C5 Vette vs WS6 vs SS

I am buying either a WS6 or C5 vette soon but the thing is that I have heard that the vette can be beat by a stock WS6 or SS? Is this true? I only ask because I have found a '98 vette for $21000 with 51000 miles. But I dont want to get it if I will get outrun by a kid in a SS. I like the looks of both cars and have driven both cars, but I cant decide? I have found several WS6's for around $18000 and I figure with that extra money I could spend the WS6 would outrun the vette with 3 grand worth of mods. But I think the vette is a nicer car that gets more respect and looks and the insurence is about the same on both. If you are wondering why my insurence company explained to me that there are more people out there crashing their WS6 or SS then vettes and that is why they are about the same. What would you do in my situation? Feel free to share all opinions or suggest something I have not thought of.:)

All three have the LS1, the vette basically just weighs less. If the WS6 or SS has a good driver then yes it is very possible to be beat a C5 in a stock SS or WS6.

The WS6 and SS will typically take off better from a standing start, but the Vette's lower weight and slightly better aerodynamics help it recover at higher speeds, so it depends on the situation. On twisty roads I'd have the Vette without a second thought. Look on some of the Vette boards to find a few owners embarrased in street races.
Vettes come only just second to the F-bodies in crash rates, both are about twice the average, and both are expensive repairs.

the C5 is a better car.. its lighter, better suspension design, and more refined. the only draw back it has is no backseat and its more expensive.. the IRS is at least as strong, if not stronger than a stock 10 bolt of a f-body.

If I already didnt' have my Camaro, I'd go for the C5.

test drive both of them and see which ones you'd like better...

there is always someone faster... I know in my area there is a WRX that is at least in the low 12's if not the 11's in the quater miles. (alibeit lots of money and broken parts later) Top it off, it has all these vinyl graphics on it and stuff..

I've outrun a vette with my Z when it only had a catback on it. Beat another one with the lid. Then raced the same vette with sfcs, I win everytime. Stock vettes are good matches, especially if they are autos for a WS6, Trans Am, SS, Z28, whatever with just a lid and catback.

If I could have afforded it, I would have got a vette. I think they are just overall nicer cars. But I love my Z too. :D

Here's how it breaks down (all four having an LS1 in stock form),

The C5 weighs less (~200lbs.) , but it puts down less RWHP and RWTQ due to the Independant Rear Suspension. The Firehawks,WS-6s, SSs and Z28s live rear axles transfer more HP and TQ to the ground and that can make up the difference in weight. It's pretty much a racer's race from a stop in stock form. Most people here though get the less expensive F-bodys and invest the saving in some mods that quickly make that debate mute.

I have beat more C5's than I have lost too. I still want a Z06 though!!! :bow:

Someone couldn't PAY me to trade my WS6 for a C5. F-bodies just scream muscle, while a C5 screams "old rich guy with a mid-life crisis who wants a sports car". I don't care about IRS, my WS6 handles just fine for me. True the insurance is cheaper on the C5, but the f-body outta cost less. Stock for stock, depending on the car and driver either could be beaten. Most Vettes I've seen at strips run anywhere from 12.7 - 13.2. My friend's stock WS6 ran a 13.006, and my WS6 with a cutout and a lid ran a 12.991... and once I get my torque convertor in, I'll be rippin up most stock Vettes.

So my vote is for an f-body... WS6, SS, makes no diff, that's up to you.

I would get the C5 vette. Heres why:
1) Lighter than F-bodies
2) Drag Co-Efficient is better(Aerodynamics)
3) handle much better

Only con I have against this car would be: only a two seater!

That is odd saying that a C5 would be cheaper on insurance compared to an F-body.. Before I bought my Z, I called my insurance to see how much it would be on an Fbody or C5 and they told me C5 depending on year and I said like a 99 would be 2400 a year for me where as my 02 z28 is 1200 a year, this being I am 23...

Now only if they new my old daily driver which is my project now, has a 350 HP Small Block, I know my insurance would be more $ 235 a year more like 800 - 1000 a year on that one....

Originally posted by dmnall
That is odd saying that a C5 would be cheaper on insurance compared to an F-body.. Before I bought my Z, I called my insurance to see how much it would be on an Fbody or C5 and they told me C5 depending on year and I said like a 99 would be 2400 a year for me where as my 02 z28 is 1200 a year, this being I am 23...

Now only if they new my old daily driver which is my project now, has a 350 HP Small Block, I know my insurance would be more $ 235 a year more like 800 - 1000 a year on that one....

Maybe it depends on the state or insurance company, but with me it's the same, a Vette has cheaper insurance. The insurance company says they rate their cars rates based on how many claims are made on the particular car each year. So since f-bodies are popular amongst teenagers, and Vettes tend to be owned by older more experienced drivers, more claims are made on f-bodies then Vettes, therefore the f-body has a higher rate. I'll betya insurance would be dirt cheap on a McLaren F1 or so, considering only like 128 or so of them exist :D

no comparison in my mind (other than engine/tranny). Vette all the way:D

Originally posted by roadracer247
But I dont want to get it if I will get outrun by a kid in a SS.

:D I'm the 21 year old smart a$$ kid in the WS6 that pulls up to 30-60 year olds in their vetts. ALWAYS think theyre better. ALWAYS loose. ALWAYS get pissed off. They save theirs pennies from working their ass off, then finnally save the money to buy the Vette of their dreams only to get their a$$ handed to them by a kid in what they think is a car their daddy bought them. I work for my car that I paid CASH for and I worked for 1/2 of my 95' Z28 I bought when I turned 16 (that car really pissed people off). I work with people 30-60 that SAVE for their dream Vette, and I have to say there is definatly a reason they couldnt afford it sooner in life.

My suggestion?
Youll look like an idiot in either one.
Get a M3, or a Cadallic STS, or a Eldorado.
But, youll still be pissed when 16-25 year olds pull up and blow you away. Loose the atitude, and realize there is a reason that KID is driving that fancy car. He is better than you FACE IT!

BTW there are tons of KIDS on this board that fall under this same category as myself.

Originally posted by Topless01WS6
:D I'm the 21 year old smart a$$ kid in the WS6 that pulls up to 30-60 year olds in their vetts. ALWAYS think theyre better. ALWAYS loose. ALWAYS get pissed off. They save theirs pennies from working their ass off, then finnally save the money to buy the Vette of their dreams only to get their a$$ handed to them by a kid in what they think is a car their daddy bought them. I work for my car that I paid CASH for and I worked for 1/2 of my 95' Z28 I bought when I turned 16 (that car really pissed people off). I work with people 30-60 that SAVE for their dream Vette, and I have to say there is definatly a reason they couldnt afford it sooner in life.

My suggestion?
Youll look like an idiot in either one.
Get a M3, or a Cadallic STS, or a Eldorado.
But, youll still be pissed when 16-25 year olds pull up and blow you away. Loose the atitude, and realize there is a reason that KID is driving that fancy car. He is better than you FACE IT!

BTW there are tons of KIDS on this board that fall under this same category as myself.

Interesting.

So , your convertible WS6, which weighs 350+ pounds more than the heaviest Corvette C5 beats ANY Corvette. ALL the time? :rolleyes:

:bs:

Originally posted by Topless01WS6
:D I'm the 21 year old smart a$$ kid in the WS6 that pulls up to 30-60 year olds in their vetts. ALWAYS think theyre better. ALWAYS loose. ALWAYS get pissed off. They save theirs pennies from working their ass off, then finnally save the money to buy the Vette of their dreams only to get their a$$ handed to them by a kid in what they think is a car their daddy bought them. I work for my car that I paid CASH for and I worked for 1/2 of my 95' Z28 I bought when I turned 16 (that car really pissed people off). I work with people 30-60 that SAVE for their dream Vette, and I have to say there is definatly a reason they couldnt afford it sooner in life.

My suggestion?
Youll look like an idiot in either one.
Get a M3, or a Cadallic STS, or a Eldorado.
But, youll still be pissed when 16-25 year olds pull up and blow you away. Loose the atitude, and realize there is a reason that KID is driving that fancy car. He is better than you FACE IT!

BTW there are tons of KIDS on this board that fall under this same category as myself.

Yeesh, at least 80% of those 30-60 year-olds can probably spell worth a darn. Loose and lose are two different words, as are looser and loser. This is definitely one of the most ignorant posts I've seen in a while. Write back when maturity sets in, and you "lose your attitude."

- A fellow 20-something.

It's your call. Drive them both and see which one you like.

Around here, however, most 'Vette owners are *******s. They think they are God's gift to male drivers and every other car on the road is inferior to theirs, especially the poor saps who could only afford the "poor man's corvette" (F-Body)

There are exceptions, and my friend Left is one of them. His Z06 is out at the track every week, along with his wife's Camaro SS.

Thanks everyone for your responses except that one guy. :rolleyes: I guess there are jerks anywhere you go! Anyway what is funny about that is I am only 19 and still more mature then him. I guess he took what I said the wrong way? The only reason I can afford the car is because I got promoted at work to a manager position that pays $17 an hour and I thought it might be time to get a car I want and get rid of the junker I am driving now. I am so tired of people like that who have nothing better to do then complian and then brag about their car! Those are the kind of people who give everyone else who drive sports car a bad reputation. Oh well thanks for all the good imput and soon enough I will be getting either a vette or WS6. Used of course!;)

WS6 - Save money, can make it faster then the C5 for less total $$, has extra seats for those short rides for the smaller folks.

C5 - Weighs less, is normally and most likely faster then an F-bod if it's an M6. Handles MUCH better then a stock F-body. Generally, respected more, holds value better (over the long run).

Personally, I'd probably take a WS6 over a C5. Now, a Z06 is a different story.

Generally speaking, anytime I'm willing to go "down" to 2 seats, it'll have 2 wheels and scream to 130 mph in the 1/4 mile and cost all of $5K :)

i outran a 97 C5 in my lightly modded LT1, they are not invinsible at the track, but they are nicer cars.

IMO, this shouldn't even be a question, a C5 is a much better all-around car. The only reason I could could see choosing an F-body over a 'vette is if straight line speed is all you want out of your car.

Originally posted by roadracer247
I am only 19 and still more mature then him.

Actually youre still a KID! NineTEEN........ Anyways I felt like making my point. I get pulled over all the time for no reason. I get sworn at by 30 and 40-somethings for no reason (after THEY cut me off ten times trying to control traffic in 40 mph zones to 35). Get a WS6 all the way! But trust me on this.... I look mature and act it also (at least on the road) and I get so much BS on the road. YOULL SEE!

Originally posted by Darth Xed
Interesting.

So , your convertible WS6, which weighs 350+ pounds more than the heaviest Corvette C5 beats ANY Corvette. ALL the time? :rolleyes:

:bs:

Lets race DARTH!

Originally posted by Topless01WS6
Actually youre still a KID! NineTEEN........ Anyways I felt like making my point. I get pulled over all the time for no reason. I get sworn at by 30 and 40-somethings for no reason (after THEY cut me off ten times trying to control traffic in 40 mph zones to 35). Get a WS6 all the way! But trust me on this.... I look mature and act it also (at least on the road) and I get so much BS on the road. YOULL SEE!

You are truly delusional.

Just for everyone's info... Topless01WS6 is a troll from the Show & Shine forum here at CZ.c ... he has been banned twice under the names azpurplez28 and azpurplez29 (or similar)...

He also goes to LS1.com and trolls it up too...

Originally posted by Darth Xed
Just for everyone's info... Topless01WS6 is a troll from the Show & Shine forum here at CZ.c ... he has been banned twice under the names azpurplez28 and azpurplez29 (or similar)...

He also goes to LS1.com and trolls it up too...

:bs: :bs: :bs:

go C5 simply for the fact that you can get a halfway decent resale out of the vette!
Even when my 99 TA is paid off I'll probably still own more than it's worth!!
Great car though.
If you have kids, get the WS6
If you are young and want to get the chicks, get the vette!!

as many have already made very clear. the c5 is simply put a better car. hence the higher price ;). the question you have to answer is "what is it i want and what is most important to me?". do you prefer the looks of one of these vehicles more? do you want a drag car? is money a deciding factor?

i chose my camaro simply because i liked the car. i liked the way it felt and the bodystyle fits me. i could have afforded a c5 but.... it just wasn't me. test drive an ss/ws6 and a c5 and put some thought as to where your priorities lie. with whatever you get i would recomend t-tops or convertable. but thats just me ;). good luck and with choices like that..... hard to make a mistake :D .

What's with all these 16 and 17 year olds with LS1s trying to show up mature drivers with nicer or just as nice cars, just to say "I'm younger but better?" For every 17 or 18 year old who claims they paid for the car AND the insurance themself, I can guarantee you that 9 out of 10 are lying because there is so much stigma toward a parent buying a kid a nice car anymore. So you can take someone in an older car... good for you.