I agree that the C5 Z06 is the best sports car I have driven to date. I can't recall any car that has given me the grin syndrome like this car has. I know I will find myself in a C6 Z06 in the near future but I am not loosing any sleep over it right now. We drive an awesome car folks, so just enjoy it.

 

I have a 69 427 coupe, along with a 94 A4 coupe, and a 01SW mod red Z. The Z has the biggest giggle factor, hangon type of feel. The wife will drive the 94 every now and then, but most of the time it's a garage queen. The 69 is fun to drive, like going back in time, but only going in a straight line. The Z hands down is the most fun !!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Little confession.. my C5 Z06 is the *only* real sports car I've ever driven. Ever.

Guess I'm going to be disappointed if I ever drive a buddy's Porsche or somethin'..

 

I agree, that is, until I drove my 2006 C6-Z06!!!

Ron

 

For 21 years I worked like a dog so My wife could stay home and raise my 2 boys. I have dreamed of owning a corvette since I was 6 and saw a new 66 vette. For 21 years I passed up vette after vette so my kids could go to college. I bought many nice cars (1970 Porche 911, 69, camaro vert, 71 GTO, 85 corvette) all to fix and sell to make some extra bucks. Did well with that, but thats a hobby not a business for me. Finaly got the kids in college, tuition is in the bank, so I bought my MY Z06. What a time for my dream to come true. I feel that I got the best corvette ever built. Now that I can I will buy more nice cars to keep, but I will never sell the Z06. That will always be the stud of my heard.

 

I thought about that question the other day. I dont want a viper...plain and simple. The only other car I could see topping my C5 Z as far as raw performance and fun factor would be a C6 Z. After the C5 Z is paid for I think I want to get a really nice 1st Gen Camaro...something like Boyd Coddington or Chip Foose would design.

 

Great thoughts guys.

Regards-

John

 

I have 67 rs ss camaro, 71 cuda ,73 cuda, 66 charger ,02 wrx, and 02 z06 I'm currently happy with my fleet.

 

I have had many nice cars in my short 39 years. I wish I still had some of them. Many had to be sold to get to the next one. For my Z06. I sacrificed a beautiful 79 Z28, a beautiful 94 Vette convertable 6 speed,a beautiful 86 Monte Carlo SS & a 81 C3 project.........it was all worth doing & I'd do it again.

 

I honestly don't feel it's all that it's cracked up to be. Squeaks, rattles, faulty gas sensors, weak headlights, bad oil pressure sending units, cheap window motors, orange peel in the paint, etc. I love my car, but I was expecting a little bit better build quality.

 

Theres always the bad apple in the bunch theory......I havent had any of the problems you describe.

 

Have not had those problems either. A little orange peel but every American car has that. Especially noticeable on black.

Regards-

John

 

You probably got a lemon and there are lemons in all class of cars. Based on your comment I think you just can't get past the faults you describe to truly enjoy this wicked car and that's a shame.

 

Ported heads, cam w'component ups, headers = power of the C6 Z06. Obviously alot less money. But that is not my reasoning. The C5 is a purposed built corvette. Maybe the C7 will also be purposed built and not a borrowed chassis design. So as much as the C6 is a tech marvel not an option. I would consider a Cad XLR The C6 twin though!

 

Better?

 

Definitely not a lemon. I ran the service records before I bought it, and it had been in the shop only about 4 times in its life. 3 of the 4 were for squeaking brakes (which still squeak to this day). It's embarrassing when your Z06's brakes screech louder than the 18 wheeler next to you.

It was a garage queen most of its life, but it's my daily driver now. I put 40 miles a day on it to school and back. It's currently got 56k miles on it. Right now I have a bunch of rattles and squeaks in the interior, and one of the gas sensors is broken. Every time I fill up, the gas gauge reads empty, but sure enough, when it gets down to 1/2 tank, it comes back like clock work. The stock headlights suck. Before I did the HID swap, my friends used to ask if I even had my lights on. I would get out of the car at times to check myself, and sure enough they were on. Luckily I haven't had any column lock or EBCM problems yet (thank God), but those are some more common examples of the disappointing build quality on GM's flagship car. I'd also like to add I treat my car very well and never abuse it, so it's not from neglect. I like my car a lot and it's definitely a blessing every day I get to drive it, but I'm not so wrapped up in it that I refuse acknowledge the things I feel could be improved.

And YES there are MUCH better cars out there.

 

I think (I know) you are in the minority. My car is still tight and dollar for dollar there is not a better performing car. Don't be so hard on the car, it and us, all have our little quirks.

Regards-

John

 

i love my z!!

 

Ditto brother!!

John

 

Yes there are better cars out there... for twice-three times the price. But lets qualify that. Better cars for what? There are better cars for taking four people in high style like the Mb 500 class. There are better cars for going off road like the Hummer. But there are very few cars that at any price are better on a road course than the Z06 stock.
I had a rattle in my Z06 once too, it was two sawzall blades that I had dropped in the hatch. I took them out and the rattle went with them. I find very few posts of people complaining about rattles or squeeks and the ones who do, usualy turn out to have modded the car. Most rattles turn out to come from aftermarket exhaust systems or cars that have been lowered. You should also understand that these cars have very little sound deadening insulation. This is part of the keep it light philisophy that was a key part of the Z06 design. What you may be hearing could be road noise.
As far as the brakes go. You bought a race ready production car. A race ready production car means that it could go from the show room to the track and compete. To race you need certain things that you would not have on normal pasanger cars. One of the most important race ready items on the Z06 are the brakes. They are race ready brakes, and anyone who knows anything about racing brakes knows, they squeek and dust.
Perhaps this car just isn't the one for you. Maybe you would be happier with something quieter and more dependable. I hear the Honda Civic fits that bill.

For more info please go to my post " This may make some of you mad"