keithd

Howdy all,

New account but not first time on the Corvette Forum, used to have a C4 a looong time ago.

My question to ya'll is - how stiff/light is the stock clutch pedal? I was considering a C6 GS auto, but I'd rather have a Z. And would a dual or triple disc clutch be easier?

I'm going to be retiring from the military in a couple years, and my 44 year-old legs aren't as good as the were when I was 20. So I want to get a C5 Z06 as a retirement present, more than a C6 Z even. Just fell in love with the C5 "notchback" look. I drove a crappy Tata manual diesel truck in Afghanistan, and I nearly ruined my left foot from the junk clutch. High effort for so little power. I was thinking about an auto CTS-V - very good car, but heavy and make Chevelles look like economy cars. So what do ya'll think about a Z06 daily driver for kind of older guys whose knees ain't what they used to be?

MY03C5Z

The stock clutch has pretty normal effort for a manual car, nothing unusually heavy imo. Maybe someone in your area would let you take theirs out for a ride to see if it works for you. Pretty sure most aftermarket clutches are going to have a heavier feel. Appreciate your service, sounds like you really deserve one.

keithd

Thanks!
Funny enough, my son and I are flying to Houston from Germany. Sending him off to college and I wanted to my folks as well.

Hopefully I can run into someone while I'm there.

Black 03 Z06

The stock clutch in my C5Z is very smooth and I do not find it to be heavy at all.

Like all manual cars it gets tough in heavy traffic but, mine does not get driven in those conditions very often.

I don't think you will have any issues at all.

Acid666

Yeah I'll agree with this. My C5Z is pretty normal. I don't start to really even think about it until I'm stuck in traffic.

Zjoe6

No problem at all for me. Smooth and easy. Go for it.

Acid666

When are you heading to Houston? I'm 4 hours away, but go there a bit for work and can possibly find ya. There's gotta be a lot more people planted there that would likely be more than willing to let ya check it out though.

killian96ss

I think the stock clutch is smooth and easy to operate, but in heavy traffic it does become a little tiring. The stock shifter, however isn't all that great and after only a few months of owning my Z it's definitely going to be my first modification.

Steve

keithd

I'm in DFW right this minute, bout to catch a flight to Hobby.

I wonder how the clutch is in bumper-to-bumper traffic. The car I have in Germany now has an auto, which is nice in the fabled autobahn traffic jams. But I guess y'all are saying that the Z isn't really any worse than most other manuals.

Reggie Dunlop

A 70 pound schoolgirl has no problem actuating the clutch in a modern Corvette. It's hydraulic and requires no effort, a nonissue really, unless you're a total pussee.