z06s ... the performance bargan of the decade?
 

used c5 z06s are in the low 20s, and used c6 z06s are in the 30s .... seriously re-considering my 996/997 plans for a z06. hard to argue with 400+ factory hp. i've also enjoyed euro turbo power, and high revving Japanese power, never had a classic, big ol' v8 in my life. could be fun?

anyone have any direct experience with these?

Yes...At Willow Springs International Raceway a stock C6 Z06 will eat a stock 997S alive! Ask me how I know :confused:

Ferrari 430 performance at 1/4 the price.

Cheap interior fit and finish. Seats that break. leaf spring suspension. UAW build quality.

THAT. IS. RICH.


And incredibly inaccurate.

I had a deposit on a heavily built N/A c5 Z06...

When the Father in Law, to be, intervened and I acquired a family "gift" of my 911.

They are awesomely reliable cars, wickedly capable, and built much better than the new Stingrays.

Like Craig T said, F-430 performance on a road course...and they'll hot lap 11.50 e.t.s all day on stock tires:D

I just helped my friend put new seats in his C5 as they literally fell apart. We also glued portions of the interior back together.

I also helped him change the leaf springs on it.

What part is inaccurate? Lots of power and fun to drive, but its a cheaply built car

I would love to have one. The interior is a bit cheap material wise compared to European competition, but that is my only comment.

Performance/dollar, nothing can touch it. Of course you get a cheap plastic interior.

nothin wrong with the leaf spring, BTW, if you'd actually changed the leaf spring, you'd know it wasn't leaf springs. its a single transverse spring, not like old muscle cars or trucks.

996 has a pretty chincy interior as well. and frankly, i don't give a ****. i daily a sprung to the hilt tiny mr2 with a crappy interior and love it.

That's right! Performance isn't cheap, so something has to be. When you're buying a performance car on a budget, who cares about the plastic squeaking.

Hell, if I bought one I'd stick in some Recaro Pole Positions, pull any unwanted interior weight, and make it a dedicated track demon.

I'm thinking of getting a used Cayman S shortly, but if I get a Z06 as a track toy instead, I would:

1. Upgrade the brakes. Willwood makes a decdent upgrade.
2. Rip out the seats and replace with racing buckets.
3. Add rollbar and harnesses
4 Upgrade the suspension
5. Rip out the interior - cheap plastic is easier to rip out, and easier to justify ripping out!

Problems solved.

-Z

+1 My thoughts exactly! ...except the brakes. They stop great already.

I know the stock (non-Z06) C5 / C6 Vette's brakes do not stand up to track use. Maybe the Z06's have beefier clampers. Either way, with 400 hp on tap, I want to be abel to reign in those ponies fast, if I need to! :D

-Z

Leaf springs? Kind of...

Not sure what kind of love he was giving the interior, I have 4 friends with stock interior z0's (other than added gauges and delete panels) and no problems at all.

Cheap is relative too. I drove a '14 3-series last weekend...POS. C5 interior is much better fit and finish, yes I said that.:D

To all: What exactly is the yard-stick for "cheap plastic interior"?

Other than very expensive European cars, basically every car I've gotten in is no better than a Revell Skill Level 2.

The C6 Z06 does have upgraded brakes over the standard vets. Unless you're doing greater the 30 minute track sessions at full-tilt, they're fine. Perfectly good for DE and time trial use. I would upgrade if you plan to cup race.

Brake upgrades on our air-cooled 911's are pointless. I have SC brakes on my hot rod and run 1:31's at Big Willow. No sense in spending for turbo brakes or Boxster brake conversions (other than looks, which is cool too). Pre-ABS 911's already lock-up fronts and flat spot tires, why would you want to lock up faster? Raybestos pads prevent fading when hot and are cheap.

I would buy a C6 Z06 vette. I think is a good bang for the buck. I also like a Cayman S too.

Oil starvation issues on the track knocked almost all the Cayman S's out of the POC cup race and time trial groups. The wet-sump motors just don't last. Those deep baffle kits help some, but don't cure it. Caymans are well balanced and fast on the track (while the motors last), but nothing compared to a Z06.

Partly why I haven't taken mine to the track. Want a deep sump + accusump to prevent oil starvation.

Z06 is sounding like a fun track toy.

The part about the interior is incredibly accurate.

So why don't you get the 996 and put an LS motor in it?