C5 Corvette owners enter here...

[Shaolin Crane]

I cant believe im typing this, but slowly day by day i become more and more disappointed in my mustang, not so much in its current status as the car is no slouch but the fact that i cannot live up to the goals i had for the car in the time frame i wanted. The car is awesome, stops great, handles like a race car, gets compliments and looks everywhere. But the problem is, its a race car. No A/C, no heat, rides rougher than my F350 does, still doesnt have the power i want out of it, and would require another 10-15k to get it to the "dream" fox ive always had floating around in my head when i was a kid. Its great, when i look at the car it makes me smile, yet something is not right about the feeling i have for the car.

Which leads me to believe my admiration and lust for a C5 vette is whats keeping me from enjoying the car, i see a C5 vette and think to myself, "i could have got one of those and been done in a month."
Maybe im making the C5 out to more than what it really is as all i have driven is one auto C5, and an auto C6, both however gave me a huge grin. And i keep having pondering thoughts of trading my mustang for a C5.

So here's my question, is there any C5 drivers that would be willing to let me drive their car? Or at least offer some insight. Maybe this is just some sort of a stage in building a car when it goes stagnent for too long and you start to look for something else, but for what i have into my car and what i need to spend on it i could have a VERY badass and fast C5 vette.

Anything about the C5 that you hate? things you love, etc

Open to all forms of comments, suggestions, or comfort if there is any.
:violin:

[SeanPlunk]

If you want the best handling car for the money, buy a used C5.

[Shaolin Crane]

If you want the best handling car for the money, buy a used C5.

My car handles, im talking more the overall package.

[Vettezuki]

My car handles, im talking more the overall package.

If you don't need a back seat or often drive in tight city areas/traffic, and you're looking for a balanced platform not just straight line, and you're looking for something that handles well to excellent (repeatedly), accelerates just fine, gets good mileage, cold A/C, radio, etc. etc., for an affordable price (low now), you really can't beat a Vette. It's stunning to me that you can pick up nice C5 ZO6s for well under $20k! Hell, you can get nice C6 ZO6s for under $50k.

[Shaolin Crane]

If you don't need a back seat or often drive in tight city areas/traffic, and you're looking for a balanced platform not just straight line, and you're looking for something that handles well to excellent (repeatedly), accelerates just fine, gets good mileage, cold A/C, radio, etc. etc., for an affordable price (low now), you really can't beat a Vette. It's stunning to me that you can pick up nice C5 ZO6s for well under $20k! Hell, you can get nice C6 ZO6s for under $50k.

Yeah, my mustang has no back seat, never really driven in traffic or during the week, handles great but lacks the power i want. And would take a considerable amount of cash to get there

[blackax]

Well it doesn't take much to add a lot of power to a ls motor.

[Chuck]

Do you think you could get a fair amount considering what you put into it if you sold it. If so 20k C5 zo6 hard to beat.

[Sonic03SVT]

If youd like you're welcome to take a spin in mine next time we end up at the same place. And having come from a line of mustangs i can tell you this, Id call the two cars very good at what they do, but different. Ride quality etc id say the vette and my 03 cobra were just about even, but once you throw some real good turns into the mix those extra 500 pounds really became apparent.

Now your fox is probably on par with the Z, but as a civilized DD that can still handle some twisties, I know i couldnt think of anything to beat the C5 - same dilemma as you had, and I took the plunge.
Only thing ill caution you about - every single mod for these things, even after all these years, runs about three times what its equivalent for a mustang does, particularly a 5.0 fox. That said, mid 12s stock, 30 mpg highway, and a hell of a good time on the canyons, with cold A/C and a surprisingly comfortable ride - hard to beat, though depending on your goals for the car, an 03-04 cobra may also be something to think about - priced about the same, both great DDs, just different strengths.:thumbs_up:

( Also, if you would be looking at modding your vette heavily, id actually advise against a Z. Most of the Z specific items would be getting replaced, and the extra 5-6k probably wouldnt be worth the 40 pounds you save over the FRC or hundred or so off a coupe. )

[Shaolin Crane]

Do you think you could get a fair amount considering what you put into it if you sold it. If so 20k C5 zo6 hard to beat.

Probably not, seeing as i have just shy of 17k into my car

But i have been seeing alot of Z06's going for 12-17k

[Shaolin Crane]

If youd like you're welcome to take a spin in mine next time we end up at the same place. And having come from a line of mustangs i can tell you this, Id call the two cars very good at what they do, but different. Ride quality etc id say the vette and my 03 cobra were just about even, but once you throw some real good turns into the mix those extra 500 pounds really became apparent.

Now your fox is probably on par with the Z, but as a civilized DD that can still handle some twisties, I know i couldnt think of anything to beat the C5 - same dilemma as you had, and I took the plunge.
Only thing ill caution you about - every single mod for these things, even after all these years, runs about three times what its equivalent for a mustang does, particularly a 5.0 fox. That said, mid 12s stock, 30 mpg highway, and a hell of a good time on the canyons, with cold A/C and a surprisingly comfortable ride - hard to beat, though depending on your goals for the car, an 03-04 cobra may also be something to think about - priced about the same, both great DDs, just different strengths.:thumbs_up:

( Also, if you would be looking at modding your vette heavily, id actually advise against a Z. Most of the Z specific items would be getting replaced, and the extra 5-6k probably wouldnt be worth the 40 pounds you save over the FRC or hundred or so off a coupe. )

Yeah i actually wasnt looking at a Z, just a regular C5, it will get modded down the line, probably would do exhaust HCI, tune and a motor freshen the first month of owning it. But at the current posistion my fox is in, everything costs 3 times as much, T56 magnum kit is 4k, Trick flow heads are 2k, lifters are 1k, cam is 500(if i can get a hold of jay allen)rockers are 1k, custom made headers are 1500, all thing needed for a sbf to make 500rwhp. Not cheap and the same ballpark as modding a LSx

[Sonic03SVT]

True. Having had a 5.0 built up as a road race setup (granted, fox-4 chassis, but basically the same thing) Id say there is something almost...too sanitary about the c5.

Sure, it goes and stops and turns, but its supposed to. Having a mustang that did it...well that was unusual. Also, the car feels kind of sedate while doing it, whereas that old sn95 never felt sedate doing anything. Of all the cars ive had (and there have been lots ) thats one that I regret selling.

Id say think about it good and hard before pulling the trigger on anything, as in my experience most of my car modding experiences hit that stage where everything thats left is very expensive, and i start looking around for that next thing that I think might be better. I guess its part of the addiction, eh?

Having gone from one to the other, id love to help you out with any specific questions or whatnot, although one thing about the C5 nobody told me - about 40% of the driveways and parking lot entrances in the world are totally unusable, even at stock ride height. Gets to be a bit annoying :rolleyes:

Again, is there a reason youre not considering an 03-04 cobra? They really do handle much better than people give them credit for, and they actually have quite a few folks who road race them on a semi-professional basis, and do well. The parts are there, and of course power is no issue, and incredibly inexpensive.

[Shaolin Crane]

I do have to toss out a few things about my car to compare to the vette, 2800lbs, 1.05g with street tires and 1.2-1.3g with road slicks, 100-0 in 84', but an 8.7 1/8th mile :(

[Shaolin Crane]

True. Having had a 5.0 built up as a road race setup (granted, fox-4 chassis, but basically the same thing) Id say there is something almost...too sanitary about the c5.

Sure, it goes and stops and turns, but its supposed to. Having a mustang that did it...well that was unusual. Also, the car feels kind of sedate while doing it, whereas that old sn95 never felt sedate doing anything. Of all the cars ive had (and there have been lots ) thats one that I regret selling.

Id say think about it good and hard before pulling the trigger on anything, as in my experience most of my car modding experiences hit that stage where everything thats left is very expensive, and i start looking around for that next thing that I think might be better. I guess its part of the addiction, eh?

Having gone from one to the other, id love to help you out with any specific questions or whatnot, although one thing about the C5 nobody told me - about 40% of the driveways and parking lot entrances in the world are totally unusable, even at stock ride height. Gets to be a bit annoying :rolleyes:

Again, is there a reason youre not considering an 03-04 cobra? They really do handle much better than people give them credit for, and they actually have quite a few folks who road race them on a semi-professional basis, and do well. The parts are there, and of course power is no issue, and incredibly inexpensive.

Well being as my k member and subframes are 3" away from the ground it probably about the same.

Only reason i didnt look at termi's is well, i think new edges are ugly. I know the chassis like the back of my hand and i know any mustang can handle, but i dont care for the modular platform and really dont care for the looks, plus i could touch a decent termi for under 19k, whereas C5's are in the 12-15k range, heres one i have been considering
http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/cto/1960191597.html

[Sonic03SVT]

You're actually going to find yourself above what a c5 can do in the handling department,and most likely in the acceleration game as well. It may be a better idea to just do yourself up a moderate stroker build with any of the new aluminum windsor blocks - dont have to be that extreme when youre working with 400+ CI. A solid C/H/I 427 windsor motor should give you all the go you're looking for, id imagine.

[Sonic03SVT]

yes. get that car and swap interiors with me. I must have a mod red interior.

All kidding aside, hell of a deal, if you're going to be replacing suspension, brakes and motor the mileage shouldn't matter, and EB is awful pretty.

Though the reason its so cheap is that there is almost no market for high mileage Z's. So many have very low mileage for not much more, so if resale is at all a concern, be warned. It wasnt for me, and most likely isnt for you, but just FYI.

One more option...(Forgive me for saying this..kinda want to punch myself for it) is an LSX in your fox. Its actually a common swap, and would save you the time/money required to bring the vette up to par in the handling department, and you could sell your 5.0 to offset some of the cost.

[Shaolin Crane]

You're actually going to find yourself above what a c5 can do in the handling department,and most likely in the acceleration game as well. It may be a better idea to just do yourself up a moderate stroker build with any of the new aluminum windsor blocks - dont have to be that extreme when youre working with 400+ CI. A solid C/H/I 427 windsor motor should give you all the go you're looking for, id imagine.

Well i already have a dart 8.2 deck true 4 bolt main 347, with all the trimmings in my shop. Just needs a cam train, heads, lifters, clutch, tranny, rebuild the rear axle since the axle since the guy i got the axle from, while he did use a torsen LSD, he kept the stock 28 spline axles so i will need an all new Torsen etc. The thing i cant beat the vette in is, comfort, fuel mileage, having a stereo, not freezing my balls off in the morning, not sweating my ass off in the afternoon.

[Sonic03SVT]

comes down to whether you'd be willing to take a small step down in capability for a big step up in comfort, really. And only you can make that call.

However, you may be looking at this the wrong way around. I cant imagine there's much of a market for your fox as it sits, and between that and the mod money needed in a c5 to bring it up to where youd want it to be...it may actually be cheaper to just buy a stock early C5 coupe and DD it, and keep the fox?

My honest opinion is that this is just normal mid build blues, kind of a mid-life crisis of sorts, and that the grass just seems greener and all that. But if it would help you make your decision, as I said, you're welcome to have a turn in the Z :drink:

Also, why not just back off a bit on the fox? Reinstall the A/C, step down a touch on the spring rates ( I assume you are running coilovers? ) and throw in some dynamat, youd arrive at roughly the same place, with a lot less wasted $$ than throwing away all that hard work youve already put in.

[Shaolin Crane]

comes down to whether you'd be willing to take a small step down in capability for a big step up in comfort, really. And only you can make that call.

However, you may be looking at this the wrong way around. I cant imagine there's much of a market for your fox as it sits, and between that and the mod money needed in a c5 to bring it up to where youd want it to be...it may actually be cheaper to just buy a stock early C5 coupe and DD it, and keep the fox?

My honest opinion is that this is just normal mid build blues, kind of a mid-life crisis of sorts, and that the grass just seems greener and all that. But if it would help you make your decision, as I said, you're welcome to have a turn in the Z :drink:

Also, why not just back off a bit on the fox? Reinstall the A/C, step down a touch on the spring rates ( I assume you are running coilovers? ) and throw in some dynamat, youd arrive at roughly the same place, with a lot less wasted $$ than throwing away all that hard work youve already put in.

All things that would hinder ability now, if i put some dynamat in, and the ac and lowered the springs rates then it wouldnt be what it is now, and i would still need the power, i tried picking up a C5 but many finance companies wont finance for cars like that and if i had the cash to buy one outright i probably wouldnt have made this thread, maybe i just needed to vent a bit.

[Sonic03SVT]

weve all been there brother :thumbs_up: Stick with it, your fox sounds like a monster, and i'm sure you're going to love it once you get there. Nothing is as rewarding as having all the work pay off with the car you've always wanted. :beer:

[Shaolin Crane]

weve all been there brother :thumbs_up: Stick with it, your fox sounds like a monster, and i'm sure you're going to love it once you get there. Nothing is as rewarding as having all the work pay off with the car you've always wanted. :beer:

I love it, but i love vettes too :jester:
here's the ride
http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc322/ShaolinCrane/PICT0156-1.jpg

[Sonic03SVT]

:drool: Very nice, cant believe i havent seen it yet. Come to a meet dammit, soft spot in my heart for foxes.

[94cobra69ss396]

If all you want is more power why not just throw a blower on it? The prices you have listed for things like a cam, lifters, rockers are crazy. WTF, $1000 for lifters? You can buy a set of Herbert solid roller lifters for around $350. That's what I have been running in the Chevelle for the past 13 or so years but I only paid $200 for them back then.

My Cobra runs mid 7's at Fontana and it very mild. It just has box stock AFR 165's with an E303 cam and a Vortech S-trim. I don't have any type of intercooler so when I road race I have to run straight race fuel to keep it from detonating but Vortech makes an aftercooler for the fox body so you could run that to help.

[Shaolin Crane]

If all you want is more power why not just throw a blower on it? The prices you have listed for things like a cam, lifters, rockers are crazy. WTF, $1000 for lifters? You can buy a set of Herbert solid roller lifters for around $350. That's what I have been running in the Chevelle for the past 13 or so years but I only paid $200 for them back then.

My Cobra runs mid 7's at Fontana and it very mild. It just has box stock AFR 165's with an E303 cam and a Vortech S-trim. I don't have any type of intercooler so when I road race I have to run straight race fuel to keep it from detonating but Vortech makes an aftercooler for the fox body so you could run that to help.

Yup, isky red zone lifters are the only lifters i'd trust to spin to 8500 repetedly. But i just made the decision to go completely NA on this build, the original plan was a blower. But if im spending money on the engine im going to get EXACTLY what i want instead of compromising, again...

[Shaolin Crane]

:drool: Very nice, cant believe i havent seen it yet. Come to a meet dammit, soft spot in my heart for foxes.

Thanks, i try, but i'll be going to the meet Damian posted about, so if you're going i guess i'll see you there

[Shaolin Crane]

So bumping a year later, mostly for input from the C5 owners, what kind of mileage are you getting? I may have to drive about 200 miles a day for an upcoming LEO position, and have come to a conclusion no matter where i go for academy training i'd like to have a new DD other than my truck.

So its between a C5 and a ex service crown vic.
They both have there pros and cons, what are some things you hate about your C5's and what do you especially love?

[Sonic03SVT]

Freeway, steady state cruise between say 70-80 its in the 25-28mpg neighborhood. With a canyon run to work every day though, im averaging right around 20mpg overall, but thats 80% city.

Love the mpg, and the maneuverability in daily traffic, and the easy power delivery. What dont i like? Ride could be considered a bit rough for day to day on crummy CA freeways ( but its a Z06, believe you were considering a standard or Z51 car, which would be better ) And its pretty loud inside for a stock car. ( again, other C5s would be better here. ) Ingress/egress is also kind of a pita, but once youre inside the seats are plenty comfy. AC and heater are also fantastic, and the radio aint bad. :huh:

[Shaolin Crane]

How are the views from inside? Any horrid blind spots or difficult spots to see around you?

Im pretty determined on a coupe either a 99 frc or a standard if i find a smokin deal. Either way i figure anything i can afford currently will probably have 150k plus, so i'll do a pretty agressive port job on the heads, refresh the engine, stock cam, ls6 intake, and some shorties. The head work should increase efficiency a bit as well as a good bump in power. Later after i no longer have to commute to the academy i'll toss an fti cam in it. Since shocks, struts, bushings will likely be worn as well i'll upgrade what i can without going past the relm of sanity as i did with the mustang. Of course it wont be a dedicated DD, it'll share use with the 88 once its done. Hoping this all works out, i want my badge and a C5 is like my gift to myself :)

[Sonic03SVT]

visibility is excellent, although the z06/FRC has a bit more of a blind spot than a standard coupe thanks to that bigger pillar behind you, but the mirrors are awful big and ive never really had an issue with it.

[Shaolin Crane]

Awesome, are you gonna make it to any meets sometime soon? I'd like to sit in it if your offer is still available