C5 Z06 vs 996

Turbos are in the mid to high $30k's, a C5 Z06 and a regular 996 can be had for under $20k

That's a large price disparity, as much as I like the Turbo, they're not in the same price category

C6 Z06 is getting down there far enough in price that I would go for that now rather than the C5. Between the two choices I would go C5 Z06 over the regular 911.

Between 996 Turbo and C6 Z06 which are similarly priced I would go for C6 Z06.

Harvey wrote: C6 Z06 is getting down there far enough in price that I would go for that now rather than the C5. Between the two choices I would go C5 Z06 over the regular 911. Between 996 Turbo and C6 Z06 which are similarly priced I would go for C6 Z06.

so what you are saying is you would go for the Z06 out of either category.

I've ridden in C6 ZO6s on Hoosiers around the racetrack in Medford and holy Hell they are violent!

Flight Service wrote:

Harvey wrote: C6 Z06 is getting down there far enough in price that I would go for that now rather than the C5. Between the two choices I would go C5 Z06 over the regular 911. Between 996 Turbo and C6 Z06 which are similarly priced I would go for C6 Z06.

so what you are saying is you would go for the Z06 out of either category.

At this point yes. While I find either sets of cars to be good I think the Z06 would fit my driving use better overall as I would use it as a third car so I would have no need for a back seat and I also like to autocross and either one fits competitively into several street tire and r-comp classes with few modifications necessary. I would probably use it similarly to what you describe as a backup daily driver when the situation fits.

Also as a 40+ year old middle class white guy I think it fits my demographic. j/k

Petrolburner wrote: I've ridden in C6 ZO6s on Hoosiers around the racetrack in Medford and holy Hell they are violent!

A really good driver brought his supercharged SSM C5 Z06 (I think he said it was putting down around 550hp or more) to our local autocross. He had Hoosier A6s that he bolted on. I took a ride with him and it was ridiculous. It felt like riding in a flying saucer it turned and gripped so well. It broke loose one time with such violence that my (helmeted) head flew into the passenger side window.

Harvey wrote:

Petrolburner wrote: I've ridden in C6 ZO6s on Hoosiers around the racetrack in Medford and holy Hell they are violent!

A really good driver brought his supercharged SSM C5 Z06 (I think he said it was putting down around 550hp or more) to our local autocross. He had Hoosier A6s that he bolted on. I took a ride with him and it was ridiculous. It felt like riding in a flying saucer it turned and gripped so well. It broke loose one time with such violence that my (helmeted) head flew into the passenger side window.

Did it shatter? Or just the frame because the windows were down?

Petrolburner wrote:

Harvey wrote:

Petrolburner wrote: I've ridden in C6 ZO6s on Hoosiers around the racetrack in Medford and holy Hell they are violent!

A really good driver brought his supercharged SSM C5 Z06 (I think he said it was putting down around 550hp or more) to our local autocross. He had Hoosier A6s that he bolted on. I took a ride with him and it was ridiculous. It felt like riding in a flying saucer it turned and gripped so well. It broke loose one time with such violence that my (helmeted) head flew into the passenger side window.

Did it shatter? Or just the frame because the windows were down?

Luckily it wasn't hard enough to shatter the window, but the window was closed at the time. I should have been prepared since he was wearing one of those neck braces under his helmet to prevent his head from whipping around.

who looks for a non-Z06 C5 on this board?

I do. FRCs are semi-hideous and the z06 upgrades arent worth the ~70% price increase and mandatory FRC body style to me.

Once you start modding other bits of the car like suspension/wheels tires. Is the main difference the two engines? C5 vs C5 z06?

Another important change GM did was change the gear ratios, not easy to do yourself, and the more rigid fixed roof chassis.

Plus the titanium exhaust. I gotta say I agree that the FRC looks fugly. I also prefer the looks of the regular C5 Vette and with the price differential you can really close the performance gap (if not exceed it) between the standard C5 and the Z06.

There are some other differences as well. The Z makes a great daily driver. It's mild mannered and incredibly good on fuel when you want and, well, a Z06 when you need. I went with one because the FRC body style was the only option for me, and while you may pay a premium now, they're already becoming collectible, so you'll get your money back when you're ready to sell.

I am not finding the speed parts worth price difference in the two.

any where from even money to $6k. So you can get both in similar mileage and condition for about the same money if you are willing to look.

Porsche likes to see itself as a usable supercar. The perception as it arrives at my doorstep does not bear this out.

Based on how the early Boxters puked engines, German electrics in general nowadays, and Boxhead Tims' build thread on owning a cheap Porsche, (spoiler: $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$) I will cross the street to avoid being liable for the maintenance of a Porsche. They seem to be a collection of quality and expensive parts that survive at the whims of cheap components that fail often.

In reply to NOHOME:

It's always the $2 parts that get ya.

In reply to NOHOME:

There is certainly some of that. The other thing especially with 996s seems to be maintenance related - if the car is maintained by the book (ie, oil changes every 10k/15k or something) the incidence of problems seems to be much higher later on. With later on being, usually after the first owner sold the car.

As the fellow I know from our autocross that has owned so far a C6 ZR1 and now a C7 Z06 tells me, "Maintenance? No, I get another one before we get to that."