I wanted to post this, to maybe help any others who are in the same situation that I was a week ago. I traded my 01 TA, modded with MS3 cam, full exhaust, gears, spray, and optioned out with a T56 tranny, for a 2002 base, stock, automatic C5 Corvette. I was really concerned about the trade off.
Would I feel slow?
Would I catch 'mod fever' and go nuts(ie...broke)?
Would I regret buying an Automatic tranny?
The following is my take on the differences between a Vette and a TA(of course this is applicable to the Camaro, also.)

INTERIOR:
I actually like the Fbody interior, but the Vette is much more comfortable. There are a ton of options, gadgets, and toys! HUD, DIC, traction/handling modes, all this makes you feel like you are more in control of your vehicle and gives a dork like me, something to play with. The MPG guage is awsome, and is now all I have on display with fuel prices the way that they are! The interior is def. more cramped(side to side) than an F-body. You sit much closer to your riding partner. The doors are SOOO much easier and lighter than Fbodys that I had to really work at not swingin them open like I was used to! Your field of vision is way better also, you can see around and behind you during lane changes much better. However, the nose is more difficult to 'feel', and parking with any curbs is a bitch....this will take some getting used to.
EXTERIOR:
This thing is LOW! Couldnt even get onto the rack to have oil changed!
POWER:
I dont know why, but this thing hauls ***! Even after my modded TA, this thing feels fast! Maybe its the weight difference? And, surely cant beat 27mpg!
HANDLING:
Aside from the interior, this is my favorite part of this car! This thing is on rails! I just put new tires on Saturday, because the factory Run Flats were shot. Man, did that make a difference! The car is as quiet as a Cadillac inside now, and nearly as smooth! Handling is just rediculously sharp.
OVERALL:
After a week of getting aquainted with the C5, and doing a comparison to my previous F-bodys, I am very happy(and suprised) to report that I have absolutely NO REGRETS! As a matter of fact, this is quickly becoming my favorite car, a title once held by a WS6 Trans Am.
It is fast, handles like a racecar, rides smooth, gets great fuel mileage, gets looks all the time, and is just plain fun to drive...even going slow.
So if anyone else is on the fence with the same questions, do yourself a favor....cross it!

NOTE: this is simply my opinion and experiences. I am not, and never will "bash" F-bodys....they will always hold a special place in my heart....meanwhile, the Vette will hold a special place in my garage!

 

Interesting read. I figured you might be a little disappointed with the auto, but it worked out ok. There's no doubt a C5 is and excellent overall package.

 

Yes, I did also(obviously), but I am quite happy, afterall!
BTW, thanks for your help and insight, bud.

 

Thanks for your personal comparrision. I'am on the fence between a vette and a GTO as aa DD. Thanks for the input. This helps a lot.

 

I considered a GTO. I mean come on, 20K for a 2004, with low miles and a cool *** interior! It is def worth considering. I, however, just couldnt do it....to 'plain' for me(Im gonna get hammered for that one, Im sure).
Drive them both....then you will know

 

what tires did you get

 

I wound up the cheap route. I went with the Sumotapouieh(whatever....) HTZ II's.
Went 285's in the rear and 255's in the front. They ride SOOO much better than the run flats(big shocker, huh?lol) They are really quiet and are FANTASTIC in the rain! They seem to hook pretty good too, they just have a lil squirm on turn in. Probably b/c I was used to the track like movements(or lack thereof) of the Runflats.

 

cool the sizes sound good I am running 245's up front and 295's in the back and love the look. I often wondered how the 255's would look.

 

I actually found out when I got there to mount my tires, that my wheels are 9.5's all the way around. So I can say for the 8.5 that they SHOULD be....

 

I have been considering switching to a T/A mainly just because it is more suited for drag racing which is obviously what I like to do and this has got me starting too wonder if I should do it or not.I love the vette on the streets, but something about a sub 6 second 1/8 mile pass sounds tempting as well, so I am torn on what to do!

OPINIONS? money is a factor and going fast in the T/A is def cheaper, that is another reason I am considering the switch!

 

Goin fast in a straight line, you are prob better suited in a F-body. You will save a lil cash also...
Honestly, though....Im still new to Vettes and I am not really educated in the mod proceedure vs. Fbodys. I would think that, engine wise, a Vette would be WAY easier to get to, but on the otherhand, anytyhin suspension would be a B+@%#!
Personally, Id keep the Vette throw a KB on it, get some tires and race it.

 

Congratulations on the Vette purchase. I'm on my second Vette since making the switch off my Trans Am. Definitely no regrets (except choosing black twice - bitch to clean!). I got Vette fever after driving my mother-in-law's 2001 A4 Coupe, and ended up in the C5Z a month later. I've had the C6 for almost 2 years now. I don't miss anything about the Trans Am (well, except maybe the color and the fact that it was my first performance/muscle car).

And going fast in a straight line is not what the Vette is about. Your first experience on a road course will keep you off the 1/4 mile, and you'll have a much bigger smile because the rush lasts a heck of a lot longer.

 

Congratulations!!! How long will she stay stock? Can you post pics?

 

I'm actually surprised that you didn't feel a big power difference b/w the vette and your T/A. I did the exact same switch as you as far as going from a cammed (427 RWHP) T/A to my C5Z. I was very worried that a base C5 would feel slow in a straight line compared to my T/A which is why I went for the Z06...problem solved. The T/A did have a better top end rush but I would bet the Z is very close to it in the 1/4. Oh and the other reason I wanted the Z is because it's just so damn sexy!!

 

I did the same thing went from a head cam built tranny with 3600 stall 98 z28 to a near stock 2000 c5 auto with 28000 miles vette isnt that much slower then the z i have no regrets i love the vette i hatted driving that big cammed **** z28 on the street it felt like a sloppy fat chick where the vette is nice and tight

 

I'm glad to hear you're happy with your decision. I love my vette but miss my fbodies

 

Same here. My C5Z is just as quick as my H/C/I/E T/A, now that I have a vette I will never look back to the f-body. It will completely eat it up once I get my maggie!!!

 

LOL! Nice! Agreed. My C5 feels just as fast as my TA was(though I know its not). And the tradeoff for power was worth it for the handling gain.
I dont have any pics yet, it wont fkn quit raining here. I cant even keep the damn thing clean....
So far as mods, I am broke as a joke after putting some cash down and buying new tires. But thus far I have compiled a list(Ah, the list):
1. 3.5's in the doors! That system is flat horrific....
2. Tint.
3. It needs brakes(drilled and slotted setup, just cause it looks bitchin'!)
4. Alarm system with remote start.
5. KB(check back with me in 6yrs... lol)

 

BTW, thanks for all yall's help, seriously....its nice to know there is a place to go for good advice and perspective.

 

We had 2 LS1 SS's and a Cobra before we got our first Vette and that was 7 years ago and we love the Vette hands down. Now we just added our second Vette. The first one is modded the second one will stay stock. As for straight line acc. the SS was as fast as the Vette in the 1/4 but the Vette was still more fun.