C5 or C5 Z06??
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2010
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From: houston texas
Administrator
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From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
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The Z is nice and right out of the box you will get excellent performance and handling. But for the price difference, you can do some nice things with a regular C5.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 11,206
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From: Santa Rosa Beach FL
Z06 is my choice. For a little while at least. The wife can't drive M6 so I got a C6 A6 search on as well. Whichever comes first. She really prefers BMW but I know the C6 will work. 430HP is enough for her to get in trouble.
Don't crash the vette!
Don't crash the vette!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 292
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From: houston texas
my eyes keep wandering back to an 01' C5 targa with just under 67k miles for 15500.
blk on blk m6, basically exactly what i'm looking for.
hows the price sound on that?
kbb is just under his asking price.
blk on blk m6, basically exactly what i'm looking for.
hows the price sound on that?
kbb is just under his asking price.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,903
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From: You know your drunk when you swerve to miss the tree then you realize its your air freshener! Covington Ga
I drove all three before I bought my 01 Coupe 3 years ago. Verts arent for me, the Z was nice, but I like the added things on a loaded coupe like fog lights, seats, top can come off, and so on. Like I said try to drive both and see what you like. I have maybe $3 grand in my Vette and before my FAST 92 setup I put down 413RWHP new numbers coming soon!
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Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,787
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From: Wildomar CA
hello all, i'm looking to get a vette finally.
i can't decide whether i should go with the ls1 C5 or should i just get the Z?
i guess my main goals are to have a m6 tranny, (the wife refuses to drive a manual transmission) and a very nice, mean sounding cammed vette.
this will be mostly a weekend driver, not a DD at all. not into the drag racing, not into the street racing, i love the looks and sounds of the cars. i've always loved to look at them, here them and watch them go.
i can't decide whether the extra few g's are worth me getting the Z over the none.
what would be the benefits of the Z vs. the LS1 other than the obvious 50 or so hp and tq?
i'd like to potentially hit the 400 rwhp range and i'd be happy.
so i'd be looking at a full exhaust system and a cam for sure.
i can do some of the work myself so i'll save a bit of money on the labor for installs. i take more pride in my ride when i do it myself.
(i'm not cheap, i'm not broke, i have set myself a budget and i intend on sticking with it.)
$ for $, would you guys say i'd be better off getting an LS1 and doing the few mods mentioned above (full exhaust and cam) myself and saving the few g's over the Z, (keep in mind, i'm not looking for more than 400 rwhp and those are the only mods that i care to do.) i would cam anything i get regardless b/c i want the sound, and will also put headers, with cats and a cat back no matter what i end up purchasing.
thanks in advance for the help.
i can't decide whether i should go with the ls1 C5 or should i just get the Z?
i guess my main goals are to have a m6 tranny, (the wife refuses to drive a manual transmission) and a very nice, mean sounding cammed vette.
this will be mostly a weekend driver, not a DD at all. not into the drag racing, not into the street racing, i love the looks and sounds of the cars. i've always loved to look at them, here them and watch them go.
i can't decide whether the extra few g's are worth me getting the Z over the none.
what would be the benefits of the Z vs. the LS1 other than the obvious 50 or so hp and tq?
i'd like to potentially hit the 400 rwhp range and i'd be happy.
so i'd be looking at a full exhaust system and a cam for sure.
i can do some of the work myself so i'll save a bit of money on the labor for installs. i take more pride in my ride when i do it myself.
(i'm not cheap, i'm not broke, i have set myself a budget and i intend on sticking with it.)
$ for $, would you guys say i'd be better off getting an LS1 and doing the few mods mentioned above (full exhaust and cam) myself and saving the few g's over the Z, (keep in mind, i'm not looking for more than 400 rwhp and those are the only mods that i care to do.) i would cam anything i get regardless b/c i want the sound, and will also put headers, with cats and a cat back no matter what i end up purchasing.
thanks in advance for the help.
Z06 will always out accelerate a normal 6 speed because of gearing also even if power level are the same. 
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 292
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From: houston texas
i dont see the stock Z having 400 at the wheels (i haven't researched this yet) when it's rated at 405 (crank hp).
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: You know your drunk when you swerve to miss the tree then you realize its your air freshener! Covington Ga
It comes down to what you like and want thats all that matter. You can get 400wheel from a Z with a CAI, headers, FAST, and a very good tune. If you like the body of the Z buy a FRC and bulid it. My big thing was I dont like the body plus I would have taken everything off the Z (motor wise) that made it a Z. So I didnt see a point in it.
Last edited by 0331MARINE; Mar 23, 2010 at 12:24 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,787
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From: Wildomar CA
electron, please don't mistake my post, i will cam any car i get, whether that be a Z or not. 400whp is my goal, if i were to get a Z and add the cam and exhaust, i understand that will yield me around the 50 hp mark which will put me over the 400 mark, not a problem. i want the cam for the sound, the extra power that comes along with that sound is just a big smiling bonus to me.
i dont see the stock Z having 400 at the wheels (i haven't researched this yet) when it's rated at 405 (crank hp).
i dont see the stock Z having 400 at the wheels (i haven't researched this yet) when it's rated at 405 (crank hp).
Well my car with just a mild cam would likely be 425 -430 rwhp, so it is all relative. Personally nothing is going to be faster than a Z unless you literally replace the entire driveline. It does not sound like that is your intention so you are going to get significantly more power and acceleration from the Z. I wanted the fastest Corvette I could get so I bought the Z. I'm buying a C5 Vert now for DD and cruising, so your intended use will come into play as well, but don't expect exhaust and a cam to get a coupe or vert to 400 rwhp. Going to need better flowing heads to hit that mark since ls1 heads really suck, unless you go full bolt ons and a cam, and that cam is pretty crazy. Those LS1 heads will work fully against any mod you do.
Last edited by Z06Electron; Mar 23, 2010 at 12:47 AM.
Safety Car
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From: You know your drunk when you swerve to miss the tree then you realize its your air freshener! Covington Ga
I have stock 241 heads, MS3 cam, LT headers, CAI, and with the stock LS6 manifold and a ported TB I put down 413RWHP and 396RWTQ. I just added a FAST 92 setup so we will see what it does after I put a new clutch in. He is right about the heads sucking on the LS1! Thats the next thing im going to change once I get my clutch in.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2010
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From: Bay Area, CA
Race Director
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From: Ohio
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2010
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From: Alameda CA
GEt the zo6, When I bought my vette I knew I would be driving it a lot, an would
most likely turn into my dd in a year and I think a coupe would be a better dd than a zo6 for
me so I got the coupe, lolls
like for u a z06
is the one
most likely turn into my dd in a year and I think a coupe would be a better dd than a zo6 for
me so I got the coupe, lolls
like for u a z06
is the one
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,977
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From: Mansfield, Ohio
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11, '14
I'm just not a fan of the C5 Z06/FRC style.
I love the looks, extra space of the coupe and being able to remove the top.
Get what you like and keep us posted.
I love the looks, extra space of the coupe and being able to remove the top.
Get what you like and keep us posted.
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,124
Likes: 105
From: Pensacola FL
I own a Z06 and think you should get a regular C5. You will be camming it regardless, won't be tracking it and like the targa plus extra storage. Sounds like an easy choice...
I would do a mild cam that still has a nice lope, CAI, full-exhaust and call it good. Don't get hung up on peak HP numbers...
I would do a mild cam that still has a nice lope, CAI, full-exhaust and call it good. Don't get hung up on peak HP numbers...
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 292
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From: houston texas
thanks again for the input, you guys are making it easy for me to make a decision (well kinda) i will try to take a look at an 02' Z with 74k on the clock for $19k, it's a bit high according to KBB but, i'm fully aware of the personal value of things. I'll accept and pay the 19k with no problem.
i like the Z's body, but also like the idea of the removable top and the storage. i guess in the end, the wifes opinion is the same as mine so i'll base my decision on what i really like visually.
thanks again guys and i'll def. keep everyone posted on the outcome of my search.
BTW electron, i really love the blue and will be trying to look at a Z in the electron blue!
i like the Z's body, but also like the idea of the removable top and the storage. i guess in the end, the wifes opinion is the same as mine so i'll base my decision on what i really like visually.
thanks again guys and i'll def. keep everyone posted on the outcome of my search.
BTW electron, i really love the blue and will be trying to look at a Z in the electron blue!