Best guide on Corvette C5 I ever saw. Short, extremely concice with all high points explained. Well done! Awaiting my 2003 C5 tomorrow Monday the 25th of July, or Tuesday, depending on the trucking.
Removing the roof for summer cruising was a big reason for me to get the targa over the Z06. You are basically driving a shooting break at that point, very practical and fun!
I am on the fence on which version. From a looks standpoint most people prefer the big back window targa top. I am not sure that it looks better than the convertible/FRC/Z06 or is it trickier because it’s 50 hp better??? Deceptions with Horsepower??? Also finding the Z06 that hasn’t been hammered on a lot is a task!!! I do love the room of the Targa!!! What’s a guy to do???? Use will be trips! Goal is to road trip it from North Central Idaho to Albert Lea MN then to Corvette Museum in bowling green then back home!!! Hitting all the cool things along the way. 6 speed is a must.
My 02 has a touchscreen stereo added, really modernizes the car. Makes it look 10 yrs newer inside and adds Bluetooth and other features including a backup camera. I have the 1SC package, just the perfect car!!!
I would like to do that, but I'm kind of concerned that in the bright sunlight the screen will be a pain in the ass to be able to see it. Am I right or am I missing the boat?
I'm the current owner of a 2000 Corvette Convertible with 217,500 original miles. Only faws are mostly it's electronics. I averay 25 mpg city and low 30's highway and offers something that coups and hard tops can't offer, wonderful enjoyment of driving with the top down rain or shine
Good C5 content ... I actually own a C5 2004 triple black convertible corvette only 28,000 miles. I get looks everytime I pull it out. Most times I go to cruise- ins every year someone offers to buy it. I never plan to sell, but I'm a guy that prefers the look vs hard-core performance. But that's just my preference..
04 Z06 here and I am always glad I made that choice. Yes I mainly use it for street driving but it's not rough riding, holds its value, and can run low 12s. (I have a few mods)
@@Toys4Life thanks for all the informative videos, I watched a lot of them when I first started looking for one . I made a long check list for common problems and I'd like to think I was well prepared.
I plan on getting the z06 sometime next year. Just saving money for some investments I want to make right now. Definitely gonna keep my vette bone stock with the exception of a red leather interior upgrade from Canepa in Scotts Valley CA. and have the corvette letters in the rear painted red. Also going to shoot to get the girl @2:33 too 😁 Then when my investments start to yield returns I'll add the C8 to the garage.
I have a 02 convertible manual yellow , installed a RPM 4 point rollcage so i could go on trackdays , sorry to say my LS1 gave up so installed a iron block 6.0L with LS3 top end and a twin disk Monster clutch , just new for the summer season hopefully no more problems and lots of driving.
I just picked up a 2K Targa A4 in Magnetic Red Metallic. It has a body colored top which I really like. It is a base model, my mom is the original owner, she has trouble getting out of it now so she gave it to me. She is 81..
I'm 65, so my '04 C5 convertible is perfect for me, auto trans and less than 50k miles, love it, did have to upgrade to a double dinn touch screen stereo sys tho, rock-n-roll
Thanks for another great vid. I must admit, after watching a second time, I didn't realize there was a Corvette in that brief convertible video sweep with the blonde in the "very" LBD.
Man I love the thought of a C5 Z06, but I promised myself when I get my ‘Vette it’s gotta be a ‘Vert. Plus, now I’m old and beat up pretty good…so I need the cushier, quieter ride with the sound absorbency in the interior. All in all, I think I will still get a convertible but then put a strong, frame-mounted roll-bar in and then put a supercharger on along with heads and cam, etc.
Any idea what to do or how to add cooling to a C5 so the intake and oil, etc stay cooler being supercharged? I don’t mind adding extra radiators, or anything that can do this as I believe keeping the powerplant cooler not only produces more power, it is also a much longer lasting engine then. Thots? I could be driving the car long distances in the desert…
By the way, I wish you had mentioned the Z06 commerative edition which I own. It has further refinements over the regular Z06 including a carbon fiber hood.
@@nickcasserlie4603 No options, track suspension, thinner glass, no spare tire, no run-flats, no sound insulation, different gear ratios. This is to the best of my knowledge.
@@rabbitcool1238 yes, I sill have mine. Only con that I see is it’s tough to get in and out of for me (I’m 53). These cars are not easy to work on. Clutch and harmonic balancer jobs are difficult and expensive if you have someone else do it. But I love how comfortable it is to drive, and how stable it is at 80/90 mph. Mine has 130k on it and it runs flawlessly
I’m pretty torn at the moment between the better looking coup and putting about 10-15k in upgrades into it from the start (upgrading all lighting, infotainment with backup cam, full exhaust, tune, wheels, or potentially to go straight to supercharger) …… or go for a stock z06 for the rarity and a little performance boost stock vs stock. Deff leaning towards a coup, but really side eyeing a z06 lol really just want super fun retro project car and it just doesn’t get more 80-90s retro then having both flip ups and a targa lol
Not yet - I am going to practice on one of our older cars first (just in case (:-) ) ! 2 years ago I made the mistake of not washing the C5 before the MN winter. Had to look at a dirty C5 all winter. This past year, I washed it up one last time.. Makes me feel better!! Cheers!
The c5 paint is really hard . Best thing wash clay bar and clean your pad often and you'll be fine. Get a good flash light. If you have da polisher you won't burn through. That paint is Tuff.
I want a Z06 and a Targa car! I can't have both, no space for that. I plan on upgrades so I'm thinking the lower price Targa, but damn, I love the FRC and that trunk.
I’m torn between them currently. On one hand you can’t hate the rarity and performance of the z06 but the base just looks so much better and things like the targa top and more sound proofing is deff tempting for just a weekend street car, which also leaves 10-15k for upgrades. I bet a c5 with 15k upgrades would be a lot more fun then a stock z06 lol
Oh ya wanted to ask you what clutch are you using? Doing research on clutches and there so much options. I was thinking of the act twin disc street clutch. Supercharger is coming after I break in the clutch.
You're right, there's some really good ones out there. At the end of the day I went to with the monster LT1s. Got it on sale and I absolutely love it. Make sure you have monster balance it to match your old one. You'll have to send it into them, but they can match balance so you won't have any chance of running a new vibration issue that affects a small number of people after they put a new clutch and flywheel in.
I think convertibles look good but I have never liked riding with the top down. I can't remember if you have a hard top or targa on yours? I like the look of the targa top. However that being said two corvettes I've owned in the past with T Tops haunted me with squeaking to the point that it turned me against the car. I tried adjusting, lubing the weather strip. Only time they didn't squeak was with them off. Good tips, I look forward to your comp videos.
Thanks Larry! I have the Targa - pretty quiet compared to the T-Tops my old F-Body's had. Most Convertibles I see in MN's short summer - they have all the side glass up... kinda defeats the purpose - but to be fair, I have never owned a vert - maybe someday... Cheers!
I think I saw some verts at the track last summer....I believe NHRA Rules (which my local track follows) say you can run a vert up to 13.5 seconds and slower w/o a roll bar - but I am not 100% certain. But just because you can doesn't mean you should...
I just got a black on black c5 6 speed targa top with 38k miles ! Garage queen I have her about 5 weeks Afr headers ( a few thousand ) Cams 4:10 gears Stiffened axles Headers Cats with CORSA exhaust Bullet short shifter Power master starter Msd sparks plugs and injectors Mint interior She ain’t a joke She must be handled with respect and skill Words can’t describe how I feel about my c5 Zo6 are beautiful I wouldn’t dare trade my targa top for a z06 . I’m faster than z06 anyway!
By appearance and you cannot remove the roof panel. The coupe has a removable roof and the vert - well you know. FRC is stiffest - but others are pretty stiff too!
i bought a crashed 1998 Targa c5 its currently at the frame shop getting straightened total to repair the frame was 3.6k and i paid literally nothing for the car. id rather rebuild it then see it off to a bone yard especially since it still ran and drove.
@@Toys4Life right it’s not like the c6 where the weight is a bigger gap with the z06 and you have 100 less hp. The c5 weighs like 100 more pounds than the z06 c5 and only has like 30-50 less hp
Thank you for the comment Sir! Just my opinion of course but.... - road course racing - Z06. Street performance and occasional 1/4 drag racing (at a track of course) - supercharger kit is hard to beat for that wow factor every time you go for a ride while maintaining 100% drivability (even in rush hour traffic).
Trying to figure out what the difference between the active handling and the selective dampening…. I’ve seen some cars with 3 select modes and some with 2 select modes…
Hey, late to the game. If a friend bought a C5 Vert, loaded, with Z51... would said friend be in serious danger doing Auto Cross?lol Seems fine, car way better built for this lil baby action than others? Like, say a Ford Fiat, A zillion miatas, everything else under the sun? Thoughts?
I don't know, I hear those Miata people stuff LS engines in them and have all kinds of aftermarket support for Auto crossing. But I don't know much about Auto crossing to be honest.
The c5 Convertibles are very stiff.. The cars were built from the beginning to be a Convertible.The targa tops are just like convertible cars as there is no connecting solid roof structure.
Targa top is the only way to go for me
Same!
Definitely bought a 2002 with a glass top , 60k original miles all OEM
Best guide on Corvette C5 I ever saw. Short, extremely concice with all high points explained. Well done! Awaiting my 2003 C5 tomorrow Monday the 25th of July, or Tuesday, depending on the trucking.
Appreciate that, enjoy your new ride!!!
Removing the roof for summer cruising was a big reason for me to get the targa over the Z06. You are basically driving a shooting break at that point, very practical and fun!
Targa is great because you have a ton of storage and can take the top off, but it's also track worthy. You can't go wrong with any of them.
I am with you for 99% spirited street duty!
I am on the fence on which version. From a looks standpoint most people prefer the big back window targa top. I am not sure that it looks better than the convertible/FRC/Z06 or is it trickier because it’s 50 hp better??? Deceptions with Horsepower??? Also finding the Z06 that hasn’t been hammered on a lot is a task!!! I do love the room of the Targa!!! What’s a guy to do???? Use will be trips! Goal is to road trip it from North Central Idaho to Albert Lea MN then to Corvette Museum in bowling green then back home!!! Hitting all the cool things along the way. 6 speed is a must.
My 02 has a touchscreen stereo added, really modernizes the car. Makes it look 10 yrs newer inside and adds Bluetooth and other features including a backup camera. I have the 1SC package, just the perfect car!!!
I would like to do that, but I'm kind of concerned that in the bright sunlight the screen will be a pain in the ass to be able to see it. Am I right or am I missing the boat?
I'm the current owner of a 2000 Corvette Convertible with 217,500 original miles. Only faws are mostly it's electronics. I averay 25 mpg city and low 30's highway and offers something that coups and hard tops can't offer, wonderful enjoyment of driving with the top down rain or shine
100% 👍👍
Rain or shine? Really?
it's not a wonder you have electrical problems driving with the top down in the rain🤧..
Enjoy yourself..
We only live once
🌨 🌈
Nice..... except the rain and shine top down issue... guessing that is a typo.... Cheers!
@@Seadog..C5 why buy any car other than a one off exotic and Not driving it is stupid
Good C5 content ... I actually own a C5 2004 triple black convertible corvette only 28,000 miles. I get looks everytime I pull it out. Most times I go to
cruise- ins every year someone offers to buy it. I never plan to sell, but I'm a guy that prefers the look vs hard-core performance. But that's just my preference..
Yeah, I really the grey wheels on the z06.
Why such low mileage, get out and drive and enjoy it
@@paulmagee3496 I plan to a little more..
@@Law19157 i actually have the very rare magnesium rims on mine 👍
@@KA-te7xk 😮 Whoa....I love those too but I thought it only came with the 50th anniversary c5. I didn't know it was available on the z06.
04 Z06 here and I am always glad I made that choice. Yes I mainly use it for street driving but it's not rough riding, holds its value, and can run low 12s. (I have a few mods)
Sweet!
Going ridiculously quick in a Z06 would be great fun, but I would really miss being able to take the targa panel off on nice days
Agreed!
Only reason I didn’t want the z06. I’m considering trading one of my cars for a C5 tomorrow.
@@Inkawgneegrow they're a really great car and easy to live with. Just watch that nose lol
Love your videos! You get straight to the point and don't waste your viewer's time! Thanks!
Thank you!
I needed this thanks
I finally own one! Got a 04 black targa top, so happy got a childhood dream car. I love it!
The cool thing is, that feeling seems to last a long time. I am on year 7 or so and I still love it! Cheers!!
Good for you buddy.. I own a Triple Black C5 2004 Convertible Corvette 👍
@@Toys4Life thanks for all the informative videos, I watched a lot of them when I first started looking for one . I made a long check list for common problems and I'd like to think I was well prepared.
Same but Silver
@@captaintom9521 congrats!
I plan on getting the z06 sometime next year. Just saving money for some investments I want to make right now. Definitely gonna keep my vette bone stock with the exception of a red leather interior upgrade from Canepa in Scotts Valley CA. and have the corvette letters in the rear painted red. Also going to shoot to get the girl @2:33 too 😁 Then when my investments start to yield returns I'll add the C8 to the garage.
I hope you plan comes together!! Cheers.
Yes, you seem like you can see it already...best of luck!
Did it work out
I have a 02 convertible manual yellow , installed a RPM 4 point rollcage so i could go on trackdays , sorry to say my LS1 gave up so installed a iron block 6.0L with LS3 top end and a twin disk Monster clutch , just new for the summer season hopefully no more problems and lots of driving.
Sweet on multiple fronts. 6.0- NICE!
I just picked up a 2K Targa A4 in Magnetic Red Metallic. It has a body colored top which I really like. It is a base model, my mom is the original owner, she has trouble getting out of it now so she gave it to me. She is 81..
That's really cool! Thanks Mom!!
I'm 65, so my '04 C5 convertible is perfect for me, auto trans and less than 50k miles, love it, did have to upgrade to a double dinn touch screen stereo sys tho, rock-n-roll
Nice
Thanks for another great vid. I must admit, after watching a second time, I didn't realize there was a Corvette in that brief convertible video sweep with the blonde in the "very" LBD.
Glad you liked it!
Man I love the thought of a C5 Z06, but I promised myself when I get my ‘Vette it’s gotta be a ‘Vert. Plus, now I’m old and beat up pretty good…so I need the cushier, quieter ride with the sound absorbency in the interior. All in all, I think I will still get a convertible but then put a strong, frame-mounted roll-bar in and then put a supercharger on along with heads and cam, etc.
Any idea what to do or how to add cooling to a C5 so the intake and oil, etc stay cooler being supercharged? I don’t mind adding extra radiators, or anything that can do this as I believe keeping the powerplant cooler not only produces more power, it is also a much longer lasting engine then. Thots? I could be driving the car long distances in the desert…
So you live in the southwest us?
By the way, I wish you had mentioned the Z06 commerative edition which I own. It has further refinements over the regular Z06 including a carbon fiber hood.
Nice find! I should have. Wish I had that 10lb lighter CF hood on my C5..
Is that the only change?!
@@nickcasserlie4603 No options, track suspension, thinner glass, no spare tire, no run-flats, no sound insulation, different gear ratios. This is to the best of my knowledge.
Just picket up a ‘99 FRC. I love it!!!! No interior rattles or squeaks
There ist an offer for a 01 frc. Do you recommend .?
@@rabbitcool1238 if it’s an 01, it’s a zo6
@@trlprk OK i Just Red the offer. ITS a 00 frc. You still have yours? Any cons ?
@@rabbitcool1238 yes, I sill have mine. Only con that I see is it’s tough to get in and out of for me (I’m 53). These cars are not easy to work on. Clutch and harmonic balancer jobs are difficult and expensive if you have someone else do it. But I love how comfortable it is to drive, and how stable it is at 80/90 mph. Mine has 130k on it and it runs flawlessly
Thanks for this video. Very informative!
Glad you liked it!
I’m pretty torn at the moment between the better looking coup and putting about 10-15k in upgrades into it from the start (upgrading all lighting, infotainment with backup cam, full exhaust, tune, wheels, or potentially to go straight to supercharger) …… or go for a stock z06 for the rarity and a little performance boost stock vs stock.
Deff leaning towards a coup, but really side eyeing a z06 lol really just want super fun retro project car and it just doesn’t get more 80-90s retro then having both flip ups and a targa lol
Another great informative vid for the new buyers. Your car look nice and shiny. Did you use your new polisher?
Not yet - I am going to practice on one of our older cars first (just in case (:-) ) ! 2 years ago I made the mistake of not washing the C5 before the MN winter. Had to look at a dirty C5 all winter. This past year, I washed it up one last time.. Makes me feel better!! Cheers!
The c5 paint is really hard . Best thing wash clay bar and clean your pad often and you'll be fine. Get a good flash light. If you have da polisher you won't burn through. That paint is Tuff.
I want a Z06 and a Targa car! I can't have both, no space for that. I plan on upgrades so I'm thinking the lower price Targa, but damn, I love the FRC and that trunk.
I’m torn between them currently. On one hand you can’t hate the rarity and performance of the z06 but the base just looks so much better and things like the targa top and more sound proofing is deff tempting for just a weekend street car, which also leaves 10-15k for upgrades. I bet a c5 with 15k upgrades would be a lot more fun then a stock z06 lol
Oh ya wanted to ask you what clutch are you using? Doing research on clutches and there so much options. I was thinking of the act twin disc street clutch. Supercharger is coming after I break in the clutch.
You're right, there's some really good ones out there. At the end of the day I went to with the monster LT1s. Got it on sale and I absolutely love it. Make sure you have monster balance it to match your old one. You'll have to send it into them, but they can match balance so you won't have any chance of running a new vibration issue that affects a small number of people after they put a new clutch and flywheel in.
I think convertibles look good but I have never liked riding with the top down. I can't remember if you have a hard top or targa on yours? I like the look of the targa top. However that being said two corvettes I've owned in the past with T Tops haunted me with squeaking to the point that it turned me against the car. I tried adjusting, lubing the weather strip. Only time they didn't squeak was with them off. Good tips, I look forward to your comp videos.
Thanks Larry! I have the Targa - pretty quiet compared to the T-Tops my old F-Body's had. Most Convertibles I see in MN's short summer - they have all the side glass up... kinda defeats the purpose - but to be fair, I have never owned a vert - maybe someday... Cheers!
The t-tops are coming to that if the car was jacked up while they were left on the car and the doors closed
I believe most tracks will not let you drive a convertable unless a roll bar has been added.
I think I saw some verts at the track last summer....I believe NHRA Rules (which my local track follows) say you can run a vert up to 13.5 seconds and slower w/o a roll bar - but I am not 100% certain. But just because you can doesn't mean you should...
@@Toys4Life I believe it's actually 13.49 or slower.
I just got a black on black c5 6 speed targa top with 38k miles !
Garage queen
I have her about 5 weeks
Afr headers ( a few thousand )
Cams
4:10 gears
Stiffened axles
Headers
Cats with CORSA exhaust
Bullet short shifter
Power master starter
Msd sparks plugs and injectors
Mint interior
She ain’t a joke
She must be handled with respect and skill
Words can’t describe how I feel about my c5
Zo6 are beautiful
I wouldn’t dare trade my targa top for a z06 .
I’m faster than z06 anyway!
Enjoy, that is awesome!
So.. the Z06 was also a fixed roof coupe by appearance(?
By appearance and you cannot remove the roof panel. The coupe has a removable roof and the vert - well you know. FRC is stiffest - but others are pretty stiff too!
Thank you for this review!
My pleasure!
Good info and editing. Right on.
Much appreciated!
Verts for the win!
My convertible 01 - C5 has seen many cars and even C-6 in the rear view mirror.
I don't doubt that one bit (:-)
i bought a crashed 1998 Targa c5 its currently at the frame shop getting straightened total to repair the frame was 3.6k and i paid literally nothing for the car. id rather rebuild it then see it off to a bone yard especially since it still ran and drove.
Targa top is the way to go looks better than the z06 and it’s pretty easy to make up for that 55 hp difference with thr ls1
That is what it came down to for me - plus the ability to occasionally haul some things....
@@Toys4Life right it’s not like the c6 where the weight is a bigger gap with the z06 and you have 100 less hp. The c5 weighs like 100 more pounds than the z06 c5 and only has like 30-50 less hp
I’m trading in my 2023 Honda accord for one of these bad boys
Really enjoying seeing you ramp up c5 content!
Would you say $ is better spent on a Z06 on modding /super charging a standard c5?
Thank you for the comment Sir! Just my opinion of course but.... - road course racing - Z06. Street performance and occasional 1/4 drag racing (at a track of course) - supercharger kit is hard to beat for that wow factor every time you go for a ride while maintaining 100% drivability (even in rush hour traffic).
No the power increase is on 50 hp which to me is not cost effective. Spend your money on comfort
Appreciates you!!!
02 - 04 ZO6 all day
Good choice!
Trying to figure out what the difference between the active handling and the selective dampening…. I’ve seen some cars with 3 select modes and some with 2 select modes…
Selective dampening has to do with the shocks. Active handling and competition driving use the brakes to assist handling and prevent losing control.
@@Toys4Life so…. What is the difference with some vettes with a 3 option shock and 2 option shock if that makes any sense…?
Thanks so much!
You're welcome!
Z06 is the only choice...
I would only consider the FRC for myself.
Not a bad choice!
How did I "miss" the part about roof structure?
Are you referring to the rollover?
@@Toys4Life referring to the "miss" at 2:33.
@@larrymann2105 ahhh..
Hey, late to the game. If a friend bought a C5 Vert, loaded, with Z51... would said friend be in serious danger doing Auto Cross?lol
Seems fine, car way better built for this lil baby action than others? Like, say a Ford Fiat, A zillion miatas, everything else under the sun? Thoughts?
I don't know, I hear those Miata people stuff LS engines in them and have all kinds of aftermarket support for Auto crossing. But I don't know much about Auto crossing to be honest.
Nice summary
Thanks Kurt!
The c5 Convertibles are very stiff.. The cars were built from the beginning to be a Convertible.The targa tops are just like convertible cars as there is no connecting solid roof structure.
C5 vert handles great. The C5 was designed as a vert
Very rigid indeed, probably the first Corvette vert done right!
I’d buy a beat down LS1 Vette, cam it head it and be good. You don’t gotta “buy a better Vette” 😅
I like it - High mileage - but body and interior in nice shape - the up the engine H.P.!
1 more thing about what you can't do with a convertible .Unless you have a certified roll bar installed you will not be able to track the car.
Nor would I want to without that installed!
"stay focused" LMAO
.
👍👍😎🇺🇸
Thank you sir!
Caught me slipping
lol
The hardtop is ugly, targa all the way.