Is Z06 option worth the extra money?
Is Z06 option worth the extra money? Thinking seriously about a vette - 03/04 Z06 maybe. Just curious if the extra ~ $3k is worth it. Would it be like my TA where I paid for the WS6 option only to eventually switch it out for other stuff. Car would be a daily driver with some time spent at track days (like Road Atlanta). Thoughts?
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Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Atlanta
Keep in mind this is from a coupe guy. The Z06 has different tranny gearing, lighter windshield less seat padding and thinner carpet all for weight reduction. Better, more stiffer suspension. Obviously it looks different. I like the look better than any other Corvette including the new Z06. Bad news, you can't take the top off, ever. It rides very rough compared to stock and is made more for road racing than daily driving. Now from under the hood concept you can spend the 4K difference on a coupe and get more power than a stock Z06. If you like the look you will not be able to duplicate that on any model and would be a reason to pay the extra money. If it is a power thing you can get more power than the Z06 for about the difference in a coupe and Z06.
Actually I have ridden in a Conv. c5 vette with the run flats and a Z06. The conv. rode a lot harsher than the Z06 did, however the Z06 feels the most stiff/rigid. The run flats are brutal to drive on, sidewall is really stiff.
For $3000, the differance is night and day. Just go and test drive a regular c5, then the Z06. You will be baffled at how much different the cars are. Just go from second gear at 3000rpms, and then lay in it. Holy ****, damn near scared the **** out of me. My Z06 still does.
The only things I need to get used to is, no more t-tops, no more steering wheel controls. Other than that the Z06 is the way to go. Plus Z06's will hold there value alot better. So somewhat of an investment too.
btw I raced from a 50mph roll against my friends modded f-body. He was making over 400rwhp at the time-maybe 420rwhp. At 100mph I had a 1/2 car on him and starting to pull away. My car was stock at the time. So the 02-04 and even the 01's are no slouch.
you also mentiuoned about daily driver. The Z06 you can still drive everyday. Hell I would love to. LOL, but I won't.
For $3000, the differance is night and day. Just go and test drive a regular c5, then the Z06. You will be baffled at how much different the cars are. Just go from second gear at 3000rpms, and then lay in it. Holy ****, damn near scared the **** out of me. My Z06 still does.
The only things I need to get used to is, no more t-tops, no more steering wheel controls. Other than that the Z06 is the way to go. Plus Z06's will hold there value alot better. So somewhat of an investment too.
btw I raced from a 50mph roll against my friends modded f-body. He was making over 400rwhp at the time-maybe 420rwhp. At 100mph I had a 1/2 car on him and starting to pull away. My car was stock at the time. So the 02-04 and even the 01's are no slouch.
you also mentiuoned about daily driver. The Z06 you can still drive everyday. Hell I would love to. LOL, but I won't.
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cant be said any better Scramblerman, hehe. he pinpointed the keys. these cars are great. There are great deals out there on the C5 z06's. Id say its worth it cause if I didn't i wouldn't have my Z06. i still cant get over this car!
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Joined: Feb 2005
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From: Maypearl, TX
Trust me, you'll love every second of it! The only regrets I have about my 04Z06 is that I sold it. 
Currently looking to buy another (also still considering a new C6 w/Z51 package...supposedly very comparable to C5Z06 performance wise)
Good luck, and don't forget to post pics when you do make the plunge. Oh, BTW, I came from an Fbod too, and you won't believe the tremendous difference.
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Currently looking to buy another (also still considering a new C6 w/Z51 package...supposedly very comparable to C5Z06 performance wise)
Good luck, and don't forget to post pics when you do make the plunge. Oh, BTW, I came from an Fbod too, and you won't believe the tremendous difference.
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Teching In
Joined: May 2004
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Originally Posted by WADDISME
Thinking seriously about a vette - 03/04 Z06 maybe. Just curious if the extra ~ $3k is worth it. Would it be like my TA where I paid for the WS6 option only to eventually switch it out for other stuff. Car would be a daily driver with some time spent at track days (like Road Atlanta). Thoughts?
I have lived the good old performance car days from my first back yard built hot rod in 1960 to my new 1966 Shellby 350GT, to small and big block Comaros, to luxury performance cars, Olds 442s and Firbird RA IV with everything you could order on them and yes 4 Vettes along the way. (None from 1967 until 2002.)
In my opinion we are in the golden era of great preformance cars. From VETECs to F 40s. We have the most performance potential in cars with great appearance, comfort and safety packages, Active handling works great too!
I put the C5 Z06 at the top of the heap and I am waiting, impatiently, for my 07 Z06 to see if it will measure up as well.
The question should be: Can anything else come close for the money?
PS: Anybody interested in a kickass 02 Z06 that has been driven, massaged and most of all, loved?
Sorry this just came out as I tried to express my feelings on the thread topic as I haven't even put it on the market yet.
The only things I need to get used to is, no more t-tops, no more steering wheel controls. Other than that the Z06 is the way to go. Plus Z06's will hold there value allot better. So somewhat of an investment too.
btw I raced from a 50mph roll against my friends modded f-body. He was making over 400rwhp at the time-maybe 420rwhp. At 100mph I had a 1/2 car on him and starting to pull away. My car was stock at the time. So the 02-04 and even the 01's are no slouch.
btw I raced from a 50mph roll against my friends modded f-body. He was making over 400rwhp at the time-maybe 420rwhp. At 100mph I had a 1/2 car on him and starting to pull away. My car was stock at the time. So the 02-04 and even the 01's are no slouch.
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Joined: Feb 2005
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From: Maypearl, TX
Originally Posted by BitViper
And no place to put random stuff like cell phones..and a decent cup holder...but Im not looking back......Im going forward too fast!
Actually man, I've seen some accessory holders on ebay that I thought about buying before I sold my Z that looked OK. They're a cup holder/cell phone holder etc. Don't know if anything else has come to the market yet as I haven't been looking since I sold my vette last year
I don't believe it really matters what year Z you purchase, particularly if you plan on swapping cam's, headers, etc.. Just be sure to Carfax and check the oil burning issue on the 01's. I have an 01 and it doesn't burn any oil what so ever. Good luck on the search.
lol, I put my cell in the same place. A 20 oz Coke will fit nicely between the seat and the door (cap on of course). 
Originally Posted by scramblerman
I use the cup holder for my cell phone, lol!
I probably won't have a drink in the car, but if I do I can put the cell phone in the ashtray.
I probably won't have a drink in the car, but if I do I can put the cell phone in the ashtray.
Last edited by O2Thief; Feb 20, 2007 at 10:43 PM.
If you don't plan on modding then it is definetly worth it but if you are going to mod then probably not because all the Z06 stuff will come out except for the block which is better vented then the LS1 block.
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 507
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From: Ankeny, IA
Depends on what you want to do with it. If you want to mod it heavily, then a Z51 coupe or an FRC is what I would get. If you want something that you can put headers and a cam in and call it a day (or not mod it all) then the Z06 is definetly worth it. I would argue about the night and day difference. The biggest difference you will feel between a Z51 car and Z06 will be the runflat tires and gearing. Replace the run flats and you'll be amazed how different the Z51 car feels. So decide what your goals are and go from there.
