SPANKY LS1

iTrader: (24)

Ok, I am looking for my first Corvette. Is the C6 a "better" car than the C5, or just "newer"?

I have been looking at a TON of 'Vettes, and have found that 2004 C5s (non-Z06) can be had for ~$35000 with low (less than 5000 miles) on them. And as much as I like the '03-'04 Z06s, I really don't want a car with 20,000+ miles on it, especially if I'm gonna spend $35000+ on a car...

My other option is to get a new '05 or '06 C5. These can be had for $42000-$48000. The new C6 would have to wait for a few months to save up more down payment.....

C5 advantages as I see them....
-Can get it ASAP
-Easier to mod, will have more mod $$$
-Cheaper payments ($100-$200/mo in some cases), someone else already took some of the depreciation, altough this is of minimal concern as I would most likely keep the car for a LONG time

C6 advantages as I see them....
-Its a NEW car, no miles, no other asses have been in the seats
-All else being equal, I like the C6 styling better

What would YOU do? New C6 in a few months, or used low mile C5 now?

Nautilus

iTrader: (15)

Depends.... Last year I wanted the best performance for my $$$ so I bought an '02 Z06 with 10k miles.... but if I were to do it now... I would prob buy a C6... it's just a nicer car all around

c5_ls1_6spd

iTrader: (-1)

i love the lines and curves of the c5. the c6 is too edgey and it looks happy. the c5 looks meaner and more aggressive. i'd go for the c5.

Slow Vette

iTrader: (1)

it depends on what u want the car for. The C6 is more of havin the "new car", but if u get the C5, u'll have money to mod it and be just as fast if not faster than the C6. Remember the ls1 has been around a long time and the aftermarket is just endless. all bets are off once u start moddin .

also the C5 does look meaner, i just don't like the way they cut the C6 inches to make it shorter but thats just me .

ram-it

Well you stated it: Get it now with cheaper payments which will allow you to mod sooner or Wait and save with higher payments and no $$ to mod. Do you really want to mod either since you have not owned one? You also said you like the C6 better. If that is true you will always want a C6 no matter how much you do to the C5. Just go C6 and be happy.

ram-it

To clarify my point I love my car but cannot decide between $10k in mods and having my car that is almost paid for or throw the $10K in with it to get the new Z. I know keeping it is cheaper but I will always want the new Z. I have decided to wait on the new Z and keep my car for awhile.

Cgillies86

iTrader: (1)

Sounds like you like the C6 more. I say you get that if thats what you really want. Right now it seems most people like the look of the C6 over the C5. I think people just like whats new. When the C7 comes out people will like the looks of the C5 over the C6. That is just my gut feeling.

c5_ls1_6spd

iTrader: (-1)

you sound like me. except i have $30k to spend. i thinking of either putting 15dn on a 01+ viper gts and doing 7k in basic mods (460-470rwhp) and having 8k left over. or
using 7k to do a twin turbo kit on my c5, 500 for ls6 heads/cam, 800 for the clutch. then 3.5k for labor and fat tune (550+rwhp)and have 18k left over.

DocT

Honestly, I know a couple of people who traded their vettes in on a viper. Each of them were proud as hell...at first. Then comes the realization of thier fuel consumption, lack of comfort inside, and the fear that many of these Vipers have a hard time lasting beyond 40K miles without experiencing some form of major problems. And if you think the "corvette tax" is high...wait till you pay the "Viper tax." Vipers a phenomenal, and I'd love to have one for "Sunday driving." But Corvettes are just plain and simply better, and longer lasting cars. Just my $.02. Course, I'm a little biased towards vettes though

coxta

iTrader: (4)

C6. I love all vettes but i like how the hood and fenders dont slope as much as the C5 and plus if you get an 06 you can get the new 6spd auto. I think that would be sweet.

01bird58

iTrader: (9)

Well the question is what are your ultimate plans for this car. Is this gona be a stree/track warrior that you are barely gona use? (go with C5, cheaper more options of parts) or is this car gona be frequently driven? (go with C6)

DocT

Before I bought my car, I posted the exact same question that you have. The response from most can be easily summed up: which styling do you prefer. If you buy an 01-04 Z06, you'll be a little faster than the C6 coupes due to better suspension, and better performance; however, the C6 has a more refined feeling to it. Another bonus to the 2006 C6 (if you get the A6) is that you get the cool paddle shift! C5=cheaper, more avail (and cheaper) mods. Really, you cannot go wrong with either, they're each going to perform very well, but the C6 will probably be more of an eyecatcher.

Good luck with your purchase, and when you get it, post good pics to show her off

glennhl

I like the look of the C6 better mainly due to the front end treatment. I think the headlights and front inlet look awesome. The C5 is a pretty car, but the front end is ugly.

H-5-L

I moderate for another vette site,and theres plenty of c5 with over 150,000 miles,they still race them and have had minimal problems,some are even on there stock water pump still.
I got my c5 4 years ago,9,000 miles,i now have 55,000 miles,and am still on the origanal belt and brake pads,a door module,and a couple driving light bulbs are all that have broke on my car.The module was 100 bucks,with the memory package option that i have.I also have many 1/4 runs and high speed runs.It's now a daily driver.I also agree with the comment about the c5 looking more aggressive,the c6 in my mirror looks like a happy fish cartoon.
One other thing,the c6 is so new,yet i see so many more c6s in one day than c5s.I'm affraid that a few years of the c6,and they will be way over populated.I'm going to turn mine into a 10 second daily driver/show car type car.Then wait for a total body redesign before i buy a new one,maybe the c7.When you slam a c5,they look really good,heres mine..

Vertigo

iTrader: (1)

how often does Chevy change the body styling on Vettes? 8yrs 10 yrs?

DocT

Damn Hawaii!!! that's not slammed, it's a pancake! LOL How do you keep the front from getting chewed up from road debris?

BTW, I agree with everything you said. ( and I like the Happy fish cartoon comment )

DocT

BTW: Your car is Smokin! Very Nice!

steveb

I like the body lines of the c5 better. I test drove 2 C6 and could not justify the extra 20k for the car. I'll be waiting until i can get a C6 ZO6 for 40k then i'll buy one until then my C5 will do.

LS1LT1

iTrader: (16)

I was in the exact same dilemma, buy a used C5 or a new C6, tough call.
I still love the C5 but the ones I was looking at were priced so high that it just made sense to kick in a little more (I was paying cash regardless of which I chose but it's VERY difficult for me to part with that kind of money all at once LOL) and get a 4 - 6 year old car that potentially wasn't raced, curbed, flooded, farted in as much etc. versus a brand new one. The downside is that if I'd gotten a used C5 I would've modified it had a much faster Corvette versus a stock C6 that I am less likely to tear into but it's ok, the C6 is simply AWESOME.

H-5-L

Thanks for the kind words,in the 4 years since i slammed my car,i never heard "pancaked",cockroach killer is another one.I have some scraps under the front bumper cover,but you can't make a fist and get it under there,so no one will ever stick there head under and see it.LOL.I was getting scrapes even at stock height,on an island,everything is compact,so driveways are at step angles and parking stalls are skinny.Wev'e had rain for 41 straight days now,i did hit some rocks and went under a water fall recently,i just live with it i suppose.Heres a couple camera phone pics of our flooding iv'e been driving in..