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Is there a difference?

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Old Mar 17, 2008 | 11:38 AM
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Default Is there a difference?

Ok i just wanted to know if its just me having driven regular c5's and c5 z06's i really cant tell the difference between the two they drive the exact same to me. It doesnt feel any different to me at all. I get into a stick c5 and i cant tell the difference between that and a z06. Am i the only one?
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Old Mar 17, 2008 | 11:42 AM
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Old Mar 17, 2008 | 11:45 AM
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It would depend on how and where you drive them. The Z06 to me seems just a "daily drivable" as a coupe. I have limited experience in the Z06, but in the probably less than 30 miles I have put on one, I don't think it's any harder to live with than my M6 coupe. I've not yet been on the track with mine or a Zo6, but would imagine that is where the difference is most obvious.
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Old Mar 17, 2008 | 11:49 AM
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I can feel a pretty severe difference between my 02Z and my buddies 99 Coupe - and he even has Z06 sways/shocks on his plus power adders. It's all in how you set the car up...
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Old Mar 17, 2008 | 11:55 AM
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Originally Posted by turk2gk
Ok i just wanted to know if its just me having driven regular c5's and c5 z06's i really cant tell the difference between the two they drive the exact same to me. It doesnt feel any different to me at all. I get into a stick c5 and i cant tell the difference between that and a z06. Am i the only one?
You are exactly right, they are completly the same, no difference what so ever. You didn't fill out your profile. What are you driving? Happy Motoring. Bob.
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Old Mar 17, 2008 | 11:55 AM
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The idle in the Z06 is a bit rougher (a good thing IMHO). I noticed it with the door open and the car at an idle. You can tell it's not the same cam.
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Old Mar 17, 2008 | 11:56 AM
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Originally Posted by jbauch357
I can feel a pretty severe difference between my 02Z and my buddies 99 Coupe - and he even has Z06 sways/shocks on his plus power adders. It's all in how you set the car up...
True but stock for stock i cant really feel the difference(as far as power) between a 350hp c5 and a 385z but in power i felt little difference from 350 to 405.
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Old Mar 17, 2008 | 11:57 AM
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Sorry... there is a big difference
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Old Mar 17, 2008 | 12:02 PM
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Originally Posted by ZEEEEOOOOSIC
Sorry... there is a big difference
Like what?
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Old Mar 17, 2008 | 12:10 PM
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Wow this thread is kind of surprising to me. I used to own a 99 hardtop 345hp Z51. I now have a 03 Z06 405hp. The difference is significant in every category starting right from when you start it. Exhaust sounds much different. One of the things I noticed also is the steering is much tighter in the Z06 compared to my 99 Z51 and the ride is more firm which would be obvious given the different suspension. The biggest difference would be power!! The Z06 pulls much harder and I also am shifting at different times given the different transmission setup.
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Old Mar 17, 2008 | 12:14 PM
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So you can't feel the difference between a coupe and a Z06 with 50 more hp/Tq, 600 higher rev-limit, different exhaust, stiffer sways/shocks, more structural bracing, and less weight?
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Old Mar 17, 2008 | 12:25 PM
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Originally Posted by jbauch357
So you can't feel the difference between a coupe and a Z06 with 50 more hp/Tq, 600 higher rev-limit, different exhaust, stiffer sways/shocks, more structural bracing, and less weight?
Now i felt the difference a little bit in the 50 hp it felt a little bit of a difference
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Old Mar 17, 2008 | 12:32 PM
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Originally Posted by JTS97Z28
Wow this thread is kind of surprising to me. I used to own a 99 hardtop 345hp Z51. I now have a 03 Z06 405hp. The difference is significant in every category starting right from when you start it. Exhaust sounds much different. One of the things I noticed also is the steering is much tighter in the Z06 compared to my 99 Z51 and the ride is more firm which would be obvious given the different suspension. The biggest difference would be power!! The Z06 pulls much harder and I also am shifting at different times given the different transmission setup.
Exhaust Yes the c5 exhaust is restricted i rode in my buddy's car right when he did the stock to ti swap it felt exactly like a z06 to me. That was all he had to do he picked 7.9rwhp just with the swap
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Old Mar 17, 2008 | 12:32 PM
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Don't forget about the shorter gearing the MM12 of the Z06. Sure, it has 50 more horses, but that gearing makes a huge difference too.
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Old Mar 17, 2008 | 12:34 PM
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Originally Posted by JTS97Z28
Wow this thread is kind of surprising to me. I used to own a 99 hardtop 345hp Z51. I now have a 03 Z06 405hp. The difference is significant in every category starting right from when you start it. Exhaust sounds much different. One of the things I noticed also is the steering is much tighter in the Z06 compared to my 99 Z51 and the ride is more firm which would be obvious given the different suspension. The biggest difference would be power!! The Z06 pulls much harder and I also am shifting at different times given the different transmission setup.
By the way isnt the chassis the exact same in the frc and the z06?
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Old Mar 17, 2008 | 12:50 PM
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The chassis is exactly the same - but the Z06 has higher rate (stiffer) springs, the front sway bar is thicker on the Z06, it uses different alignment specs (remember - you said stock for stock) and the tires are different as well. The Z06 used non runflats and a bigger size than the FRC which only came with Z51.

Also - the FRC body style - which includes the Z06 is 12% stiffer than either the coupe of convertible. The coupe has a roof brace like a hoop that is under the stationary portion of the roof behind the removeable panels. The convertible has it's brace behind the seats. The FRC body style has both braces.
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Old Mar 17, 2008 | 12:51 PM
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I don't mean that the differences are minimal when I say that the Z06 is as "daily drivable" as my coupe. I am complimenting the fact that the Z06 is probably the most easy to live with supercar on the planet. I can imagine though, if you are someone new to Corvettes, that the two would feel pretty similar. If you've been driving a Jetta for 6 years and you jump in an M6 coupe one weekend and you're blown away by the performance, then the next week you jump in a Z06 and are again blown away by the experience, they might feel pretty comparable. It is hard to feel the fact that the car is about 100lbs lighter (3%), and has 50 more hp (14%). Now when you run a lap around Laguna Seca, you will really see the difference.
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Old Mar 17, 2008 | 12:56 PM
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Originally Posted by blacksedan87
The chassis is exactly the same - but the Z06 has higher rate (stiffer) springs, the front sway bar is thicker on the Z06, it uses different alignment specs (remember - you said stock for stock) and the tires are different as well. The Z06 used non runflats and a bigger size than the FRC which only came with Z51.

Also - the FRC body style - which includes the Z06 is 12% stiffer than either the coupe of convertible. The coupe has a roof brace like a hoop that is under the stationary portion of the roof behind the removeable panels. The convertible has it's brace behind the seats. The FRC body style has both braces.
By the way that is a sweet convertible u got there. I just checked it out.
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Old Mar 17, 2008 | 12:57 PM
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Originally Posted by turk2gk
By the way that is a sweet convertible u got there. I just checked it out.
Thank you!
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Old Mar 17, 2008 | 01:06 PM
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Originally Posted by Black_6-Speed
I don't mean that the differences are minimal when I say that the Z06 is as "daily drivable" as my coupe. I am complimenting the fact that the Z06 is probably the most easy to live with supercar on the planet. I can imagine though, if you are someone new to Corvettes, that the two would feel pretty similar. If you've been driving a Jetta for 6 years and you jump in an M6 coupe one weekend and you're blown away by the performance, then the next week you jump in a Z06 and are again blown away by the experience, they might feel pretty comparable. It is hard to feel the fact that the car is about 100lbs lighter (3%), and has 50 more hp (14%). Now when you run a lap around Laguna Seca, you will really see the difference.
I have been around vettes for about 5 years now driven my uncles and friends cars and there is not much difference for me to say i have to have one right away i love the c5 generation vettes theyre wonderful. i have a c5 coupe with c5 z06 wheels, bassani exhaust, front and rear scoops, tune, and i have it lowered on stock springs. I feel great about the car. The z06 is a great daily driveable supercar i wouldnt mind having a c5 z06 at all but it's not something im in a hurry to get
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