Basic Corvette Questions
Discussion
Hi,
I have popped over from the Tuscan forum to 'meet' you Corvette chaps. Just wondering about going into Corvette ownership after seeing some at car shows recently.
Please can someone point me in the direction of a buyers guide (if there is one)?
Also, what do you think I could get for £25K these days? Would like to know how manual v auto is rated, targa v convertible - and also ask what year did HUD come in and is it reliable?
Not wishing to alienate anyone or ask too many questions, so I will leave it there for now,
Many thanks,
Bryan
I have popped over from the Tuscan forum to 'meet' you Corvette chaps. Just wondering about going into Corvette ownership after seeing some at car shows recently.
Please can someone point me in the direction of a buyers guide (if there is one)?
Also, what do you think I could get for £25K these days? Would like to know how manual v auto is rated, targa v convertible - and also ask what year did HUD come in and is it reliable?
Not wishing to alienate anyone or ask too many questions, so I will leave it there for now,
Many thanks,
Bryan
Howdy,
A short answer to your question, at least!
If you have £25K to spend, I'd by a C5 Z06. Manual, hard-top, coupe. Auto/Convertible not an option with it.
But... 405hp, very quick, very rare, very reliable, should have HUD (I believe 2001 onwards?), will have ABS, traction control, stability control.
If I was spending £25K on a Corvette, this would be my only option!
(oh, and in Red :-) )
A short answer to your question, at least!
If you have £25K to spend, I'd by a C5 Z06. Manual, hard-top, coupe. Auto/Convertible not an option with it.
But... 405hp, very quick, very rare, very reliable, should have HUD (I believe 2001 onwards?), will have ABS, traction control, stability control.
If I was spending £25K on a Corvette, this would be my only option!
(oh, and in Red :-) )
Ive seen some C5 Z06's going for around the late 20's-30K recently,its a buyers market so with some hard bargaining there's a chance you could drive away with one of these,the Z06 is the performance version of the C5,i own a C4 so some of the other owners would be best placed for advice.
Thanks chaps.
I know very little about Corvettes, full stop. All help and advice gratefully received!
What does a 'standard' engine put out - I assume this to be a 5.7 litre V8.
Like the idea of a hot version, but this would be a pleaure driver (to replace the Tuscan) therefore wind in the hair (while I still have some) is a nice bonus.
One other q if I may. Where can I get the dimensions for a Corvette - I'm sure it will be longer and wider than a Tuscan? If the difference is significant, then its not going to fit the garage - so it will be a non-starter of an idea (just have to move house instead!).
I know very little about Corvettes, full stop. All help and advice gratefully received!
What does a 'standard' engine put out - I assume this to be a 5.7 litre V8.
Like the idea of a hot version, but this would be a pleaure driver (to replace the Tuscan) therefore wind in the hair (while I still have some) is a nice bonus.
One other q if I may. Where can I get the dimensions for a Corvette - I'm sure it will be longer and wider than a Tuscan? If the difference is significant, then its not going to fit the garage - so it will be a non-starter of an idea (just have to move house instead!).
Standard LS1 engine is 350 cubic inch, 350 foot pounds and 350 BHP. Dimensions are length 179.7", width 73.6".
The best "text" book is The Corvette Black Book which lists all the options etc.
The guys are right in that the Z06 is probably the most desirable but if you like a convertible you really can't beat the Vette which was designed to be a soft top and is therefore quite rigid.
The best "text" book is The Corvette Black Book which lists all the options etc.
The guys are right in that the Z06 is probably the most desirable but if you like a convertible you really can't beat the Vette which was designed to be a soft top and is therefore quite rigid.
For that money you are looking at a nice C5. Whether you want to haggle for a Z06 is up to you though I suspect there's better value for money in the standard car. There are small power/torque differences between years that are insignificant on the road, all being about 350 bhp 350 ft/lb except the Z06s which are either 385 or 405 bhp with a different torque curve. In theory the manuals are quicker than the auto's but in the real world the auto's are just as quick. To get the quicker manual times needs maximum abuse off the line plus plenty of luck/skill. About two thirds of all Vettes are built as auto's and the transmission is very well suited to the torquey engine. The manuals are 6-speed compared with the 4-speed auto so the manual will cruise quieter on the motorway. Shift quality on the manual is the subject of much debate. More than half of Vettes are targa top coupes with most of the rest being convertibles - the "hardtop" body style is rarely found other than on Z06 and was not popular. Selective Real Time Dampers are a nice option to have although the standard suspension seems fine for most purposes. The run-flat tyres give a stiff ride and some owners change to conventional tyres instead which improves the handling as well as the ride - Z06s all have conventional tyres, which says it all about the run-flats! C5s are 180" long, 73.6" wide and 48" high; my guess is the Vette's a bit wider than the TVR. Biggest advantage of the Vette over most other exotic machinery is very good reliability, full modern safety features and long service interval. And they're all driven by nice people. You'll never look back!
For 25k on a convertible you should be able to get a nice C5 thats only a few years old. I have the coupe with a targa top and its a bit noisy/turbulent with the roof off. As you're used to driving TVRs you may not worry, but a model with active handling can be very useful - you can switch it off if you want.
The HUD was an option from 2000 onwards in the US, I think it became standard on european models from 2001. Its reliable and extremely useful, mine's worked in Mediterranean heat and sub-zero temperatures and survived all the vibration tests I can throw at it ! The only slight quirk is that with sun at about 10am on a Spring day when driving in some directions it appears to light up all the symbols, as soon as the road turns a few degrees everything returns to normal, not a fault just a feature !
There's no need to think of the C5 as a weekend car though. Mine's my only car and does the job perfectly.
The HUD was an option from 2000 onwards in the US, I think it became standard on european models from 2001. Its reliable and extremely useful, mine's worked in Mediterranean heat and sub-zero temperatures and survived all the vibration tests I can throw at it ! The only slight quirk is that with sun at about 10am on a Spring day when driving in some directions it appears to light up all the symbols, as soon as the road turns a few degrees everything returns to normal, not a fault just a feature !
There's no need to think of the C5 as a weekend car though. Mine's my only car and does the job perfectly.
Hi Bryan, I have a 2001 C5 which I have owned since new. It is my daily driver and with 65K on the clock I can vouch for its reliability. VERY cheap to run/service. A Z06 was not an option for me as you cannot take the top off - I have a coupe, ie targa. I also have a convertible 73 Vette and I find the targa top gives pretty much the same feeling of open air motoring. Easy one handed job (1 person not 1 hand!) to remove top and store in boot. The 6 speed manual box is fine (not sure why anyone would want the auto box but then some sane people I know support Arsenal, go figure). It is not THE fastest change but with so much torque, losing some revs is immaterial.
The HUD is 110% reliable. Personally at the time of ordering I thought it was a bit of a gimmick but it came with the options pack I wanted; now I would not be without it; from what I hear they have screwed it up on the C6 so the C5 will be staying with me for another 4 years! I believe the HUD became standard in MY 2002, it was not standard in MY 2001. Option packs between American cars and European cars were different, at least until 2001. The Americans had 3 packs, A-C and the Euopeans 2, A+B. If my memory serves me right the American C pack and Europeean B pack gave pretty much the same level of options.
The European B pack gave you aircon;HUD;sports seats;. The other options you might want to look for are the Z51 performance handling package or the F45 selective real time damping suspension. I went for neither; the latter was too expensive and the former I figured I could always add (basically stiffer roll bars if I remember rightly) if I found the ride too soft. Which I don't - very marginal as I find the handling fine but probably ought to fit the Z51 but it is to me so marginal that I have never got around to doing the job. Oh and finally the standard exhaust is crap in terms of sound - sounds like a mouse. Corsa or Borla are the main substitutes and America Auto or something like that import the Borla cat back Stingers which are great and cost £400-500
2001 saw the Active handling system become standard and improved to previous MYs. I think I saw a post stating 400Hp for the Z06; it has grown to that; eg in 2001 the difference was 35HP the Z06 having 385
The HUD is 110% reliable. Personally at the time of ordering I thought it was a bit of a gimmick but it came with the options pack I wanted; now I would not be without it; from what I hear they have screwed it up on the C6 so the C5 will be staying with me for another 4 years! I believe the HUD became standard in MY 2002, it was not standard in MY 2001. Option packs between American cars and European cars were different, at least until 2001. The Americans had 3 packs, A-C and the Euopeans 2, A+B. If my memory serves me right the American C pack and Europeean B pack gave pretty much the same level of options.
The European B pack gave you aircon;HUD;sports seats;. The other options you might want to look for are the Z51 performance handling package or the F45 selective real time damping suspension. I went for neither; the latter was too expensive and the former I figured I could always add (basically stiffer roll bars if I remember rightly) if I found the ride too soft. Which I don't - very marginal as I find the handling fine but probably ought to fit the Z51 but it is to me so marginal that I have never got around to doing the job. Oh and finally the standard exhaust is crap in terms of sound - sounds like a mouse. Corsa or Borla are the main substitutes and America Auto or something like that import the Borla cat back Stingers which are great and cost £400-500
2001 saw the Active handling system become standard and improved to previous MYs. I think I saw a post stating 400Hp for the Z06; it has grown to that; eg in 2001 the difference was 35HP the Z06 having 385
yellowshark454 said:
Hi Bryan (plus everything else yellowshark454 said)
As a 2001 manual C5 coupe owner for a year now, I agree with everything he said (including the bit about Arsen*l)...
One more thing, you might like to have a look at corvetteforum.com and c5forum.com, as they both have masses of info and opinion on C5's.
Guys, my humble thanks. 
There is alot of information there and all good stuff. I think I can accommodate the extra size over the Tuscan, just need to reverse into the garage so I can get out of a Vette (being a left hooker with loooong doors).
I saw some lovely examples of Vettes at some recent sports car shows. They have a real presence and look oh so sexy. I had one of those moments when you just know something's right and got bitten by the bug. I love TVRs and my Tuscan has been great. I just need the motivation to advertise and find a buyer - than a Vette could be seriously on the cards. Yellow convertible would be top choice, but then I like the red targas, the black ones, blue, silver....OK, I like them all.
Many thanks for answering the questions. I am going to start having a little look around the classifieds.
Another q. What does everyone do for servicing? I have had some prior experience of Bauer Millett (bought my first TVR from them in 1998), but I found their aftersales service to be a little 'disinterested' after they had my money. Once bitten, twice shy and all that...
There is alot of information there and all good stuff. I think I can accommodate the extra size over the Tuscan, just need to reverse into the garage so I can get out of a Vette (being a left hooker with loooong doors). I saw some lovely examples of Vettes at some recent sports car shows. They have a real presence and look oh so sexy. I had one of those moments when you just know something's right and got bitten by the bug. I love TVRs and my Tuscan has been great. I just need the motivation to advertise and find a buyer - than a Vette could be seriously on the cards. Yellow convertible would be top choice, but then I like the red targas, the black ones, blue, silver....OK, I like them all.
Many thanks for answering the questions. I am going to start having a little look around the classifieds.
Another q. What does everyone do for servicing? I have had some prior experience of Bauer Millett (bought my first TVR from them in 1998), but I found their aftersales service to be a little 'disinterested' after they had my money. Once bitten, twice shy and all that...
Nothing WRONG with being an Arsenal fan 
Definitely go for a C5 Z06 if you have 25K to play with.
I did 25,000 miles in mine when I first bought it and as long as you dont start modifying them (too much) then they are very reliable, will return about 18-22 MPG regardless of how mental you drive them. They sound fantastic once you get them over about 3500rpm and the bollox about "American cars don't corner" is not true, they go around corners and unlike a TVR have traction and stability control if your speed outways your skill
Only downsides are the obvious ones, LHD, crap dealer / warranty support (then again servicing could be done by a monkey, and sometimes is if you use the wrong people), and limited resale market.
Upside are fantastic club, great members, rarity, performance, RELIABILITY (had to get that one in), technology (HID etc.) practicality (huge boot space) etc.
Definitely go for a C5 Z06 if you have 25K to play with.
I did 25,000 miles in mine when I first bought it and as long as you dont start modifying them (too much) then they are very reliable, will return about 18-22 MPG regardless of how mental you drive them. They sound fantastic once you get them over about 3500rpm and the bollox about "American cars don't corner" is not true, they go around corners and unlike a TVR have traction and stability control if your speed outways your skill
Only downsides are the obvious ones, LHD, crap dealer / warranty support (then again servicing could be done by a monkey, and sometimes is if you use the wrong people), and limited resale market.
Upside are fantastic club, great members, rarity, performance, RELIABILITY (had to get that one in
), technology (HID etc.) practicality (huge boot space) etc.
I would echo what has been said above.
The doors aren't very long on the Vette and they're light too. I went for the Z06 because I couldn't not have the 405bhp but there have been plenty of times when the sun is shining when I take my targa-topped Camaro Z28 instead as it offers the best of both worlds. However, the Z06 is a lot nearer to the TVR in terms of hard-edged sports car and it's also lighter than the stock C5's. I'm not saying this is typical but GM High Performance coaxed a Z06 to 60 in 3.9 seconds. In any event, it's low 4's.
The best cars are 2000 onwards. The convertible is rarer, the coupe by far the most common. You can buy a latch for the coupe that allows you to open the rear hatch a fraction to allow air out. In the Camaro, you tend to get a bit of a beating at speed from wind noise and the targa acts like a parachute.
The Z06 was tested against the NSX and the Porsche 996 around Laguna Seca in the US and the Porsche was a second slower, the NSX two seconds slower. The Z06 has also been tested against exotica like the Murcielago and Ferrari 355 and found to be right up there with them. All I can say is that across the Brecon Beacons, 120mph through bends is pretty easy. The brakes are heroic, the handling excellent, the gearchange....er, can be improved.
I wouldn't write off the autos. In many ways, I prefer my Camaro Z28 auto. It's so easy to drive and is quite capable of out-handling many so-called sports cars. The big advantage of an auto for a newcomer to LHD is it allows you to concentrate on that and not worry about an alien right handed gear change.
As for servicing, well I have serviced my LS1 Camaro myself for the last four years. Being pushrod all-alloy engines, there's not a lot to do. You have to change the oil and filter which is simple, change the auto fluid and filter in the autos every 30000 miles or so (messy but not difficult)and change the coolant every 5 years. Other than that a change of the brake fluid every two years and changing brake pads is about it. To be honest, most garages can do it once you explain what is required as they're pretty simple. That way, you can leave anything that goes wrong to Bauer Millett. Nothing has ever gone wrong on my Z28 bar an EGR valve which I changed in all of five minutes.
The other option is to get it serviced by a Vauxhall Monaro dealer who can adapt their procedures and I suspect will be able to hook up the Vette to their computer. Just be careful about who jacks the car up as they are plastic, aluminium and even some balsa wood and jacking has to be done in a particular way or the whole bodywork can get damaged.
The plugs have to be changed, according to GM, every 100,000 miles but I've just changed mine out on the Z28 at 80000 ( it took about 4 hours)and would say they needed changing. Changing plugs is best left to a man with 3 arms and a triple-jointed system of limb articulation.
The HUD was not available on the 2001 Z06. Bear in mind that the American model year runs from around October the year before so a car registered in the US in November 2001 is likely to be a 2002 model year car.
The doors aren't very long on the Vette and they're light too. I went for the Z06 because I couldn't not have the 405bhp but there have been plenty of times when the sun is shining when I take my targa-topped Camaro Z28 instead as it offers the best of both worlds. However, the Z06 is a lot nearer to the TVR in terms of hard-edged sports car and it's also lighter than the stock C5's. I'm not saying this is typical but GM High Performance coaxed a Z06 to 60 in 3.9 seconds. In any event, it's low 4's.
The best cars are 2000 onwards. The convertible is rarer, the coupe by far the most common. You can buy a latch for the coupe that allows you to open the rear hatch a fraction to allow air out. In the Camaro, you tend to get a bit of a beating at speed from wind noise and the targa acts like a parachute.
The Z06 was tested against the NSX and the Porsche 996 around Laguna Seca in the US and the Porsche was a second slower, the NSX two seconds slower. The Z06 has also been tested against exotica like the Murcielago and Ferrari 355 and found to be right up there with them. All I can say is that across the Brecon Beacons, 120mph through bends is pretty easy. The brakes are heroic, the handling excellent, the gearchange....er, can be improved.
I wouldn't write off the autos. In many ways, I prefer my Camaro Z28 auto. It's so easy to drive and is quite capable of out-handling many so-called sports cars. The big advantage of an auto for a newcomer to LHD is it allows you to concentrate on that and not worry about an alien right handed gear change.
As for servicing, well I have serviced my LS1 Camaro myself for the last four years. Being pushrod all-alloy engines, there's not a lot to do. You have to change the oil and filter which is simple, change the auto fluid and filter in the autos every 30000 miles or so (messy but not difficult)and change the coolant every 5 years. Other than that a change of the brake fluid every two years and changing brake pads is about it. To be honest, most garages can do it once you explain what is required as they're pretty simple. That way, you can leave anything that goes wrong to Bauer Millett. Nothing has ever gone wrong on my Z28 bar an EGR valve which I changed in all of five minutes.
The other option is to get it serviced by a Vauxhall Monaro dealer who can adapt their procedures and I suspect will be able to hook up the Vette to their computer. Just be careful about who jacks the car up as they are plastic, aluminium and even some balsa wood and jacking has to be done in a particular way or the whole bodywork can get damaged.
The plugs have to be changed, according to GM, every 100,000 miles but I've just changed mine out on the Z28 at 80000 ( it took about 4 hours)and would say they needed changing. Changing plugs is best left to a man with 3 arms and a triple-jointed system of limb articulation.
The HUD was not available on the 2001 Z06. Bear in mind that the American model year runs from around October the year before so a car registered in the US in November 2001 is likely to be a 2002 model year car.
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