I just got a used 2001 Z06 w/16,200 Miles on the clock about 1 month ago... and have daily driven it since (2000 miles later) it's great.

It has a July 2001 Build Date which I under stand is good regarding the oil issue.... later build date = better chance the ring issue was resolved. (I'm no expert.... or at least not a self-proclaimed Internet Expert like some of these guys ) but I can tell what I've experienced.

The car is bone stock and the day I got it I had it dynoed @ MTI:

347.3HP/340.9TQ at the rear wheels on a hot 90 deg day in Houston.

You are right about the market for 2001's.... I got mine for right about 29K..... and you can get these cars now well under 28K or 27K if you look.

Regarding the factory published HP... if you're concerned about the 405HP badge go for a later model; however, if you want a bargain consider the 2001..... a couple bolt-ons and you'll make up that HP deficit.

Also - considering a 5% variation in real-world HP numbers between cars that roll off the assy line.... you'll come up with a 20HP variance pretty quick; which I believe actual dyno's have shown on this and other boards. If you get a P-50 car... it'll probably be at the 405FWHP... but it's those P-10/P-90 cars that will vary.... so I wouldn't get too caught up in all that.... unless you're one of those types who likes to show off your dyno-sheet at the golf course

I say get a non-oil burner 2001 for a song and add that extra 3-4K into mods or tires and enjoy.

DISCLAIMER - I am in no-way entering a pissing contest with the TRUE internet-car-experts.... I'm just offering my perspective (as warped as it may be ...

Good luck.

 

20 HP on a road course does not matter, especailly in a z06....being able to drive the car is the most important mod you can do. one particular CF member over in the autox/rr has a bone stock '01 and runs 4-6+ second better laps at VIR then cars with 50+ HP all day long, now granted if you have a blown z06, that car is going to smoke a stock z down the straight, but a good driver in a 385HP z can whoop the blown z in the corners with a good driver...the bottom line, a DE driver is NOT going to see any difference in a 385 v 405 car

 

My 2001 Z06 was delivered in October of 2000 and does not have
the oil usage problem. I have also not experienced the column lock
problem. I have 8K+ miles, and often rev it over 3500 rpm
in the lower gears before shifting. Your milage may vary....

After taking two seperate 3day driving classes at VIR (one w/ 2002 Z06s and the second in 2003 Z06s) I would have to agree that even a little DE experience can easily make up the 20hp top-end handicap,
if there is one.

FWIW, its my opinion that the 2001s seem to have a little more
low-end grunt and that the top-end difference only shows up
past 4500rpm in the "higher" gears. (1st and 2nd only takes a
heartbeat between 4500 and 6500 anyhow....)

A bigger concern for DE might be getting the best set of shocks
on the car (2004s?) or the best tires....

I don't think you could go too far wrong with any Z06, oil-burner
or not. Just think of it as well lubricated.

Good luck!

 

It all comes down to the driver, there is no way more power isn't going to be beneficial unless traction becomes an issue. A good driver will always outrun a poor driver no matter how much power is available, but given an apples to apples comparison, the 405 car will win, even if its not by much.

 

Yes and no...ok, given equal skilled drivers, identical tires, and brakes, you can still make a 385HP car beat a 405HP car by changing alignment, ride height, corner weighting, etc etc. the arguement is never ending In the end, we all chose a great car to run/drive now matter what we use it for!

to go back to the orignal post...depedning on ones financial situation, if money is an issue, buy an 01 and spend the difference on some safety mods and lots track time!

 

This is good information, but has anybody had dealings with Chevrolet over the oil problem? Seems to me that Chevrolet would not want this problem and may have worked with someone?

 

Agreed. The Z06 is a sweet piece of machinery.

 

I believe there was a TSB about it and the solution was to re-ring the problem cars.

 

My '01 Z06 is most excellent. Stock performance is totally awesome. I picked mine up at the NCM on Jun 1, 2004. It is my daily driver. So far, no oil consumption, no differential leaks, no transmission issues, no problems with electronics. To date, I have suffered the Column Lock experience. It was handled by a dealer at no charge. Recently, I suffered my second mechanical malfunction. Once opened, the gas cap wouldn't close. That was handled under the extended warranty (Thank-you Ken).

I love my '01. My wish for you is that your Z06, no matter what year you choose, be as reliable and trouble-free for you as mine has been for me.

dave

 

The 20 ponies ain't crap... After adding bolt-ons the only difference is a lightly more aggressive cam. See my sig for my '01's success at the 1/4-mile. That's on street tires w/ only intake and exhaust w/o tuning. A similarly modded '02+ car will trap 1 mph higher or so.

Out at VIR this is MEANINGLESS as the extra 1/2 car on the long straights will be trounced by a driver that knows how to brake and turn. TimZ06 has a '01 w/ only an intake, stingers, and sticky tires and he beats the crap out of most anything around VIR b/c he can plain drive.

 

An 02+ with headers, cats, and an airbox is going to trap about 120 MPH. Mine has gone very close to 119 MPH on the OEM tires with the factory exhaust.

 

An 02+ with headers, cats, and an airbox is going to trap about 120 MPH.

 

An 02+ with headers, cats, and an airbox is going to trap at 120 MPH.

 

Sure you can make up the extra power difference between the 2001 and 2002-up with bolt-ons, but why can't the 2002-up cars also use bolt-ons? And when that happens, which car is still going to have more power?


As for the driver issue when racing, I think I've discussed it twice now in this thread already, please read before replying.

 

In another life I used to autocross my Fox Chassis Mustang..... the car had a blower at one point and then no blower later (to actually get back into a competitive class..... get out of a modified class).

I too had the attitude more HP is better (coming from the drag-racing ilk..... ) however, I quickly discovered I didn't need more bolt-ons, or boost, or HP.... but rather I needed more driver skill and seat time.

That blown stang was a blast to drive.... but very hard to drive fast (especially in those tight little miata autocross courses we ran).

I agree that 20hp is not a make or break deal in that environment.

I will give you this; however - on an internet computer simulator where every byte identical (not achievable in the real world).... the 20 HP will make a difference

Consider hot lapping your car at an autocross event and dropping seconds off of your time as you learn the course and make improvements...... you are not adding HP... (in fact with heat soak the opposite might be occuring).... you are driving better..... your ability to drive FAR exceeds the ponies in that environment.

My .0000001 cents......

 

I Have A 01-z06 Speedway White Purchased In Sept. This Year
I Also Was Concerned About Oil Consumption Issue. Gm. Agreed To Do A Oil Consumption Test On Vehicle. Will Post Findings After Test Is Done. So Far No Problems. Z Had 6k
Miles On Ticker When Purchased.no Problems So Far. I Love This Car.

 

Once again, I will say that I've addressed the driver issue at least twice in this thread already, that being said given equal drivers in both cars, the 405HP car will beat the 385HP car. No reason why it shouldn't. You can make excuses and try to level the playing field with different drivers all day long but to say that the extra HP is meaningless is silly, why did Chevrolet even build a Z06 if the extra HP didn't make any difference over the C5 Z51?


These threads are ridiculous because its always turns into a pissing match when the 2001 owners feel left out in the cold. I always find it humorous how they can alter the truth to try to justify to the later model onwers how the earlier modes didn't have any issues even when admitted by GM and how they are just as quick as their higher HP brothers when the track numbers clearly show differently.

Face it folks, as cars get newer, improvements are made, you don't see me arguing with 2004 Z06 owners saying my shocks are just as good or that my hood weighs just the same as a CF hood. I realize that improvements get made every year, you can't own the best model year after year because every new year bring new changes.

 

I almost bought a SW 2001 Z06, that is the ONLY reason I considered a 2001, I love that color, but I just couldn't justify buying one for a color when ultimately reliablity and power were my biggest concerns. The 2002-up cars are just better, plain and simple. I wish they would have made SW in 2002-2004.

 

Fantastic feedback guys. I appreciate it immensly. And BTW - for those of you in the track discussion. I run in Group 4 with my BMW M3. Now mind you, this thing is setup with a full racing suspension and putting about 250 rwhp. I lapped a couple Camaro SS's (I have it on tape.)

It's not how fast the car is, it's how you go fast.

On that note - lookin forward to the Z06.

cheers,
Chad

 

been thru this type of thread a bunch of times-most o1's mine included have some type of oil prob-mine was fixed under warranty-if you read all the TSB's related-ugh...there was the valley cover gasket and breather in that area that needed an upgrade-mine was getting 800 mi /qt now gets about 1500 /qt-i run it hard and its the ring poundage 7 i think-and they went to 9 #'s in 02-04's , which solved most of the usage probs i have had some seat time in bone stock 01-04's and up to 100 mph i can't tell the difference in power..they all felt pretty close to my 01 -when your talkin' maybe 8-10 rwhp big deal.......if you can find and 01 and save some $ and it doesn't have a major consumption issue -why not buy it