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?

There's a guy racing in the POC that has a 944 with an LS motor. You work the corners to get past him, then ZOOOOOM, he blows by you on the straight again. Oy vey!

LS motors are fairly light and short, ie. they can sit further back in the chassis. It's an awesome mill for a track car, don't know why I've rarely seen a clean install in a Porsche without tons of issues.

Yeppp ls route. A lot of bang for your buck. Look Into the 454 LSx if you really want to see some impressive numbers. If I had the coin that would be going into my 928. Instead I have settled on a cam'ed 5.3. cough http://forums.pelicanparts.com/support/smileys/wat5.gif

i already have one engine swapped car, and its never as easy or simple as "put an LS motor in it"

ever.

LS swapping my 951 though is looking more and more reasonable.

agree 100%,
we almost bought one and the interior really turned us off to the car. dont get me wrong 400hp was a blast, but it just felt cheap.

Top Gear's Z06 episode...Worth the 9 minutes. Stig lap at the end.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ko9kzyqW-l8

This post makes no sense.


Regarding the 'Vettes: they're perennially touted as the best new car performance bargain, so is it any real surprise that they make the best used car performance bargain ten years later?

my 951 is already a project with the stockish engine. turning one project car into another project is different than buying a 3rd project car.

That sealed it for me. My next car is a Z06 or some kind of luxury-cruiser.

Juxtaposed? That's like saying..."My next wife will be a hot blooded sexy Brazilian chick or a some chubby Mormon girl.

That's :D

Got a good ROFL out of that. Thanks.

Just saw this during lunch in Ramsey, NJ. It is a 2001 Z06. Red interior / tinted windows need to be addressed. 39k miles. $19k. Can probably get it for under $18k.

Pic:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1409251215.jpg

Link to site: 2001 Used Chevrolet Corvette Z06 at Emporio Motor Group Serving New Jersey, NJ, IID 12113454

To answer the question - yes. I made an offer on one priced at $15.5k, may have it eventually if it doesn't sell.

$15.5K??? That's a whole modern car for the price of one motor rebuild in an SC or Carrera track car!

What's the ratio of Corvettes that have been modified? Is it nearly as bad as the ratio of 928s?

Friend of mine races a very seriously set up 944, and blew up an LS1 and put an LS6 in it I think. Factory crate motor was very cheap, like a couple of grand and IIRC a warranty.

I put Corvettes in the category of cheap go fast vehicle. To me its just like a Mustang, Camero, WRX, EVO, ect ect ect....Fast yes but they don't invoke emotion like that of an early 911. They are a dime a dozen....

yes of course they are


Of course a used ls3 z51 regular c6 may have an even higher performance/$$ ratio. They should be approximately free at this point.

Early 911s are beyond the reach of the average buyer. They now can be found in collections gathering dust. They certainly don't offer nearly the performance of any of the cars you listed without investing cubic dollars on top of their already hefty price of entry. Not really a valid comparison in any way.