C5 Test Drive
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,073
Likes: 0
From: Silver Spring, MD
C5 Test Drive
Back in March, I drove an '03 2.7 Boxster and concluded I'd made the right move by purchasing the S2000...
...but I've always lusted after Corvettes and decided to get some seat time this weekend.
I spent about 20 minutes test-driving a '99 6-speed convertible w/only 8300 miles and the bottom line: I still made the right move by purchasing the S2000!
It was a grey day, half-wet pavement plus the salesman was beside me and I'm not a "smoke the tires" driver anyway, so although I didn't really flog the car, I did manage to give the go pedal a few good stabs. Sure, the power's there and yes, those eight cylinders did sound good. But -- the neck-snapping torque I was expecting never materialized. The engine gave the impression of producing never-ending power, but delivered it in such a smooth fashion that some excitement was missing. By the same token, the chassis just hunkered down and handled curves in a solid, planted way -- but it's anything but tossable and light in the fashion of the S2000.
Now, as for the transmission: it felt like rowing a boat compared to the Honda. Of course, it's handling much more power, but it really did feel notchy and long. I'd really miss that buttery clutch action. BTW, this one shifted right from first to second, so I'm assuming the first owner installed a CAGS defeat.
I drove with the top up, and for me -- 6'2" and 185 pounds -- the interior didn't seem that roomy and the headroom actually suffered in comparison with the Honda. The leather was softer than the S, but it was really looking kind of beat up.
There's no question that the Corvette is a magnificent car and would be a better daily driver, but yesterday's drive pointed up the differences between a GT and a roadster. For me, the S2000 is just a more exciting ride. I find I like "working" to extract the speed and power out of the car.
P.S.: for those checking on used C-5 prices, this was offered for sale in Gaithersburg, MD at a Chevy dealership -- they were asking $35,900. That was about $1-3,000 over KBB-Edmunds-Black Book figures for this area.
...but I've always lusted after Corvettes and decided to get some seat time this weekend.
I spent about 20 minutes test-driving a '99 6-speed convertible w/only 8300 miles and the bottom line: I still made the right move by purchasing the S2000!
It was a grey day, half-wet pavement plus the salesman was beside me and I'm not a "smoke the tires" driver anyway, so although I didn't really flog the car, I did manage to give the go pedal a few good stabs. Sure, the power's there and yes, those eight cylinders did sound good. But -- the neck-snapping torque I was expecting never materialized. The engine gave the impression of producing never-ending power, but delivered it in such a smooth fashion that some excitement was missing. By the same token, the chassis just hunkered down and handled curves in a solid, planted way -- but it's anything but tossable and light in the fashion of the S2000.
Now, as for the transmission: it felt like rowing a boat compared to the Honda. Of course, it's handling much more power, but it really did feel notchy and long. I'd really miss that buttery clutch action. BTW, this one shifted right from first to second, so I'm assuming the first owner installed a CAGS defeat.
I drove with the top up, and for me -- 6'2" and 185 pounds -- the interior didn't seem that roomy and the headroom actually suffered in comparison with the Honda. The leather was softer than the S, but it was really looking kind of beat up.
There's no question that the Corvette is a magnificent car and would be a better daily driver, but yesterday's drive pointed up the differences between a GT and a roadster. For me, the S2000 is just a more exciting ride. I find I like "working" to extract the speed and power out of the car.
P.S.: for those checking on used C-5 prices, this was offered for sale in Gaithersburg, MD at a Chevy dealership -- they were asking $35,900. That was about $1-3,000 over KBB-Edmunds-Black Book figures for this area.
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 7,981
Likes: 10
From: mount airy
I have wondered about the C5, I was seriously looking at the Z06. Never able to get a test drive. I guess I miss out on the pavement shreading TQ. But the exterior style and interior cheapness put me off (for a $50K car).
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 7,981
Likes: 10
From: mount airy
I went to Koons in White Marsh. They must be something of a corvette superstore. They have 29 brand new corvettes in stock.
When I went (about 6 months ago) I said I wanted to take a Z06 out for a test drive. The sales lady said "We don't give test drives unless you first decide you are going to buy it and agree on the price".
I said " I won't know if I want to buy it unless I take it for a test drive first"
The sales woman was very rude and told me maybe I should go to the used section and see if they would let me test drive one. I know it may be easier to get a test drive in a used car but I think she should have brought me down to the used section and set me up (because it would be her sale of a new car not the used car guy).
I think that maybe people that typically buy the corvette are the kind of people who are ONLY interested in the corvette. Kind of like the people that buy Harley Davidson's. I mean this lady at work who's in her 50's knows I'm into sports cars, she told me her husband just bought a sports car. I don't know her husband except that he's not rich and he's in his 50's. So I said "what did he get a Corvette?" and she said "Yeah he always wanted one..."
Well I could have gotten a test drive if I wanted one by "pretending" to be interested, but I guess I'm not a Corvette guy. I know the Z06 is really light weight and all, but it looks HUGE and the interior is hidious, and the wheels are
. I am just not excited about it no matter how fast it goes. I'd rather take $50K and buy a slow used NSX than a fast new corvette.
When I went (about 6 months ago) I said I wanted to take a Z06 out for a test drive. The sales lady said "We don't give test drives unless you first decide you are going to buy it and agree on the price".
I said " I won't know if I want to buy it unless I take it for a test drive first"
The sales woman was very rude and told me maybe I should go to the used section and see if they would let me test drive one. I know it may be easier to get a test drive in a used car but I think she should have brought me down to the used section and set me up (because it would be her sale of a new car not the used car guy).
I think that maybe people that typically buy the corvette are the kind of people who are ONLY interested in the corvette. Kind of like the people that buy Harley Davidson's. I mean this lady at work who's in her 50's knows I'm into sports cars, she told me her husband just bought a sports car. I don't know her husband except that he's not rich and he's in his 50's. So I said "what did he get a Corvette?" and she said "Yeah he always wanted one..."
Well I could have gotten a test drive if I wanted one by "pretending" to be interested, but I guess I'm not a Corvette guy. I know the Z06 is really light weight and all, but it looks HUGE and the interior is hidious, and the wheels are
. I am just not excited about it no matter how fast it goes. I'd rather take $50K and buy a slow used NSX than a fast new corvette.
Trending Topics
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 9,510
Likes: 478
From: Dallas
Wait for the C6 version to see the interior brought up to par. If you think about it, the only REAL complaint anyone has ever really had for the C5 is that the interior materials is not up to par with the price of the car. That said, check out a $40-60k Boxster/Boxster S and tell me honestly if the materials are much, if any, better.
Either way, the interior works as far as functionality, the instrument cluster, especially with the HUD, is great and feels good. The stock shifter does kind of suck, but nothing a short shifter, like a B&M or Hurst won't fix. Finally, the S2000 and C5 are very different cars and they feel different. I like both for different reasons, but chose torque and raw power with good handling over tossability and having to 'work' to extract the power.
Either way, the interior works as far as functionality, the instrument cluster, especially with the HUD, is great and feels good. The stock shifter does kind of suck, but nothing a short shifter, like a B&M or Hurst won't fix. Finally, the S2000 and C5 are very different cars and they feel different. I like both for different reasons, but chose torque and raw power with good handling over tossability and having to 'work' to extract the power.
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,895
Likes: 1
From: You wish
I had a chance to drive a C5 convertible on the track. Stock suspension (said the owner), but some hop up parts on the engine.
Engine was fabulous, even driving the car at 8/10ths in the corners, I was trapping higher speeds on the straights than my S2K (basically stock engine) driven at 10/10ths. The comment about "never ending power" is very appropriate. The LS1 just presses you into your seat and holds you there from 3000 to 6000 rpm.
Grip also was decent. It wasn't super high, but it was definitely in the sports car level. More body roll than I expected, and more steady state understeer than expected as well. Of course, with all that torque, corner exits were an "egg between your foot and the gas pedal" affair.
My my only real gripe with the car was that it felt like a conglomeration of great parts and sub-assemblies, but they just didn't work well together. The shifter was definitely a pain to use, the relationship between the seat, steering wheel, and pedals was awkward at best, and the communication of the chassis to the driver was....muffled?
I'm sure the Z06 cleans up the suspension issues with reduced understeer and more grip. But the whole driving environment and communication made the C5 much tougher to drive than cars like the S2000.
Its funny, as I get to track test more and more cars, I find that I can tell the really good ones by how easy it is to get in and just drive without trying to acclimitize to the car. The Miata is one such car, as is the Integra Type-R. From what I hear about the Evo, it sounds like it might fit that category too - need a test drive.
UL
Engine was fabulous, even driving the car at 8/10ths in the corners, I was trapping higher speeds on the straights than my S2K (basically stock engine) driven at 10/10ths. The comment about "never ending power" is very appropriate. The LS1 just presses you into your seat and holds you there from 3000 to 6000 rpm.
Grip also was decent. It wasn't super high, but it was definitely in the sports car level. More body roll than I expected, and more steady state understeer than expected as well. Of course, with all that torque, corner exits were an "egg between your foot and the gas pedal" affair.
My my only real gripe with the car was that it felt like a conglomeration of great parts and sub-assemblies, but they just didn't work well together. The shifter was definitely a pain to use, the relationship between the seat, steering wheel, and pedals was awkward at best, and the communication of the chassis to the driver was....muffled?
I'm sure the Z06 cleans up the suspension issues with reduced understeer and more grip. But the whole driving environment and communication made the C5 much tougher to drive than cars like the S2000.
Its funny, as I get to track test more and more cars, I find that I can tell the really good ones by how easy it is to get in and just drive without trying to acclimitize to the car. The Miata is one such car, as is the Integra Type-R. From what I hear about the Evo, it sounds like it might fit that category too - need a test drive.
UL