They’ve let me out of my cage and I’m a feral beast ready to write! The haters kept me down yesterday and I was not able to bring you the shittiest boxes for a showdown (okay I just forgot, and now David hates me [Ed Note: I do not. Griffin is a gem. – DT]), but I am here to rectify that mistake and give y’all what you want. No, what you need.
We begin with the results of yesterday’s SBSD:
First and foremost: What the hell is a “Sophie’s Choice?” Is this me being too young again? [Ed Note: No clue. – DT]. I’ve never even met a Sophie; why would I choose her? [Ed Note: Guys, you can just Google things. HERE. Gawd. – Pete] Doesn’t matter, I’m gonna say that I stand with the people on this one. We need to torture Old David and have him rock with this old-school Kaiser truck. Military styling in a boxy body like that? I’m already in love. The Dakota is cute and all but this just ain’t even close for me (with all due disrespect):
Wanna know what else is disrespectful? Disgracing the sanctity of the column that is Shitbox Showdown by showing you something that is firmly established as the antithesis to Shitboxes; something that insists on being the premiere driving experience you can get in the U.S. — something that always earns your attention and affection, all without even trying. I’m, of course, talking about a Corvette.
2001 Chevrolet Corvette ZO6 – $24,000
Engine/drivetrain: 5.7-liter V8 pushrod OHV, 6-speed manual, RWD
Location: Simi Valley, CA
Odometer reading: 88,000
Operational status: “Car is absolutely perfect”
RAHHH [bald eagles dive bomb overhead] RAHHH! IT’S THE YEAR OF THE C5 BABY! From the mean streets of Bowling Green and into the meaner streets of Simi Valley comes the track attack, fat sacked, rattatat tat something else that rhymes front engine monster! RAHHH!
If you don’t know anything about the C5 generation, let me tell you all about it: The car actually has a 50/50 weight distribution (unlike my C6 which is an imperfect 51/49) and could quite easily reach 170mph+ if the litany of forum posts are to be believed. It also saw the introduction of the head-up display that became popular in the cars, but it also saw the introduction of the often maligned 1st-4th gear manual transmission lockout that was implemented for fuel economy reasons.
What’s really rad about the C5 is the fact that the popup-headlight machine was an absolute monster on tracks all across the world. It raced from ’99-’04 and notched itself a whopping 31 wins out of 55 races total, with 50 of those same 55 getting them podiums in general. The car even won the overall victory at the 2001 Rolex 24 at Daytona, beating all the prototype cars along the way. Sure, the racecar isn’t the same as the production car, but there’s still nothing cooler than a sports car with a rich and impressive racing heritage.
Here’s James Pumphrey’s song about pop-up headlights if you’re into THAT kinda thing. This vehicle’s wheels look great, and to be honest, I’m only including that photo of the trunk because I’ve never seen how they open on a C5. It feels oddly small and like you can’t put anything back there. Am I reading into it too much? Is my sanity stretched too thin as I ooze love for the superior American motoring machine? I’m mush and I shall return to the earth one day.
I dig the two-tone seats dripping with red, however, I think that same red looks pretty tacky on the lower panel. It’s a personal taste thing no doubt, but just my two cents! I’d also swap out that shifter knob because the stock one is pretty butt ugly but that’s not the owner’s fault, that’s on GM. In terms of flaws, the only thing I can really see on this bad boy is the roof’s clear coat, which the owner mentions in the listing. For $24,000, I’m not mad at this.
2007 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Coupe – $44,995
Engine/drivetrain: 7.0-liter LS7 V8 pushrod OHV, 6-speed manual, RWD
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Odometer reading: 43,868
Operational status: Doesn’t say explicitly, but it looks clean as hell.
ZO6 GOES VROOM BABY! I’m telling y’all, I was put in blog jail for threatening to talk about Corvettes here, but my love for the C6 shall overcome my oppressors. Even now, I write this from a burner phone I got in Tijuana so that DT can’t send his goons to get me. I’m gonna win this fight, and I’m gonna tell y’all about this frickin car.
This here is a C6 Z06 and I can confirm, with firsthand knowledge, that these things ripppp. My dad, never one to let me have a nice thing of my own, bought a Z06 shortly after I got my base model C6, and he made sure to get one that’s an identical color just so that when we park next to each other, his is clearly the cooler of the two. But after driving that beauty, I forgave his blatant efforts to emasculate me because my lord that thing is something else.
With a Z06: you take the already incredible C6 platform and make it track-ready. Up the displacement, make them bores larger, longer strokes, and you find yourself clocking 505 horses like it’s nothing. It has better aero, lighter components in several places, and a buttery smooth transmission that makes my base model feel like I’m sparring with Tyson the way I have to punch it into gear. Seriously, swapping between the two made mine feel like a brick in a wind tunnel.
This model is painted in Atomic Orange Metallic and looks really clean. The Z06 also has a massive schnoz on the front end to help feed that hungry, hot engine that so desperately craves some ozone. I normally don’t like such busy wheels, but it honestly works pretty well on this one so I’m not mad!
The interiors on these are funny because it’s so clearly old-GM and filled with plastic everywhere, but it’s not low-quality plastic that’ll break if you hit it too hard. Even with its plastics, it all feels nice. Old as hell, no doubt, very dated, definitely, but nice!
And just to match our convo about the C5, let’s talk about the C6’s racing pedigree too: four LeMans wins. Fifty-one victories in its eight-year run in IMSA alone. It was a car so brisk on the track that many of its competitors straight up quit, with the ALMS series literally shutting down its class after everyone left. If that’s not an endorsement of its performance then what the hell is?! I’m sorry if I tout this car all the time but dammit I need people to know how much I love it!!!
I won’t sit here and kid y’all: $45 large for a 17-year-old car is pretty ridiculous by any metric the way I see it. I hate the way folks treat everything like an investment, especially cars, because what do you mean you have a Ferrari you’ve put 2,000 miles on in 15 years? If you buy it, drive it. Stop being dumb and worrying about getting money back on it. It’s in that vain, I question if this price tag of $45,000 is worth it for the C6.
On the other hand, I get it. I’ve driven one, including on a track where I ripped it to nearly 130 mph on the front straight of Willow Springs. It’s an incredible car. But is it worth nearly twice the price of a ‘same spec’ C5 that has a nearly identical history of performance and pedigree attached to it? I don’t know. I have a soft spot for my generation, but not to the point where I’m brainwashed. I say C5. How about y’all?
Skip shift started in C4.
Two things…
“Once in Royal David’s City” is (IMHO) one of the most beautiful hymns ever composed, and now whenever I see David’s name on this site, I think of it. So cut him some slack.
And, Sophie’s Choice is the most depressing Meryl Streep movie I ever saw. Even worse than Kramer vs. Kramer.
And perhaps, it was that 1-2-3 oh here’s 4th, lockout mechanism that gave it the 50-50 balance. Probably not. Too far forward in the chassis. Anyway. That would have annoyed the Hell out of me.
I’m not a Corvette guy. A colleague of mine, oh wow, 35 years ago, had a C3, and it was, how can I say this nicely, a big pile of already ambient temperature fecal matter.
All that excessive stuff said, I’d still go for the 2001. I’m sure there’s some way to defeat the transmission BS. Its less flashy wheels and the pop-up headlights are endearing to me.
(Having had an ’86 Accord that also did that headlight trick, for a lot less money. And also, a bit reduced performance.)
I really want a late C4. Manual. I either Red or yellow. But the C5 at least is close to that vibe.
Being of the ‘dad’ or maybe granddad generation I prefer the looks of the 5 over the 6. The 6 would just get me in trouble.
A vigorous shower spaghetti flogging is in order for such a process violation! Assume the position.
C5. This is easy. I’ve got $24,000.
C5 out of these two. I’m probably about even on C5/C6 looks. Like the rear of the C6 better, front of the C5 better. The interiors are still…eh. I’d prefer my toy car be a fun color, which black is not, but oh well. I’ll save the $20k for tires and repairs.
And if I wanted to spend $45k, you can get a C7 for that kind of money now. It isn’t a Z06, 427, Grand Sport but the “base” Vette is still plenty to keep the average person smiling. And then you actually get the nicer interior.
Skipped the column to come here and say neither. Why…
1. They are overpriced
2. They are from California
3. They are Corvettes.
I read the column and comments and came here to say either, though I prefer the C5. As for a 1978 FIAT Spyder, while I like the classics, I would not have one. Why…
Agreed but I couldn’t find a Healey and it was during COVID and it was the best 2 seater 60-70s convertible I could find.
I am taking the liberty of assuming from your reply that you would have preferred an Austin-Healey 3000. AWESOME car in spite of its known issues (Lucas electrical system for example). Probably more prone to issues than your Spyder, but that would not stop me from having one, they are one of the best looking classic two seaters ever. In spite of the potential issues with the A-H, I’d take a Mk III big Healey over the Corvettes covered in the article. Back in the day, my dad had a ’61 Mk II triple carb, nearly impossible to start when temps were below 40F. My buddy had a ’67 Mk III dual carb, always started; yes, for the younger readers, starting a car back then could be complicated, stressful, and cause for (take your pick: loss of hair, divorce, sale of car, or other issues). In any case, I have spent many enjoyable hours in a big Healey either driving or as a passenger. I’m very tempted to add one to my fleet (of one car) today.
No criticism of your Spyder, other than in my snarky reply to your original post, as they are really nice cars. Hell I had a ’75 X/19, so if you want to talk about a a FIAT model with issues, that is certainly one. Handled great due to mid engine setup, but just constant mechanical problems throughout the car. And a 1.3 litre engine with a 4 speed trans was slow, and at highway speed the noise was deafening due to the high RPM.
Why is being from CA bad for a used car? Rust free (Corvettes do have frames after all), they can only be mildly tampered with due to CA emissions), and the roads here are pretty smooth.
2,734.1 miles away.
Touché.
C6 is my favorite generation of Corvette visually from my lifetime (C3 on) so that’s what my heart wants and what I voted for. But I’m very practical as well and it’s clear the C5 here is the better deal.
Yeeeeeeeeeaaaaaahhhh! It’s ‘Vette time, bitches!
I’ll take the clean C5–that’s plenty of power for me, with timeless Corvette looks and the pop-up headlights. No judgment on those who voted for the C6, though.
The C5 Z06 will always be a gold standard of performance-to-dollar. It wasn’t a limited edition, GM would take any order for it and alot of people did.
The Problem is that the C6 Z51 exists and this is a 385 HP Z06.
Out of the two, C5 Z06 all the way. For the money, I’m shopping for a C6 Z51 manual.
The Cobalt steering wheel on the C6 makes it a CP on its own.
I’ll pocket some $20K and go with the 1st model year C5 Z06 and its proper steering wheel
I don’t have the driving skills for the C6. Too much car for me. I will cruise along with the C5, resplendent in my jorts and white tube socks.
kind of depends on what you might use this for. the C5 is not as quick, but is stone reliable and plenty sporty. But it nets nearly the same Fuel economy as a similar year Camry I think.
the LS7 is both a draw and detractor in one fell swoop. overheating and Worn Valve guides are a definite thing with those cars.
I would likely buy the much cheaper older unit in this case, but I would secretly covet the 427 Vette.
I still can’t forgive the C6 for being the first generation after popups died, so this one is easy. Also, I’m told the C5 was the best generation for tall people, so I probably don’t fit in the C6.
I’ll take the C5…I like the body style/design better than the C6 (mostly the front end)…plus it’s way cheaper. It’s in great shape + pop-up lights!
The C5 actually looks surprisingly good in black even though the Z06 only came in that weird hardtop look. It’s a lot of car for the money, but I think I’d rather a regular C6, C4 ZR1, or Callaway C4 (I’ve been kind of enamored with the Callaways after seeing one in person and I’m not a big C4 or Corvette guy) for around the same price (at least the last I checked a few months ago). Of course, that’s not the question, so as much as I prefer the C6, not $20k better for better bodywork and extra performance I can’t use. Plus, as much as it’s nice to see a color, that copper is not for me.
I appear to be in the minority based on the degree of engagement… but bring back the shit boxes. A $44K car… is not that.
Its it a weird sort of engagement that there are three times as many comments as there are votes?
I confess… I didn’t vote. I appreciate the performance value… but Vettes never did it for me. At least not after the C2s…
don’t worry; the shitboxiness of the column will return. i just know i couldn’t sleep with myself if i didn’t force my agenda here at least once
Hey, they are GM products. With “quality” like that, shitbox status is achieved before leaving the factory.
This edition the shitbox enthusiast version of rage bait?
That said, based on my dad’s experience the C6 is in fact a shitbox. I internally mocked him for getting the crazy extended warranty but it paid off over and over again with the visits to the dealer for random expensive things like transmissions and convertible top mechanisms, and something with the fuel tank where a leaking pipe of some sort kept it out of commission for 6 weeks waiting for that unobtainium part.
I’m baffled by the hate for the rusty orange, which is fantastic, but otherwise, I agree that the C5 is more pleasing with the popups and without the snout. Even at even money I’d have to think about which one I want; for double the dollars, it’s no contest.