mode101

you might want to go and check out the Repairing section of the board. I dont think the guy(s) who had 4 trannys, or feathered tires would agree with you.

IMO, there is NO comparision .. Get the VETTE. You will be kicking yourself daily if you dont.

Picture this..

You'll be driving your Z, grinding going into 3rd, and a sweet convertible vette blows by you with a hot chick with flowing blond hair hanging around some lucky ba$tards neck ... your paying so much attention to the chick that you let go of the wheel for a second; your car pulls to the right so hard, it throws you into the ditch .. you don't want that right ? j/k

cwerdna

Yeah, I've read many bad experiences here, but at the same time, one has to take what you read on forums w/a grain of salt. I'm sure there are lots of people w/no tranny probs. The feathering is quite widely publicized and one of my coworkers w/an 03 Z has the prob. I do worry about it too.

For perspective, the 03 Z in the April 04 auto issue of Consumer Reports got better than average reliability. EVERY year of Corvette that they had sufficient data for except 1 had WORSE than average reliability. It looks like electrical and power equipment were big trouble spots. Also, look at reliability of GM products in general (my parents have owned 3, all crap) vs. Nissan. You'll see what I mean.

Anyhow, yeah, if reliability isn't a concern, the Corvette is a bargain for the performance.

FLZ

Yeah rught, I ain't got a money tree in the backyard. This pic is of my Z and my best friend's 2000 C5 Vert.(1/4 in 9.97). My car's the grocery getter compared. :-(

Ant350

iTrader: (4)

I also SOLD my C5 Vert for a 350Z Roadster.....now don't get me wrong the Vette was definatly faster...but WHO CARES....I don't race, I don't take it to the track.....I like to cruise with the TOP down and enjoy the rumble of the Z exhaust....now if your into speed and racing (not that I have anything against that) then the no brainer answer is to get the Vette...

I loved my C5, it was fast and it turned heads....but shortly after owning it, I started to really pay attention around me, and noticed that there is a Vette around every other corner!!! They are SOOOO common....kinda took the 'exclusiveness' away from owning it.......Everybody has or had a Vette at one time or another!!!!

Now with the ZR, its a different story!!! I was at a sports arena for a hockey game, pulled up to the arena to get the tickets.....you cannot imagine, how many people gathered around my car......you would have thought it was a Ferrari!!!


Good luck in your decision!!!

Ant

mode101

Now that you have had both, do you like the 350 better?

Kats

I just hate paying that kind of money for the Vette I guess...

triso07

Go Z. The Z is more exclusive now, the interior is much nicer, it may not be as fast, but it will eat up less gas. This is coming from a muscle car lover man. I love vettes -- mustangs, etc. The Z just has this look to it, and if you want to turn heads, i guarantee you that the Z will get peoples attention. Whenever i say to someone im getting the Z they are always saying what a great looking car it is, and if your driving with someone who doesn't know what it is they go what car is that, its hot.

fblue

If all you want is performance, go with the Vette. The Vette is a better performance car. Who wants to add aftermarket upgrades to the Z in order to come close to a Vette. All those upgrades end up shortening engine and tranny life anyway. A stock car like a Vette is better than a modded car. Cars were designed to perform at a high level stock. The vette is a beast stock and is reliable. The engine will last you forever. If you mod a Z too much, you'll end up shortening the engine life considerably.

On the other hand, the Z certainly is a rarer car and is more of an eye catcher than the vette. I personally think the Z is nicer looking too.

At this point, I went with the Z myself. While I could afford a Vette, it wasn't worth the added payment. If I had a little more disposable income, perhaps it would've been a different story.

If you can afford a Z06, I'd go with that without even a second guess. It's the best sportscar on the planet for under $100k.

In any case you certainly have a great dilemna.

noel48

Last month I got a 2004 C5 to keep my 350Z company in the garage.Totally different cars.Both turn heads but I get more "respect"in the Vette.Ricers don't even try me whereas in the Z I'm constantly fending off Civics,Celicas,Miatas and I don't even race.Vette's interior is much nicer and the ride is smoother than the Z but I feel the Z handles the twisties better.I love the Z's exhaust rumble but there isn't anything like the growl of an American V-8.

///tom3

i'd take a 350Z over a corvette, i love 350Zs. if it were a ZO6 it would make my decision harder and i'm even leaning more towards the ZO6. but a regular corvette, i'd take a 350Z instead!

mode101

you have both ??? I HATE YOU !!

j/k

MDFtx

Just traded my C5 in on a z...couldn't be happier. The C5 is a nice car and performs well...but i was willing to give up some horses to get a crisper drive and a much driving experience...

and besides, vettes are for the older guys...and I'm 44

cwerdna

See my earlier post. In the April 04 auto issue of Consumer Reports, every year except 1 where they had enough data for on the Corvette showed that it had worse than average reliability. That's reliable?

cwerdna

Hmmm... I don't have any good real world figures for either car, but the EPA mileage rating for a Z with manual is 20/26. For all trims of a manual Corvette including the Z06, it's an amazingly good 19/28!

KrazY-2K

With no bias, my personal preference would be to get a 350Z over any Corvette (C5 style anyways, even the Z06).

Reb1281

Get the Z and buy a used Yamaha R1(or any current sport bike). The Z will satisfy the style and performance for a car, and the sport bike will do the same for pure bursts of speed.

Just my .02 cents.

mode101

below is taken from the CR website..

mode101

and here is the 350z ... how in the hell can they give the suspension and tranny a better than average, and much better than average rating, when we all know those 2 components have issues

mode101

Do you guys who have owned vettes agree with the consumer reports stuff ??

1337

buy a z and get some toys for 10k - like new rims, exsaust and some bolt ons. You'll be faster than stock z's + if you had so much fun driving - why not?


btw did you check bmw m3? M3 deffinatly has edge over z.