Just picked up an 03 z06 6 speed this summer with 24 700kms. After staring at it on my wall since I was a kid, countless races in gran turismo 2. It's exceeded every expectation I've had about it.
I've had several Corvettes and sold my '03 Z06 back in 2016 for a new one. Miss it. I had stroked the motor up to 408cid (I wasn't brave enough to re-sleeve) and the thing was putting 524hp to the wheels. I highly recommend Borla even if you keep the motor stock. Enjoy your new baby. Cheers.
Best kept secret in the sports/super car world. Lightweight (fiberglass body) at only 3,100 lbs, 50/50 weight distribution, great power, great handling, great reliability.
C5 Z has lots of bang for the buck. Easy to upgrade for better performance without compromising integrity of motor. LS motors don't even get warmed up until they hit 100,000 miles. Absolutely a blast to drive.
eventually most things look different over time because of all that subsequently comes along for comparison. I've had 3 C6's (coupe, Z06 and 427) and now a C7 Z07 M7. I've really come to view the C5 as a "classic" just recently and love it more than ever nowadays. in my mind this gen is just now taking its place among the fellow "timeless" designs and deservedly so. of course the newer gen's are leaps and bounds ahead in performance. but TIME has worked it's powers and so much helped me to appropriately appreciate the amazing CORVETTE on a deeper, wider level. I didn't know that one day I'd feel this way. I've always been completely absorbed in the "new stuff". how superficial ! I've been schooled in a way that I didn't expect and suppose that means I've been gifted with some degree of wisdom in the process. I see I'm not the only one !
Hey Shawn, thanks for the great shout out for the C5 Z06!! I sold my 03 this May.. and still miss it! Even thought I replaced it with an auto C7 Z51, needed a break from shifting..the C5 Z06 was absolutely the best Vette I’ve owned to date, fast, reliable, maintenance free, and with 30mpg on the highway.
Always liked the look of the C5 Z06's. I know the FRC (fixed roof coop) isn't the most aerodynamic, it does look the sexiest IMO. Your review was spot on for what/how I suspect a majority of viewers would use the car.
I've wanted one since Gran Turismo 3 came out. Finally bought a yellow 2001 Arizona car with 15,000 miles, garage kept. It has genuine new car scent still. Bone stock down to air filter and tires it went 12.61 @ 112 mph with only a 1.99 60' in 2540 ft DA, with a full tank of gas and 230 lb driver. Thats an easy 12.30 car with a 1.90 60' in a better DA, totally stock. These things would have been supercars back when they were new. It's comfortable and gets decent mileage too. The C5 Z06 is the best looking Vette IMO. I like them more than the C6, 7 and 8. They are pure driver's cars. No frills, no extra shit, just a rock solid design for performance. It's a nice car to just cruise around in too.
Love my yellow 2002 C5 convert 6 speed manual with rebuilt handling and bigger brakes, just amazing platform sub 8 on The Ring 15 years ago in original Z06 form says it all very underated car.
Damn , this takes me back. I remember my uncle showing up to my graduation with a brand new 05 z06. Had my fingers crossed it was a gift. Sadly I didn't even get to drive it. Lol
This car is so nice! The carbon fiber and the little touches makes it look so good. That's exact my taste. I don't think it should have different wheels neither!
Magnesium track rims. Are better I got um but red convertible and stock but modified I got umon mine and they are legit help alot wt turning and pick up speed They put them on the 959 Porsche.
C5 Z06 race car owner here - fully gutted, caged, safety, aero, and rebuilt and hardened driveline. It's absolutely a great platform to start with for track fun. I absolutely love the style of the FRC body. Sometimes I wish I didn't destroy a perfectly good, beautiful street car, but I can't say the same while I'm racing on the circuit. :] Those stock brakes aren't going to give the repeated deceleration you'd want on track. They're floating 2 pistons. I'm sure if you just got out for a couple laps with an HPDE group you'll be okay for the first half of the session. Then again, if you aren't really pushing it, you aren't going to overheat the brakes. Unfortunately, many parts of this car aren't built for the abuse for racing. I've dropped around $50k on top of the price of the car to race harden everything. It's definitely more reliable now, but you gotta spend as much as a new Z06 to get there.
I just look this today and was kind a of a funny like you mention you just crossed 20000 subscribers. Just two years and you are still on the run. Great job Shawn, CONGRATS !
Ls6 motor love to breathe heads ported polished full headers cams procharger on stock bottoms now you're running with the new generation street cars half the price and looking better frc and zo6 are a beautiful looking ride especially a side view moving down the road unmistakably only fixed coupe roof Corvette ever made love the closterfobic space of a true hot rod !!!
I had a 03 for about 2 weeks till someone made a turn in front of me and the car was destroyed. This car in person looks really beautiful. Lots of people think it’s like a normal C5 just a bit better but it’s not at all. The steering is quick, corners flat, brakes are great and it’s very quick able to put the power down really well.
Some mods/upgrades you may want to do if you buy a C5 Z06 are the Straub bushing LS trunnion UP-grade kit, C6 Z06 Shocks, Hotchkis Sport Sway bar set, and a diff/trans brace kit and an upgraded diff from RPM transmissions if you can afford it. (Different levels of build for you needs, because the diff on the C5 is it's weakest point IMHO). These mods are not really focused at HP increase , but rather for durability, reliability, and a massive handling increase. Of course when you want go fast stuff, you can go with stuff like Texas Speed's 237 ported heads, Fast 102 Intake, Cam, CAI, etc.
Obviously you have some experience with these. This one has a handful of upgrades at suspension but not as much as you’ve listed here. Still a great car!
@@AutotopiaLA Oh yeah, in my opinion, the C5 Z06 is the best bang for your buck car going right now. Before posting this, I looked it up just to see if much had changed with the pricing, and I found a 2004 C5 Z06 with 27k original miles, perfect body and interior, for $22k. (Another for $18k with 52k miles). That's an awesome car for that price. It seems like a pricing error or something....you know what I mean? lol. I keep waiting for people to say, "Oh wait....these things are worth WAY more than this." And boom....a price hike kicks in. One other car that I love is the 2004 NSX, but check the pricing on those now.....they are 3 times as much or more as a C5-Z.
1:26 agreed to the fullest, it is very hard actually to improve one of these, a Corvette C5, especially if it is a Z06, because they are so great and capable high performance cars straight from the factory to begin with. really a great basis for a starting point of one wants to have an all out hardcore ripping track weapon capable of kicking ass and taking names.
There about 354 hp to 357 stock on the Dyno headers cam exhaust get you 430 to 440 hp heads and cam and cold full exhaust get you to 500 hp or more remember you lose 15% in drive train of your crank bhp
I have an '03 Z06, yellow, making 750hp with a supercharger. Other upgrades too. Before the supercharger, with the exception of the interior, I absolutely loved everything about the car after all the years owning it. The supercharger was kind of a mistake because it took the natural ability of the car away. Still a great car though
It's interesting that you feel like adding the SC was a mistke. I have had my 2003 C5Z06 w/ H/C/LT's & Intake & Coil-overs since 2006. I love the car. However, I recently bought a CTS-V Wagon w/ 580rwhp and it's makes my Z06 feel like it's needs a little more power. The power to weight is the roughly the same on both cars, but the CTS-V's torque is comes one so hard by 2000 rpm while the Z06's powerband is starts at around 3500-4000 rpm. I will probably just keep the Z06 NA and enjoy it.
The stock exhaust sounds good but trust me the billy boat bullet is the best sounding exhaust for that car. The sound from it with a cam and long tubes is pure race car but your neighbor will hate you lol
Can’t get over how similar our tastes are. Well done very little on the Z06!! Great video my man, I’ve had my eyes on a few of these in town wanting to do EXACTLY what he did. If it ain’t broke...
Exactly...subtle upgrades that simply take a great car and make it better without going over the top and losing what makes it great. I really want one. Actually, I really want this one.
My first ever to be the first poster, another great video brother. If you ever make it out to Austin, Tx will definitely need to hit me up give you a ride in my 1966 Impala SS, it has been in my family since it was new and by the way it is not stock : ).
Funny thing. I contacted Sparco (twice) trying to get the "right" seats for my application before I traded my C5 Z06 for a new one. The first time I never heard back from them. The second time they emailed me that they didn't have any products available to fit any C5 (stock or Z06). Carbonneau was much more helpful.
I knew they HAD to have something but, as usual, customer service is at the bottom of their list of priorities. I was so turned off by the attitude I went elsewhere.
I have a 99frc cartek performance built, red/ black 6 speed, it's funny how a lot of people don't like the vettes until they drive one, beautiful car brother too bad you couldn't rip it up
Would love to have ripped it. It sold me hard. I want one. Probably gonna buy this one in the next year if he still wants to sell it. Perfect power to weight for my taste and driving style.
C5's are AWESOME- they rule the Road course! My friend has A 04 C5 Z06 slightly modded and I have a 99 C5 heavily modded, when we go Road Racing we rule the track! They do not get enough credit that they def. deserve... Shit I fly by brand new "Track ready" Z 28's and that "350R Mustang" Thingy, and my car is 20 years older! Ha and forget the Gay "Godzilla" thing, The GTR doesn't stand a chance against C5's on the track! They were built for the Road course, especially with their 50/50 weight distribution.....
@@AutotopiaLA And let's not forget the 2 most Important fact about the C5's They are one of or The most aerodynamic car out there! mine gets 33mph @ 76mph highway with 750hp! And #2 fact - They are gorgeous cars!
AutotopiaLA yes & most people (including myself before I got my 04 Z06 Commemorative Edition) have no idea how great this car is. It’s like an old boxer. Sure, it may be out of its prime, but if you aren’t careful you might just get a wake up call to its greatness hiding behind the age.
@@AutotopiaLA I love the channel by the way. The variety of cars and the host's knowledge and passion for simply driving these machines makes it that much more enjoyable
I love my '03 red c5 z06. Steel bradded brake lines with motul fluid did wonders, As did the mgw short shifter and tick racing clutch master cylinder and mclleod twin disc clutch. Bilstien shocks revalved by dr racing and poly bushings all around, Finally i did a callaway honker cold air intake with american racing longtubes with high flow cats going to the stock TI exhaust. A sns torquemax cam withe polished heads and a tune and it now makes 448 hp at the wheels. Stock hp was 335 at the wheels. Michelin ps2s for tires and i am extreamly happy with the car now. I think now i will put a vented hood and a vent kit for the fake vent behind the front wheel and i will be finally done with it. I would like another sports car to play with but i can't ever bring myself to get rid of my c5z.
The c5 zo6 is a great platform you can get them down to low 3000 high 2900 pounds with full interior with jut some Light weight brakes, light rims , lipo battery and just put a good stroker motor in for a easy 500-525 whp and at that weights a rocket and if the haters with boost want some just slap a 150-200 shot on the car to hand them their asses lol when your not auto and road racing it and have to kick some butt on the drag strip.
Good stuff my man! Get some engine builds in there. It's L.A, theres some big time shops out there, you even have nelson racing that shouldn't be too far from you! But keep up the good work.
beautiful car. I have a 2000 (non zo6), and I absolutely love it. Yea I have to twist a wrench here and there but she's a beauty. AS my wife says, "she's 21 and legal, but as long as she doesn't wear a skirt I'm ok with her'.
Cold air Intake will not add 20hp to a c5 z06. I build and race these cars, a stock c5 z06 will gain 4-8hp on a good day with a cold air intake and 10-12hp with a tune
That's debatable. I'm not saying it does but spend 5 minutes on the Corvette forum and you'll see many many owners who claim that the Vararam with the power duct like that car has will make more than 20 hp at speed as it's a true ram air cold air intake. It won't make that power on a dyno but a lot of drag racers claim it makes at least 20+ hp at speed.
@@simontimperley802 it's not possible for a ram air Intake to add extra power by forcing air into the engine until the car is over 130mph. The duct openings are not large enough to facilitate such drastic positive pressures at lower speeds.
@@simontimperley802 that's the thing though, it's only debatable to those who haven't ran the numbers yet aye. Let me see if I can dig up the stats on everything. I ran the numbers last year for one of my projects
I'm loving this line of comments here guys...I'm a true enthusiast that enjoys learning, even when its a casual debate. And I appreciate you guys being cool with each other rather than bashing away. Class.
If you want to check out what a track ready C6 looks like let me know. Would love to hear your thoughts on my car which has a lot more extensive modifications.
Im staring at the original GY's on my car and they say 305/30R18's. Unless I got some sort of dealer prepped upgrade I don't know about, that's how it came. Lucky me I guess.
Michael Jordan to me it’s one of the best looking corvettes ever! And it has pop up headlights! Such a simple car made for one thing, the driving enthusiast
It looks like he has the varam intake though, a true ram air intake. Rather than just sitting in front of the engine like most aftermarket intakes do for the c5, the varam intake tube goes down and pulls air directly from front of the car where the fog lights are. At speed, it is possible to see an increase in hp like that.
Hey man! I've been watching for a little while and i enjoy all your vids! I love how much u care about the cars and how much u know. Im hoping you get more subs man! Your vids are awesome.. Cheers!
