Hey everyone! Long story short, my dad used to have an 04 vert (6 mnl). My little brother just bought a 2012 GS vert (auto). Now I have the bug! However I also just bought a truck that I need for daily driving/work/home so my dollars are limited.

I was thinking about buying this 03 Z06 to keep pace with my brother. At first glance does this look like a car worth checking out? It’s not too far away but I don’t have much mechanical knowledge and this will be my first manual. Any advise helps.

 

 

1) Read the stickies. Read the stickies. Read the stickies. Read the stickies. Read the stickies. Read the stickies. They're invaluable to potential ownership. Read both the General and Tech section stickies because you need to understand what you're getting into with C5 ownership and what's changed/happened since your father owned his '04. Did I mention read the stickies?

You can learn a lot about C5s without a lot of technical knowledge that will help you in searching.

2) Personally I think if you wait you can probably find a better deal even on a later '02-'04 Z06. I wouldn't jump on something immediately just because it sounds and/or looks good. The great thing about the current C5 market is it's absolutely FLOODED with really "good" cars which is lowering the value of cars all across the board. Retail is also going to always be higher than private market.

3) You won't "keep pace with your brother" with that car but you'd be close. The LS3 was one of the best things to happen to the C6 and the GS model just made the icing on the cake for it. It's a bit unfortunate he went with the convertible auto though as something like a manual C6 GS coupe got a lot of unique perks over an auto (dry sump instead of wet sump, hand-built LS3, specific manual trans ratio). Still though a C6 GS in any form is starting to be a well-appreciated car.

 

That Z06 looks like a well kept car, at least cosmetically. If you get to the point where you are really serious about buying it, it would be worth the expense to have it checked out by a good mechanic.

Have you been looking at other cars too or is this the first one you have come across? As mentioned above, there are a lot of used C5s for sale out there, including many right here on the forum.

 

Offer them $16k and they may bring it down to $18k. Looks like a good car.

 

That car is about what it's worth in the market. I looked for C5's for 4 years. I really wanted a Z, but I ended up buying a mint 2000 FRC with only 25k miles for 15500. After about $1500 in mods, I'll be faster than a Z and even an LS3 car. My good friend has an LS3 Corvette. Its fast, but it wasn't way faster than my frc. I do have long tubes and exhaust though. So mine isn't completely stock.

Sounds like your in the same boat as me. I wanted a Z, but they were 20k+ for a clean low mileage one. Like you, I also have a newer truck as my daily, so that's already an obligation as well. So I couldn't go get buried in a higher car payment. So I found my frc, put down 6k and kept the payment low. Now I can have my vette and slowly mod it as time goes.

Don't impulse buy. Make sure you check the car very well and try to get a deal. There will be people telling you that you can get a good deal for 10k, 11k, 12k. Believe me, I looked at cars in that price range and they were junk. Not just Z's, but regular coupes.

Clean FRC cars will go for as much as or close to Z's. Be aware there are many flood cars running around. People who never claimed it as a flood. Cleaned them up and sold or are selling them.

Good luck.

 

FRC's are NOT Z's !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (not close) !!!

 

Whatever you do, don't let the "keeping up with the Joneses" mindset cloud your decision. If you can afford another car OK. If not, wait. There are too many other things in life than being trapped in payment hell. Once you're past that, trust your gut. If the deal, price, condition, options, etc are what you want and your gut agrees, buy the car. If you are patient and find the right car you won't regret it. Settle for a car and you will always second guess yourself.

I looked at over 30 Vettes until I found THE ONE. I've had it for several years and put over 100k miles on it. I have no regrets. I guarantee if I chose one of the others, I would not have been as happy. My gut was telling something was amiss on the other cars. Some things I could identify others I couldn't. Take your time. This isn't something you need. It is a want.

 

Uhm, yes. They're very close.

 

do some more research ????

 

Lol. Save for the LS6, brake ducts, z gearing, 3 rib diff, and Ti exhaust that everyone removes, How do they differ?

The 01z is only good for another 35hp. All other parts of the car, including the body are identical and 35hp is barely anything to squabble over. None of that is worth the extra 6-9k price tag.

 

this file is just the tip of the iceburg !!!

 

the gearing alone is huge in my book ??? The FRC was made as a entry level Vette to attract customers, it had limited options and was plain and simple a cheaper Vette !!! people bought it for racing cause it was cheaper and found it to be a very strong model, hence the ZO 6 was borne !!!!

 

I can't open the file and I don't need to, other than what I listed the cars are the same. Same suspension, brakes, cooling etc. The LS6 is not all that different than post 01 LS1's either.

Doesn't have that fancy Z06 badge though, I'll make sure to remind myself of that when I drive mine.

 

so much for your research ??????

 

I made sure to not use Z gearing in my LS7 swap. The gearing difference is not exactly a performance increase, nor is it worth losing the highway mileage.

 

You said not even close, when in fact, the cars are very close. I never said they were the same.

 

+1 on the FRC

I was after a Z06 and stumbled upon my FRC. The FRC's have the same body style as the Z06 and the same suspension. I saved about $8k over the average well priced Z06... I threw on LG headers ($1100) and a Vararam ($240) and ran a bunch of 12.6's with no tune and 2.0 60 foot times. As a comparison that same track day there was a stock 2001 Z06 running 12.5-12.7's and an 04 with bolt ons running 12.2's. I'd imagine with a tune and LS6 intake and better 60 foot times I can run low 12's also.... plus 90% of people think my car is a Z06.

And Pounder quit being such a spaz. Go eat your oatmeal.

 

In EXCELLENT condition, that car is worth between $17000 and $19000...(the range depends on the condition of the paint, leather, interior carpet, maintenance records, etc)

I agree with the gentleman above - offer $16k (or $17k) and see where you land - I personally wouldn't pay over $18000 for the car, but everyone is different...

Good Luck!

 

Thanks for the help everyone!