Ok this is my first post here am I am learning as I go. I am getting ready to buy my first corvette and need some advice from some veterans. I am looking to buy a 2005-06 C6 Z51. My question is how much performance loss is there compared to a 2004 Z06? A friend of mine has the Z06 and he says I will be sorry if I get the Z51. I apologize if this questions gets asked a lot and I have missed it. Any help would be great.
thanks

 

Not much, if any, performance loss from a C5Z to a C6 Z51, maybe in the right hands .1 tenth of a second in the 1/4 mile, but thats it. You gain more refinement and better handling in the C6 along with a smoother , more suitable ride for longer trips. If he said C6 Z06, then there's alot of difference.

 

I have an 07 C6 w/ Z51 option- I Ordered it because I wanted the added performance it offers. I guess it depends what you plan on using the car for I.E. Daily Driver -you might want to consider the F55 option w/ magnetic ride control. I've read The base C6 was engineered to C5 ZO6 Performance standards since the New C6 ZO6 was going to be the new bench mark for "ultimate" Corvette performance. Also which body style appeals to you? Anyway Good luck & Welcome

 

Go with the C6.

 

I was in the same boat when I was looking a couple years ago.

I test drove both.

Performance was pretty dead even in my opinion.

Interior on the C5 Z06 was JUST like my Camaro's. I couldnt get past that. The interior on the C6 was bounds better.

I also couldnt get past the fact that C5 Z06's (used) were going for (at least around me) almost as much as the 06 C6 Z51 that I ended up with.

 

On average the C5Z is about 2/10ths quicker in the quarter and 1 MPH faster than the C6 Z51. The C6 Z51 will top out 14 MPH faster overall. The C6 is more aerodynamic too 0.28Cd (Z51) compared to 0.32Cd (Z06) Both are fast and if you ditch the runflat tires for non runflats, the C6 Z51 would be even closer in the 1/4. Both are amazingly fast for stock machines!

 

No doubt!

 

The Best C5 Z06 times are about .3-.4 quicker than the best C6 Z51 times in the 1/4. The average driver will probably be in the mid 12's in either car, but the C5 Z06 certainly has the potential to be noticeably quicker if driven well.


If by better handling you mean easier to drive fast, I guess I may agree. However, the Z06 will lap a race track quicker than a C6 Z51 with equal, capable drivers. The Z06 has better turn in and mid corner speed. While it may not be as rewarding to drivers with less experience, the Z06 is ultimately faster on a racetrack, and to me, that is the sign of a car that handles better.

 

Well that was what I wanted to hear. I really prefer the C6 bodystyle and interior. Now I just have to track down my color and buy it.
Thanks for all the input. Hope to have more posts after I actually get the car.

 

I love this list:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nordsch...test_lap_times

C6 Z06 = 7:43
C5 Z06 = 7:56
C6 Z52 = 7:59

The C6 Z06 is only one second behind the Ford GT and the Porsche 997 GT3.

Some interesting cars too.

7:50 BMW X5 SUV (750hp)
7:55 Ferrari F430

Bottom line, the C5Z was less than 1% faster.

Drivers race.

 

I went from a C6 to another C6 to a C5Z. I'd never look back

 

Just was rereading some old car mags--I hang on to the interesting articles. The 385 hp C5Z was substantially slower than the C6 Z51. When they upped it to 405, it showed a tenth quicker in the 1/4 but with much lower top end. And the rest of the C6 is FAR superior to the C5 in every way--including looks, imo, but that is personal opinion. The C5Z was the best supercar value out there. But time marches on... I'm wondering what Chevy is going to do with the '09 Z to answer Viper's 600hp. Not much discussion of that, what with the LS3 being the hot topic, but they have to do something--I'm thinking at least 50 hp, to stay on top.

 

I don't think the CEO of GM is concerned with chasing down a 600HP Viper that may result in all of 3000 Dodge sales. I think Chevorlet should keep doing what they are doing and providing a great car dollar for dollar on performance.

The power continues to go up while the weight continues to go down; when does it end?

I'd like to see Chevorlet continue to make small updates - like Ipod interfaces, bluetooth, etc. Things that consumers, asinine as it may sound, are concerned with. I'd say 75% of new(er) Corvette owners have no clue of the performance potential of these cars.

I'll admit - I have no idea how to control the power from my car on the street. I just have a little procharged Z and its brutally scary to be honest. I dont track my car nor do I auto-X: I'm what you would call the average mod happy poser

To say the C6 > C5 is like saying computers today are much better than ones of 5 years ago. Duh

 

Do run flats really slow the car that much

 

my neighbor has a 04 Z06 and says it is loud and hot inside. He loves my c6 and is sorry he went with the 04Z. It is hot inside and loud (no insulation).

Get the C6 and put on a stinger or some other air ram and have it tuned. You will have a better car in handling, window noise looks etc etc
Charlie

 

I'm sure the guy driving an F1 car thinks its hot in there too but he isn't complaining. My cabin gets warm but its just as hot as my C6's with headers were.

I see so many people spend hours and $$$ trying to keep heat out of the cabin of the C6.

Our society is really getting sissyfied.

 

Unsprung weight and stiffness (i.e. poor grip)

They are hard, heavy, and don't hook at all.

 

I had a 2002 Z06 and I loved it but I wanted a C6, so I got a Z51 MN6. I don't race. I only drive mine on the street. The C6 was an dog compared to the 02 Z06 in low-speed acceleration. The body roll was a little hard to get used to also. I liked the old car better.

I had some mods (see my signature) done to my C6 to get back some of my old car's low-speed acceleration and some of its bad-boy feel, while enjoying the benefits of the better-looking, better-riding C6.

I didn't do too much but the mods worked. I liked the new car better as soon as the tune was completed. The modded C6 felt quicker after the mods, at low speeds, than my old car. When I get around to it, I'll put some Bilstein Sports on it to reduce the roll. I don't know if it will handle better but I miss the old car's stiffness. However, as I said, I like the new car better than the old one quite a bit already.

I would guess that all you'd have to do to make the C6 equal the low speed acceleration of the C5Z06 is to get it tuned. The C6 is a beast but the factory tune didn't let it do what I wanted.

As to actual handling versus street feel, I couldn't possible exercise either car to its capabilities to even comment. I think that both cars have the same or similar brakes and they both slow/stop very well. The Z felt a little sharper stopping, maybe because it was a little lighter.

 

I know that if you get a good non runflat tire like a BFG KDW 2 ~You'll save a couple of pounds per tire, plus you will get better traction than the runflat tire. This is why so many switch to non runflats. Your handling will be better also, and possibly even your braking distance as well due to the better traction.
How much will they help in the 1/4 mile.... That's up to the driver, but I could see it helping a couple of tenths I.M.O