The C5 is the smarter buy on paper. LS1 power, dead-simple maintenance, a massive aftermarket, and you can find clean examples all day for under $20K. It's the car that made mid-engine Corvette money irrelevant for anyone who just wants to go fast. Nobody's arguing the value proposition. But the 996 is the one you think about ten years later. That flat-six at 7,200 RPM doesn't sound like anything else on the road. The hydraulic steering talks back to you in full sentences. The chassis balance mid-corner makes the C5's leaf spring rear feel like a rough draft. Yeah, the IMS bearing is real — budget $2-3K for the fix and move on. A sorted 996 with the bearing done is one of the most underpriced driving experiences left in the market, and those sub-$30K prices aren't coming back. The C5 will always be cheap. The 996 won't be cheap much longer. So which side are you on — the car that makes sense, or the car that makes you feel something? Defend your pick in the comments. #ThreePieceUS ...