I got rid of my 03 cobra and bought a z06. I was tired of being the same as all my buddies I.E. Pulley, exhaust, ported blower=500/500. And to add to that, every engine bay looked the same. Plus, I think the vette looks 100x better then the cobra. I have spent 5 grand on my Z (headers,x-pipe,air filter, cat back, and AFR 225's sitting in the box still) and I am at 370-375 roughly. Well, I got my clocked cleaned tonight by an 03. I am sure he had a Kenne Bell, but he may not have. When I had my cobra, I had everything except a ported blower which netted me 460/460 and I was pulling on Z's, but just barely. This guy cleaned my clock after 3rd gear tonight.

So, that got me thinking yea, I can drop 10'gs into my car and probably hang with, or smoke this guy........but when does it stop?? There will always be this other guy that is faster then you, and then what?? My ego took a huge bruising tonight but I eventually calmed down when I realized it was just a money war. Forge my short block and add a Novi, I think that would make me ok. But that seems to go with my theory. Will I be happy with that?? If it starts now, does it every really end?? Why can't I just be content? I guess what I am trying to say is, the MOD bug is about to bite in a very big way.....but 50% of me wants to stop it from doing so.

I have buddies that have more DOWN time with their high HP cars then they do RUNNING time. Is it worth it? I do not want this at all. Is there a happy meadian? Sorry, I am ranting........but I want to solve this mental battle. For some reason 10 g's now, turns into 30 g's later I have a feeling. Upgrading parts, replacing broken parts yadda yadda.

Help..............

 

Hmmm................Let's See......... ........................
Does it stop.................................... ........................
.................................
.................NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It never stops!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MOD MOD MOD MOD MOD !!
Do IT!!!

 

I think that just like with everything else, you shouldn't compare with others. You should make your car as fast as you want it to be. If you can't enjoy your car with 375rwhp then make it faster. If 500rwhp isn't enough then make it faster but don't worry about being able to say you have the fastest car in town or that you'll never lose a race. That's how I go about it on my cars and it usually takes a decent amount of power that some people consider too much to give me that thrill that I'm after. Some people are scared and excited with a 13 second car and for another it may take a 10 second car to do the same.

 

Get a nitrous kit

 

there will always be somebody faster.

i sold my fully built 99 TA to drive a totally stock vette. I will admit i miss the power, but i love how smooth the vette is in every catagory. There is no way i will every make my vette like i had the TA

 

You can go too far. How much do you need? Do you really need to be the fastest or just fast enough?

 

there is a point were you have to much for the street

 

Quote:
[[[[Originally Posted by JUSAKD
Love My C 5. But, with all the new cars on the market pushing 400 + HP I feel a bit old. GTO, MUSTANG, DODGE. gee. 350 t0 375 hp in the vette. I need to do some thing.]]]]



Just remember, there will always be someone out there faster then you, its just Human nature, you can literally drive yourself crazy trying to keep up with the Jones's, or Sit back and say, Hey I still Have a C5 Corvette.

I have had many showcars in the past, lets say 9 years(wont even get into how many in my lifetime), but out of the Boss Shinoda, Cobra, Saleen,Porsche, and even C4, I still Say to myself whenever I uncover my C5, Damn this just looks ****,(pardon my expression)

Pizzano

 

Sorry man, I can't help with your decision. There is always going to be somebody faster out there. You've got to do what you think is right for your car. You said it best, it's just a money war. One that I know I'm not willing to fight. I'm driving a Corvette. It's the car I've always wanted and it has plenty of power for the way I use it. Good luck in your choices.

Paul

 

Like you have said, there is always someone out there that may have a faster car than your's. It may be hard, but at some point just enjoy the car for what it is - a fast, comfortable, fuel efficient and very refined sports car that is made to enjoy.

 

Maybe you've never heard the story of the old bull vs. they young bull! As I've gotten older, I'd rather walk down and f--k em all instead of running down to f--k one!
As you said, there's always gonna be one faster - do you really want to spend all that money (that you won't get back) just to be near the top THAT PARTICULAR TIME! Next week, "the other guy" may get you - was all the money worth it? To some I'm sure it is - keep that ego inflated - me - I like having my money in my pocket! I may not have won many races, but I'm retired at 54! Let's see when all those who can beat me in a race retire! That's a race that really meant something to me!
This may not make any sense to many of you right now, but it will, oh yes, it will !! Look beyond the 1/4 mile!!

 

I've slowed down some, it's been about 90 since I did my last performance mod, 3.90's. Last month I got Michlen ZP's, but that did not count 'cause I needed new tires to pass state inspection.

I'll soon get her into the dealer for a rattle in the drivers A pilar, does not count as a mod.

But... ...In the next 30 days I'll likley do gauge bezels. I think that does count.

Actually, my remaining big performance mod is heads and I know I'll do them once my factory warranty expires in a little more than a year. I'll have about 12 g's invested in the car and I know I'll never get it back and I know there'll always be someone faster. I do kick my fair share of but though.

Here of late I've been apprecaiteing the power of the car, she can break the tires loose easily and, at a roll, is a mighty beast. I think I'm getting to the point where I might be satisfied, or maybe I'm just getting old.

 

I understand completely where the original poster is coming from. I was going to sell my 1999 Z28 and buy a COMP ORANGE COBRA, but ended up with my dream car a CORVETTE. I know and it has been proven to me, time and time again, I do not and never will have the fastest car, but I still own the FINEST AMERICAN SPORTSCAR ever made. Even though I am married and cannot do somethings I would like to my car, blower, hood, better tires, etc, I am still very very happy with my car. NA I am pulling some decent numbers, with my TC I will be doing really well, but I am not going to be the fastest car. With your problem desiring another COBRA, well, that is your decision. I have driven many sports cars, camaros, trans ams, mustangs, mach 1s, cobras, but I still think that the best all around sports car I drove and still drive is the vette and I am not saying that because I am a chevy guy, I am saying that because it is true, plus take a look around you next time, count the number of mustangs you see...they're a dime a dozen and that is another reason why it is unique to own a VETTE. Keep the Z!

 

Thye purpose of a Vette is not drag racing. It is a sports car, not a drag/muscle car. He might have you on the straight, but you own him in the corner and under braking.

 

I also got rid of a 03 cobra(sonic blue) for a 01 Z06.I can tell you this the C5's are 10x more refined in every aspect...except for cheap horsepower.I'd go with a F/I set up if you wanna spend the $$$$ and spanking cobras wont be a problem....and then there's the GT500 Cobras thats a hole different ball game.

 

Why dont you do track events- put some money in the brakes and suspension. You can learn to drive faster through the corners, and you will feed your ego when you are able to pass 75% of the cars in the straights. And when you become a better driver, you can pass the rest in the corners. You'll never be able to drive your car this hard on the street

 

When does it stop????
Looks like your brain is in the process of weighing all the factors and logical conclusions...
When you have all the money you need in life you can do what you want...
But..
Only an idiot would throw tens of thousands of dollars to be king of the hill, in the local neighborhood...
I never have any issue with this...I dont even care.. if your buddies are egging you on to spend all your money on street racing to be the man , then you are easily swayed...
For me, it was my best friend loosing his life to street racing...
Right now mature side of your brain already knows the right answer...
The immature child like side of your brain ( you know the one that says my daddy can beat your daddy, or mine is bigger than yours ) The one that says I have more money than brains,..ois telling you to throw as much money at being king of the hill, and just exactly " What is that worth"? Bragging rights???? Naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa anyone with a little more money than you and one who has less brain cells than you could knock you right off the top... So my point is , back off this challenge crap...Street racing is for children... and mental midgets

 

Sounds like you got a bigger problem besides wanting a faster car. The way it looks, you will never be satisfed with what you have. No matter how big and bad you're car gets, someone else will always be badder. It's a matter of wanting what you have and not having what you want. Sure you can have a 500hp car, but what's going to happen when you run up on the guy with 1000hp??? Good luck man.

BTW, with those mods your car should have more than 370hp.

 

with blown V6.....

Just slap a nice 125 shot on there. That should put you back in the running and a heck of a lot less than the price of a blower or turbo setup.

Also, challenge this same guy to a romp around the track....anyone can get a high hp to go straight for a few hundred feet everyone once in a while. Being able to carve corners and put down good lap times is totally different. I'd like to see that same Cobra on a race track. He'll be dumping THOUSANDS into suspension trying to get that 3800lb car to handle like your 3200lb one.....

Even a simple autocross should embarass the hell out of him.

 

What do you have to prove? WHY would you have to prove something to anyone? Someone challanges you on the street, just laugh at them and don't play the game. They will NEVER know one way or the other, so in effect you won, no matter what they have under the hood. What do you care whether they can do a quarter mile 1 second faster then you? In realistic practical situations, what does it matter? Unless you are racing to the hospital to get your pregnant wife there, when would you ever really THINK you needed to go as fast as you can, or faster then you are now able to?

Yeah there is a great bit of "fun" to this, but is it worth it to bankrupt yourself trying to keep up with the Joneses?

A friend of mine told me he put over $120,000 into his Porsche to get it to 800 horsepower and not have something break everytime he drove it. Yeah, it's fast as hell, but that is money he just pissed away for bragging rights. He regrets now spending all that money that he will never be able to recover. And for all that, he says the best money he EVER spent on his car was for a good radar detector.

IMHO..........