danziger

F-bodys, eh? I've owned some:

1989 Formula
1991 Formula
1998 Trans Am
2000 Z28

You won't regret a C5Z one bit.

Socko

I bought a 24k mile 84 z28 in 96 at 17. In 18 months broke the ring, diff, and 4 transmissions. WOT shifting + t5's isn't a smart idea! Sold it in 98 and swore i would never own another chevy.

Since then i blew up 2, bought new, subarus which caused me to reassess vehical duribility in general, did tons of research, found the c5z was supposed to be one of the most durable cars around. Bought my 03 c5z in 2012 with 31k miles on it. I now have 42k on it and have replaced the clutch, trans, diff, and rebuilt the torque tube, all due to failure or excessive wear. Replaced valve springs to be sure there wouldn't be issues there. Radiator and added oil cooler to address on track overheating issues.

All cars suck, but driving a c5z makes it worth it, specifically on track! The car is so comfortable on the street and so insanely capable on track compaired to anything i have ever owned. It really wasn't a primary concern of mine and what has really caused me to fall in love with my c5z. It isn't just a great deal for the money on track, its streetability alone makes it worth the money. The fact that it allows you to compete with anyone on track is a huge bonus. I was ready to sell my car 2 weeks ago after a last minute diff replacement before my last track weekend. After being on track for 3 days, I don't know how I would survive! It is plainly a different level of car.

l2vette

I went the opposite direction..........I have had a 1995 Corvette, a 2000 and a 2004, still own my 1972 Stingray (last of the chrome bumpers!)
I sold my 2004 Z06 Commemorative Edition after 10 years for a 2013 Camaro SS 1LE. Then sold the 1LE for a 2015 ZL1. I liked the Z06 a lot but, the ZL1 is a whole different animal.

lilgbz28

I've owned 4 lt1 f bodys and drove a few ls f bodys awesome cars. Both there own animals. For me the difference is a sold axle to irs. Comfort the vette hands down track wise the same . Recovery if *** end goes way out f body sold rear. Like stated for many people different animals. But I don't regret buying my 04 ce z06 owned 3 1/2 years many upgrades threw out time I've owned it bone stock when bought and always enjoyed it . You will have fun

Citrus01Zo6

I Have had several Fbodys even modified , I will not go back have a c5z love it ! I may own one just to tool around in but that's about it

FASTFATBOY

Get it?

Scotty2000SS

Lol, good one!

FASTFATBOY

Both of the cars pictured were mine, as good as the Z28 was it was still a hard to drive tank compared to the Z06.

95Z28M6

I've had my 95 Z28 since I was 18. I love the car and it has taken on more of a "street/racecar" feel over time. Lots of Poly and solid mounts. Big cam, open exhaust, stiff springs and shocks, Moser 12 bolt, etc. I love the car, it does everything I ask well for what it is...

That being said, I bought the EBZ last July and holy christ. The C5 might have been engineered in 1995, but it was way ahead of its time, plus the C5 was somewhat revised in 2000 plus the Z06 upgrades. It's sooo much smoother, quieter and sophisticated feeling. Not that I don't like the raw feeling of the Camaro, but the vette is world's above it. The vette stock is over a half second quicker in the 1/4 than the Z28. Handles like it's on rails and the weight difference is super niticable. I love the LS6, although I wish it was a 4" bore. It's oiling system is better than the base C6's and I think they look sleeker too. I will continue to own both, but find myself jumping in the vette to go play fast, and only in the camaro to make noise and screw around.

Ferg03 Z06

I was an F-body guy and I always wanted a C5Z, which I now have. The difference is night and day. I love the C5Z. The car is much faster in stock form, much smoother ride and all of the above. I had a hard top 02 Z28 and a 95 Trans Am, so I had never had T-Tops and I do not miss them. You may miss the T-Tops so that may be something you need to take into consideration.

I changed the spark plugs in the F-bodies and that was a nightmare, I also changed them in my 03 Z and it was much much easier.

Overall I think the C5Z is a better all around car and well worth the leap, it is also more stable at higher speeds in my opinion.

Scotty2000SS

Good storys guys. Sounds like we're all on the same page!

I agree about the making noise part of it lol. When I put the cam in the Camaro it was so loud without cats. My neighbors wanted to shoot me haha. I loved it but ended up adding ARH catted Y to tame it down. Sucked because I took quite of a hit in hp/TQ due to having 22 deg of overlap in my cam.

TXGS507

Did somebody say FBod....? You could say I have owned a few.... My first being a 78Z28...

89 IROC 1LE

93Z

2000 Z28

87 IROC

One of my fav's 01 Firehawk.. built, stall'd...

97 SS

93 Indy Pace car

01 SS

99 HOSS

My most recent purchase... 02 35th SS LE


Out of ALL of the Fbodies I have onwed and own NONE of them hold a candle to my
01C5Z... It has stood the test of time and I will never get rid of it.... Well, unless perhaps I can find a great deal on a C6ZR1...

dbs1vette

I had an 02 SS I road raced and drove like I stole it. It caught fire at the track and though I salvaged the driveline including the 416, the car itself was toast...literally.

I found a good deal on a Z16 and when I couldn't sell the 416 but someone wanted the LS6, in went 600hp.

It's taken me awhile to drive as aggressively as I did in the camaro because the Z is much nicer, but it handles better, is way more comfortable and with the 416 and lighter weight, faster though I'm still down a little on power due to the straight through exhaust on the SS vs using the factory TI on the Z.

kp1

I have a 2002 SS convertible and a 2004 C5Z. The Z06 is more fun to drive. It is not a comfortable car to travel in. A 4 hour drive to see my son at school and my butt knows it. The Camaro rides better and the seats are more comfortable. The C5 Z06 is a car that was designed to be as light weight as reasonable. It does not have sound deadening, you could not get a telescoping steering wheel because it added weight. If comfort is a factor, look at a C6. If it's bang for the buck and fun factor and essentially a streetable factory track car, look for a 2004 or 2003 Z06. Might be wise to drive a C5Z and a C6 before making the decision.

Scotty2000SS

That shocks me. My 00 camaro seats suck. I find it hard to believe the camaro is more comfortable. Are your seats worn out in the Z06? I sat in one before and they seemed better...

dbgoodwin

I just did 12 hours with nothing but fill up and bathroom breaks in my c5z. No complaints about comfort at all here

C5Dobie

I had nice 04 GTO bolted w/ custom 2.5" straight pipe exhaust w/ sweet thunder chambered mufflers (think: glass packs) LOUD!!! I love the GTOs ever since I spent 6 months in Australia in 2001-2 and learned all about Holden- a lot of people don't realize that Holden basically saved/resurrected the RWD muscle car platform for GM. I also owned a '08 G8 GT that to this day I would have to say is by far the best bang for the buck you could ever get in car- handles like a bimer, interior has nearly the size of a 7 series, perfect 50/50 weight balance, limited slip diff, I had vararam/ported TB& ingake/AFM delete "baby cam"/stall converter/catless LT headers into magnaflow axle back- I would drive it up to VT ski country w/ studded blizzaks modded like that putting down 380whp people looked at me like I was nuts lol- I put 130,000 miles on it & traded it in on a 14 GMC sierra still got $12 grand for it.

Anyhow- only good things about an F bod are the wicked light weight, cheap mods, LS1, & room for big tires- that's it. Otherwise they're cheap, handle like crap, horrific interior etc- To me the C5Z was always THE car for me- I graduated college in 03 and that was always what I wanted, it's more comfy IMO than a Z28, better look/lines, has even lighter weight, and is just a way better platform to modify. The C5Z to me is the only "muscle Vette" - raw in your face no excuses, even w/ the big bad LS7 the c6 z didn't give me that raw/muscle feel.

I couldn't possibly see going from an Fbod to a C5Z as anything but a huge upgrade. I could see going from an Fbod to a newer body style regular SS Camaro as regrettable as the older car is equally fast and looks better IMO- fun fact, not until they came out w/ the coyote 5.0 V8 was a mustang GT ever faster than a 98 Z28 or WS6 ahahahahahaha

kp1

No, the Z06 seats are fine. The Camaro seats are fine also. The Camaro only has about 40K miles and the Z06 has almost 60K now.

It is just my opinion, based on my personal experience, that the Camaro is a bit more comfortable than the Z06 over an extended period of time behind the wheel.

On the other hand, for a 30 minute session on a road course or an AuotX, the Z06 is in a whole different league.

maroon88iroc

My whole family has always been into vettes. I have an IROC and have had other Fbody's growing up simply bc of the price range. I quickly got into the corvette side in the C4 platform (all I could afford while I was going through college). I've never been a fan of looks of the 4th gen fbody. Once you drive a C5 or C6 vette you will be hooked.

I love the C5 Z. I love what Z06 stands for and I love how the c5z stands out so easily. The interior & options on our C6 are way nicer than my C5. The cars have 2 very different feelings. The C5Z definitely feels more raw and racey, I prefer driving it to car events and meets but prefer driving the C6 if the wife and I are going to go to dinner or short trip type deal.

R1 Rider

A few months ago I had this


Then a C5 coupe



Traded the coupe for an 02 Z Wednesday



Like the Z06 the best, but still miss the looks of the WS6 Trans Am