GT350 vs 2004 Z06

[Hack]

I wouldn't go to a C5. Are you looking for another V8?

Yes definitely looking for a V8. After owning the 944 and thinking that it would be awesome with an LS swap, I decided I'm too lazy/cheap to do that and I want to buy something as close as I can get to that car but in a vehicle that comes with a V8. I've owned a lot of older cars in the past, so I'm ok with having to do some amount of extra maintenance and repair.

What don't you like about the C5? I know a brief test drive doesn't show a whole lot, but in general I really liked it. I'm assuming that if I ever wanted more power it wouldn't be too hard to go to a more powerful V8, or that I could go to a newer 'vette at that time.

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[Laststandard]

Yup, that was me. It was great temperature wise. Glad the rain missed us. I felt like I was learning the course from scratch driving the 944 for the first time on track. Holding the throttle to the floor around several of the corners where I would have to dab the brakes in the Mustang took some serious attitude adjustment. It took me a couple sessions to figure the car out. I was pleased that the coolant temperature didn't budge. I suppose cooling isn't that difficult when the power is equivalent to a handfull of hamsters. The brakes didn't fade at all either, though. Not bad for a 30 something year old vehicle.

And now the 944 is sold. I wanted to track it at least once. Goal accomplished.

I agree on pricing of the C6 Z06s. I'm not sure if I can get past the exhaust valve issue. Especially when you look at a low mileage example it's likely nothing has been done. I'm going to want to pay quite a bit less for a car where that defect hasn't been fixed yet. I hope to drive one soon, though. Frankly I would prefer a C5 Z06 at the moment.

Nice. That was me in the loud black 1LE. Totally lucked out on the weather, I figured we'd be running most of it in the rain.

Yeah I know about the exhaust valves.. figure about 2-3k to do the heads and it's good. Drive 'em all and see which one speaks to you the most.

 

[streetyme]

My wife had a 370Z before she traded in on her 17 GT . The Nissan was nimble and could toss it around very easy. The new V8 pony/ muscle cars walk all over it in a straight line though.

 

[nastang87xx]

What don't you like about the C5? I know a brief test drive doesn't show a whole lot, but in general I really liked it. I'm assuming that if I ever wanted more power it wouldn't be too hard to go to a more powerful V8, or that I could go to a newer 'vette at that time.

So I didn't read very well and didn't see all the points made about the seats. So for me the C5's weaknesses were the seats (AWFUL!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously, all the reviews are true) and the steering, while it's direct, I personally feel like it's very very numb. Shifter isn't fantastic and the transmission is hit or miss. Simply being effectively 15 years old now, I also just feel like that's a lot of time to move back on. However the price is certainly right. That's a lot of car for the money.

 

[MaskedRacerX]

The stock seats in the C5 Z06 are actually __less__ supportive vs. the upgraded/optional C5 Coupe seats! Supposed to be for "weight saving", but I think the few pounds saved vs. sliding around on track was a bad decision.

 

[Hack]

So I didn't read very well and didn't see all the points made about the seats. So for me the C5's weaknesses were the seats (AWFUL!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously, all the reviews are true) and the steering, while it's direct, I personally feel like it's very very numb. Shifter isn't fantastic and the transmission is hit or miss. Simply being effectively 15 years old now, I also just feel like that's a lot of time to move back on. However the price is certainly right. That's a lot of car for the money.

The car I drove I couldn't live with those seats. They were comfortable, but not sporty at all. And they squeaked terribly.

I do agree on the shifter not being that great. Throws are a little long. I didn't have any trouble selecting gears though. I think I could live with it, but would consider an aftermarket shifter.

I didn't notice the steering - thanks for that info.

Agree it's a lot of car for the money.

The stock seats in the C5 Z06 are actually __less__ supportive vs. the upgraded/optional C5 Coupe seats! Supposed to be for "weight saving", but I think the few pounds saved vs. sliding around on track was a bad decision.

Interesting. I didn't know that. This was the first Corvette I ever sat inside, so I have a lot to learn about them.

 

[Hack]

Nice. That was me in the loud black 1LE. Totally lucked out on the weather, I figured we'd be running most of it in the rain.

Yeah I know about the exhaust valves.. figure about 2-3k to do the heads and it's good. Drive 'em all and see which one speaks to you the most.

I saw that there were some Mustangs in your run group. Did you show them who is boss?

Thanks for the advice. I think you are right. I need to drive some more cars. My latest thought is maybe go with a C6 GS to avoid the engine concerns. I understand the C6 Z06 had an aluminum frame and so the C6 GS weighs something like 300 lbs more, though.

 

[nastang87xx]

There is a reason why C5 Z's have gone up in price over the last 3 years. The secret got out about them and all the SCCA autocrossers around the country started scooping them up and running A Street. And they were winning. My region had SIX '04 50th Anniversary Commemorative cars in it last year. Chevy only made like 2500 of those.

 

[Laststandard]

I saw that there were some Mustangs in your run group. Did you show them who is boss?

Thanks for the advice. I think you are right. I need to drive some more cars. My latest thought is maybe go with a C6 GS to avoid the engine concerns. I understand the C6 Z06 had an aluminum frame and so the C6 GS weighs something like 300 lbs more, though.

Actually the Roush went off track trying to stay in front of me.. could never get a clean run with the white Mustang but he was fast.

While the exhaust valve issue is a real concern, it's just like any other enthusiast car that's had some sort of problem. Internet forums are full of issues while in the real world it's probably a 1% failure rate. Hell, you have a GT350, those things all drink oil and are just a ticking time bomb!

The LS7 may not be quite as special as the Voodoo, but it's close. 7 litre handbuilt V8, ti connecting rods, dry sump.

 

[Hack]

Actually the Roush went off track trying to stay in front of me.. could never get a clean run with the white Mustang but he was fast.

While the exhaust valve issue is a real concern, it's just like any other enthusiast car that's had some sort of problem. Internet forums are full of issues while in the real world it's probably a 1% failure rate. Hell, you have a GT350, those things all drink oil and are just a ticking time bomb!

The LS7 may not be quite as special as the Voodoo, but it's close. 7 litre handbuilt V8, ti connecting rods, dry sump.

There were a lot of people in your group. I had a similar issue in the GT350 at DCTC. Passing people all the time, no one passing me, never got a clean lap. Towards the end of the day I was getting some clean laps in the 944 because fewer people were passing me. During the first session I was constantly waving everyone by me. It's almost more fun on that track having a car that is close in speed to the other vehicles and being able to push harder. You should try running at BIR. I think the shorter track at BIR is perfect in size for our cars.

I think many GT350 owners would love to know one single issue that could be fixed to remove the risk of encountering problems. Frankly, I'm not sure that there is something like that. I know I feel very comfortable and confident running it all out on track and mine still doesn't burn any oil at 33,000 miles.

Frankly I think the LS7 exhaust valve issue is very different from any of the issues with the GT350. It could be that most of the failures are from people that install a non-factory camshaft, but I wouldn't run an LS7 for any length of time without the head fixes completed.

 

[Laststandard]

There were a lot of people in your group. I had a similar issue in the GT350 at DCTC. Passing people all the time, no one passing me, never got a clean lap. Towards the end of the day I was getting some clean laps in the 944 because fewer people were passing me. During the first session I was constantly waving everyone by me. It's almost more fun on that track having a car that is close in speed to the other vehicles and being able to push harder. You should try running at BIR. I think the shorter track at BIR is perfect in size for our cars.

I think many GT350 owners would love to know one single issue that could be fixed to remove the risk of encountering problems. Frankly, I'm not sure that there is something like that. I know I feel very comfortable and confident running it all out on track and mine still doesn't burn any oil at 33,000 miles.

Frankly I think the LS7 exhaust valve issue is very different from any of the issues with the GT350. It could be that most of the failures are from people that install a non-factory camshaft, but I wouldn't run an LS7 for any length of time without the head fixes completed.

I was surprised how many people were there, but the second and third sessions weren't too bad. I usually managed to get into an open spot and get 1 or 2 clean laps. BIR was in the plans for this year, but I ended up with an opportunity to go to Germany. The BIR money is going towards a rental to spend some time on the Nurburgring, can't wait!

Have you look at Vipers? Mid-2000's models are getting pretty attainable.

 

[Furious18]

I had an 04 c5z. It was an awesome car. Very raw in comparison to my c6.

Mgw shifter made it feel much better imo.

My a10 18 bolt on car feels like a fast sporty daily. The c5z felt much more like a track car on the street if that paints a basic picture

 

[Hack]

I was surprised how many people were there, but the second and third sessions weren't too bad. I usually managed to get into an open spot and get 1 or 2 clean laps. BIR was in the plans for this year, but I ended up with an opportunity to go to Germany. The BIR money is going towards a rental to spend some time on the Nurburgring, can't wait!

Have you look at Vipers? Mid-2000's models are getting pretty attainable.

The 'ring sounds awesome. I bet it will be a blast.

I have not looked at Vipers. Thank you for the suggestion. I'm not sure I'm interested in an older Viper, but I will read up a little to see what people say about them.

I had an 04 c5z. It was an awesome car. Very raw in comparison to my c6.

Mgw shifter made it feel much better imo.

My a10 18 bolt on car feels like a fast sporty daily. The c5z felt much more like a track car on the street if that paints a basic picture

Thanks for posting your thoughts as an owner. I was driving the C5 Z06 on a section of highway with expansion joints and the ride was rougher than the GT350. Not in a terrible way, but I could see the C5 Z06 being less enjoyable than the GT350 on a longer trip. The stiffness of the suspension in the C5Z is very similar to the GT350 - possibly it was a difference in wheelbase, lack of Magneride or something that caused the bucking motion in the C5 that I don't get in the Mustang. My brief impression was that the C5 Z06 has a more exotic feel to the chassis, but the GT350 has a more exotic feel to the engine, if that makes sense.

 

[Hack]

Had the 2004 Z06 on the track today for the first time. Just getting to know the car. Engine definitely not as good as the GT350, but not terrible. First session on track I took it very easy trying to get to know the car. Second session started pushing to a degree not as hard as I could - still with the stock seats sliding around and no harness - overheated the engine in just a couple laps. I need a lower seating position to be comfortable with a helmet on as well.

So my conclusion is that I think the light weight and low to the ground chassis of the 2004 Z06 is awesome. Totally love it. Engine is acceptable. Not really good, but with a light car you don't need a great engine. I'd definitely prefer a Voodoo over that LS6, though. Cooling is terrible - not acceptable at all.

The cooling failed too quickly, but I'm fairly sure the brakes aren't far behind.

As a track car in stock form the GT350 is by far superior. I'm still glad I made the change, though. There was a guy in a new Grand Sport Corvette behind me today and he was falling back. I think if I resolve the cooling and braking issues this car will be terrific on track.

 

[TDC]

Interesting to read the comparison. The C5 Z06 has a minimalist look and at 3100lb is lightweight. Driveline components are plentiful and relatively inexpensive.

Similar to you I've thought about trading down with an interest in reducing consumable costs; was thinking an earlier vette or BRZ or similar. After mulling it over for awhile I came to the conclusion my car has already depreciated somewhat and the savings wouldn't be worth giving up such a competent machine that is nearly perfect for the track right out of the box. Plus winding out that engine is so much fun.

Instead I found a solution to making the GT350 feel like a featherweight like the S2000; leased a Scat Pack Challenger widebody for my daily and now the Gt350 feels like a lightweight hunkered down track specialist

Oh well, so much for reducing the cost of consumables since the Challenger is a gas hog and loves to roast the rear tires .

Best of luck with the new ride!

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