kedvesh

All,

I am the proud owner of a currently mod'd and fully paid off 2002 coupe (air/engine/exhaust/accusump/tranny/clutch/diff). I've thoroughly enjoyed every now and then at HPDEs and Track Days since about 2003. Guys actually yell over to me at stoplights that they like the lope of the beast and want to trade their mini vans for it! Seats aside, it's what I wanted it to be when I started the mod journey.

After 13 years though, a dangerous thought to my wallet has occurred: should I sell the C5 and go for a used C6Z06, C7Z51 or the new C7Z06?

Are those stock vehicles that good that I should incur debt again? What say ye in the street/track day community? Thanks in advance for the constructive comments and selections!

63Corvette

Your C5 Z06!
I have a race car for the track, and a C5 Z06 for the street.
I love my C5Z. The C6 Z06 is "better" in every way.......BUT, it's NOT $30,000 better (or $50,000 better) depending on what year etc.
In addition, the LS6 is considered "bullet proof" by T1 competitors, while the C6Z has known head/valve guide issues.
The C7 Z06 is an incredible machine, and a leap forward over the C6Z, BUT......I plan to wait and see, because I would never buy a "first year" car of any model year, and also same financial issues above hold for both C5 and C6 Z06 in comparison to the C7Z.

Racingswh

C5. Are the other cars better and probably faster? Possibly. Are they worth the difference in $$ if $$ is a question that has to be asked? IMO No.

Dan H.

C6Z's are still sky high in price, close to a C7 and they have head issues. I'd say keep the C5, because the mod journey just starts over with a new car.....

I'm just getting started on the C5 track trip. I have about three years of mods planned based on budget. Why start over, rack up the track days instead!

Thank you for the post, now I know what thoughts come along after I get my C5 properly sorted for the track

FAUEE

The C7 is the right mix of performance and price if you change up cars.

That said... the cost effective thing to do is keep your C5 running. There's nothing on the C5 that can't be upgraded to be as good as the C6Z, except the aluminum frame really.

Keep in mind with any of those cars, you'd be also needing to do thousands of dollars in safety mods over the price of the car. With a C6Z, I'd probably budget for valveguides. With a C7Z51, I'd budget for engine cleaning every year. With a C7Z, I'd budget untold thousands for many, many cooling upgrades.

So your choices are C6Z or keep the C5.

theseal

Looks are subjective so to each his own. But mechanically and electronically the c5 is a much better car. The only thing a c6z has going for it is lighter frame, more room for tires, and of course more power/beefier tranny. But of course most people mod the motor and tranny anyway, so that advantage cancels out.

Forget about the later cars. They were designed by marketing people and designed by a bunch ee idiots. The c5z was the last truly well tuned chassis.

hklvette

I won't speak to the latter half, but the C5 can be modded to fit just as much tire as the wide C6, as well as the driveline parts that you pointed out.

In the end if your objective is to go fast, the C5Z is the most cost-effective route to take.

96CollectorSport

Obviously keeping the C5 is the the safest of the choices, especially since it's paid off. You never want to put anything on the track that you can't afford to ball up and walk away from.
That being said, I would be looking closer at the C7Z51, it's the best of the rest. The C6Z has head and clutch issues, the C7Z is going to have heat issues, but the Z51 is a darn appealing option. So far the only thing I have heard/seen is that the brakes aren't up to the task and a brake kit is not such a bad thing. Throw a Essex AP kit on the front and enjoy.
I've driven a C7 on the street and it feels a lot like a C6Z power wise, look at what some of the tuners are getting out of the LT1 with an intake headers and a tune. Hard to get that much power out of a C5 without more cubes.

Since everyone else is saying C5 I'm just offering up another perspective. I would however wait a year or two to see how things shake out. Let's see how long the Z51 lasts for track use, we know that they can be fast, MTI is turning some darn good laps with there C7 at Road Atlanta. Plus who doesn't like a new toy every once an a while!

FAUEE

Let's keep in mind with the C7Z51... it's not as fast as the C6Z, it costs more, and the direct injection system is unproven.

You can get big gains on any LS engine with bolt ons and headers and tune. The new LT1 isn't unique in that.

A C6Z with new valvesguides is STILL cheaper than buying a new C7Z51, and a lot faster.

FruiTay

I feel like you're asking because deep down, you want something new, otherwise you would just stick with your C5.
I almost can't help myself if I know I can get that new toy.
The problem is getting something new and having stupid issues. That check engine light comes on and your heart sinks.
I'd be nervous with a brand new C7. Those cars are packed with all kinds of gadgets that can give you a headache. Not that it will its just if you keep your C5 you can beat the hell out of that thing without a worry. I think the most fun to be had is when you're care free and can go all out!
The wise choice would be ***** to the walls with the C5 but then again, my heart yells "C7!"
People always say "Follow your heart...." and I feel that's what you really want to do so that's what I'm putting my vote in for.
I just hope you don't end up at the dealer later, looking back and thinking "I should have just kept the 5."

Gray Ghost GS

Chris, I recommend sticking with your modified C5 for HPDE since its paid off and sorted out, etc. for the road courses. However, if you're ready to let it for something "new", I would consider a C6 Z06 or Grand Sport (both are "turn key" for the road courses) vs. a new C7. You can find a C6 Grand Sport for less than $40K vs. a new C7 for $25K more. Mike

kedvesh

Thanks everyone for the feedback! There's a lot of common sense in what y'all have said, whatever car position you may have taken. As I may have indicated, I'm kind of feeling things out right now, and one never knows. But, I'm more than likely going to stick with my current mod'd C5. It can still kick a non-mod'd, non-race prepped Viper (at least when I last had it on the track) and still be streetable, even for l-o-n-g road trips. Hopefully, I don't have any unplanned, large dollar fixes in the foreseeable future. Be safe out there and have fun!

REVHARD

I'd have to agree here and with some others. I truly feel the C5 Z06 was the last true track capable Z built by GM that can take major punishment and keep on going. I would use that for track and HPDe and purchase a nice c6 Z/Grandsport or C7Z51 for the street.

63Corvette

I will respectively disagree with this because the electronically controlled, driver configurable differential is, in my opinion, the trickest thing about the new C7 Corvette.......from a track perspective

B Stead

Well, the C7 is a HPDE car.

But a race car has adjustments. The C7 is not adjustable but allows selection of performance levels.

A race car has an adjustable limited-slip. A race car usually doesn't have anti-lock brakes but has a master cylinder with a brake balance bar. A race car doesn't have air bags, seat motors, and climate control.

The C7 also has a cylinder de-activation mechanism on the engine and on the muffler.

My point is, IF the car builder wants to take off the OEM systems then swapping in the crate engine is the way to do it. But I forgot that the Gen5 LT1 is also available as a crate engine. So the car builder could just use the LT1 crate engine electronics and then take the OEM systems off the car. However, the LS7 is a much better engine with titanium connecting rods and titanium intake valves.


Oh, when I said that the C7 Z06 is not a track car like the C6 Z06, I was referring to the fact that the C7 Z06 is more like the ZR1
.