How much different is a Z06 from a WS6?
Your buddy paid too much for the 03 Z06, plus you have to compare apples to apples . The FRC's were only made in 99-00 so your talking about a 3year difference in years as well as money.
There are lots of relatively minor differences and most of them have been pointed out in this thread. The big one for me was motor/heads (I plan on going with a cam and FI), Tranny (more aggressive gear ratios) and the 3:42 rear. Intake manifolds, Intakes, brake pads, windshield, wheels, Tires, output shafts, clutch, options (usually), sway bars, shocks, brake ducts titanium exaust are all different, I'm sure I'm missing a couple. All that adds up, IMHO a bolt on cam car you can't go wrong with a Z06. Its still a good starting platform for serious car if you have the funds.
Now I have NOTHING against FRC and if I could not have afforded the Z06 would have been PERFECTLY happy with it. Just don't shortchange the Z06 its a nice car and really a great value right now. Why would you buy a 30k mile 00 FRC for 25,000 when you could have an 01 with 10k Miles Z06 for 28,000. Now if all you could afford was 25,000 or you were building a drag car then the FRC maybe a better choice. I'd still argue a 60k mile 98 coupe for 17-19,000 would be a better choice in that instance....
On a road course (where an FRC would have the advantage to the coupe) The Z06 is world class period. The stock competetion is a GT3 which I would never be able to afford!
Kinda like why would you buy a WS6 for 15,000 when you could get a formula for 12,000? and there isn't NEAR the differences in those two then there is in the FRC-Z06.
There are lots of relatively minor differences and most of them have been pointed out in this thread. The big one for me was motor/heads (I plan on going with a cam and FI), Tranny (more aggressive gear ratios) and the 3:42 rear. Intake manifolds, Intakes, brake pads, windshield, wheels, Tires, output shafts, clutch, options (usually), sway bars, shocks, brake ducts titanium exaust are all different, I'm sure I'm missing a couple. All that adds up, IMHO a bolt on cam car you can't go wrong with a Z06. Its still a good starting platform for serious car if you have the funds.
Now I have NOTHING against FRC and if I could not have afforded the Z06 would have been PERFECTLY happy with it. Just don't shortchange the Z06 its a nice car and really a great value right now. Why would you buy a 30k mile 00 FRC for 25,000 when you could have an 01 with 10k Miles Z06 for 28,000. Now if all you could afford was 25,000 or you were building a drag car then the FRC maybe a better choice. I'd still argue a 60k mile 98 coupe for 17-19,000 would be a better choice in that instance....
On a road course (where an FRC would have the advantage to the coupe) The Z06 is world class period. The stock competetion is a GT3 which I would never be able to afford!
Kinda like why would you buy a WS6 for 15,000 when you could get a formula for 12,000? and there isn't NEAR the differences in those two then there is in the FRC-Z06.
11 Second Club
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 304
Likes: 1
From: Boulder, Colorado
Originally Posted by 93TAWicked1
LOL Tony Nice garage, although I think your Z28 Ragtop would beat mine in a race 
I've got a '71 with a carbed vortec 350. Built it for my son who wants a Honda...
lol
Looks like we have similar interests...
BTW: I've always thought the '93s were faster stock than the other LT1s Don't Know whether it was the speed density or the cam, but they will get it!
Later, TJ
11 Second Truck Club
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 536
Likes: 0
From: Alvin, TX
I'm looking to pick up a Z06 myself at the expense of some of my "cheaper" toys. I hate to part with the Formula because it does have the earlier mensioned RAW power, plus I got alot of busted knuckles and lost alot of blood under the cowl performing my own mods.
I'm trying to talk the wife into trading in her SS on a Vette and she's not cooperating very well. I think when I sell off my toys for the Z06 and she starts to like it I'll be in trouble.
Looks like I need to get her to a dealer and get some seat-time in a used Z06.
I'm trying to talk the wife into trading in her SS on a Vette and she's not cooperating very well. I think when I sell off my toys for the Z06 and she starts to like it I'll be in trouble.
Looks like I need to get her to a dealer and get some seat-time in a used Z06.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,399
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From: katy, tx
Originally Posted by 30th t/a
i told my buddy exactly this before he bought his 03 z06. i told him to get a FRC but he didnt listen and now he has me smoking passed him in his z06 every time we go out crusin. he could have takin $8000 out of the $15000 he would have saved and had a mean 10 sec street car. some people got to learn the hard way i guess.
He just needs a few mods and that will change...LOL! Of course you must be talking about straight line performance because he will smoke you in either the FRC or the Z06 in the twisties.
Originally Posted by Dean-o
So you go smoking past him huh? He just needs a few mods and that will change...LOL! Of course you must be talking about straight line performance because he will smoke you in either the FRC or the Z06 in the twisties.
He just needs a few mods and that will change...LOL! Of course you must be talking about straight line performance because he will smoke you in either the FRC or the Z06 in the twisties. a few mods... ummm i think he's going to need ALOT more than a "few" mods to stay with me next year too
and the twisties, he can have them. it not like we say to each other, "lets find a extremely twisty road, and go race on it and get killed"
street racing isnt the smartest thing to do, but when i have a race i cant pass up, it will be on a long straight open road...not flying around bends at 100mph.
hey dont get me wrong, i LOVE riding in his vette, and thats why i was thinking on getting a FRC everyday for the pass 6 months but decided to keep my 30th for awhile. someday ill have a vette but until then ill just keep running pass them.
11 Second Truck Club
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 536
Likes: 0
From: Alvin, TX
Well, I test drove an 03 Z06 today and it was very nice indeed. I didn't take any curves with it though but did hit it hard going straight. I was expecting it to feel like my Formula but quite honestly I'm surprised that it didn't feel like it had the pull my car has. (close) Do the Vette's computers pull performance when the fuel tanks low? The fuel guage was buried almost on "E" which was kinda shitty since I wanted a better testdrive. (Damn salesmen) (he told me the motor was a 350, too) 
Had to correct him on that too.
I mean don't get me wrong, the car feels strong but are some stronger than others? Plus the low fuel had me thinking. I know in GMHTP they trapped a Z06 at over 118mph which is what my Formula does. I'm supposed to drive another one tomorrow and hopefully will own one the 1st week of the new year!
Oh yea, is 35K a good price for a 2003 Z06 with 9k miles? After alittle crunching of numbers, I think they may let me take it for that. thanks.
Had to correct him on that too.I mean don't get me wrong, the car feels strong but are some stronger than others? Plus the low fuel had me thinking. I know in GMHTP they trapped a Z06 at over 118mph which is what my Formula does. I'm supposed to drive another one tomorrow and hopefully will own one the 1st week of the new year!
Oh yea, is 35K a good price for a 2003 Z06 with 9k miles? After alittle crunching of numbers, I think they may let me take it for that. thanks.
Originally Posted by LS1BirdDRG
Well, I test drove an 03 Z06 today and it was very nice indeed. I didn't take any curves with it though but did hit it hard going straight. I was expecting it to feel like my Formula but quite honestly I'm surprised that it didn't feel like it had the pull my car has. (close) Do the Vette's computers pull performance when the fuel tanks low? The fuel guage was buried almost on "E" which was kinda shitty since I wanted a better testdrive. (Damn salesmen) (he told me the motor was a 350, too) Had to correct him on that too.
I mean don't get me wrong, the car feels strong but are some stronger than others? Plus the low fuel had me thinking. I know in GMHTP they trapped a Z06 at over 118mph which is what my Formula does. I'm supposed to drive another one tomorrow and hopefully will own one the 1st week of the new year!
Oh yea, is 35K a good price for a 2003 Z06 with 9k miles? After alittle crunching of numbers, I think they may let me take it for that. thanks.
Had to correct him on that too.I mean don't get me wrong, the car feels strong but are some stronger than others? Plus the low fuel had me thinking. I know in GMHTP they trapped a Z06 at over 118mph which is what my Formula does. I'm supposed to drive another one tomorrow and hopefully will own one the 1st week of the new year!
Oh yea, is 35K a good price for a 2003 Z06 with 9k miles? After alittle crunching of numbers, I think they may let me take it for that. thanks.
11 Second Club
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 304
Likes: 1
From: Boulder, Colorado
Originally Posted by LS1BirdDRG
...
I mean don't get me wrong, the car feels strong but are some stronger than others? ...
I mean don't get me wrong, the car feels strong but are some stronger than others? ...
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Thats a decent deal I've seem them for lower but thats not bad!!! Yes the car is a different animal with traction control off. Its not like an F-body traction control, it doesn't bog the car down unless you get real stupid, but if your getting on it and loosing traction it will compensate and make the car seem slower.
Something had to be up, I came from a 420rwhp WS6 and the vette seemed "livelier" even though I knew the WS6 was faster. The vette feels so much lighter it will "lunge" forward instead of lean back and did. In the WS6 it feels like your forcing this big weight with power vs the Z06 seems like the power is just part of the car. Hope that makes sense.
The WS6 is one of my favorite cars and I still have an LS1 vert. But if you have the means to pick up a Z06 (or be like me and pay huge payments IMO every month) then pick one up!!!
Something had to be up, I came from a 420rwhp WS6 and the vette seemed "livelier" even though I knew the WS6 was faster. The vette feels so much lighter it will "lunge" forward instead of lean back and did. In the WS6 it feels like your forcing this big weight with power vs the Z06 seems like the power is just part of the car. Hope that makes sense.
The WS6 is one of my favorite cars and I still have an LS1 vert. But if you have the means to pick up a Z06 (or be like me and pay huge payments IMO every month) then pick one up!!!
I drove a 02 Z06 a couple of weeks ago and I could not tell the difference between the handling of the Z06 and my FRC when it was stock. I hit the same corners I usually hit and the cars responded the same. Even with my current setup I am able to hit local twisties and keep up with my buddy in his Z06. Dont say he cant drive because he autocrosses locally. He just could not shake me. I was right there and if the road would have been wide enough I would have passed him because I have more power.
11 Second Truck Club
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 536
Likes: 0
From: Alvin, TX
Thanks guys for all the help and info I've learned alot about Vette's the last couple days. 
First off, today I took the wife to test drive the same Z06 I drove yesterday. We took the car out and she drove it around and we got out on the freeway and although she normally doesn't, I got her to do a WOT run with me in the passenger seat of course(2nd gear punch). Car felt pretty good but then I started driving and held down the trac/act handling button and sure enough you guys were right, different car. I did a 2nd gear punch and the tires were breaking loose alittle and I'd have to say it's right there with my 400rwhp Formula. All the descriptions earlier I'd have to say were pretty good with the difference between Fbody and Z06.
The GREAT news is my wife fell for the Z06 and said we could trade in her SS on it. I'm very happy she changed her mind and I don't feel bad at all for forcing her to test drive it.
Unfortunately, the deal fell through today because I was gonna trade my truck and trailer on the ZO6. They would only give me 16K for the truck and less than 4k for the trailer. The trucks only got 22k miles and the trailers an 04 model. Plus the guy told me yesterday that 35k on the Vette might be doable but today they tell me 36.9k. Here's my truck: http://photobucket.com/albums/v621/L...t=107_0793.jpg Those Bastards!
Oh well, I just have to sell it outright. And the SS, and Z06 here we come. Even though I'm disapointed about not getting the Z06 today, atleast I know it will happen soon and I can keep the Formula as well.
Happy New Year!!!!
First off, today I took the wife to test drive the same Z06 I drove yesterday. We took the car out and she drove it around and we got out on the freeway and although she normally doesn't, I got her to do a WOT run with me in the passenger seat of course(2nd gear punch). Car felt pretty good but then I started driving and held down the trac/act handling button and sure enough you guys were right, different car. I did a 2nd gear punch and the tires were breaking loose alittle and I'd have to say it's right there with my 400rwhp Formula. All the descriptions earlier I'd have to say were pretty good with the difference between Fbody and Z06.
The GREAT news is my wife fell for the Z06 and said we could trade in her SS on it. I'm very happy she changed her mind and I don't feel bad at all for forcing her to test drive it.
Unfortunately, the deal fell through today because I was gonna trade my truck and trailer on the ZO6. They would only give me 16K for the truck and less than 4k for the trailer. The trucks only got 22k miles and the trailers an 04 model. Plus the guy told me yesterday that 35k on the Vette might be doable but today they tell me 36.9k. Here's my truck: http://photobucket.com/albums/v621/L...t=107_0793.jpg Those Bastards! Oh well, I just have to sell it outright. And the SS, and Z06 here we come. Even though I'm disapointed about not getting the Z06 today, atleast I know it will happen soon and I can keep the Formula as well.
Happy New Year!!!!
11 Second Club
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 304
Likes: 1
From: Boulder, Colorado
Too bad about the truck, but you can be patient. There should be lots of good deals on Zs in Florida. The salesman thinks he's got the hook in you, so if he won't come down to 35, just walk away... For a little more, you could get an '04 with 0% interest. The actual payments might work out cheaper. Figure with a 5% loan on $30K, you end up paying at least $6K in interest...
11 Second Truck Club
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 536
Likes: 0
From: Alvin, TX
Originally Posted by TonyJ
Too bad about the truck, but you can be patient. There should be lots of good deals on Zs in Florida. The salesman thinks he's got the hook in you, so if he won't come down to 35, just walk away... For a little more, you could get an '04 with 0% interest. The actual payments might work out cheaper. Figure with a 5% loan on $30K, you end up paying at least $6K in interest...
11 Second Club
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 304
Likes: 1
From: Boulder, Colorado
It was a GM incentive that was going on for quite a while on new cars. I don' t know if it's ended. Maybe someone with GM can elaborate. It's been discussed here before. The were offering 0% and 72 months.
