[rpoz-29]

My Camaro has been a body shop for two weeks getting the top painted under warranty. It's a hardtop and this is the second time. I shouldn't have told them I was in no hurry. Anyway, I was griping about it during lunch at a "Street Survival" school I was helping with. Another club member overheard me and offered me a ride in his '02 Z06. WOW. I'm just kicking the idea around right now, but is there a year to stay away from? Any preferred years? Is a Z06 that much better than a standard Corvette? Just wondering!

[Beach Cruiser]

Bill,
That was me that ended up with the C6 for my wife. (Mills in Va Beach) The car I ended up with is a convertable with a Z51 package. That gives you different spring and shock rates, plus upgraded Brakes similar to the ZO6. Mine's also a 6 speed car. From what I understand the Verts are built on the same platform as the Z06, but that may just be a rumor. I had a C5 before (also a vert) but the difference in the two cars is night and day! If you don't intend to track it, I would be inclined to look at the convertables, same basic lines as the FRC, but with the ability to go topless. You can pick up some killer deals right now. I would surf around on http://www.corvetteforum.com/ and see what's out there. Good luck!

FWIW, I'm thinking of moving over to ESP next year too with the WS6, It's fully FS prepared now and I'm still not even close to being competitive even with the 08 PAX. I know I need more seat time, but even when I've let some of the better drivers co drive it, I have a better time in the same car. No way I'm ever going to catch Terry Baker's Shelby. I beating most of the ESP guys now in an FS prepared car.

Mills

[tjZ28]

Bill,
That was me that ended up with the C6 for my wife. (Mills in Va Beach) The car I ended up with is a convertable with a Z51 package. That gives you different spring and shock rates, plus upgraded Brakes similar to the ZO6. Mine's also a 6 speed car. From what I understand the Verts are built on the same platform as the Z06, but that may just be a rumor. I had a C5 before (also a vert) but the difference in the two cars is night and day! If you don't intend to track it, I would be inclined to look at the convertables, same basic lines as the FRC, but with the ability to go topless. You can pick up some killer deals right now. I would surf around on http://www.corvetteforum.com/ and see what's out there. Good luck!

FWIW, I'm thinking of moving over to ESP next year too with the WS6, It's fully FS prepared now and I'm still not even close to being competitive even with the 08 PAX. I know I need more seat time, but even when I've let some of the better drivers co drive it, I have a better time in the same car. No way I'm ever going to catch Terry Baker's Shelby. I beating most of the ESP guys now in an FS prepared car.

Mills

C6 Z51 brakes are basically a larger rotor setup, the calipers are the same as all C5s and non-Z06 C6s. The 'verts are not built off of the same "platform" as the C6Z06 either. All non-Z06 C6s have a steel frame and AL engine cradle but the Z06 has an AL frame and magnesium cradle FWIW.

-TJ