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I have a 00' C5 which is stock except for Blackwing, Air Coupler, MSD wires, and NGK TR55 plugs.
I'm planning on purchasing a C6 ZO6 but not until 08'/09'.
Should I spend the money to install long tube headers, high flow cats, X-pipe, mufflers, and LS1 Edit or save my money and just drive it stock? I would like a little more HP from the Vette, but I don't know if I should dump the money into it.
What do you think?
Ya know, I had those same thoughts...And at 43 years old I finally realized, I've always put things off in my life because of what MIGHT happen or what COULD happen, and always waited....But with my C5 I bought a few months ago, I was doing it again...Well I finally said to H**l with it and I'm going for it....Hope this helps...tom3257
If it were me, and I was smart, I would wait for just another year or so. Modding is money wasted, if you don't plan on keeping the car. Of course the first sentence or two doesn't apply to me..
OTOH, I'm planning on keeping my Z for a long time.
Consider this.......I've done 5K in mods to mine and its not worth a penny more that if I'd done none......keep your current car in immaculate condition and wait to mod your C6 if that is truly and for sure your plans....I am currently agonizing over whether to replace our C5 with a C6......if I keep the C5, I am going to do another round of mods worth 5 to 6 K.....it never ends once you start.....
Ya know, I had those same thoughts...And at 43 years old I finally realized, I've always put things off in my life because of what MIGHT happen or what COULD happen, and always waited....But with my C5 I bought a few months ago, I was doing it again...Well I finally said to H**l with it and I'm going for it....Hope this helps...tom3257
If you go with some basic mods such as LT headers, cam, exhaust and tune, your car will be WAY more fun to drive. I went the stock route for awhile myself and finally bit the bullet last spring. I definitely made the right choice. Consider the increased performance as a training opportunity in preparation for the C6 Z06...
If youve got the money to pick up a C6 Z06 you definately have the money to put 2k into your C5 for LT headers, cats, x-pipe, and tune. It will make it a whole new car and WAY more fun to drive...
Well LS7,.... as the years go by Im amazed that the new blood is still real good to see we used to go back and forth on this but I'll tell you this,.......You must have sicronisity. All things MUST "sing" with each other! you can spend a lot of money and NOT acomplish anything!!! What you Must do is MAXIMISE your,.....FLOW!!! Fule and air must not have any choke points! Unless you have a LOT of $$$$$$$ do It In steps! START by lowering your temps! then BIG Intake, BIG Manifold, GOOD headders,the best Hyflow cats you can find (I went with the Bassani) big x-pipe and absolute monster axcel back! (B&B Bullits Big Twin for me) and the best cam and head package isnt allways the biggist! and one of the most important things is the mad science TUNE!!! Good luck and it allways IS a good Idea to fall in with a bad crowd!
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What a tough choice. You are still looking at keeping the C5 for another 1-2 years. LT headers and all the other goodies will definitely make the car run better for the time you keep it. But, that's a couple of grand that you probably won't get back out of the car - so kind of money into a hole. If I knew that I was going to change cars that soon, I would probably just keep the car as is and put the money towards the C6 Z.
If it were me, and I was smart, I would wait for just another year or so. Modding is money wasted, if you don't plan on keeping the car. Of course the first sentence or two doesn't apply to me..
OTOH, I'm planning on keeping my Z for a long time.
If youve got the money to pick up a C6 Z06 you definately have the money to put 2k into your C5 for LT headers, cats, x-pipe, and tune. It will make it a whole new car and WAY more fun to drive...
Go for it, if you can afford a new Vette put a blower on it and drive it like you stole it and you will be in for a surprise how much power you will get and the fun. Buy a use blower they are always for sale in the parts section, I know I did and the prices have stayed constant in the 2 years I lurked before purchasing a used one last year. So have some real fun
I wouldn't put money into mods if I were you at this point. I'd sell it as close to stock as you can and put the money towards the C6 and/or its mods. You probably won't get your money back dollar for dollar on the mods from all I've read here (although many recommend sell them separately. I'm in the same position. I have no mods other than B&B catback exhaust. Although I've lusted after many mods, I've decided to put that on hold until after the C6 purchase. Just my humble opinion.
If you're changing cars in 2 years and wants to do some mods now. Make sure you have plenty of garage space to keep the stock parts. That way you can put them back and sell the aftermarket stuff separately, you may not get all of the money you spent, but at least you'll have some of them back! IMHO. Me aside from the tail lamp lenses- I sold all of my stock parts because I'm planning on keeping my car.
My advice is "keep her stock". Every car I've modded I've learned is a detrement to resale. If I mod, I bolt ALL THE STOCK STUFF back on when I resell, (and ironically I get almost 80% back reselling the performance stuff) otherwise I've lost money. We just sold my wife's '01 Mustang Bullitt GT, the first question out of a potential buyers mouth is
"is it still all stock"? we sold the car yesterday for $4,000. over book value. Also, for my money, buying the Z, I'd buy one at least a year or two old and let the first buyer take the hit. I love cars, but I know they are the worst investment a human can possibly make, consider the money burned. But, we all go around once, so enjoy things while you've got them, just try to minimize the damage.
I had same mod when I got my vette (Blackwing). I said same thing should I put $$$ into this car or leave it alone cause I was thinking same thing.. I'll probably going to keep it a year or so... sell it then upgrade to a newer year and a ZO6 not 07 or 08 but like a 04 or 05 .. but the bug hit me started with an exhaust then a short throw shifter did some interior work now looking at rims and tires headers so you get the idea . It just creeps up on you .. So my advice is sell it as soon as you can and buy that 07 and start mods with that . If you don't have the funds for the 07 yet then weather you want to mod it or not you most likley will . Believe me this forum will make you lol .. Good Luck
Ya know, I had those same thoughts...And at 43 years old I finally realized, I've always put things off in my life because of what MIGHT happen or what COULD happen, and always waited....But with my C5 I bought a few months ago, I was doing it again...Well I finally said to H**l with it and I'm going for it....Hope this helps...tom3257
there's a lot of mods you can do that, if you save the stock parts, you can reverse when you buy the next car. Then you could sell off the mod parts. Of course as is always the case with mods, you'll loose some money in the turnover.