Drove a C5 Z06 Today..

Holy E36 M3. Doesn't compare to the Whipple Cobra, E46 M, 50-Trim XR4Ti, etc. The torque was insane. I've driven 350whp turbo Neons which didn't come even close. I don't know why I've waited to long to seek one out. I ended up not even driving the BRZ after.

What really blew my mind, though, was how docile it seemed just cruising around in urban traffic. It was as mild-mannered as the Town Car (well, almost). Sure beats the neon wound up to 5000RPMs all the time.

Granted, this one was a bit more due to the lower mileage, but I cannot believe you can buy such a car for <$20000..

Go buy it!

I remember the first time I drove one. It just pulls on every gear, at any RPM.

Seriously, just go buy it.

The plastic bastards are awesome. Fix whatever makes the steering vague, gut the crappy interior and put decent racing shells in there... hoon like a hero.

And it's night and day difference between that one and the newer ones. C5 is the first new Z06 isn't it?

The C5z is one of the best values out there right now. Simply an incredible car, and it's the benchmark I compare all other fun cars to. Why the hell anyone would get a BRZ when a C5z ends up being $6-10k cheaper beats me. Still mad at my old roommate for getting an AP2 instead of that very clean low-miles $17k Z06 we looked at together....then again, he probably would have killed himself in it.

That said, I'm holding out for the LS3-powered C6s to drop in value. A big reason is that I hate pop-up headlights because I burn my lights 24/7 for safety. If you decide on the C5z, DON'T drive a Z51 LS3 C6. It will utterly ruin you for the C5. Right now they're hovering around $30k. Hopefully the public will love the C7 and C6 values will drop just like C5s when the C6 came out.

One of the best performance values on the market.... they're amazing.

Well I posted my ACR and the ITBs and everything for sale. Already had a local guy and a buddy interested in the ACR.

Need to free up a few grand and I should be taking her home. I can tell you this much, I don't think I could settle for anything less.

What really kills me, is insurance is somehow less than I'm paying on the Neon. Don't ask how that works...

Yes do not drive a C6 it will have you pursuing one of those instead (even the LS2 Z51). My mom recently got one with a manual and well...at least I have an autox car whenever I visit home lol.

Autoxing back to back, an 09 z51(430hp?) and a 01 z06 (385hp), I really preferred the c5. Despite the lower power levels, I was faster and felt better in the earlier car. From an appearance standpoint the c6 is way better inside and out. I like the c5 z06, but the I can't get over the looks.

Just posting to echo what has been said above: don't drive a C6. Just don't.

C5z's are awesome cars. I looked at them before I bought my s2000, and got to autox one earlier this year. And it was cheaper on insurance than the s2k lol.

The C6 Z51 isn't much more than the C5 Z on insurance. It's just a tad out of my price range.

I like the C5 Z, to be honest. The lines remind me a lot of our 79, and I'm a sucker for the pop-up headlamps.

In reply to Warren v: I don't know if this will work, but the DRL relay for my 97 Firebird formula would run the park lights during the day. The only time the pop-up lights were on was when the relay went dead. Seems like it may interchange with a C5 Z06 relay from that era (98 to 2002).. worth a try anyway..

The only thing I don't love about them is the tires cost lol

Jaynen wrote: The only thing I don't love about them is the tires cost lol

Yeah...that was the deciding factor for my roommate's AP2 S2k vs. C5z decision. $1750 for the Goodyears installed at the cheapest place he could find... Oh yeah, they last 10k miles...

In reply to Warren v:

Same here. I can get 2 sets of race tires for the s2k for the price of one set for the vette.

06HHR wrote: In reply to Warren v: I don't know if this will work, but the DRL relay for my 97 Firebird formula would run the park lights during the day. The only time the pop-up lights were on was when the relay went dead. Seems like it may interchange with a C5 Z06 relay from that era (98 to 2002).. worth a try anyway..

I think that's what they run in Canada -- the parking lamps on a brighter setting. Certainly was the case for my C4.

Way back when there was a commercial for Chevrolet and some guy in a white coat was measuring the "yeeeee Haaaaaaaaaa" factor. When I test drove a C5 Z06 a while back all I could think about was that commercial. The commercial was probably at least 20 years back or so.

They definitely got the power...too bad the interior is like a Cobalt.

Never driven it, but a buddy has a C6Z06 that I've ridden in some. It's mind-warpingly fast....as long as the engine stays together. Lots of oiling issues under high G load. Like, he lost a motor on track in a HPDE at Roebling when it was box-stock with 11k on it. GM bought him a new engine, Then that one lost a valve because of shrapnel sucked out of the cats they didn't replace the first time. So they bought him another new engine AND new cats.

The C5z would probably be on my short list if someone totalled my Mustang. Go for it.

sethmeister4 wrote: They definitely got the power...too bad the interior is like a Cobalt.

I've lived with Neons, Panthers and XJs (not the british kind) for the last 10 years. It's like a berkeleying Lexus compared to those.

I've been eying C5Zs on CL almost daily but so far have managed to avoid going for a test drive. You are not helping.

Mazda787b wrote: Holy E36 M3. Doesn't compare to the Whipple Cobra, E46 M, 50-Trim XR4Ti, etc. The torque was insane. I've driven 350whp turbo Neons which didn't come even close. I don't know why I've waited to long to seek one out. I ended up not even driving the BRZ after. What really blew my mind, though, was how docile it seemed just cruising around in urban traffic. It was as mild-mannered as the Town Car (well, almost). Sure beats the neon wound up to 5000RPMs all the time. Granted, this one was a bit more due to the lower mileage, but I cannot believe you can buy such a car for <$20000..

I hear you on the joy factor of the late madel vettes in general. They are an awesome experience.

The thing is that as much as your firends will all envy you, Daily Driving one of these year round is kind of like hauling a Harem around when all you need is someone to do the laundry. But they are awesome!

It would appear tirerack offers a set of Bridgestones for $774, if $1800 tires are scaring anybody away.

Kenny_McCormic wrote: It would appear tirerack offers a set of Bridgestones for $774, if $1800 tires are scaring anybody away.

Oh man I just looked at OEM tire size options on Tirerack. Only 2 choices? The tires we collectively care about (Rivals, ZIIs, RE-11a, etc.) aren't even available in stock sizes, much less for larger wheels. I didn't even consider this as a possibility.