Alright well i have it narrowed down between....

A 1998-2000 C5 with 10k-15k $ for mods....

or

A 2002-2004 C5 Z06 straight out and start saving for mods....

Thanks alot guys!!
John

 

Personally I'd go with the 98 + and do the mods. JMO

 

Neither, I'd get a 2001 C5 Coupe w/10-$15K on mods, but I'm bias.

 

I'd stick with the C5 and mod it. for 15 grand you can throw an ati supercharger on it with some LQ4 truck heads and a good tune, you'll be looking at some serious hp!!

 

What kinda numbers are you thinking i could put out? I was thinking about waiting for Kenne Bell to come out with its ls1 vette supercharger. You think i should go with a low comp motor or wait till later?

 

Z06 is what I'd chose

 

'01 z06 w/ 5k in mods lol or get a 99 FRC. the weight difference does help alot.

 

I've owned a 2000 coupe and now own a 2002 Z06, absolutely a no-brainer that the Z is vastly better in performance, acceleration and handling. Not to mention the build quality seems better and the fun to drive factor is much higher. Just my OPINION of course.

 

I'd get the 98 and then do the mods.

 

99+

98 have tuning limitations if your planning on going big HP. Like SD tuning etc.

 

i am now thinking about just sticking with the original plan of the Z06 and mod as i come across money thanks alot guys

 

With the mods I mentioned previously, you could easily see 550rwhp. The Z06 is a great car, but everyone has different opinions

 

Man, I have a 99 and hell, if I had around $10-15K in mod money, my car would be an unbelievable beast on the road. Z06 is great and all, but that much money can easily make up the difference. Hell, if you want the hardtop and more structural rigidity, get an FRC. You can always find great condition "older" C5's for a good price. We're talking supercharged, maybe even turbo, head/cams/bolt-ons, or a big cube motor. The choices are endless with that much dinero.

 

I was in the same boat, and i choose a Z06, and im very happy, but youll be happy either way, its a vette man

 

01-02 zo6 with some low mileage for around 30grand is what I would look for.

 

thats what i am thinking....

 

I'd go with a 99+ and mod it. The money you'll save and put into mods will blow a Z06 away. You can make it handle better, brake better, etc. That's just like which is better to buy - Z28 or SS? If you want to have a Z06 to have a Z06 and not mod anything, just get the Z06. If you want to mod the crap out of it and get the best performance per dollar, get the regular C5.

 

Comparing a Z28 to an SS is not the same as comparing a C5 coupe to a Z06. Z06 is a much higher performance bar. SS has the same brakes, the same engine, is heavier than a Z28 on average, same swaybars, same suspension (unless you opt for SLP Bilsteins), etc. All you get with an SS are larger wheels and tires, a hood scoop and intake, and a rear spoiler - maybe an exhaust upgrade, maybe 1LE swaybars - these are all optional.

You will spend less overall by starting with a Z06. You won't have to change the tires and wheels, change the brakes (calipers, rotors, pads), change the clutch and flywheel, change the suspension, change the swaybars, reduce the weight, stiffen the chassis, add the cooling vents for the braking system, etc. Add all of those parts up in aftermarket costs and compare that to the cost difference between a coupe and a Z06 all else being equal (mileage, year, options, etc.). You will be much farther ahead with the Z06. You won't have to touch anything but engine and drivetrain.

 

Let's see... 97-00 C5 for 18-23k or 01+ Z06 33-35k+++....

Let's start with your examples...

Tires - Tires are a wear item. You'll need to change them no matter what vehicle you choose.
Wheels - So the Z06 wheels are a little lighter... but most everyone would want to change wheels anyway (I know I would be buying some nice polished and dished DPE wheels or something).
Brakes - Brakes are the same on every C5 other than some red paint for the Z06. If you don't give a **** about road racing or autocross (like myself), those silly brake ducts are just an ugly tacky (IMO) piece that shouldn't be there.
Clutch - Every 01+ C5 has the LS6 clutch kit. Again, like tires, you'll need to replace the clutch no matter what at some point - and it's not like the LS6 setup is going to hold serious amounts of power anyway.
Suspension - The Z06 is a little lower from the factory. Ok, just crank the base C5 down and there you go. Sway bars aren't a big deal because you can get better than Z06 sway bars from the aftermarket. Again, not worth a 10 grand price difference.
Drivetrain - Throw on any after market head and cam package and you're ahead of the LS6. It's not like the LS6 makes more power than a LS1 (with heads) when you modify it internally. The positive for the Z06 is the transmission has lower gearing over the base C5, so that will help acceleration, but hey, 4.10s will help too If you ever need to rebuild the tranny, you can always upgrade to Z06 specs.
Chassis - this is where the Z06 will have the advantage when you are modifying. Can't do anything about that with the base coupe, but again, if you just want speed, who cares. The C5 is still a great chassis even if it's not a FRC.

Now, I'm not ripping on the Z06 or people who bought them. I'd love a Z06, but financially, it's just not worth it to me as I'll have more money to "personalize" a base C5 while having better performance than if I had spend 10-15 grand more on a Z06 and not been able to modify it. That, and I am a poor 22 y/o who can't fathom a 30K car payment at the moment.

 

That is where your logic is flawed. You can find '01s in the $20's, also. I said all else being equal, and you compare 97-00 to '01. LOL!

But, that's okay. Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion. But, look at it another way. I guarantee my stock Z06 will hold its value better than a modified C5 Coupe. You never get your mod money back. My Trans Am is a good example. I had over 40K into it between car and mods, and I got 16K out of it (barely over the value of a stock Trans Am at the time).