I purchased my 2004 because I knew it would be the last generation C5 ZO6 and would be the most perfected with all of the "bugs" worked out. This is my 2nd C5 and I have owned sportscars all of my life...my first was a Fiat X19. That being said , the ZO6 wins hands down for value, performance and pure bang for the buck! I truly enjoy my millenium yellow ZO6 every time I take it for a run. The C5 ZO6's are in a class all of their own and world champions on the international circuts. Hats off to all of you fortunate to own one!
Great car but they fell WAY short on the seats & interior IMO.
Nothing personal with NMG's opinion as I've heard it (to my suprise) many, many times before. "Corvette needs a better interior...", "The interior is so cheap...", "Interior needs major upgrades...", etc.
Folks, GM already makes a Corvette with a better interior... It's called a Cadillac CTS-V. Just shy of 600 HP and more comfort than you could every need along with 100 gadets and widgets that you won't have time to look at when your going 150+ mph at the track.
If you want a cushy cruiser, get the Cadillac. If you want a 200+ mph capable, street legal race car you can buy off the showroom floor of your local dealer, you buy a Corvette.
I'm sure GM is more than capable of putting pimped out leather everything interior in a Corvette, buy who will pay the extra $10k? Obviously GM's marketing says "not enough of us". Yes, I understand that a leather interior does not cost $10k, but you also need to remember that cost does not equal selling price. GM, along with every other company planning to stay in business long term, doesn't do things without seeing profit in them.
I sat in on a presentation by Doug Fehan, program manager for Corvette racing last month and he said it best when disucssing the C7 development. I'll paraphrase here, but he said GM could build a mid-engine Corvette tomorrow... They could build a turbocharged Corvette tomorrow... They could build a V-12 Corvette tomorow... We have some of the most talented and dedicated engineers in the world, but they won't build these things because it isn't what their core buyers want and can afford. GM wants everyone to be able to afford a Corvette. How many car builders in the world make a street legal car that will go 200 mph on the track and get 30+ mpg when you drive it to/from the track? People who desire this combination are their target market.
Ryan J
__________________
2003 Millenium Yellow Z06
Corvette Owner Since May 2010
4,002 miles and counting...
I have run a few DE events with the PCA guys and have a few observations. If you look at the cost of a GT3, etc. there is a significant savings with the vette. And they will go toe to toe with anything out there. But there are sacrafices to those cost savings. I learn to laugh about those stereotypes in my sub $20k track monster.
You think the P car guys don't say the EXACT same thing about the GTR, Ferrari, Lambo guys?
However sometimes it does stink of GM shortcuts... Oh and the seats are worthless.
Like I have said in many of the "crappy interior" threads - look at the cars that can hang with the Z06 on the track - they all cost much more. You can spend money on an upgraded interior including seats (which, I agree, suck on the track) and still not spend as much. I'm glad GM spent the money on performance rather than cosmetics.
__________________
"You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline. It helps if you have some kind of football team or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer." - Frank Zappa
'04 MS/Blk - Z06Fest IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI - WinterFest I "Bus Driver",WinterFest IV
Like I have said in many of the "crappy interior" threads - look at the cars that can hang with the Z06 on the track - they all cost much more. You can spend money on an upgraded interior including seats (which, I agree, suck on the track) and still not spend as much. I'm glad GM spent the money on performance rather than cosmetics.
[QUOTE=RJ-19;1364146]Nothing personal with NMG's opinion as I've heard it (to my suprise) many, many times before. "Corvette needs a better interior...", "The interior is so cheap...", "Interior needs major upgrades...", etc.
Folks, GM already makes a Corvette with a better interior... It's called a Cadillac CTS-V. Just shy of 600 HP and more comfort than you could every need along with 100 gadets and widgets that you won't have time to look at when your going 150+ mph at the track.
If you want a cushy cruiser, get the Cadillac. If you want a 200+ mph capable, street legal race car you can buy off the showroom floor of your local dealer, you buy a Corvette.
I'm sure GM is more than capable of putting pimped out leather everything interior in a Corvette, buy who will pay the extra $10k? Obviously GM's marketing says "not enough of us". Yes, I understand that a leather interior does not cost $10k, but you also need to remember that cost does not equal selling price. GM, along with every other company planning to stay in business long term, doesn't do things without seeing profit in them.
I sat in on a presentation by Doug Fehan, program manager for Corvette racing last month and he said it best when disucssing the C7 development. I'll paraphrase here, but he said GM could build a mid-engine Corvette tomorrow... They could build a turbocharged Corvette tomorrow... They could build a V-12 Corvette tomorow... We have some of the most talented and dedicated engineers in the world, but they won't build these things because it isn't what their core buyers want and can afford. GM wants everyone to be able to afford a Corvette. How many car builders in the world make a street legal car that will go 200 mph on the track and get 30+ mpg when you drive it to/from the track? People who desire this combination are their target market.
Ole = That I would love to see I do like the STS Turbocharger . in the back of the corvette keep thing cool
I can honestly say that the C5Z was the start of Corvettes having a quality unmatched from past generations, but I take issue with the fact that some feel that the 02 model started it all. When the 01 Z came out, it was touted as the ultimate vette. A street legal racecar with license plates. Handily the best of the current generation corvettes since the C4ZR1. 0-60 4 sec flat. 12.6 1/4 mi. 3100 lb curb weight. The fuss over the 02-04 models had to do with the 20 extra horses. That 20 hp differebce didnt make for a Z that would out accelerate the 01 models. Bone stock, Ive raced quite a few 02-03 models and nobody ever came out a clear winner. Drag strip runs against bone stock later model Zs at the end of the 1/4, we were bumper to bumper. 01 Zs may have dyn'od at 335-345 rwhp and the later models at 355-365. At minimal expense, I modified my Z with a used Blackwing,modified radiator shroud, uploaded a Diablosport program,and installed a Bassani X-pipe, and my rwhp shot up from 341rwhp to 382 rwhp on a dyno. Im sayng that the 20hp difference that some folks put such a premium on insignificant. The 01 ZO6 started it all the later models only tweaked what was/is already a world class car.
I still own my 2003 Z06. Purchased right off the Bowling Green Truck. Every Time I Drive the Car I fall in Love, it does everything I want and more. It's faster and a better performance Car than I am a driver. The only reason I would have to buy a faster car would be for bragging rights. I also love the look of the C5 Z06. As time passes, this will become a fairly rare car. The body style will always stand out in a crowd.
I still own my 2003 Z06. Purchased right off the Bowling Green Truck. Every Time I Drive the Car I fall in Love, it does everything I want and more. It's faster and a better performance Car than I am a driver. The only reason I would have to buy a faster car would be for bragging rights. I also love the look of the C5 Z06. As time passes, this will become a fairly rare car. The body style will always stand out in a crowd.
I've had several people ask if my 2002 Z06 is new, and are surprised when I tell them it's almost 11 years old. I bought it for the power, styling and because the Corvette is a true American classic. I cannot think of any reason I'd want anything more.
When the FRC was introduced in '99 I wanted one, then when the Z06 came out in '01 I almost got one, but thought I would wait a couple of years.
Finally bought mine in '03 and have never looked back. IMO the best looking Corvette ever built,,,,well worth the wait and a keeper for sure!
Jimbo
__________________ sig by GR8 White
'03 EB/mod blue, LME/V-Max 416, AFR 225's, Comp Custom cam from Pete at V-Max, 3" custom exhaust and lots of attitude! 10.62@133.09 Z06 Fest member III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI and Winterfests 1, 2, 3 & 4. 543rwhp/493rwtq, all motor!
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Z06 Fest member III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI and Winterfests 1, 2, 3 & 4. 543rwhp/493rwtq, all motor!
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