[02midevil]

How well do the LT1 vettes really handle in autocross and track days and any problems associated with them (besides optijunk)?

Reason I ask is I'm thinking of a trade (I know one that I will regret for the rest of my life). I'm not right in the head to consider a no optioned 2002 Z28 for an all option older Vette. Bloody wife, kids and life is making me think of the $ that would be included in the trade.

This post has been edited by 77chevy: Feb 27 2006, 04:45 PM

[LT4Firehawk]

If I didn't need a back seat, I'd still have a Vette, the question is whehter it would be a C4 or a C5 Z06. If your primary focus is autox, there isn't going to be a big enough difference between an f-body and a C4 to worry about it, however, if you are going to do a lot of track use, then I'd definitely go for the C4 or better yet a C5 Z06. Stock for stock, an LT1 C4 Vette will be slightly faster around a track than an LT1 f-body, and about the same as an LT4 Firehawk/SS or mildly modded (springs/shocks) LS1 f-body. The pluses for the C4 are that it "feels" better in the handling department, and can be upgraded to be very fast. If you really want to be fast though, pick up an 01 Z06 (the prices have really come down on them), you'll be WAY faster than any of those others right out of the box in stock form. The other good choice is a 96 C4 manual (all 96 manuals were LT4s), however, there have been some overheating issues on the LT4 C4s for track use (due to higher redline, higher HP, etc), so I'd definitely upgrade the cooling system on one of those. (Heck, even LT1 C4s are right at the limit of their cooling system for track use.)

Anyway, having owned an LT1 f-body, LT1 Vette, C5 Z06, and the LT4 Firehawk, my choice would be an 01 Z06 if you don't need the backseat (or an 02-04 if you can swing the extra $$).