The C6 is a C5

The differences between a sixth gen and a fifth gen remind me of the TPI corvette to the LT1 corvette. While the fascia and bumpers have been changed, it's the same body style. If someone likes C5s, they'll like C6s but look at a C4 and it's not the same.

Exhibit A:

http://members.liwest.at/drhm/ffsa06225.jpg

Some components may be similar and some component designs are carried over from the old car. It is truly a completely different animal.
It's like comparing a C3 to a C4 or a C4 to a C5, there is no comparison, and that is just in looks. Technical differences are so vast that you really can't compare the two anyway. Comparing cars to air craft, the C3 would be a Sopwith Camel, the C4 would be a P-51 Mustang, the C5 an F86 Sabre and the C6 an F22 Raptor. That's not even scratching the surface for the C6-Z06 which is constructed from a carbon fiber body and has internal engine components made of titanium. The Z06 would be the freakin Discovery (space shuttle).

The first action that you take to get into the car is different, just to open the door takes a different approach as with starting the thing (the C6 doesn't need a key to get in/for starting). Sit in a C5 and sit in a C6, look at the interrior and all of the different components. They went from a "Tupperware" interrior to Cadillac refinement. Not to mension that Cadillac is now in Corvette territory with the CTS-V, but that's a whole nother story. The low-end C6 has the same power as what the C5-Z06 had, and the C6-Z06 has 500hp/500 torque, that surely doesn't compare to anything that the C5 had, that's now exceeding what's in Viper territory.

Corvette not only improves w/every new model, they get better from year to year. We take pride in what we own, so please don't come in here putting us down.

And that's why it's called an argument. I have a lot of research to do on why chevy designed a new generation so early but the newest generation doesn't look completey different from the first. From what i see in that picture posted it has the same front windshield. Does it have the same wheelbase?

And I'll tell you right now, your plane comparison doesn't work, there's WAY too much time gap. The Sabre is from the late 40's and the F22 Raptor just entered service. Over 50 years and your comparing 2 back to back generations.

I stand by what I said that the people who buy a C6 or the new Z06 were big fans of the C5 and that Z06. I apologize about comparing your C4. That was in no way intended to be a putdown.

I will agree that the c5 and c6 are very similar in terms of appearances to the layman, but they are COMPLETELY different cars. Different everything. If your point is just that people who like the c5 will like the c6, then you're probably right about that, but i would say that 99% of corvette owners like the new c6 regardless of what model they own.

I didn't intend to sound like an a-hole or anything, and I didn't take offense to the C4 remark. The C4 doesn't even look close to the C5, I see it now as almost in a "classic" status. No put down taken, thanks.
Ok, I'll back up a bit. I'll skip the Phantom and class the C6 w/the F16 and the Z06 w/the F-A18. I know there's a significant technology gap between the F86 and the F16, as with the C4 and the C5. You score points for air craft knowledge.
The C6 is shorter, the track is wider and GM painstakingly made every component as light as possible. Lighter is faster, and the 6.0 liter (the 350 is long gone) pushes it pretty good. Pictures don't do them any justice go to a dealer and sit in a trade-in C5 and then sit in a C6 (if they allow you to) and judge for yourself.
I have seen the cheezy kits to make a C4 look like a C5, it never crossed my mind that the C5 resembles the C6. I have to agree w/Imabballer, they are probably 99% different.

Alright. Do you know why chevy redesigned the vette so soon? Were C5 sales lacking? The cut off point was exactly the same for when C4 350s went to C4 LT1s. 8 years since 84, 5 with the LT1. because of that similarity, I wondered why they came out with a new gen so surprisingly, unless you all knew on this forum that it was being designed.

The C4 did last for a long time and changes were made almost on a yearly basis to make it better and keep it exciting. The aluminum headed TPI was a good package and it got the job done w/only 245hp. The ZR-1 was a technological wonder, making 375hp, with that they made drastic changes to the body for that perticular model. The square tail lights were a good change. Needless to say, it really upset the people that dished out the extra expense for the ZR-1 that had the "different" look, when GM carried the design over to the regular models. Later years had restyled noses.

The LT1 was a good engine, but it wasn't spectacular. A basic design of the Vortec truck engine, better heads a different cooling system and ignition system (the distributors are prone to failure). It was rated at 300hp, the LT4 was boosted up to 330hp and marked the end of the C4 era.

The C5 came from a clean sheet and was now taking on the Europe. All new car, all new power train w/the introduction of the LS1 and the use of a rear mounted transaxle. Power was rated at 345hp. It shocked the Corvette world when an on track comparison proved that the plain-jane C5 could run with (and beat) the ultra high-dollar C4 ZR-1. The 02 ZO6 broke the 400hp mark by making an honest 405, which was pretty much the maximum that GM wanted to push that package. It was long production run, I'm surprised that it lasted as long as it did.

The C6 is again a total different package, not really an extreme change, but more like a refinement. It's all a big number game, with more power everything else needs to be updated. You can't change one part of an excellent package and degrade it to a good package. Everything has to work together 100%, not 99%. A better car, another new engine and another package that raises the bar higher once again. The 6 liter LS2 makes 400hp and we all know that the 7 liter (427cid) makes 500hp/500 turque. More power means better brakes (w/refined cooling ducts) and better suspension choices. GM had an r&d crew based in Germany with a fleet of prototype C6s. High speed passes down the Autobahn and thrashings on the old Nurburgring track was a daily ritual. That's how they got the thing so perfect, truely a race car in stock form to us, and something suited perfectly for European commuting (I've driven there, I know how good those people are) for them. It's not only for the US market, it's global. It's now classed with Lamborghini and Ferrari, but 1/3 the price.
The C5 is like the C6 in one aspect, they all have a destination, each one is sold before it's even produced. Japan is a big market (they hate Americans but like anything American), every country in Europe, England, Saudi Arabia, etc...It's more popular than what people think.
Since the C6 is so spectacular, I can't wait to see what the C7 is like. We'll have to wait and see how long this run will last.

I agree 100% with most of what you said, but just want to clarify a couple things. The lt1 is not any relation to the vortec truck motors. The head designs are somewhat similar but the vortec motors were either gen I or the new vortec's use gen III blocks. The lt1 is a gen II. Also, I have never seen a base c5 able to outrun a 94 or 95 zr1. The ZO6 could barely outrun a ZR1. (The 94 & 95 zr1's had 405hp just like the zo6's)

Also, as an interesting tidbit, about 50% of all of the lt4's made will outrun stock ls1's. The lt4 was listed at 330hp, but I have seen bone stock lt4's dyno at up to 380hp+. There were huge differences in the different lt4's they put together in 1996, and it is widely thought that chevy only rated it at 330hp to protect themselves on the motors that didn't put out as much hp as the others.

That's Right! Protect the honor of the 350ci!! ...wait a ZR-1 outruns a C5 Z06?? I don't understand that. Either way, it should be covered in a new thread as it's too offtopic. Thank you for showing me the light. I thought corvettes in the same generation lineup were just carryovers from the last year.

They are very different cars. they look simillar because of the paint jobs IMO.

That's Right! Protect the honor of the 350ci!! ...wait a ZR-1 outruns a C5 Z06?? I don't understand that. Either way, it should be covered in a new thread as it's too offtopic. Thank you for showing me the light. I thought corvettes in the same generation lineup were just carryovers from the last year.


I have no idea what you're trying to say here.

And I didn't say the zr1 would outrun the zo6, just that they are pretty close.

LT1 enthusiasts are always trying to one up the LS1, somehow they do. The reason is because the LT1 and LT4 block are 350ci and the LS1/LS6 is 346ci. So LT1 enthusiasts keep the 350 (and it's history) alive while the LSX series(346,400,427) rule the streets. Sure they're all higher plane technology and newer but the 350s are cast iron and will handle more power than aluminum blocks when it comes down to it.

I know, I'm not a "regular" here in Chevy country. I must say, it was refreshing to see someone mention ZR-1. AWESOME car! LT-5 is a technological marvel. Yes, ZR-1 is every bit as quick as any C-6, possibly excepting ZO-6. There's one in Richmond, extensively modified, that goes 10.80s in the 1/4 mile, and will crack 200 on an open road. His plate reads "HRSPWR". Considering it was made 13 years BEFORE ZO-6, it's pretty impressive! I would like to have seen GM make a production run of LT-5.

Jim

I know, I'm not a "regular" here in Chevy country. I must say, it was refreshing to see someone mention ZR-1. AWESOME car! LT-5 is a technological marvel. Yes, ZR-1 is every bit as quick as any C-6, possibly excepting ZO-6. There's one in Richmond, extensively modified, that goes 10.80s in the 1/4 mile, and will crack 200 on an open road. His plate reads "HRSPWR". Considering it was made 13 years BEFORE ZO-6, it's pretty impressive! I would like to have seen GM make a production run of LT-5.

Jim

I've heard before that the LT5 is hard to modify and that the marine builders already squeezed power out of the engine before they sold the ZR-1. Is this true?