pmurray

Is there any real difference in these two cars? My brother has a Z06 and with a bit more horse power, I really don't feel the difference other that the gear ratios.
Hope this is not too dumb of a question.

Phanni

ls 6 =385 hp in 2001 405hp 2002--modified air cleaner, titanium exhaust (19lbs,) larger wheels, slightly more side padding in seat bolsters. mesh grill inserts, no TPMS.

Corvette_Ed

One has a hatch and the other has a trunk...

Rear brake cooling ducts.

waddisme

The biggest difference is just in weight savings here and there(less insulation, thinner glass, fixed antannae, etc). Most of the other things can be switched out, ie. sways, wheels, hp, etc..

mooney201

Coupe is more aerodynamic. That is why we bought the coupe. Install a s/c and it will go faster on top end with equal horsepower.

Toque

There are a LOT of differences.

Here are just a few (Not all of the differences)

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/1575064963-post10.html

Toque

RetiredSFC 97

You won't notice much of a difference unless you track it. 50 HP is big at the track but not on the street. They had some upgrades on the Z06 in suspension and other areas but it's suggestive as to whether they were actual upgrades or not. To some they were, to others they weren't.

I prefer the Z06 in both looks and performance myself, IMO it's a better all around Corvette.

GenerationX1

There's more of a difference in speed than you think. C5 Z06 will trap 116 to 118 in the 1/4 where as the base C5 traps at most 108 to 110 depending on what gearing it has. That's a significant amount to me. The 02-04 C5Z's are really making about 420 to 425 at the crank. They usually dyno anywhere from 350 to 360 rwhp.

bikeriderga

The Z06 is a faster, better handling, and a more sure footed car period.

Ask someone who has owned both. I have and the Z06 is better all the way around.

You can take a coupe, outmod a Z06 and win in the quarter mile. At the track, both drivers being equal, bet the Z06 would still whip you.

There are lots of difference between the two cars. Check out the link Torque posted.

OKZ06

Don't see any reason why a coupe would outdo a z06 if the horsepower was the same makes zero sense.

The biggest difference to me is looks of the frc, looks mild to wild to me

momo20

that is a unfair comparison test there my friend...
if both cars had equal mods the z06 would still be fast in the 1/4 and around a track, due it still being the lightest weight corvette produced the transmission, and wider tires then what was offered on the coupe...stock for stock the z06 is a faster car, you need to compare apples to apples

mooney201

The AERODYNAMICS are superior with the 2002 Coupe due to the rear window being laid back compared to the 2002 Z06. Thus,,, with the same hp the Coupe would be faster,,, not quicker,,,, but faster. Top end speed is related to hp and aerodynamics, among other things.....

Vette-kid

I think its funny when these threads come up. People start talking about modding a coupe and think its a fair comparison. Anyway, as others have pointed out, even if you mod the coupe to equal the Z in power, the Z will still whip you on the track. Transmission, gear ration, lighter weight, better supsension set-up etc. I will be honest, I havnt tracked mine yet, but having driven both I feel a big difference between my 02Z and my friends coupes I have ridden in and driven.

Both will be fun cars, if you dont plan to track it, get the one you enjoy driving the most, if you want to have a good track car without a lot of money spent to get it track ready, get the Z. It will take a lot of moeny to mod a coupe to hang with a z on a road course.

RC000E

Oh jeez...this is where the coupe guys get butt hurt and act like their coupes are 1k bucks in mods from being a z06.

I drove a coupe and while they are still damn nice cars, they aren't a z06...that's just the facts. Can you make a coupe more capable...sure... If I were building a dedicated trackday racecar...I'd be building a coupe without question. People tend to forget about the z06 tranny and less weight. It's not just rear brake ducts and 35hp. There's a reason stock coupes run 13's and stock Z's run 11's...add in turns, along with braking and it's no comparison. The only true advantage of the coupe is aero, but given the fact the z06 will be 10 cars ahead by the time that's a factor...it won't matter much.

mooney201

I agree with you completely. What my point is , is that start both stock 02 cars at 160 mph and see which one pulls away. It will be the coupe, IF they have the same hp.

f6john

I completely understand your point about aero and top speed. And you say you bought a coupe to supercharge for that reason. I'm just curious to know how often you get to see redline in 4th and 5th gear? How much roadway do you need to reach that top speed and what is your terminal velocity?

JETninja

Stock Coupes already hit higher top end than the Z06, who cares, not too many places you can actually use it. I'd rather have the street legal race car that the Z is. Not for everyone though. Nothing wrong with that. '04's like mine also had the best shocks out of any C5 by a long shot, and C6 Fuel system and other bits. (late '03 for that stuff actually)

OKZ06

I would argue the reason the targa would pull away would be due to gearing difference of the cars.

I would really like a explanation of the actual difference a drag coefficient of .02 will actually make acceleration wise.

momo20

stock c5 z06 top speed is 171 IIRC..and the coupe is 178 or so IIRC..so there is really not that big of a difference gap there..and the Z06 would get there a lot faster then the coupe would, so what are really comparing here again?

Oh 2 Fun

The coupe doubles as a station wagon....

The Z.....not so much