower gearing and a proper gearbox.
You're exactly where I was a month or so ago. I got a stack of advice from the Corvette PH'ers, and based on that, I bought my car from Atlantic a few weeks ago.
General consensus was, go for a post-2002 car if possible, due to several detail updates. I had a good look round at Atlantic, and the one you drove was on my shortlist, however, I chose a 2002 Z06, just as advised by some of the regulars on here. And I love it! Trouble is, they don't seem to come up for sale too often. This one's on the Classifieds.
www.pistonheads.com/sales/58810.htm
What's your budget?
General consensus was, go for a post-2002 car if possible, due to several detail updates. I had a good look round at Atlantic, and the one you drove was on my shortlist, however, I chose a 2002 Z06, just as advised by some of the regulars on here. And I love it! Trouble is, they don't seem to come up for sale too often. This one's on the Classifieds.
www.pistonheads.com/sales/58810.htm
What's your budget?
The Z06 has it's own FE4 suspension and as has been highlighted, it is lighter, stiffer and has a 6 speed lower ratio box than the stock manual C5 but like all GM manuals, it's not the greatest box in the world. The Z06 also comes with lighter wheels so less unsprung weight and wider Goodyear Supercar tyres which aren't runflats which tend to hamper the standard car.
I've never actually driven a stock C5 but the Z06 brakes were pretty instantaneous and very confidence inducing, the handling was excellent although the back end could be overwhelmed but as a package it was very hard to beat.
I've never actually driven a stock C5 but the Z06 brakes were pretty instantaneous and very confidence inducing, the handling was excellent although the back end could be overwhelmed but as a package it was very hard to beat.
Corvette's a great car. I'm not sure I'd go as far as to call it a GT though it's not an out and out racer. Certainly wouldn't be my first choice for a track car. If you want a great car with looks, performance, heritage, creature comforts and reliability at a very sensible price Vette C5 is the place to be.
Budget: £20k would be about right, £25k might be possible with a few sacrifices, but that's about as far as I could go. Which means a Z06 is out, judging by the prices I've seen, even importing a $30k one from the US will be £26-£27k on the road in UK I think?
I don't suppose there's anyone with a standard or nearly-standard C5 in the herts/beds area that could give me a passenger ride and show me what their car can do? The car I drove had larger discs but standard calipers, obviously I wasn't giving it any abuse on a short test drive but they weren't very confidence inspiring, might just need getting used to though.
I'm a bit loath to get into modding one to be honest, as I know from experience what a money pit it can be to do properly.
I don't suppose there's anyone with a standard or nearly-standard C5 in the herts/beds area that could give me a passenger ride and show me what their car can do? The car I drove had larger discs but standard calipers, obviously I wasn't giving it any abuse on a short test drive but they weren't very confidence inspiring, might just need getting used to though.
I'm a bit loath to get into modding one to be honest, as I know from experience what a money pit it can be to do properly.
No. I paid $35500 for my Z06 and with everything done and dusted and doing the SVA work myself (there's afull guide to it on my webpage)the car was just short of £27k on the road and that includes all the costs including the ones people often ignore like marine insurance and also included a $600 agent's fee.
It's true to say that if anything the US Z06 prices have hardened almost as much as the UK Z06's have fallen but there are plenty of good ones including the non-HUD 2001 which can be bought for around $28000 if you look hard enough.
Here's a 60000 mile 405bhp Z06 for under $30k
www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=198869324&dealer_id=55910272&car_year=2002&search_type=used&make=CHEV&distance=50&model=CORV&address=21122&certified=&advanced=&max_price=32000&bkms=1143231519868&min_price=27000&end_year=2003&start_year=2001&isp=y&lang=&cardist=0
Looking at the Auto Trader site though, I have to say that the Z06's are getting harder to find and the ordinary Corvettes are just as expensive. Needless to say if your agent buys a car for you, the car will depreciate in his hands and he will sell you the car at a much lower invoice price. LOL.
It's true to say that if anything the US Z06 prices have hardened almost as much as the UK Z06's have fallen but there are plenty of good ones including the non-HUD 2001 which can be bought for around $28000 if you look hard enough.
Here's a 60000 mile 405bhp Z06 for under $30k
www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=198869324&dealer_id=55910272&car_year=2002&search_type=used&make=CHEV&distance=50&model=CORV&address=21122&certified=&advanced=&max_price=32000&bkms=1143231519868&min_price=27000&end_year=2003&start_year=2001&isp=y&lang=&cardist=0
Looking at the Auto Trader site though, I have to say that the Z06's are getting harder to find and the ordinary Corvettes are just as expensive. Needless to say if your agent buys a car for you, the car will depreciate in his hands and he will sell you the car at a much lower invoice price. LOL.
Fitting stainless steel reinforced brake hoses make a great confidence booster and only cost about £100 to fit if you do it yourself. The factory fitted C5 Z06 brakes are exactly the same as the normal C5 except they paint the calipers red so stopping power will be the same (unless you want to split hairs about the Z06 braking better as it has more grip from wider tyes and less kinetic energy due to lighter weight or some such !
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