C5 Corvette - Worth it?

I currently have a 2010 BMW 128i as my fun car, and have had it for just over a year.  It's good on track days, but not overly great at autocross, at least in its current form.  I like the car, but I don't love it.  

Recently during my craigslist scrolling, I came across a 2003 Corvette that seems right up my alley.  I've had experience with LS motors before, but never the Corvette.  

So, that puts me at a crossroads.  Boot the bimmer and go for the Corvette and start over, or start adding parts to the 128i and try and get it where it can be.  My rough spreadsheeting puts them about equal price wise for this venture.  

What's your take on this good problem?

Is the C5 Corvette today's best bargain supercar? | Buyer's Guide

you didn't mention if it was a Z06 but also

Project Cars - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette Z06

In reply to johndej :

Thank you for those links.  It is a base coupe, not a Z06.  If it were, and the pricing were the same, to me it would be a no brainer.

Would love a Z06, but pricing becomes a factor.  

Edit:  to be clear, I know I've been talking pricing a bit, but I acknowledge that the price of consumables would be higher with the C5 compared to the 128i, and that's something I'm willing to take on.

If you want a dollars-for-performance deal, a C5 or later Corvette is unbeatable. If you want dollars-for-fun there are a lot of better deals out there than a Corvette. So which do you want?

When estimating costs on the Corvette, do make sure to account for the survivability mods required, including track-rated aftermarket wheel hubs & bearings. Consumable costs will also be high right off the bat, and be aware that there's some significant "rich guy tax" in the price of Corvette-specific aftermarket parts.

In reply to GameboyRMH :

Well, like any good enthusiast, I want both! 

But I see your point, and it's a good one.  In terms of $/fun, that's where I'm stuck between the two.  They both seem to bring something to that table.  

Z06 or nothing. The base Corvette is going to be just as much, if not more, of an autocross turd as the BMW and need just as many parts thrown at it to be decent.

I'll be the voice of dissent here, especially if track days are your plan. Note that the C5 only has sliding calipers that routinely fail on track so you'll have to drop a significant amount on brakes just to keep up with the stock power level. After that, the wheels are odd sizes so expect to find some other stock wheels to make a square set or spend big money on aftermarket because of the C5-only bolt pattern/offset/sizing. 

Once you have those done and dialed in, you'll have to worry about the ABS module going out, really expensive clutch jobs because they are such a pita, and you'll want to replace the seats because the seat backs don't lock in place.

Just be aware of the costs involved for actual track work. I think the C6 is a much better starting point because of these issues, but if you can get a base model C5 cheap enough OR it has some of these big ticket items done, then it's a good buy.

Tires on a Corvette are pricey due to the width, 330 meats cost more than 205s!

In reply to Javelin :

This is what I'm looking for.  The pitfalls beyond the meme level stuff of having to buy white NBs.  The brake info is new to me, and definitely noted.  Does that also apply to the Z06?

Everything Javelin said, plus the interiors are laughable and the stock shifter leaves a lot to be desired. Get used to the targa top squeaking incessantly. If it were me, I'd pony up the extra cash for a C6 grand sport. You're either spending the money on a C5 + upgrades, or on a nicer C6. 

Puddy46 said:

In reply to Javelin :

This is what I'm looking for.  The pitfalls beyond the meme level stuff of having to buy white NBs.  The brake info is new to me, and definitely noted.  Does that also apply to the Z06?

Yes, it does. I had a mint C5 Z06 and it drove me crazy that it couldn't even do a Track Night in America stock. The brake ducts are fake as well. The Z isn't worth anything more than the base for a track car because you'll have to replace nearly every part (except the transaxle) that made the Z special to survive on track anyways. 

In reply to Javelin :

So, it sounds like the jump to an early C6 is worth the extra up front costs.  A Grand Sport as mentioned elsewhere simply isn't going to happen.  Too much of a stretch.  

Puddy46 said:

In reply to Javelin :

So, it sounds like the jump to an early C6 is worth the extra up front costs.  A Grand Sport as mentioned elsewhere simply isn't going to happen.  Too much of a stretch.  

Absofreakinglutely. The C6 has better wheel/tire sizes (18's and up and less stagger not to mention easier to find other wheels), the GS and Z06 have fixed brake calipers (and even if a GS is out of your price range, at least you can buy the OE brakes reasonably to swap onto your base, which will have sliding calipers), there's less ABS and steering column drama, and the seats at least lock in place.

I'll throw in a different perspective.  My daily is a 2011 128i 6spd.  Bone stock outside of 200TW tires, Motul brake fluid and race pads.  I've also owned 3 C5s.

I'm not an autox person but am HPDE.  First question is how much do you really care about your times in autox?  I could give two E36 M3s about lap times in HPDE, I just want to have fun.  The C5 is certainly a faster car given the power but I love my BMW.  The Corvette is big and never lets you forget it.  The interior is very comfortable but also very GM 30 years ago.  The BMW is smoother and easier to drive fast.

Don't get me wrong, there's a reason I've had several C5s.  They are bang for the buck all day long.  Fantastic performance.  However the 128i is just a better overall car, even on track.

In reply to SKJSS (formerly Klayfish) :

How much do I care about my autoX times?  Not a whole lot. I am there mostly for the enjoyment.  If I were there purely to win, this thread wouldn't even exist, since I'd be looking in a completely different direction.  With that said, I certainly enjoy being in the mix. HPDE is the same mindset.  

Outside of those arenas, I'm a sucker for a V8, and it's been a while since I've had one, and the itch to get back into one is getting stronger.

I guess my worry with the 128i is if I dump a bunch of money into it (new shocks/springs, diff, new seats etc.), will I be satisfied with it?  And unfortunately there's only one surefire way to find out.  

If you're just itching for a V8 that can do AX and HPDE there's other better platforms I think. 

4th Gen f-body - can use HUGE tires, SLA front suspension, all the science is done already just call Strano.

04-06 GTO - can't AX and narrow tires, but superb at HPDE. Pedders has all your suspension answers. 

99,01,03-04 Cobra - IRS, great drivetrain from front to back, sky is the limit on aftermarket parts, huge tires, 03-04 can make 1K+ HP reliably if you want.

B8 Audi S5 - 4.2L V8, 6 speed manual, AWD. Get one with the Sport Diff or call JXB for a Wavetrac. Macan front calipers bolt on cheap, suspension doesn't really need a thing. 

In reply to Javelin :

You're 100% correct on the GTO.  I autocrossed one for a few years, and it was not worth much in the cones except for making nice exhaust noises.  

Interesting suggestion on the 4th gen F-Body.  My assumption has always been that the C5 was a sharper tool than the Camaro.  Might be worth a closer look.  Does the same brake issue that C5 has also apply to the F-Body?

In reply to Puddy46 :

The 4GFB might be a better platform overall than the C5. The front suspension is superior, and the torque arm rear really doesn't give up much to the C5's transverse leaf IRS. The 4G is lighter, has room for bigger tires, and has much more headspace for improvement in the transmission and rear axle areas without spending tens of thousands. Same brake issue as the C5 in that the stock brakes are all sliding calipers, except you can bolt 1G CTS-V 4 piston Brembos to the 4GFB which you can't do to the C5, so an affordable all-factory upgrade is available. Also, no ABS issues and you can still get 100% of the parts, unlike the C5.

Puddy46 said:

I guess my worry with the 128i is if I dump a bunch of money into it (new shocks/springs, diff, new seats etc.), will I be satisfied with it?  And unfortunately there's only one surefire way to find out.  

Why would you need to do that?

I'm not arguing, I'm just a little unclear from your different posts. It seems like you're saying two different things at the same time. You mentioned you didn't care too much about autox times, but you're considering doing lots of things to your car or changing cars is for the sake of better lap times.

I would suggest did what's most important to you. The BMW and the C5 are both cars that can put a smile on your face whether racing in a parking lot or on a track. Neither will set fastest time of the day, but decide how much that matters to you. As an owner of both cars, and as an instructor I would see no reason to switch for the BMW unless you just want a different car for the sake of having something different. Nothing wrong with that whatsoever, but just decide what your priorities are.  

If you want a corvette, get one. You will love the hell out of it.  Otherwise put a good set of pads on your bmw, swap the fluid, tires and go have a blast.

In reply to Javelin :

Thank you for the explanation.  

in reply to SKJSS

To explain a bit further, just because I don't need to be at the front of the pack doesn't mean I'm not going to improve things.  For example, I have a non-sport 128, so the seats are awful, particularly during hard cornering.  These would be replaced with sport package seats.  It understeers whilst autocrossing, but the front suspension can be updated to address that issue with M3 parts.  Yes these will make the car faster, but will also make it more enjoyable, because as it sits now, it's not what I feel it could/should be.  That's the approach I'd be taking.

Man i see a lot of unjustified hate for the C5 here.  But as I recall, ol Javvy made a video bashing all his concerns with a C5 so not so surprising.  

I rarely say "read the comments" on Youtube, but in this case its a good read.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaI8TPwGtbs

Anywho, couple of happier datapoints on the C5 from someone who owned and loved one.

• 03 and 04 are the best of the breed, all the concerns about ABS, steering angle sensors, and whatnot that plague the early cars has been addressed by improving the systems and using non-corvette-specific parts.
• 02 to 04 got the LS6 intake on all C5s regardless of trim level.
• The targa does give up a bit of weight and stiffness over the coupe but its worth it if you want to daily it.  They are absolutely cavernous inside, super comfy with the top up or down.  You can take everything you need for a camping weekend and still get there with the top in the trunk.  
• C5s are at the absolute bottom of their depreciation curve and are an excellent bargain.  
• Sure you might need to find some wheels - but what they dont tell you is full sets of C5 takeoffs trade hands for under $100 a wheel if you know where to look and are not picky about style for a track day wheelset, even less for broken sets or loose wheels.
• F-Bodys are ugly, hard to work on, cant effectively run a true dual exhaust and maintain decent ground clearance.  Hard pass.
• GTOs are ugly, impossible to get parts for, tiny wheelwells and weak rear axles.  Oh did I mention you can't get any parts for them?  Hard pass.
• 03-04 Terminator Cobras can make decent power, not the 1k horsepower claimed but 500 is pretty doable with a few decent mods.   They are also heavy, rare, and expensive, with an interior that makes a C5 look like a Bentley.  

In reply to 93gsxturbo :

I love how my conclusion of "buy a base C5 or C6 instead of a C5Z" is still seen a bashing. 

This ratty c5 looks like a ton of fun!

C5 CORVETTE - auto parts - by owner - vehicle automotive sale (craigslist.org)

Everyone is bagging on the C5 Vette and meanwhile I'm over here living with a C4.