anyone sell their z06 for a cheaper track/ racecar?
05-02-2010, 01:53 PM
#1
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Member Since: Nov 2009
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
anyone sell their z06 for a cheaper track/ racecar?
My c5 z06 is rarely driven and is currently a pain in a work commute with my rollbar/ race seat etc.
I've considered getting an suv and some sort of dedicated car for the track. Something like a spec e30, spec 3, e36 m3, spec miata, etc.
The vette is pretty costly to run as it is hard on brakes and tires. I cannot afford to make it a racecar.
Have any of you downgraded to a slower car? Please describe the change in experience. I have lots of seat time in an e30 325is with mods to run in Dsp and stx Autocross classes. Lately I've been spoiled by the power of a v8 and don't know how much I'd miss the torque.
It would be nice to save some $$$$$ but still have the same amount of fun.
I've considered getting an suv and some sort of dedicated car for the track. Something like a spec e30, spec 3, e36 m3, spec miata, etc.
The vette is pretty costly to run as it is hard on brakes and tires. I cannot afford to make it a racecar.
Have any of you downgraded to a slower car? Please describe the change in experience. I have lots of seat time in an e30 325is with mods to run in Dsp and stx Autocross classes. Lately I've been spoiled by the power of a v8 and don't know how much I'd miss the torque.
It would be nice to save some $$$$$ but still have the same amount of fun.
05-02-2010, 02:43 PM
#2
Safety Car
05-02-2010, 02:48 PM
#3
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Member Since: Nov 2009
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Spec miata has always been a consideration.
I've just.recently dumped some.loot on the z06 only to break my tranny recently.
Getting married and having a baby really changes the game as far as " boy toy" budgets go. Learning the hard way.
I've just.recently dumped some.loot on the z06 only to break my tranny recently.
Getting married and having a baby really changes the game as far as " boy toy" budgets go. Learning the hard way.
05-02-2010, 03:04 PM
#4
Racer
Member Since: May 2008
Posts: 470
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I stopped tracking my 3500lb GTO and bought a 2400lb e36 race car. For a number of reasons, the main one of which was safety - I wanted the cage, seat, harnesses, extinguisher, etc.
The drop in power was initially quite a shock, but you get over it. It's now only irritating when I have to blow a lap by lifting to let the big HP guys past. On the other hand, you gain a ton of fun due to the lower weight.
The reduction in consumable costs was nice - ten days out of a set of pads instead of 1.5. The rotors look like they'll last for ever - after ten days I don't think I can detect any deterioration in them at all.
Tires seem to last about the same number of days - it's the heat-cycle count turning them into rocks which determines their life, as opposed to wear. But the tires are way cheaper - 245/40R17 v710's are $177 from tirerack.
Also, there's something to be said for a slower car: if it hits something, it's less likely to make you dead. I've never really scraped more than 110mph out of this thing, and that's a little over half the energy of 140mph.
So... it's a different world in the light, low power car. Not necessarily better or worse - just different. And cheaper. You'll still have heaps of fun. And you'll have it in your POS race car with dinged-up fenders rather than in your beautiful street car which you actually care about.
The drop in power was initially quite a shock, but you get over it. It's now only irritating when I have to blow a lap by lifting to let the big HP guys past. On the other hand, you gain a ton of fun due to the lower weight.
The reduction in consumable costs was nice - ten days out of a set of pads instead of 1.5. The rotors look like they'll last for ever - after ten days I don't think I can detect any deterioration in them at all.
Tires seem to last about the same number of days - it's the heat-cycle count turning them into rocks which determines their life, as opposed to wear. But the tires are way cheaper - 245/40R17 v710's are $177 from tirerack.
Also, there's something to be said for a slower car: if it hits something, it's less likely to make you dead. I've never really scraped more than 110mph out of this thing, and that's a little over half the energy of 140mph.
So... it's a different world in the light, low power car. Not necessarily better or worse - just different. And cheaper. You'll still have heaps of fun. And you'll have it in your POS race car with dinged-up fenders rather than in your beautiful street car which you actually care about.
05-02-2010, 07:32 PM
#6
Melting Slicks
Member Since: Sep 2006
Location: Beaverton OR
Posts: 2,034
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I am considering going to a stock car. You can get one completely setup and ready to go for less than $20,000. Jericho dog box, quick change rear end, LS motor. They are cheaper to run, easy to work on, built specifically to race, have great brakes and they run 15 " wheels with good year slicks.
If you stuff one into a wall, just cut off the front end and weld a new one back on
I was talking to a friend who runs one here in the Northwest a couple of weeks ago. 2850 lbs with driver with 450 RWHP! But the topper was the tires. The entire race class did a group buy on 200 tires and wound up only paying $85 per tire for brand new slicks!!
I love the Corvette but at some point you have to analyze expenses and recognize that you could do a whole lot more racing, and still get the thrill of speed and the kick of a big V8.
JMHO.
If you stuff one into a wall, just cut off the front end and weld a new one back on
I was talking to a friend who runs one here in the Northwest a couple of weeks ago. 2850 lbs with driver with 450 RWHP! But the topper was the tires. The entire race class did a group buy on 200 tires and wound up only paying $85 per tire for brand new slicks!!
I love the Corvette but at some point you have to analyze expenses and recognize that you could do a whole lot more racing, and still get the thrill of speed and the kick of a big V8.
JMHO.
05-02-2010, 07:47 PM
#7
Drifting
I am considering going to a stock car. You can get one completely setup and ready to go for less than $20,000. Jericho dog box, quick change rear end, LS motor. They are cheaper to run, easy to work on, built specifically to race, have great brakes and they run 15 " wheels with good year slicks.
If you stuff one into a wall, just cut off the front end and weld a new one back on
I was talking to a friend who runs one here in the Northwest a couple of weeks ago. 2850 lbs with driver with 450 RWHP! But the topper was the tires. The entire race class did a group buy on 200 tires and wound up only paying $85 per tire for brand new slicks!!
I love the Corvette but at some point you have to analyze expenses and recognize that you could do a whole lot more racing, and still get the thrill of speed and the kick of a big V8.
JMHO.
If you stuff one into a wall, just cut off the front end and weld a new one back on
I was talking to a friend who runs one here in the Northwest a couple of weeks ago. 2850 lbs with driver with 450 RWHP! But the topper was the tires. The entire race class did a group buy on 200 tires and wound up only paying $85 per tire for brand new slicks!!
I love the Corvette but at some point you have to analyze expenses and recognize that you could do a whole lot more racing, and still get the thrill of speed and the kick of a big V8.
JMHO.
biggest thrill for the buck.
My Howe chassis GTA type car with LS1 weighs less than 2700 # with me in it (200 lbs). Actually needs a little weight put in to be GTA legal.
Great brakes, fierce acceleration, cheap replacement parts including
the body parts.
05-02-2010, 08:00 PM
#8
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Member Since: Nov 2009
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My z06. Is stock except for welded in rollbar, seats, Hans. Rolling on nittos and carbotechs .
Ive always wanted an e36. How reliable is the e36 m3? Did you do the rear subframe reinforcement?
I know my e30 was bulletproof but it was understressed with an iron block, low compression, and low power on the driveline
just sucks a bit finding out about the t56 transmission weaknesses and ls engine valve springs going.
Did you purchase the m3 already setup?
Just wondering if I would regret getting rid of the z06.
I only get these ideas when my car sits in the garage a lot but not when it us driven hard on track.
Ive always wanted an e36. How reliable is the e36 m3? Did you do the rear subframe reinforcement?
I know my e30 was bulletproof but it was understressed with an iron block, low compression, and low power on the driveline
just sucks a bit finding out about the t56 transmission weaknesses and ls engine valve springs going.
Did you purchase the m3 already setup?
Just wondering if I would regret getting rid of the z06.
I only get these ideas when my car sits in the garage a lot but not when it us driven hard on track.
05-02-2010, 09:33 PM
#10
Racer
Member Since: May 2008
Posts: 470
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It shouldn't be too hard to find one for a test drive.
(Mine's a non-M, but it has lots of M parts added to it)
They seem to be pretty good. They're very well understood and there are a number of weak areas which need attending to before you get out there.
I did, although the car was raced for ten years without it and survived. Rear shock towers and motor mounts have also been done.
t56 is pretty good. Lots of them are going into e36's 
Yes, it's an ex World Challenge race car. Buying an old race car makes way more sense than building one. The mistake I made was in assuming that the car would pass tech 
It passed ten years ago in SCCA, but things changed, mainly in the cage area. Not a big problem though. Curiously the car was raced in the ICSCC comp up to 2008 even though it won't pass contemporary tech. Perhaps under a grandfathering clause, but that doesn't explain the ten year old window net. Oh well. Be sure to ask for the log book(s) if buying a race car and read 'em cover to cover.
Maybe. It's a great car. And it is nice to have a fast car, even when you know it takes no skill to push that pedal down. That shouldn't be the case, but it is. Plodding around with <200 HP and some dick in a GT3 zooms past makes you feel all inferior. Closing the gap in the twisty bits helps though 
How reliable is the e36 m3?
They seem to be pretty good. They're very well understood and there are a number of weak areas which need attending to before you get out there.
Did you do the rear subframe reinforcement?
I know my e30 was bulletproof but it was understressed with an iron block, low compression, and low power on the driveline
just sucks a bit finding out about the t56 transmission weaknesses and ls engine valve springs going.
just sucks a bit finding out about the t56 transmission weaknesses and ls engine valve springs going.
Did you purchase the m3 already setup?
It passed ten years ago in SCCA, but things changed, mainly in the cage area. Not a big problem though. Curiously the car was raced in the ICSCC comp up to 2008 even though it won't pass contemporary tech. Perhaps under a grandfathering clause, but that doesn't explain the ten year old window net. Oh well. Be sure to ask for the log book(s) if buying a race car and read 'em cover to cover.
Just wondering if I would regret getting rid of the z06.
05-02-2010, 09:48 PM
#11
Pro
Member Since: Jan 2008
Location: ROANOKE VA
Posts: 543
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I bought a 87 porsche E class car. Starting out with the basics no nannies so I will learn better skills with the car. Roters all around for 350, brakes pad all around 280 and last 4 times longer than my C6. Tires in more choices and 500 cheaper. But I still miss the rush of a V8. Learning to drive a different car is a lot of fun also!
05-02-2010, 10:46 PM
#12
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Member Since: Nov 2009
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
And it is nice to have a fast car, even when you know it takes no skill to push that pedal down. That shouldn't be the case, but it is. Plodding around with <200 HP and some dick in a GT3 zooms past makes you feel all inferior. Closing the gap in the twisty bits helps though
I do miss keeping up with cars costing more than 20 times mine in the twisty sections in the e30.
If I fix my transmission soon enough ill just do onemore season in the z06.
I've come to the conclusion that the ones who do this " lapping around" business eventually go racing anyway. I most likely will go to spec e30 for budget reasons IF I feel the need for wtw racing.
Thanks for all the input.
05-02-2010, 11:47 PM
#13
wow. a bunch of yellow bellied traitors in this thread. Now I see how y'all are.
j/k. I know how it is. You don't necessarily buy a vette to track, and then you end up tracking what you got (vert slushbox in my case), and then before you know it, you've spent $15k over the top and did all kinds of mad mods, and now you're burning through tires/brakes and in my case one transmission...
A buddy and I are getting ready to build a spec e30. I don't know what that will do to my vette tracking obsession.
j/k. I know how it is. You don't necessarily buy a vette to track, and then you end up tracking what you got (vert slushbox in my case), and then before you know it, you've spent $15k over the top and did all kinds of mad mods, and now you're burning through tires/brakes and in my case one transmission...
A buddy and I are getting ready to build a spec e30. I don't know what that will do to my vette tracking obsession.
05-02-2010, 11:59 PM
#14
Instructor
Member Since: Apr 2005
Location: San Diego
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My c5 z06 is rarely driven and is currently a pain in a work commute with my rollbar/ race seat etc.
I've considered getting an suv and some sort of dedicated car for the track. Something like a spec e30, spec 3, e36 m3, spec miata, etc.
The vette is pretty costly to run as it is hard on brakes and tires. I cannot afford to make it a racecar.
Have any of you downgraded to a slower car? Please describe the change in experience. I have lots of seat time in an e30 325is with mods to run in Dsp and stx Autocross classes. Lately I've been spoiled by the power of a v8 and don't know how much I'd miss the torque.
It would be nice to save some $$$$$ but still have the same amount of fun.
I've considered getting an suv and some sort of dedicated car for the track. Something like a spec e30, spec 3, e36 m3, spec miata, etc.
The vette is pretty costly to run as it is hard on brakes and tires. I cannot afford to make it a racecar.
Have any of you downgraded to a slower car? Please describe the change in experience. I have lots of seat time in an e30 325is with mods to run in Dsp and stx Autocross classes. Lately I've been spoiled by the power of a v8 and don't know how much I'd miss the torque.
It would be nice to save some $$$$$ but still have the same amount of fun.
05-03-2010, 07:09 PM
#15
Instructor
Member Since: Mar 2010
Posts: 220
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I still have my C6 Z06, however I went to a mustang GT for my dedicated track car. A part on it is $500 for the same part on a corvette would be $5000. Stuff is alot cheaper for it, and the performance is there. You will need to replace most of the suspension and brakes to make it a solid performer, but when you do you have an awesome car.
Paid $4k for a 99 GT. Added coilovers, wilwood brakes, new bushing, torque arm, 4 link, hoosier tires. It now sticks to the corners like glue. Right now engine is stock, so power is my next upgrade.
Paid $4k for a 99 GT. Added coilovers, wilwood brakes, new bushing, torque arm, 4 link, hoosier tires. It now sticks to the corners like glue. Right now engine is stock, so power is my next upgrade.
05-03-2010, 07:19 PM
#16
Instructor
Member Since: May 2009
Location: Philly'ish
Posts: 128
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
05-03-2010, 09:08 PM
#17
Burning Brakes
Member Since: Apr 2005
Location: River Vale, NJ & Ft. Myers, FL
Posts: 1,145
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
St. Jude Donor '09-'10
After tracking my C6 Z06 in HPDEs for the past 4 years, the paint looked like crap. So I had it repainted this winter. Decided not to track it any more. So I'm renting Mustangs this year from InTheSeat.
The 305 horsepower doesn't compare to the Z. But the cars are completely set up for the track with suspension and brake upgrades, full cage etc. Just drove Friday at Lime Rock for the first time and it was a blast. I'll also be running Monticello, NJ Motorsports (both tracks), Pocono etc.
Over the years, it cost me about $1,000 a day for entry fees, tires, brakes, fluids, etc.--and that didn't include upgrades to my cars. (I also tracked a 2004 CTS-V and upgrades for the two cars were more than $30,000.) InTheSeat costs me $700 a day for everything--and I don't have to spend any time changing tires, brakes, fluids, etc., etc.
And I don't have to worry about driving my pristine Z home.
Not for the serious racer. But it works for me.
The 305 horsepower doesn't compare to the Z. But the cars are completely set up for the track with suspension and brake upgrades, full cage etc. Just drove Friday at Lime Rock for the first time and it was a blast. I'll also be running Monticello, NJ Motorsports (both tracks), Pocono etc.
Over the years, it cost me about $1,000 a day for entry fees, tires, brakes, fluids, etc.--and that didn't include upgrades to my cars. (I also tracked a 2004 CTS-V and upgrades for the two cars were more than $30,000.) InTheSeat costs me $700 a day for everything--and I don't have to spend any time changing tires, brakes, fluids, etc., etc.
And I don't have to worry about driving my pristine Z home.
Not for the serious racer. But it works for me.
Last edited by sefa01; 05-03-2010 at 09:10 PM.
05-03-2010, 10:31 PM
#20
Racer
Member Since: Sep 2008
Location: Houston Texas
Posts: 272
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm in a similar situation. I have progressed up the DE ranks from novice to advanced and eventually I want to W2W. I know its just a matter of time, eventually something major will break or I may have an off that results in body damage. I've seen a lot of C5s bite the dust here in the South East.
I love my vette and I love tracking it but the sensible side of me says buy a spec E30 or similar that is cheap to buy and maintain.
One of the instructors I was getting a check ride from told me if you can't afford to wreck it and buy another one you probably shouldn't be tracking it.
All that being said for now I will still keep tracking it because its so freakin awesome! ... even though I probably shouldn't.
I love my vette and I love tracking it but the sensible side of me says buy a spec E30 or similar that is cheap to buy and maintain.
One of the instructors I was getting a check ride from told me if you can't afford to wreck it and buy another one you probably shouldn't be tracking it.
All that being said for now I will still keep tracking it because its so freakin awesome! ... even though I probably shouldn't.