OK PerforminNorman read your comments and thanks a bunch. This is exactly the transition I would be making. Here are the specific questions:
Do you have a Coupe or Vert? I assume Coupe. I have a coupe.
When you say C5 "tighter" do you mean C6 flexes more and is that with the roof panel out? Or do you refer to handling being less "buttoned down" than the Z06? C5 is harsher/stiffer. I wouldn't say there were flex to either. I'd call it a natural progression in technology.
I bought the Z for carving corners, but one thing I TOTALLY love about the Z is the 1-2 blast, especially because I have the Nitto R2 and the car just hooks and flies. How bad is the torque management on the C6, have you eliminated the problem (I understand Cartek has a module out to solve this), and if so, how close is the car now to a Z. Another way to phrase this is: can the C6 ever feel like the Z that way? The TM on the C6 is very aggressive compared to the C5. Cartek told me that they average .3 to .5 second differences in the 1/4 mile. I believe it because when it kicks in, it can make my C6 feel sluggish. I've leaned to reset the ECM when I want to do some spirited driving. However, it doesn't last long as it learns quickly. At times, the C6 feels faster than the C5, at other times, it feels like a dog. All because of the aggressive TM system.
Do you think the C6 handling can be improved with bars and better (Bilstein) shocks? My '00 Coupe responded VERY well to that and, in some ways, felt better than the stock Z. I think so. I didn't get the special ride control but I'm sure aftermarket companies will come out will all kinds of goodies for the C6.
This would be my only Vette, so it has big shoes to fill and a lot of expectations to meet.
Thanks.