Was curious what made everybody else here choose a used 97-01 vette over a newer Fbody?

I've found a few corvettes in my price range with about 30-40k miles or I could spend about 6-7k less and find a nice ss camaro with only about 15-25k miles.

I've always prefered cars that handled well so my first impulse is to go with the vette not to mention it's a vette. And yet I wonder if I would be better off going with an SS camaro and maybe putting left over money into suspension and maybe a supercharer or exhaust and cam upgrade.

I'm just not really sure which one I would be happier with. Was curious what made everybody else go with the vette or why some of you previous f-body owners jumped ship.

 

For me the choice was simple I already owned one vette.

 

Shrug yes I suppose that owuld make it simple. I guess I'm just having a hard time convincing myself to pass over an 01 or 02 for 16-18k and go with a 99 for 22,000 or so.

I've always wanted a vette though and I think I should probably go with that. Not to mention I've also always had import cars that are lighter and handle a bit better then mosto f your american muscle cars.

Shrug I wish I could find a used Elise for about 30k. Would stretch my wallter for that car.

 

I made the switch from a 98z28 to a 99frc, this post would be about 3pages if I were to try and explain every little thing better about the vette, its this simple, if you dont need back seats... GO TEST DRIVE A Z06, you WILL be hooked.... the vette is far superior to the f-bodies unless building an all out drag car... the vette wont rust, it's alot lighter(better power:weight ratio), its just about perfectly balanced, the suspension has a heck of alot of adjustment from the factory includeing ride height, heads up display is kick ***, seats are alot more comfortable.. ect.. ect... go drive them both and you will see....

 

I've always wanted another Corvette, ever since I got rid of the crummy 84 that I had in 1991. I always knew someday I'd get another one, but this time I'd get a good one!

When the C5 came out, I knew I had to have one someday, but the pricetag on a new one was too high, so I got the next best thing, a new 98 Formula. But once the price of the C5 came down, due to the introduction of the C6, I knew my time had come!

 

Just drive them both and then make up your mind.

 

I have a 94 firebird and a 2000 vette. Before i got the vette i was in the same debate. 02 silver ram air or a vette. Well the vette handles way better, targa top, rides smooth, get looks and waves from everyone, $5 a month cheaper on inusrance, having 2 seats gives me a reason not to drive all my friends around and i just give them gas money then. Just like assassin said, i could go on and on about it. But go drive one and then make up your mind.

 

Trust me, after owning four f-bodys and now a Z06. The C5 is a much nicer car all around. Sure the F-body can be made faster but the fit and finish is a lot better than the f-body IMO.

 

what he said.........you have to make up your own mind. 3 out of 4 people would go with the Vette, but you need to make that decision.

All I can say is..............I LOVE THIS ******* CAR!!! Could you imaging driving a modded 06' Z06?

 

9 F bodys and was currently owning two, test drove a ZO6 and it was all over for my ws6. Sure the ws6 was as fast and alot cheaper but there is a HUGE diff. between these cars. I kept my hawk and trust me when I drive it I remember why I fell in love with the vette. Happy camper here, go drive a ZO6 and decide for yourself.

 

Its a different car. (guess thats obvious). I don't really know how to explain it, but the vette is a lot better car for most applications. But on the other hand, I like driving my camaro still too. I'd have to say if you're going to beat the living **** out of the car, mod it, tear it apart, build it up, tear it down again, mod it some more, etc, the camaro is a much better car. But for comfort, cruising (sometimes), chick factor, more comfort, less squeaks/rattles/bangs, nice interior, etc. the Vette is too far above the f-car to really compare.

To me the vette is too nice to treat it like I treat the camaro. Basically, the vette is like that totally amazing woman that you would do anything to please, whereas f-cars are those dirty naughty tramps who will do things in bed you wouldn't even tell your closest friends about. Both have their good points, not very many bad points... just different.

hows that for an analogy?

The worst thing about corvettes is mostly their owners A lot like firehawk owners...

I am an f-body guy at heart cause I'm a redneck, now I'm just a redneck who appreciates finer things too.

 

I agree with BombGuy:

Both fun, but different in good ways. I daily drive my vette, and beat the hell out the camaro.

I still smile whenever I start the camaro up, or just get to start it.

The corvette is a fun car, and would be really fun with ~400rwhp, but it won' ever be as raw and exciting as a modded camaro. Just different experiences.

 

I've owned 5 f-bodies including my 01 WS6 SOM on Fikses with 420rwhp. I loved that car but do not miss it after the owning the Z06. The F-body is a great car but if you have the means step up to the vette or better yet if your not going to TOTALLY mod it then go with the Z06.

I have to admit I do enjoy driving my z28 vert with the auto, it is very relaxing and calming compared to the Z06.

The only exception to this is if all you cared about was drag racing. In that case a 98 F-body for 7k and dump another 7k into it and you have a very quick and relatively reliable car.

 

I've owned my share of cars including a '94 vette, '00 vette, '97 Ram Air T/A, Z28, etc... Everything about a vette screams performance sports car. From the leather seats to the heads up display...totally different than an F-body. I have thought about buying another F-body to make into a beater drag car, but I haven't made up my mind yet. Hell, my modded '00 vette would run the 8th in 6.8 @ 103 and it was still a sweet daily driver. Don't get me wrong, I like the F-bodies, but they are always looked at differently. I also think some of it has to do with history. I mean, the Vette IS America's sports car.

 

well at 44 picking up my dates in a f-bod was sorta juvenile but with the vette well its a vette!

 

so true, too!

 

Yep, I had a Lingenfelter C4. I drove a friends hardtop with a cartek combo and was sold right then and there. I had a "warmed over" older F body once.

The only f body I'd own is a friends car. It has a Lingenfelter 434 small block with 18* heads and a custom intake. It drives PERFECTLY around town, but watch out when the loud pedal is dropped!

 

Wel lthanks everybody for the advice got in a friends z28 and while it was nice I can tell it's just not for me. I've always loved cars I could throw around curvy roads and while the f-body is a great car it's just not right for me.

Me and car shopping is just horrible I've gone back and forth on what I want in a car over and over for so long now. I'm starting to think the vette is perfect for me.

I guess my main problem is I wanted to get into something faster something more similiar to the power of an american muscle car. On the other hand I've always loved cars that I can throw into the twisties which is part of why I've been looking at the s2000 for so long. I guess I need to get out and test drive a vette first before I make any decisions but from what I can tell only way I'd be truly happy with the 2000 is if I supercharge it.

Anyway thanks for the opinions.

 

my choice was between the s2k and the Z06 also. I'm more than glad i chose the Z06. I came from driving 2 s13's and an ae86. My friend bought an S2k 2 weeks after i bought the vette. 5 days ago we switched cars for the whole day. We drove all around town. Went to the mall...etc just to experience the daily driving aspect of each car. Then when it was past midnight we went up into the mountains and starting hitting the turns. Let me tell you..the S2k in the turns. There is no comparison as far as driving enjoyment. Trailbraking into turns sideways is something that the Y-body will never do gracefully. I was coming into turns at 9k rpm, letting off the throttle, pumping the brake once and then full throttle with maybe 1/4 turn of countersteer. Drifting through turns smooth as silk. Then we switched cars and when i got back in my Z06 it felt much more solid but less willing to turn in at the traction limit. It's a differnt style of driving but i can keep up with the S2k any day through the turns, if not go faster(remember vettes do better on the racetrack at higher speeds)

Daily driving....the S2k SUUUUCKKKS *****.. I'm telling you i never want to drive one again through town. Too much road noise, even with the top closed. The stereo is worse off than headphones. I had to rev it up to like 3k rpm just so the engine wouldn't bog off the line. The drivetrain seems flimsy like it may break at any time, which is apparent from the stock clutch. They made it so slippery from the factory so it wouldnt mess up the trans and diff and people wouldnt bog it in stop and go situations.


Strictly Drag Car= small chassis with an LS1
Strictly mountain car = S2k

best of both worlds = Corvette. You can't mess with the beastly nature of these cars.

The F-body doesnt fit into this equation at all.

 

To truly see how different the Corvette is from an f-body, just look at the car underneath. Every single piece on the vette looks like it was engineered to be there (because it was). The f-bodies were just slapped together to make a cheap quick car.

But I've driven both of my cars out in the twisties, and the f-body on roadrace tracks, and I have to say I can drive my camaro a lot harder into and out of the corners (I had similar tire on the cars). The vette brakes better at the moment, but I'm gonna drop another 150-200lbs off the camaro and it'll probably be about the same. Of course, a lot of that has to do with the fact that I can drive the camaro at about 90-95% of its capability, the vette would guess I only push to about 85%. Its easier to push a car to its limits when you don't really care if you smack a tire barrier, go off course, etc when you can just pick up another chassis for $2-3k (plus you feel a lot safer with 5pt harness/roll cage/ seats). You ain't gonna piece your vette/s2000 back together probably at all. Plus the camaro is a ton easier to work on, if you do your own work. I have to drive up on 2x4s just to get the vette in the air (I adjusted the ride height) since I'm too paranoid to jack it from the side. The camaro I just throw the jack under somewhere and know my dd sfcs can handle it.

Moral of the story, vette is better, camaro is a lot cheaper, especially if you plan to break things.