LOL, don't mistake me for being mature, because I am 22, and do not want to be mistaken for the "old crowd"!!! haha... Yeah, I will get the truck first... Need that first!!! Then I will be back in the Z06 hunt eventually!! You will fit fine in the vette, my friend is about your height and he drives the Z06... When I get a Z06, I am going to leave it "mostly" stock... The only major add on will be that same P1SC supercharger, the local speed shop has been getting 530rwhp out of daily driven Z06's with it... So basically a $34k Z06 and a $5k supercharger.... Get a different catback for an improved sound and that would be it!!! You won't regret buying one!! My car is great don't get me wrong... I really enjoy it, and with the supercharger it will be more than enough for my "street" car.... If I didn't need a truck so bad, I would keep it... My true passion is sport bikes, so unfortunately everything comes second to that....including the vette.... Good luck man!

 

****, I had no Idea you were my age...my bad..lol. it's cool, I love bikes too, I kicked myself in the *** after I sold my R1. Tell me, what bikes are u into and stuff, and which of the 2004 lineup do u like the most???

 

It seems like a personal forum between you guys.

It aint that bad on modding the FRC. Already comes with Z51 suspension and 6 speed. Just drop a cam kit in it, the basic bolt ons, Some long tube headers, and buy a used Z06 exhuast for about $300 like I did. You will be at the 400hp of the Z06 if not about 20more hp. Then some BMR sways, and Z06 replacement shocks.

Full Cam and kit & install plus computer tune $1600
Long tube headers & install $1700
Knock off wider rims and matching tires $1400
Misc bolt ons and what not $950
Total $5650!

Maybe cheaper, a lot of shops offer a stage 4 kit which is supposed to give you 420 to 440hp for $3995 complete with everything. That includes all what I listed plus install for that price. They give you a good discount when buying everything together.
Then add the rims and tires and it will be a couple hundred cheaper. Could save you $5000 compared to getting a Z06.

Also cheaper insurance, slightly nicer ride due to softer rear spring, and better turn in with 40% stronger swaybars.

I got the same suspension on mine, and after driving Rods Z06, ours handles almost the same, mine is just a little nicer ride with stock springs. I still need wider tires and rims to push it as hard as him in the corners though.

I wanted a regular coupe with an automatic, but I like the coupe look better and the larger trunk space provided. I fit a 27" TV in the back of mine once.

I figure with all my mods done, I will be running a little faster than a Z06, but still have the cheaper insurance, more room, and nicer ride, for about only $2000 cheaper than if I got a Z06. But it is sure hard to beat the warrenty of the manufactured supercar! I guess it just comes down to what you want!

 

Hodgee, you were doing so freakin good convincing me, till the last paragraph, and boom you put me right were i was again....lol. I think I might go with the frc though. I would rather save the money for more toys. I sold my bike a while back, and would love to get another one. If i get a z06, there will be no way for me to get anything else, but the frc is actually gonna be a lot easier on my wallet. and hey I will still be driving a vette (i always thougt i will be 50 years old before i get in one). but I thank you for your input, and keep it comming. I am a newb when in comes to vettes.

PS: do u know any of the shops that do the cheaper packages like u said that are online so i can check them out....thanks.

 

If the extra power and the warranty are whats getting you, then the Z06s the way to go. But, being you're wanting some other toys, and to make it a lill bit faster, the FRC is what sounds like the best toy imo. You'll have $$$ left over for mods, as well as possibly a motorcycle or something later on.

 

Here's the deal. If you are not going to mod the car and you want a warranty buy a used Z06. If you plan on modifying the car buy a used C5. Any variant (coupe, vert, frc) can weigh very close to a Z06. My coupe has weighed in at 3150-60 with 3/4 of a tank of gas at the strip. One of the mods on this forum weighed his coupe at 3090 with a 1/4 tank I believe. The FRC's are nice, but scarce. Don't be afraid of a coupe or convertible, the weight and stiffness differences are very, very small. If you go the used C5 route, I would look for a used '99 or newer C5 with the options you want (Z51, HUD, 6spd)) and a price you are comfortable with. '01's and above have some minor improvements that may make them worth a little more to you. I got my car in '01 when the only Z06's were brand new. If I had it to do over again, I would still not get a Z06 because I would want to modify the vehicle (and all the things that separate the Z06 from the C5 can be equalled or exceeded through the aftermarket). Wrenching is one of my hobbies and I enjoy it.

As for the comment on the Z51 springs being softer, the Z06's FE4 suspension uses the same front spring as the Z51 and I recall it being mentioned that the rear spring is actually a little softer due to there being less weight in the rear on a Z06. The sway bars and shocks on the Z06 are what really set it apart and the whole combo works VERY well.

I'm not bashing the Z06 by any means. They're undoubtedly one of the best factory made Corvettes ever. But I think its a bit over hyped for what amounts to a bigger (still mild) cam, slightly better heads and valves, different gearing, shocks, sway bars, springs, a lightened windshield, and non run flat tires. Its a great package if you want to buy it and drive it. If you are going to mod it, then to me it is not worth it.

 

Great info 99c5ja, you sound like you know ur car. let me ask u this, what are the improvements of the 01's over the 00 and older. is it the same as with the f-bodys. the ls6 intake? thanks in advance

 

The '01's have an improved Active Handling system. It is supposed to be less intrusive and can switch into competitive mode without the vehicle being at a complete stop. The have the 85mm MAF, larger intake duct, and Z06 intake. The leather on the seats was improved. I believe there were some other minor interior improvements. Nothing to get overly excited about, but if the price is resonable, why not.

 

99C5, good info. Like I had said before, if you want to match(or exceed) the stuff on a ZO6, it won't be cheap. Your car for example, while I am certainly not dissin' it, you would still have your hands full with a stock ZO6 and my money would be on the ZO6.

 

I probably would. Although to be fair, my dyno numbers are uncorrected and it was an opressively hot day. And the one time I've had it to the track with the cam was 88 degress with very high humidity (the blown LT1 in our group was running 12.6's, cammed LS1 f-body's were running 13.0's). I think the car has another 10-15rwhp in it with good air and the track figures I have correct to a 12.3@117.x (heh I sound like a ricer there). So I think it would hang with a Z06 just fine for much less money. Hopefully this weekend I'll make it to the track (weather permitting) and get a more respectable time. Then the Absolute Stg 2 heads go on .

 

Themindfield....I was in this position you were in recently. I am getting out of the Army now, but back then i was looking at 18 months in the desert and the hellacious cash that goes along with it. I test drove the Z06 and yes its an amazing car, i agree with FLYNLO all the hype was well deserved. I ended up going with a 00 trans am...they are just my true love. Doesn't handle nearly as well...its much rougher around the edges. You really gotta go with what you love, as you're gonna be payin for it lol. One word to the wise tho...find out exactly how your bonus is going to be paid to you, and when, before you buy your car. The Army deceptively pays out over the term of your enlistment. Ironically I guess its better then I went with my 14k t/a instead of a 30k Z06, as I never did make it to the desert. Just a few thoughts man...good luck with your decision, and I give you mad props for serving, its a rough, but rewarding life. Enjoy it!!

 

Thanks Cyphur, I am glad I am not alone. my bonus is going to be paid at once after about 4 months. I am pretty sure I am gonna get a regular vette. It'll make everything else easy on me money wise, and I will still be happy. Maybe after a while I can sell it and get a z06. and thanks for serving beside me.

 

Cool man. Like I said, I wasn't dissin' your ride. If that RWHP in your sig is uncorrected, Then I would probably change my stance. I do realize the effects of density altitude on your track times and I did consider that. Anyway, Nice setup and good luck with the heads. I had only run one H/c C5 coupe at 420rwhp. It was close down low but once we got up top, his horsepower took over and steadily and surely walked away from me. It was a good race but I didn't have enough. Minefield, Good Lick, bro. Like I said before, You can't go wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

http://caranddriver.com/article.asp?...&page_number=1

Read this article, it will help you out in the corner carving section of your mods!

These are the specs for the sespension setups

in/lb front/rear springs - swaybar thickness front/rear in inches shocks
Base 440/577 .91 x .15 / .68 x .10 43mm Sachs monotube
mcrs s/a s/a Delphi Magnaride mono
Z51 525/634 1.13 x .18 / .93 x .14 45mm Sachs monotube
Z06 525/714 1.18 x .18 / .93 x .14 45mm Sachs monotube
with faster shock rate

Now my BMR are 50% stiffer than the Z51 suspension swaybars, and I got 45mm Bilsteins monotube shocks, that are rated a hair softer then the Z06 shocks, and much stiffer than the 45mm Z51 shocks. Then I have the stock suspension springs. Now I have driven my friend Rod's car Z06, and oh yeah it is much stiffer, but the cars feel almost identical in handling, only he has wider non-runflats, unlike my stock tires! Only when pushing it in really tight corners can he pull on me in the corners, cause I start to slide at that point. But this will change soon. My weakest link on my suspension is the tires! I was going to put the Z51 springs on mine also, for $400 from a shop here in town with an extra set, but then relized how much more bone jarring his suspension is compared to mine. I know that the stock springs are mushy compared to the Z51's and I would probably get slightly better handling than his car with the same tires as his and the new springs, but I am a panzy when it comes to stiff rides. I have had it up to 160, and it is stable as a rock, where it felt loose as hell when stock, the shocks made the biggest difference all around. You are talking 80 lbs of the 118 to 141 lb difference of the Z06 comes directly from the tires. The run-flats actually weigh 20lbs a piece more than the Z06 tires. I could hardly believe it until I picked up a set of rims at C/Motorsports, what a difference. Another 20lbs comes from the exhaust. Which I got that too. But I am still about 20lbs heavier than a Z06 even after I switch out the tires and rims, but 20lbs, who cares!?

 

I think to really match up a M6 C5 coupe/vert/frc against a Z06 you must change the gearing, along with adding more power and everything else. I'd love to run against one, so far I havent had the chance.

If I started again I'd get a Z06 and put a Vortech kit on it.

 

the z is well worth the money, fast off of the lot, as far as the bikes the new zx 10 is daddy!

 

Pfffft. Forget the ZX-10. The Gixxer 1000 is still king of the road, and give Honda some time to tweek the CBR1000RR and that'll be one major contender. But for all out speed, you cant beat the Busa.

 

Holy ****, Ok I pretty much got lost reading the suspension setups. and bike wise I think all 04 1000cc line ups are really close. but Dyno wise the new zx10 and the R1 were the top two to lay more HP to the ground. It comes down to preference I guess. and about the z06 and a vortec, I wish I could do that, but I can't afford that. maybe a c5 with a vortec. Anyways, Thanks for everyone's input so far...

 

ive owned a 2001 gsxr 1000 and i agree its an awesome machine but i heard the zx10 was more powerfull, have you seen quartermile numbers on the 04 gsxr and the zx-10>?

 

If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't of wasted $ on the hawk and got a Z06, went the procharger route with that, and had a 9 second 6-speed car like OpticZ06