Is 400hp Good enough
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 17
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Is 400hp Good enough
A good friend of my used to own a c5 and said that it was more then enough power. I was wondering if you could tell the power difference in the c6 vs c5 an is 400hp really enough for a fun car and a day to day drive.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Fort Lauderdale
my car dynoed 390 i went 12.2 at 117 in it on crappy stock runflats. That will tear up most anything on the streets unless you run into a Decently modded Cobra. Im still waiting to catch me a viper at a traffic light
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From: San Clemente CA
Race Director
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From: Saint Albans, WV
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St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'10
I came from a C5 (1997) and the power difference is very noticeable. I don't know what vehicles in this power range you've driven so I'm not sure what your basis for comparison is but it has a lot of power (and torque) available. These cars will put you back in your seat don't feel threatened by very many (stock) cars on the road. Not to mention, they are a blast to drive.
Race Director
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From: Out Where the Buses Don't Run, Eglin AFB/ Niceville FL
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I had a stock 98 before I bought the 06. I felt it or I would've kept my C5.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Anaheim Hills, Ca
I had an '04 C5 auto prior to my '07 Z51 MZ6. The difference in power between the two is noticeable. The torque increase is noticeable as well. It's only 50 HP more though. For me 400 is enough but I only have 3,000 miles in 6 months. Horsepower can be addicting though. Once you start modding, it's hard to stop and that's why I'm keeping mine basically stock except for exhaust and appearance mods.
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Safety Car
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From: Pittsburgh PA
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The 25 lb/ft increase in torque (375 C5 MN6 vs 400 C6) is much more noticable in every day driving than the 50 hp increase which comes on at the top end. You will absolutely feel the difference between and LS2 and LS1 on the street. 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,116
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From: Northwest, AR
It's always cool to be able to say....... my car will run high 11's, or my car will do 200, or my car will beat such and such Porsche or Ferrari. I agree that's cool. But reality for me is........ I get on it every now and then at a stop light or going down an on ramp. Maybe even an occasional smokey burn out. But I would not do anything different if I had 600HP vs my 400. My current 400 allows me to plaster my body back into the seat and drive at death wish speeds if I desire and even do it on twisty switch back roads. I am not going racing any time soon. But that's just me. If you are going racing....then I completely understand why you need more power to win. If you just drive on the street, 400HP can get you into all the trouble you could ever imagine.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: CA
I remember when I thought my '92 LT1 Coupe was fast. I modded it and thought breaking into the 12's would be nirvanna. There are times now I think, when attempting to pass, that another 100hp on the LS2 would do just fine.
CF Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,313
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From: Tucson Arizona
Yes...400 horsepower is sufficient to have a good time with. I enjoyed driving my stock C6 tremendously, however, my LPE 403 C6 is way more fun to drive. There's just no comparison.
Unless you're running considerably more than a stock C6, your awaited encounter with a Viper may be a humbling experience....most definitely if it happens to be a brand new 600 naturally-aspirated horsepower/576 ft-lb of torque Viper. You might just want to give him a 'thumbs-up' and go about your business.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: North Western Connecticut
I came from a C5 (1997) and the power difference is very noticeable. I don't know what vehicles in this power range you've driven so I'm not sure what your basis for comparison is but it has a lot of power (and torque) available. These cars will put you back in your seat don't feel threatened by very many (stock) cars on the road. Not to mention, they are a blast to drive.
.... now after I add those headers, cam, rockers, etc, etc, etc..... 