Coupe vs. Z06
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: CA
What does it take to make a Coupe handle like a Z06 / HardTop? Front/rear sway, shocks/springs? I'd love to get the Z06 for the great handler that it is, but it does command quite a price premium over a C5 coupe (as does the HardTop)
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 11,148
Likes: 1
From: U S A
To the OP, SBU18. The following is probably the best advice you can take away from this thread when comparing the Coupe vs. Z06 (straight from a Z06 owner).
So it's really up to the 'look' you prefer and how much you want a targa top. Good luck with your choice.
So it's really up to the 'look' you prefer and how much you want a targa top. Good luck with your choice.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 531
Likes: 0
From: Spicewood, TX
I dont know where all you guys are comming up with your prices for parts but ya all must be getting ripped off. You can get a set of 243 LS6 heads for around 300 bucks off ebay. Order a cam from comp cams for 325.00 any size custom 918 springs for 130.00. Head gaskets mls 45.00 SSAC long tube headers and X pipe for 400.00.. 3:90 rear end for 1200 (wich is gonna be about equal to the mn12 and 3:42 gears) And a dyno tune 500.00. Easy 400+RWHP for under 3000 if you do all the labor your self and would easly shut down any stock Z06 and still be able to pop off the top. I can see no one shops around for cheaper deals on parts. There getting ripped off on the corvette tax.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,364
Likes: 1
From: Rugby North Dakota
get the coupe - then put 2004 ZO6 shocks, springs and swaybars under it (make sure this stuff is from a 2004) - then your coupe will handle like a ZO6
then do heads and cam, and you will be faster than a stock ZO6
see my sig for details
and remember, you CAN take the top off of a coupe!
then do heads and cam, and you will be faster than a stock ZO6
see my sig for details
and remember, you CAN take the top off of a coupe!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 799
Likes: 16
From: Kansas City area
You bought the car for YOUR enjoyment. You do not require the approval of some anonymous schmuck on the internet. Some of these folks get wrapped around the axle about the most ridiculous crap. At times, it's unbelievable. There is one proven remedy; shut down your computer and take the vette out for a spin!
Pro
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 631
Likes: 61
From: Amherstburg Ontario
Maybe Im odd...but I like the look of the Z better than the coupe!
I dont think Z owners get defensive, but it is dissapointing to see a fellow Vette enthusiats say that we paid extra "for only 50hp". I would think any Vette enthusiast would knw that the difference is MUCH more than just 50hp.
Obviously different people will prefer different cars for their use. Those who plan to race or just want that pure race car feel will go for the Z. If you want the sun on your face then get the coupe or vert.
Once again I have to say that you cant go wrong...ITS A VETTE! I want one from each gen!
...no seriously!
I dont think Z owners get defensive, but it is dissapointing to see a fellow Vette enthusiats say that we paid extra "for only 50hp". I would think any Vette enthusiast would knw that the difference is MUCH more than just 50hp.
Obviously different people will prefer different cars for their use. Those who plan to race or just want that pure race car feel will go for the Z. If you want the sun on your face then get the coupe or vert.
Once again I have to say that you cant go wrong...ITS A VETTE! I want one from each gen!
...no seriously!
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,787
Likes: 2
From: Wildomar CA
Hey why did GM say the new 436 hp z51 6 speed approaches C5 Z levels of performance?
So odd with 31 MORE HP and yet they are claiming the exact same times up to 120 mph. In fact the LS3 doesn't even beat a C5 Z by all that much up to 150 mph.
But I guess all you coupe guys will argue that you routinely see 150 mph everyday.
this arguement is stupid, us Z owners CLEARLY made the wrong decision and as penance we must all go outside and burn our cars, buy a coupe, spend $400 on long tube headers and go smoke some C6's
So odd with 31 MORE HP and yet they are claiming the exact same times up to 120 mph. In fact the LS3 doesn't even beat a C5 Z by all that much up to 150 mph.
But I guess all you coupe guys will argue that you routinely see 150 mph everyday.
this arguement is stupid, us Z owners CLEARLY made the wrong decision and as penance we must all go outside and burn our cars, buy a coupe, spend $400 on long tube headers and go smoke some C6's
Pro
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 601
Likes: 1
From: Wa
If you read on the tech side of this forum about the SSAC headers there just as good as alot of other headers. And also all you are paying for is a name. I have tpis headers and bought a set of SS auto chrome headers and there about the same. Seems all you rich spoiled or credit card dept up the *** guys that say they only buy the most exspencive parts loose hella money when they go and resell the car since it dont make the car worth anymore. Pm tstar about the headers and X-pipe for 400.00 as well as hundreds of others that have them. They will tell you there just as good as other headers and at a 3rd of the cost.... We are talking about a cost affective way to make a coupe C5 outperform a Z06
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Pro
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 590
Likes: 23
From: Orangevale Ca.
thanks, KCJeff, it really is sometimes unbelievable. i think we see things from the same perspective.
on my way out as we speakpeace
rich
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,787
Likes: 2
From: Wildomar CA
If you read on the tech side of this forum about the SSAC headers there just as good as alot of other headers. And also all you are paying for is a name. I have tpis headers and bought a set of SS auto chrome headers and there about the same. Seems all you rich spoiled or credit card dept up the *** guys that say they only buy the most exspencive parts loose hella money when they go and resell the car since it dont make the car worth anymore. Pm tstar about the headers and X-pipe for 400.00 as well as hundreds of others that have them. They will tell you there just as good as other headers and at a 3rd of the cost.... We are talking about a cost affective way to make a coupe C5 outperform a Z06
high flow cats $300
X Pipe $250
Headers $400
$300 exhaust shop work
that is $1250
LG Street which bolts up and will outperform them is $1300 with high flow cats.
You save $50 for an inferior product???
That makes me a spoiled rich what??? I worked DAMN hard for everything I have and don't take kindly to being called spoiled, because I spoiled myself, with the money I WORKED FOR!
and the fact that you used the word hella informs me of your intelligence level
also according to your mods you have like $15,000 -$20,000 worth of mods done to your car and I'm the spoiled rich guy with credit card debt up the azz? I'm beginning to think maybe your mods are
especially since you are trying to save money with $400 headers.
Last edited by Z06Electron; Aug 19, 2007 at 03:33 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 10,179
Likes: 2,306
From: Wesley Chapel, FL Las Vegas, NV
and the fact that you used the word hella informs me of your intelligence level
also according to your mods you have like $15,000 -$20,000 worth of mods done to your car and I'm the spoiled rich guy with credit card debt up the azz? I'm beginning to think maybe your mods are especially since you are trying to save money with $400 headers.
also according to your mods you have like $15,000 -$20,000 worth of mods done to your car and I'm the spoiled rich guy with credit card debt up the azz? I'm beginning to think maybe your mods are especially since you are trying to save money with $400 headers.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 7,727
Likes: 7
From: Twilight zone
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
Hey why did GM say the new 436 hp z51 6 speed approaches C5 Z levels of performance?
So odd with 31 MORE HP and yet they are claiming the exact same times up to 120 mph. In fact the LS3 doesn't even beat a C5 Z by all that much up to 150 mph.
But I guess all you coupe guys will argue that you routinely see 150 mph everyday.
this arguement is stupid, us Z owners CLEARLY made the wrong decision and as penance we must all go outside and burn our cars, buy a coupe, spend $400 on long tube headers and go smoke some C6's
So odd with 31 MORE HP and yet they are claiming the exact same times up to 120 mph. In fact the LS3 doesn't even beat a C5 Z by all that much up to 150 mph.
But I guess all you coupe guys will argue that you routinely see 150 mph everyday.
this arguement is stupid, us Z owners CLEARLY made the wrong decision and as penance we must all go outside and burn our cars, buy a coupe, spend $400 on long tube headers and go smoke some C6's
You're obviously passionate about your car.....that's great!
But why is it a car more powerful than yours can only beat your car by "all that much"?You can't have it both ways and be fair...
Seems that is the same many are saying,to a degree,about the z
Having said that,the "Z"is a GREAT car,no doubt about it.
I certainly would not underestimate a coupe or a vert or you will be seriously humbled one day.
Another interesting point in this thread to me is this:
Weight and rigidity
It is no more than 80 lbs. or so lighter max..,and as another member pointed out,the c-5r's are coupes.......in addition,that weight is over the rear wheels for the most part( read traction)
Why would the race team leave all that rigidity and weight savings on the table if it were all that valuable?
My mod list:
243's 800 installed
3:42's 300 installed( after selling my stock unit and my labor)
shorties 600 installed
vararam 300 installed
ls6 intake 300installed(my labor)
tune 500
catback 900 installed(my labor)
hotckiss/bilsteins/zo6 springs 800 installed(my labor again)
That's@4k-of carb legal mods,and I would argue that I am at stock z06 perfrmance levels.........all with DD reliability,with better gearing through about 60 mph,then thez's gearing will come into play an eclipse my current gearing for the edge there.
Coupes or verts are not second class citizens,they just need a little help
Last edited by flynbya2; Aug 19, 2007 at 05:06 PM.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
I decided against the z06 for the following reasons.
1. I didn't like the frc look (I liked the exotic look of the slanted glass)
2. I don't like brake ducts
3. I HATE having a visible antenna on a car of this caliber it makes the car look fugly (This alone would have been a major deciding factor)
4. I like the removable roof option
5. I've heard insurance rates are significantly higher for the z06
6. I got an excellent deal on my 98 and a z06 would have been at least $10k more
I didn't think the above would make up for 40 or 60 more hp.
To be perfectly honest I would rather make the jump to a 96/97 GTS in a few years than to go from c5 to c5 z06. (Now the c6 z06 is absolute fire and a different story all together and something for all of us to be proud of).
1. I didn't like the frc look (I liked the exotic look of the slanted glass)
2. I don't like brake ducts
3. I HATE having a visible antenna on a car of this caliber it makes the car look fugly (This alone would have been a major deciding factor)
4. I like the removable roof option
5. I've heard insurance rates are significantly higher for the z06
6. I got an excellent deal on my 98 and a z06 would have been at least $10k more
I didn't think the above would make up for 40 or 60 more hp.
To be perfectly honest I would rather make the jump to a 96/97 GTS in a few years than to go from c5 to c5 z06. (Now the c6 z06 is absolute fire and a different story all together and something for all of us to be proud of).
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 799
Likes: 16
From: Kansas City area
Performance, performance, performance. You are like a broken record. It's not solely about performance for everyone, like it is for you. I know that must be impossible for you to imagine, but it's true.
It's been mentioned several times by various posters: Fixed roof or topless? That's the only question the OP needs to answer to narrow down his search. Good luck to you at the track. I won't see you there
It's been mentioned several times by various posters: Fixed roof or topless? That's the only question the OP needs to answer to narrow down his search. Good luck to you at the track. I won't see you there
Hey why did GM say the new 436 hp z51 6 speed approaches C5 Z levels of performance?
So odd with 31 MORE HP and yet they are claiming the exact same times up to 120 mph. In fact the LS3 doesn't even beat a C5 Z by all that much up to 150 mph.
But I guess all you coupe guys will argue that you routinely see 150 mph everyday.
So odd with 31 MORE HP and yet they are claiming the exact same times up to 120 mph. In fact the LS3 doesn't even beat a C5 Z by all that much up to 150 mph.
But I guess all you coupe guys will argue that you routinely see 150 mph everyday.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 829
Likes: 2
From: Arlington Heights Illinois
Good comments above. I own both a coupe and am modding a Z to be a track only RR car.
The Z is the car of choice if you plan to do many HPDE's or road race the car. The car is lighter, stiffer and handles better. You can mod a coupe to get close, but it's cheaper typically to start with the Z as your base.
Word of caution. I have a SC car that's terrific on the street and a great 1/4 mile car. If you plan to road race frequently I would not mess with SC or TT. You will run into significant heat issues. My track car will be NA (installing 427 warhawk block).
The Z is the car of choice if you plan to do many HPDE's or road race the car. The car is lighter, stiffer and handles better. You can mod a coupe to get close, but it's cheaper typically to start with the Z as your base.
Word of caution. I have a SC car that's terrific on the street and a great 1/4 mile car. If you plan to road race frequently I would not mess with SC or TT. You will run into significant heat issues. My track car will be NA (installing 427 warhawk block).
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,065
Likes: 3
From: tampa florida
I like my coupe, one of the reason why i picked the couple is simply becuase i feel like i have more room in it. I am about 6'6 so the vette is already a tight fight, but with the coupe it feels more reasonable. Also i always enjoy cruising out to the beach on a friday night with the top down and a beautiful blonde right next to me. Even if the blonde wasnt there, its still a great feeling driving under the night sky with the wind in your hair.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 11,467
Likes: 8
From: 972 and 405
this is absolutely mind-blowing. when i bought my car, i thought i had found that one thing to make me understand why vette owners smile and wave at each other. i traded in my '02 blk slp-built camaro ss (difficult choice) and thought "now i can get away from the stigma that all camaro/firebird guys/gals are young, immature know-it-alls who find some kind of pleasure in talking sh** about anybody who does/tries something different". but i am sadly disappointed to read the same exact type of comments i would read on the camaro/firbird boards. i actually saw someone used the word "flossing" for christ's sake.
most of the people who posted here, including myself, are trying to give sound, objective advice re: the original post. but scattered thruout are the same "young, immature know-it-alls who find some kind of pleasure in talking sh** about anybody who does/tries something different".
while i can respect someone with a purist heart that feels that my car is no longer a true z0 in the original definition, i really could give two sh**s less whether or not someone believes my car started out as a z0. i know when i jump on it and grab those first three gears that i am driving something special.
so my anxiousness to dive headfirst into this new "community" has dwindled, but my love for the car has not. and i know that i am going to feel some kind of kinship with another vette owner, whether they're driving a coupe, frc, z0, vert, c1-c6, orange, black, white, electron blue, whatever. to quote an earlier poster: ALL VETTES ARE COOL!!!!!
a fellow enthusiast.......
most of the people who posted here, including myself, are trying to give sound, objective advice re: the original post. but scattered thruout are the same "young, immature know-it-alls who find some kind of pleasure in talking sh** about anybody who does/tries something different".
while i can respect someone with a purist heart that feels that my car is no longer a true z0 in the original definition, i really could give two sh**s less whether or not someone believes my car started out as a z0. i know when i jump on it and grab those first three gears that i am driving something special.
so my anxiousness to dive headfirst into this new "community" has dwindled, but my love for the car has not. and i know that i am going to feel some kind of kinship with another vette owner, whether they're driving a coupe, frc, z0, vert, c1-c6, orange, black, white, electron blue, whatever. to quote an earlier poster: ALL VETTES ARE COOL!!!!!
a fellow enthusiast.......
. Talk about getting offended. Sure you can point out that I wrote "flossing", and I can point out that you do not capitalize the words at the beginning of sentences, the word "I", Christ's name, begin sentences with "but" or "And" and have mispelled words. So if you are going to point out someone else's mistake, which mine isn't just a different choice of wording, then make sure you are on top of your game sir.Take it easy. I am seeing the same kinds of posts I read on supraforums, and trust me, it's just part of people being people. So get over yourself, and stop being so wholier than thou. People are entitled to that even if you disagree with what they have to say. You're probably going to offend alot of people by recalling their posts as immature, simply because you disagree or don't like it. If you are not so anxious to be on this forum because some people disagree, then you should probably leave. Just be aware though, that there probably isn't a board that does not have a few people that are going to use regional jargon that may offend you, or simply disagree with what you may have to say.
Respectfully,
Alex