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[left]You're literally on the limiter at top speed in a c5z, whereas you're limited by power/drag in a coupe or vert. There have been several people Hitting right at 175 in c5z's which is right before fuel cutoff, whereas a coupe with enough power could do almost 190 in 5th.
I checked out some gear speed calculators. Looks like .74 vs .84 makes a bigger difference in top speed than I thought. The .29 vs .31 drag coefficients is probably minor in comparison. Take care.
You won’t have a Z06 by replacing the shocks. It was the entire car that made the C5 Z06 so good. The engine, transmission, speedline rims, lighter glass, entire suspension, gear ratios, titanium exhaust. I have owned 21, and the C5 Z06 is simply one of the best corvette’s ever produced.
not trying to compare apples with oranges but owning 21 corvette say a lot of things about you
2025 C8 Z06/7/E-Ray of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2021 C8 of the Year Finalist Unmodified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C1 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2017 Corvette of the Year Finalist
2016 C2 of Year
2015 C3 of Year Finalist
A base, C6 Z51, 6 speed and a 02 to 04 Z06 are pretty comparable as far as power. The C5 Z feels a bit more like a track ready car. So pick the one you like. Looks are subjective, but I like the C5 Z better.
Now, the C6 Z06 is a whole different animal. A more muscular look, and the LS7/427 is a beast between 4,000 and 7,000 rpms. Loved mine. If you go C6, that is the way to go. Low 30's gets you into a low mileage 06 or 07.
Lucky for you that you didn't post this in OT otherwise, you'd be getting multiple "pic of wife", "post up a vid of her""I'll take her sight unseen" etc... responses.
That’s total BS. The FRC failed because GM priced the car too close to the coupe. The FRC had a lower top speed than the coupe. But the Z06 murdered the other cars on the track, including the LS2 C6. Dave Hill in fact, said the C5 Z06 was faster on a track than the LS2 Z06. The FRC was supposed to be a stripper Corvette. But GM balked at the last minute and put the coupe options back on the car. FACT!
if you want it to last a long term, you should start looking at the C7/C8 instead
Yeah especially after looking at C6's that are priced similar to C7's. No joke. Saw a C7 locally priced at $39,000 and many C6's are that or more. So maybe I'll either keep my C5 Z or just get a C7 Stingray.
PS: Is it just me or are the C6's not selling? I know it's winter but I have not seen many sold threads.
Yeah especially after looking at C6's that are priced similar to C7's. No joke. Saw a C7 locally priced at $39,000 and many C6's are that or more. So maybe I'll either keep my C5 Z or just get a C7 Stingray.
PS: Is it just me or are the C6's not selling? I know it's winter but I have not seen many sold threads.
I've seen two yellow ones locally for 36kish too. A lot for 40 flat
I drove my buddy's 07 base model really aggressive on some back country roads the other day. I'm really glad I bought a C5Z instead of a base C6. His LS2 doesn't feel like it has nearly the low rpm power and pull. I have lower gears than him which makes a big difference to. Going through switch back turns where the yellow signs say 15mph, I'm usually in 2nd and can pull out of the corner doing around 30 and have plenty of power. His just felt like there was no body home. In his car you are in 3rd gear on the straight away before the corner and would have to go all the way to first before the corner to pull out with power. In a lot of stretches of roads we had to be in a lower gears with the rpms up high to have the power that I do in a higher gear.
For a canyon carving thrill ride, it's all about the C5Z. For a daily driver that is comfortable and has some power, the C6 would be good.
I'm waiting for the C8 to come out so C7 prices will drop then it will be time to get a C7 Z51 or Grand Sport
Last edited by tireshredder; Dec 31, 2017 at 11:36 AM.
[QUOTE=hdrider1;1596251386]The C5 Z06 is based in the FRC (fixed roof coop) which was originally intended to be the poor man's corvertte. When that didn't sell they used the chasis for the Z06. Don't waste your money on the wanna be corvette. Buy the real deal C6 with removable roof panels or convertible.[/QUOT
Interesting thread. I'm 72 with an 04 C5 vert. It just turned 61k and has been trouble free. I haven't done any performance mods. I don't take it to the track. It's our choice for travel on frequent trips on TN mountain roads. Had a BMW Z3 3.0 that handled the twistes better. But the C5, even with an LS1 under the hood has really nice power and handling and an incredible style about it, a fluidity that I think was lost on the C6.
Last week I looked at a 2014 Z51C C7. A beautiful car, more technologically advanced. At this point in life I could write the check, but I'd sure miss those beautiful lines of the C5. Perhaps that's the beauty of this generation, a car that can appeal to so many.