View Poll Results: Which would you want as your track car?
Stock Z06
27
77.14%
C6 w/$10K in mods
8
22.86%
Voters: 35. You may not vote on this poll
Poll: Z06 or Modded C6 for track day?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 34
Likes: 6
Poll: Z06 or Modded C6 for track day?
Hey all -
I'm looking to get a vette that will serve as a second car and track toy (autocross, road racing, drag).
I'm considering a 2005-07 vette with ~30k miles, my budget is 35-40k.
For track purposes and overall enjoyment, would I be better off purchasing a Z06 and keeping it basically stock, or getting a regular C6 and dumping $10k of mods in to it?
Perhaps some of you have owned both and could share your experiences?
Thanks for your help
I'm looking to get a vette that will serve as a second car and track toy (autocross, road racing, drag).
I'm considering a 2005-07 vette with ~30k miles, my budget is 35-40k.
For track purposes and overall enjoyment, would I be better off purchasing a Z06 and keeping it basically stock, or getting a regular C6 and dumping $10k of mods in to it?
Perhaps some of you have owned both and could share your experiences?
Thanks for your help
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
(autocross, road racing, drag).
buy a C5Z and as hamdog said you WILL put $10K Min in the C5Z anyway.
Cooling, water, oil, diff, brakes
Brake pads, fluid
Tires, wheels
Seats, harnessbar or roll cage
then nothing but seat time
Good Luck
C5s do not have the TMPS headaches that C6s have
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 5,145
Likes: 125
From: The Motor City
are Two Different Cars with Three different set ups.
buy a C5Z and as hamdog said you WILL put $10K Min in the C5Z anyway.
Cooling, water, oil, diff, brakes
Brake pads, fluid
Tires, wheels
Seats, harnessbar or roll cage
then nothing but seat time
Good Luck
C5s do not have the TMPS headaches that C6s have
buy a C5Z and as hamdog said you WILL put $10K Min in the C5Z anyway.
Cooling, water, oil, diff, brakes
Brake pads, fluid
Tires, wheels
Seats, harnessbar or roll cage
then nothing but seat time
Good Luck
C5s do not have the TMPS headaches that C6s have
If I had twice as much money into the car I wouldn't push it as hard and definitely wouldn't have twice as much fun. If you're just starting out, the car is definitely capable of much quicker laptimes than you are anyway.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,059
Likes: 17
From: Stokesdale NC
I agree, but come to the exact opposite conclusion! You can have just as much fun and spend far less. You WILL spend $10K no matter what. If I had it to do all over again, I'd start with a used C5Z.
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,581
Likes: 43
From: Addison TX
Hey all -
I'm looking to get a vette that will serve as a second car and track toy (autocross, road racing, drag).
I'm considering a 2005-07 vette with ~30k miles, my budget is 35-40k.
For track purposes and overall enjoyment, would I be better off purchasing a Z06 and keeping it basically stock, or getting a regular C6 and dumping $10k of mods in to it?
Perhaps some of you have owned both and could share your experiences?
Thanks for your help
I'm looking to get a vette that will serve as a second car and track toy (autocross, road racing, drag).
I'm considering a 2005-07 vette with ~30k miles, my budget is 35-40k.
For track purposes and overall enjoyment, would I be better off purchasing a Z06 and keeping it basically stock, or getting a regular C6 and dumping $10k of mods in to it?
Perhaps some of you have owned both and could share your experiences?
Thanks for your help
I would do the following between a LS3 Coupe vs early C6 Z06:
2008 Corvette 1LT 30,000
cam, headers, air box 4000
Big rad w. eoc 1200
coil overs 1800
Big sway bars 900
harness bar, harness, race seat 1000
18" wheels & sticky tires
Brake pads
Brake fluid
You will go faster in this combo than the stock Z plus the LS3 is much more reliable in stock form than the (pre 08) LS7
If you want to go even faster, buy a 02 Z06 and put 20k in mods and be more reliable than the LS3 or LS7 imho
Best Regards,
John Page
www.21stcenturymusclecars.com
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Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 34
Likes: 6
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 5,464
Likes: 2
From: Private
Here is my $0.02
You are oversimplifying your comparison to only include initial costs. This is a bad mistake. The Z06 is a MUCH MUCH more expensive car to run and maintain then a standard C6. Like owning a boat or running a real race car. The cost of the initial equipment is usually 1/3rd (or less) of the overall running costs.
So you can't just add $10k to the cost of a base C6 and say it is an equal comparison. If that was the case, I would say why are you wasting your time even thinking of a C6 when for just another $10k you can have a Z06. But that is not the case.
I came from a C5Z to a C6Z and my running costs tripled. Honestly, I think the best solution is a C5Z T1 car with a cage, fire suppression, and fully race legal if you so choose to decide...MUCH better investment than a C6Z and probably just as fast. If I was starting from scratch and had enough money to buy a second track dedicated car, it would ABSOLUTELY WITHOUT A DOUBT, buy an already preppared T1 car. If you are not going to race in T1 you can throw in a nasty cam & heads and be running with well preppared C6Z's. I know one guy (Bob from ECS) that has a 427 in his C5 with Penske's and all the goodies and I can barely hold him off, come to think of it, he has passed me on a few occasions and even with all his mods, his car doesn't costs what mine did.
From a safety stand point alone, the T1 option makes the most sense and building one yourself when there are SOOO many good ones available for even UNDER your price range is just stupid.
You are oversimplifying your comparison to only include initial costs. This is a bad mistake. The Z06 is a MUCH MUCH more expensive car to run and maintain then a standard C6. Like owning a boat or running a real race car. The cost of the initial equipment is usually 1/3rd (or less) of the overall running costs.
So you can't just add $10k to the cost of a base C6 and say it is an equal comparison. If that was the case, I would say why are you wasting your time even thinking of a C6 when for just another $10k you can have a Z06. But that is not the case.
I came from a C5Z to a C6Z and my running costs tripled. Honestly, I think the best solution is a C5Z T1 car with a cage, fire suppression, and fully race legal if you so choose to decide...MUCH better investment than a C6Z and probably just as fast. If I was starting from scratch and had enough money to buy a second track dedicated car, it would ABSOLUTELY WITHOUT A DOUBT, buy an already preppared T1 car. If you are not going to race in T1 you can throw in a nasty cam & heads and be running with well preppared C6Z's. I know one guy (Bob from ECS) that has a 427 in his C5 with Penske's and all the goodies and I can barely hold him off, come to think of it, he has passed me on a few occasions and even with all his mods, his car doesn't costs what mine did.
From a safety stand point alone, the T1 option makes the most sense and building one yourself when there are SOOO many good ones available for even UNDER your price range is just stupid.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 34
Likes: 6
Here is my $0.02
You are oversimplifying your comparison to only include initial costs. This is a bad mistake. The Z06 is a MUCH MUCH more expensive car to run and maintain then a standard C6. Like owning a boat or running a real race car. The cost of the initial equipment is usually 1/3rd (or less) of the overall running costs.
So you can't just add $10k to the cost of a base C6 and say it is an equal comparison. If that was the case, I would say why are you wasting your time even thinking of a C6 when for just another $10k you can have a Z06. But that is not the case.
I came from a C5Z to a C6Z and my running costs tripled. Honestly, I think the best solution is a C5Z T1 car with a cage, fire suppression, and fully race legal if you so choose to decide...MUCH better investment than a C6Z and probably just as fast. If I was starting from scratch and had enough money to buy a second track dedicated car, it would ABSOLUTELY WITHOUT A DOUBT, buy an already preppared T1 car. If you are not going to race in T1 you can throw in a nasty cam & heads and be running with well preppared C6Z's. I know one guy (Bob from ECS) that has a 427 in his C5 with Penske's and all the goodies and I can barely hold him off, come to think of it, he has passed me on a few occasions and even with all his mods, his car doesn't costs what mine did.
From a safety stand point alone, the T1 option makes the most sense and building one yourself when there are SOOO many good ones available for even UNDER your price range is just stupid.
You are oversimplifying your comparison to only include initial costs. This is a bad mistake. The Z06 is a MUCH MUCH more expensive car to run and maintain then a standard C6. Like owning a boat or running a real race car. The cost of the initial equipment is usually 1/3rd (or less) of the overall running costs.
So you can't just add $10k to the cost of a base C6 and say it is an equal comparison. If that was the case, I would say why are you wasting your time even thinking of a C6 when for just another $10k you can have a Z06. But that is not the case.
I came from a C5Z to a C6Z and my running costs tripled. Honestly, I think the best solution is a C5Z T1 car with a cage, fire suppression, and fully race legal if you so choose to decide...MUCH better investment than a C6Z and probably just as fast. If I was starting from scratch and had enough money to buy a second track dedicated car, it would ABSOLUTELY WITHOUT A DOUBT, buy an already preppared T1 car. If you are not going to race in T1 you can throw in a nasty cam & heads and be running with well preppared C6Z's. I know one guy (Bob from ECS) that has a 427 in his C5 with Penske's and all the goodies and I can barely hold him off, come to think of it, he has passed me on a few occasions and even with all his mods, his car doesn't costs what mine did.
From a safety stand point alone, the T1 option makes the most sense and building one yourself when there are SOOO many good ones available for even UNDER your price range is just stupid.
That being said, what you've stated above is what I needed to hear. I can probably get over the looks if the C6 is always in my rear mirror
Should I keep my search for a C5Z with mileage under 30k, or can I get away with one at say 40 or 50k and be okay mechanically?
Thanks again!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 9,899
Likes: 1,839
From: Hot Springs AR
My '00 FRC has been autocrossed and DE'd for 8 years, has almost 250,000 miles on her, only mechanical replacement has been the clutch when the pressure plate levers broke.
Mileage is not near the issue it used to be. Look for a C5 with 100K miles, put the savings into your mods.
Have a good one,
Mike
Mileage is not near the issue it used to be. Look for a C5 with 100K miles, put the savings into your mods.
Have a good one,
Mike
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 34
Likes: 6
Here is my $0.02
You are oversimplifying your comparison to only include initial costs. This is a bad mistake. The Z06 is a MUCH MUCH more expensive car to run and maintain then a standard C6. Like owning a boat or running a real race car. The cost of the initial equipment is usually 1/3rd (or less) of the overall running costs.
So you can't just add $10k to the cost of a base C6 and say it is an equal comparison. If that was the case, I would say why are you wasting your time even thinking of a C6 when for just another $10k you can have a Z06. But that is not the case.
I came from a C5Z to a C6Z and my running costs tripled. Honestly, I think the best solution is a C5Z T1 car with a cage, fire suppression, and fully race legal if you so choose to decide...MUCH better investment than a C6Z and probably just as fast. If I was starting from scratch and had enough money to buy a second track dedicated car, it would ABSOLUTELY WITHOUT A DOUBT, buy an already preppared T1 car. If you are not going to race in T1 you can throw in a nasty cam & heads and be running with well preppared C6Z's. I know one guy (Bob from ECS) that has a 427 in his C5 with Penske's and all the goodies and I can barely hold him off, come to think of it, he has passed me on a few occasions and even with all his mods, his car doesn't costs what mine did.
From a safety stand point alone, the T1 option makes the most sense and building one yourself when there are SOOO many good ones available for even UNDER your price range is just stupid.
You are oversimplifying your comparison to only include initial costs. This is a bad mistake. The Z06 is a MUCH MUCH more expensive car to run and maintain then a standard C6. Like owning a boat or running a real race car. The cost of the initial equipment is usually 1/3rd (or less) of the overall running costs.
So you can't just add $10k to the cost of a base C6 and say it is an equal comparison. If that was the case, I would say why are you wasting your time even thinking of a C6 when for just another $10k you can have a Z06. But that is not the case.
I came from a C5Z to a C6Z and my running costs tripled. Honestly, I think the best solution is a C5Z T1 car with a cage, fire suppression, and fully race legal if you so choose to decide...MUCH better investment than a C6Z and probably just as fast. If I was starting from scratch and had enough money to buy a second track dedicated car, it would ABSOLUTELY WITHOUT A DOUBT, buy an already preppared T1 car. If you are not going to race in T1 you can throw in a nasty cam & heads and be running with well preppared C6Z's. I know one guy (Bob from ECS) that has a 427 in his C5 with Penske's and all the goodies and I can barely hold him off, come to think of it, he has passed me on a few occasions and even with all his mods, his car doesn't costs what mine did.
From a safety stand point alone, the T1 option makes the most sense and building one yourself when there are SOOO many good ones available for even UNDER your price range is just stupid.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
TPMS issues put car into limp mode occasionally when you least expect it ( or running wheels with out the TPMs) will
Put in a Real Dry sump for the LS3, and work with the TPMs issues, and giddy up.
Everything else can be added as needed.
the LS3 is a heck of a power house engine but needs a dry sump.
Good Luck
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
From: Westlake CA
For a dedicated track car, the best buy for your money in a pre-built SCCA T1 (or NASA ST2) race car, hands down. Safe, fast and relatively inexpensive.
I built a T1 C6, and from personal experience it is expensive to build! But they do look great!
I built a T1 C6, and from personal experience it is expensive to build! But they do look great!
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 34
Likes: 6
This thing is going to by my 2nd car, has to be street legal and pass emissions and inspection. I do not think I'm going T-1...this is going to be a weekend racer, not dedicated. I expect to put about 5k miles on it a year.
