Hey everyone,

Been trying to compile myself a list by searching the forums and picking some members' brains about ... not problems per say, but things to be aware of.

What are some issues that have hampered the ride, performance, stability, and longevity of the 2001 z06? The car I have in mind of buying only has 39k~ miles. Were there issues of battery drain? Increases oil consumption, clutch problems? I plan on grease/oil/filtering every 3k miles, or every 6 months, to keep the beast up and running.

Thoughts? Thanks.

 

No problems at all with my 01 coupe or Z!

 

If you don't plan on changing the cam, the 01's have a smaller cam compared to the 02+. A bigger issue to me would be excessive oil consumption problems that some 01's have. Unless you're buying the car from the original owner(you can ask him questions), I wouldn't buy an 01. Again, this is just MY opinion.

 

Nah, don't plan on changing the cam.

 

Price?

 

Here is a good post to read

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...ngths-etc.html

I have owned 2 01Z's and love(d) both of them, great cars.

 

You're going to have some 01 owners jumping in this thread claiming the 01's are just as good as the 02+. Well, they're not. I'm not saying the 01's are bad cars, the 02+ are just better. If you don't mind the 01's being underpowered a bit and possible oll consumption problems, by all means buy one.

 

Twice a week this question comes up and the same misinformation is bantied about for the 11 years .
Why is it you people can't find the info in the archives?

Where are the 20 hp difference that seem to please the '02-'04 LS6 owners so much? By the whopping .025 lift ( @.050) on intake and exhaust lobes of the reduced diameter base circle camshaft. But cam and the longer , lighter valve train have to be used in conjunction. This accounts for 10 hp of the 20 hp. This cam & valve train gives you more potenial for hp gains with additional aftermarket hp products.


The other 10hp can be found with the larger fresh air opening of the Z06 filtered air box top, along with the (factory) MAF screen removal. Plus the elimination of the forward pup Cats and use of the redesigned twin block Cats. These swaps give you another 10 hp along with 5 pounds and reduction of 2 inches of mercury exhaust back pressure . Again these mods will aid in the responce from aftermarket hp addons as well.


Note* all these can be performed on the '01 Z06 as well, thru either aftermarket or direct later model parts swap ( as I have done with my '01 LS6).



Oil consumption or blow by: http://www.rjsmith.com/gm-894549.html. The actual cause of any oil consumption, on the part of the engine is a combination of poor 5300 block clyinder hot spots and distortion, poor machine tolerances of cylinders , piston ring face, piston to cylinder wall dimensions, poor PCV system design and drivering 'style' in a nut shell. But the GM fix was to R&R the oil ring and second piston rings. The LS2 corrected these faults. Note more indepth specifics can be read from http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...post1570223936

Oil consumption fix for '02-'04 was to add a higher tension ( from 9 lbs to 13 lbs , Napier scraper face) oil and second piston rings thru the dealers. And/ Or repalce the oil baffle/ oil seperator under the manifold of the LS6es.

Get a GM srvice history report from the GM dealer service or parts dept (free for asking) with the car's VIN number. Or have a knowedgeable LSX engine look over the car , signs are obvious.


Other differences exist but these do not diminsh the car.http://www.eugeneleafty.com/Corvette...ugh%20shifting


With any corvette worth your consideration , condition is everyting. Pick the wrong car and a big hole opens up that will swallow money and time.

I have three (3) c5es with no oil issues or any issues but I qualify that with the fact that they are not DDers.

 

Hell of a good drive train in stock form, not as tempermental as some people make them out to be, interior and trim of so-so quality, subject to electrical gremilins, some have excessive wheel hop at the strip, great paint quality, eye catching and a kick in the butt-ox when you want it to be...

 

If you are not planning on changing the cam then just go with an 02+. You should always buy the newer car unless there are more problems with the newer cars which there arent with the C5Z's. I am pretty sure the 01's did not come with heads up display or HUD. This is one of the nicest features offered on the corvettes. And finally you can get an 02 for the same price as an 01. So why wouldnt you buy the newer and better car? and the 01s are harder to sell then the 02+. The only way I would buy an 01 is if it were speedway white or if it was a few grand cheaper then the 02 or newer.

Dont worry....all the bitter guys who own C5 Z06's will be in here soon telling you the 01s are the best. They arent bad but for the same money I would pick up an 02+........actually I did.

 

This question is old !!! the 01s have no more problems than any other cars. if your gona buy an 8 or 9 year old car than deal. any i've said this in other threads. i don't regret buying mine at all, mine runs like a top. enough said!!!!!!!!!

 

 

The biggest problem is that alot of people bought 02-04's instead of an 01 and they just can't face it that the 01's RULE! Iv'e had them all and now on my second 01. They are fabulous!!

 

and faster right?

 

dieseldave said it all in his post.

It's sad to see the same crankyankers ******* 01 models in every one of these threads (which seems to be asked weekly)

I'd put my money on my 01 against any other year C5Z. Terrific car, bought it with 43k and now has 68k...although it getting a major engine facelift/upgrade right now.

 

Most people that have Z 06's have " hangar queens " and they will blab on about the 01 being inferior. Ask how many miles they have on their Z most have low miles. Have they ever driven it as a DD or in the rain. Most havent.

Yes it has 20 less horsepower but unless you are a drag racer it means pretty much nothing. If you are an expert road racer then maybe you might see a difference. If you arent like me I run out of talent long before the car will. And adding mods to it would be a total waste of time for me. Since I have a long way to go to to catch up to the car in stock form the 20 hp is a non issue other than the fact I dont have the really cool 405HP badge on the car. Then again I don't have to worry about valve springs breaking like some of the 02's.

Yes some 01's burned oil in specific circumstances. You can read up on it on here. I will say my 01 was built in 11/00 and the engine has never been opened and I can go down to 10% oil life on the DIC which can be as much as 8k miles and maybe use 1/2 quart which is not unusual. My Z now has 92k miles on it. I put 21k miles on it last year alone. I have run it in rain, snow, temps ranging from - 3 up to 104 and on trips as long as 2k miles and I have had no issues with the car other than normal wear items. None. I would drive it across country tomorrow with no hesitation.

Now you need to understand that if you do choose to buy an 01 be prepared for the oil consumption police. They patrol here and the mere mention of an 01 draws them in like moths to flame. Ignore them and just drive your car. have fun!

 

So all you guys praising the 01s. If you could buy an 01 or an 02 with the same amount of miles, same condition, same color, etc both for the same price would you buy the 01 or the 02? That is the only point I have been trying to make. I am not sayin the 01s are pieces of $hit or anything. Just that the 02s can be had for the same price so why not go with the newer car. Then just look at the 20hp more and no worries of oil consumption whether they are real or not as a bonus.

 

Why can't you 01 owners just admit the 02+ z06's are better cars?? You can't argue this! I'm not saying 01's are worthless, it's just the 02+ are built superior, period!!

 

Why? 'cause they're not. The '01es are the same cars , but as the majority of later models of any car comes some refinements . The differences are minor at best for the vast majority of Vette owners.

Long time ago I learned there are no absolutes when talking cars , condition is everything. I'm getting tired of the claim that the '01 Z06 was a bastard child to be shunned , with persons looking to by hold up their index fingers crossed and cry "unclean, unclean" as they back away.

 

Been in the buisness , in many aspects or other over 40 years. I wanted the first year ( from this century) a QS 2001 Z06. I have realize I have advantages over 99% of vette owners. Price was not the first consideration as I am retired and pay cash. But I wanted the best Kalifornia example I could hunt down. Found it 3 years ago ,super clean , single owner , now with 24,000 miles . Service history reads as follow: column lock and drivers rear axle seal at 900 miles. No oil issues ( though I installed an crankcase coalescing filter), and most likely one of the last ( if not the last) '01 produced. I paid $21,000.

longrodlx ; there '02-04 Z06 cars that you would walk away from I'm sure. So condition relating to cost is what most buyers are hoping for. Read this forum and you'll see that no year is with out examples of model years that have blow-by, but it varies widely by owners, elevation, aggression . Its not apples and oranges but actually apples and apples.

I don't have any intentions of trying to persuade you , but more to the point show by example that the '01 is not the bastrad child that media maked it out to be. Just like Firestone tires and the Ford Explorer, was Firestone to blame , the media thought so , but they weren't. DD