Dear CF:

I've been reading the forums here for a long time and thought I'd finally post something. BTW, thanks to all of you for your exciting commentary, especially in the C6 forum.

I got my 01 coupe at the NCM in June of 2001. A lot of fun! I really liked it and had no intent to sell or trade.

I've been in talks with my dealership about being on the list for C6, which I am confident will be a great car with a pretty and aggressive design. But my salesman (Jeff Seller, Westfall Odell in Excelsior Springs, MO) mentioned I might want to take advantage of 0% financing and try out the Z06 for a year. I was paying 8% on my coupe so I could switch to a brand new Z06 and lower my payments while trading only a little equity on the old car. And paying a little sales tax too... so not free but only about $2000 out of pocket and a $10/mo lower pmt.

I drove up with my wife to give the Z06 a spin. It was much more livable than I had thought. With all that talk about "for the extreme enthusiast" I was expecting an awful and harsh ride. The Vette is my daily driver! So imagine my delight at how smooth the car is, and how tight it feels compared to the coupe. It actually almost seems smoother than the coupe due to its tight suspension.

So we went for it and traded. The car is amazing, a real blast to drive. Granted, there are some concessions with the Z06 - I think the coupe's fastback window looks better, and I miss the bigger storage area and tire pressure system of the coupe. However, the power and handling make the car much more fun to race around in, and I can usually fit whatever I need in the car.

Here's a nice picture of the car. It's got about 1000 miles on it now and I'm going to get the awful CAGS taken off (I bought the MA CAGS defeat) while it's up for that first oil change soon. The car's CAGS almost seems to lock the stick rather than force 4th gear. My 01 coupe was a manual so I know how it is supposed to feel and the CAGS in this Z06 is really bad.



Now I'm wondering if I should trade for a C6 next fall or perhaps wait another 6-12 months to get a more evolved version of the car with fewer bugs. I know you are sort of a beta-tester by default when you get a first year car, but I think I'd like having something so unique to drive around in.

OTOH, That zero percent financing for the Z is pretty terrific, I doubt I can get something so good on a new C6. Plus most of the car's depreciation is in its first year, might be better to get a little more out of the Z06 before a trade.

OK, one question for everyone - when the car is running cold, and I step on the gas fairly strongly, and then let off, I hear something like a backfire once in a while. Is that normal?

thanks

Jim


[Modified by Jim_Lammers, 11:08 AM 5/26/2003]

 

Welcome

Congrats on your new ride :cheers: Very nice. I would wait for atleast the second year c6, I'm going to wait for the z06 version, if thats what they are going to call it. Whats one more year , you have a great car to drive in the meantime. :D :seeya

The backfire you hear is normal, mine does it under the same conditions.


[Modified by 03QuicksilverZ06, 6:19 AM 5/26/2003]

 

congrats you made a great move to the MY Z06!! My car act the same way when it hasn't reach normal operating temp. I'm going to wait until 06 for my Z06, the coupe and convt. are coming out first. :chevy :chevy

 

:iagree:

Congrats on your new ride!

 

Good looking car. It's always great when you can save money at the same time. Congratulations and enjoy it! :thumbs:

 

Yes, that's normal. Mine does the same thing. You'll get it sometimes too when just getting back on the gas after decelerating at between 2,000 and 2,500 RPM's. And it sounds like a backfire, because it IS a backfire :D Its technically an afterfire condition rather than a backfire. It's basically just some unburned fuel getting lit off in the hot exhaust manifolds, similar to what race cars do. Caused by the cam profile and the high lift of the valves.

Its just another reminder that this car is "for the extreme enthusiast" :D At first I was concerned about it, but when I found out its normal, now I like it! :cool:

 

Right on stingray454 - afterfire is the correct term, as it is an explosion of sorts from the unburned fuel hitting the hot exhaust manifolds during lift throttle conditions. A backfire is when the combustion process goes back up past the intake valves, and into the plenum - not nearly as loud, since the air filter muffles it, as well as the plenum. A backfire gets my stomach in knots, as it frequently means blown off hoses under my plenum, but I don't think your LS6 suffers from backfires too often (normally during startup for me - once every 2 years) - and this is good! :seeya


[Modified by DDSLT5, 5:19 PM 5/26/2003]

 

Great explanation!
I was wondering why mine did that.... glad to hear everyone's does!

 

Makes sense, but how can the exhaust manifolds be very hot when the car has only been running for 30 seconds? Something else must be sparking that rich exhaust... :confused:

Jim

 

:cool: Welcome, I made the same trade and it's been a great decision. I suspect that you wont care for the look of the coupe much longer. I had the cags and stock ti exhaust removed at the dealer before delivery so I can't comment on the cags and my Borla's pop on decel. I baby mine until it's warm. Dave Hill had some exciting comments about the C6 Z06 at CI IV so I'm expecting a real asphalt burner. My only concern is will anyone want a non-Z06 when it hits the street. ;)

 

Sweet ride,I also trade a coupe for my z what a diffrence :steering:

 

Sweet ride,I also traded a coupe for my z what a diffrence :steering:

 

Congratulations on the Z. I am tempted to trade my 2000 Hardtop for a 03 Mill. Yellow Z06. You mentioned a smoother ride, The F1 Tires are much softer than your Coupes Harsh Runflats.

 

I think that I would wait for 12 to 18 months for the C6. It will take that long to get use to the new look and it will give Chevy time tor work out the kinks. It will be hard to top the C5 Z06! Enjoy!