C5Dobie

I would have kept the G8 as a DD - in fact I recently traded one in w/ 130,000 miles fully bolted on a new GMC pickup and I wish I still had the G8 - but if you're choosing between a C5Z and a C6 base as a DD I guess the C6 only because its "softer" and actually has stuff like cupholders and nav lol.

What is more "fun" to drive? What is faster? I feel the C5Z all the way. The C6 base felt more cumbersome, softer in corners, not quite as raw/gnarly in a straight line, quieter, less steering feedback etc. etc. etc. It has been beaten to death. When I went vette shopping I wanted the fastest, most mod-able, manual tranny, lightests, most affordable lowest mileage example I could get. I looked at 05-07 base & Z51 cars and 02-04 Z's, and I kept coming back to the 03-04 Z's.

FWIW I wouldn't daily drive a vette period, like I said the G8 is a MUCH better platform for that, in fact it is probably the nicest daily driving/do everything muscle sedan 1/4 mile fiend grocery getter I've ever owned or seen for the $$$$

Rupert pupkin

Hell I drove an Evo X along with my G8 before I traded the Evo for my C6Z. The suspension/ride was brutal. Didnt mind it though. I thi k itll just come down to me just driving the C5Z and C6.

C5Dobie

The LS3 C6 w/ Z51 package & manual tranny would be the only other Vette I'd desire other than C5Z, C6Z or C4 ZR1

If you drive a C6Z on a regular basis and didn't mind the ride of an Evo I can pretty much guarantee you'll want the C5Z over any LS2 c6 or non-z51/GS LS3 vette

Rupert pupkin

The C6Z right now is getting built and that gets driven once/twice a week TOPS. The LS3 vette is too high for what I want to spend. Cant really find anything that has less than 30k miles and ballpark $25k. Only options with those criterias are C5Z or LS2 vette.

sami85L98

C6 LS3 W/hotcam .....done.

apollo240

I dd my 02 Z. Before that i dd my 98 z51, and before that my 92. Before that my 03 mach 1. I used to live in md and still dd the old cars. The z hasnt seen much outside FL in its life. My gf dd her cobra's. The gto got dd for a while. Dont see the issue with dd. In fact i think the z06 is the nicest for it. Better gas mileage than the goat, definately better than the cobra. Comfy, hud is nice. Only reason to not take the z is more room for the dog in the cobra or gto.

Rupert pupkin

Pardon my ignorance, but any years I should stay away from?

C5Dobie

'04 is probably the "best" - the comm. edition has carbon fiber hood, I believe the shocks are revised/upgraded slightly, I think magnetic ride control may have been offered then too but not certain.

'01 would be the lowest on my list #1 because it is just that much older #2 because they make less power.

02-03 are the same w/ the exception that later model '03 have revised valve springs whereas the 02 and first half '03s had valve spring failures. I replaced valve springs on my 03 as soon as I bought it and have had no issues.

racebum

early 01s also used barrel shaped 2nd rings which are great for all out racing, but, they tend to burn oil on the street, more than a lot of people like.

the 04 is also the least likely to use oil. the 02-03 cars usually don't burn oil but they do use a bit if you drive hard via the pcv

quick04Z06

Exactly. When I drove a C6Z51 car versus an 04Z, the difference was astounding in "feel".

rjwz28

The late 03 cars are identical to the 04s aside from the shocks

racebum

pcv is different

rjwz28

Good point, thanks.

Fuel system, shift forks, and valve springs were all changed during model year 2003 to the 04+ specs

hifi875

What would be considered late 03. Mine was made in February

rjwz28

Mine was built in March and has the 04/C6 fuel system... check your RPO sticker in the glove compartment for code FFS

I won't know until Tick tears down my transmission whether or not I have the steel shift forks, but would guess that I do, and the valvesprings were changed by this point as well.

C5Dobie

Where is the build data? In the engine compartment?

WannaC5Z

Not around here. A sub 50k mile C5Z will cost between $20-30k depending on how low the miles are. The 2014 Stingray doesn't seemed to have affected it that much like it has the C6.
Not going to get in a pissing match about this but no way!
LS2 = 400hp @ about 3180lbs.
LS6 = 405hp @ about 3120lbs.

WannaC5Z

Have you heard how expensive a simple fuel pump can be to replace in a C6? Glad my '01 has the C5 fuel system.

rjwz28

See quotes... we were talking about mods. With its 4" bore, the LS2 is more capable when modified

One of the stickers on the door has the month and year

rjwz28

I agree with you on that... the cars with FFS have the upgraded valvesprings and almost certainly have the steel shift forks as well. It's one of those deals where you trade one problem for another one, although the fuel system becoming an issue seems less frequent than the broken valvesprings or bent shift forks, so I'll take it

Although at this point it doesn't matter anyway, since my factory valvesprings are long gone and my trans is currently being rebuilt