BigBossMY03Z

I bought my '03 Z in the Fall, I haven't had much time to drive it before I put it under a cover for the winter but found it an absolute blast to drive before I did. My Z06 is almost completely stock, down to the titanium exhaust, seats, no exterior mods. All I have that's not stock looks to be a couple of carbon fiber pieces under the hood and a short throw shifter. I went to a part store for something in it and had a guy stop and start asking me all about the car, did I have any mods or anything done and so on. When I said it was stock he seemed noticeably more intrigued and said a friend of his has been looking for a stock Z like mine for some time if I was ever interested in selling it.

I'm torn, as I'd love to have a nasty cam and headers to give the car a wicked sound or maybe even something like a procharger. But I can't fault it as it is now, and I would be paying others to install all these mods as I have no means to do it myself and I am not much for working on cars besides the basic maintenance items. I have 30k miles on it and it's very clean, I'm tempted to just leave it stock and enjoy it and if I get to a point where I'm just dying for more power thinking about getting a C6Z and leaving this one stock and selling it to make the switch. But I couldn't argue with how close the C5Z performs to the C6Z for a good bit less.

Someone will probably tell me to mod it if it will make me happy, and it would but I am happy with it as it is now too. I'm happy now because it's paid for and tons of fun, just put gas in it and go. If I do mods, I'll be happy once they're done but won't be so happy to have to drop the cash to get it done or about the fact I know I'll never see my money back on those mods so I'd have to drive it enough to get the value out of them. And at a certain point, the performance gains I would get would be just as well if I bought a C6Z.

The one thing I am wanting to do is swap the exhaust because that stock titanium exhaust is so quiet, but I would keep the original as I know it's desirable. Would someone consider my car molested if I changed the exhaust, something like a full catback system? I was kind of leaning toward Borla ATAKs. Obviously I know my car isn't 100% stock with that shifter but the stock one is pretty awful I've heard, so not sure most would have a huge issue with that.

edram454

keep you exhaust in your garage. put headers and a complete exhaust system. put a cam and cai but keep your engine looking stock. mine looks 100% stock until you hear it. Love it.

cqd24

Exactly the route I went. For me, if there was any inkling that I would sell this car I would have kept it stock. For the OP, it is a tough call, but I would have my fun with the car, or just sell it and buy a c6z sooner rather than later. Whether you mod it or sell it, you'll be kicking yourself for taking so long to do it. It seems like you want a c6z, so I vote keep it stock for resale and get what you're really after.

JETninja

Autotrader, pick your color, year range, and upper mile limit, and you'll see tons of bone stock ones all over the USA......

BigBossMY03Z

Agh, but I don't mean I need a C6Z now. I'm happy with the C5Z's performance and I like that it was the last of the pop up headlights. Something about the look that was kind of lost on the newer ones. I like both for different reasons aesthetically. I just bought a truck, so I'm definitely not going to be buying any other vehicles for awhile. I more was hinting at after driving my C5Z after say 3-4 years or more or less depending on if I ever stop having a big smile when I drive it. No risk of that for the time being, but I can easily see myself getting wrapped up in just upgrading it little by little.

I'm sure stock C5Zs are not super rare yet and may never get to that level, but it's like finding a bone stock, clean, low mile Honda EG/EK or 240SX. They literally just about do not exist because everyone has hacked them to pieces or driven them to death. I just wasn't sure how many people with C5Z's end up modding them versus leaving it stock. I haven't been in the Corvette community long enough to really know. I feel like I always hear about modded ones, but no idea how many are stock versus modded.

cqd24

You hear about modded ones because you're on the forum. I feel like bone stock ones are all over the place. I picked mine up two years ago with only 16k miles on it, but there's tons out there with even less miles on them. I hate to say it, but just do what makes you happy with the car. Almost any mod is reversible (I know you cited labor costs). I just bought a truck too haha, pretty good on vehicles for a couple years.

Too Slow '90

Leave it stock until you get enough time behind the wheel. If you find it's the car for you and you want to keep it forever then have your way with it. If not and you only want more power sell it and buy a C6Z. You will never get the money out of modding the C5Z however unmolested it will probably always be a good value.

warren s

There are plenty of bone stock C5 Z06s out there.
GM made over 28,000 of them. Don’t forget that only a small fraction of Corvette owners are actually on the forum posting about their cars.
The LS engine is very receptive to modifications, and the aftermarket support is so strong.

If you drive the car often – you may get used to the power and just want more. Modded cars can be very difficult to sell, Its not a question of getting your money back for the mods (not gonna happen) its being able to sell it in the first place at any price…..

TXGS507

They're out there.... I'll pick up another one someday...

ArmchairArchitect

I think most buyers are interested in either a stock car, or light mods that don't affect the reliability/longevity of the vehicle.

ZEEZERO-6

Pick-up a used set of C6 Z06 exhaust system for around $350.00, 2006 through 2011 ( these years have one cat per side that fill fit your car, later models went to 2 cats per side and will not work for you ). You will be able to use your stock TI catbacks. Your exhaust man will have to create a transition funnel taper section about a foot long
at the end of the 3" midpipe to the 2 1/2" stock TI catback piping. You will also have to weld on to small oxygen sensor inlets on this exhaust system to tie your existing ones to.

Visually looks stock and will visually pass smog inspections.

Much cheaper then headers, keeps the engine compartment much cooler than headers. Headers produce 30rwhp, system mentioned above produce 20rwhp.

You can also do the by-pass modification to your stock TI's and gain maybe 5rwrp, looks stock but sounds awesome, you will have to search for this modification on the forum or ask other forum memers about it.

GOOD LUCK

Runningmann12

i understand what your saying the thing i like about the forum is that it is for enthusiast not just owners if that makes sence.I am looking to buy and yes i found a stock one with more miles at 68 but the owner isnt a vette nerd like me this is my third .Back to what you are asking i say keep it stock for a bit then some mild boltons that is more than enough car for awhile..

WannaC5Z

Keep the engine bone stock for at least a year or two. Then if you get used to the power and need to add C/H/I for more do it then. Personally I would never buy a Z06 that had any engine work done to it. I don't mind the few simple mods like a CAI or short throw shifter. The car I just bought this week was bone stock with only 16k miles. That is why I bought it. I wanted a 2003 for the 50th anniv badging as I think that makes it more collectible in six years when it turns 20. I want to be able to reverse it back to stock if I need to.

BigBossMY03Z

I kind of thought that about the 50th anniversary badging, but it seems to me like the only one that might hold any special significance would be the regular C5s that were specifically 50th ed. They're cool, but I'd never give up having the Z06 just to get a 50th ed. The '04 LeMans one seems like the collectable one, though for me none of those special editions are worth their premium unless you're just going to buy it and park it. Who wants to own a car that you're ruining the value of by driving it all the time when you can just buy a more common one and not worry about it and save money to boot?

Roddy13

Drive it till you know it, and then you will know what you want to improve. I have modded many cars starting on the day of purchase, just throwing parts at it looking at the big picture only, and overlooking many small details.

I have an FRC so I don't have the power you have with the Z06, but I know I will need a lot more drive time before I throw any performance mods at this car... its literally dialed in from the factory.

IMXCITD

It's really up to you. The C5 is a great value for the $$. There are plenty of stock and modded C5s for sale. If you want more power..then sell yours and buy one that's already set up like you want or pretty close. The C6Z is a great (had one) but a little pricey compared to a C5. Overall I have enjoyed the style, fit and how the C5 handles and performs.

MY03C5Z

You're a bit optimistic on the hp gains from headers. LT headers might gain 20whp. The LS7 exhaust manifolds may gain more like 10whp. The stock LS6 manifolds were not that bad of a design and flow decent for stock. I have the ti bypass and did it mainly for sound, don't think it is worth any hp. The stock ti system is not much of a restriction until you reach >500 whp.

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ZEEZERO-6

All I know is my mechanic at RPM = http://rpmmotorsportsnc.com/ has done this mod many times on Z06's and got dyno numbers 20 rwhp higher than base numbers. But I might have been a little too generous with the header gains.

This is truly a subjective opinion.

ZEEZERO-6

Additionally I am sure the dynotune with the C6Z mod. helped.

MY03C5Z

Well yes, if you're including a dynotune with your numbers they are more accurate. You just said LT's or LS7 exhaust could make those numbers, a dyno tune is another mod.