Z06 had the HUD standard from 2002 on.

Im suprised so many think they can just easily add on power to get to Z06 performance. You also have to consider lighter weight, stiffer crame, better suspension, better gearing. Simply getting a coupe to the same HP as a Z, doesnt make it a Z! Also, I can say from experience that there is more than enough room in the Z06 to put luggage for two on a long trip! Not sure why so many think the Z06 has no luggage room! Having said all of that, having the targa would be a pretty sweet option. As someone said, its probably more favorable in the eyes of women. But I didnt buy my Vette to impress the ladies, I bought it to have fun! Besides, I like the look of the FRC better. At the end of the day, they are both Vettes! Get one, then drive the crap out of it! ALL VETTES ARE COOL!

 

Jealous I think.

 

Hey don't knock the Paseo. I tried to make up for it with the other car .

Anyway, I am just not a fan of convertibles at all. Not my cup of tea. But back to the original post. Yeah definitely drive both cars and get a feel for what you like. As stated before, the ZO6 is going to have more than just an engine difference. I'm not certain, but I am pretty sure that it has a better performing suspension and s definitely lighter. I say, if you are going to have the Corvette as a strictly performance car with no intention of just cruising then go for the ZO6. But for flossing and still being able to beat most cars on the road if you need to race, your still good in the coupe.

 

Then you can get 10 mpg, burn your leg, and still get beat by a C5 Z.

 

Hey to get C5 Z levels of power it is cheap it's only

$10k for a supercharger
$6k for H/C
or you can convert

Shocks $300
Sway Bars $200
Brakes $400
Rims tires $1000
Heads $700 (no labor)
Cam $200 (no labor)
Rear End ($1500 installed)
New Tranny $2000 used
Intake Manifold $350
Intake and maf $200
Computer tuning $150
Brake ducts $300
Ti exhaust $350

So you can have a z06 clone for only $7650

so you can spend only $7650 to get STOCK Z06 performance

DIRT CHEAP

 

hmmmmmmmmmm now what could I do to my Z for $7650..........

 

I'm sorry, but all these people saying that a few mods and your gonna pull on a Z.

You add a supercharger, yes it will be faster, and put a 8K dollar whole in your bank account, and then you better be running DR's because you are not gonna hook that power on street tires.

A guy I know has a C5 coupe heads, cam, intake, LT's all the basics...

He has YET to run a trap as high as me and I have LT's, intake, no tune.

Zee

 

Don't forget about driveline upgrades because you now need a new clutch, rear end, DTE brace, and output shafts, otherwise your supercharged coupe is gonna say : to the driveline

I plan on doing these on a h/c Z and that isn't gonna be near 600 bhp

 

Having had both. still have the Z, you may be able to make the coupe as fast or faster but it hasbeen my experience that it will be a the expense of reliability. Having owned over the years the C1, C2, C3 , & several C4's the only time I had a problem with them is when they were "worked on". That is one reason I wanted the Z- it was worked on my the factory and it is the most "dialed in" car I have ever driven.
Again, the Z is way more than straight line performance - it has a differently geared gear box, and the 200 lbs reduction in weight makes a big difference if you really are attuned to your car. Even the wheels , which are the lightest GM ever made can be felt. Rotational mass (also including the lighter tires) contributes to its better handling and braking as much as the 200 redeuction. The rigid structure makes this car rock solid as compared to making the coupe a wet noodle. You can feel and hear how solid this car is even when it has very high mileage.
Over the years Corvettes have got softer and less for hard core drivers who know how to use the performance the car can offer if you got the HD suspension, no PS, no PB, no pw, no AC, no power seats, had the quick steering, before they used thicker rubber body mounts that cost it precise handling that was available in the "old" days. The Z brought those cars back and since most drivers can not do smooth, controlled dirfts ( not talking about drifting) or shift so you can not feel the shift the regular Vette is more than enough for them.
For those who think the Firestone Wide Oval is a real performance tire they should buy the coupe. Same for those who put on the heavier after market wheels when they can get CCW or Z wheels.
It will take more work than most know to reduce the weight of the coupe to Z levels. This means even using the thinner and lighter glass that goes into the Z as well as getting rid of the 90 lbs glass hatch glass.
Most Z owners know what I mean.
GM says in their '08 catalog that their new Z51 436 hp Corvette APPROACHES the performance of the C5 Z06. Maybe if the '08's tires were as large as the C5 Z06 and the springs/stabilizers were as HD would it be better. Other than the C6 Z and under $200,000 there is not a better , more balanced car out there. When I drive it I wouldn't notice if the top was on or not cause I am too busy listening to the unique sound of the titanium exhaust and the amazing way this car drives.

 

well said

 

 

One thing about Z06 guys - they sure get defensive when this topic comes up!

 

just trying to give accurate information, personally when I bought my car I wanted the fastest vette I could get. A coupe or convertible was flat out not an option, never even looked at one. Had a dealer try to sell me a vert 6 speed and I wouldn't even test drive it. I also had the benefit of owning a c4 coupe before the Z so I knew that the removeable top was not a deal breaker for me. Would I like to go open air sometimes, yes, but I wouldn't trade the Z for a convertible with a supercharger. Now my plan is to buy a C6 vert and supercharge that, but a c6 Z will be in the stable as well. I've just learned that I'm not a one trick pony guy and the Z is the top of the list for me, just means I got that one first.

 

original poster, Have you driven a C5 yet? I was looking around and for where I live I found the coupe to be more then enough power for what I need. I'm doing a little to it but nothing major. I enjoy it a lot as is. I wanted a targa roof too so that was my main reason for choosing it. In just under a month of owning it I have only had the top off twice, and it's hot here. I think even though I don't have it off often, I like the option to take it off.

I'd say if you get a coupe though get a Z51 package with the 3.15 rear.

Test drive whatever one you find and see how it feels. If it's good enough then go for it. If you must have more then get the Z. Either way you can't go wrong, it's a Vette.

 

Well, some of it was accurate and some of it was a bit of a stretch.

It doesn't take any supercharger or H/C to make a good-running MN6 car as fast as a Z06. Good headers, catback, CAI, good tune, pretty much puts you on a par for HP. Give me a H/C on top of that and I'll bury a stock Z06. There's no reason to change the rear, as there's nothing special about a Z06 rear. Changing the tranny is actually a step backwards imo, unless you are strictly road racing. The regular MN6 has better gear spreads for acceleration, the Z06 has a better 1-4 for heel&toe. The brakes are identical except for paint (and pads, to be fair). The Z-51 has the same front spring and rear sway. Plenty of take-off Z06 front sways and rear springs available cheap. The later cars all have the LS6 intake. The Z06 air filter performs no better than a stocker with some strategically drilled holes. The rear brake ducts do nothing on the street. The Ti exhaust is worth very few if any horsepower. So half or more of the changes you listed in your $7650 figure are not needed. And you left out the fact that a used Z06 will be $3500-5000 more than an equivalent Z51 MN6 coupe.

I'm not knocking the Z06, it is a GREAT car. But it's a great car because it's a C5, not because it's a Z06. They're just not that different. To the OP: pick the one that has the basic look and features you want, then tune/mod to suit. That's what everybody else does!

 

LT headers $1800
Catback $1000
CAI $400
Tune $550

That's almost $4000 right there, unless you buy everything used and that is without any of the weight or handling advantages of the Z. Just add wheels and tires it's $5000. That right there eats up your original savings and that is assuming it was a Z51 6 speed that you bought. Otherwise a base 2.73 auto would still have miles to go to match a stock Z. just ask the guy with the 98 white auto a4. He is wishing he bought a Z because after $4000 in mods he still isn't close to a Z.

My Z has LT's
CAI
Fast 90/90
Catback
Tune

so that $5000 in mods coupe still isn't gonna come close

How much have you spent on your car? Because I looked at your profile and would say you are at about stock Z hp, but still low on acceleration since you are still .3 seconds slower in the 1/4 than a stock Z on F1's, probably due to tranny ratios and weight.

 

Tensions-are-a-risin'

 

nah, personally I'd like to add a gts to the stable at some point too, but I'm going to make it one of the newer models, they've made a ton of improvements to them. They LOOK awesome!

 

It's a personal choice and you have to decide what you want out of your car. The upside is no bad choice. I went with the Z for my latest.

 

I agree, you can't go wrong either way, but don't listen to the information that it will be cheap to make your coupe hit Z levels of power, because if you buy the coupe thinking that you will make it as fast as a Z cheap, then you will be disappointed. That was my only point. Decide what matters to you affordability/open air go coupe, raw performance then go Z, insane performance go C6 Z