THIS!!! When I see what $5k can do... I cry on the inside. My S needs more than that to hold 400hp safely. But I understand its not made for that. Sad to say I stalk corvette forums as well.. and after seeing a video of a gen 1 CTSV outrun an S in the mountains... I have been looking for a LS motor. Almost ready to pull the trigger...

Once I finally pull the trigger, my next step is shopping for a cam with exhaust and intake... Hopefully 30+ mpg on the highway as well!

Sounds great... Here is some music for your ears.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/vUtL6gUFIao?feature

 

You're crying over what $5K can do on a car that's $10K-$15K more expensive? Sounds to me like you're crying over what $15K+ can do.

 

Of course the S2000 can make 500+whp with 15 grand into it but the corvette can do it insanely reliably and without FI.

 

It's kinda like people crying about how a car is underpowered despite costing 5k less over a decade later.

No, I think he's realizing how ridiculous it is to extract more power out of wringed out 4 cylinders, the fact you could do a full exaust, intake, and tune could bring you to the 11s, be factory reliable, and still flirt with 30mpg. Yeah, I dont see a sub 12 sec s2000 being able to say the same thing. "The s2000 wasn't meant to do that!" Yup.

 

Yup, thats part of the beauty about american brutes, I remember going for a joyride in my buddy's Z06 (C6), and that car completely ruined me. Jumped in, turned it on, went for a ride, had some fun, brought it back home, turned the key off, walked back into the house. Next day he woke up, drove to work without giving it a second thought, and continued to do so.

 

We're starting some weird corvette coalition here in the depths of s2ki! I love it. One day when I'm not so damn busy I'll take some pics and upload them. Its been almost a month I think and I'm still looking forward to driving the c5z every time I'm not! The new tires and increased experience on the gearbox have created a monster.

And no one can argue the power/reliability of an LS its just been around too long and been too successful. Not to mention they are light and (relatively) small! My z handles much better than my 00' s2k I do however chalk this up to tire width.

 

That's the big issue with the c6's I've been looking into. Tires cost $1600+ each time. If they wear quick that will be very costly!

 

That's just one reason the C5 Z06's seem to be so popular w/ the track guys. Smaller tires + less power + less weight = similar speed, but lower consumable wear and cheaper replacement costs of them.

 

I think you've completely overstated his point.

It's not about getting into the 11s. An S2000 is lucky to hit the high 13s, so it has to gain 2s in the 1/4 to get there. A Vette (more expensive and WAY more powerful to start) has to gain under a second to get to the 11s.

It's about V8s vs I4s in light cars and that brings in the price point. Mustangs have a V8, but they don't hit 11s (typically) because they're fat pigs compared to an S2000. The Vette, while heavier, is still quite light AND it has a V8. It can do that because they spent the money to get it there - hence, the higher price tag than an S2000 (or Mustang).

The person I quoted can get a V8 anywhere, and get big gains from it. That's "cheap". Getting it in a light sports car is a completely different proposition requiring you to spend a lot more money.

Hence, my point. It's silly to compare a $35K S2000 to a $50K LS3 Vette in terms of which has the ability to gain more power. The $50K Vette is only a consideration because it is light and powerful. That means he's talking about a $15K price difference, not a $5K price difference, to get to that amount of power.

An S2000 with that price difference thrown at it will match (or beat) the Vette in a straight line and do it reliably. You can easily add a turbo with a stronger rear end and clutch for $15K and get to equal or better hp-to-weight ratio.

 

^ you will not be nearly as reliable however. Every high hp turbo setup I've seen on here is constant long tinkering, fixing or replacing things.