C5 Z06 or C6 LS3, what can i expect ?
Discussion
I had a C5 Z06 for a short time and my mate still has his and has had it since 2005.
It's a very quick car - one test claimed 0-60 in 3.9 and 100 in around 9 seconds. It certainly felt fast. The only issue my mate has had was one of his cats spat itself out so he changed the exhaust system. That caused an electrical issue but that was quickly resolved. His sits outside all day every day and has been otherwise totally reliable..
The 2001 had 385hp (this is usually the one you see test results for and that was 0-100 nearer 10) and potentially oil consumption issues so the 2002-2004 405hp one is the version to aim for as it has a better engine and was rumoured to make more than the claimed 405. The C6 is a narrower and shorter car but I've never driven one though it's otherwise very similar.
Can't comment on the M3 but they tested the C5 Z06 round Laguna Seca against a 911, NSX and 350Z and it was fastest and most economical. It is a wide car though. The gearshift is agricultural though, even with aftermarket shifters and the C6 may be better in that respect (Z06 is manual only of course). The original C6 Z51 was tested against the C5 Z06 and there wasn't a lot in it but the Z06 was faster. It had the FE2 suspension which seems to avoid a lot of the criticism the standard cars got.
It's a very quick car - one test claimed 0-60 in 3.9 and 100 in around 9 seconds. It certainly felt fast. The only issue my mate has had was one of his cats spat itself out so he changed the exhaust system. That caused an electrical issue but that was quickly resolved. His sits outside all day every day and has been otherwise totally reliable..
The 2001 had 385hp (this is usually the one you see test results for and that was 0-100 nearer 10) and potentially oil consumption issues so the 2002-2004 405hp one is the version to aim for as it has a better engine and was rumoured to make more than the claimed 405. The C6 is a narrower and shorter car but I've never driven one though it's otherwise very similar.
Can't comment on the M3 but they tested the C5 Z06 round Laguna Seca against a 911, NSX and 350Z and it was fastest and most economical. It is a wide car though. The gearshift is agricultural though, even with aftermarket shifters and the C6 may be better in that respect (Z06 is manual only of course). The original C6 Z51 was tested against the C5 Z06 and there wasn't a lot in it but the Z06 was faster. It had the FE2 suspension which seems to avoid a lot of the criticism the standard cars got.
Nice comparo Sir.
In which case the 400bhp LS2 vs the 435bhp LS3 should tilt the game to the newer LS3 which also has the newer TR6060 trans from the 08MY so help with the shift feel etc.
Also the LS3 has plenty of upside in the tune to be had as opposed to the older Z06 which was in effect a maxed out LS1.
In which case the 400bhp LS2 vs the 435bhp LS3 should tilt the game to the newer LS3 which also has the newer TR6060 trans from the 08MY so help with the shift feel etc.
Also the LS3 has plenty of upside in the tune to be had as opposed to the older Z06 which was in effect a maxed out LS1.
LuS1fer said:
The gearshift is agricultural though, even with aftermarket shifters and the C6 may be better in that respect (Z06 is manual only of course). The original C6 Z51 was tested against the C5 Z06 and there wasn't a lot in it but the Z06 was faster. It had the FE2 suspension which seems to avoid a lot of the criticism the standard cars got.
2008 model year Z06 manual gear box onwards is superb, prior to that they can be notchy and awkward to shift.To my mind someone looking for an M3 is very unlikely to be interested in Corvette, and vice versa. One is a normal car with a big engine and the other is a special car.
If you divide sportscars into rough categories then a Lotus might be called a "chassis car" and a Corvette is a "power car". You will struggle to find any modern Corvette with a shortage of grunt for real-world use. They are all very quick.
C5 Z06 was GMs effort to add more "chassis" to their "power" car with aluminium construction which included a fixed roof for stiffness, better brakes, different tyres/dampers and a bit more power. In comparison base C6 is a steel car with removable roof and all-round improvement over the base C5. But to choose between a C5 Z06 and a C6 LS3 you would have to drive both cars and see which suited you best - I don't think it's an exercise which can be done on paper.
By the time C6 is fitted with an LS3 it's a very, very good car for the sort of real-world requirements which would suit me. Racier owners might prefer the C5 Z06.
If you divide sportscars into rough categories then a Lotus might be called a "chassis car" and a Corvette is a "power car". You will struggle to find any modern Corvette with a shortage of grunt for real-world use. They are all very quick.
C5 Z06 was GMs effort to add more "chassis" to their "power" car with aluminium construction which included a fixed roof for stiffness, better brakes, different tyres/dampers and a bit more power. In comparison base C6 is a steel car with removable roof and all-round improvement over the base C5. But to choose between a C5 Z06 and a C6 LS3 you would have to drive both cars and see which suited you best - I don't think it's an exercise which can be done on paper.
By the time C6 is fitted with an LS3 it's a very, very good car for the sort of real-world requirements which would suit me. Racier owners might prefer the C5 Z06.
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