Z06 vrs regular 6spd
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,454
Likes: 6
From: Pittsburgh PA
Z06 vrs regular 6spd
Sorry if this has been asked before or sounds stupid. I read some of the threads on Vert vrs Coupe ect but haven't seen one on this.
I have been watching for a project car to come up at auction. I thought I had my mind made up to wait for a 99 Vert I spotted with a
6spd. But recently I spotted an Electron Blue Z06 that is upcoming.
So my question is, how much different are they to drive. Not concerned about Vert vrs FRC but drivetrain and suspension differences. Comfort, fuel mileage, maintenance issues...those sorts of things. In other words is the Z06 any harder to live with as a cruiser or trip car? I'm sort of old school and have hot rodded lots of vehicles. Things always seem to be a compomise and something has to be sacrificed for the added performace.
Just looking for thoughts from those who have owned or driven both.
Thanks, Jim
I have been watching for a project car to come up at auction. I thought I had my mind made up to wait for a 99 Vert I spotted with a
6spd. But recently I spotted an Electron Blue Z06 that is upcoming.
So my question is, how much different are they to drive. Not concerned about Vert vrs FRC but drivetrain and suspension differences. Comfort, fuel mileage, maintenance issues...those sorts of things. In other words is the Z06 any harder to live with as a cruiser or trip car? I'm sort of old school and have hot rodded lots of vehicles. Things always seem to be a compomise and something has to be sacrificed for the added performace.
Just looking for thoughts from those who have owned or driven both.
Thanks, Jim
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Palm Harbor not far from Sebring Florida
St. Jude Donor '11
Oldtimer
I drive a 2001 coupe 6 speed and it is fine as a daily driver (although mine is not). The Z06 is also a good daily driver. you will find that the Z06 suspension will be a little tighter than that of the standard coupe or roadster. You did not state the year, but you mentioned Electron Blue which came out in '02 so you will have 55 more horses under the hood than you standard Corvette, so the gas mileage may be a little less than a standard Vette, but it will also depend on how you drive and where you drive.
So to sum it up, yes the Z06 is more performance car than the coupe or roadster, but it is still a great street car or daily driver.
So to sum it up, yes the Z06 is more performance car than the coupe or roadster, but it is still a great street car or daily driver.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 568
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From: Terre Haute Indiana
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
St. Jude Donor '05
The thing I like about the Z06 is the trunk, we travel about15,000 miles a year and are gone 10 to 14 days at a time. At speed (70-75) we get 28-30 mpg, now if you put your foot in her, that go's away quick. 
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 14,358
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From: Medford NJ
I've had a couple of coupes and now have an EB Z06 like you are looking for. BTW, I was never too crazy about colors but I really dig the EB on a Z06. Sounds like others have addressed the major differences. Your getting a little more horsepower, a stiffer ride, a slightly lighter and louder car. Some of that weight was sound insulation so the transmission will be slightly louder. The seats have less settings (I had the nice sport seats in my last coupe). The transmission has different gearing. I find 6th gear to be more useable in the Z. Basically as I have heard others describe the Z, its a rawer feeling car. With the Z you are trading up a little less comfort for a little more added performance.
I am realyy happy with my Z. The only thing I miss about the coupes is the targa top and the slightly larger trunk.
I am realyy happy with my Z. The only thing I miss about the coupes is the targa top and the slightly larger trunk.
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The fuel mileage may be a tad lower, but not much. It really depends on how much you put your foot into the gas pedal.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,454
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From: Pittsburgh PA
Thanks for the input. The Z06 in question is an 03.
I'm thinkin it's probably like the Z28 Camaros I had years ago compared to a regular V8 Camaro....but with light years of technology added.
I'm thinkin it's probably like the Z28 Camaros I had years ago compared to a regular V8 Camaro....but with light years of technology added.
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Racer
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 452
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From: San Antonio TX
Clean the air filter. I just picked one up to, and I don't know which did it, but I changed a nasty *** air filter on the stock setup and also went to longtubes and no cats and an x-pipe, and I went from 24 to 27mpg hwy. Both figures are over the same stretches of road and the same speeds and general lack of traffic.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,787
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From: Wildomar CA
My Z06 actually gets better MPG than my convertible because it is tuned and modified more extensively. The Z06 has different gear ratios in every gear but 4th where they are both 1:1.
The Z06 is actually much easier to drive in traffic in my opinion because I can hold higher gears longer as we slow and the higher torque requires much less throttle use.
Soon the vert will be more modified than the Z so it won't matter. I will tell you that with my modified Z versus my intake/exhaust Vert there is so much difference in acceleration it almost isn't funny.
You probably can't go wrong either way, just depends on what you want.
The Z06 is actually much easier to drive in traffic in my opinion because I can hold higher gears longer as we slow and the higher torque requires much less throttle use.
Soon the vert will be more modified than the Z so it won't matter. I will tell you that with my modified Z versus my intake/exhaust Vert there is so much difference in acceleration it almost isn't funny.
You probably can't go wrong either way, just depends on what you want.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,062
Likes: 291
From: Allyn WA
This is one of the hardest questions out there! I will be the first roadster to input my side. I love the car with the top down, its a six speed and has good power. I like to be versitile, the Z06 is what I would want for its performance but having a vert overtakes that! Power? Problem solved, I plan on inserting a supercharger under the hood incognito! Now have the best of both worlds. I am not too sure on the differences in cornering but my Z51 setup seems more than enough for running the curved roads here in Washington. Bottom like is I want the best of both cars in one! The C6's come closer to that but I just think the C5 still has the better looks. That said it still depends on what you use the car for, if you are into competition events stick with the Z06 (I am sure its sospension setup would be a better improvement to the Z51, right?), for me I wanted a daily driver, weekend get away car with 500 plus hp with the top down.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 452
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From: San Antonio TX
Buy the Z and convert it, bar non best of both worlds. For trips, my 98 coupe was great and storage was easily accessed by the significant other, but that's the only trade-off I can think of going to convertible:
Last edited by jaguar5822; Sep 1, 2011 at 02:19 PM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,454
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From: Pittsburgh PA
Well the Vert came up today. So I'll know on the 13th if I have it. Not sure why they are listing the auction for so long. Thanks for all the responces. We shall see what happens.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: Taildragers rule! USA1
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 3,572
Likes: 420
From: Taildragers rule! USA1
From a pure thermodynamics standpoint, a Z06 should get better gas milage than the roadster or coupe. This is because compression ratio is in the numerator of the efficiency formula, and the Z06 has a higher compression ratio.
A diesel engine's high efficiency is due completely from its high compression ratio.
A diesel engine's high efficiency is due completely from its high compression ratio.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,062
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From: Allyn WA
Interesting, about gas but there isn't much real difference and I am not sure but doesn't the none Z06 with its gear ratio and lower hp when @ 60-65 run at a lower RPM? I would think the Z would get less gas milage, course if I run with the top down suppose areodynamics go down. But seriously the dif can't be more that 2-3 mpg, I for one just take the current mpgs as a benifit thanks to great engineering, I am getting constant 28mpg on a 44 mile comute. Alos, as far as trunk space, it is only noticalbe with the top down and still there is plenty of room for lugage for two people, dont see it as an issue unless you doing family grocery shopping!
I LOVE MY VERT!!! (As you guys love your Z's) Lets face it you can't go wrong with a C5!
I LOVE MY VERT!!! (As you guys love your Z's) Lets face it you can't go wrong with a C5!
Racer
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 452
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio TX
From a pure thermodynamics standpoint, a Z06 should get better gas milage than the roadster or coupe. This is because compression ratio is in the numerator of the efficiency formula, and the Z06 has a higher compression ratio.
A diesel engine's high efficiency is due completely from its high compression ratio.
A diesel engine's high efficiency is due completely from its high compression ratio.
Alos, as far as trunk space, it is only noticalbe with the top down and still there is plenty of room for lugage for two people, dont see it as an issue unless you doing family grocery shopping!
I LOVE MY VERT!!! (As you guys love your Z's) Lets face it you can't go wrong with a C5!
I LOVE MY VERT!!! (As you guys love your Z's) Lets face it you can't go wrong with a C5!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,071
Likes: 14
From: Odessa TX
Drivability is actually fantastic. Then again, I'm coming from a 4 Cyl with plenty of turbo lag, so I've no baseline to compare with. Car just seems to be gulping down gas. My gauge currently reads just under half tank, 130miles since fill up, mainly city driving. I'm not driving aggressively, but I'm not noticing any misfires or unusual engine activity, so I'm thinking it might be that it's still on stock tune and the LTs are messing up the fuel maps, or the O2 sensors are getting lazy. No related DIC codes or CEL either. 13.5 mpg according to the DIC.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,201
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From: Frederick Md
I purchased a 98 6 speed Z51 Convertible in 1998 as a retirement present to myself and traded in a 95 6 sop Z51 Coupe for it...
I currently own 6 Corvettes and this car is just fine...My younger Brother purchased a 2001 Z06 when he retired in 2001 ...
To be honest there is not a heck of a lot of difference in how the cars drive.the Z51 suspension is the performance suspension yet it is not as stiff as my brothers Z06...of course his is a little faster but the feeling in my rear end is not that different when I shove my right foot down on the gas in either car...
Both of us are too old to be street racing anymore...
Bob G
63 72 & 98 Convertibles
76 79 & 88 (35th anni) Coupes
I currently own 6 Corvettes and this car is just fine...My younger Brother purchased a 2001 Z06 when he retired in 2001 ...
To be honest there is not a heck of a lot of difference in how the cars drive.the Z51 suspension is the performance suspension yet it is not as stiff as my brothers Z06...of course his is a little faster but the feeling in my rear end is not that different when I shove my right foot down on the gas in either car...
Both of us are too old to be street racing anymore...
Bob G
63 72 & 98 Convertibles
76 79 & 88 (35th anni) Coupes
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Justin TX
I've owned both C5 targa and Z06. My first C5 was an 00 targa auto. This car hooked me for life. great acceleration, good driveablility and I averaged 28 mpg over the 50k miles I drove it before selling. Owned a 97 targa 6 spd for a few months and I really enjoyed it but had to have the Z06. I'm 30k miles into my Z06 and love it! it ends up being a personal preference. I like the fact that the Z is quieter in respect to wind noise and I think the flat back glass makes the car look really good, but some roads make me think twice about the stiffer suspension.
Bottom line- you can't go wrong either way. take a 20-30 minute drive in each car, decide which is best for you. regardless, you will enjoy the vette like no other car.
Bottom line- you can't go wrong either way. take a 20-30 minute drive in each car, decide which is best for you. regardless, you will enjoy the vette like no other car.