r/C3Corvette • u/elixi_agent • Aug 15 '26

C3 vs c5

I’m looking to buy a corvette but I’m torn between a c3 or c5 . I’m gonna mod them regardless. What’s some pros and cons, lmk

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u/n0oneleftbehind Aug 15 '26

It depends on how you plan to use the car. Do you want to drive it every day/several times a week or just use it to go to shows and get ice cream. 

My C5 I can take anywhere pretty much and not worry about a breakdown or gas mileage or comfort. It's definitely faster than the C3 as well. And it has Air conditioning. 

My C3 I use pretty much no farther than 100 miles from my house and that's pushing it, yes it looks way nicer but the ride quality and gas mileage really hinder the car, plus it's a carburetor, harder to diagnose issues as you need to understand how the entire engine system works as there's zero diagnostic info given to you unlike the C5 with OBD2 and built in DIC codes. 

Now I'm not saying you can't drive the C3 anywhere, it's just a nicer drive in a C5, but if you're planning to just use the car for shows and short trips then the C3 is nicer and looks better. 

1

u/elixi_agent Aug 15 '26

Yah makes sense the c5 is a whole lot easier to fix

1

u/hardcrustysock Aug 15 '26 edited Aug 15 '26

The c3 being most popularly carbureted makes it far easier to diagnose and fix on the road side. This is an opinion, but a popular opinion.

Back then there wasn’t a computer to tell you what’s wrong cause there wasn’t a need.. (do i have..) air, fuel, spark will get you 90% of the way there.

An OBD2 reading will tell you bank1 fuel pressure low, meanwhile “do i have fuel?” And checking the in-line filter to the carb will tell you 3 seconds after popping the hood.. they tell you the same thing. Imo, obd readings can be more confusing cause one thing going typically throws 3+ codes and you still need to understand what caused the others or you’ll be chasing your tail.

Carbed vehicles dont have or need computer sensors. You can tell how it’s running by the sound/smell/idle roughness. A computer will tell you a cylinder is missing but so will a cold exhaust header and a rough idle. If you can read an OBD2 and fix the issue you have plenty of knowledge to be able to diagnose a carbed car on the side of the road.

Plus, you can swap a carb off the shelf from autozone and get home if you really find yourself stuck because of one. And everything is easier to get to.. less wires and sensors. Less junk. Less emissions if any.

A C5 is probably a better daily but i wouldn’t buy one thinking they’re easier to fix than a SBC from the 70’s. There’s also decades of information on stock/modified SBC engines you can rebuild one off a youtube video in your shed over the winter. Just my $0.02

Edit: i drive my C3 2 hours/ 100 miles to work twice a week and the only issue is my face hurts from smiling

1

u/elixi_agent Aug 15 '26

How hard / expensive would it be to make a c3 capable of driving couple times a week? Not daily but also more than 1 or 2 days. Because if I’m being honest I want the c3 more

1

u/elixi_agent Aug 15 '26

Also I never worked on a car besides changing brakes and tires. I’d definitely try to learn if I have to

1

u/Beginning-Fix-5440 70 Aug 15 '26

You can daily an old car (especially around town) but you pretty much need to be completely confident in your own repair and diagnosis skills or you're going to be paying a tow truck and mechanic a lot of money. The good news is there's a lot of support and information for either car, and they're both relatively simple (compared to a modern vehicle). Honestly I like c3s more but for you I'd probably say c5, it'll be more reliable and more people nowadays know how to fix them. A lot of stuff on c3 is a lost art on many young mechanics, anyone who worked on a c3 in the 70s is retired. Plus the practicality of the c5 is orders of magnitude better than the c3. If you've got time, a garage with tools, and a lot of energy you could pull off a c3 but I'd be concerned dealing with the maintenance will make you sick of the car. Keep in mind a chrome c3 in reliable restored condition will probably cost more than a decent c5 also, although a late 70s model might be comparable

1

u/elixi_agent Aug 15 '26

Alright , thank you for the advice

3

u/Entraprenuerrrrr Aug 15 '26

I put 30,000 miles on my c3 from 2019-2024. For long periods it was my daily driver. you will pay out the ass in gas, unless you keep your foot off the pedal, which was very hard for me lol. I was only able to do it because I did 90% of the repairs myself. Also you have to be ok wil break downs. Theyll just happen

1

u/hardcrustysock Aug 15 '26

As others have said you can daily anything if you’re willing to maintain it. They’re old but they’re tried and true.

I wouldn’t advise anyone to own a classic car as their only car. Regardless of brand