Value, power, style, handling, fun factor ... For the money this is a fun car. I considered a Boxter but decided it was designed more for European roads. It may handle a little better than the Vette (due to lower overall weight) but there's not much in it and the Vette has way more power and torque.
I also considered an older Ferrari but when a friend told me about his 30K service ... $5,0000!!! I lost interest. Life's too short to spend more time maintaining the vehicle than you do driving it! The Vette is a drive-able vehicle with good reliability and reasonable maintenance schedule/costs.
The 6 spd. is the way to go... The MPG is amazing for a 350HP car.
I have taken it to 150MPH (You can feel the curvature of the earth at this speed!) and it still had lots more left!
Impressed with the active handling .. Tried few silly things and it kicks in and recovers the vehicle well. I like to de-activate the traction control (performance driving mode) for more control/fun.
Great trunk space for a sports car. I had a 1976 Vette and couldn't get anything in the trunk if the T-roofs were off.
Sounds great... even with the stock exhaust.

Not much ... Cup holder is too shallow and some additional storage in the cabin would be nice. Odd wind/pressure feel in cabin with roof off at around 50MPH but disappears over 60. Lowering the windows slightly stops this.
Available colors .. I passed on a new 2001 for a very low mileage 1999 to get Nassau Blue. Didn't particularly like any of the currently available colors.
Oh Yes ... Forget drive through ATMs ... Most are just way too high to operate from Vette

Would definitely recommend this car. Great value for money. Owners of Boxters and Mercedes (SL class) will look down their noses at you but there's no denying the sheer performance and fun per $ of this vehicle.
Note: This is not a refined luxury car with some "go-fast" body panels ... It's sits low, the ride is firm, and I do NOT recommend trying to talk on your mobile phone while piloting this vehicle! Even with the stock exhaust, the engine "growls" and you know you're in a SPORTS CAR!

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1976 Vette, 1978 Camaro Z28, 1989 Mustang GT, 2000 Boxter

This is the second 'vette in which i have had the pleasure and experience in driving. The vette has blazing exceleration and great handling. The 2000 is much better than the '99 that i had being that everyhing sems to be put to geather better.

Cops, radar detectors and the fact that the corvette has an engine governor on it.

I would really recommend this car to the people who like driving a true sports car. My girlfriend loves corvettes and loves the way they run. She is really into many different sports cars, but generally prefers the 'vettes over many of them. This car is really for anyone who is lookin for a good time.

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mustang GT.....the vette blows this away.
Viper RT/10 GTS....HAHAHAHAHHAA

Great acceleration, handling, braking. Traction control, active handling, head up display, driver information center, run-flat tires, good trunk space (for a sports car), rust proof fiberglass body.

Bose (Blows) stereo system (see below), average headlights, run-flats are very practical but don't have quite the grip of pure sports car tires like Potenza S02's.

Just a fantastic all around sports car. No car available in this price range with similar performance, handling, and modern technology toys like traction control and active handling. I live in MineSOOOta and I plan to drive it all winter.

I know the RX7 crowd will tell you its every bit as good price performance (3rd gen) and don't get me wrong, those are fantastic cars as well. But the reality is all the RX7's I've seen that can stay with a Vette are modified. The Vette can be modified as well of course and it will compete with a stock Viper at a much lower total cost.

I'm not a big fan of American cars, especially Chevy's. But the reality is, they hit a home run with this one. (The division that designs Corvettes is only really associated with Chevy because of tradition and politics. The reality is, its a completely seperate division with some of the best engineers and designers in the automotive industry.) Many first time design innovations were used like a balsa wood based floor and hydroformed rails for the frame giving this car an unbelieveably stiff, light chassis.

Go to http://www.sae.org/automag/bestcar/index.htm and see that this car along with the big Mercedes were picked as the best engineered cars of the 20th Century!

The stereo blows though. Although for a stock its not bad. The biggest problem is that its a completely integrated system so you just about have to replace the whole thing not just the speakers.

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Honda S2000. I had one of these for 6 months before the Vette. Both very nice cars. The Vette is more practical and useable as an everyday driver. Prefer the torque monster Vette engine to the high revving super bike engine of the S2000.

POWERFUL CAR, GREAT HANDLING, SMOOTH RIDE, GOOD SOUND SYSTEM, GREAT LOOKS,
GREAT GAS MILEAGE,

SPEEDING TICKETS
EXPENSIVE AFTERMAKET PARTS

WOULD RECOMMEND IT TO ANYONE WHO IS IN THE MOOD FOR A FAST POWERFUL CAR FOR EVERYDAY USE. BE READY TO PAY FOR TIRES, INSURANCE, AND AFTERMAKET PARTS. NOTHING IS CHEAP WITH THIS VETTE.

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VIPER, MUSTUNG COBRA, M3 BMW(VETTE BLOWS THEM OUT OF THE WATER)

Of all three body styles which I ( think about it 3 to choose from ) looked very closely & drove as well the coupe's my choice .
A wonderful value for the price , it's fast , has great style lines , easy to enter & exit especially w/memory package.
Wtih the roof panel removed IT DOES become a convertable ( by the way TWO roof panels ..that is ) . Love driving on all type roadways.

the thought of the long winter ahead .

Long time ago I owned a 63 Stingray convrt/silver , the guys I hung out with back then all drove the some form of American Mussle cars , 409's , GTO's ... I guess it's dejvu all over again .
The C5 is a wonderful automobile , the Bose system is not a problem with me , hell half the time I turn it off anyway . . simply to listen to the sound of the car itself .
Should you need a .. better cup holder then buy an Altima they have two real nice ones .

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None

Bought the car (98) in late '97 as one of the first 6-spd convert's in Calf. Got the Z51 suspension and love it. Not harsh at all, and adds to an already great road feel. Loads of power and well balanced on hwy and in town. Looks are great, inside and out. I read some comments re the interior, but find it very functional and of quality materials. Go look at any of the Germay interiors and you'll find lower grade materials and looks.

Top does leak a bit at window edges, but only when washed and water shot directly at edges. I had the weather strips replaced (service bull.) and they never leak in the rain. Low nose takes a lot of hits from stones, tec. on the hwy.

Love the car on the road or just sitting in the driveway. Only problem has been local dealer's service dept; poor-poor! They can't spell "customer service", never mind apply it! Have had several service issues: Chevy replaced wharped rotors twice, but can't seen to understand why they went bad. Also had internal engine air injection problem, loose driver's seat, broken driver's mirror and leaking fuel tank fitting. All were corrected by a second dealer under warranty. Chevy was good about applying some upgrades like the later (and quieter) elec. fuel pump and the door/roof seals. The car's a dream to drive and despite the repair issues, it's been a good choice. I can't wait to try out the new ZO6.
All in all, if you can afford it, go out and buy one. You only live once!

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'67, '75, '85 Vette's- the '98 beats them all , hands down! Have also had numerous high end Camaro's and f'birds, 928, XJS and R/T Dodge Stealth. None of them compare in any way to the Vette.

It's a Corvette, what else do I need to say?
Seriously, this car is highly attractive and has tons of power - a lot more than you would EVER need on the street. But excess is what America is all about and I love every minute of it.

- Cheap plastic! Come on GM, this is the "American dream" car! Let's get some stronger, quality plastic parts. The first modification to my Corvette was to replace the clips that hold the roll-out hatch shade because they wouldn't hold the it in place! Behind the seats there are levers that allow the seat backs to come forward. The plastic pieces have literally crumbled. Also, I had to re-glue the padding on the center console because it was coming unattached.
- Interior lighting: why do only the hatch lights come on when you open the doors/hatch? And why can I only turn on my rear-view mirror map light when the keys are in the ignition?
- BOSE Stereo: See my notes below.
- Tires - for Goodyear Eagle's be prepared to spend $1100 or more every 12 to 18 months depending on your driving style and frequency. You can just count the $$ wasted every time you spin the wheels!
- Engine heat - This baby gets hot under the hood, especially when sitting in traffic. I still don't understand why the electric fans come on at 220~230 degrees, they should come on at a much lower temp than that. I'd rather replace a worn fan than an overheated engine...

I bought my 1995 Corvette used in 1997 for $23,500, a great deal on an incredible ride. I could have bought a TransAm or Firehawk, but neither car gets the respect that the Corvette demands.

I definately recommend the extended warranty. Sure it's $1000+, but that's NOTHING compared to what you would pay on maintenance without it!

I love my Corvette. The only way I would EVER get rid of it is to upgrade to a newer year-model. Dispite all of it's shortcomings, it is still the most affordable car in it's class and it is an absolute BLAST to drive!
If you want a car with balls that will rip up the pavement (and you can afford the maintenance), then the Corvette is for you.

I gave the Corvette 5-stars on value because of the deal I got on mine and because these cars hold their value a lot better than many others.

On the BOSE factory stereo: I am reluctant to ditch the factory unit due to the on-board Speed Controlled Volume (very nice feature). However the CD player doesn't always eject and that worries me. I have a sinking feeling that my favorite CD is going to get stuck one day...

The speakers, however, were the first to go. I replaced my front mid and high speakers with MB Quart woofers and tweeters. The change in sound quality was like night and day! Upon closer inspection, the factory BOSE speakers are very cheap indeed: paper cones with weak magnets. It's funny, Mid America lists replacement BOSE speakers for around $20 apiece!

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1997 Pontiac Firehawk - nice ride, but it's just an enhanced Firebird.
1997 Pontiac TransAm WS6 Ram-Air - very nice, the TransAm is my favorite car, but the Corvette wins in both style and performance.
2000 Corvette Hardtop - Got to test drive my boss' new Corvette. I think he bought it just to show me up! Maybe I should buy a Z06 to get one up on him!

Best all around "useable" sports car money can buy
Power
Balance
Handling
Style
Fun to drive

Still a GM (bad service, interior could look a bit more expensive), exhaust note too quiet

What can I say, I love this car!!! GM got their act together and built one of the most amazing sports cars ever produced. It is leaps and bounds better than the 84-96 vette it replaced. Here are my impressions:

Structure: Having the stiffest frame of any car produced means the car does not flex when cornering and does not suffer from rattles that many other T-top/ targa top cars do. This frame also makes the car handle quite well

Interior: Gauges are amazing, easy to read and pleasing to look at without being busy. Driver Information Center is a toy no car should be without... Heads Up Display is also another must have. Everything is arranged in a very intuitive manner and the interior flows and, for a 2 seat sports car is quite roomy. The materials however could be better, as they still look like GM plastic (a small price to pay for this car). The seats are comfy, but need attention to keep in good attention.

Engine: Wow!!! For a pushrod V8, this thing has smooth progressive power, to the tune of 350 HP and 375 ft lbs, stock!!! That can increase to 400 HP and 410 ft lbs with some easy to install modifications. The best part is that unlike V8's of the past, this one spins up to the redline readily and has power up there too. At 4000 and above you'll need a Viper, 911 TT, or Lambo to outrun this car. On the flip side, the car can be granny shifted and is tame in town...

Suspension/Handling: Even with the performance handling op[tion this car is a good daily driver, BUT NOT A CADILLAC! On smooth and semi-smooth pavement, this car has amazing handing. If you dare to really push the car with Active Handling turned off (the save-your-but traction control, yaw control system to prevent the car from losing control) the car has a very neutral feel with very little tendancy to understeer or oversteer. oversteer can be had easily via throttle modulation, but snaps in line once throttle is reduced. Very tossable car, even for it's size at 3200 lbs. In fact, the car handles as good as anything I have ever driven, and is more forgiving.

Braking: Look at the numbers, it outbrakes almost anything out there, and pedal feel is nice a progressive. Amazing.

Tires: Run flats compromise traction for durability and protest too much when cornering, even when the car has a lot more to give.

Transmission: 6 Speed is a joy, but the throws are a bit long... The first gear is very tall and runs up to 52 MPH, thus the car takes a moment to really get moving (this is relative, as most cars cannot even keep up at part throttle).

Styling: This car is beautiful! My only complaint is that GM does not have more colors for the car.

Summary: this car is confidence inspiring, it makes you feel like superman. Very undemanding to drive, which makes you want to drive it more and more. In fact the car has almost 0 learning curve, just get in and drive, the car is not quirky, and is easy to drive fast or slow. Handling is so good you will find yourself not braking in all but the most sever corners and thus needing to brake to avoid hitting the car in front of you. Best yet, with 25 cubic feet of cargo space in the rear, you can haul more than a 5 series BMW! It truly is the most practical super car made- yes super car.. With it's performance figures, it is a super car for the masses. At 50K, it is a bargain.

Dislikes:
1) Exhaust- too anemic, but easily solved with aftermarket exhaust systems B&B, Corsa. I have the B&B and love the exotic sound.

2) Restrictive intake- GM has this car breathing through 4 small holes, it's amazing the car even runs! Again, go to the aftermarket and you will not only improve the upper rpm responsiveness but also you will add 20-30 HP to the crank!!! Amazing!

3) Headlights are terrible. They really do need HID. I bought some higher wattage bulbs.

This car has a big aftermarket industry, everything can be modified from new rims, new camshaft, turbochargers, headers, exhausts, short throw shifters, etc.

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Viper GTS, M3, NSX, 911, Z28, Mustang Cobra

Style, straight line performance and cornering ability

Nervous handling, noise, water leaks, cheap interior, lousy Bose stereo
Hard to appreciate at legal limits

With over 130,000 miles on the odometer the car easily averages 20-22 mpg in daily driving, passes the new Mass. emission tests and will run with a newer LT1 car. The observed top speed of almost 155 mph is enough to get you in serious trouble anywhere, any time! The real performance "sweet spot" is the mid range - great torque below 3000 rpm translates into serious acceleration on the street, and helps the car to outrun more powerful (newer) performance cars for shorter distances. Remember - this 1985 'vette "only" weighs 3080 lbs.

With new Yokohama tires and fresh shock absorbers the lateral handling is superb - probably better than the original suspension and Goodyear tires had. The tracking stability is disappointing - particularly on rough surfaces. The car requires constant attention to stay "on line" - particularly a straight line. This isn't a worn component or an alignment issue - everything is spot-on. The expected rough ride is the price paid for the level of grip - great. The body structure is much more flexible than the C5 design. Ground clearance really isn't a problem - it IS close to the road, but bottoming or dragging isn't a problem if you remember that it isn't a truck!

Replacement weatherstriping has helped to reduce the amount and frequency of water leaks around the roof panel - but not entirely cured them. Carry a towel! Not so bad when driving - but it WILL leak when parked. Squeaks and rattles are really no worse than any other '80's GM product. Mechanical reliability also seems to be as good or better than anything American with this many miles on it. At heart it is just another Chevrolet, afterall. The cheap looking plastic interior at least is holding up well to the 16 years of use it's seen.

Interior noise is not this car's strong suit. Wind noise, tire noise and exhaust/mechanical noise all add up to a very loud cockpit. This with quiet ( quieter than stock! ) mufflers, new weatherstrips and tires with a quiet? tread design. I attribute this to almost no sound deadening in the interior and the fiberglass structure, thin window glass and the rear glass acting like a big drum. And, yes, the Bose stereo ( which still works fine ) is one of the poorest I've ever lived with.

Styling is subjective - either you love it or hate it - but you cannot walk away without some opinion. Not from this car. Corvettes have been a part of the American landscape forever, and everyone reacts to the car. And has an opinion of the driver.

All of which is quibbling - this is a loud, fast, sexy in-your-face (AMERICAN, in short) car - with the emphasis on performance! It IS NOT a luxury car, nor is it a Japanese watch. It is NOT for someone who doesn't like attention - everytime you drive it! And it is a BLAST to drive - one of those cars you just have to take the long way home in. It's a thrill just walking up to it in a parking lot.

The interesting thing is how (comparatively) inexpensive the mid eighties Corvettes really are. Cheap admission to the club and the status which seems to be conferred by simply driving it!

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Older "muscle" cars, Japanese sedans ( I know - no true comparison..)

This car is fast. Nothing else needs to be said. This car has more power than you can ever use. A few modifications, and you can own the fastest car on the road

See too many Corvettes on the road. Would be nice if they were more rare.

This car is worth every penny. The speed and handling with this car are the best I have seen, and are the best you can get without paying over a quarter million for a car.

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'84 Corvette - Z06 is way better - great improvements in comfort and performance
'98 Firebird - Nice car for the money, but not as nice as the 'vette