America's Sports Car
Commemorative editions mark the last of the Corvette C5s

For the past 50 years, the Corvette has been America’s sports car, a U.S.-production two-seater capable of real racetrack performance.

The C5 does this in a big way, boasting performance and handling matched only by the Dodge Viper, Porsche 911 and various exotics, all of which are far more expensive. Driving each of the C5 models, whether it’s a coupe, convertible, or the Z06, is always a visceral experience.

Most powerful is the Z06 hardtop, with 405 horsepower on tap. The high-performance Z06 benefits from suspension tuning for 2004. The goal was improved ride quality, but the revised Z06 suspension also feels “more tied down, more glued to the road,” according to Chevrolet.

Intended as a street racer with track capabilities, the Z06 has a rich history, dating back to the 1963 split-window Sting Ray, when the Z06 was a pure road-racing package. (The Z comes from Zora Arkus-Duntov, the Corvette’s famous first chief engineer.) Chevrolet has revived the Z06 designation for this more-than-worthy successor. Only now it’s a separate model, not an option package.

C5 Corvettes come with comfortable cabins, something that wasn’t always true of previous-generation models. Low doorsills and narrow side rails make getting in and out easier than before. There’s plenty of room for driver and passenger, though there isn’t a lot of space for stuff. The handsome analog gauges are easier to use and more satisfying than the old digital displays.

The Corvette is not a quiet car, but the rattles and stress squeaks that have haunted Corvettes for so long have largely been eliminated. We noticed more road noise and engine noise in the convertible than in the coupe, and even more comes through in the Z06. However, this is a sports car, and noise, particularly the calculated growl of that terrific V8, is part of the deal.

Ride quality is decidedly stiff. You don’t get a sports car’s ability to change directions without snubbing body roll and limiting up-and-down suspension motions, and when you do those things you’re obliged to accept some tradeoff in comfort. It shutters over bumps, yet they are not uncomfortably harsh. The Corvette offers sharp reflexes on rural roads. It provides a superb blend of muscle and finesse, and its brakes are nothing short of race-worthy.

Active Handling, which comes standard, gets you out of slides before trouble strikes by applying braking to the individual corners as needed. It uses on-board sensors to measure yaw, lateral acceleration and steering wheel position, and uses ABS and traction control to correct oversteer or understeer. However, aside from an “Active Handling” message on the instrument panel, drivers might not always realize they’ve been assisted.

The Z06 is an absolute joy to drive fast. We found it rock-steady, precise, consistent, and fast at a smooth 2.2-mile road course near Las Vegas.

The C5 is beautifully balanced, surprisingly comfortable, and is built to a far higher standard than any Corvette in history. The C5 handles great on a road course, but still reminds us of a muscle car when cruising along or accelerating down a straight stretch.

Mitch McCullogh is editor-in-chief for NewCarTestDrive.com.

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