06 C6 vert

The C5 Z06 is similar to the LS2 powered C6 ( with sus tweeks) I would get the LS3 Vette, but thats just me.

C4RACER

to me they are both plasticy and low rent and neither one matches up well to the german and japanese cars I've been driving for the last decade or more. the C6 interior sucks slightly less. that is not a reason to choose it over the C5Z for me. Of course that is a personal decision that everybody will have their own take on. just sharing my own point of view FWIW.

I drove a LS3 car today. 09 3LT car with nav and all the options. Dealer demo. Car is scary fast, but then again - so is a C5Z. Anything with 8lbs / hp or less that runs 12's in the 1/4 mi is just crazy fast and more than you can enjoy on the street for more than a few seconds of WOT.

Bat Man

Personally, I think the C5 interior (at least aesthetically) is a step back. It shared way too many parts with fellow Chevrolets (the radio in particular, gag).

AORoads

I think you've gotten some great advice and insight here. While the C5 Z is dated, it still is a formidable car in many ways. If this is to be a track car to any extent, AND you're on a budget, the suggestion to get a reasonably-priced car and budget another $10K in expendables is very wise (by longdaddy).

And just one Sunday afternoon of driving a C5 Z06 brought me back to the Corvette fold several years ago.

That doesn't mean the C6 is out of the question; it's all just a matter of what you want to do with the car and how much money you have. Doesn't in any way detract from the C6 which I own.

Good luck whichever car you choose.

C4RACER

out of all those I like this one the best. It's the only one that has enough pedals on the floor for me

Actually, the late C4 interior was pretty good. I prefer the seats to either the C5 or C6. The steering wheel is good. The shifter and transmission is better. And the steering feel is better with less boost. The C4 feels more connected with the driver.

But damn - they are so hard to get in and out of!!!!

Mew2

Where would you even pick one up? Mostly dealers are charging so much for both of these :/
way more than everyone usually suggests they are...maybe I'm missing something!

PMorganRacing

Here's one man's opinion, which I have to say, I agree with, even though I'm a huge fan of the C5 Z06's bang for the buck...
https://www.corvetteforum.com/articl...better-c5-z06/

airforcex

The C5's is ultimately a 90s car (I know the Z came later). You're trading a lot for .2 secs that you can make on tires.

Johnny wangwang

2011 Nice!

Corvette_Ed

There's nothing quite like bringing a six-year-old thread back from the dead.....

Robert 2000

Wow a 6 year thread posted on the front page... I thought I have seen it all.

0Chuck CoW

Yeah Man... THANK YOU! Some people wanna compare apples and oranges....

In this case it's apples to pineapples...

Regardless of what the peak power difference is, I'll make it exciting to drive!

I've had guys tell me their Tuned C5 is way more fun than their modded C6..... It's all in the tune!

Stay TUNED!
Chuck CoW

NiteriderFRC

6 year old thread or not - ill chime in- 10 years and 4- C5 Vettes and 2 C6s. Conclusion - C6 is obviously the superior "CAR". As a means of transportation, its nicer to sit in, look at, park, drive, and use every day on the road. Sorry if you think otherwise but you're in denial. The C5 interiors new were pretty bad, 19 years on they can easily turn into mushy, rattle, squeaky, torn stink boxes! lol still love C5s and always will.

NOW! whether or not you feel like a C5 is more "fun" to drive or is a better bargain is a different story...

roadbike56

For a DD, the C6 may be nicer to drive, certainly its newer. However, for a 'Vette in the garage for fun rides on weekends, maybe a show or two, and cars & coffee and I don't want it to depreciate to nothing' the C5 Z06 wins hands down. An unmolested, 2002-2004 Z06 with less than 50K on the clock is a bargain that won't lose much money over time while the C6 coupe or vert will continue on it's depreciation curve. So many C5 Zs have been boosted, tracked hard, modded to oblivion that the few remaining examples with low miles that are not molested will be in demand if not today, soon. Actually, the 2004 Commemorative Edition may have already reached the bottom of the depreciation curve. They're becoming hard to find.

bladex10

CF.com is running out of headlines to post on the main page.

momo20

you really have to drive both car's to see what your feel is on each one...having the chance to drive both cars of one of each model ranging from a base c5 all the way up to a C6 ZR1 all the car's offer different feeling's. I currently own a supercharge 2003 Z06 and bone stock 2008 Z06...at the end of the day i still prefer the C5 Z06. I am 6'4'' and only weigh 190 lbs, granted I fit in both cars rather nice, to me i feel much more confined in the C6 interior then that of the C5 interior. performance wise there is no doubt that the C6 in any form the LS2, LS3 in either grand sport or Z51 options will out perform the lighter C5 Z06...with both car's having equal driver's the nod will always go to the C5 Z06..as for me the C6 either being a base or Z51 car they look the same and have no ohh look at that vette because that is the most common bought vette on the road..that is why i went with the car's I own...the c6 coupe not the c6 z06 or zr1 look great don't get me wrong its just to boring and has aged worse then that of the c5 which many will agree has a timeless look to it...that is just my 2 cent's so don't flame me

NytmereZ

For me it would be C5Z06 100% not even a second thought, all the non wide body C6 corvettes are boring, the C5Z is set apart from the rest.
The Z51 option has been around since the introduction of the 1984 C4 corvette, just stiffer springs, the C5 and C6 chassis aren't all that different.
I personally wouldn't buy a base model C6 over the performance king of the C5's , my C5Z felt like an extension of me, the C6 base felt numb and uninspiring, and the HP difference between ls2 and LS3 was so minimal, I couldn't feel a darn thing.

REDZED2

If money same.. never choose a C6 non wide body (looks dated) over a c5Z and have drove them all. Exterior still looks contemporary on the C5Z.. yeah the infamous delco radio interior on the C5... but you quickly forget that when its boosted and modded. Point and shoot. Hard to find many with low miles or C6Z's.. only car I might take over a C5Z is a C6 GS vert in similar price and blow that.

LTC Z06

The forum links to this thread on the front page along with a video of why this guy bought a C6 Z51 over a C5 Z06. Having owned both the only thing I missed from the C5 Z06 was the steering feel. The C6 is numb, GM called it more refined, buts it's numb.

Vette-kid

well, since we are discussing the video...some of that guys reasons make no sense at all! Because a C6 is the same price, is not a reason in itself. I would personally be willing to pay more for the C5Z. Electrical problem?? Sure some have had them, and they get blown out of proportion on the net. I have not had one issue with mine, its as reliable of a car as any in my garage. He also fails to mention that the C5Z looks WAY better than the C6 (yes, I realize I am saying this in the C6 forum...but to me the base C6 just looks dated, never was a fan. C6Z adds the touches that the base was missing, IMHO). C5Z hands down.