Hi,

My dream car is an FD, but I have a 2002 C5 Z06. I purchased the Z06 because the price was not different enough when I considered the reliability of the FD.

One day I will have a thrid generation RX-7, but not until I am more stable financially and can afford unexpected apex seal failures.

I just want to know what most people on this site think of the C5 Z06's. They seem to be a car that is respected everywhere.

If you have any FD vs. Z06 experiences let me hear them!

 

Hmm how about u take the corvette engine, insureace fraud the car, then swap it into an FD reliable and payed off for u j/p Z06's are nice but im not really a domestic fan. Im more into the JDM scene so the FD will be my first choice and the rotary engine will grow in respect one of these DAYs!

 

Well the only experience I have with FD vs Z06 was looking at the on my rear view mirror.

The thing about apex seal failure is over rated. My first FD had over 140k miles on it on the original motor. The guy I sold it to put more before he replace the motor out of assurance and not failure.

 

Both cars are very sexy nice cars to own. However I will always pick the FD over any Corvette. Even though one of my fav cars is the 71-79 Stingray but the FD is so much more rare and sexy that when you pull up to someone they don't know what the hell to think of the car next to them. They think "god damn that is nice but wtf is it!". The only car I'd pick over the 7 is the NSX and Saleen S7. *doesn't really care for many "supercars*

 

I agree about the looks of the RX-7. They are the most beautiful cars on the planet.

For me, it is not even about import or domestic. I don't even care where a car comes from, as long as it is cool

I have been more involved with the import scene through the years, but there is no denying how potent the Z06 is.

 

http://www.hinsonsupercars.com/

 

The Z06 is a potent machine. Stock for stock the Z06 is in a different league. The RX7 addresses performance like a Lotus, lighter weight, smaller size, less power and tire.

The RX7 responds well to mods, I assume the Z06 does also.

 

I don't think the Z06 responds as well to mods as the FD, but they do respond relatively well. With bolt ons (headers, cam, intake, heads), 450 rwhp can be achieved fairly easily, with full reliability.

 

forced induction cars always respond better to basic bolt-ons compared to n/a highly tuned cars, come-on, this is automotive 101

a full exhaust on a Z06 might net you 15 hp....maybe....you might even lose a few hp

 

get ready to open your checkbook! those aren't exactly simple "bolt-ons"

 

I got asked today if my FD was the new 2006 RX7 today......this in a car that was first released 13 years ago. the design still looks like it is brand new, and probably still will in another 13 years.

 

theres no such thing as unexpected apex seal failures. A stock RX7 will go until the coolant seal fails or until its abused to death.

Unexpected apex seal failures are, IMO the owners fault. Bad tuning, bad modding, can be caused by many reasons but if you make a piston engine run very lean its going to melt something eventually. A rotary is no different, its just that the modding is more of an exact science than with a piston engine.

 

I am kind of partial to Corevettes, as my dad has one, and I think because of that I have always wanted one. The value of the corevette is incredable. Where else are you going to get 400hp and over 500 ft-lbs of torque in a new car for 45 grand. Great cars, I have much respect for them. But if it came to me choosing a Corvette over my FD, I dont think that it would happen. I have had people take pictures of my car at gas stations, I dont think that would happen in a corevette. The FD is 13 years old and doesnt look its age, and from I can tell, its value is starting to head up. Reliablility issues, are just like any car: understand it and take care of it. I mean you wouldnt run the Z06 until the thermastat was HOT and never check the oil. If you can have both, do it. If you can only have one, it should be the FD.

 

Haven't driven a Z06, but briefly drove an 03 C5 coupe once. FWIW, I remember how refined and solid it felt compared to my car, but then it was a decade newer too. Not a big track guy, but it didn't seem as quick on turn-in, and the shifter seemed a bit long. It also seemed kind of "big", but probably something I'd get used to quickly. The drive was short as the salesman wouldn't shut up, so that's all I remember. All and all, I liked it. Add in 50 more horse-feet for the Z06, and I could definitely live with it.

 

no offense, because the car is bad, but ANYONE can go and buy a Corvette, they are not rare!! they are a dime a dozen. Its funny I will pull out of my garage on a nice day and turn the corner and see 10 vettes within a mile. I live in a wealthier suburb type of place, full of Corvettes, I don't know what is so special about that? I understand age and everything, I am 31, but it seems like a waste to wait til your 50 to own a sports car. The mid life crisis thing is spot on. Why not have fun before you have a hernia doing it. LOL. my .02

 

i have a single turbo fd and a supercharged z06. the vette is alot of fun to drive. nothing like instant power. the rex is a blast too. but if i only had one garage space, the vette will be in it. kvn

 

er... why the hell is this here. Shouldn't this stuff be in the lounge or something.

Other than than. Let me see what do i think of a z06 mm.... :***:

 

you're 31...?

 

I have had my FD since 1996. So, it's going on ten years now. My car has had the normal amount of issues for an FD. (I'm on my 3rd motor, etc)

I have thought of replacing it with a C5 ZO6, although I haven't driven one yet. I like the torque #'s, reliability. But since, my car is getting a fresh coat of painted for the fourth time thanks to a storm, a tree and Mercury Insurance, I might just have to keep her. She'll look so pretty with new paint job and no door dings.

 

Semi-old in age and very young at heart!!

 

I raced a stock 02 C5 Z06 from 20 to 120. It was a good race, but he beat me by one car length. I was running 13 psi with the mods in my sig. I have about 300 rwhp.

A Z06 is a great car. Excellent power and handling. Very good looking car too. I wouldn't mind having one

 

The list price on my fd was 41k. Adjusted for today's dollars, thats about $55K for a mazda. This works to our advantage because they sold so few, we are guarateed exclusivity.

I have a ton of respect for corvettes and up here they are a pretty big deal, but there are still too many of them to not blend in. I like the looks of the C5 but the interiors are terrible. C6 has both, if it were lighter and there weren't so many, this would be my dream car instead. Still, the Fd is better looking than the vettes and the nsx. Is there a car that IS better looking?

 

I totally agree about the interior of C5's, they are horrible. When you sit in one you dont know whether you sat in a F150 or a Tahoe. I give them credit they did it right by making it handle great but other than that I think a C5 is merely a copy of a FD, except half a decade later.

 

after actualyl looking at your mods...i would bet u have more than 300rwhp.

do u have a midpipe? if so, then u are definately over 300rwhp.

 

From consumer reports... it lists the 05 corvette as "much worse than average" for new car reliability. Not that the Rx7 is any better, but nobody bragged about how reliable the RX7 is. Here's a snippet of what they had to say, "Performance is impressive. The ride is comfortable, and handling is capable, though less agile than other sports cars, mostly due to very light steering." It seems they didn't think it was too agile.