New LS1 Owners - Newbie Tech - what to get?

I've had my Artic White 99 A4 Camaro Z28 for 9 months now, I bought it pre-moded (see sig) and have loved driving it everyday. It's very loud, and very fast however lately I have been wanting another car, perhaps just for the sake of a change. I want my next car to be a manual, and a top of the line car, something equally as badass, and for it not to be white (love white but this is my second white car). My question to all of you is what is another WORTHY competitor, or a step up even?

So far I've been considering the following...

'03+ Mustang Cobra
00-02 F-body...WS6 or Camaro SS
97-02 Corvette C5 (don't really want one because there's way to many on the road)
01-02 Corvette Z06 (can't afford one but it's nice to dream!)

maybe even an import...but I don't like the looks of most, like the STi or SRT-4 (yuck)

What do you think?

i didnt notice a converter as one of those mods.... why dont u start with a nice stall and see if u still want that manual. besides who wants to miss a shift :)

i didnt notice a converter as one of those mods.... why dont u start with a nice stall and see if u still want that manual. besides who wants to miss a shift :)


A stall would make me launch faster, totally different from wanting a manual because you can shift and "feel" the car in your hands. Besides, you can't rev very easy with a automatic when you're moving through a parking lot!!....and I can't afford the miles per gallon with a stall!

Besides, you can't rev very easy with a automatic when you're moving through a parking lot!!....

Get a big enough stall and you'll be surprised at how much you can rev the motor/snap the throttle during a slow roll while still being in gear without the car moving much. ;)

I've had my Artic White 99 A4 Camaro Z28 for 9 months now, I bought it pre-moded (see sig) and have loved driving it everyday. It's very loud, and very fast however lately I have been wanting another car, perhaps just for the sake of a change. I want my next car to be a manual, and a top of the line car, something equally as badass, and for it not to be white (love white but this is my second white car). My question to all of you is what is another WORTHY competitor, or a step up even?

So far I've been considering the following...

'03+ Mustang Cobra
00-02 F-body...WS6 or Camaro SS
97-02 Corvette C5 (don't really want one because there's way to many on the road)
01-02 Corvette Z06 (can't afford one but it's nice to dream!)

maybe even an import...but I don't like the looks of most, like the STi or SRT-4 (yuck)

What do you think?

Your best bet is to go test drive anything that tickles your fancy.
A C5 is going to offer you the best all around performance, while the Cobra is going to be 2nd best, followed by the F-body. (dont forget about the GTO)
You really cant go wrong with either 3. As far as 'imports' go, a BMW M3 (although they are known for electrical grimlins), or EVO/STi would probably be your best bet.
And from personal experience, I can tell you that I will never buy an automatic performance car (unless its going to be a full out dragster), its just not nealy as fun as a manual.
I would go for a C5, but thats me, I have a fetish for those cars, I dont care how many I see on the road.

Your best bet is to go test drive anything that tickles your fancy.
A C5 is going to offer you the best all around performance, while the Cobra is going to be 2nd best, followed by the F-body. (dont forget about the GTO)
You really cant go wrong with either 3. As far as 'imports' go, a BMW M3 (although they are known for electrical grimlins), or EVO/STi would probably be your best bet.
And from personal experience, I can tell you that I will never buy an automatic performance car (unless its going to be a full out dragster), its just not nealy as fun as a manual.
I would go for a C5, but thats me, I have a fetish for those cars, I dont care how many I see on the road.

That's pretty much what I had in mind. Call me crazy, but I think a nice F-body looks/sounds and possibly IS faster than a C5. I think it would be a waste of alot of time and effort if I were to spend money on a WS6 at this point...and that really wouldn't be any different of a car...and with a C5 I know I would suffer the same fate as I did with the Camaro, wanting the next best thing! I wish Cobra's LOOKED more exotic. hmm....

If I were in your shoes, I'd step up to a C5. I know I'd have one in my driveway if my wallet could handle it, and it will one day...

C5, it may be the last generation of vette, but it's ahead of the F body in terms of fit, finish, and materials (at least in the cabin), I've been lucky enough to have one for a weekend (a vert no less :D ) and it was...... can't really put into words, but it was a great feeling having that car even if it was temporary
Go for the C5

I would say the vette or the cobra are the best performers. Cobra's can be pretty quick with just bolt-ons. Put a Kenne Bell on it and it'll move. Same goes for the vette with a procharger or H/C.

i would keep what you got looks pretty badass

Keep It!

i would say the c5 also, or keep your camaro for awhile and save up for a z06

That's pretty much what I had in mind. Call me crazy, but I think a nice F-body looks/sounds and possibly IS faster than a C5. I think it would be a waste of alot of time and effort if I were to spend money on a WS6 at this point...and that really wouldn't be any different of a car...and with a C5 I know I would suffer the same fate as I did with the Camaro, wanting the next best thing! I wish Cobra's LOOKED more exotic. hmm....

Looks are opinion, but an F-body should sound very similar to a C5, being that its the same exact engine.
And when I said performance, I said all around performance (i.e. braking, handling etc.) A Corvette is a whole different experince.

i would keep what you got looks pretty badass


I agree.

What you have looks better than a C5 or Cobra, IMO. And if it's more power that you want, any LS1 F-body could be made just as fast as any S/C Cobra or C5.

Get a 3500-4000 stall for it and see how you feel then. Going from a stock stall A4 to anything greater than a 3500 opens up a whole new world. ;)

what about a t56 swap into the current ride?

I said all around performance (i.e. braking, handling etc.) A Corvette is a whole different experince.

That's what I was looking for I suppose...I just hate not being able to floor it around corners in my Camaro, I almost always loose traction/control when I throw it around to much.

I guess the thing about my car is it looks absolutely killer in some light/angles and other times I think it's kinda ugly. Love/hate relationship....I guess this is true with any car unless it a Lamborghini or equivelant? Maybe I'm just bored with my car and the way it sounds and feels?

My car is at just under 80k miles and the passenger window is almost dead, the drivers side buttons on the door is broken underneath so the buttons are depressed in, and my cutout open/closed doesn't sound like I want it to.

what about a t56 swap into the current ride?

I don't want to turn the car into something it's not. I just accept it for what it is. Maybe I want my car to be a SS...I cannot justify buying a hood for it though...Thanks for the compliments guys!

A stall would make me launch faster, totally different from wanting a manual because you can shift and "feel" the car in your hands. Besides, you can't rev very easy with a automatic when you're moving through a parking lot!!....and I can't afford the miles per gallon with a stall!

oh u think u cant snap that throttle going slow? ha my little 3400/2.1 is lose enough to do just that...:) and with the 3.73s i have it acts more like a 4k stall and on the bottle it acts close to a 5k. but there is also the option of a t56 swap. u have a beautiful car keep it. also a c5 would be nice in terms of all around performance, but if u think its expensive to mod a ls1 f-body try to mod a c5... :eek2: although in terms of fit and finish they are light years ahead. and a stall does do much more than just help ur launch.. hope this helps sway u decision, but there is no sustitute to rowing ur own gears :drive:

Another thing that pisses me off is my Long Tubes and how they prevent me from dropping the car. Nothing looks better than a dropped Vette!

If it was my car, I would keep it for another year or two (to pile money), then I would go with a nice C6 and stoke it to a 402ci.

Of course, it would be red!

That's what I was looking for I suppose...I just hate not being able to floor it around corners in my Camaro, I almost always loose traction/control when I throw it around to much.

Sticky tires and suspension work can fix that.

If it was my car, I would keep it for another year or two (to pile money), then I would go with a nice C6 and stoke it to a 402ci.

Of course, it would be red!

I'm 19 years old lol, ain't no C6 happening in the next 15 years. That's why I said a $28K 2002 Z06 would be a dream about now! :hail:

I can help you out:

I have owned every car you have mentioned buying.

2003 Cobra:

If you can afford a 03 Cobra buy it.

It is the fastest of the bunch with the least amout of money.

Best all around car BANG FOR THE BUCK.

Just put on a cai, catback, 2.8 pulley, and a tune (around $1000) and high 11s to low 12s are the reward.
They are comfortable and sound nice too.
Mine ran 12.22@116.4 on a 1.93 60' and never broke anything.
With just a cai and a catback ($500) it ran 12.35@115.4 on stock radials.

1997-2004 Vette:

I had a 2000 Vette coupe automatic and a 2001 Vette Vert 6 speed

Get the 6 speed. The automatic was BORING.

My 2001 Vette Vert 6 speed with just a Donaldson Blackwing CAI was FAST!

It was also comfortable.

Talk about STATUS FOR THE BUCK.

Never got it to the track, but I am sure it would have run 12s@110+.

Drawback - the stock exhaust sounds wimpy although it flows well, just add some LOUDER mufflers and be happy, but do a search, some don't sound any better than stock.
I had Borla mufflers on a 96 Vette and they sounded nice.
I did the A&A exhaust mod on my 2001, but it hardly made a difference.

F-BODY M6

Definitely the most FUN FOR THE BUCK out of any car I have driven, including my numerous 5.0s.

If you are not worried about having the FASTEST car in town, but want a FUN TO DRIVE fast car that sounds NASTY, you just can't beat a M6 F-body with just a 6 speed and a cutout.

If you want the NICEST LOOKING CAR FOR THE BUCK add a WS6 Hood and Rims and it doesn't get any better than that!!

I have owned 25 different sports cars since 1987 -

These opinions are based on FACT and EXPERIENCE, but are JMHOs :devil:

Hope this helped.

Howard