In all honesty, I'd have to agree with those of you that said the "driver" would make the difference. As far as straightline performance goes, it's a toss-up. I disagree with the handling, though. Unless you are talking about a better ride, which I'm sure the M5 has over the Vette, the cornering of the M5 is a tad bit lower than the Vette. Why do I know? I was driving on the interstate last year and a guy in a BMW kept speeding up every time I would get close to him. I was thinking this BMW guy was nuts for thinking he could hang. Well, we were both going about 70 and the next time I got to the back of his car, he punched it. I was thinking, as I quickly downshifted, that I would be passing him in a few seconds. WRONG! He had gained 2-3 cars by the time I punched it and by 120, when he tapped his brakes, it seemed I was no closer or further away. That's when I noticed the little M5 badging on the rear of the car. I then got beside him and rolled the window down and motioned for him to go again. He smiled and shook his head. I shrugged and gave the guy a thumbs up. I then got off on the Broadway exit, which does a wrap around and then merges into traffic after you exit, and noticed the guy was right on my ***. I started to get on hte gas in the turn and this guys was still on my ***! Near the end of the turn I look into my rearview mirror and the guy had somehow dropped several cars behind. We caught the next light and I rolled my window down and asked if he wanted to go someplace a little more open. He sounded pissed as he explained that he lost control coming out of the corner and his rear wheel smacked the curb. He told me the salesman told him the M5 would kill a Vette in a corner. The light turned green and he turned and I went straight. ...... I'm not sure how much a difference this made, but my car is Z51 equipped. I'm not sure if the standard C5 would have had the same results......

Ted


------------------
'00 MY C5

 

Quote from a professional driver in march M.T. article mentione earlier"On a cool dec. morning I wtche my boss hustle a bone-stock non-Z06 Vette to a stellar 13.1 sece.t., only to be slappe upside the head moments later with the harsh image of a BMW M5msishtailing to a 13.07! If I hadnt seen it personally I wouldnt have beieved it. But it got wilder. THe M5 beat the Vette in the standing mile acceleration run, stopped shorter from 100 and 60 mph and actually outpaced the C5 through the 600 ft slalom. What was gong on? Was I in a musclecar lovers worst nithtmare. Nope. THe Crvette isa damn fine car, but e M5 is quicker ,etc etc."
There is also a competition option for the M5(not used in the MT test) that puts its cornering at 1.2gs. The M5 is easier to drive at 9/10ths for a less experienced driver than almost anything.
But I still love my L the best.

 

the vette is an automatic, it was close though, the m5 just pulled though

 

1qkpkup: Don't get me wrong. I love M.T., but I was giving a "real world" account of my run-in with an M5. For 80K, I would take a Z06 and spend the rest in mods. WAIT! For 40K, I could buy a Lightning and spend the rest. Then again I could just buy a used late model Z28 and drop about 6K for a TT setup...... Of course I do not have 80K to spend, so I'll stick to what I can afford. If I did have 80K, I would buy a C5 Coupe and an M3. OK, maybe that would cost more than 80K.

 

The M5 is not that on a road course... know that from first hand experience... I dont know how well the C5 handles road courses... but the Z06 will destroy the M5 road racing.

 

Where I live, the M5 is almost double the price of the C5. (C5-68k, M5-115k)

Oh yeah, to get my little dig in, how much can they tow ?

 

The Corvette in the Motor Trend test was a 6sp stick, however.