Fastbird93

iTrader: (10)

Great write up!!! It really makes me want to reconsider my decision to purchase a Coupe instead of a Z, but the ONLY think that kept me out of the Z was the FRC with no Targa top. I personally think the Hatchback w/glass has much better lines than the FRC style, but to each their own. Outstanding write up though.

warp 10

John,

Good description of the Z.

As an owner of the same model with 42 k miles on it, I'd be happy to share some of the experiences and mods required to make it more pleasant to drive and much quicker without going into the engine .
By the way, a partition was the 1st addition!
Regarding gas mileage, 20 to 21 is doable in LA traffic, however aggressive driving will get you 10. Highway open road will get you 30 to 34 @ 80-85 mph with the right tune. This basic combination responds great to old hot rodder tricks.

More if you want John!

Warp 10 Always!

PS: A systematic thrash of the LSX would be great per your other post.

TonyJ

A lot of fun, huh...

The brakes absolutely amaze me. I use the go-cart description a lot too. I love the dual automatic windows and how fast they go down. Love how the a/c/defroster work, compared to the f-body. Instant defrost is cool. I'm guessing that's one you'll appreciate in Chicago...

I've got both the z06 and the z28 and the only place I'd rather drive the z28 is at the dragstrip. And I LOVED my z28.

Congrats on the great car. I've had mine for a little over a year now and I love it more and more. TJ

REDGAR

Thanks for the detailed impressions John.

T-maxx

Stock John, using only the top row in the gear pattern ( 1st, 3rd, 5th ) will net you much better mileage. These cars have more than enough tourque to shift that way, it's like having your own " cags ". Going through all the gears is so much fun though

TonyJ

Around town if you keep it between 1500 and 2000 rpm, you'll get the mileage...

m1key99WS6

iTrader: (1)

I love my 03 Z06 so much better than my 99 ws6. These cars are sick. I drove my stock 03 Z06 to a 12.05 @ 114.5 mph with just a set of BFG's on the back! I have made over 25 passes with it now and it keeps on ticking. Nothing like leaving @ 4500 RPM (well, leaving @ 6700 in my old TA was nice).

enjoy it!

Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

I was in Vegas for a few days for work, just got back. I'll try the idea of keeping the rpms below 2000 for mileage, just curious to see what happens.

The partition is great, it really cuts down on interior noise. I'll upload my pics later when I get home.

REDGAR

Hey John, any plans to run in the American Super Car Challenge, www.racesupercars.com ?

Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

I could see spectating, but I am not planning on drag racing this car that much, maybe just here and there. I'm contemplating heads and cam, but I have the Formy to put back together first.

LSK

John, you race everything in sight. You think the Granny on the sidewalk with her walker is about to race you. Stop working on your 60' at every stop sign and traffic light and maybe you can crack 14 mpg.

I get in the 18s MPG driving around the suburbs.

Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

None of the Porsches I spy on my commute want a piece... I have no kills so far.

Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

Here is my 6 week review:

Do I think this car is still worth over $30K? Oh yes. I'm still impressed by the stock power of this car and it's power over 4000 rpms. I have yet to race anything interesting, but here and there I've wacked some slower cars, without even redlining this car.

My gas mileage around the city (instant reading) hovers around 11-12mpg. When my Vararam airbox shows up we'll see if that makes any sort of difference. I have done so little highway driving I have no idea what I can get out of it.

I installed a rear partition, and OMG, it is great. it cut down the interior noise to what I would consider a normal level. Plus it keeps the stuff that I occasionally put on that tray from hurtling back into the trunk well like before. It's a no brainer mod. I did a tech write up, I will make it publicly visible soon.

In the rain, the car is still fine. I don't drive crazy in the rain, but the car is fine, and I only hydroplaned once when I went through a long but shallow puddle. I felt the car wiggle a bit but it never got out of shape.

It's a very easy car to drive in traffic. I have been driving a bunch of stick shift cars in traffice for a few years now, and with the low gearing of the Z06, you can really just roll off idle and the car just goes... no lurching or embarrassing slipping of the clutch.

The trunk is quite roomy, and I go grocery shopping for the three of us no problem. I have fit a small tv in there too.

Things that bug me a little....
Ever toggle the readout over to the engine coolant temperature? This puppy is seeing 214 to 225F all the time in traffic... ugh. If I put the heat on, it will dip down to 194-198F in the same traffic. Chugging along at 50mph or more, the car will get down to 187F a lot. I need to do something about this. I'm sure the pcm is reducing timing when it gets this hot.

The climate (?) cluster, is impossible to see during the day. I cannot read what temperature it's at. I'm assuming these go out and need replacing.

I get a little clicking sometimes from a dig, sounds like something in the rear suspension, any known cause of that?

With the traction control on, taking a corner hard, it's very easy to still kick the rear out. The car as a whole is pretty tail happy on stock tires. I typically hold my rpm into a hard corner, but sometimes it will kick out. I'd be curious to hear how you guys take corners.

Oh, and I need a 6 disc changer.

Other than that, I'm having a blast driving a 12 second car every day again, and I do take the long way home a lot!

~JOSHUA

iTrader: (92)

The one thing that stuck out in your posts was about the gas milage issue. And nobody seemed to comment about the reason for it eigther.

I'm sure you know that GM makes these cars run extremely rich from the factory. I bet you're somewhere in the mid or high 11/1 air fuel range.

When you get it tuned to 12.5 ~ 12.8 the car will perk up between 2,500 and 4,500 rpm. Your milage will magically change too. The tune will pay for itself rather quickly!!!

~Joshua

pakisho

iTrader: (2)

They do run pretty hot from the factory. A low temp t-stat and setting the second fan to kick on at lower temp will solve that problem completely.

Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

Oh, and I really can't get traction on stock tires on the street in 1st or 2nd gear. I have to feather it in 1st, and through most of 2nd. It would be a bit of an art to street race this car on stock tires. It's fine in 3rd and 4th from a roll.

marcus769

even with all the mods in my sig, i can get 15+ mpg city and 25 mpg hwy @ 75 mph.

I think i know your problem... Your exhaust isnt loud enough to hear that your engine is at like 3 grand while driving around town! Shift!!!!!!!

DoesSpeedTurnUon

iTrader: (17)

6 days till mine gets here... and reading this... makes me want it yesterday.

Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

Update: I was out at Speed Inc. last nite, picking up some rear rims. Intmd8 changed my fan settings, so the car runs around 187-194F most of the time now, and also removed torque management. Once I get the airbox, I'm gonna hit the track.

Anyone else get the clicking from the rear sometimes when you launch or load the suspension? It does not sound like the driveline I don't think.

Kraest

iTrader: (3)

John, hold down the traction control button for 5-6 seconds, and it will go into performance mode, which is traction control off, but leaves active handling on. Very fun when going into tight corners without worrying about losing it.

Also, that city mileage is terrible. I'm getting right at 20 mpg on average (27 highway)and I'm at over 500 rwhp.

Mike