How fast?
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Joined: Aug 2018
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From: Houston tx
How fast?
So my brother in law came over for Thanksgiving. Got to show him my first Vette for the first time. He liked it alright, but when he saw the 200 mph speedometer he said there no way these cars can do over 130 (yeah, that brother in law). So to enhance my discussion - and hopefully bragging rights - next time I see him, what is an expected top end for a 2003 fully stock Vette? I know I could take on the track and find out myself, but I'm not quite ready for that. What do you guys know?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Douglas County WI
Check #11 on this post. I think this is what Chevrolet says. If not it's pretty close.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...top-speed.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...top-speed.html
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From what I have seen, the advertised top speed for the C5 coupe and vert (GM published number) was 175 mph. The Z06 was advertised with a 171 mph top speed.
Here is what the Corvette Action Center has listed for top speeds:
coupe - 170
Z06 - 171
vert - 168
I tend to trust the GM numbers over the others though.
Here is what the Corvette Action Center has listed for top speeds:
coupe - 170
Z06 - 171
vert - 168
I tend to trust the GM numbers over the others though.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 1,045
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From: Wichita Falls Texas
I'll never know what my 03 vert will do! I'm old and don't really care anymore.
I do know however, that it will move on out when you hit passing gear!! Had it up to 125 and around two eighteen wheelers in a matter of seconds. Wife was chewing me out the whole time. I am used to that though.
I do know however, that it will move on out when you hit passing gear!! Had it up to 125 and around two eighteen wheelers in a matter of seconds. Wife was chewing me out the whole time. I am used to that though.
Last edited by Grandpa1; Nov 23, 2018 at 04:19 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2013
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From: Little Rock Arkansas
You'll never get near 200 MPH. Not out of a stock C5 at least. You'll run out of gearing and aero before you get anywhere near that. Plus you need to be on a tire rated for sustained speeds anyways, which if you don't know what your tire's speed rating is I wouldn't attempt it.
There's a good handful of reasons why your gauge reads 200 MPH. Part is because it's a sports car; a lot of cars in the '90's read much higher than they could go simply because we were coming out of the era of "85 MPH" dashes. It's a bragging rights of sort after a relative "dark age" of low speed readings. The second big thing is that while export market C5s received a special 300 KPH cluster the 200 reading is there for if you have to read KPH. If you click DIC button 5 (E/M) your DIC's gauges will read metric and your speedometer will switch to metric (KPH). You would easily obtain 200 KPH, and thus that could be a reading you would need to know.
There's a good handful of reasons why your gauge reads 200 MPH. Part is because it's a sports car; a lot of cars in the '90's read much higher than they could go simply because we were coming out of the era of "85 MPH" dashes. It's a bragging rights of sort after a relative "dark age" of low speed readings. The second big thing is that while export market C5s received a special 300 KPH cluster the 200 reading is there for if you have to read KPH. If you click DIC button 5 (E/M) your DIC's gauges will read metric and your speedometer will switch to metric (KPH). You would easily obtain 200 KPH, and thus that could be a reading you would need to know.
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From: Kelowna BC
Guessing your BIL either drives something he thinks is faster, or a minivan, nothing between? 
I've only taken my car a hair over 100MPH, felt like it was barely even touching its capability.
Stats say 170+MPH
I've only taken my car a hair over 100MPH, felt like it was barely even touching its capability.
Stats say 170+MPH
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
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From: Granbury Texas
In the C5 Z06, the electronic "limiter" cuts in at 6600 RPM up thru 4th gear.. In 5th gear (which is where the top speed is reached in any C5 Corvette) the "fuel shutoff" is also at 6600 RPM. At 6600 RPM in 5th gear "IN MY 04 Z06" with stock tire sizes, the actual mph is 177 mph. 6th gear (for cruising and gas mileage) is only good for a little over 135 mph in a STOCK c5 Z06.
PS In 9 runs over 2 days, my bone stock 2004 Z06 ran within one (1) mph of (or at) 163 mph, in the Standing Mile, at the Texas Mile competition.
PS In 9 runs over 2 days, my bone stock 2004 Z06 ran within one (1) mph of (or at) 163 mph, in the Standing Mile, at the Texas Mile competition.
Last edited by 63Corvette; Nov 23, 2018 at 05:28 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
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So my brother in law came over for Thanksgiving. Got to show him my first Vette for the first time. He liked it alright, but when he saw the 200 mph speedometer he said there no way these cars can do over 130 (yeah, that brother in law). So to enhance my discussion - and hopefully bragging rights - next time I see him, what is an expected top end for a 2003 fully stock Vette? I know I could take on the track and find out myself, but I'm not quite ready for that. What do you guys know?
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2013
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From: Southern Pennsylvania
So my brother in law came over for Thanksgiving. Got to show him my first Vette for the first time. He liked it alright, but when he saw the 200 mph speedometer he said there no way these cars can do over 130 (yeah, that brother in law). So to enhance my discussion - and hopefully bragging rights - next time I see him, what is an expected top end for a 2003 fully stock Vette? I know I could take on the track and find out myself, but I'm not quite ready for that. What do you guys know?
YetMan
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you won't do 200 in stock form but it is within reach if you ever get the urge to make the car do it, however it will easily do 130 as it sits lol
Team Owner
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My C5 was modded pretty good but I never cared to know how fast it was. The guy who bought it said he's had it to 175 and it was still pulling hard, he just ran out of room. I have no interest in attempting that on the streets. I do know it was a good bit faster than stock but even stock it was pretty fast.
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IIRC stock C5 Coupe would make 178 and FRC/Z a few mph less due to aerodynamics, as tested by GM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2014
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From: Kelowna BC
Both cars achieve top speed in 5th, as neither would have remotely enough power to use 6th, that gear is reserved for gas mileage.
