Hey guys I know this has probably been asked before but Id like some fresh answers and perspectives. I’m planning on hopefully getting a C5 come spring time, but I’m completely torn on whether to get a base or a Z06. I’d probably keep it stock for a year or so but do plan on building and modifying pretty heavily in the future. I’m aware of all the differences between them, I love the look of the Z06 with its FRC, and the shorter gearing and extra power seem enticing, but a clean one is $25k. Meanwhile I could get a clean base and save a lot more money, and probably build it to surpass a z06 for cheaper. However I can’t help but consider the cool factor of a z06. Certain things you can’t (easily) have with a base like the shorter gearing, the hardtop, the ls6 with all of its upgrades, the checkered dash, the increased redline. Brain is saying base but heart is saying z06 haha. I don’t mean to make this long, if anyone has any experience shopping for and buying a base or z06 I’d love to hear your perspective and why you chose what you did. Any opnions welcome. This is my first post here so I’m glad to be here and hopefully join the community for real in the spring

 

Split the difference and buy a FRC. https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ery-clean.html

 

If you like the body, get an FRC or Z06. Both can be had for fair values if you consistently stalk marketplace, forum, and fb C5 Modified Buy Sell Trade for three to six months.

What do you mean by modify? Cat back and air filter? Or supercharger, heads and cam? Big spread there.

You can get into a clean Coupe for a lot less than a Z. Heck, you can get a supercharged coupe for less than a lot of Z06s. Beat ones start at 13k with blower and go up to mid 20s. The cars look different, but mechanically they are not heavily separated. The only real difference on the Z is the gearbox ratios and the heads. But when you go big power you want the base box. And the heads don't matter because most replace them.

Aim for your long term goal. Decide how to get there.

For most, a cam, headers, exhaust, tune, aggressive pads/rotors and dropping it on bolts with cheap Z06 suspension and good tires is baller. 430rw is awesome in a C5. When the parts are needed, then go for an RST and a light flywheel and you will love every shift and every corner or stoplight.

 

I think Tusc covered the brain side of the decision perfectly. Only thing I can add, when you pull up to a z06 in your base. Are you still going to lust for it?

 

If you are going to mod the engine base if you just want more power and not touch the engine the Z06.

All these cars are the same. The engine, sway bars and tire size is the only major changes. Just a little less weight.

The Z is also limited some options.

You will pay more for the Z. It is a better investment car if you leave it stock. Modified not so much.

I have a base and I put on the Z bars and larger tires. I may do a cam and heads later. But I got all the other options.

Now if it was a track car FRC all the way.

 

The Z is great right out of the box, but if you plan to do a lot of mods, I think I would lean towards a base car at a lower entry cost and use the savings to buy mods for the car.

 

Very good points, I’m definitely hard stuck on the FRC body and the gearbox, otherwise a base would be a no brainer. Definitely gonna be on the heavier side when it comes to mods, which also makes even more sense for the base. Why do you say the base gearbox is better for big power rather than the z box?

 

I’m afraid so

 

This was my exact reason for getting a Z over a base or even a newer BRZ or something most people would say "make more sense for a daily"

 

I had a 2000 FRC, all stock. I now have a built 2001 Z06. I have always preferred the hard top, and the rear brake ducts and Z06 badge. When I had the 2000, I still wanted the Z06. It's totally worth the extra money for a Z06 IMO. Never go into serious debt if it's a weekend toy...

 

I own a Z06. But I also own my 3rd coupe. I got the Z because of the color and it had heads/cam/blower done already. It was a deal before covid. I just got tmt latest coupe likewias a deal... Not cheap for a C5, but extremely cheap for what it has and compared to a peer C6Z.

Brake wise, the ducts don't have much impact even on track cars. The lighter titanium exhiis nice! But can be installed to any car. If you leave the engine stock, then the LS6 is nice to have but once you change cams it no longer matters. Same with heads except for armchair generals fighting over every last flywheel hp. The Z suspenican be duplicated for dirt cheap and in fact improved upon for the same price by buying other parts.

Tons of other details where you can make a coupe or frc into whatever you want and match the performance same for same and be saving a ton of money.

So the only thing which really matters is your preference. Go with what you love!

Small personal detail: I hated the FRC and Z06 look when they came out. I preferred the cigar shaped coupe. Flash forward and twenty years later now I feel the Frc/Z roofline makes the car look a lot more aggressive. Go figure.

 

In full agreement with the perspective and guidance above from.Tusc. From the engine mods to clutch and lightweight flywheel. I've now owned 3 C5s myself. 2 coupes and an FRC. My preference always being the coupes with the removable top option. I could never fall in love with the FRC body lines but over the last 5 or years it's been growing on me. And there are times I wish I didn't sell my FRC. But when I owned both variants I barely ever drove the FRC. Just about 99% of the time I drive the coupes (now just down to 1) the top is in the trunk.

As soon as proper mods enter the picture all bets are off on which variant is better. I've gapped way more Z06's with my black coupe than I have any other car. Seems that badge goes to the heads of a lot of owners. Then they get a pretty stiff wakeup call when they make assumptions on coupes/LS1s. Which is also another reason I like the coupes. But my primary reason is the removable hard top. Then most all other things considered equal or better once the mods factor in.

 

I Think you have already answered what you want. You want a FRC. Then that is what you should buy.

People split a lot of hairs over this but their real difference on a Z06 is the top, engine and just a small amount of less weight. Under the skin these cars are all the same. Same brakes, same chassis etc. It is not like a C5 Z06 where their is a greater number of changes. and upgrades.

I think you just need to focus on the body and if you want the Z then buy it. The base car FRC is good if you can get a better buy but some people price them up because they consider them rare but you are paying more for less.

the brake scoop is functional but not really that big of a deal. It also can be installed as you can still buy the parts to install it if you like.

The Z and Grand Sport in the C6 go Dry Sump, Aluminum frame on the Z and bigger better brakes and much more power. If you plan to invest a lot you may look at one of these and just start with more of the good bits already with many good parts.

Corvette engineers have said the Grand Sport is the best track car they built. It has many good parts but still has a steel frame that can be repaired if you nose a guard rail. Also the power is good but not too much to get into trouble at most tracks.

 

I thought long and hard about C6 Grand Sport vs C5 Z06. The main advantage of the GS is you can remove the targa top! If I didn't already own a convertible, that would've been the deciding factor for me. I'm a firm believer in the saying "light is right" which is why I'm probably going to get a C5 Z06 soon.

At one time I owned a C4 ZR-1 and a Porsche 911 (996). Both had very similar performance, but the lighter car just felt better at any speed. The Boxster S I owned was also nice. Porsche tax is real though, and worse than Vette tax. Maybe that's why I'm coming back to Vettes, and of course the cool V8 sounds.