The car is fast, beautiful, and is a great improvement over the C 4 generation. For a sports car it rides remarkably well and while the noise from the hatch area is somewhat intrusive, it is tolerable. The room for luggage and golf clubs is more than adequate. The C5 handles well, and is very fast. I owned an LT 1 equipped Camaro and a LS 1 Firebird and they were quite quick and handled fairly well, but the C5 Corvette is quicker, quieter, better riding and a much more sophisticated machine. At 51 it is reality what my 67 GTO was supposed to be when I was 19. For the money it cannot be beat. The C5 Corvette is the sports/muscle car. If you don't enjoy this vehicle, you should have your pulse taken soon!

The automatic needs an idicator on the instrument panel. It could an extra cup holder, and the leather seats could be of better quality. I'd like to see chrome exhaust extensions. My car's power window motor and traction control unit went out in the first month, and I prayed that this was not going to become a monthly hegira to the dealer. Nothing has gone wrong since, and I am getting an average of 22 mpg in city and freeway driving. Complaints about fit and finish do not apply to my Corvette. Only the the pain could be a little better done. There is not much to dislike about this car.

I paid $40,824.00 and felt that I got a bargain. I drove a friends 1992 Corvette, and my 1999 is so much better that I am glad I waited for the C 5.

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Porsche Boxster, Mitsubishi 3000GT, RX 7, Camaro and Firebird.

Great ride, excellent handling, outstanding performance and a gas mileage of over 26 on the highway at 75+ mgp.

Only one cup holder. Susan and I drive 300-600 miles per day on our trips and this is an issue that bugs us. Also, it is not quite deep enough to handle a cup and corner the car as it likes to corner

$46,000
Highly recommend it to anyone who wants sports car handling, performance and a great looking car.
We get complements every time we are out.
20,000 miles in the first year, no issues of any kind.
Great gas mileage under almost all conditions and a observed top speed in excess of 165 mph.

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There aren't many cars that can compare. Our Infinity Q-45 had the performance closest to the Corvette, but not the handling. Our Chrysler TC had the styling, looks and comments that the Corvette gets, but not the performance.

POWER (YEAH FOR ALUMINUM)!!!!!!
HANDELING AND TOP SPEED IS UNPARALLELED
SEE THROUGH REMOVABLE ROOF PANEL IS QUICK, LIGHT, AND EASY
17-18 IN RUN FLATS HUG THE ROAD

Too low to the ground.
Cheap plastic interior parts, including Bose Stereo.
Body Frame sections do not fit together smoothly
Interior Carpeting has warped

The first thing I wanted to do out of college in 1998 was to buy myself a new car. I was between the 1998 Lexus GS 300 and this 1997 Chevrolet Corvette. Here's my story.
In high school and college, I had driven Jeep Cherokees, one Laredo and a Grand Limited. Very solid vehicles I grew to love. But I wanted a change, no more SUVs. So after much research, I decided on the 1997 Chevrolet Corvette because its fast and unique. At first I was reluctant because my previous experiences with Corvettes were sub par. Around 1991, my Dad, a Corvette driver (currently in a silver C5 - no influence here!!) and enthusiast for over thirty years, wanted me to have his 1984 corvette. I jumped to the opportunity, but to my dismay was disappointed. It was like riding a 2X4, plus the amenities were horrible (roof panel to difficult to remove, uncomfortable seating, power, crappy delco radio, etc) Needless to say, I quickly got back into the Jeeps. But, then there's the C5.
So I tried Corvettes again in 1998. Must to my surprise, they have done thier homework. The unibody frame, easy removable roof panel, engine, etc. are top notch. I mean top notch. I like the fact that you don't see C5's everywhere(+). After test driving and buying my artic white 1997, I really grew to like it. No flashbacks from the '80's, but I have to admit, Chervrolet doesn't hide the fact that they cut corners to get this car into a more competitive price range. I don't mean to complain, these are minor adjustments. If they want to be "America's Sports Car" they need to excel in all aspects, exterior and interior.
And here are a few from a young first time Corvette buyer:
1. Why don't the body panels fit together. I have a problem with the fact that my Corvette's panels are uneven.
1. Ditch the Bose, go with Nakamichi(sp). I listened to Lexus' Nak and they did it right. I can't imagine why eight inch drivers are in the door panels, rattle rattle when to loud. Loud? you have be in this car. With all the new added space in the back, go with a small seperate sub and focus on smaller setup in the front. Suggestion.
2. Cheap plastics parts. My plastic seat adjustment on my sports seats broke after three months use, and this car only had 6K when I bought it. Upgrade to better quality.
3. Carpet warped after a couple of weeks. Took it to dealer, had it fixed. Come on, this is elementary. Get better glue or something.
4. What is up with the tailpipes. These are the most anemic things i've seen. I upgraded to Corsa Chrome Extentions - sooooo much beefier and serious looking. Don't be afraid to make serious tail pipes.
But, these are some minor adjustments that I think would improve the car. I feel I have invested in a solid sports car. I would only recommend the C5 to those who want to experience the best Corvette. Earlier styles, and I have been behind the wheel of '65, '79, '84, '89, had more flare and , but do not compare to the C5 in numerous categories.

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1984 Chevrolet Corvette (worlds apart from the C5- worse)

Handling period. The styling is still great, even today, I think I can be backed up on that from Chevrolet, using the body for twelve years.

Squeaks and rattles. Poor Clearcoat. And the 700R4 transmission started to slip at around 60,000 miles. Chevrolet made the transmission much better throughout the C4 years. Although I love the handling, the ride is like a sheet of plywood with wheels. The Bose radio is definately a problem.

Every car has a weakness.

We (family) have had the car brand new since October of 1985. The only real major problems other than the weaknesses mentioned above, is the defroster-it has never worked. Same typical maintenance as any other car, the only flaw of the whole deal is the insurance costs. Under 24 is pain, especially when you are a male.

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BMW 850i, LT-1 Camaro, LT-1 Corvette. As quick as the Camaro and the 850i, but no car that I know of, in stock form, can compete with this car's handling. Z51 suspension is the option.

Everything.
The car is very well engineered.
The performance is awesome, although it's hard to use 175MPH on the highway.
Gas mileage....with my six speed I can average 31MPG@65MPH.

Having to park away from people who may clobber it with their doors.

Yes, but go to a Chevy dealer who services many Corvettes.
Once you've owned a Corvette, there is nothing like 'em.
Corvette= "The Only Sports Car That Matters"

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The other sports car I owned was a 1998 Corvette...

Styling: I think, and so does every woman I encounter, that the styling is very sexy. As a matter of fact, I believe women like this car more than I do( I was told, "Why do you think men buy them.:>) I would still prefer to see Chevy reissue an updated version of the 57 vette.

Power: It really has all the power any sensible street driving individual would ever need. Though initially disappointed in the power after taking delivery, as I put more miles on it, it is loosening up and opening up. It can be very dangerous in the wrong hands. It really is a good thing younger buyers, on average, cannot afford one. I know if I were young again(teens,) and could afford one, I would be in trouble.

Comfort: For a sports car, it fits like a glove.

Stereo: I love the Bass(see Weaknesses for the rest of stereo info.)

Road handling: I really enjoy taking tight corners at sensible speeds. It is exhilerating to feel it hug the road. This car can corner much faster but then it becomes a matter of safety vs. short term thrills.

Suspension: Surprisingly great suspension for a sports car. It doesn't ride like a luxury car but it is much smoother than what I expected.

Fuel Economy: Average of 17 city, 25 hwy. Now who can argue with those figures for a 345 hp automobile. There are times when the instantaneous readout on the DIC says I am getting 34+ mpg.

Braking: Absolutely the finest. This sounds weird but it is actually fun to feel it brake.

Styling: The car is way too low to the ground for street driving. I constantly worry about encountering obstacles on the road. If you cannot avoid an obstacle, you will do serious damage to the underside of this car and perhaps to you and any passengers.

Power: The more I drive this car I realize it was meant to be an oval track sports car. Not a drag racer. It will beat just about any newer, stock car in a drag race but it really opens up after 70-80 mph. You've heard about the envelope jet planes incur when encountering the sound barrier. Once they pass that 'envelope' they really smooth out and fly.
One thing that really bugs me is this stall I encounter when you first punch the pedal. It's like the computer in this car says, " Oh, he wants to get it on. Wait a second. Oh, OK, here we go..." I am more used to the muscle cars of the sixties; When you punch the pedal you better hold on, cause, you're gone. However, in this vette, once it catches, it screams.

Comfort/Convenience: This car is much noiser inside than you would expect looking at it from the outside. The rear wheel noise at 70+ mph is almost intolerable. As has been explained to me, this is the result of the wide, run flat tires. Nope, it is the result of having absolutely no sound dampening materials in the body. The goal here is to make this car as light as possible. So what gets sacrificed?... Chevy designed this car for competition. Not for the average schmo like me that just wants a cool, hot sports car to drive around town. I dont need to break the sound barrier but it is nice to have the power when you need/want it.
The interior storage space is ridiculous. Sure, you have this huge trunk, but in the cockpit you have the glove compartment and a very shallow center console. That's it. The (single)cup holder is about 1" deep. Now that makes sense, put a shallow cup holder in a car meant for fast tight cornering.
Where do 99.9% of all Corvette owners keep their car? In the garage. I just bought a new Suburban that has an automatic garage door opener built-in. I can't get the Suburban in the garage because it won't fit. But the Corvette will. Does the Corvette have an auto garage opener? Nope. And where do you store your bulky garage door opener? You guessed it, in that shallow center console.

Stereo: Though the Bass is great, the stereo lacks mid-range definition and sparkly highs. Very 'flat' sounding. Don't be caught up in the "Oh! It has Bose speakers" thing. Bose is really considered to be very mediocre in audiophile circles. For a vehicle costing @$45,000.00(that probably costs 10,000 to make) I would expect the very best car audio system that money can buy.

Suspension: Remember, this is a sports car. And while the suspension is very good for a sports car, you still feel those bumps in the road. And driving on bad roads is taxing when it comes to steering and keeping control.

Dealerships and other vette owners: You have to break arms to get a dealer to come off the MSRP on this car. I thought by buying both a new Suburban and a Vette at the same time, it would make a difference. Nope. I was very PO'd. Went to several dealers and finally decided that I wanted it and guessed I would have to just pay the price for my desires. I went out and met with some other Vette owners one Saturday morning. Now, don't get me wrong, they're OK guys, but they border on the obsessive. Sure, it's a cool car but it's not my everything.

This vette, as equipped costs $45,089.

I would NOT recommend this car to:

1. Anyone who can barely afford it. To replace the tires on this car will cost you over a $1000.00. It *has* to have Mobil 1 oil used in it. I haven't priced Mobil 1 oil lately but last I checked it was around $7 per quart. I am sure it is higher now. It also takes 6 quarts per oil change. Also, you have to use Premium gas. And then of course, Insurance. It's not that bad for me because of my age and driving record.

2. Anyone who expects sports car power and luxury car comfort. If that is what you want, I am told a Jaguar fits that bill. But then a Jaguar starts at around $75000. And well, a Jaguar is not a Corvette.:>

3. To anyone of a larger size, both in height and girth. I am 5'11" and my hair keeps the interior of the roof clean. Getting in and out of this car can be a chore.

4. To anyone planning serious racing on curvy roads. Though this car will overtake BMW's and the like in straight runs, on slalom courses it is hard to keep up because of the weight factor.

5. To anyone paranoid of being so low to the ground that you can read the proper tire inflation on the tires of cars next to you. As I drive this car, I keep thinking about my chances of survival should I be broadsided.

I would recommend this car to anyone who has ever dreamed of owning the ultimate American dream car. Who wants a car for cruising around town and feeling really good about driving this 'dream' car. Anyone who doesn't really care about the weaknesses I mentioned earlier. This car *is* very powerful and will beat the snot out of any other stock car on the road(with a few exceptions.) With a few power enhancements(exhaust and intake), ths car comes alive. I feel very proud to be able to own this car and I know, unlike so many other cars, it has the potential of being more of a future asset than a straight loss beginning as soon as you drive it off the lot. For the cost of ownership and comfort, as compared to it's nearest rival, the Dodge Viper, it is a much better value. I am told the Viper, though more powerful, stock, is very uncomfortable and costs 1 1/2 times as much. And besides, from my experience with Chrysler products, I wouldn't own one anyway.

I give it three stars on the value rating because of the interior noise, the 'on the edge of being a crappy stereo system' and the Chevrolet designer mentality of designing this car to be run on a race track when 99.9% of all owners of this car drive it solely on the street. They really need to bring back the 'roadster' style of the vettes as designed in the 50's and early 60's and quit trying to win the marketing campaign by designing to compete on the ovals.

I give an overall rating of 5 stars based solely on the fact that it is fun to drive and it makes me feel good to own it.

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1969 Z28; 1968 Camaro 396 SS. The vette has these beat in cornering but the aforementioned cars were built for the street, not for winning the 24 hours of Daytona.

Great power. Stunning good looks. Amazing handling. Impressive reliability (36,000 miles with no problems). America's only sports car.

Cleaning peoples drool off of the car every time I park it. Having to park in the "back forty" so some meathead in a rusted 89 Tempo doesn't smash his car door into mine. Most Chevy dealers need schooling on customer service.

I would not hesitate recommending this car to anyone. Anyone that can afford it should do themselves a favor and buy one.

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3000GT. I still feel that the Mitsu was a fine car and I had a lot of fun with it. However, it doesn't really compare to the Corvette. The Vette is better in every category. Looks, handling, acceleration, top speed.....

Chevy is finally getting it right. The C5 is truly a world-class car. For $43k I have a car that can blow everything off the road except the Viper and high-end European sports cars (all of which are at least twice the price). The handling is great and the ergonomics are right on, which you couldn't say for previous models.

The dealership network! I'm sorry, but Chevy doesn't know a thing about customer service at the dealership level. I knew not to expect much, and prayed that I wouldn't need to take the car in for service very often.

Great car - get the six speed (which is unfortunately hard to find).

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Porsche, Dodge Viper

Everything

None

This is to the previous poster, this car smokes any other asian or european car for the money. The 300GT is a P.O.S that's way to over priced, this car is very reliable and looks 20times better than a 3000GT, by the way this was Motor Trend's car of the year for 1998, and for 1999 it was the Chrysler 300M, so what does that tell you about american cars? HMMMMMMMMMMM, that their awesome, and beat the crap outta other cars for the $$$ i've had this sweetthing for 6 months and i've gotton so many girls, and this baby hasn't bothered me once!

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Many asian, and european cars.

New body, great miles per gallon, the price!!

Having to deal with crapy GMC customer service, limited availibility (but nice for resale)

This car puts doge to shame. The viper is a costly over rated pice of crap, but enough about doge and their crap cars. In my oppinion this is the best corvette ever produced, and the best looking to(negative the kind of cheesey character duplications of the acura nsx) Hope chevrolet keeps up the good work!

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doge viper