gaustins11

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?

glbeauchamp

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

Vetteman Jack

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.

Grandpa1

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.

'Shifter

I've been up to 140, and that was enough for me....

gaustins11

Interesting post. Thank you.

gaustins11

lol. Way to go Grampa!

Velocity_Vette

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.

grantv

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

63Corvette

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.

msandym

yetman

I had one of those brother in-laws, too. Notice the word 'had' - but that's another story. Every time he opened his mouth, he showed how jealous he was.

YetMan

dbgoodwin

gaustins11

Never thought about that metric thing. I don't intend to get anywhere near the top. But it is interesting information to have. Thank you.

gaustins11

Apparently you know my BIL. LOL

neutron82

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

K-Spaz

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.

Fastbird

IIRC stock C5 Coupe would make 178 and FRC/Z a few mph less due to aerodynamics, as tested by GM.

grantv

It seems it would have as much or more to do with the gear ratios. 1-3 and 5-6 are different in the base vs. Z. The Z is geared numerically higher in all.
Both cars achieve top speed in 5th, as neither would have remotely enough power to use 6th, that gear is reserved for gas mileage.

cvm

02 Coupe; bolt ons, 228r w/ a lousy tune; 3:42's
A4
140 in D3 at a hair below redline.
Never tried OD, no space.
Ignore BIL by goin out to wax vette & leave him in house …...