If I get this Z16, I will have to keep it for a LONG time. I have a C5 coupe now, but I hate the white color and the fact that I see my car almost everyday on the road. I have been thinking of moving back to a ZR-1 or getting a Z16 while the discounts are good and free money is there. But, I have to know a few things:

1. The age ole'question...do you miss the targa? ( I don't think I will because I don't like verts (too much body movement [even in a C5] and I rarely EVER take the top off the coupe because in Memphis it is either Hotter than hell or cold or raining)

2. VS the ZR-1, the big advantage is mods...I can mod this car and make it stupid fast vs having to spend a ton of money on the same mods to a ZR-1....right?

3. What is your overall impressionof the Z06 vs C5 coupe?

4. Is the Z16 worth it? I like it because I actually believe that it will be a sleeper collectable like the 96 Grandsports and in time will be a more sought after car among C5s.

Thanks for your input!!!!!!

 

I am sure the Z06 is worth it. I have never had a pop top, so I don't miss it, but that is the only complaint I have comapired to regular C5s. I figure like you, I would rairly take the top off, so I just don't worry about it. There are a couple of places that will put the Targa on it for you if you want.

The ride is great for such a high performance car, the power is already there right now, and more power is a credit card away. It is a very livable 9.5/10ths supercar. I would buy another one.

Will the Z16 be worth more than C5s, sure, other Z06s? I expect so, but how much I don't know. I don't know if they will be like GrandSports though. It seems like the Z16 is almost a package made to market to the Z06 crowd to get us to buy a new car after getting the Z. The CF hood is cool, though I don't personally like the stripes too much. If you like the looks, and the $$$$ isn't much more than a normal Z, then I would say jump on it.

You will love the car!!!

 

1. No, since I don't driving a vert or coupe with the top off anyway.

2. Yes. The ZR1 is old technology, the Z06 is much better. The body is stiffer and the interior is more solid feeling.

3. I have only owned a Z06 so I can't comment other than to say the Z06 body is stiffer.

4. No, cars are bad investments, if that is what you are after. I don't like the Z16 because I don't like tape on my cars. The only thing that is good about the Z16 is the carbon fiber hood and the polished wheels.

 

Get in one drive it and then try to get the smile off your face, believe me it will not come off for months, if ever.

 

No.


I could carry more stuff in the coupe than I can in the Z06. I bought a used truck (one of the best vette mods) and I don't carry stuff in my vette anymore, or drive it in nasty weather anymore. I didn't realize it while I had it, but my '98 coupe felt like a luxury car compared to the Z06. I like my Z a lot more, it's more of what I want in a Corvette.

Just my opinion.

 

I'm not sure about Z16 vs Z06, but a friend of mine had a Z06 and built it into an SCCA T1 car, then bought an 04 Coupe for his daily driver (wich I had that kind of disposable income).

Anyway, he is a little disappointed with the Coupe after driving a Z06 for two years.

I love my Z06 and drove it to work daily for 18 months before turning mine into an SCCA T1 race car. I don't think you'll be disappointed witht the car.

 

FWIW, I traded in my '98 coupe for a 03 Z06...no regrets . The Z06 is better in performance, handling and I think just more fun to drive. I've had it now for over a year and I can't get this off my face.

 

Buying a new car for an investment is a bad idea. Buy the one you like and drive the wheels off of it. I had an 02- Z51, MN6 coupe. I now have an 03 Z06. The difference cannot be explained, it must be experienced.

 

1) i had a convertible ('99). yeah i miss the top, but that feeling goes away when i look at my unbelievably cool mod red interior and hit the throttle on the z06! regrets? none. plus, this car, after the discounts, is almost $10k cheaper than my '99 was. how crazy is that???

2) no idea on zr-1, never been in one. the car is awesome and legendary, but it's also what, at least 10 years old? if your vette is gonna be a daily driver (like mine), no way i'd want a 10 year old car.

3) all vettes are awesome. i love the z06, and when combined with the ridiculous discounts and 0% financing right now, it was a no brainer for me.

4) i am convinced any c5 will be worth "maybe" msrp long after we've become worm food. if you want something that will continue to appreciate in this lifetime, buy a pre-'71, not a c5. plus, that z16 will have to have very few miles on it to be worthwhile collectible. why bother letting someone else enjoy it 20 years from now??? DRIVE IT!!!

i had a beautiful (and fast) '99 convertible that had an a4 tranny. this car with its m6, the more i get into it and learn its capabilities, is unreal. it's definitely not as smooth riding as a regular c5, but if you don't care about a luxury ride (which i don't right now), it's worth it. the performance is pheonomenal. it's my daily driver and i look forward to my short work commute of 12-13 miles every day. no regrets. AND THE DAMNED THING IS $10K CHEAPER THAN MY '99 WAS!!!

 

I owned a coupe, a vert, a coupe and now a Z. Do I miss "open air" motoring. In a word no. Don't get me wrong when the temps are just right with low humidity and I catch a ride in a buddies vert or coupe I enjoy it. But here in St Louis it's either stupid hot, humid or both. I found I popped or dropped the top no more than 4 or 5 times a year. Really.

One test drive in the Z and I fell in love with the car. The stiffer chassis, lighter weight, tighter transmission gearing the bigger and lighter tires, the frim yet supple suspension oh and did I mention the HP, TQ and higher redline of the LS6 make for a wonderful driving experience. You'll foget the lack of removable roof.

Would I buy another one, yes and plan on doing so when the new Z hits the street.

But no matter your choice, they are all still vette's, so how can you go wrong? Buy what stirs your soul.

Tom

 

Thanks for the replys thus far...I should clarify that this would be a garage queen (I am one of those fortunate guys with a company car) I am not looking for an investment, but I am looking for a car that will hold its value enough to where I could sell it at a moments notice if I had to.

New question, How much higher does the engine rev? That is one thing I miss about my ZR-1. Teh ZR was like a 6 cylinder, that thing would rev forever and I loved it, the C5 gets through a gear so fast that you hit the limiter all the time.

 

The Z revs really fast from 3 -6500 and hits the rev limiter. So fast you will have to watch it or you will hit the limiter a lot. What a great car!!

 

Sold my 1995 for a 04 Z06 and I love it. Don't miss the removeable top at all but then again I live in the south and there are not many days I could take it anyway. Go for it. You will not be disappointed with the Z.

 

It's amazing how much stiffer the C5 bodies are vs. the C4.

When I had my '93, I could jack up one of the front wheels and the other 3 wheels would still be on the ground. Try that on a C5 and the whole side of the car comes up.

 

I grew up in Picayune/Long Beach...your preaching to the choir

 

I moved to the Z from a BMW convertable roadster. I miss the drop top every now and then, but no real regrets. I never considered the coupe for a minute. I needed the best, and the Z is the best. I also never considered the Z16 because I don't like the stripes. But that's just a personal thing. But whether it's a Z16 or a standard Z, you won't regret it. It's awesome!

 

Any limited production run Corvette will hold its value a tad longer than the rest. But don't assume you will be able to sell it at a moments notice. That all depends on the economy, market and your area. Buy a car to keep not sell.

 

I have had 2 coupes... never removed the tops. Much like the others here... weather is the factor. Only 5-6 days a year that are 75-80 and less than 60% humidity.

And like the other have stated... never by a car as an investment.

 

I think the additional value question on the Z16 has been answered to a certain extent already. Z16's are now nearly the only Z06's you can find, and they are selliing at invoice.

I used to be of the opinion that the Z16 was not really comparable to the Grand Sport because the G.S. had more horsepower than its' siblings, produced in fewer numbers and the stripes were painted.

Having said that, the Z16 will still have certain appeal for reasons I don't fully understand. Vette buyers tend to place a high value on low production numbers (the Z16 accounted for nearly a third of all 04 Z06 production) and appearance over substance. While the carbon fiber hood is nice, 10 lbs in a car with 405 hp isn't going to make a noticeable difference. It's a great looking car, but it didn't raise the perfomance bar enough to be a collectible, IMO.

 

I had a 93 Coupe. The weatherstripping went bad twice. I am tired of getting wet when I drive. So, do I miss a coupe, NOPE.
From what I have seen/read, the Z06 can be modded for a LOT less than a ZR-1.
When I went to trade in my 93 Coupe with 167k miles, I first drove a C5 Coupe. My 93 was an automatic and the Coupe was a 6 speed. I thought that the Coupe would be a lot faster than my 93. WOW!! I was completely disappointed!!! Even with me shifting, it wasn't much quicker than my 93 that was pretty much stock except for cat back exhaust and some other small mods. Then I got into the Z. OMG!!!!! WOW!!!!! The Z wastes all the others. It is a night and day difference between the Coupe and the Z.
The age old question...is my Vette going to go up in value. Check to see how many were built. I can't remember the numbers of Z16's. I wouldn't bank that the Z16 is going to go way up in value...maybe in 30+ years, but in the immediate future, I doubt it.

Good luck!!