2002 Chevrolet Corvette Z06: Answers, Part Two - As Well As Me Being Stoned to Death

Z06, M3, Mustang in that order. In my eyes, the Mustang doesn't have the panache/heritage factors of the other two, but it isn't behind them by much. Instead, it is worthy of consideration because of its performance to cost ratio. As your article stated, I also WANT the Corvette. My dream is on hold for now, but I will be with my Corvette soon.

mustang, z06 (this one anyway), m3. This is strictly in a performance sense. If I wanted a luxury car I would get a luxury car, not one that is kind of luxury with all the performance. I love the idea of a corvette, but to spend that kind of money on a plastic car wouldn't sit too well I don't think. The 5.0 is something you can live with and be comfortable every day of the week and just open her up and have a lot of fun on the weekends without worrying about the pricetag so much.

Thank you Kurt - right on, very realistic.

And I appreciate that comment about the Mustang's rediculous live axle.

-JW
DrivingEnthusiast.net

For some strange reason I read this entire post in Michael Westens voice from Burn Notice. I think it is the way you phrased some things.

OT: Having the interior of a Blazer staring back at me would be hard to get over. I think I would just have to close my eyes and give the throttle a quick stab (in neutral) just to remind myself what I am in.

The gauge cluster is so nice that you won't think you're in a Blazer, that's for sure. But the center stack...yeah...

Mustang aside, if I'm looking at a used car so I can drive fast and hard on the cheap, at least I know I can fix anything on the Vette using a variety of suppliers (new and used), probably by myself or at least with a choice of GM or independant repair shops. Not saying it's the best absolute car far all concerns, but it's the one I can take home day knowing it can still be running fast 10 years from now without doubling my investment. For a weekend car, that's a prime factor. For a daily driver that will wear out much more quickly and needs to be presentable to all important people and situations in my life, I expect the seats/carpet/paint to go before mechanical repair costs trump.

Mustang. I wouldn't want to pay to service the M3 after those first years that are serviced for "free".

Z06 is sweet but having no back seat and a smallish trunk is a no go.

if those are only choices, the Mustang wins.

Mustang-its a little more under the radar. The only modification I would make is removing the 5.0 badge. I like having power and not flaunting it.

This was a very well written article!!

I've owned luxury cars (sedans) for the past several years and I'm generally not a fan of coupes so I would select an M3 first from a logical standpoint BUT if I'm letting emotion/passion make the decision I might choose the Mustang . . . the heritage of the Vette is very strong and appealing but I don't know if I could get past the interior . . . tough choices.

Well written Kurt. I can't disagree with anything you wrote (and I own an '02 Z06). The only thing I would note for those making the comparisons amongst these three cars, is the Z06 is the only one that is a true 2-seat sports car. Thus, they are not directly comparable. If you can only own or drive one car, a 2-seater is at a major disadvantage versus a 4-seater from a practicality standpoint. The Z06, because of its size, weight, driving position, and the fact that it is a 2-seater, has an entirely different feel and driving experience than either the M3 or the Mustang. It is more fun, IMO, but you have to want that driving experience, as Kurt said.

Also, if you enjoy taking your car to the track (high speed road courses, HPDE, I mean, not drag strips), the Z06 is the car you want out of these three. The Z06 will walk all over the M3 and Mustang on a road course, even with its higher learning curve. That is a fact.

@audisport -

"Z06 is sweet but having no back seat and a smallish trunk is a no go."

The Z06's trunk is actually very large for a 2-seater. I can fit 4 golf bags in there with no problem. But I can only hold 2 golfers LOL.

I've found a lot of the Corvette's impreciseness stems from it's terribly unsupportive seats which are prne to flexing and deflecting under load. Not only do you slide around on their surface, but the seats themselves shift and sway under load which really gives the car a feeeling of being a bit loosy goosy.

Ever since I installed some nice seats out of a viper, the car feels like it is an extension of me. Not only do the new seats hold me in place way better, but they are also much more solid and firm. I was pretty amazed at what a difference it made.

I'll take the M3 - the E46 is one of the most gorgeous vehicles ever, imo.

As much as I love GM V8's and tend to hate on the Mustang, I must agree. Between the Z06, Mustang, and M3, I'd easily choose the Mustang. Of course, the age of the C5 has something to do with that, too. If you bump it up to a C6 Z06, the choosing gets harder. That is, assuming that price isn't a limiting factor. But the Mustang is more livable, more approachable, more affordable new, AND the parts for it come cheaper if you want to really make it your own.

Vette, Vette, Vette in that order.

@sodiezl350

"I've found a lot of the Corvette's impreciseness stems from it's terribly unsupportive seats which are prne to flexing and deflecting under load. "

That is part of it, yes. I've upgraded the seats in mine, and it made a huge difference in the way the car feels. It's rather incredible how much of a difference seats make - I was surprised!

The other part of it is the steering is numb, and offers very little feedback. It is a C5 shortcoming, no doubt about it. The 2008+ C6 has a new steering system, and it is excellent. The steering feel in my '10 CTS-V is even better, and it does make a big difference when pushing the car near its limits in the corners.

Wouldn't even have to think about. Mustang hands down. Although I wouldn't complain having the M3 parked next to it in the garage.

I guess I'm a different kind of cat. So many of these people saying they'd take the mustang is exactly what turns me off from it. Mustangs are everywhere, and no matter how good Ford makes them (and I agree, the new Mustang 5.0 is a great looking care), it turns me off seeing them all around me, even the GTs and upgraded versions.

It's also terrifying to know that 7-10 years from now, this mustang will be quite common at the local trailer park.

Very well written article, great comments, and a few laughs. A nice way to start my daily adventure on Edmunds.

@c5z06er, do you really think about sales numbers before you buy a car? People buy them for a reason, its the best bang for the buck. You can choose to be a poor consumer and buy something else because its not as good of a deal and therefore less people buy it, but does that make any sense?

If you have a superiority complex I would suggest the M3. That isn't to say all m3 owners have one, they are very good cars. I think its good to know you don't have to spend $60k+ to get m3 type performance or have an unpractical car like the z06 to have that performance either.

c5z06er:

I'm guessing by your name you own a c5...I'm not trying to be critical and I love corvettes, but out of the three cars mentioned the one most likely to be in trailer park right now is a C5 corvette. So your argument is bogus. In 7-10 years this number will go up. I understand the basis for your argument, the mustang is commonplace, but trailer park comparisons are a bad way to illustrate that.

I respect teh Z06 but would never own one, can't bet past the interior or exterior design. The M3 is nice but high maintenance costs on older Bimmers would outweigh the fun of driving it esp. if teh car is a basket case like some are. The Mustang is nice and would be the best of the 3 for me. Still wouldn't own one though, not my style. I'd rather have an S2000, Miata, Elise. Thiose are far better cars IMO.

Thanks for the interesting comparison.

I went over a similar process in my mind last year, but I simply love the look of the E46 M3 so that's what I got.

Do I get disqualified if I say I'd like the Vette, but it would have to be the C6 one? I love the performance and high torque nature of vettes, but I really can't stand the c5 interior. Of course if I drove it at a track or something, I'd turn a blind eye and happily go along until the day ends (or I have a big crash).

"Which one would you put in your garage?"

Mustang. Always.

5.0
NO DOUBT.

E46 M3. I've just never liked the C5's design, and as impressive as the hardware is, I can't get past those lines.

The precision is another big issue for me. Even after driving a C6 Grand Sport, with design I love and also excellent hardware, I found myself duly impressed with the sound and speed but put off by the isolation. Even if I had the means, I'm not sure I would trade the connectedness, communication, and sharpness of my Miata for that.

I would take the Corvette no matter what. The other two cars are nice and all, but the Corvette holds a special spot in my garage.

The E46's poor reliability rules it out for me.
The Corvette's joke of an interior rules it out for me.
Mustang easily wins.

To those saying "Ahh interior shminterior. Corvettes are sports cars!", I'd rather build a Caterham with an interior that KNOWS its a sportscar, than have a car that with an interior that thinks its not. A family friend just bought a newer Z06 and I've got the same qualm. If they can get over the bad interiors, I'd probably be all over a Corvette.

@Lostboyz - Inferiority complex? Some of the conclusions people jump to based on a comment are amazing. Of course I don't take sales figures into account when buying a car. My point is I don't prefer to own a car that I'm going to see on the road 6 times a day. It's the same reason that I wouldn't want to live in a suburb where all the houses look the same. Just my preference. I like variety. And I didn't buy a $60k Z06. I bought a 2 year old, 20k miles Z06 for $34k in 2005. I test drove an E46 and it just didn't light my fire like the C5Z did. I do prefer the styling and interior of the M3, as well as the practicality. But I couldn't get past the intoxicating feel of the Z06. Again, my preference. So I guess by your logic, since I looked at an M3 but didn't buy one, then I DON'T have an inferiority complex? I'm not really sure what your point is, as you seemed to talk yourself into circles. You tried putting me down by saying I might be happier with an M3, but you had to be careful to not stir up the M3 fan base. Reading your comment is funny because it's almost like you realized what you were saying halfway through, but didn't feel like hitting the backspace button.

Anyway, you seem to think that I'm a "poor consumer" and that I only buy something when it "isn't a good deal and therefore less people buy it." Seriously, read what you're saying. Are we lemmings? Follow the crowd much? I bet if you hadn't invested so heavily in Beanie Babies you would have enough money to buy that $60k M3.

@Fuel_on_Fire - The trailer park comment... yes, I may have been out of line. But having said it, I don't know what trailer parks are near you, but if there are more C5 corvettes there than there are late 90's early 00's Mustangs (i.e. the same time period)... well shoot, you've got some very discerning folks in your hoity toity trailer parks.

The Z06 would be in my garage in a heartbeat. I don't mind the slightly older GM interiors. They were simple to use, and I'm not a techno-lover. I'm very much a hardware kind of guy, and the 'Vettes hardware is hands down the best, especially for the price. Plus I like the way the 'Vettes look. M3's are great cars, but just don't excite me like a 'Vette. And Mustangs are just too common and while the performance is good, it doesn't really stand out like the Z06's. For the same price the 'Vette will be faster.

For those that are arguing the C5 interior is crap, you are correct. The reality however is that it is easily upgraded to a much higher level. Upgrading the performance or reliability of a car is a much more expensive and difficult task.

Just for reference, this is my C5s interior right now, after I've put about $1000 into it. I am not done yet as I would like to install a double DIN NAV as well as a nicer steering wheel. But with the reupholstered armrest, new seats, C6 Z06 shifter/boot, and carbon fiber wrap it looks 1000x better.

http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/7140/dsc00112k.jpg

@c5z06er, when I decided what car to get the mustang was the best bang for the buck and it was a blast to drive. No where in there did I ever think of what I saw on the road, because I simply don't care. I could've got a more rare car that was slower, or had worse gas mileage, or wasn't as fun to drive just so I didn't see as many. What exactly would be the point of that?

Also, picking up a C5 isn't exactly changing the outcome there. Every other retired man in this country has one.

Great writeup!
Fantastic feedback on three cars people would actually cross-shop but journalists would never write an article about.

I would be in the camp that can't stand the '02 interior. It really feels horrible.
I would buy a regular C6 because they fixed the exterior and interior styling and it feels like a proper sports car.

The '02 Z06 does have a cheap look and feel about it.

The 5.0 Mustang is great. I think it looks great inside and out while the engineers gave it proper respect.

I would have to agree and say the 5.0 is the first choice, C6 Vette a very close second (only because I'm a bit more practical and the rear seats and cargo space appeal to me)

I grew up in the cornfields of Illinois, and the performance cars of the area were Mustangs and Camaros. You didn't see anything else in the way of performance. So when someone saw a Corvette, it was THE super car of the area. It was something special.

For me, seeing a Corvette is still special. It's a purpose built sports car, not a pony car, not a sporty sedan, and not a garage-built teenage gamer vision of horror.

It still has allure to me. It's classic American. Not Italian decadence. Not a German automaton. Not an Asian computer.

It's like Cindy Crawford (a home-town girl!). She's getting older, she's not at the top of the game. But still nice on the eyes.

....and mostly made of plastic

@lostboyz - "I could've got a more rare car that was slower, or had worse gas mileage, or wasn't as fun to drive just so I didn't see as many."

Yes you could have. Or you could have bought a used Z06 which is rarer than, faster than, gets better mileage than, and is less expensive than a new Mustang. Now if you just don't like the way it looks, hate the interior, or it isn't practical enough for you, then that is fine... it's your opinion and those are legitimate gripes. But the reasons you cite just... aren't.

And yes, many retired guys have vettes. But few have Z06s.

I'd go E46 M3 ZCP, Mustang GT, Z06. No bad choices there- but I'd take a Cayman S over them all- and may very well do so.

I love what Altimadude05 said. So many car enthusiasts don't seem to care much for the Corvette and its cheap looking interior, but there is just that unexplainable special trait that it has that a BMW and Mustang just don't have. I've had a Corvette in my family my entire life, but I still get excited seeing one on the road, especially when I'm driving the 'Vette and get a friendly wave.

I'm not the biggest 'vette fan overall, but the thing that really differentiates the corvette in general...and the C5 Z06 in particular...is how well it combines speed, visceralness, and durabililty.

If I could feel confident about the E46 M3's ability to get pounded around a track all day hard without wilting or having any issues like I do about the Z06, it would be my choice. I love the S54 and the precision and feel of that car. But the BMW is just not something I feel I could depend on. That's where the Z06 wins for me.

I'd like to think that a Porsche is a good combination of the Chevy's solidity and the BMW's precision (and then some, honestly) but you pay for it...both in initial cost as well as maintenance. It's a tough question. Probably why I'll get a Miata and live with something that has no power.

@c5z06er, do you think a regular joe knows the difference between a z06 and a base? I still seem to be the only one among my friends (a group of gear heads) that can point out a z06 or zr1 at a glance. Just saying your argument about not liking to see a lot them around is pretty much bunk. Come summer time SEMI is crawling with them.

Also, yes I am not at a time in my life where I could have an unpractical car or afford the insurance on one.

Hmm, can I have both?

A Corvette, any Corvette, appeals to me. However, I really think that in comparison to the new 5.0, the handling of the C5 isn't quite there. If it were me, I'd take a 5.0 for the week, and get a C6 Z06 Carbon for the weekends.

"Or you could have bought a used Z06 which is rarer than, faster than, gets better mileage than, and is less expensive than a new Mustang."

I'd beg to differ on the faster bit. I believe the 5.0 was a bit faster (2 mph) through the slalom per IL's Track Tested. As for rarity, I'd just go ahead and make myself a custom BULLITT edition. Cool and one-of-a-kind.

This is the post I've been wanting to read since you got the Z06!

What does the rest of the staff think?

++ to cristophe

I'd love to see a straight up "Yay or Nay" from the entire IL blog, now that you have had a few great used long term cars. Either Z06 vs M3 vs Mustang or "Which Long Term Used Car Would You Buy?"

Anyone from the team reading this and want to indulge? :)

well, for me, none of these cars are a rare sight... and i prefer to be different. since that is not the case, i would pick the car that offers the most performance... and its hard to beat the corvette.

teampenske3 you need to look at the IL's test of the Z06 and the Mustang. Remember the Z06 had hard old tires during its runs.

i wanted a 2 seater sports car. didn't fit in the miata, barely fit in an S2000, don't want a Z4. test drove a used c5z06 last weekend and liked it very much. 95% of the time i'm by myself in the car anyway. stocking out my 08 speed3 in two weeks and i'm looking for a good deal on a ~30k miles 02-04 z06. i guess i'll have to get a beater for the winter though. ha.

c5z06er:

My comment was about the comparison between a new mustang vs. an older C5 vette. You are absolutely right about the older mustangs outnumbering the vettes, but in my town the older vettes outnumber the newer mustangs in the T-parks (and that was the comparison listed above).

@lostboyz: "do you think a regular joe knows the difference between a z06 and a base? I still seem to be the only one among my friends (a group of gear heads) that can point out a z06 or zr1 at a glance. Just saying your argument about not liking to see a lot them around is pretty much bunk. Come summer time SEMI is crawling with them. "

I could care less what the average joe thinks, honestly. I was saying that "I" do not like to see a my car drive down the street 6x a day. My personal preference. I'm sorry your friends can't distinguish between a base, Z06, or a ZR1... all of my gearhead friends can. Maybe yours follow a different path, though, and are more into Civics or something. I have a good friend that races a Civic. To each his own. Maybe it's a geographical difference, but I have just never been anywhere where I see more vettes (base models or Z06s) than Mustangs.

@teampenske: ebsz is correct. IL track tested the car on old worn out tires, and replaced them with, what many Z06 drivers would refer to as, an inadequate tire for the car. Their 0-60 times, for example, were way off what most of us have seen at the strip in our completely stock vehicles.

All three are great cars as i am sure we all agree, and i think most people here would have them as a second or third car, like a weekend toy or track car not a daily driver so lets be real, however not withstanding the mustang as we are talking about a new car, when it comes to the used vette or beemer, i would be a little wary to beat the balls off that used bmw after the warranty ran out, some mighty expensive drivetrain parts, and lets not forget the electrical gremlins of high mileage bmws, the vettes cheesy interior might get some rattles but the drivetrain is strong and cheaply and easily repaired, again all three cars are great so find the one you want and be happy, thats all that matters in the long run, whichever one moves you on that sunday morning when you open that garage door is going to be the one for you, now i am ready to get ripped apart about my bmw longterm durability comments lol

I would take the Mustang, I do see it as best off both worlds.

Here's why-
Corvette- I spent 3 months daily driving a C6 Corvette and yes it was fast, but the steering really sucked (numb, overboosted, no feel). I also felt like I was going to kill someone just trying to have fun it that car. I enjoy being able to drive 8/10s on occasion (on the street). With the corvette I would be flying on an on ramp at 90+ and entering the freeway at over 100mph to even get my heart rate up. I felt like captain douche canoe, really not a cool thing to do on a regular basis in my book. So for the most part I drove that car pretty mellow and would put my foot in it to have a bit of fun. I really enjoy going around corners and the corvette couldn't do it in a way that I was comfortable with, for the most part that car could stick like glue but just gave very little feedback, so it wasn't very satisfying.

E46 M3- I have driven a friends M3 a few times it is a great car, but for having 333hp it didn't seem to quick. That motor felt like a giant 4 cylinder to me, pretty gutless until you reved it (which made lots of noise and didn't sound so hot IMHO). I already have a buzzy high strung 4 cylinder daily driver for that.

The Mustang seems far more accesible of a car to drive. Although I don't plan on buying the current Mustang. My next car will be a Miata (NC, I am 6' tall and like modern safety) with some form of forced induction.

the e46 m3 is the best-looking car of its generation, and the car that got me into cars, but i'd take the z06 over it without second thoughts

after you hear the ls6, you don't forget it.

@fuel_on_fire85 says:

"...but out of the three cars mentioned the one most likely to be in trailer park right now is a C5 corvette. So your argument is bogus. In 7-10 years this number will go up. I understand the basis for your argument, the mustang is commonplace, but trailer park comparisons are a bad way to illustrate that."

The entire trailer park comment is stupid in the first place. You're not going to find an '02 Z06 at a trailer park, nor are you going to find an '02 M3 or a new Mustang at a trailer park either. A used '02 Z06 costs ~$20k. A used '02 M3 costs ~$20k. A new Mustang is even more. Most people who live in trailer parks are either very old, or very poor. Neither of whom will buy a sports car of any sort, much less any vehicle that costs more than say $5k.

Whatever Corvette you may have seen at a trailer park, was probably a complete junker from the 1975-1984 era that a trailer park resident got for free or next to free as a pet project car. There are BMW's and Mustangs from that same era that are also at trailer parks for the same reasons.

Even the oldest C5, a 1997 model, will not be found at a trailer park. Well, maybe at the waterfront trailer parks in Newport Beach and Laguna Beach...

Absolute hilarity on the vote of "most likely to end up in a trailer park" but I have great respect for anyone willing to forgo lavish living conditions in exchange for a sweet ride (Z06, M3 or otherwise).

As for me, I had the pleasure of having my first drive of both the C5 Z06 and E46 M3 side by side at a dealership a few weeks back. After about 6 months of research and number crunching the choice was narrowed to those two without so much as a ride in either beforehand. All the common gripes and praises played out as expected, specifically with regard to the Z06's interior, but the most poignant overriding factor is:

kevm14 says: "The gauge cluster is so nice that you won't think you're in a Blazer, that's for sure. But the center stack...yeah..."

...and that's without the mention of the HUD that I'm still pretty impressed with. I'll spare the details of the day but the Z06 won out in my personal comparison (and getting pulled over on the second test drive of the M3 didn't help, 58 in a 35 = bad) but it's good to see I wasn't too crazy in teetering back and forth between such drastically different driving experiences. Thanks IL, for providing fuel to my sick obsession.

uhm... any updates? last update 03/03 wtf :(