Is anyone else a little disillusioned with the C4-C5 transition?

[01TriBlack]

Please don't get me wrong: I think the C5 is a beautiful automobile... and a person can't complain about the increase in stock HP. That said, I'm feeling like I made a dreadful mistake in trading up. I'm not liking this car - to the extent I'm considering selling it and getting out of 'vettes altogether. It's too freakin' sophisticated, yet the interior looks cheap as hell. I miss the cockpit feel of the C4... I miss the crappy Gold Bose (the C5's deck sounds like CHIT!)...I miss the sport seats of the C4 (yes, I've got them in the C5 - crappy)... I miss the clamshell... I miss the relative quiet of the C4 (even with the runflats off, it's LOUD!).... I miss the gas filler on the top of the rear deck...I even miss the higher door sill, as nuts as that sounds. I dunno...I just really disillusioned. Aside from the HP, I'm not seeing the draw to the C5 over the later-year'd C4's. The C4 had a sports car feel the C5 lacks.

Anyone else who has gone from a C4 to a C5 kinda feel the same way? What to do, what to do.

 

[Ken]

... getting out of 'vettes altogether.

A little extreme, don't ya think? :L

Just back up to whatever year pleases you the most.

 

[01TriBlack]

A little extreme, don't ya think? :L

Just back up to whatever year pleases you the most.

Well, ya know, Ken, my '96 was pretty much in pristine condition. To attempt to replace it - well, that's not gonna happen. I'm just feeling down about the whole deal, ya know? Perhaps a little unhappy with myself at the same time.

Mary

 

[Ken]

Workin' backwards should turn up something equally as good as your description of the '96, and the capper would be that you're going to be trading down, so you should do alright financially.

 

[01TriBlack]

Workin' backwards should turn up something equally as good as your description of the '96, and the capper would be that you're going to be trading down, so you should do alright financially.

True dat... an added bonus. I didn't mean to sound snotty, by the way, Ken. Have a good one.

Mary

 

[c5vetter]

and the C5 to C6 transition is even crappier! where is the inovation that one should expect for the AMERICAN SPORTS CAR! there is none! everything is old technology

 

[68Roadster]

Girl,
Your'e scaring me...........I don't want ya going ricer on us........I could handle German or Italian (wife gave up nice Mercedes for our '04).....

Those paint fumes from that freshly painted door affecting your judgement??

Earth to Mary......come in................

I'm just ribbing ya.....maybe I have a different perspective having gone from '81 to '85 to '88 to '68.......after driving the latest beast, it's a joy to hop in that '04.........

All the best to ya.....hope ya figure this one out/maintain happiness!

Cee

 

[Dave C. '04 Z06]

01TriBlack:

People might flame me for this, but I feel the same way sort of. I traded my perfectly good '95 6-speed coupe for an '04 Z06. It was a spur of the moment thing, I was at the dealership helping my girlfriend look for a truck. Trust me, the Z06 is a better handling, accelerating, and braking car all around than the 1995 was, and people certainly give me the thumbs up alot while I'm driving it.

But there is something I miss about the 1995. I do miss filling it up with gas at the back of the car. I really liked the way the back end looked on the '95 also. The clamshell was cool also. I once changed the shocks without even removing the wheels. Maybe it was the whole transmission attached to the engine, shifter right on the tranny thing. I did like the instruments in the C4 better, if only for the fact it gave me an oil temp gauge. (The C5 you have to look at the DIC for that)

Of course, it could also be that the '95 was paid for.

Who knows. I like the C5, but I really miss my '95 also. I should have just kept it. Maybe after my C5 is paid for then I'll buy another late C4 and have two vettes.

-Dave C. '04 Z06

Please don't get me wrong: I think the C5 is a beautiful automobile... and a person can't complain about the increase in stock HP. That said, I'm feeling like I made a dreadful mistake in trading up. I'm not liking this car - to the extent I'm considering selling it and getting out of 'vettes altogether. It's too freakin' sophisticated, yet the interior looks cheap as hell. I miss the cockpit feel of the C4... I miss the crappy Gold Bose (the C5's deck sounds like CHIT!)...I miss the sport seats of the C4 (yes, I've got them in the C5 - crappy)... I miss the clamshell... I miss the relative quiet of the C4 (even with the runflats off, it's LOUD!).... I miss the gas filler on the top of the rear deck...I even miss the higher door sill, as nuts as that sounds. I dunno...I just really disillusioned. Aside from the HP, I'm not seeing the draw to the C5 over the later-year'd C4's. The C4 had a sports car feel the C5 lacks.

Anyone else who has gone from a C4 to a C5 kinda feel the same way? What to do, what to do.

 

[RedRagTop]

Think I'll hold onto mine for a bit. No slam to the C5 but the C4 seems less bulky at the back and has more of a race car feel. Very visceral. Cleaner lines, more in common with the classics...

 

[01TriBlack]

Girl,
Your'e scaring me...........I don't want ya going ricer on us........I could handle German or Italian (wife gave up nice Mercedes for our '04).....

Those paint fumes from that freshly painted door affecting your judgement??

Earth to Mary......come in................

I'm just ribbing ya.....maybe I have a different perspective having gone from '81 to '85 to '88 to '68.......after driving the latest beast, it's a joy to hop in that '04.........

All the best to ya.....hope ya figure this one out/maintain happiness!

Cee

Hiya, Cee!! Nope, no paint fumes - I even checked my arms for tracks.... nada. I was actually thinking ~gulp~ Cadillac. Ack!!! I know, I know!!! I don't care for MB's and I don't care for BMW's - well I actually don't care for imports, period. Part of my problem, too, I think, is I went from an automatic to a manual - the shifting's getting to me (I do a lot of in-town driving) and it may just be nudging me to find other things "wrong" to justify my dislike for the car. I wish I could turn time back and have the '96 back.... I do, I do. I really enjoyed driving that car.

Have a great weekend, my friend.

Mary

 

[01TriBlack]

Hi, DaveC! Thanks for your reply - and I am SO happy I'm not the only one (but maybe we're the only two). Those C4's were special, no doubt about it. My driving experience just isn't the same.

Have a rockin' weekend!

Mary

 

[01TriBlack]

Think I'll hold onto mine for a bit. No slam to the C5 but the C4 seems less bulky at the back and has more of a race car feel. Very visceral. Cleaner lines, more in common with the classics...

Exactly!!! Thanks!!

Hope you're weekend's a grrrrrrreat one!

Mary

 

[singledad_9]

Mary,

Even tho I totaled my C4 in a double tee-bone and those frame rails did stop those two cars from injuring me further, honestly I prefer the C5 over the C4. Now your decision to purchase a standard over an automatic, without considering your predominate driving habits is another issue. Frankly, my experience with the C4 was it felt heavier on the highway and in the twisties. Secondly, you must admit that it is easier to be ladylike getting into and out of the C5.

As far as the interior, now understand I had an 87 C4 and I hated it's video game dash. The gauges are neatly laid out and are easily read. Since I have the HUD, I don't look at the dash very often tho. I like the interior and really don't know why some people have complained about it.

 

[Blade]

Please don't leave.

Changing Corvette models is kind of like changing boy or girl friends. They are all different and no two are alike. The new one may have a different look and feel from the old one, you sometimes have to adjust with change. Maybe you should skip the C5 and wait for the C6 this fall.

 

[Remo]

Mary, Dave, Randy,

Find a C4 and leave town.

Remo:cool

 

[korvettekarl]

Sorry you feel that way. I have owned four C4s and two C5s and I did like the C4s (90 ZR1 is awsome) but I still like the C5s. They are easier to get in and out of, more horsepower, better handling and I could go on and on but... you can't please everybody and never will. Find the car you like and be done with it.

 

[Tuna]

This is just a subjective area that only you can make up your mind as to which way to go. I know many people that have C3's and C4's and would not trade up or out of them for the world. Each generation of Corvettes has it's own appeal and sometimes it does not translate forward - or backward.

Since I have both a C4 and a C5 in the garage, I obviously find appeal for both. I love my 03 vert but I love my 92 coupe also. I'm not going to get rid of either.

If you really like the C4 better, then it's probably time to trade back to one. Don't give up on Corvettes, it's obvious that you still like at least one generation.

When my wife got her 98, she traded out of a 93. After about a year, she confided in me that she liked the old 93 better. Something about the tigher cockpit and all sorts of intangible things. She didn't want to give up the performance of the C5 but she wanted the feel of the C4 again. We sold the 98 and bought a 96 CE LT4 Z51 car - she was very happy with that deal.

Some where along the way we started looking at buying a 50th AE model and decided on the convertible version. Sold the 96 and bought the AE vert. My wife is still happy - she loves the vert. I think that made the difference this time.

Me, I'm still tooling around in my C4 everyday. Not wanting to be beaten by my wife's 03 all the time, I converted my LT1 to and LT4+ and I'm not complaining.

Good luck with your decision. Take it easy.

 

[01TriBlack]

Thanks for the input. Man, I want to like this car - I really do. I'm going to give it a go through the summer and make a decision then. In all fairness to the car, it's not its fault we've had a bus strike going on for 6 weeks and I've been giving someone a ride everyday who lives smack dab in the center of Minneapolis proper - the stick is driving me nuts... I get stressed out about that and then think of all the stuff I liked on the C4 (over and above it being an automatic). In order to make an informed decision, I really should drive it for a few more months during a no strike period (should end today, I hope).

Mary

 

[atmmac]

The only vette i have ever owned is a C5 i have driven a C3 other than my 97. It was a beat up 77 and ive always wanted to try and drive some other vettes. My 97 is beautiful especially wiht such low mileage but some of the other years maybe nicer. You just dont know till you drive them.

-Andy

 

[JBsC5]

01 triple black..


It sounds like its time to sell the car..

Not everyone can be pleased with it.

Wishing you the best and I am sure you'll make someone very happy when they purchase your car..


What car R you considering replacing the Corvette with?

Hope it works out for you.

BTW as an original owner of an automatic 1999 C5 and now a Z06 I would suggest putting out an advertisment throughout the various internet forums that you would like to do an even trade for an automatic 3.15 rear Corvette..

I remember had I found someone willing to trade/swap cars like that I would have jumped on it..at the time and I am sure many would feel the same way..

No Sh!t...consider it if the stick shift is bothering you..

I love shifting as it makes the car more involving as a fun toy..but thats not for everyone ..especially those who drive in traffic daily..

Just consider the terminology Point and shoot! thats the cool part of Automatic C5's..

Put up a few posts in the various sites for a trade and I am sure you'll find an excellent example to choose from.

JMO ...Good luck..

JB