2002-2003 C5 Z06
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From: Tualatin, OR
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From: Tualatin, OR
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkI6M...7A1C2&index=20
a little corvette back story that isnt too boring
a little corvette back story that isnt too boring
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From: Tualatin, OR
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=an51Do20X-Q
classic vid, good comparo...
and kind of a bump for the corvette thread, lots of corvette love around here!
classic vid, good comparo...
and kind of a bump for the corvette thread, lots of corvette love around here!
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From: North Richland Hills, TX
"cheaply built" is subjective. Sure, GM cut some corners here and there, but the basic chassis and engine are great. Alum. suspension arms, rear mounted transaxle, ext. It's a great car..
Hold up, a cheaply built car with triple the displacement is faster than my AP1??? 
I occasionally long for another big V8, especially at unsolicited stoplight drag races or when I'm going deaf freeway cruising at 4500RPM, but nothing close to the price range ticked as many of my fun/perceived quality/anticipated reliability/cost of ownership boxes as my nine-year-old S2000 did. Corvettes I've rented (granted, not Z06s) were certainly fast on the straightaway but less entertaining than my S on twisty mountain roads.
I'm not buying this notion that newer 'Vettes are reliable, either--the numbers are skewed. Anything should hold up pretty well if it doesn't see half of redline for its first four years because the septuagenarian owner coddles it like a show car. Yes I'm a little biased having worked to keep a lot of truly awful GM junk on the road throughout my teenage years, and what really bugs me about the C5 interior is how much of that discount parts-bin "heritage" was still apparent in a potentially nice car. What do I know though, my other ride is a Triumph Stag.
Despite all that, for a non-garaged beater with a trunk and a reasonable backseat I was thinking... '04 GTO?
I occasionally long for another big V8, especially at unsolicited stoplight drag races or when I'm going deaf freeway cruising at 4500RPM, but nothing close to the price range ticked as many of my fun/perceived quality/anticipated reliability/cost of ownership boxes as my nine-year-old S2000 did. Corvettes I've rented (granted, not Z06s) were certainly fast on the straightaway but less entertaining than my S on twisty mountain roads.
I'm not buying this notion that newer 'Vettes are reliable, either--the numbers are skewed. Anything should hold up pretty well if it doesn't see half of redline for its first four years because the septuagenarian owner coddles it like a show car. Yes I'm a little biased having worked to keep a lot of truly awful GM junk on the road throughout my teenage years, and what really bugs me about the C5 interior is how much of that discount parts-bin "heritage" was still apparent in a potentially nice car. What do I know though, my other ride is a Triumph Stag.
Despite all that, for a non-garaged beater with a trunk and a reasonable backseat I was thinking... '04 GTO?
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I would argue more people by corvettes, especially z06's to track them then s2k owners did. You cant argue against LS reliability, you'll lose every time. Its not common that you can put out 400 hp or 500hp (ls-7) and be as reliable as any 4 banger honda has put out... Thats not mentioning mating a very tough dff and 6 speed, the s2k has more rear diff issues at 140ft lb of torqe than the c5 or c6 with between 350-500 lbtq
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From: PA (near Pittsburgh)
Ive also been kicking around the idea of picking up a C5Z, but then I was thinking.. If one were to plan to mod it anyway, is there really any good reason to start with a Z vs a regular C5 FRC? (fixed roof coupe, basically same body as a C5, not the normal coupe with the slope back glass) Sure, the Z is slightly lighter due to lighter glass and a factroy titanium exhaust, but say we are modding anyway you are probably going to save 7-10K over a Z, which would go a long way in terms of suspension mods, heads/cam tune, wheels +tires, etc.
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From: Rome, GA
Ive also been kicking around the idea of picking up a C5Z, but then I was thinking.. If one were to plan to mod it anyway, is there really any good reason to start with a Z vs a regular C5 FRC? (fixed roof coupe, basically same body as a C5, not the normal coupe with the slope back glass) Sure, the Z is slightly lighter due to lighter glass and a factroy titanium exhaust, but say we are modding anyway you are probably going to save 7-10K over a Z, which would go a long way in terms of suspension mods, heads/cam tune, wheels +tires, etc.
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From: Charleston, SC. \>
Ive also been kicking around the idea of picking up a C5Z, but then I was thinking.. If one were to plan to mod it anyway, is there really any good reason to start with a Z vs a regular C5 FRC? (fixed roof coupe, basically same body as a C5, not the normal coupe with the slope back glass) Sure, the Z is slightly lighter due to lighter glass and a factroy titanium exhaust, but say we are modding anyway you are probably going to save 7-10K over a Z, which would go a long way in terms of suspension mods, heads/cam tune, wheels +tires, etc.
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From: Tualatin, OR
Originally Posted by Rxmfn7' timestamp='1372830012' post='22644640
Ive also been kicking around the idea of picking up a C5Z, but then I was thinking.. If one were to plan to mod it anyway, is there really any good reason to start with a Z vs a regular C5 FRC? (fixed roof coupe, basically same body as a C5, not the normal coupe with the slope back glass) Sure, the Z is slightly lighter due to lighter glass and a factroy titanium exhaust, but say we are modding anyway you are probably going to save 7-10K over a Z, which would go a long way in terms of suspension mods, heads/cam tune, wheels +tires, etc.
especially because Zs are showing up rather cheap, especially if your not out for ultra low miles mint. The FRC is going to be harder to find and like Gigby said, you'll quickly reach z06 cost without every detail the z06 has, very hard to beat factory upgrades... I would however take a FRC anyday and just do exhaust/intake/tune and strip it, like a big miata or something... if you want biger power stay z06
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From: Tualatin, OR
Ive also been kicking around the idea of picking up a C5Z, but then I was thinking.. If one were to plan to mod it anyway, is there really any good reason to start with a Z vs a regular C5 FRC? (fixed roof coupe, basically same body as a C5, not the normal coupe with the slope back glass) Sure, the Z is slightly lighter due to lighter glass and a factroy titanium exhaust, but say we are modding anyway you are probably going to save 7-10K over a Z, which would go a long way in terms of suspension mods, heads/cam tune, wheels +tires, etc.
if your planning on modding heavily, id consider both a 2001 385hp model which are slightly cheaper. I personally also looked at 2005-2006-2007 c6 base models. Yes you will quickly rack up bills to match c5z perfomance but it is a whole different and improved chassis. especially if you can find a nice high mile ls-3 2008, that would be nasty. get 500 outa that girl real quick