[Z06] 2001 vs. 2002
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 7,635
Likes: 326
From: Greenville SC
2001 vs. 2002
I am looking into buying a Z at some point and have mostly been looking at 2002's, becuase of the improvements and fix on the oil usage problem (correct?). Did the 2001 Z's really have much of an oil usage or any other kind of problem that the 2002's did't have? All things being equal (milage, options, etc) how much less $ would a 2001 need to be compared to a 2002, to make the 2001 a better deal? Figure in the cost of haviing to add a few mods to equal the 2002's performance. Were there any options offered in 2002 that were not offered in 2001? While we are at it, what options do you really like or wish you had opted for and didn't, and what options did you opt for, but are not worth it/not used? Thanks!
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 25,889
Likes: 7
From: Virginia Beach
CI 3-5-6-7-8 Veteran
Re: 2001 vs. 2002 (95wht6spd)
hey... I just went through the same decision. Do I get the '02 with the higher-lift cam, metal rear sway-bar endlinks, and different intake box, or save my money and get a '01 which isn't too differnt? I've driven both and can't tell a difference in the power. The 20 extra ponies only comes on at very high rpms. The metal endlinks ('01s have them in the front too) cost only $50 and won't make a huge difference unless your a great driver at the track.
I paid $34,000 mine with 11k miles and in perfect conditon. The cheapest '02s I've seen are 38k slightly used. Also, I wanted yellow so it was a bit harder to find. So... overall I feel that I've saved 5-7 thousand bucks. I can easily add mods with that cash to be much faster than the '02.
As for the oil... well so far after 1200 miles mine hasn't used any! Maybe I'm lucky and got a good one. Some do use lots of oil, but look into service records and talk with the owner. Worst case scenario it's covered under warranty!
Good luck :cheers:
I paid $34,000 mine with 11k miles and in perfect conditon. The cheapest '02s I've seen are 38k slightly used. Also, I wanted yellow so it was a bit harder to find. So... overall I feel that I've saved 5-7 thousand bucks. I can easily add mods with that cash to be much faster than the '02.
As for the oil... well so far after 1200 miles mine hasn't used any! Maybe I'm lucky and got a good one. Some do use lots of oil, but look into service records and talk with the owner. Worst case scenario it's covered under warranty!
Good luck :cheers:
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,684
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville Florida
Re: 2001 vs. 2002 (95wht6spd)
Well, you get a higher lift cam, beefier valve springs, hollow valve's. 20 more HP and a HUD with a 2002, along with avoiding the re-ring problems that some 01's have (but the dealer will correct), then there is the resale value of a year newer car. I always say buy the newest car you can, but that maybe is just me. Either way you can't go wrong :)
Les
Les
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 4,267
Likes: 6
From: Cumming Ga
Re: 2001 vs. 2002 (ZO6Les)
I drive a 2001, but would spring for a 2002 if I was buying one now. I don't think you will notice a performance difference between the two, it would take a very good driver to exploit the extra 20 hp on top .
tim
tim
Racer
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 284
Likes: 0
From: Alpharetta GA
Re: 2001 vs. 2002 (95wht6spd)
hmmm... My 0.2...
Sold my 00 FRC and bought an EB 02 a couple of weeks ago. Drove six 01s and three 02s. Drove each of these cars fairly hard... no track/strip time of course.
SOTP: Except for the gearing, the 01s didn't feel any faster than my 00 FRC w/an air box. The 02s felt a LOT stronger than the 01s or my 00. I believe the 02s will retain more value, due to all the factories extras you've documented.
That said, if you do it yourself, you can drop in a HUD for under $400, and an aftermarket cam/valvetrain for another $600-700, and you'll have more HP than a stock 02. Almost every one replaces the factory air box.
Sold my 00 FRC and bought an EB 02 a couple of weeks ago. Drove six 01s and three 02s. Drove each of these cars fairly hard... no track/strip time of course.
SOTP: Except for the gearing, the 01s didn't feel any faster than my 00 FRC w/an air box. The 02s felt a LOT stronger than the 01s or my 00. I believe the 02s will retain more value, due to all the factories extras you've documented.
That said, if you do it yourself, you can drop in a HUD for under $400, and an aftermarket cam/valvetrain for another $600-700, and you'll have more HP than a stock 02. Almost every one replaces the factory air box.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 4,267
Likes: 6
From: Cumming Ga
Re: 2001 vs. 2002 (ZO6Les)
Hi Les, don't want to mess with you on the strip! I have only run once when I first got the car, ran a 12.9 @ 111.5, with a 2.3 60'. Was going to head up again, I have a hurst shifter and some more experience with the car, should get below 12.5. Anyway, we can compare times at little talledega! :D
Tim
Tim
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 130
Likes: 0
From: Germantown MD
Re: 2001 vs. 2002 (95wht6spd)
Yeah, I had the same issue. When I was shopping for mine, all of the 2002s were running over $40K. I did shop around, but nobody would make me a fair trade on my M3. Several 2001s were selling here in Kansas City for around $38K. It was absurd.
Finally I found a BLK/BLK 2001 with 18K for $35K out the door. I knew I was going to mod it slowly over the years, so I figured that the 2001 was the better bet. However, you just have to shop around. There are good deals out there on the 2002s. There are also some killer deals on 2001s. It just depends on the area and the dealership.
There is always going to be something newer and better out on the market. The 2002/2003 has some improvements over the 2001 but it comes at a cost. Buy a Cobra and a new one comes out. Buy an M3 and a new one comes out. Buy a C4 and the C5 comes out. Then the C6 will come out and we start all over again. I've gone this route with about a half dozen cars only to find that it is very hard to keep up with the Jones' unless you either find a good deal or don't mind spending the cash.
Just go with the best deal that you can find. Get the most car you can afford without getting taken to the cleaners:-)
Good Luck,
John Graves
Finally I found a BLK/BLK 2001 with 18K for $35K out the door. I knew I was going to mod it slowly over the years, so I figured that the 2001 was the better bet. However, you just have to shop around. There are good deals out there on the 2002s. There are also some killer deals on 2001s. It just depends on the area and the dealership.
There is always going to be something newer and better out on the market. The 2002/2003 has some improvements over the 2001 but it comes at a cost. Buy a Cobra and a new one comes out. Buy an M3 and a new one comes out. Buy a C4 and the C5 comes out. Then the C6 will come out and we start all over again. I've gone this route with about a half dozen cars only to find that it is very hard to keep up with the Jones' unless you either find a good deal or don't mind spending the cash.
Just go with the best deal that you can find. Get the most car you can afford without getting taken to the cleaners:-)
Good Luck,
John Graves
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