Anthony, I have had both. 2005 C6 and now a 1997 C5 (automatic / targa top). Overall I like my C5 a little better. A couple thing I do miss about the C6 is push button door opener and automatic rear hatch closer. I'm sure you will be happy with either one. Found my C5 on craigs list and I am super satisfied with it. Not a scratch on it (inside or out), 71,000 miles, I am the 3rd owner and clean car fax. But the best thing is, $10,000. The first thing I did was add a DD Kenwood, Sub & speakers. Good luck with your hunt.

 

Unless you can swing a decent example LS3 C6 w/ like 60k miles or less I would stick to C5s in the 01-04 model year range & I personally would pick a C5Z over any C6 aside from a C6Z that’s had all the preventative motor work done or a C6 ZR1 (way too $$$) or a C6 GS stickshift- all of which would be outta your price range.

If you don’t mind not taking the top off a C5Z is still the best bang for the buck performance wise & is the best of the C5s hands down (obviously).

i would only consider an LS2 C6 if it had the Z51 suspension or wide body kit, & I wouldn’t bother w/ an auto tranny in either generation. You probably will find LS2 C6 base cars in same or possibly lower price range as a good C5Z fwiw- but the LS6 > LS2

also FWIW @ this point in time having owned my C5Z for 7-8 years & seeing the depreciation erode all C6 & now def C7 pricing w/ the new mid engine C8 debuting- it may sound harsh, but from a price delta & the tangible differences between the C5 & C6 gens- you come to realize the C6 is truly a “C5.5” - as in it really doesn’t represent a massive departure in design/engineering/performance until you start getting into the C6Z & ZR1 or maybe GS w/ the LS3 - and even then, it’s NOTHING like the substantial tangible differences between say, a C4 to a C5 or a C6 to a C7.

so what I’m getting at is C6s are still overpriced in this market while C7s are becoming the better deal relative to what you get/value & how much of an “upgrade” across the board you get going from C6 to C7. So that being said I think @ your age in this market you pick yourself up a nice lower mileage well maintained/mildly modded example of a C5 late model year (01-04) & if you like the Vette life & wanna continue w/ it & get another or “upgrade” down the line Id skip the C6 idea entirely & look @ C7 cars in 2-3 years tops they’ll be quite cheap (already kinda are)

 

I've lived with both motors, the ls2 deserves some credit, is 6 liters more tq across the board and still screams to its 6.5k redline, very strong motor with big potential aftermarket wonderoos 500+ bhp easy.

 

I really enjoy your insight, C5Dobie. I'm in my first vette and was initially set on a C6; diligently, maybe compulsively, searching every portal and even making two offers. Both fell through, and it struck me how much more I favored the C5 look. Obviously, a purely personal preference, but prices are attractive and for my needs, a better choice. I'm very happy with my '00 DBGM vert, love its classy aerodynamic looks, the feel and color scheme. I agree though, an '01 is preferable especially for the steering sensor and EBCM parts availability issue in '99 -'00. (Dreaded steering code surfaced a few months into my ownership.) IF I ever trade in (not on the radar), and can't find an '03-'04 Z , it's likely to a C7 for all you've noted and personal opinion, I just like the C7 look better than C6.

 

lol yeah I guess I'd take it over most hemis & toyota V8's, but it sure aint the crown jewel of the LS/LTx family - more like the black sheep lol - had one in a GTO. Like to drink gas AND oil. LS6 doesn't need dry sum oiling system to sustain G's @ track - LS2 does, more of a stop-gap measure before releasing the LS3 - which, IMO is the best of the standard fuel injected non FI LS motors.

 

I was under the impression it was a standard deviation LS3 > LS2 > LS1, just another peg on the scale, so to speak..

Wouldn't this be something an oil pan can remedy, or is it more complex what's the problem

 

Honestly I don't quite know the answer to that I think you'd have to do some digging or ask a GM master tech yourself, but it sure as SH*T didn't have a very long life & certainly isn't a very popular crate motor either. I don't know if the oil consumption was common to just 6.0 GTO's (unlikely) or across all applications, but that was my experience @ the time. There's gotta be a reason they didn't just stick the LS2 in 02-04 C5Zs & likewise there must be a reason they only used it for 3 years in base vettes, CTS-V, GTO, some trucks?, & the TBSS............conjecture on my end being - it was a 1/2 *** engineered stop-gap measure to hold people over w/ a "better" (bigger I guess) motor than the outgoing LS1 & the LS6 was probably more $$$ to produce given the various upgraded parts over a standard LS1.

Put it this way - there's no doubt GM was more confident/thought more highly of their LS1, LS3, & LT1 engines than the LS2

 

If a C6 is what you really want, then don't settle for a C5. Keep your Camaro going and continue to sock away money for a C6. I've made "settle for" purchases before, and I was never happy with my decision in the long run. You could also take out a small loan and get the car you want. If you have $19K in cash (including equity in your Camaro), buy a $30K car, put down $15K and keep the remaining $4K in savings. With interest rates being. as low as they are, it's almost silly to pay cash for a car and tie up all your money. Or as others have wisely noted, you can invest your savings and be happy with your decision later in life. There will be plenty of time to own a Corvette once you have your finances in order, children's college paid for, house paid for, and have enough money to retire.

 

Not to pile on here, and times are very different now, but I waited till I was 63 and retired for 6 years before I bought my first Corvette. I would never have bought a sports car in those days anyway, I eventually got into 4x4’s and had a few cool ones but they were double duty.

 

I would certainly appreciate the input of a tech or engineer in this regard, as I'm curious about this.

Nonetheless you said it, there *are* a number of ls2's running around, whole lot of GTO's/C6's, modded as well. I can believe the reason they didn't last very long, is the R&D cycle. Just ran into better technology, and was phased out relatively quick.

Perhaps just the oil scavenging deal you mentioned, because for an average enthusiast it's a great platform to build. I built 2 of them in separate GTO's, and both ran strong all-day-long, up to 390+ rwhp on my 1st GTO with shorties and all the boltons. That's like over 450 bhp on a california legal bolton ls2.

 

IMO if you're getting a C6, splurge get a 2008+ GS and a bad *** C5Z, there's no inbetween

 

Good advice, but C6 GS's didn't come out until 2010.

 

When I had a C3 (78 PC) I wanted a C4, when I had a C4 (89 conv) I wanted a C5, when I got a C5 (98 conv) I thought I wanted a C6. Drove a C6 and didn't like it. It was a little faster and handled a little better than the C5, but was cramped and seemed somewhat cheap. The C5's are not perfect but look great, fast enough and dependable. I may get a C7 one day when they get down around $25k.

 

I was in the same boat. Get a C6 with quite a few miles, or get a pristine C5. I decided to get a 2002 C5Z with 24,000 miles. I made the right choice.