Canuck714

Hello everyone, I'm on the fence with my purchase of another Corvette. I have had a couple over the years, but not in the last 10... I am looking to get back into a Corvette that will be a car that will get some weekends at a road track or autocross. It will not be a primary car, so I'm looking at getting in around $25-30k as I have other interests that require funds... Lol, motocross isn't cheap either!!!

Anyway, I have been looking at several 02-04 Z06's and was getting ready to pull the trigger, until I drove my buddies 06 six speed C6. I was very impressed with that car, and was wondering if I was better off buying a C6 instead.

What am I giving up on the old Z06, but gaining on the new C6? Or vice a versa? Obviously body and interior updates moving to the new style, but what about updates on suspension, brakes, power etc...

Is the new C6 as good as the old Z06??

Thanks Zach

peter pan

Drive both generations and then make the proper decsion based on your needs

Canuck714

I have driven both, and the newer LS2 or 3 makes the same kind of power as LS6 in old Z06. My question remains, is the new base C6 six speed on par suspension/brakes etc as the C5 Z06?
If I had an extra 10G of fun money, I'd get a C6 Z06, but I'm not there...

For a car that will see track time, am I better off with the older Z06???

jon6.0

What's your skill level on a road course? The C6's are known to pop the motor from oil starvation on high G turns. The C5's are darn near indestructible. You might even find a fully set up C5 for you budget. Look around in the road racing section for a ton of info.

Landru

Might wait, the C6 Z06 is worth a wait. $10 large isn't that long of a wait, either. If you haven't driven one. Do so. You'll understand.

I've owned an '03 AE w/ LS-1 & an '06 Z51. Great cars, all. However given your choices, a C6 is the prudent choice. IMO.

Racer

Would love to see some documented proof on this please. To say there are known C6's popping motors.........would mean you have 50-100 links to members "popping" their engines?

Canuck714

Thanks Jon6,

Intermediate, but I'll likely only hit the track 5-6 times a year. I love the style of the new body, buts it's hard to touch the reputation of the C5Z

jon6.0

So are you saying they don't? My buddy was behind one at Phoenix Intl Raceway when the motor let go after the banked turn. I've always ran the recommended extra quart of oil on a road course and drag racing. Never had a problem myself, but I don't do tracks with banked turns.

petes ZO6

Your buddy is your documented proof?

DSOMC6

For a road course I'd take a C5Z over a stock C6 if miles are close.
Given the choice of which car to change a fuel pump in...the C5Z wins hands down.

petes ZO6

You're not suggesting someone choose a car over which one you would like to change the fuel pump in are you?

Black0ut

No and yes.
No for the first question. A base C6 is far from a C5Z06. With a little suspension work and stiffer sway bars and a little better brakes on the base C6 you would be about the same. I've driven both aggressively on a track and I found the base C6 to be kinda mushy and boring.... there is something missing but I just can't put a finger on it. the Z51 package fixes some of these issues and upgrading to a GS (If you could) would be better than a C5Z06. HP wise, they feel about the same and you wouldn't know the difference if no one told you. C6 has a better shift feel and transmission... a stock C5Z06 is like rowing a boat (fixable with an aftermarket or 2010 Z06 shifter).

Yes for your second question. As a car thats going to see track time, a C5Z06 is probably your best bet. Out of the box, the Z06 is great on the track. Take the money you saved and get some pads, maybe a seat and harness, girppy tires, and a little HP bump (usually from headers and intake); you'd be nearly unstoppable (you'll have to stop for gas...). Steering and suspension are responsive and you feel confident pushing the car around. The C5Z06 was designed as a track car and is at home on the track at WOT. C6 not so much (Like the base C5). C6GS, Z06, ZR1 are defiantly track cars.

In the end it depends what you want... If you could, drive both on a track and decide. IF you could fit a C6 GS into your budget, however, it would be a no-brainer. The GS is such a good car...

jon6.0

You still haven't answered my question. Are you saying C6's don't have oil starvation issues?

jon6.0

Back on topic. I bought a 1LT base model C6. After coming from a 2005 GTO with coil overs, the base C6 suspension sucked. I installed Pfadt Johnny O'Connell shocks and sway bars. Much better and not too rough for a daily driver. I plan on keeping my base model rotor size since they are so cheap. I will upgrade the calipers to ones that don't flex under hard braking. I remember seeing a Wilwood kit on here somewhere that did that. I also plan on running 18x10.5 wheels on all four with 285's. Being able to rotate my track tires will keep costs down. I put NT05's on my 18/19 wheel setup and they only lasted 6000 miles with one track day at Inde Motorsports Ranch and the rest daily driving.

petes ZO6

I have not heard of any until the story about your buddy. Personally I need more proof then that. You know like actual documented proof like another member asked for. Not stories about a buddy or a few stories on the forum.

TLS_Addict

I have had 3 friends spin main bearing at the track with LS1's. Common problem? None were running more than 3 runs in a row, low mileage and stock rev limiters. Either its a problem or I am the bad luck charm. haha

I have heard this but havent seen as many cases as say the early 2007 Z06 cars having rocker failure.

I would go for the C5 Z if it was me for just a fun car tp track. The C6 is more comfy, you get the removable roof, and I think a better driving car for the street.

Joe_Planet

track c5z, street c6 all the way

C4RACER

Sounds like you should be comparing C5Z to Z51 C6, not to the base C6, if you plan to track the car and you want the tighter suspension - C6-Z51 is very similar to the C5Z.

I have owned both actually. I have not taken the C6 to the track yet, and only had the C5Z at Thill twice, but I have tracked and raced cars for a decade and a half.

Here are my thoughts.

C5Z is a great car - no doubt about it. on the track even bone stock it works very well. If anything could use a trans cooler as it tends to get hot. The shifter is less precise with longer gates and much harder to hit the 2-3 cleanly. The seats are terrible for track work btw. The chassis is well sorted and the car communicates to the driver better than the C6 does - although in general, Corvettes only communicate well up near their limits, which you should never encounter on the street - so I can't really say for sure about the C6 in that dept! I have 15K miles of street driving, but no track time.

Now - what about the C6 is better. Well - it's far more refined with less road noise. Steering feel is better. Shifter is better. Chassis is stiffer with better NVH and less chatter. The car tracks better over bad pavement too - C5Z is rather darty or jumpy when the road surface is not perfect. C6 is much more planted in this environment. Suspension is maybe slightly softer than a C5Z, but honestly pretty close. I like having the coupe format as it makes the car a lot more useable for road trips - plenty of room for a weekend get-away for two, which is not really the case in the C5Z. I also like the removable roof because the car can be transformed almost into a convertible when you want.

I think if you were building a dedicated track rat, the C5Z is the better platform. And since they are at least $5K cheaper given similar miles / condition that also leaves some room for mods - tires, brakes, maybe some coolers. But for a mostly street car that will see track use 5-6 times a year, I say the C6-Z51 takes the nod given you are OK spending $25K+ vs. $20K+ for a nice C5Z. C6 is a much nicer overall car, IMHO.

Canuck714

Thanks C4racer, when I said base I should have been more clear.. I would want the upgraded sway bars etc, just meant a non Z06 C6.
I drove a C6 recently, and was blown away by how good it worked on the street

OnPoint

C5Zs are great bang for the buck sports cars. A lot of car for the money.