1997 - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette

The Corvette featured an all-new design for 1997, with an all-new 5.7-liter LS1 V8 coupled to a rear-mounted transaxle—a Corvette first. Nearly every component was redesigned, making the C5 lighter, stronger, and more efficient than the C4 it replaced.

Thanks to the new rear-mounted transmission, which could be had in either 4-speed automatic or 6-speed manual versions, the new Corvette maintained a nearly perfect front-to-rear weight bias, which made it a better handler than previous models. It's a very capable performer, especially in Z06 trim, but it's also quite usable, with many owners finding them comfortable enough to drive on a daily basis.