I know that you said you wanted the SOP feeling immediately, when you buy your car, w/o having to do mods-However,

If you are like most of us who hang out here, you will ONLY be into owning your car 2 - 3 months and the mod bug will bite you, and it's a slippery slope from there into the world of modaholicism. That said . . .

IMHO, a true Vette, for the best all around experience, MUST have the removable roof, whether it is T-tops or the removable roof panel. Yes, I like the ZO6's, the FRC's, and convertible Vettes are even growing on me, but fact still remains, just as you are feeling, you GOTTA be able to remove the roof and go cruisin!

Buy the coupe and plan on doing some mods - figure a stall converter (if auto), 3.42 or 3.73 gears, and maybe a heads and cam package eventually, maybe some headers for sound and performance. Put all of this on a coupe, and you will beat a stock ZO6 (except for the 2006).

Bottom line - buying the coupe gives you the best of both worlds - you get to remove the top, and you CAN have the SOP feel you want.

Just my .02

 

As far as performance, the coupe can esaily be taken to Z06 level (alot easier anyway than cutting the Z06 roof to match that part of the coupe that entices you)

The brakes, are they different? I don't think so...

From your lists above, I say you are a candidate for a coupe

 

You guys are all bringing up some very good points! Thanks, this is valuable input!

How expensive is it to install a roll cage in a 'vert so I can take it to the drags?

You're all right, of course I will *eventually* mod this car, but not in the very short term. Short term (i.e. this summer), I think exhaust is a must (for the sound) and a Vararam (is that what it's called?) !

I guess I'll have to make a decision as to what my priorities are.

I wouldn't trust myself taking a Z06 to a road course even with the AH and TC, but I would go to the drags with it in Comp mode. And the stock ~115mph traps would put a huge grin on my face.

Then again, I could always put a blower on a Coupe/Vert in the future, and have the best of both worlds... more than stock Z06 performance + the open driving experience!

Ahhhhhhhhhh!

BTW, did 02+ Coupes/Verts come stock with AH? What about the HUD?

 

For me part of the requirement of any sportscar is that at least part of the top must come off!

 

I have a coupe with just a few minor mods and can kick the crap outta stock Z06 all week long

 

T/C & A/H standard equipment
HUD was an option

 

Buy the coupe and mod it.

 

85vetteboy has the correct answer

 

Buy a c5 and do heads/cam package - ull be faster than a z06

 

An important consideration if you are going to seriously mod the vehicle anyway.

 

I struggled with a similar decision when I bought mine. Really wanted the z06 performance, but have driven convertibles for many years. For me it came down to how much, and how often I could be able to enjoy the benefits of each... I decided that I would be able to enjoy the convertible more than I would the extra 10% peformance of the Z.

I think you can weigh the decision the same way for the coupe and the Z. List the advantages of each and make you decision based on your assesment of what those advantages would mean to you.

The good news is you cannot make a bad decision. Good luck with your choice.

 

You can pretty much match zo6 handling( minus tires of course) for about 700-800 bucks getting 2nd hand parts in the for sale section.That would be Springs+/-300 ,shocks+/- 200,sways +/- 200

Then it's just a matter,basically, for a power adder of some type to make up that 60 horses,
That too, can be done in the for sale section all day long(zo6 heads/cam),if you will be satisfied with that
You could reasonably pick those slightly used parts for $1,000 or so + install

So, for a couple thousand in USED parts, if you are patient and can wrench,you can fairly well match zo6 performance.

Both a z06 and a vert will cost you more initially than a coupe,and you already stated you liked the coupe's looks better....
So, it would probably be cheaper to go the coupe route,provided you don't mind cracking the stock engine open.

For me, that IS the issue..to crack or not to crack

Now, if used parts are not your thing,that's understandable,and it would cost a LOT more to do with new stuff

Some items are fine used, others........I have reservations on

This is just an observation in perspective

 

Go Topless!

 

Get a coupe or vert and mod it, simple IMO.

 

Thank you all for your input.

Still not sure what I will get. But this will help me make up my mind!

 

My priority was a removeable top. I got a coupe and modded it.

Sounds like power is your priority. You know what to do.

 

I also had to deal with the same questions that you are asking. I needed the extra room for my daughters softball equipment and luggage for longer trips. I went with an '02 coupe and absolutely love it. Drove it 1200 miles last President's weekend and found the extra room very nice. The car is fast enough for me.

Here's a pic that is my favorite. Sweeeeeeet lines, no??



I really think that unless you are going to race your Vette alot, you won't miss the extra HP. If you do.........mod time!!!

Good Luck,

Russ..

 

Very nice poolhustler, I love the lines of the Coupe a lot more than the FRC look of the Z!

 

I went for the diversity of a Z51 coupe. My coupe is loaded w/ multiple tops for multiple styling's options. I'm not a regular racer my any means, nor was that my deciding factor for my purchase. Therefore, the lions share of my driving will be far under any quarter mile speeds. Remember, Horse Power can be easily purchased, the options are unlimited. If look at most of the cars on the forum, there's plenty of horse power to made for any decision you may have.

Good Luck

 

Hey there, Dream!

You've got to get some time behind the wheel of a Coupe. You may feel that the performance of an LS1 Fbody is equivalent to a stock C5 Coupe, but you've gotta feel the difference. You've also gotta consider, are you looking to buy a track car with street appeal, or a street car with track performance? IF you're looking to spend $30k, you can find a modded Coupe with moderate mileage, and get the performance you desire at the point of purchase, plus the curbside appeal and perhaps even a "glass" roof. Since I bought my glass roof from another forum member, the solid roof hasn't been back on the car(mainly because it was repaired and looks MUCH better than the rest of the car ) but nothing beats the sunshine and sky view AND the protection from the cold air!

I love the performance of my stock '01 Coupe. I have not been to the track with it yet. A bad accident on the way kept me from going for the first time last year...

That said, Ive been challenged by modded F-bodies on a few occasions, one was an '02 Trans Am. 2 quick sprints to 65 was enough to show him that his exhaust and intake mods sounded good, but not quite enough to keep up with me.

Another challenge took 3 attempts for a red Camaro to get the picture... again, he sounded like a beast, but kept falling back 2-3 car lengths...

Same conclusion for a black '04 GTO. I assume he was stock, but I know I had many more miles on the clock than he... same result.

2 more years to pay, then it's time to play! My mechanic wants to go the exhaust, intake, head/cam route. He's got a shop full of big block C3's, and built and raced Camaros back in the day, so he's hungry to take my baby's virginity! Patience is my virtue, but MAN is it nice to know what's coming!!!