Hi, since I'm unemployed again, I guess it is time to buy a car.

I am looking for something sporty and fun, and a good value. I went and looked at the new C6, it seems to have everything about as right as can be and still have a long nose and leaf spings

Anyone here own a C5, C5 Z06 or C6? How is it as a regular driver?

Thanks.

 

Drives great thanks for asking, doesn't have 4k rev limit either...

 

Actually, neither do I - And you know it

 

drive them everyday....c6 is kinda pricey imho...i would get c5 z06... central chevrolet (where i work) has a 04 z06 for $43k

 

So what is your impression of the drivability - comfort - performance and value of the car?

 

I think its more drivable then other sports cars. Meaning steering isnt hard clutch isnt too stiff and so on... As for comfort...its not a cadillac or anything but it gives you a good connection to the car if you know what i mean... Performance wise... 405hp for 45k isnt to bad...It also does 0-60 in 4.3 seconds and a 12 second quarter mile

 

Forget the Vettes....
I'll sell you my car ,..
It only has 7k miles

 

Yeah, since it has no engine, 7K miles being pushed

 

I daily drove a 2003 Z06 for about 3 months. It was mostly stock but with Konis, Porterfield R4 pads (later downgraded to R4-S due to rotor wear), skipshift eliminator, an x-pipe and a few hours on a dyno w/ LS1edit. It was great, absolutely the most fun daily driver ever experienced. The wall of torque makes it super easy to drive (start out in 2nd, then hit 4th - who needs all those other gears), all the controls are great and nicely located. It even has really good cargo space for such a car. Take it for a spin or better yet on a track and you see what the other gears are for - keeps the engine right where it needs to be. Sounds sweet. Flat out unreal at WOT and 5krpm in 3rd. A true driver's car that's easy to use daily as long as the driver slows down for driveways...

The only issues were weird items like the common C5 dual fuel tank issue, the memory modes getting screwed up (nothing like a steering wheel in the face every morning) and with heavy/hard track use - the transmission overheats and eventually needs to be replaced (ironically a trans/diff cooler would save it but voids the warranty).

Anyway, an amazing car that's daily driveable, a blast everywhere with a few quirky issues. HEAPS and LOADS better than a C4. Get to know it before turning off the traction control. If you plan on regular track use or you are really fast, there are a few things that need to be done for longevity. I think a base C5 FRC would be nice too, and much cheaper.

 

Note - if you are not used to American cars, the build quality might turn you off at first, but it's not so bad for what you get and worlds better than previous GM years or my '97 WS.6 (which was pretty much a POS). I think the only thing tacky about the C5 is the door power window/lock switches - but if you think about it they really keep water out - and the auto features are nice.

 

Nope, not fast and I have no idea what the mods are you listed except for LS1edit.

I do like the visual of the steering wheel in the face every morning.

So you think bang-for-the-buck a C5 is the best deal?

Note: I wouldn't consider a C4 only a C5, C5 Z06 or a C6.

I have a friend with a C5 and the ZR1 suspension package and he installed a blower - had to replace his hood to do this!! But he claims he is faster than any C5 Z06 without a blower and his total cost is less than a Z06.

 

That is more than believable. You can get early model year C5s, like a '97, for dirt cheap. Then do the usual heads, cam, exhaust change and you will beat z06s in a straight line, all for less than like 25k. Add a blower into the mix and it's no contest. That's all straight line of coarse. The early c5s are kinda squishy in the suspension dept. In fact all non Z06 c5s will seem squishy unless you get one optioned with the Z51 package (not zr1, zr1 was a special edition c4 model with a cammer motor built by Mercury Marine). You can always do a suspension upgrade to the early C5s, but the transverse leafsprings can be a pita to work on. It all depends on how much you are looking to spend, and how much modding you are looking to do. Stock c5s are quick, handle well, and are great GT cruising/daily driver cars. No work is required to make them this way and mechanically they are MUCH more reliable than most Japanese car fanboys will try and have you believe. If you have more money to spend then go for the Z06 and you upgrade just about every dept. (except looks, I hate the notchback) yet don't really deminish reliability or driveability.

If it were me, and this was an extra car, I'd go for modding an early c5. They're cheap, reliable (kinda, it depends on the mods), look good with the fastback hatch, and will beat the snot out of just about anything on the road with less than $10k in mods (and a total investment of maybe $30-$35k). Don't go with the C6. Too much money because they are the latest body style and are slower than a Z06.

-Chris <--- comes from a family that has owned, restored, and modded many vettes of almost all generations other than C6.

 

Thanks for the input, but I'd never mod any car.

 

Not even just install a really low rev limiter?

-Chris

 

A buddy of mine has his C5 Z06 for sale, somewhere around $31-32k (it has 15k miles on it). Let me know if you want more information. That car is a beast though, and it's got some mods done to it.

Oleg