- 133,187
- 7,842 below average
- 13,000 great
- Carrollton, TX
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- autoshopper.com
- 7,842 below average 133,187 red manual
That's half a century as america's premier sports car. Many corvette owners have been attending events to celebrate. For most of those 50 years, the corvette has been america's only true sports car, that is, the only u. Production two-seater capable of real race-track performance. the corvette has endured because it has always represented real performance value. But this fifth-generation corvette (sometimes called the c5) delivers a combination of acceleration and handling matched only by the dodge viper, porsche 911 and various exotics, all of which are far more expensive. there's really nothing quite like the corvette. Sports cars in the c5 price range, such as the mercedes-benz slk, bmw z3, and porsche boxster, offer an entirely different driving experience. for 2003, the corvette celebrates its longevity with a special 50th anniversary edition, featuring unique dark red paintwork and a 'shale' (gray-beige) interior color scheme. All 2003 corvettes wear the 50th anniversary logo and come with even more standard equipment than before. A new option called magnetic selective ride control promises better ride quality with the same handling precision that made the corvette a legend. . lineupthe corvette lineup consists of the coupe, the convertible, and the z06 hardtop. powering both the coupe 41,680) and convertible 48,205) is the 350-horsepower 5. 7-liter ls1 v8, which meets california's low emissions vehicle standards. An automatic transmission is standard; a six-speed manual 915) is optional. the ls6 v8 in the z06 hardtop 50,043) displaces the same 5. 7 liters, but produces an amazing 405 horsepower and 400 foot-pounds of torque. the coupe comes with a body-colored removable roof panel as standard equipment; a translucent plastic panel is an option. The coupe's rear window opens like a hatchback. The hardtop and convertible have trunks. The coupe comes with a parcel net and luggage shade. Child restraint attachment system (cras) hooks have been added to the passenger seat for 2003. Don't forget that the passenger-side air bag must be manually shut off while carrying children. the z06 hardtop adds a head-up instrument display, titanium exhaust, a tire inflator kit for its goodyear eagle f1 tires, and forged alloy wheels. The six-speed manual is the only transmission offered. in addition to its special colors, the 50th anniversary editions feature a color-coordinated instrument panel, champagne-painted wheels, embroidered badges on the seats and floor mats, padded armrests and grips on the inner door panels, and a shale top for the convertible. Race fans may recognize the package, which was previewed on the 'vette that paced the 2002 indianapolis 500. standard on the anniversary edition, and optional on coupes and convertibles, is magnetic selective ride control, which provides continuously variable suspension damping without electro-mechanical valves or any small moving parts at all. Instead, the system relies on magneto-rheological (mr) fluid in the shock absorbers and an electromagnetic coil inside the shock-absorber pistons. Varying the current to the coil instantly changes the viscosity of the mr fluid. This in turn allows the system to continuously adjust the shock rates, providing a quieter, flatter ride with more precise, responsive handling, particularly during sudden high-speed maneuvers. On bumpy or slick surfaces, magnetic selective ride control integrates with the corvette's standard traction control to maximize stability; it also communicates with the anti-lock brakes. changes made last year (2002) included revised rear shock valving and new high-performance front brake pads. New aluminum front stabilizer-bar links were added for z06s, and coupes and convertibles with the z51 suspension package. All corvettes with automatics got a new aluminum transmission cooler case. a cd-capable stereo is standard on corvette coupes and convertibles; a 12-disc remote cd changer costs $600 extra. . walkaroundthe fifth-generation corvette, or c5, made its debut in 1997; it was the first complete corvette redesign since 1984. while the corvette's basic concept remains the same as it was in 1953 (a two-seat plastic-bodied all-american sports car), the c5 shares almost nothing with previous-generation models. The wheelbase is longer, the track is wider, structural rigidity is far greater, and there are far fewer pieces in the whole assembly, which improves rigidity and quality. We find the rear end reminiscent of the imsa gtp corvettes of the late '80s, and we think the flowing front fenders are handsome when viewed either from outside or behind the wheel. The convertible version looks graceful when the top is down. the z06 is more than a hopped-up model; it's a vastly different animal. It was intended as a street racer with track capabilities, chevrolet's one-up response to ford's mustang cobra r. The designation 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. the hardtop presents a different profile from the coupe. The hardtop roofline is actually more coupe-like than the coupe's, whose hatchback glass slopes more steeply. Other visible differences between the coupe and hardtop are subtle, starting with tidy z06 emblems on each side of the hardtop. the z06 hardtop has modest mesh air intakes in the nose and wedge-shaped mesh cooling inlets for the rear brakes, located on the rocker panels just aft the doors. The 17-inch-diameter front wheels are 9. 5 inches wide, while the 18-inch rears are 10. 5 inches wide. They carry massive and exclusive goodyear f1 supercar rubber, p265/40zr up front, p295/35zr out back. Using thinner glass, a titanium exhaust system and less insulation saves the weight. Don't bother arguing that insulation is a creature comfort; with a car like this, noise and spiritual comfort level are intertwined. Ask anyone who's driven a noisy racecar. the ls6 treatment of the trusty 5. 7-liter v8 yields 405 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 400 foot-pounds of torque at 4800. It was overhauled for 2002 with hollow-stem valves, a higher-lift camshaft, a low-restriction mass-airflow sensor and a low-restriction air cleaner. (and it still has those big, bright red valve covers!) the aluminum block is designed to improve lubrication and reduce back pressure, while the heads feature refined porting and reshaped combustion chambers, fed by larger fuel injectors through a massaged composite intake manifold. The pistons are cast from stronger alloy, and their special shape helps increase the compression ratio from 10. 1:1 to 10. 5:1. corvette engineers revised the z06 suspension last year as well, with a larger front stabilizer bar, stiffer rear leaf spring, and new camber settings, all calibrated for maximum control in high-speed operation. New rear shock valving provided a more controlled ride, and new front brake pads improved durability and fade resistance. . interiorc5 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, and there's more room for both driver and passenger. There's also a real trunk; arriving at the airport after a trip halfway around the world, we were able to cram two huge duffel bags into a coupe. The other major improvement is the elimination of the rattles and stress squeaks that have haunted corvettes for so long. The c5's handsome analog gauges are easier to use and more satisfying than the old digital displays. the convertible top stows neatly under a flap that folds flat at the forward edge of the trunk lid. The top is made of high-quality material and the rear window is glass. Even more noise comes through in the z06, as we mentioned. However, this is a sports car, and noise, particularly the calculated growl of that terrific v8, is part of the deal. . driving impressio. Power Seats✔ Anti-lock Brakes✔ CD Changer✔ Air Conditioning✔ Aluminum Wheels✔ Alloy Wheels
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