Z06 Envy
No Hostility Be Happy
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 10,082
Likes: 7,398
From: South Hill Wa
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 233
Likes: 119
I didn't buy my Z06 because of the badge, that's just non sense. I bought mine because it's the top dog of the C5 Gen, which drives, sounds, handles and looks like no other C5 coupe or convertible. Took my C5Z to a local car show and parked it next to a C5 that was made to look like a Z. With Z's wheels, fake air extractors you name it, even had the Z06 badge. Went to go get ice cream, came back and noticed he had re parked it elsewhere. Haha
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,473
Likes: 691
From: West Virginia
So I bought my first Corvette last month- a 2004 Vert Magnetic Red with about 20K miles on it, almost pristine body and completely original. I didn't know much about Corvettes before I bought one, other than they're fast, good looking, and the only car I can think of that has its own museum! I'm loving mine.
So then I join this forum, and all I see is "Z06". Not even sure how to pronounce it, do you say the "0" or not? Anyway, Z06's completely dominate the FS & WTB listings, and practically every other forum discussion for C5's, C6's, and C7's. So not knowing what one really was, I did some research and learned that for my model year (2004) they were only about 10% of all models produced- which means 90% were not Z06's.
So I just don't get why this whole forum seems preoccupied with Z06's. Did I make a mistake by buying a non-Z? I really wanted a Vert and I don't think GM made a Z Vert. Will I have any resale value in a few years? I'd like to get this one paid for in short order and then maybe trade up to a low mileage C6. How does one even use the extra performance of a Z in normal driving? I don't plan to track mine, so I feel like the extra performance would be wasted anyway.
This is my first post, so thanks for reading!
So then I join this forum, and all I see is "Z06". Not even sure how to pronounce it, do you say the "0" or not? Anyway, Z06's completely dominate the FS & WTB listings, and practically every other forum discussion for C5's, C6's, and C7's. So not knowing what one really was, I did some research and learned that for my model year (2004) they were only about 10% of all models produced- which means 90% were not Z06's.
So I just don't get why this whole forum seems preoccupied with Z06's. Did I make a mistake by buying a non-Z? I really wanted a Vert and I don't think GM made a Z Vert. Will I have any resale value in a few years? I'd like to get this one paid for in short order and then maybe trade up to a low mileage C6. How does one even use the extra performance of a Z in normal driving? I don't plan to track mine, so I feel like the extra performance would be wasted anyway.
This is my first post, so thanks for reading!
No Hostility Be Happy
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 10,082
Likes: 7,398
From: South Hill Wa
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
I didn't buy my Z06 because of the badge, that's just non sense. I bought mine because it's the top dog of the C5 Gen, which drives, sounds, handles and looks like no other C5 coupe or convertible. Took my C5Z to a local car show and parked it next to a C5 that was made to look like a Z. With Z's wheels, fake air extractors you name it, even had the Z06 badge. Went to go get ice cream, came back and noticed he had re parked it elsewhere. Haha
Unfortunately there are people that live their lives out there based on status.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,060
Likes: 291
From: Pasco WA
To counter and clarify. Dig all your points. I guess where I'm coming from, I'm a car guy that modifies cars. I guess my thoughts are, to me the Z06 is great for a car guy that is NOT going to really do anything to it and they want a great performance car out of the box. Then there are those few that just have to have one because of the badge on the fender.
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(see sig.)
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,094
Likes: 3,468
From: Oswego IL
No Hostility Be Happy
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 10,082
Likes: 7,398
From: South Hill Wa
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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No Hostility Be Happy
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 10,082
Likes: 7,398
From: South Hill Wa
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 6,480
Likes: 555
Safety Car
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 4,759
Likes: 1,647
From: Fairfax Virginia
When I bought my current home the previous owner saw my 500 hp+ C3 and commented on it being the "Poor Man's Sports Car" as he had a Porsche 911 and a Panoz "dedicated" track car. A couple months after the sale he rode in a C6 and was blown away. He went out and bought a C6 Z06 for himself. Now I hear that he is telling people that "you couldn't find a better car if you tried" and he is praising the Z06 for being "the most car for the buck". Coming from a German high end performance car to a Z06 I was very happy to hear he was now in the "Corvette World". I doubt he will ever tell me any of this but I just smile knowing that GM won another person over from German performance cars.
I do believe that GM did a smart thing in bringing out the Z06 marketing wise. The local dealer in my area (Northern Virginia) charges $20,000 dollars over the list price and still sells a bunch of them. I don't mind driving my "Poor Mans Sports Car" as it is a Corvette and has the power and torque of the Big Block engine that winds up to 7000 rpm without hesitation. I still use the old 4 speed and can attain 0-60's of less than 3 seconds and if I get a bit too aggressive on an entrance ramp I am way over triple digits by the time to move over. My old 1968 C3 with the L-71 engine is still plenty of fun and handles like it is on rails, unless it rains. That is when I wish I had a newer Corvette, I would love to have "traction control". A car like my C3 is "traction impeded", it spins the tires for the first eighth mile on the quarter mile track. With traction it can drop into the 11's pretty easily.
JRR3033, That is a gorgeous car you have there! I love the color and reflection off of your paint, it looks like somebody "cared" for it. I hope that you have many, many happy miles driving it.
I do believe that GM did a smart thing in bringing out the Z06 marketing wise. The local dealer in my area (Northern Virginia) charges $20,000 dollars over the list price and still sells a bunch of them. I don't mind driving my "Poor Mans Sports Car" as it is a Corvette and has the power and torque of the Big Block engine that winds up to 7000 rpm without hesitation. I still use the old 4 speed and can attain 0-60's of less than 3 seconds and if I get a bit too aggressive on an entrance ramp I am way over triple digits by the time to move over. My old 1968 C3 with the L-71 engine is still plenty of fun and handles like it is on rails, unless it rains. That is when I wish I had a newer Corvette, I would love to have "traction control". A car like my C3 is "traction impeded", it spins the tires for the first eighth mile on the quarter mile track. With traction it can drop into the 11's pretty easily.
JRR3033, That is a gorgeous car you have there! I love the color and reflection off of your paint, it looks like somebody "cared" for it. I hope that you have many, many happy miles driving it.
Drifting
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 1,793
Likes: 147
It's probably similar to other car brands. Would you want a Mustang or a Boss 302 Mustang? A Camaro or an SS Camaro? When you buy a performance car the model with the most performance is the most desirable. Is it worth the extra money? Only the buyer can decide that.
Last edited by jpm995; Aug 10, 2018 at 02:10 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,473
Likes: 691
From: West Virginia
[QUOTE=ctmccloskey;1597766131 The local dealer in my area (Northern Virginia) charges $20,000 dollars over the list price and still sells a bunch of them. [/QUOTE]
I don't do dealer mark ups, period. Anyone who does is just chucking money into a hole in the ground. All you have to do is wait a while and the prices come down.
I don't do dealer mark ups, period. Anyone who does is just chucking money into a hole in the ground. All you have to do is wait a while and the prices come down.
Last edited by jackthelad; Aug 10, 2018 at 08:39 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,999
Likes: 386
From: Chandler AZ
So I bought my first Corvette last month- a 2004 Vert Magnetic Red with about 20K miles on it, almost pristine body and completely original. I didn't know much about Corvettes before I bought one, other than they're fast, good looking, and the only car I can think of that has its own museum! I'm loving mine.
So then I join this forum, and all I see is "Z06". Not even sure how to pronounce it, do you say the "0" or not? Anyway, Z06's completely dominate the FS & WTB listings, and practically every other forum discussion for C5's, C6's, and C7's. So not knowing what one really was, I did some research and learned that for my model year (2004) they were only about 10% of all models produced- which means 90% were not Z06's.
So I just don't get why this whole forum seems preoccupied with Z06's. Did I make a mistake by buying a non-Z? I really wanted a Vert and I don't think GM made a Z Vert. Will I have any resale value in a few years? I'd like to get this one paid for in short order and then maybe trade up to a low mileage C6. How does one even use the extra performance of a Z in normal driving? I don't plan to track mine, so I feel like the extra performance would be wasted anyway.
This is my first post, so thanks for reading!
So then I join this forum, and all I see is "Z06". Not even sure how to pronounce it, do you say the "0" or not? Anyway, Z06's completely dominate the FS & WTB listings, and practically every other forum discussion for C5's, C6's, and C7's. So not knowing what one really was, I did some research and learned that for my model year (2004) they were only about 10% of all models produced- which means 90% were not Z06's.
So I just don't get why this whole forum seems preoccupied with Z06's. Did I make a mistake by buying a non-Z? I really wanted a Vert and I don't think GM made a Z Vert. Will I have any resale value in a few years? I'd like to get this one paid for in short order and then maybe trade up to a low mileage C6. How does one even use the extra performance of a Z in normal driving? I don't plan to track mine, so I feel like the extra performance would be wasted anyway.
This is my first post, so thanks for reading!
I didn't know what a Z06 was when I bought my 1999 convertible Corvette 6 speed spring 2003, but learned about them after.
Still like putting the top down, best place was Pacific Coast Highway along the coast going from L.A. to almost San Diego last vacation September 2017 40th birthday , same thing up around San Francisco in 2003-2004 where I lived when the car was new to me.
A SS 6 speed LS3 Camaro beat me across a intersection a few months ago, oh well so it's not the fastest car, it's still fun.
Arizona is no place to put the top down unless it's winter, but back to that Pacific Coast Highway from Huntington Beach to Dana Point and back with my future wife with me, I told her "this is what this car was built for"
The moon was out, the road went up and down and had curves, could see the waves crashing in the moonlight, smells of flowers and trees, going through towns on the coast then nothing, very relaxing with the top down.
I don't have envy for a Z06, they are nice cars and I would like one, maybe a C6 Z06 but that LS7 with valve failure issues makes me hold off.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 987
Likes: 224
From: Motor City, MI
Congrats on choosing the best color / body option of the C5 family! 
It's hard to go wrong with top down motoring. Having said that I really like the FRC lines too. Convertibles historically / notoriously hold value well, but we don't buy these to make money. Enjoy your new ride.
It's hard to go wrong with top down motoring. Having said that I really like the FRC lines too. Convertibles historically / notoriously hold value well, but we don't buy these to make money. Enjoy your new ride.