OK guys, I'm stuck here, about the same HP, and similar pricing...what would you do...I'm stuck between a C5 Z06 and a C6 (not c6Z06) I'm a little bit leary of the new style; what would you do???

 

Id go with the 02-04 Z06, based on the fact that: A. The Z06 TRAPS Higher B. Better Suspention, and C. Cheeper Price

 

COULDNT HAVE SAID IT BETTER MY SELF

The C6 mn6 is usualy running 12.8-13.2 at 108-110 mph...

With a tune it can be in the 12.4-12.6 range at 110-113 mph (removing tourque management)

There are many many many many C6 owners who can not do better than 13.0 all over the US...mn6 and auto..

From what Ive read about 35% of the people make it to 12's...

12.4 is currently the record that I know of bone stock..

The other 65% who dont make it run 13.0-13.2 at 107-109 mph.

This car is certainly a mixed bag.

Also there have benn numerous reports of broken rears from launching ON THE STOCK TIRES!!!!

So you may get one that runs 12.7 at 111 mph...Or you may get one that runs 13.2 at 108....

Your rear end may take the track launches or it may not...

If you get the Z06 your getting a proven car that WILL put you in the 12's..

12.5-12.7 at 113-115 is the norm for a Z06... The slowest ones run 12.7-12.9 at 110-112 mph...

On the stock tires nonthing will break...

I prefer the C5 styling much more. It has more character in the front. The C6 looks like any other car from the front...

But that push button start and paddle shift makes it very tempting for me....

NOW TO THE MOST IMPORTANT REASON TO GET THE Z06....

The fist thing people ask you when they find out you have a corvette is if it's a Z06...

When you say no you see some of the enthusiasm go out of there face...

Even though Ive got 370 rwhp ( ls6 heads, tr 224/224 cam, vararam )and just beat a Z06 with an air intake at the track this past Friday.....

I still cant say I have a Z06...

And the C6 will be no different.....Oh Man you have a corvette???!!!

Yea...

IS IT THE Z06???????

NAA...It's the coupe....

Oh ok...

Having a C6 over a C5 dosent mean anything....To everyone else it's just a simple change with a little more HP and fixed head lights...

people always ask me if my C5's the C6.......Even people at the track who no cars..

Unless they see it from the front.....They think there the same....

Just some small differances from 04-05....

But the Z06 is totaly different...

The Z06 from 2001-2004 has built it's self one of the best reputations of any car in the world from it's success at the drag strip to it's success as a track car.

SORRY I HAVE A BAD PROBLEM OF TALKING TO MUCH...SHOULDA LEFT IT ALONE WHEN I SAID COULDNT HAVE SAID IT BETTER MY SELF.

 

Thanks for agreeing with me bro.

There was an article comparaing the CE Z06 to the Z51 and the Z06 won.

 

What would I do...or what DID I do.

Get the C5 Z06

 

LOL!!! 273 vette, you're awesome man, I appreciate your insight very much! All of that makes great sense. Thanks also to the rest, looks like it'll be a C5Z, I'm partial to their look anyway!

 

Same here, last spring I bought my Z at the same time my uncle bought his 6-speed C6. My car handles better, stops better and is faster.... I've raced him from a dig and from a roll several times and there was no comparison... I walked. The one positive of the C6... anyone who drives one will tell you it's a better built car, it feels great and is much more comfortable to drive everyday... With that being said.... I wouldn't swap with him anyday, I love my Z06!

 

A very telling sign was the Mid Ohio SCCA T1 runoffs last weekend. There were only a couple of Vipers and ONE C6. The rest were C5 Z06's. To clarify, these are basically stock cars with only suspension and tire upgrades. No power enhancements (but the Viper did have a throttle restriction). The Z06 kicked butt and won. The C6? Not even in the top eight. After a year and a half on the market the Z is still the car of choice amongst racers. Wonder why?

 

Don't forget to check the fast Z06 list out. stated above that the fastest stock C6 was 12.4 Well the Z06 can absolutely kill that time with a good driver. I went to the dealer looking at pre order for a C6 (had a '97 at time) and took a Z06 for a drive, no turning back, as I had to have this car. You won't be sorry. Good luck.
Robert

 

I couldn't agree more. The only thing I can think of that is better about the base C6 model is the headlights. Not necessarily the look but the performance. I live in the country and my Z06 headlights suck, the C6 on the other hand has awesome lighting.

 

I like the C6. I'm impressed by the new body style, but looks like my I'm a minority on this forum. Maybe because the 2005 has only bit out a short while and not many people have them yet or maybe not. I think the two cars have similar power and performance and you shouldn't discount the C6 because alot of new owners aren't familiar with taking it down the track yet. Furthermore, if it is truly 2/10 of a second faster is that really a big deal? I would chose base on your personal preference because you will never make everyone happy based on your decisions. Like one guy said, If its not a ZO6 then some will not be as enchanted by your vette while others wouldn't know why you are spitting letters out at them. I do think it is cool that base model vette has improved it's performance so much over the last year. I have one now but my ultimate goal is to get a C6ZO6 in a couple of years and then I will have the best of both worlds.

Sorry for the long windedness but I wanted to add my ZO 6 cents!

 

I think the C6 is much better looking but the older Z06s are still all around better cars. I would definitely opt for the Z06 because they are cheaper, slightly faster, and you get the badge, which might be overrated but It's still awesome to know you have a Z06.

 

Corvettes are awesome plain and simple....

I started dreaming of owning a C5 back in 2000...I finaly got a brand new one in may 2004....It was a dream come true....

When I bought it cared about the targe top a whole lot since I live in Hawaii and my wife cant drive a stick so the Z06 wasnt really an option...

Shortly after getting it all the typical friends and reletives started asking questions about it and so on....

Ill never forget when my dad (whos financial situation isnt as good as mine) who drives an 04 accord and dreams of one day owning a 350Z first found out I had a Corvette.

He was so proud of my accomplishment...Then he went to work and started telling people how his son had a Corvette...

The first question they asked him was if it was a Z06? He called me back and asked me if it was a Z06 and I had to tell him no.

Of course he went and told his friends and while the car guys still gave my car props they kept telling him how the Z06 was better.

Then he called me back and asked me why I didnt get the Z06??????

I almost felt like I had let him down or somthing....

Thats the power those 3 little Z 0 6 symbols have....

If you get the C6 coupe you'll always have the BASE corvette as many magazines refer to it...

Kinda funny how our BASE C5 and C6's cost the same as 2 mustangs or 3 neons....

But thats the way it is since the Z06 debuted in 2001....

I think one of the best deals in the world right now is a 2004 Z06...

Your getting the end result of 8 years of R and D to build the ultimate C5.

 

I guess it depends on what you want the car for. I just traded my 99 C5 coupe A4 for an 06 coupe Z51 MN6. This car is definately a step up from my 99, but I still have high regards for C5's.
I don't plan on doing any street racing with this car. that's not what I bought it for. I use it for weekend auto crossing and road trips with some of the local corvette clubs.
If I was going to do drag racing I'd get something with a straight axle in the rear end since I feel they are better suited for that application.
just my $.02

 

I couldnt agree more....If your just deciding on a 2004 corvette vrs a 2005 corvette Id pick the 2005 easily...

-50 more HP

-solid 3 tenths faster through 1/4 mile

-push button start (my fav)

-nicer interior

The C5 looks better and thats about it....And they allmost look like twins anyways so that dosent really matter.

So yea vette vrs vette Im all about more power for my money and the C6 based a little less than the C5 did and still gives you a solid 40 more rwhp...

But this is 2005 Corvette vrs 2004 Z06....

The Z06 is faster and it has the higher rank as the Z06.

No brainer...

 

Personally I'd go for the C6 if cost isn't an issue.

WHY?

Well I prefer the look of the fastback over the C5 Z06. And in all honesty the C6 is probably a better car than the C5, as it is a development of it. Plus it's newer and has a better interior.

As for peroformance, well the C6 ain't no slouch. And lets face it who's going to keep either car STOCK.

At the end of the day the C6 is 6.0 compared to 5.7 for the C5 Z06.

C5 Z06 is nice, but I'd take a C6 Z51 MN6 every time over one.

EXCEPT if cost is a factor then the C5 Z06 becomes more appealing

 

Many Vette owners keep their car stock for variety of reasons.

 

I think the c5 z06 looks better to me.

 

Ok, who posts on these types of sites and keeps it stock

But I know what you mean.

 

I am about to buy 02-04 ZO6 (well in May) becasue I am pretty sure I can't afford a C6 z51 but if I could I would. push button start, nav, hatch back (I like it better than trunk, new body style, better interior, and with good driving just as fst as the average C5 ZO6 driver.) but can't go more than 35 so I know I can't get one but C5 ZO6 here I come