2002 Corvette C5 Z06 - When America's Sports Car Stopped Being A Joke
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ก.ย. 2024
- Today on the channel, I drive another example of "America's Sports Car" - the Chevrolet Corvette. Previously I have driven the C7, C3 and C4 generations but never the C5. With this car, Chevrolet went all-out to produce something that really could compare with its European rivals and amazingly, they succeeded.
#Chevrolet #Corvette #Z06
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Los angeles-based guy here. The C5 ZO6 is well regarded. It is ferocious out of the box and easily modified almost without limit. Incredible value for money. Superb track day car as well. Even a base C5 is good fun. And all the big name auto parts stores carry spares. Easy to work on and actually pretty decent fuel economy if you are determined!
This is isnt true for 1999 and 2000 models!!
value for money also counts for the US, in europe this car's a moneypit due to the lack of official support and having to import most parts. Which is kind of sad, considering the fact that of all the american cars...the corvette is probably the closest thing to having a european feel.
so you are suggesting that this is the Honda Civic of performance cars ?
Bargain performance wise, makes for a great track car. Has the build quality of a Lego/Rubbermaid set.
@@t1mech1ldtc60 more that the Honda (Civic) is the Chevrolet (Corvette) of the imports
C5 Coupé owner here from Spain. Bought mine after an awful Porsche 996 experience and i really can't be more proud and happy owning a Millennium Yellow C5 with manual transmission. The LS is massively gorgeous, simple and not thirsty. After 20 owned cars, I might say this is the best one. Cheers
British people saying some other brand is bad quality? they must have forgotten pretty much any british brand
A Jag XK will be infinitely more reliable than this. Particularly in the engine department.
@@richardharrold9736 it's an LS. That automatically makes your counterpoint complete nonsense and just an argument for arguments sake.
@@richardharrold9736 I have actually heard that one is quite reliable
@@matrinezkevin11492 LSs are infamously fragile, especially the 5.7s - they crack the block low down in the crank-case, they're prone to windage causing oiling failure of the crank, and the valvetrain is a common failure point too. The Jag AJ-V8 family have no such problems.
@freepieanchipsgarage LS1s are infamously fragile. Everything about them breaks.
I ran a C5 Z06 as my “daily driver” here in the UK for 10 years and only parted with it because of my wife’s arthritic hip. Its additional benefits not covered here are its practicality and real world comfort! What you say; how come. Well for a start we could get luggage for a 4 week trip to France in the boot no problem. The comfort on a long journey (12 hours and 600 miles into France on the payage) is due to the seating position, legs almost straight out not bent at the knee. We were always surprised at how fresh we felt after this journey compared with my wife’s Citroen C6 which was supposed to be supremely comfortable. Indeed I replaced the Corvette with a Maserati Quatroporte and it was not as relaxing.
On the French motorway cruising at 130kph it showed just under 1900 RPM and gave 28 to the gallon. I had an oil and filter change every year, the handbrake adjusted every 2 years together with an air filter change; 1 set of rear discs in 10 years and 2 sets of pads. Nothing failed not even a bulb and no warning light ever came on, and tyres lasted over 20K (Vreidersteins).
And at the time it could leave just about anything in the dust. A wonderful car much underestimated.
Did left hand drive give any problems
@@brianiswrong Yes, you need lots of patience on occasion.
That gas mileage is nuts !
I suppose the gas milage is in US gallons, it would be 20% higher in Imperial gallons.
@@vincezab1 No, I'm an "old timer" and I convert litres into UK gallons (still do) and kept a paper record. Also as anyone who has driven from Calais to Limoges via Le Mans knows the payage is very lightly used so its a very steady run so ideal for low consumption especially many hours at a constant 1900 RPM.
C5 Z06 is still a prize in America. A real well cared for car will sell in the $30,000 + range. I have just purchased one and love it. Great review, Thanks
I've seen decent ones in the mid 20's. Hard to beat the performance you get for the dollar you spend.
American here. C5 Z06's are pretty underappreciated here - many people like them, but it seems they are not particularly highly desired to buy. They can be had in the $20,000's for a decent/good example. Thanks for the video, James! Always cool to hear a Brit's perspective on a car from across the pond.
I think it's because the Corvette still has the "Dad image" in the U.S., while it's slowly changing, it's hard to escape that image associated with the car. Like how vaping goes with WRXs and beating your wife goes with Dodge Challengers.
for a high mile z06 maybe. anything less thank 50k miles is gonna hit around 30-40k depending on condition
@@midwestc5corvette639 hmm, they must have gone up since I've last checked
Because they made a ton of them. There is absolutely no scarcity of low mileage examples, even 20 years later.
Wouldn't mind importing one !
Thank you for the review of the C5 Z06. The Z06 is quite a hallowed car in the US now. As a prior owner of 2001 C5 base, few things to note: The suspension has composite mono leafs in both front and rear and the ride height is actually adjustable. That interior was "enhanced" by someone with no taste (most notably the armrest and red trim bits) LOL. The air dam in front is factory (apart from the stupid rollers- which are not), but it is designed to flex and actually pivot over objects/kerbs. Lastly, the traction control is multi-mode- including a "competitive driving" mode if you hold down the button. Pretty impressive tech for late 90s- early 00's.
These are definitely not hallowed in the US..
-An American
@@Spencer_Marks In sports car circles they are predictably well respected, but people less informed on their heritage and capability tend to view them as gaudy show cars for old dudes to tool around in on cruise night.
@@RearWheelZeal this exactly.
The Corvette has two very different niches. It is much beloved/respected in the performance community while being considered more of a midlife crisis and car show special to the general public.
The red trim bits (minus the center consol, shift boot stitching and shiter center) was a factory option called 'mod red' that was one of the few options you could get on a Z06 and a fairly rare one depending on exterior color.
@@r4raced4doom2 mod red looks great but the extra bits in this one really cheapen up the look. I miss my old C5Z at times, I would have another but I would stop at full bolt ons this time around.
As a Brit, I've never driven a C5 but have owned a C6 since 2013 and love it. Interesting is that many may mock (Yank-Tank) until they have a drive and become converts. Great cars.
Never been more terrified by lateral grip than in one of these set up for autocross. Deeply impressive platform.
The C5 Z06 is pretty well known as the ultimate performance bargain over here (I'm in Canada). It's reliable and easy to maintain even on a budget. Put a set of modern tires and an upgraded oil cooler on it and it's a really fast track car with low cost of consumables and better fuel economy than any sports car but an N/A 4 cylinder.
Aston DB7
Ferrari 355
Corvette Z06
Ah, NFS III memories flooding back. Might just need to go back and play it again.
I have owned a 2003 Z06 for 4 years. My family also has c4s (including a 1991 Zr1) and a 1976 c3. I simply LOVE my car. It does everything well, still gets the looks, and is comfortable to semi-daily. Good on gas, great handling and power, and easy to fix when something breaks! Best 20 grand I will ever spend on a car.
Best Vette is the one you own :-) But ironically, no matter which one you have, people are always attracted to them, curiously, or willing to tell their Vette story. Enjoy, we do :-) Cheers from Canada 🇨🇦
Great 👍. I’m saving up for a 03-04 Z06. Should be ready by next summer to buy.
The relation between a lot of the uk press/general public and the Corvette, certainly from the C4 onwards, always seemed to me like one of the most transparent cases of "sour grapes" ever. There is no doubt in my mind that if it had a well known british badge and said "Made in the u.k" on it, it would have been hailed as the worlds finest price/performance sports/gt darling by the aforementioned crowd...
British guy: I'd never own an unsophisticated plastic Automobile with a cheap plastic interior and a pushrod V8.
Same exact British guy: ooh I'll take a TvR Griffith that's one of the best V8 sports cars there is.
@@robertstone9988 Exactly.
@@robertstone9988 you've not sat in a tvr have you, there's no plastic, just leather insanity
@@syscoord195 The comparison was perhaps not fully spot on when it comes to the interior, but the gist of the post seems like quite an apt comparison in some ways.
But were it a british car, it would likely have been hailed as an "Aston for the common man" or something like that. Since the C4, it certainly wasnt markedly slower around a track than any Astons either.
@@syscoord195 and in 4 days it starts unstitching and unraveling I'm talking about the build quality not the materials Corvettes are full of leather too it's just put together by someone who doesn't give a shit. And I think it might be Cat Skin, But no never set in a tvr. there's probably just as many tvrs around here is there are Corvettes in Britain. I'll use an example I do know of Jaguar XKR. Do you want to talk about unreliable everything's about to break after 3 years none of the buttons work piece of s*** car
The interior is no more embarrassing than that shirt 😂. Love the video!
I was saying to myself as I was watching the video that he is wearing a very loud shirt.
I managed to snag an '03 in Electron Blue for around $12k back in 2019. It had been pretty severely mistreated but never complained too much; adore the thing and its raw toughness. Thanks for the wonderful review.
C4 ZR-1 was an awesome ride and world beater in its time and loved the sound of the dual overhead cam engine.
And the c4 zr-1 easily beat the 911 turbo in track testing, i wouldn't call that a joke
@@danielsvavars6787 And could run rings around the Countach back then.
@@Sprocketboy1956 it was a pretty insane package.
I have owned 30+ Corvettes over the years ranging from a 1967 327ci/350hp fastback coupe with the factory side pipes to a 2014 C7 Z51 coupe and everything in between. The only Corvette I own right now is a 2004 C5 Z06 that I bought two years ago from the original owner with 36,000 miles on it. Was shopping for a C7 Z06 when I bought it. At least 90% of the fun for 30% of the money!
Thanks James! Unlike most Corvettes the C5 ZO6 has been on my wish list since its release
Love my 02 in electron blue. They’re really starting to get the recognition they deserve here in the US. Great reliable wknd/track car.
C5 has aged so well
Have an 01 Z06 130,000 miles. EVERY time I get in I giggle like a little kid… LOVE my car…
I would gladly add a C5 Z06 to my stable. Always loved the way they looked compared to the standard C5.
You definitely should
As a Yankee I would like to say thank you.
America does make some amazing cars. Especially our sports cars. The Corvette is made for the 90 year old man that'll be buying it. That older buyer doesn't care to rev the engine to 8600 RPM. Till now that is. ;-) I am pleased to hear that you've enjoyed the C5 Z06. It was ahead of it's time and had pop up headlights.
Hope you get a chance to drive more Corvette models. See you in another video. Wait do any other Europeans watching this like the Corvette?
Owning a 14k mile 2004 C5 Z06....i love it.
Performance, handling, is still up there with the best, even now.
Look at the ring times, still quicker than a BMW M2, by quite a few seconds, plus bare in mind these times from 2003/2004 were frim a standing start not a rolling start they have now.
Epic car
I'm American , I own a 2003 Zo6 and love it. Good old American muscle. Most people on this side of the pond like the FRC look better then the couple but its a personal choice in the end .
Silicon Valley car nut here. I mostly have had European sports cars: Lamborghini Countach 5000QV, Maserati GrandTurismo S and Cabrio S, Porsche Boxster, Ferrari 308GT4 and 308GTS QV and a few ALFAs and an Abarth500 daily driver. The C5 Z06 coupé looks odd, but it is a fantastic bargain and a durable sports car that can take a great deal of abuse, while being a good handling with reasonable fuel economy vehicle. Parts are easily obtainable and modification abundant. My only close American car was the Aussie built Chevy SS sedan with the 6.2L LS3 from a C6 Corvette which was a super sleeper as so few were sold in the US. The C5 Z06 is still a bit cartoonish, but most blue collar workers don't know any better and they are rightfully proud of the bargain brute that actually stops, accelerates and handles pretty damned well. Hard to beat for the money. Thanks for the review JM!
Zee-oh Six..."Zed's dead, baby" Lol Personally I would love to boot one of these around a track. Or some country roads. Anywhere, really! Another cool video, James
Thanks for stopping by!
Another cool vídeo,
Didn't expect to see a C5 here what a nice surprise, they are a rare site in Portugal and sufer from the stigma of the old american cars "lots of noise and only good for straight line". I looked for years until i finally found one in Portugal 3 years ago, a hatchback C5 with 6 speed manual, did the basic mod's, mgw short throw shifter, exhaust and intake, it's been a Joy to own, what a Fun car!
I adore the C5 Corvette. It ushered in a dynasty of winning at LeMans. I grew up in the Eighties, so the C4 was the Corvette mainstay for so long. But then the C5 arrived and blew everyone away. Such a deviation from what we were used to. At first, the rear end was somewhat controversial among the purists, but eventually was warmed up to. I was working at a Chevrolet dealership when the Z06 started arriving. We were all amazed by the sheer power of it! I would love going for rides in them when the mechanics finished prepping them for sale. I would get tunnel vision as the 'Vette took off at full throttle. Amazing machine and worth driving if you get the chance. A lot of folks love the C6 Corvette more, but not me. I would take the C5 over that one any day of the week. Cheers.✌🏻🇺🇸
I agree. I drove a C6 Grand Sport with a 6-speed manual once. The steering felt light and I didn’t like the clutch pedal feel. Then I drove a C5 Z06. The steering was nicely weighted and the clutch action was smoother. It felt raw and mechanical which is how I like it. I plan on buying a C5 Z next spring.
Have had my C5Z for 2 years. Basic goes a long way.
godi miss the swoops of the 90s. SO much better looking than todays angular cars!
Before Covid you were finding decent examples of these for $14,000 USD. Excellent examples for under $20k
C5's here in America were seen as the first cool Corvette although getting long in the tooth particularly the interior. The Z06 has always been a VERY well received version of the 'Vette. I remember seeing these brand new back in the early 2000's and they were very exciting to witness. Then came the C6 Z06 and it was an absolute world beater. That was really the car that sold the Corvette brand for me. I've wanted one ever since.
Top Gear and Clarkson have a lot to answer for when it comes to cars that get a bad rap undeservingly.
They were spot on usually with the good cars, and aside from the vectra which was awful, the Corvette is a good example of one person’s opinion being taken as gospel
Vectra was pretty good, huge boot but no legroom in the back.
Clarkson usually did a lot of talking out his south end...He just doesn't like Americans..
@@philroder4878 To be fair, I’m sure Clarkson has met some truly awful Americans in the circles he travels. They are sprinkled amongst us from the lowest to the highest echelons of society. I’m sure that’s a global, human truth, but when you see things like that console armrest, it’s hard to imagine that anything likable can exist in the designer or buyer of such hilarious garbage.
Whenever I hand wash my high-mileage C7, particularly the flimsy rear trim panels, I completely understand Clarkson’s scoffing. Touching them gives the impression that they will definitely fall off at any moment, but I can testify (with surprise) that the rear fascia remains in place after 90k miles of hard driving.
Had he driven any C5/C6/C7 Corvette for 90,000 miles, he would have been more kind, and likely amazed at the sheer utility and effortless performance as a daily driver. He would also resume scoffing at the abundant interior squeaks, clicks, pops and rattling that increase with mileage.
If you were comparing this to a 996 in 1999, then yeah, I could see why you’d scoff at the Vette. But now, 20 years on, they’re cheap enough that you can look past the crappy interior and notice the lovely chassis, the surprisingly good suspension, the handling, and the LS6.
The C5 Z06 is probably the most performance for the money that you can get right now. $25K to $30K and you have a world class performance car.
THAT'S the nicest body style and the Z06 package sets it off. I look at that car and Need For Speed III: Hot Pursuit comes to mind. ❤️
I had a 2002 Z06 in Electron Blue, great car for the money. and still is today even in this market.
you got much less than you paid for. Same if you had bought a damned YUGO. WHenever somebody says "great car for the $" it MEANS "cheap POS".
Drove my heavily modded C5Z (cam/headers/blower/meth etc) w/ 718whp to work today. Cool up here in New England probably making a lil extra HP too lol! They’re the lightest of all modern vettes, outrageous aftermarket support for every component. Real fun car. Old school muscle
Better get one while you can. Cats out of the bag! Thanks J
its like an elise, you look by the shortcomings or even romanticize them, to focus on the ample goodness. C5Z is loved by most real car guys in the USA but the general public wont even notice if one drives by. One thing about c5s is you still see a ton of them on the road many of them get driven a lot and are just high mileage used cheap cars. C5Z can be very fast on the track in the right hands, even faster than you might think with 400hp/3000 lbs.
The Elise in Britain is such a great analogue for the C5Z, although the 'Vette punches above it's weight in a much more figurative sense.
In the Corvette's defense, a road test in Road & Track many years ago, when a new Corvette sold for roughly $35,000, there was a quote from a Corvette engineer. He essentially said the lack of build and materials quality as well as the then-measured performance inferiority against whatever European supercar to which it was being compared with the comment, "Do you know what we could do if we could retail a car at $100,000?" Hard to argue with that. Corvettes were always built to a price in a way the competition wasn't, at least to the same degree. They had to be affordable to the guy whose budget was limited, whose ability to shift manually was generally non-existent, whose belt line was bigger than his inseam was long, and who refused to drive anything not American-made. So I hated them. Driving a Ferrari, one could look like a successful, well-heeled, doofus. Driving a Corvette...just a doofus.
What moves me about a car primarily are the looks. How it feels when driven and what it can do are very much secondary. I've always liked the C2 very much. It still looks good and compares favorably with any European competition of the time. Beyond that...yecccch! Garish and exaggerated in all the wrong ways. In your test car, that console cover says it all. Runway models aren't chosen for their college majors. And Fiberglas never appealed to me. It made sense for small-time British manufacturers to use it due the the option of either making a car or not. But Chevrolet? The Corvette should have been aluminum years ago.
I completely understand the appeal of running a Foreign Sports Car so over there, owning this could be fun. Over here, seeing one is like seeing a squirrel. The C7 was, indeed, overly garish. American car manufacturers rarely have ever understood proportion. But the C8, which does turn my head when I see one, is still dramatically and unfortunately overcooked, which is a shame. Far too many needless angles and sharp cuts. Visual vomit. One wonders what they could do if they could retail a car for $350,000.
The last production car with pop-up headlights along with the Esprit. Nice. This car was truly an end of an era.
The c5 z06 is known in the US for being a performance bargain for a track weapon. They made a lot of them (God bless America) so they've stayed relatively cheap. They are also very serviceable and cheap to maintain - even when tracked. C5 Z06 is really when the Corvette became a world-class performance car. The c8 z06 is really a continuation of the c5 z06's legacy as a track car.
C4 and C4 ZR1 is really when it started.
C6 Grand Sport owner myself, but shopped the C5 Z06 before I went to the C6. The lower air dam you mention is actually factory and directs air up/through the radiator, IIRC. The base C6 was also a bottom breather. That arm rest though…not factory and typical of “Corvette people” adding gaudy looking bits to their cars to make them their own. So much awful.
Impeccable timing I'm about to buy one!
there is no accounting for bad taste. WIll you insist on the Halloween Interior Package this one has?
Why are you posting stupid replies to everyone?
The c5 z06 is a great car! Can run 11.9 @ 120 mph stock in the right hands. Lapped the nring as fast as any rival Porsche did and will bring a huge smile to your face whilst being reliable! Unlike old Euro exotics..,
@@anastassiosperakis2869 with all due respect, I don't care what you think and i'm certain you drive a matiz so have no right to an opinion. Respond to me again and we can play top trumps with our bank accounts if you like.
@@lolmeercatz10 With no respect, I could care less what YOU do. GO away and do not waste my time any more.
Update ended up buying a C6 instead
A friend has a low mileage 385 HP version. He loves it, and miraculously, no rattles.
Still have my C5 Z06. I bought it new in 2001. It’s been modified over the years to keep things interesting, but with the mods it still checks most of the boxes I want in a fun car.
Not gonna lie when you look back at this one.. From the exterior design at least... Was pretty good. Simple but nice lol
The C5 Z06 is such a damn good looking car, and its got the performance out of the box to boot. Can't say no to pop-up headlights and an LS V8.
A lot of folks look at the displacement of an engine and equate it with physical engine size. It's often not appreciated that cam in block pushrod valve train engines have very small lightweight cylinder heads. The engines are light weight and externally small for the horsepower.
Yep, not just plenty of peak power but a lovely powerband and under stressed too. I used to hate these engines until I realised im a muppet and they're actually amazing and small / light :)
It only weighs 100lbs more than a Honda s2000 engine
Hearing the redemption of the Corvette makes me smile. I'm a young guy, but I remember when everybody and their third cousin was taking a swing at the plastic fantastic. Its not flawless by any means, but there is a method to madness. ;)
in the early 2000s, people were calling corvettes old people cars. the C5s were not that at all. had one, loved it.
One would be hard pressed to get more performance for the $. However, I must deduct points for James not wearing proper gear. Where are the jorts, tube socks and New Balance trainers ? 😏
Whenever I see one of these parked, I picture Hulk Hogan in the driver’s seat. The opening riff to ‘Money for Nothing’ begins to play as he rips a fat burnout and drives off into the sunset.
My 2004 Z06 is my daily driver & I love it. Have had it since early 2019. Prices have gone up over the past couple of years but you can still find these in great shape & relatively low miles for $20k-$25k. Which in my opinion is STILL a bargain. Arguably one of if not the best sports car bargain currently. Lightweight, great power, reliable, cheap to maintain, great on gas (30mpg when I’ve gone on road trips cruising at 75mph) & handles very well. I was shocked when I test drove mine. Didn’t & still doesn’t feel like a 20 year old car.
Good luck finding a zo6 for 20k theyre 25-35k
@@ah4800 they’re out there. However if you want a SUPER low mile mint example then yeah you’re gonna pay 30k plus
Murica, fuck yeah
Always liked these, and as I used to have a 944. I will always love pop up lights.
American here. I've had my 03 Z06 for 10 years now when it was a 10 year old car. Now that it's a 20 year old car it gets more thumbs up and compliments then it did when it was a 10 year old car. I wanted one of these when I was in high school. IT was my day dream car and I remember when this was new it got so much praise for being competitive with Ferrari 360s on the track. I knew I was never going to be a doctor and would a blue collar guy and this is the car I wanted.
I had one back in a day and had a blast with it. This car is purely for fun. NOTHING ELSE
These are amazing sports cars, been at looking at them in the UK. They're fairly cheap in the US. Would go nicely with my 996 C4S.
It definitely would! Especially considering they’re rivals of the same era!
No secret, this car is bad ass. Even now, it's still quick. 3100 lbs, easy to mod and will make big power. Very affordable.
The C5 Corvette Z06 had one of the fastest Ring times and lap times of any production car at the time. "When the C5 Corvette Z06 clocked its 7:56 time, it was a pretty big deal. Chevrolet claimed it was the first production car to break past the eight-minute mark."
Stars and Stripes guy here. I have a 2001 z06, absolutely the best performance bargain out there. They are highly regarded hear although the interior is consistently the butt of jokes. When you drive it in anger the interior isn’t even an afterthought.
C5 Z06 is still viewed as a bargain performance vehicle. The C5 was a great platform owned a 99 coupe/targa back in my mid 20's). And the LS (engine) platform was and is a tremendous success, frequently used in racing. The one you drove had some interior mods (the arm rest for example was not the stock offering). All around a great car.
C5 Z06 is a top dog mod racer over here in the states 💯
Corvette has always been innovative and many things we have today on cars started with and on the corvette.
03 Z06 owner just puts big smile on your face here in America 👌🏿👌🏿👌🏿👌🏿
British person here with a C5 manual (regular c5 power but I imagine the manual gear box makes for a lot of the z06 experience) I’m never wanting for power for sure, and I can have the roof off! Awesome cars, massively underrated, and I agree when first driving it I was fully expecting to be disappointed, yeah makes a good noise but won’t handle well. That as you say was soon put to bed, it’s a genuine sports car and today makes a good case for itself against a 996 or a TVR.
The BEST video of “my car” that I’ve seen! You really nailed it, thank you!
I have a soft spot for the C6 Z06 as well
C5s are great fun. I owned a manual 2003 50th Anniversary with the targa top that I bought in 2006 for $25,000 with 11K miles. Drove it for 3 years, put an additional 10K miles on it myself and sold it for $25,000. I can't complain at all. The reason I got it so cheap was the C6 had just come out and the previous owner traded it in for a brand new one. I'm sure the dealer still made money on me.
Beautiful exhaust noise!!!👏🏽 those titanium exhausts sound amazing
I quite like a lot of the stats of Corvettes, but they've never really made one I like the look of. This one looks 'okay'.
Even the C8? That thing looks badass
@@altspitfire Really not a fan of it. It looks like the new Acura NSX meets the FK8 Civic Type R. This ZO6 looks much cooler in my view.
Wow I've just been chatting with a mate over the last few weeks about importing a C5 to Australia and here is your video! Hopefully the prices don't go up now!
What a weapon!
Get a c6 zr1! Thats the machine to get with insane performance handling and looks amazing! A bit more exspensive than the c5z but well worth it if you have the money! Or a c7 zo6 again a beautiful car with raw power and huge track capabilities! I'm in Australia and had a 2017 mustang supercharged with Roush and it was sluggish with 720hp! Race suspension I spent over 100k! I should of imported a c6zr1 or c7zo6! Besides new cars those 2 cars performance wise are best you can get by a country mile! Around 60k u.s for a c7 z06 and have it converted to right hand drive and your keeping up with anything from 2017 in supercar market! The c6 zr1 is a bit more exspensive I think! But a c7zo6 is the one you want! Or the new c8 is coming to Australia in right hand drive I believe! But will be well over 100k! Probably 150k for base stingray and well over 200k for zo6!
@@mareewalker1096 I wish I had enough money for the C5 let a lone all the newer models 😬.
Keep enjoying them!
@@chriscomparescars4416 me too! Part reason I sold my stang was I could not afford to keep it! It costs around 40k to have a car converted to right hand drive! So a c7zo6 about 100k Aus dollars plus 40k to convert it and shipping not sure on that maybe 10k! 150k for a 70k u.s dollar car! They are bringing the c8 to Australia there building right hand drive but the base stingray is 80k u.s so 100k Australian plus shipping and taxes 125 to 130 k and the zo6 170k base starting price! I would do anything for a c7zo6 but can't afford even a c5 myself! We are still very blessed to have a home car food water hundreds of millions are starving to death we can't complain! God bless you Chris!!🙏❤
The LS1 engine is a marvel. The block can handle serious power and they are ultra reliable. Having owned an LS1 equipped car with a Supercharger, knocking out close to 600bhp it really is a special engine.
The block can't handle serious power, there are several common catastrophic failure points, and the valvetrain is extremely fragile. A stock LS1 only makes 300bhp DIN, so you'd need to be pushing something like 20psi to get near 600bhp, and these engines do NOT last long with that kind of boost. The cylinder walls on the LS1 are also extremely thin and prone to cracking when boosted.
@@richardharrold9736 I had a 2001 Trans Am (LS1)with a supercharger, charge cooler, intercooler, plus lots of other stuff, fitted from new, but with stock internals and its still going strong over 20 years later with the engine never being taken apart. And all the people I know in the Corvette/firebird and camaro scene seem to think they are pretty strong engines.
@Richard Harrold where in the world did you get this "the LS1 block can't handle serious power" nonsense? I and plenty of others are running over 640whp at 10psi (20psi is that a joke or are you just lacking knowledge?) through LS1 blocks. Without issues for 10's of thousands of miles and hundreds of track day events. If one doesn't upgrade their top end when procharging they're just asking for trouble. But the LS1 block handles plenty of power.
The C5 and C6 Z06 are both the bomb.
If you liked the C5Z, you'll LOVE the C6Z. It's the C5Z some more...And a bit more refined. The later versions with the Tremec TR6060 tranny has a sublime shift action. With Michelin 4S tires....blissfully heavenly....and a 200 mph top end to boot...
Cool video of a lightweight car. I would love to see you give it a go with a C6 ZR1. Thanks for sharing captain.
I’ll always pick an American sports car. Nothing better than feeling driving a true Patriot car. 🇺🇸
Props to both Jay for thrashing that Z on b roads especially on the left side drive, and to Alfred's car collection!
The Chevrolet Lumina UTE I had in South Africa that came with the C6 6L V8 was an absolute hoot to drive, reliable too, I had it for 3 years and drove the hell out of it every chance I got, she never once suffered any engine or gearbox issues...
I`ve got nothing but love for Corvette engines.
I'm American, haven't driven a 'Vette. Respect for the engineering and performance, but I've never really been into them
The 23mpg showing on the trip computer is a US gallon. UK Imperial gallon is 20% larger, so it's actually doing 27mpg, which is bloody good for a performance car of its era..
6th gear at 70mph the engine basically runs at a high idle. That really helps fuel economy!!
If you want a streetable trackday car, on a budget, in the U.S. the answer is always Miata...unless you want horsepower, then it's a C5 Z06. REALLY hard to beat the performance per dollar, and not just in a straight line. Yes the interior lacks vs. a Porsche or BMW, but compared to those a C5Z will be hilariously cheap to maintain even in a state of track readiness and will out run lots of stuff that cost you way more. I'll never sell my NSX, but I've occasionally considered one of these as a "stunt car" because I wouldn't feel bad cutting up the interior to put in a proper cage where necessary for some events.
The 911 interior of the same era or even the Acura NSX interior of the same era is no better.
@@IndependenceCityMotoring Eh, can't agree with you there. While I don't think the C5 is as tragic as many make it out to be the materials, ergonomics, and actual fit/finish during assembly were a different level with the 911 and NSX. Styling wise, they're all of an era so looking at them today it's not as stark.
@@LapoftheWorld The NSX has the same cheezy interior as my wife's old Acura TL.
@@IndependenceCityMotoring Probably so. The "problem" with the first gen NSX is they never changed it. In '90 when it launched it was bleeding edge. By mid/late 90s the game it changed had moved on. The 911 in that period was slow to evolve, but it did evolve at least.
The sixth generation was better. 7 L, revved to 7000 RPM more than 500 hp. And just released, the sixth generation. Naturally aspirated eight cylinders revs more than 8000 RPM and well more than 600 hp. Never saw Ferrari do that.
They got v12s to do that kind of work though, so unless for some reason its got to be a v8 instead of a v12 I dont see the drawback.
@@GoldenCroc actually, they don't; do some research. They've canceled all 12 cylinder powered cars. And if you could get one, it would be something like five times as expensive. And the engine would be in the front unlike the new Corvette.
@@kevinbarry71 the LS7 is a hopeless piece of junk too, it's notoriously fragile and its 72bhp/litre output is nothing special. Mercury Marine realised the pushrod valvetrain was chronically unreliable and so developed a pair of DOHC heads for the LS7 and, with no change to compression or timing, power jumped straight from 505bhp to 775bhp at the same revs.
@@richardharrold9736 I think you've been spending too much time in chat rooms. It's not my favorite car by any means. But early problems with the engine where resolved. And please, if you are talking in favor of European cars, don't mention the reliability word. Corvettes have a lot more miles on them than those fragile Italian and English vehicles.
@@richardharrold9736 yes a LeMans dominating. (Not winning.Dominating) engine that can also get over 30mpg highway and put out over 500hp NA is a real joke. Just slap some JDM valve covers or a BMW roundel on the intake plenum and every European that hates it will immediately love it and call it the greatest car of the mid 2000s.
That arm rest is an after-market piece.
I have one, (ZO-6) and I'm still happy with it. It's been worked over with higher compression. Big jollies in fouth gear at 80 MPH in the curves, as you demonstrate. Fixed roof has a little more head room. I'm 6'3"
Well done Alfred, great choice! Thanks J! 🙏🙏
Driven a couple of C3, C4(TPI,LT1/4 and ZR-1) and C5. The ZO6 C5 is by far the best ( for me). And in my opinion is the last real Corvette!
Always loved this car.... especially in Silver! Hopefully one day you can review the amazing looking Viper SRT-10.
C5Z in silver is absolutely choice. Gives that car such a different character.
Thats what I have. Machine Silver 04 Z. This guy cracks me up!
Ugh. I literally JUST sold mine 24 hours ago. lol. I shall miss it. But other things to come :)
FYI, that interior is very modified and the arm rest in particular is far from stock. The gaudy red is also rare, black on black is the preferred color scheme.
"When America's Sports Car Stopped Being A Joke" true, the C4 could barely get out of it's own way, even with a 5.7L V-8.
Whats a Z04?
Love the C5 Z06 models!!!
to me as a 40 year-old the C-5 is a game changer. I still remember the first time i saw it. Yes im from America and i'll always love C5z06 as the first affordable supercar
As an American I can say that I always thought of a Corvette as a go fast car with it's quality in question. Last year I saved up to buy something that I thought would be great to drive but not exactly a daily driver. I've had an Integra, a Miata, and even a Porsche 944, so I was looking at the C5's more and more. I found a 2001 Metallic Red C5 with a six speed at a pretty good price. Never driven a Corvette in my life so I didn't know what to expect. Well the car had been well kept by the two previous owners with service documentation from GM. The car was a joy to drive-clutch buttery smooth. Not a rattle in the car whatsoever. I've done some modernizations to it like LED interior lights and tail lights as well as the front turn signals. Installed a new Pioneer stereo(gutted the Bose POS system that was in it.) I HAD to ditch the God-awful shifter and knob for a C6 version. The C5 is such a joy to drive.
No mention of the extensive lightweighting GM did on this car compared to the base model?
Yep, less insulation, thinner glass,Ti exhaust. The FRC body style was lighter and stiffer than than the hatch, tho less aero. They weren't going for top speed over handling. Well thought out machine.
I have a torch red z06 just like the one in this video. It's in good condition and I drive it almost daily. I get compliments on it every week. I have probably seen 3-4 other C5 Z06s on the road since I bought the car 2 years ago. It has very unique styling that stands the test of time and the best part is that it still beats most of the cars out there on the road. For example, this car has stood up to 5.0s, 392s/Scatpacks, Audi RS6, Mercedes C43 Amg, 2022 M3, 370z, stinger gt, etc. Only loss on the street was to a newer M5 which is completely respectable. Oh and my car only cost 20k.
Jay's not wrong about part availability for 20 year old italian sports cars. I've been waiting for over 18 months for 2 rollover valves for my Ferrari 575M. I need them to finalise the Classiche Program. Ferrari give no feedback on when, or if, they will be available yet they are on the parts list they provide that you need to replace to be eligible for the program. I'm sure Jay knows what I'm talking about as he goes through the same program with his 550.
I'm American and have owned, autocrossed, and done track days with a C4 and C5 Corvette. The C5 is a much better faster car, but the C4 is easier to throw around and more fun to drive. And yes; the interiors are bad to the point that it can get on your nerves.
C5 Z06 owner here - it is easily the best performance car for the money out there. Nearly track ready out of the box, easy to work on (mostly) and quite reliable. New seats, pads/rotors, and headlights and it's good to go.
Currently here in Indiana, USA the C5 ZO6 is going somewhere between 16 and $23,000 depending on mileage.
The C5 ZO6 is pretty potent for sure.
Although the C4 ZR1 was pretty legitimate for it's day.
I'm an american, and I just never really thought the Corvette was much when compared to European cars until the C6 came out.
Oh, and while we definitely don't have as much individual liberty as we're supposed to have, we are definitely not yet subjugated as much as a lot of countries were in the last couple years.
Nobody was writing us tickets for letting the kids out to play in the snow, or walking the dog at the "wrong" time.........