Corvette Owner see's the light

[keving]

Howdy again folks. Have had the NSX for 10 days now, and I feel blessed every time I drive it. I have a cool story to tell, regarding one of the guys that works for me. He has a really nice 2000 C5 vette, truly an awsome machine. I was talking with him a couple of days after getting my NSX and he was mystified why I would ever buy such a car

He was not putting me down, he just did not understand why someone would pay so much for a car that did not perform as well as a 55K vette. I invited him over to my place today and offered to let him drive my baby. We took the car out west of where I live and spent over an hour having a good time. He was strangly quiet the whole time

Upon returning to my house, he climbed out of my car and looked over at me and said "I understand now, this machine is piece of rolling artwork". Made my day

Him and I both agree that the vette will outperform my car in every meaningful catagory, but that for some reason, the driving experience in the NSX is way better. Thought you all might enjoy the story

Take care.

Kevin

 

[PUREVIL]

What year is your X?

 

[keving]

My X is a 1992 blk/blk with 45K miles. Take care.

Kevin;

 

[BB]

Originally posted by keving:
Him and I both agree that the vette will outperform my car in every meaningful catagory, but that for some reason, the driving experience in the NSX is way better.

What about handling? Doesn't that count as part of "performance"? The NSX is often refered to as having better handling than the C5, including this article from Road and Track
http://www.nsxprime.com/FAQ/Media/magazines/rt9906.htm

Also, a '97 or newer NSX has as good or better straightline accelleration as the C5. Isn't it telling how a 10 year old NSX is often compared to a new vette? What does that say?

 

[Number9]

BB, the article you cited compared a limited edition, hard-top NSX with much stiffer suspension setup to a run-of-the-mill corvette, so the article isn't representative of NSXen vs. Corvette C5s in general...

--twc

 

[keving]

Hold the phone here guys. I had no intention of starting a this car is better than that car thread here. The point is, both my friend and I can appreciate BOTH vehicles for what they are. I have not had much experience with the c5, but I have ridden in his and I have to tell you, it is quite a machine. However, no vette can steal my heart, and his comment regarding "rolling artwork", kind of sums up my feelings toward my car

I will never max out the capabilities of my X and I am sure he will not max his vette. Neither one of us is race trained and I have never been to a track. Take care.

Kevin;

 

[BB]

Originally posted by Number9:
BB, the article you cited compared a limited edition, hard-top NSX with much stiffer suspension setup to a run-of-the-mill corvette, so the article isn't representative of NSXen vs. Corvette C5s in general...

Ok, here's an article from '97 Car & Driver "The Best Handling Car For More Than $30,000". A stock NSX-T got 3rd place, while the C5 with Z51 suspension upgrade got 6th.
http://www.caranddriver.com/xp/Caranddriver/features/1997/September/199709_feature _thebe.xml

Here's a quote from the article:
Our Vette came with the Z51 performance suspension with stiffer springs and anti-roll bars and larger shocks, but it still didn't feel buttoned down. I still think this thing bounces around a lot, wrote Webster. Csere noted: It uses up its travel more readily than the other cars. On rougher roads, its suspension regularly tops and bottoms. The other cars don t do this. The steering felt uncommunicative. Berg wrote: There's no feel and a big light spot on-center. If I want a computer game, I'll go to Vegas.

Smith s begrudging respect was a common theme: Still feels heavy and ponderous, but it ll get the job done when asked. Which earned the Corvette a sixth-place finish.

They had some other negative comments about the other car's handling characteristics (including the NSX), but none as scathing as their comments regarding the C5.

Kevin, I'm not trying to start an argument here. I'm just perplexed at how everything I've read and heard from talking with others is that the C5 doesn't handle quite as well as the NSX, yet from your experience the C5 outperformes the NSX in every category. Honest question: In your opinons does this include handling too? Are Car & Driver's comments accurate?

Or is it that the C5 is every bit as capiable as the NSX in the twisties, but requires a better driver to navigate it because of it's lack of feel? Is this not true performance perhaps and part of what made your friend feel the NSX is a work of art?


[This message has been edited by BB (edited 03 June 2001).]

 

[keving]

Hehe, I am not sure if the C5 outperforms the NSX overall, but that is what I have heard. I have not driven a C5 but have been a passenger. Neither myself nor my friend are in anyway qualified to state which is better in the handleing department. It is only my impression. If the X is better at handleling, I would not be surprised. I was mostly commenting on the massive HP difference between the two cars. Take care.

 

[tabasco]

Hi Guys,

I almost bought an '01 Vette. Ordered it, came in with a terrible whistling noise in the throttle body, and I refused it. Took a trip to the Corvette plant in Bowling Green and was mildly impressed. Just go to the Corvette forum and hear the bitching on quality of the car. (Oil consumption, steering wheel lock-up, piston knocking, whistling,...). I decided to look for something else.

I now own a new 2000 NSX. I have driven both cars and here are my thoughts.

C5 has the torque of a bull. It will set you back in the seat and sounds as mean as it feels. That's the best part of a Vette. The end. (Although, it looks good--gotta say that)

NSX handles and feels like a go cart with the comfort, quality and REALIBILITY of a CL-Type S.

In my area, on a nice day, I will see 20-30 Vettes. The only NSX I'll see is the reflection of mine as I pass a large window.

I'm not flaming a Vette. But, they are Chevrolets and to get one without some problems is a crap shoot.

------------------
'00 Monaco Blue Pearl / Black

[This message has been edited by tabasco (edited 04 June 2001).]

 

[DeHaldaswerth]

Ditto, Tabasco. I owned a 99 C5 Hardtop for two years, drove it 45,000 miles. Torque; yes. Looks; eye of the beholder, but I loved it. Bang for the buck; great. However, the steering column locked up twice, and the car had to be hauled to the dealer on a flat bed. I had to bum a ride from my teenage sister, and I was about an hour outside of town both times. The seats were painful to sit it, and I'm not a whimp when it comes to such things. It's that same thing we all learn over and over: there are no free lunches, and you get what you pay for. Sure, the Corvette is a great car for $42,000. But the NSX, when you consider the entire package, is an even better value at $82,000. Even after ten years.

 

[x-sauce]

Interesting commentary and timely as well. I lined up with a 00' or 01 vette yesterday-he beat me to 40 by a full length. What do I have to do to my 98' (aside from training) to keep up?

 

[NSEX]

Originally posted by x-sauce:
Interesting commentary and timely as well. I lined up with a 00' or 01 vette yesterday-he beat me to 40 by a full length. What do I have to do to my 98' (aside from training) to keep up?

I've raced with 2 Vettes, one was a coupe and another was a convertible. I beat the coupe (6 speed) 1st and 2nd gear with a perfect launch, then the coupe caught up in 3rd gear and passed me slowly. However, I was as fast as the convertible.
BTW, my NSX is a '91 with I/H/E. I think you should be able to beat a stock Vette.