LT5 and LS6: different feel?

[Gary Yarbrough]

Hi Everyone,

I've owned my ZR-1 for about 8 months now and I really love the car. I've been kicking around the idea of selling my '71 and buying another newer vette. Today, I went and drove a 2003 Z06. I noticed a few things and I wanted to get some opinions.

Compared to the LT5, the LS6 had a much different feel. I could certainly feel the extra 30 horses, but there was something else. The LT5 feels much smoother. Am I crazy or do others experience the same feeling?

The sound of the LS6 can't even begin to compare to the sound of the LT5.

The clutch effort was quite a bit less. I'm wondering if that is normal or if I've got a problem with my Z. Any ideas?

I found myself spinning the tires much easier in the Z06 compared to the ZR-1.

Anyway, after driving the Z06, I wasn't that impressed. It's the feel thing (oh, and I like the 1990 interior better). I think I'd be better off putting my money into an upgrade for my LT5. Which leads to my last question. The main option I'm considering is the various 500hp 350c.i. packages that a few tuners offer. For those that have driven these cars, do you loose any of the stock feel of the LT5?

I hope everyone has a happy Thanksgiving. I've been reading the forum posts for about 9 months and have finally joined up. I really appreciate reading all the great things you guys post.

Gary Yarbrough

[LPE385]

Gary the feel is totally different. One thing you have to remember is the Z06 is geared better and its about 200 to 300lbs lighter. This is going to make the car harder to hook. This the really short version.

If you do the following to your car it will feel totally different,

410 gears
Headers
Exhaust
Chip

This will totally change to feel of your car. You will have an appox. 50 hp gain but just the gears alone will make your car feel like it has 30 more ft lbs of tq. Depends on the type of chip and exhaust you go with for + or - hp gains. I would call SGC, Aaron Scott in Thomasville, GA.

Good Luck

[DMark]

Gary,

Agree with everything LPE385 said.

I sold my Z06 to buy my ZR-1. The Beast just has more "Soul" to me. Nothing wrong with the Z06 and I wouldn't rule out another one for me later...., but around here evrybody and their brother has a C5 or C6 Z06.

[jonszr1]

gary the 500 hp option will make you smile forever .

[Jeffvette]

If you are just driving the car around on the street, I don't think you will be that impressed. Where the car shines is on the track. A stock C5 Z06 is a potent animal on the track.

I love my ZR-1 and love tracking it, but I step into a C5 or C6 on the track and it's no contest. My student a couple of weekends ago was in a Porsche GT3. I was disappointed in that car after driving it.

[XfireZ51]

I had the opportunity to drive both back to back. The best analogy I could give you is the difference between a quarter horse vs. A thoroughbred.
The Z06 felt immediate and urgent.
The ZR-1 feels like it will run forever,
A long distance runner.

[lbszr]

Only newer one I've been in as a passenger was the LS6 on a track with 380 rwhp 15 less than mine but it felt stronger, pulled like a freight train and I don't how it hung on going into the turns, but it did(although the diriver was a experienced driver and suspension mods with -3 degree camber and hoosier tires) so I was impressed. It felt like it was more nimble taking the turns, less time to settle. But I haven't driven one.


And it must be true about the Lt5 sounding different cause a guy came over to see what it was after hearing it on the track.

[DMark]

..... And it must be true about the Lt5 sounding different cause a guy came over to see what it was after hearing it on the track.
My father-in-law (old old old school hot rodder) said mine sounds like an Indy car from the 60s.

He calls it a tone where you just know something Bad-*** Serious is happening! ;)

[95ZR1]

Before you do anything, drive a C6.

[XfireZ51]

My father-in-law (old old old school hot rodder) said mine sounds like an Indy car from the 60s.

He calls it a tone where you just know something Bad-*** Serious is happening! ;)

Maybe he's talking about the Novi.

http://uk.geocities.com/historicslot/novi.html

Supercharged DOHC V8.

Interesting incident that recently happened to me. I was sitting in my car
3 weeks ago and a riced out Honda pulled up next to me. The young driver yelled out to me and asked "Hey is that a ZR-1?" When I answered yeah it is, he yelled "Awesome". I thought that was cool. :mrgreen: :cheers:

[tomtom72]

I do not know what the pedal effort is on a C5, ZO6 or std version C5. I can tell you this about the pedal effort on a ZR-1, it's an 80lb effort to depress the pedal. You can, or I can feel the difference when I depress the pedal in my friend's 03 ZO6....it's almost a feather comparred to the effort in my ZR-1. I think that the C5 and C6's have a better(?) hydraulic advantage in the system than the C4 has with it's system.

Ya really want to see a difference drive a C6....the LS3 has a bunch of grunt low down in the rpm band vs the LS1.

:cheers:
Tom

[ZR1Vette]

Lots of good comparative comments here... I TOTALLY agree with the LT5 sound verses a pushrod engine... regardless if it is LS1, LS7 LS2 or LS3...I also have a C6 (Lingenfelter set up... 465 rwhp and 432 rwtq)... car is fast and is only limited to the amount of rubber on the rear. The C6 is a more refined car (even over the C5), exceedingly fast and much more chassis rigidity over the ZR-1 and of course the Z51 brakes on the C6 are much much better than the ZR-1 or GS versions. With that said there remains an allure for me for the ZR-1 and the sport seats IMO are superior to the C6 (regardless of variant), the ZF tranny is much easier to shift and play with than the C6 tranny (due to long linkage with tranny in rear instead of the ZF set up on the ZR-1)... I enjoy driving both of my Vettes, but there is something special about the ZR-1....
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b79/MRBLU/C6ZR1fronthoodsupcloseup.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b79/MRBLU/ZR1C6nosetonoseoverview.jpg

[4DSZR1]

Lots of good comparative comments here... I TOTALLY agree with the LT5 sound verses a pushrod engine... regardless if it is LS1, LS7 LS2 or LS3...I also have a C6 (Lingenfelter set up... 465 rwhp and 432 rwtq)... car is fast and is only limited to the amount of rubber on the rear. The C6 is a more refined car (even over the C5), exceedingly fast and much more chassis rigidity over the ZR-1 and of course the Z51 brakes on the C6 are much much better than the ZR-1 or GS versions. With that said there remains an allure for me for the ZR-1 and the sport seats IMO are superior to the C6 (regardless of variant), the ZF tranny is much easier to shift and play with than the C6 tranny (due to long linkage with tranny in rear instead of the ZF set up on the ZR-1)... I enjoy driving both the my Vettes, but there is something about the ZR-1....
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b79/MRBLU/C6ZR1fronthoodsupcloseup.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b79/MRBLU/ZR1C6nosetonoseoverview.jpg

You are my idol! Two wonderful Corvettes! :worship: :worship:

[flyin ryan]

The C6 is a more refined car (even over the C5), exceedingly fast and much more chassis rigidity over the ZR-1 and of course the Z51 brakes on the C6 are much much better than the ZR-1 or GS versions. and the sport seats IMO are superior to the C6 (regardless of variant)i agree with Micheal. i don't own a ZO6 or the like right now but i've spent a fair bit of time driving an 07 ZO6 to have a feel for them. like the car but don't really care for the interior at all, very non-descript to me, hard to get a feel for it:dontknow:. i should mention i'm not crazy about the seats on my 95 either, maybe if i bulked up in the middle, need to eat lots of buttered:happy1:

[XfireZ51]

That nose to nose shot shows how "pretty" and "classic" the C4 lines are.
Looks the part of a smaller car.

[Z Factor]

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b79/MRBLU/ZR1C6nosetonoseoverview.jpg

Great picture. Now all you need is a white one in between.

:cheers:

[HADI-ZR1]

Great picture. Now all you need is a white one in between.

:cheers:
Zfactor, ohh you mean white CHICK??!http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p183/hadi-zr1/712.gif

[32valvZ]

I agree with the poster that described the LS6 as a 1/4 horse and the ZR-1 as a long distance runner. The LS6 winds up really fast and is explosive in its acceleration at the low end. The LT-5 seems to thrive when breathing deep after 4000 rpm. I sold my 02 Z06 this past May. I missed it enough to buy another one last month though..... The ZR-1 & the Z06 are both the pinnacle of their generations and both are a blast to drive & own.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d45/Johnny-Mo/P1240060.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d45/Johnny-Mo/P1240081.jpg

[Paul Workman]

No LS6 experience, but did some left-seat time over an LS2; a different animal from the LT5, especially on the low end. It was intriguing enough to make me want a C6/LS3 someday, but the LT5 has "legs" and it "sings" to me! It's design produces sooo much performance as-is, and there is sooo much on tap with 32 valve DOHC that is otherwise only approachable "the old fashioned way"... cubic inches! Nuttin wrong with that (cubic inches), but the LT5 has soul...and that special sound like no other Vette! 19 years old and still gets a salute from most contemporaries.

Each has it's own charm, is the best way to put it. My wife's is an old C3 69 vert. It has a lumpy 350 in it, rude and crude by today's standards, but lovable none the less. It's all in what you like, I recon. Yoooooooou decide!

P.

[diamond zr1]

Love my zr1/368 jeal/sounds great,runs hard at the top end/takes lots of mods to get to where a stock c6 zo6 is,and mine is there,with 4.10s/fidenza clutch/flywheel,449 rear wheel h.p./for a old man like me my new c6 twin turbo fidanza is so much more comfy to drive,and with coil overs ,big brakes,and 1100 h.p. 975 rear wheel,well ,20 years of technology is tough to compete with.I would really like to drive a twin turbo,400 inch lt5/wonder if it would have the torque my c6 has/800 ft. lbs. best to have both cars,but at my age the c6 is the way to go,if you only have one choice. :blahblah::blahblah::blahblah:/diamond zr1 joe

[Chris_32212]

I have never been in a C5 or C6... All i know is that my 93 ZR-1 makes me really happy. i love everything about it. i agree that there is something very inspiring about the sound of the LT5. i put a very rumbly B&B exhaust system with SW headers on it and it makes a whole lot more heads turn but there is something i miss about the stock sound. The stock LT5 (from inside of the car) had a very mechanical sound. i assume it is because of all the moving valve train components including the timing chains. That mechanical sound has now been drowned out by the louder exhaust system which has a lot of appeal too but its not the same. it sounds like a beast now but i think the uniqueness of the exhaust note is much less pronounced.

as far as which car to go with, no matter what your driving there will always be something newer and faster but that doesn't necessarilly make it better. just my opinion. i love my car and its been a life long dream but with having said that, if your looking for the fastest car you can find... you gotta skip Corvettes. check out the Ultima GTR 720

Chris

[Gary Yarbrough]

I've really enjoyed reading everyone's comments. I think that the comparison between a quarter horse vs. a thoroughbred was the best. I really love driving the Z because it's so nice for a daily driver (which it is for me) and the power is there when I want it. I also think the engine is the best looking of any car out there.

I'm not really looking to drive the fastest/quickest car out there, I was just kicking around the idea of something different. I would like to see my 0-60 time (I get the biggest thrill doing 0-60) as something less than 4 seconds one day....

Anyway, after driving the '71 around over the holiday, I don't think I could easily part with it. It's got such a nice lopey idle that I could listen to almost all day.

Maybe in 20 years, it'll be time to add a C6 Z06 to my garage!

[diamond zr1]

Check out my new ride on the cover of jan 09 corvette magazine/even though my zr1 is special,so is the new one/the twin turbos in place of the mufflers sound great too.