Reading the forums across the horizon i'm finding guys who daily drive their Z06. I am planning on going back to a sports car again ( From a Mustang GT to SUV ) and I am interested in purchasing a 02-03 z06 with low miles.

1. What kind of problems have you daily drivers been experiencing ?

2. What kind of temps/weather do you owners live in ?
( I'm in the Lancaster, PA area we have spring, summer, fall, and then 3-4 months winter temps, last year it snowed twice and i do not drive a sports car in snow I'll hitch a ride for that )

3. I highly take care of my car, kind of **** about it like most of the members on here. It will become my "Daily Drivin Show Car" as you could say. I drive 10 or so miles per day. The Z how ever will sit out side during the night/weekends and parks in a garage from 9-6 mon-fri. There are some lumps and bumps around here with crappy PA roads, but after owning a mustang, you know where they are. I plan on daily driving the car for 2 years, then put it in a garage and start modding it ( cam, heads, exhaust, etc )

4. I'm also looking to get back into a Mustang most likely a 04' terminator/ supercharged cobra. I have seen several posts about guys trading in on a z06. Why is that ?

Also as you can tell <-- I'm the New Guy. I've been around Vettes Since i was around 5. I know or knew the in and outs of these cars very well. My father owned a 69 sting ray, a 90 coupe, and now a 99silver C5 coupe with under 5k miles. I cant even count how many vette shows i've attended/judged/helped out at. I just might need some 3500 grit to get my info even'd out once again.

Thanks,

Dr. Feelgood

 

I drive my 02 Z06 everyday and love it. No problems whatsoever. It is a very reliable car, just change the oil and keep the car clean. You will love the car. Good luck.

 

I bought my Z to replace my DD (01 Mitsu Spyder GT) that will go to my daughter next month when she turns 16...aint I a great dad!

I've driven the Z ALMOST everyday since we bought, 'cept for the really nice days that I get the "Garage Queen" '82 out.

My drive is like yours, 7 miles one way. Easy traffic but some stop-n-go in the PM drive. Have to go the long way to get her on the freeway for some high-speed (albeit short lived) driving.

As for problems, none...granted my point of ref is a total of two months/1000 miles give take.

I live in North AL, it gets cold (not PA cold but cold enough) but very little ice/snow so that's not a worry for me.

Oh, and gas mileage, other than the Spyder which gets about 20 MPG, the Z gets about 18...crazy, seems to get better the harder I driver it!

 

The only thing i hate is driving stick in traffic, other than that i love hte car. Im glad i dont have to commute far to work. For me, works is way too close to drive to work everyday. The car barely reaches 130 degrees. So i opt to take the beater. The Z does great as a DD. It holds temps very well within specs. It'll go 230, but then drop as soon as the fans kick on. This of course can be adjusted to your liking. Gas mileage is good too. not bad for a 400hp motor If you are going to drive it in snow and icy weather, i would suggest getting a second set of wheels and snow tires. The stock F1s are slippery in dry warm climates. As long as you do the routine maintenance, you will be good to go.

 

I don't use mine as a daily driver, but I wouldn't see any reason that it wouldn't make for a great one. The only negative is not having as much room inside as some normal daily drivers.

As far as the Cobra comment, I don't know. I personally sold my '03 Cobra for the Z.

 

Mine is lowered 1" and tends to scrape the front deflector on anything that is not relatively flat. If I take it easy, I can get over the speed bumps on the way to work without a problem. It is a great dd! I get well over 20 mpg(29-30mpg on the highway.) The climate control keeps it nice and cool inside. The car's ride is nice and does not beat you to death. Wonderful brakes, in case you need them. I live in the far south, Florida/Georgia border. There is no snow here, but, it rains a lot during the summer. I cannot comment much on wet weather driving, usually when it rains I drive one of my other toys. Good luck!

 

any hints on why you sold the cobra ?

I know I sat in a z06 and had a smile on my face, then I sat in a cobra, and well all was the same, and good/bad feelings came back from when i owned my mustang.

Thanks for the imput guys!! Forums are such a help when it comes to buying cars. Ive been a Z06 fan from the first time I layed eyes on a 01 speedway white. I still want one, but not a speedway white as a daily driver... to rare, to few, two priceless in my eyes.

anyone with a daily driver have "Leaks" ? i was reading the top sticky, but there wasn't 5000 owners saying Hey my Z leaks.

 

I bought my '01 Z last October to replace my DD '94 coupe. I drive about 60 miles a day, mostly freeway driving. The car has been perfect since day one, with only a few warranty issues common to most C5's, such as leaking driver's side differential and a rocking drivers seat. The only other issue is the oil consumption problem on the '01 Z's, which I am sure you are familiar with. Mine burns about 1 qt every 4000 miles, so I am still debating whether or not to have the car re-ringed. But these issues did not really detract or impact the usability of the car as a daily driver. I am very happy using my Z every day, and it works quite well in that regard.

 

I don't have any leaks and I live in Florida... rains quite often. Its a 2003 and i'm only 24 so it's my everyday driver, can't afford another car. I had a 01 Z-28 w/ bolt ons & n20 before and that was hard as a daily driver. It was lowered and the exhaust would bottom out on everything, they clutch was a workout, and the t-tops leaked. My Z06 is lowered all the way on the stock bolts and with a little common sense you can keep from bottoming out. I think stock a Z06 is perfect for a daily driver but the more mods you add the more you start to lean toward a weekend only toy. However, I plan on headers no cats and a cam and I'll still have a everyday street car.

 

My 04 Z06 is truly a "daily" driver. All conditions, all roads, in all kinds of weather.
1. What kind of problems have you daily drivers been experiencing ?
NONE!!! Absolutely no problems

2. What kind of temps/weather do you owners live in ?
ALL types of real world conditions, including bumper to bumper rush hour traffic, rain, and even snow.

If your intent is truly "DAILY" driving, then my only suggestion would be to replace the Goodyear F1-GS tires with Michelen PS-2 or Goodyear GS-D3 tires. The stock (original) tires hydroplane very easily, and are dangerous in slick, slippery, or cold conditions (let's not even THINK about snow). Aftermarket tires will resolve those issues, although they "may" not be quite as sticky on a racetrack in dry conditions (your results may vary). I personally run the Michelen PS-2 tires and am very happy with them, and YES I have driven them in "ALL" those conditions.....including snow (slow and carefully, but never activating either traction control or active handling).

Also (do a search on RANGER's clutch issues) I would initiate a PM program of verifying/ensuring that the clutch hydraulic fluid is/stays completely clear and colorless by following RANGER's advice on changing out the clutch fluid periodically.

 

Thank You! for the info

I was looking at buying an 03' Z with a cam, but a guy thought he was Mario Andready and completely destroyed it. So I'm back looking again. The dealer had it priced right an 03 with 12k miles for 33,900 two months later Now I'm seeing in my mind "Retarded" prices on 2003's with 50k+ miles for 39,990 and over.

 

1. No problems so far.

2. Texas. Daily driving a sports car around here is absolutely no problem.

3. I'm the same way. The only thing that sucks is that I get worried when I have to leave it in a parking lot. I'm very protective of my car, and I've seen how people just have no respect for other people's property, so I try to find a spot away from everyone else. Daily driving + trying to keep your car in show room condition = lots of work.

4. The 03-04 Cobra's are nice cars and all, but the reason people are trading them in for Z06's is because the Z06 is the total package. The Terminators are good for one thing and one thing only. Making gobs of power for very little cash. With a cold air intake, a pulley, exhaust, and a tune these cars are regularly seeing 460+ rwhp. You'd need to spend atleast double that on the Z to make the same power (don't forget though that the stang is several hundred pounds heavier). Also with the Terminator you are getting a car that is 95% similar to a V6 mustang. Only true car enthusiasts are going to know what it is. Now I know technically the same is true for the Z06, but everybody knows that Corvettes didn't come with V6's and also the Corvette isn't in every highschool parking lot. The Z06 is the total package. Given the same driver ability, it will lap faster around a road course than either a Gen 2 Viper, or a Cobra R. I find it significantly more comfortable, and the heads up display is just plain cool. It drives better, looks better, is faster (stock for stock), and gets more attention. Now don't get me wrong, I'm a car enthusaist and I really like the Stangs (especially the Cobras), but the Z06 is definitely the superior car.

 

At the end of the day, it was still a Mustang. Its not the same as having a Corvette. The car was a complete brute for power. But I honestly like the look of the Z was more than the Cobra. There is no comparison in handling or braking between the two. To me the Cobra was just another car on the road, where a Z06 is a special car.

I fully plan on a H/C package to along with my current mods which should handle the mildly modded Cobras. But I really don't plan on beating any KB Cobras.

 

Other than that, I have had no issues....(though not a dd).

 

Thanks for all the imput guys

now its just finding one.... yikes and prices are sky high.

 

As a former mustang owner, I'll quickly chime in and say it doesn't help that Ford heavily dilutes the differentiation between mustangs with virtually no hesitation from model-year to the next.

Translation - your cobra looks great, unique, etc. A couple model years later, Ford starts putting cobra hoods, wheels etc. on "special" V6 Mustangs. That's extremely annoying!

 

My Z06 "is" my daily driver. I live in San Diego and travel 100 miles round trip per day (to work and back). My 2003 Z06 has/had -0- problems so far with 52,000 miles logged.

My wife's C6 Coupe stays in the garage most weekdays. She uses my truck, , as her DD (to work and back). We cruise with both cars during the weekends. Can't go to the store without taking both vette's. She wants to drive her car on the weekends and I'm not a rider, .

I kept my Engine mostly stock until the warranty expired, then installed a Maggie and Whoa, what a rocket. Oh BTW, I average 24-27 MPG on the expressway when I stay "out-of-boost".

David

 

Nice avatar!

 

Mine is a true DD. About 45 miles a day. No problems at all. I drive in light snow too. If its bad enough, I'll use my work truck.

 

01 Z with 52K, runs like a top and loves the rain!!
Another guy in a blk 02 stopped me the other day to compliment me on the condition of my car, he said I must only drive it on weekends and sunny days..