2000 Corvette – Vette-net

While the 2000 C5 Corvette underwent little physical modification from that of its predecessor, it did receive some limited design changes as well as some unique enhancements that continued to perpetuate the car’s popularity both on the track and at the dealership

Pricing: $39,475.00 (coupe), $38,900.00 (FRC hardtop), $45,900.00 (convertible)

Engine options: LS1 346 C.I., 5.7 Litre V8

Transmission: 4-speed automatic (standard), 6-speed manual (optional)

Top speed: 169mph (Hardtop), 171mph (Coupe)

Units Produced: 33,682

Available Colors: Arctic White, Light Pewter Metallic, Sebring Silver Metallic, Nassau Blue Metallic, Navy Blue Metallic, Black, Torch Red, Millennium Yellow, Magnetic Red Metallic, Dark Bowling Green Metallic

Highlights of the year:

Corvette convertible. Pure magic. The only convertible that matters. In the beginning, there was only one Corvette: the convertible, a.k.a. roadster. Corvette has traveled far since that first Polo White, Powerglide ’53 Vette rolled off a makeshift Flint, Michigan, assembly line, but the magic endures in every graceful line of the 2000 convertible. A subtle hint of earlier classics – “Our future must start with our past,” says Corvette Chief Designer John Cafaro. “Each and every day, we live and breathe Corvette history. From memorable streetcars and significant race cars to forward-looking concept cars and design studies, we feel the presence of every Corvette that ever came before.”

Convertible details on the current car that evoke Vettes of an earlier era include a dramatic “waterfall” effect as the exterior body color sweeps down between the bucket seats; the sculpted “cove” through the front fenders and doors; and, of course, those four round taillamps. The structure makes the difference – there’s a reason the 2000 convertible feels so solid, so agile and so precise in its response to your driving input. This Corvette is substantially stiffer than the previous-generation Corvette convertible, and it also has a lower curb weight. Lateral shake is virtually gone, and the ride is impressively smooth.

Most of the other mechanical improvements for the 2000 Corvette centered around drivability and ride stability as well. Engineering improvements were made to the Selective Real-Time Damping suspension. These changes largely involved the introduction of new or revised algorithms integrated with a re-designed (softer) jounce bumper for ride and handling improvements.

A close examination of the most popular Corvette, the coupe, is revealing. The award-winning LS1 V8 engine is a 345-horsepower combination of refined smoothness and seemingly unending muscle. Variable-effort Magnasteer and “drive-by-wire” electronic throttle control provides a virtually seamless connection between driver and car. The innovative drivetrain layout – with the engine up front and the transmission in the back – contributes to superb weight balance and unexpectedly spacious interior. Standard features in every Corvette coupe include a one-piece removable roof panel, electronically controlled 4-speed automatic transmission (a 6-speed manual is optional), air conditioning, a theft-deterrent system with horn alarm, traction control and four-wheel disc brakes with ABS. And, the forged aluminum wheels are newly styled for 2000. The new wheels were now fully forged with a flow-formed rim for greater durability, even though the new wheels featured thinner spokes than its predecessors.

Photos of the 2000 Corvette: