- Joined
- Nov 29, 2009
- Messages
- 9,513
A C5 ZO6 corvette that is. Either that or a C4 ZR1, but you can't even find one of those. What is your opinion on these? Anything to watch out for?
Looking to get a ZO6 corvette
- Thread starter The motor guy
- Start date
The C4 ZR1 has the LT5 Lotus designed Merc Marine engine? Can it get any cooler that a Corvette with a Lotus engine built by Mercury Marine?
Looked at one years ago, always had a soft spot for these. IIRC some mechanical parts can be a bit difficult to source, but that wouldn't dissuade me and would be a small price to pay for such a unique car.
Looked at one years ago, always had a soft spot for these. IIRC some mechanical parts can be a bit difficult to source, but that wouldn't dissuade me and would be a small price to pay for such a unique car.
Patman
Staff member
The C5 is a lot more refined than the C4, and it’s easier to get in and out of too. The C4 has a very high door sills that you need to climb over to get in and out
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2009
- Messages
- 9,513
I don't think I could go wrong with either one as far as getting my money back out of the car in a few years. My dad was a pro at doing this. Other than maybe insurance and fuel, he usually sold it for what he paid a few years later
Patman
Staff member
Both of these will hold their value very well, so in that respect you will definitely be good
Used to autocross with a dude that ran one of those. He ended up kicking a rod out of it on course. Felt super bad for him, from what I understand parts are pretty much unobtainable for that motor and he needed a new block afterwards. Never heard what happened to the car after that.
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2009
- Messages
- 9,513
For the zr1? I'd imagine zo6 parts are still obtainable
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2009
- Messages
- 9,513
you can't even find a zr1 on autotrader. I think they only go back so old. I can find a few zo6's
A LS2/T56 powered C6 is every bit as capable as a C5 Z06. Later LS3 C6 is even better!
There's nothing a C4 does that a C5 doesn't do better. By quite a large margin. Relative to the C5, the C4 is very unrefined. Even in perfect condition, a C4 rides very harsh, rattles, doesn't perform as well, and overall is poorly screwed together. Literally, as in wood screws holding the interior together.
A C5 performs better but is much more tolerable to live with.
A C5 performs better but is much more tolerable to live with.
Patman
Staff member
It’s not quite the same actually. I have driven a friend’s C5 Z06 and I owned a 2005 LS2, 6 speed manual C6 for 4.5 years. The C5Z is lighter and has better handling. It feels more like a “race car” than the C6.
A C6Z has 100 horsepower more than a C5Z though but the price difference reflects that too
I bought a clean 1 owner 60K mile 2002 C5 2+ yrs ago and love it. It's used mainly to drive the 1,000 miles ea way between our TX & CO homes several times each yr. Great gas mileage and comfortable with the rpo code FE1 soft ride suspension and sound deadening/insulation I installed thru out the car.
I prefer a LS2 over a LS6, The Gen IV "E38" ECM is more tunable than Gen III "P01/P59" PCM's & also allows more engine swap options.....A LS3 is a bolt-in deal on a LS2 car.
LS3/6L80E Vette's are often overlooked by enthusiasts & can be cheaper than a LS1/T56 C5.
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2009
- Messages
- 9,513
Wow, looks like these things really do hold their value. You can get a c6 zo6 for about the same price as what a c5 zo6 goes for. These are made of aluminum though. Wonder what they did to keep the paint from falling off.
Any C5 Corvette will be much more livable than any C4. As far as the C4 ZR1 - finding someone capable and competent to repair that drivetrain will be a problem should the need arise. The high door sills on the C4 make getting in and out more difficult. A C5Z would be my choice in nearly every scenario besides having a museum piece.
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2009
- Messages
- 9,513
Yeah the c4 is kind of ugly
Patman
Staff member
The C5 body panels are made of sheet molded composite (basically a fancy work for modern fiberglass) and some carbon fiber has come into play from the C6 and newer in some models.
The C6 Z06 and ZR1 used an aluminum chassis. But because you mentioned paint I assumed that you thought the body panels were aluminum too.
