[Z06] 2001 or 02 Z???
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
2001 or 02 Z???
Need some advice.
Looking to buy my first Z and right now it seems I can only fit an 01 into my budget. Of course I would rather have the 02 with the extra horse.
Here's the thing, there seems to be approx. 5k difference in price between the two (give or take). What would it cost to buy an 01 and add some mods to equal the horse of an 02? Or does it make more sense to hold off until the right 02 comes along.
What kind of horse power gain could you get out of a power programmer and a new intake system? I dont want to get crazy with the mods, but dont want a Mustang to be able to bully me either.
What do you guys think.
Looking to buy my first Z and right now it seems I can only fit an 01 into my budget. Of course I would rather have the 02 with the extra horse.
Here's the thing, there seems to be approx. 5k difference in price between the two (give or take). What would it cost to buy an 01 and add some mods to equal the horse of an 02? Or does it make more sense to hold off until the right 02 comes along.
What kind of horse power gain could you get out of a power programmer and a new intake system? I dont want to get crazy with the mods, but dont want a Mustang to be able to bully me either.
What do you guys think.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 528
Likes: 146
From: Palmyra NY
If a Mustang can bully you in an '01, chances are it can bully you in an'02. If you do not plan on highly modifying the car, buy the newest you can afford. I have a bone stock '01, and the lowly 385 horses is plenty for normal driving. I do not track my car, nor do I street race, therefore the low output is plenty for me. As others may chime in, the difference in seat of the pants feel between the two years is negligable.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 18,484
Likes: 1
From: Everyday you must choose between the pain of discipline and the pain of regret. Fredericktown, OH
For $1,000 you can add 150hp with spray.
You can also add headers, x-pipe, high flow cats, and along with a good CAI, be more than an '02.
I bought an '02, but if an '01 was all I could afford, I'd have on in a heatbeat. Then I'd start saving money for mods.
Once both are equally modded, an '01 and '02 will yeild very similar HP numbers.
You can also add headers, x-pipe, high flow cats, and along with a good CAI, be more than an '02.
I bought an '02, but if an '01 was all I could afford, I'd have on in a heatbeat. Then I'd start saving money for mods.
Once both are equally modded, an '01 and '02 will yeild very similar HP numbers.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 199
Likes: 0
In hindsight, there are times that I wish I would have taken the savings in getting an '01 and put that money towards heads and a cam....and a HUD.
You can't go worng with an '02 though, and while I thhink the '01 rings are only a slight risk, you get to dodge that bullet as well.
You can't go worng with an '02 though, and while I thhink the '01 rings are only a slight risk, you get to dodge that bullet as well.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,564
Likes: 950
From: Communist Colorado
The only real reason I chose an 02 was because of the oil consumption problem that some 01's had............I didnt even want to spend $25-26k, then have to pay $3-4k for a re-ring job. The added horsepower was just an added bonus for me.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,660
Likes: 1,180
From: Raleigh
I was looking for a 99 or 00 FRC with a budget of around 23k max and figured the Z06 was out of my range but found a few 01 models under 25k . I ended up with a MY 01 second owner with what most will consider high mileage ( 70k ). I did research on the oil burn issue and mine had the re ring done at 20k miles so no problems. I drove it home 1k miles and no oil loss at all. I kind of like having one that was a daily driver because I can just go out now and play with it and not worry about it.
As for a Mustang whipping you I just sold a 03 Mach 1 that was doing low 13's all day and this thing would crush it. Now a well driven ( keyword well driven ) 03/04 Cobra might give you a run but unless it was heavily modded no other Stang would. I could pull on most Cobras with the Mach simply because the driver did not know how to handle the car and the IRS would wheel hop so bad.
As for a Mustang whipping you I just sold a 03 Mach 1 that was doing low 13's all day and this thing would crush it. Now a well driven ( keyword well driven ) 03/04 Cobra might give you a run but unless it was heavily modded no other Stang would. I could pull on most Cobras with the Mach simply because the driver did not know how to handle the car and the IRS would wheel hop so bad.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,077
Likes: 1
From: Greenville SC
This question comes up over and over. The difference between an 01 and an 02 is negligible. I have seen them run nose to tail, switch positions and run nose to tail on a roadcourse for many laps both with good drivers and neither one could pull the other.
The numbers are beaten into our brains by the advertising / consumerisim brainwashers to hypnotize you into always wanting the latest and greatest. Don't fall into their trap. Just get the best car you can comfortably afford, drive it, and forget about other people having 20, 120, or 320 HP more than your car. They are ALWAYS going to be around, but it doesn't mean they are having more FUN than you are.
MD
02 Z
The numbers are beaten into our brains by the advertising / consumerisim brainwashers to hypnotize you into always wanting the latest and greatest. Don't fall into their trap. Just get the best car you can comfortably afford, drive it, and forget about other people having 20, 120, or 320 HP more than your car. They are ALWAYS going to be around, but it doesn't mean they are having more FUN than you are.
MD
02 Z
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 773
Likes: 0
From: Normal IL
You need to ask yourself if you want a daily driver. I just bought an 02 Z and drive it daily. I wanted something that I could take to a road course and actually run the car like it is ment to be. Figure out what you want and know that as long as you have the patience, winter is coming and the price of the cars will drop, due to lack of demand in the winter. Think things through, make the plunge and you will not regret it one bit.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,562
Likes: 1
From: Bedford TX
Hell, i got my 02 for $26K with 50K miles... and its YELLOW! just wait for the right car you're happy with spending YOUR money on! It's only worth what you'll pay for it!
My biggest thing was the finance company wouldn't finance a 2001, so i HAD to go with an 02'
My biggest thing was the finance company wouldn't finance a 2001, so i HAD to go with an 02'
Dogface
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 25,974
Likes: 120
From: At the Beach, FL
St. Jude Donor '15, '17
Originally Posted by Z06-Nomad
This question comes up over and over. The difference between an 01 and an 02 is negligible. I have seen them run nose to tail, switch positions and run nose to tail on a roadcourse for many laps both with good drivers and neither one could pull the other.
The numbers are beaten into our brains by the advertising / consumerisim brainwashers to hypnotize you into always wanting the latest and greatest. Don't fall into their trap. Just get the best car you can comfortably afford, drive it, and forget about other people having 20, 120, or 320 HP more than your car. They are ALWAYS going to be around, but it doesn't mean they are having more FUN than you are.
MD
02 Z
The numbers are beaten into our brains by the advertising / consumerisim brainwashers to hypnotize you into always wanting the latest and greatest. Don't fall into their trap. Just get the best car you can comfortably afford, drive it, and forget about other people having 20, 120, or 320 HP more than your car. They are ALWAYS going to be around, but it doesn't mean they are having more FUN than you are.
MD
02 Z
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,674
Likes: 2
From: Atlanta GA
I bought an 01 in April and love it. I test drove many 02s and the difference is almost non existent by the seat of your pants. Take some of the $5k you saved by buying an 01 and buy a cold air intake, HUD,tune, and a set of headers. Even a stock 01 will put a huge smile on your face.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,924
Likes: 0
From: CT
I would definitely go with the '02 over the '01 just based on the stock set up. You will be happy for a longer period of time before modding and when you do it will just be that much better. (I have an '03 myself and after a year of research I am just starting to have mods done ;p) 
Pro
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 560
Likes: 1
From: Dacula GA
01-02
I just went through the same thing. I had a budget I originally set for a Z0-6 I wanted to spend no more than 27-29 K and I also wanted low mileage. Well after looking for 3- months I was getting tired, either the cars I found were too high, too far away or the sellers were screwy. I to wanted an 02, black with mod red was the ticket for me. Well after being patient I found a 01 exactly in the colors I wanted about 15 minutes away from my house advertised for 23 K. I was a little leary at first but what the heck I went and took a look at it after talking to the nice lady who owned it. Well long story short I drove it home for $20,500 it needed tires, oil pressure switch and a climate control panel display, it runs great does not burn a drop of oil and runs like "Jack the bear". After fixing all the things wrong I have exactly 23 K in the car and I can't tell one bit of performance difference from the 02s I drove. Moral is be patient, look hard and you will find exactly what you can afford and like I wouldn't be a bit scared of the 01s just do your home work. Have fun and best of luck looking.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,152
Likes: 33
From: Folsom Ca
Id take it case by case.Id rather have a nice clean 01 than a rough 02.The 20hp..you can make that up no big deal...you dont have to worry about being bullied by many Mustangs regardless unless they are 500+hp.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
From: Cincinnati OH
I also wondered this before I took the plunge but my plans were to modify the car anyway and I have experience rebuilding motors so that didn't scare me if I ran into issues with rings etc.
Obviously you can see where I am going on this. I bought an 01. It had 27,000 miles, torch red with the mod red interior, no issues, head/cam/intake/tune package from BPP as well as headers and various other small goodies like the divider, fancy floor mats and that shiny piece of metal with the corvette flags in the middle of exhuast pipes.
I was out the door at 28 K and it was a great deal for me personally.
The right one will come along when you see it and you will know it whether is an 01 or and 02 you will be happy, I almost can guarantee that!
Obviously you can see where I am going on this. I bought an 01. It had 27,000 miles, torch red with the mod red interior, no issues, head/cam/intake/tune package from BPP as well as headers and various other small goodies like the divider, fancy floor mats and that shiny piece of metal with the corvette flags in the middle of exhuast pipes.
I was out the door at 28 K and it was a great deal for me personally.
The right one will come along when you see it and you will know it whether is an 01 or and 02 you will be happy, I almost can guarantee that!