[Z06] Is this c5Z really worth it?
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 14,639
Likes: 39
From: Winston-Salem North Carolina
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Besides the question of how is this car making 450, why was the steering rack replaced? I don't consider it a consumable item that should be replaced becasue " it might go bad". I had to replace mine from continued track use curbing when the rack seperated from the car at VIR. Somethings being left out
Most cammed LS6's make 430-440 rwhp(stock heads)
Most cammed LS6's make 430-440 rwhp(stock heads)
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 800
Likes: 45
From: San Diego CA
So I called A&A and spoke to the owner. He told me they did NOT do the mods there. He said the sales guy is mistaken, because he is not performance mod savy. He had told the sales guy they TUNED the car for the prior owner. A&A said the car came in about 5 years ago for a tune. But he does not know who did the mods. He said the car sounded very healthy and made great power. It has an aggressive cam and supporting mods. Said it was a strong m6 car.
On another note, I just went and looked at an 04 C5 m6 (removable hard top), only 50k, super clean and everything worked. Ran super smooth, for $14k. But it's a salvage title car. One owner California car. The sales guy showed me the pictures prior to the repair. It was rear ended, but no frame damage and no air bags deployed. It was a quick fix from what I saw.
On another note, I just went and looked at an 04 C5 m6 (removable hard top), only 50k, super clean and everything worked. Ran super smooth, for $14k. But it's a salvage title car. One owner California car. The sales guy showed me the pictures prior to the repair. It was rear ended, but no frame damage and no air bags deployed. It was a quick fix from what I saw.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,423
Likes: 200
From: Atlanta GA
So I called A&A and spoke to the owner. He told me they did NOT do the mods there. He said the sales guy is mistaken, because he is not performance mod savy. He had told the sales guy they TUNED the car for the prior owner. A&A said the car came in about 5 years ago for a tune. But he does not know who did the mods. He said the car sounded very healthy and made great power. It has an aggressive cam and supporting mods. Said it was a strong m6 car.
On another note, I just went and looked at an 04 C5 m6 (removable hard top), only 50k, super clean and everything worked. Ran super smooth, for $14k. But it's a salvage title car. One owner California car. The sales guy showed me the pictures prior to the repair. It was rear ended, but no frame damage and no air bags deployed. It was a quick fix from what I saw.
On another note, I just went and looked at an 04 C5 m6 (removable hard top), only 50k, super clean and everything worked. Ran super smooth, for $14k. But it's a salvage title car. One owner California car. The sales guy showed me the pictures prior to the repair. It was rear ended, but no frame damage and no air bags deployed. It was a quick fix from what I saw.
It is too high to start with at 22,000.00 and I am still willing to bet it was a track car.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,265
Likes: 16
From: Lakeside AZ
I've bought 5 salvage title cars over the last 20 years. I drove all of them for 2-4 years and then sold them for what I bought them for.
If you are going to track the car and it's ok mechanically...GOLD MINE!
Buy it for $13K. Put on $3k of mods and go enjoy the heck out of it!
If you are going to track the car and it's ok mechanically...GOLD MINE!
Buy it for $13K. Put on $3k of mods and go enjoy the heck out of it!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 800
Likes: 45
From: San Diego CA
I've bought 5 salvage title cars over the last 20 years. I drove all of them for 2-4 years and then sold them for what I bought them for.
If you are going to track the car and it's ok mechanically...GOLD MINE!
Buy it for $13K. Put on $3k of mods and go enjoy the heck out of it!
If you are going to track the car and it's ok mechanically...GOLD MINE!
Buy it for $13K. Put on $3k of mods and go enjoy the heck out of it!
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 4,346
Likes: 755
From: Greensboro Nc
There's a high probability that I may get this car. It's so super clean. I went and looked at it for 2 hours yesterday looking at every inch of it. You can tell where the repairs were done. It was nothing. I looked at the frame and you can tell there was no impacted areas or scuff areas. It's low mileage and so super clean. Not molested either. An older gentleman owned it and it's all bone stock. The inside is immaculate. Everything works.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,265
Likes: 16
From: Lakeside AZ
And there you have it! My current 04 Z was purchased via eBay and it had a salvage restored title. It appears the former owner ran it up on a curb and when dropping in the 416 I had to replace the radiator support that was shoddily done. $500. Ouch. And when I went to repair the HUD I found some clips broke on the dash that I had to repair myself.
Other than that, I street drive it and track it occasionally so it works for ME. Great bang for the buck, not a meaningful thing wrong with it and I feel I've more than got my moneys worth, and if I don't hand it down to my son, I'll do just fine when I sell it.
Sounds like you may have the same opportunity!
Other than that, I street drive it and track it occasionally so it works for ME. Great bang for the buck, not a meaningful thing wrong with it and I feel I've more than got my moneys worth, and if I don't hand it down to my son, I'll do just fine when I sell it.
Sounds like you may have the same opportunity!
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 248
Likes: 1
From: Charlottesville VA
Just over a year ago I got my 04 Z06 for $23k, it was damn near showroom condition with 27k miles. If it is putting down 450rwhp, I would pay $19k for it, worth even less if the headers and intake is all its got.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 4,363
Likes: 430
From: Birmingham Al
Big deal with a moded ride was it taken care of that's the deal care of ..Looks like it was ...If you can find one for $15-$17,000 add a few mods hear and there $3-$4,000 in a heart beat back up to $22-$23,000 so is it what you want ? I spent prop. $4-5,000 on my 04 Z can't even see it tires little this that BAM $4,000 going to spend one way or the other the work is done on this one have fun..One thing for sure make sure the motor is good check the conpressen the first thing that goes in these head gasket, rings ,make sure the pipes are clean no oil blowing out if all looks good go for it not a bad deal ..It's take money to mod one cams etc. you'll be ahead in this if were looking to mod. one anyway...Get in a drive ...That is how I see it ..
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 4,363
Likes: 430
From: Birmingham Al
Sounds like a deal .. The 04 FRC is one of the best Corvettes built in the last few years .The big deal is Bang for the money. Try to keep the cost under $30,000 hard to get any more than that out of a C-5 of anykind MODS or not .. My 04 Z will run with anything stock on the road I say run, handle, it's down on power a little 400Hp, that's on the track have ran with 2013 Zs can out handle them No Prop. A little more power is all you need easy 450 -500 Hp out of the LS super fun rides ,Don't try to keep up with the Jones that's were some go wrong building these C-5s just need alittle more in then to have fun .A friend has 600 Hp in a 98 C-5 hard to drive on the street spinn city and a Auto also trans don't last long $3,500- $4,000 for one with no labor he got 12,000 out of the last one ..Last week took it out and put in a 480 Hp LS-1 loves it .. Just saying don't take much to make one fun to drive and safe also .. A nice moded C-5 with 450 -500 Hp if you buy it or build it easy $22,000- $25,000 ..That's the money so is one all ready done worth $22,000 YEP ...
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 16,028
Likes: 170
From: oregon
So I called A&A and spoke to the owner. He told me they did NOT do the mods there. He said the sales guy is mistaken, because he is not performance mod savy. He had told the sales guy they TUNED the car for the prior owner. A&A said the car came in about 5 years ago for a tune. But he does not know who did the mods. He said the car sounded very healthy and made great power. It has an aggressive cam and supporting mods. Said it was a strong m6 car.
On another note, I just went and looked at an 04 C5 m6 (removable hard top), only 50k, super clean and everything worked. Ran super smooth, for $14k. But it's a salvage title car. One owner California car. The sales guy showed me the pictures prior to the repair. It was rear ended, but no frame damage and no air bags deployed. It was a quick fix from what I saw.
On another note, I just went and looked at an 04 C5 m6 (removable hard top), only 50k, super clean and everything worked. Ran super smooth, for $14k. But it's a salvage title car. One owner California car. The sales guy showed me the pictures prior to the repair. It was rear ended, but no frame damage and no air bags deployed. It was a quick fix from what I saw.
very hard to value that without knowing what the parts are
salvage cars can be great buys IF they were repaired correctly. a rear end with no frame damage sounds like a good candidate. that car would be worth 17-18k clean
70% of 17.5k is 12.250
14k is a little high, would feel better around 12.5-13k
even 70% of 18.5k is 13k
a good clean salvage car with no issues really isn't worth much more than 70 cents on the dollar. you will eat the difference when selling
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 14,639
Likes: 39
From: Winston-Salem North Carolina
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Makes good power, questionable mods and who did the work, rear damage only although fixed, but the steering rack was replaced just in case? Walk away
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,168
Likes: 21
From: Sunniest city on Earth
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 14,639
Likes: 39
From: Winston-Salem North Carolina
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
