C5/C6 as a daily ?
Discussion
I keep finding myself looking at Corvettes, never driven one but imagine they are quite pleasant, fairly light with a big engine.
But, does anyone use them as a daily, not bothered about the fuel consumption but are they easy to live with day to day ? do they cope ok with being left outside in UK weather ?
Are the C5 and C6 very different ?
Does the left hand drive aspect make life hard, getting through the gate at work would be fun, but I guess a grabby stick thing would do the trick.
But, does anyone use them as a daily, not bothered about the fuel consumption but are they easy to live with day to day ? do they cope ok with being left outside in UK weather ?
Are the C5 and C6 very different ?
Does the left hand drive aspect make life hard, getting through the gate at work would be fun, but I guess a grabby stick thing would do the trick.
Edited by J4CKO on Sunday 20th January 21:29
I recently sold my C6 convertible auto (Mustang GT on the way!) that I bought from new and ran for nearly 11 years as a daily driver. In the early 2000s I ran a C5 convertible auto for nearly 3 years as a daily driver. Both of them were perfectly practical as a daily driver, reliable and relatively cheap to run. Only thing to bear in mind is that even the newest C5 will be over 15 years old which may have an impact. Also, you probably don't want to put too much mileage on them for resale - my C6 was at the high end of acceptable with 67K miles (so only about 6K miles per year).
As for LHD and car parks - I just used to get out and walk round
Nearly forgot to add that both the C5 and C6 were completely water-tight (unlike the POS Z4 I had in between then...). If you do park outside, one thing to watch for with the C6 (or indeed any car with auto-indexed windows) is that they'll freeze to the seals in very cold weather so the door will be hard to open and impossible to close until you've defrosted them...
As for LHD and car parks - I just used to get out and walk round
Nearly forgot to add that both the C5 and C6 were completely water-tight (unlike the POS Z4 I had in between then...). If you do park outside, one thing to watch for with the C6 (or indeed any car with auto-indexed windows) is that they'll freeze to the seals in very cold weather so the door will be hard to open and impossible to close until you've defrosted them...
Edited by GW65 on Monday 21st January 09:51
GW65 said:
I recently sold my C6 convertible auto (Mustang GT on the way!) that I bought from new and ran for nearly 11 years as a daily driver. In the early 2000s I ran a C5 convertible auto for nearly 3 years as a daily driver. Both of them were perfectly practical as a daily driver, reliable and relatively cheap to run. Only thing to bear in mind is that even the newest C5 will be over 15 years old which may have an impact. Also, you probably don't want to put too much mileage on them for resale - my C6 was at the high end of acceptable with 67K miles (so only about 6K miles per year).
As for LHD and car parks - I just used to get out and walk round
Nearly forgot to add that both the C5 and C6 were completely water-tight (unlike the POS Z4 I had in between then...). If you do park outside, one thing to watch for with the C6 (or indeed any car with auto-indexed windows) is that they'll freeze to the seals in very cold weather so the door will be hard to open and impossible to close until you've defrosted them...
Cheers, that fits in with my expectations, as they are American and that overs a huge land mass and massive variations in temperature and weather in general, couple d with the fact Americans arent good at accepting stuff that doesnt work it makes me think they are pretty robust.As for LHD and car parks - I just used to get out and walk round
Nearly forgot to add that both the C5 and C6 were completely water-tight (unlike the POS Z4 I had in between then...). If you do park outside, one thing to watch for with the C6 (or indeed any car with auto-indexed windows) is that they'll freeze to the seals in very cold weather so the door will be hard to open and impossible to close until you've defrosted them...
Edited by GW65 on Monday 21st January 09:51
Will be interested to hear how the Mustang compares, I am currently in an M135i and its very good, but its just not that interesting, wont be changing yet but the Mustang is on the radar as the wife has always wanted one and I have recently got a liking for corvettes, well, always liked them but never thought about owning them, after a 944 Cab, CLS and a 350Z convertible the BMW is a bit too normal. Wont be yet, will probably look to change for my 50th in a year and a bit, so plenty of time to do some research. A mate of my dads just bought a Grand Sport C6 so might drop in on him and have a nosey.
Hi J4CKO,
I use my C6 as often as possible, but have stopped using it now the very coldest weather is here. Until I build my carport it is outside and so far there are no leaks and it always starts. It isn't quite as easy to use as the Z4M I had before it, but it feels like an occasion every time I drive the Corvette; from the way it sways on start up, the rumble of the exhaust (it needs an aftermarket or NPP system, standard boxes are too quiet), to the positive reaction it seems to bring to others.
The big fuel tank gives good range, unlike my RX-8 daily that seems to need filling every few days! Plenty of cabin space and the boot is enormous.
Left hand drive does feel uncomfortable to begin with, squeezing through gaps or running over cats eyes takes a little getting used to, but after a few days it becomes second nature and swapping between lhd and rhd is now easy.
I have to admit that the Z4M was a better car in many, many ways and yet I don't regret changing, the Corvette really is fun.
I use my C6 as often as possible, but have stopped using it now the very coldest weather is here. Until I build my carport it is outside and so far there are no leaks and it always starts. It isn't quite as easy to use as the Z4M I had before it, but it feels like an occasion every time I drive the Corvette; from the way it sways on start up, the rumble of the exhaust (it needs an aftermarket or NPP system, standard boxes are too quiet), to the positive reaction it seems to bring to others.
The big fuel tank gives good range, unlike my RX-8 daily that seems to need filling every few days! Plenty of cabin space and the boot is enormous.
Left hand drive does feel uncomfortable to begin with, squeezing through gaps or running over cats eyes takes a little getting used to, but after a few days it becomes second nature and swapping between lhd and rhd is now easy.
I have to admit that the Z4M was a better car in many, many ways and yet I don't regret changing, the Corvette really is fun.
I daily drove mine for 5 years whilst lucky enough to reside in the good ole USofA. 10k a year, 100 mile ish round trip commute. Loved it. Roof off yada yada....
No way would I DD it here. Nothing to do with LHD or being precious (it gets used properly) but I really don’t think it would be suited. Takes at least 10 miles for the box to warm through, skittish on anything but smooth tarmac, neighbours would hate on me firing up the kooks and magnaflows at 5am (105db static) and tbh I couldn’t be arsed to get it out of the garage every day lol.
The V70 makes a lovely all round do everything else but be a Corvette car.
No way would I DD it here. Nothing to do with LHD or being precious (it gets used properly) but I really don’t think it would be suited. Takes at least 10 miles for the box to warm through, skittish on anything but smooth tarmac, neighbours would hate on me firing up the kooks and magnaflows at 5am (105db static) and tbh I couldn’t be arsed to get it out of the garage every day lol.
The V70 makes a lovely all round do everything else but be a Corvette car.
MrNoisy said:
I daily drove mine for 5 years whilst lucky enough to reside in the good ole USofA. 10k a year, 100 mile ish round trip commute. Loved it. Roof off yada yada....
No way would I DD it here. Nothing to do with LHD or being precious (it gets used properly) but I really don’t think it would be suited. Takes at least 10 miles for the box to warm through, skittish on anything but smooth tarmac, neighbours would hate on me firing up the kooks and magnaflows at 5am (105db static) and tbh I couldn’t be arsed to get it out of the garage every day lol.
The V70 makes a lovely all round do everything else but be a Corvette car.
Can't comment on the manual box (mine were autos so no worries about warm-up), but puzzled by the "skittish on anything but smooth tarmac" comments. I can relate to that for say a C4, but my C5 and C6 were absolutely fine on potholed country roads...No way would I DD it here. Nothing to do with LHD or being precious (it gets used properly) but I really don’t think it would be suited. Takes at least 10 miles for the box to warm through, skittish on anything but smooth tarmac, neighbours would hate on me firing up the kooks and magnaflows at 5am (105db static) and tbh I couldn’t be arsed to get it out of the garage every day lol.
The V70 makes a lovely all round do everything else but be a Corvette car.
Sorry, I admit I am slightly lower/stiffer and more aggressively aligned than a stock Z06. Talking mainly about my car, have no knowledge of base sprung or autos for that matter. It’s a compromise born out of not wanting it to wallow around on track which is 95% of it’s duties these days.
Regards the other points on here I couldn’t agree more. The Vette is supremely reliable and surprisingly economical, I like to think of it as the thinking mans TVR.
It’s all personal pref too, I work with a chap who DR’s his superbike - mentalist.
Regards the other points on here I couldn’t agree more. The Vette is supremely reliable and surprisingly economical, I like to think of it as the thinking mans TVR.
It’s all personal pref too, I work with a chap who DR’s his superbike - mentalist.
J4CKO said:
I keep finding myself looking at Corvettes, never driven one but imagine they are quite pleasant, fairly light with a big engine.
But, does anyone use them as a daily, not bothered about the fuel consumption but are they easy to live with day to day ? do they cope ok with being left outside in UK weather ?
Are the C5 and C6 very different ?
Does the left hand drive aspect make life hard, getting through the gate at work would be fun, but I guess a grabby stick thing would do the trick.
Have to admit, I've always wanted a Corvette. I went to look at a C5 back in 2005'ish, but ended up driving away in a 1999 Camaro (same engine/gearbox) But, does anyone use them as a daily, not bothered about the fuel consumption but are they easy to live with day to day ? do they cope ok with being left outside in UK weather ?
Are the C5 and C6 very different ?
Does the left hand drive aspect make life hard, getting through the gate at work would be fun, but I guess a grabby stick thing would do the trick.
Edited by J4CKO on Sunday 20th January 21:29
The Corvettes look fantastic though.
IMO the C5 is better looking than the C6, it's a prettier car and you get popup headlights. But the interior of the C5 is very much 1990's plastic. The C6 interior is much better. Underneath, they are different. But IMO not massively so. Meaning general performance is not miles different between the two.
The C6 has more power stock, so is a little faster, but also a little more refined.
They aren't big cars, but neither are they small and the big hips might make them feel wider than they are. LHD shouldn't be an issue really, just pull up square at junctions, even when turning left. I also just get out and walk round for access gates. Although I don't have to do it much.
Overtaking it can be harder to see past the car in front, especially if you quite close. But my driving style means I don't usually try all that many overtakes anyway, not unless I can safely see. So I've never really found it to be an issue.
Parts are easy and plentiful to get. Some do carry the "Corvette tax", but are likely still cheap vs some Euro cars. Reliability should be top notch however.
I suspect any Corvette will feel very different to your current BMW. Not in a good or bad way, just different. But I think a Vette, like many yank cars, are cars you can truly fall in love with. They have character and ability. I've always thought of them as rather like a mass produced TVR. A bit heavier, a less exciting interior, but something that presses all the right spots and won't need anywhere near the amount of TLC.
Stock exhausts totally mute the engine note. The first thing you'll want to change is for a loud(er) exhaust. The OHV LS engines sound fantastic when un-corked.
Also worth noting, due to the how the chassis is designed/built. Convertibles have the same rigidity as the coupes and no extra weight. Although IMO the coupes look the best.
Stock C5 coupes have a removable roof panel, so maybe best of both worlds.
There is also the C5 Z06, this is a fixed roof coupe in a notchback style. These will out perform a stock C6 and are more focused and capable than either a C5 or C6. That said, Vettes are more about going round corners, not sliding round them. And with the big low end grunt the engines offer, more than a few people have spun them.
Go and get a drive in some and see what you think
I ran a C4 as a daily for 3 years and an LS1 Camaro Z28 as a daily for 4 years. Both autos
Ihad a C5 Z06 as a garage queen.
The car will cope admirably with daily use but the C5 is very curvy and wide and the Camaro was easier to place.
Manual C5s are not the last word in car gearboxes .. or tractor gearboxes. I think the C6 manual is better and the car is more compact but not as good-looking.
Ihad a C5 Z06 as a garage queen.
The car will cope admirably with daily use but the C5 is very curvy and wide and the Camaro was easier to place.
Manual C5s are not the last word in car gearboxes .. or tractor gearboxes. I think the C6 manual is better and the car is more compact but not as good-looking.
GW65 said:
Nearly forgot to add that both the C5 and C6 were completely water-tight (unlike the POS Z4 I had in between then...). If you do park outside, one thing to watch for with the C6 (or indeed any car with auto-indexed windows) is that they'll freeze to the seals in very cold weather so the door will be hard to open and impossible to close until you've defrosted them...
A top tip to stop indexed windows from freezing in very cold weather hindering access to the car is to coat the rubber seals all around the door and along the roof line with Vaseline. Vaseline freezes at -45 c, so stops the windows sticking to the rubbers at any temp we are likely to see in the UK. Edited by GW65 on Monday 21st January 09:51
Superleg48 said:
A top tip to stop indexed windows from freezing in very cold weather hindering access to the car is to coat the rubber seals all around the door and along the roof line with Vaseline. Vaseline freezes at -45 c, so stops the windows sticking to the rubbers at any temp we are likely to see in the UK.
It was the "lip seals" at the top of the door panel that caused the problem - don't you get smearing on the glass from the Vaseline?
Gassing Station | Corvettes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff