Hey Scotty,
I am buying my first car in the next year or two and wanted to know you what you thought of it. I would get a 2004 model and hopefully get it under 15k. What are your impressions of the car and do you know of any other options to get that kind of performance for that amount of money? Lastly is the interior as bad as a lot of people say it is or is it just people being picky. Thanks!
The interior is typical GM early 2000's interior. Fake leather seats that do not hold up well, an HVAC digital display that goes out and requires resoldering of the electrical board that powers it. All C5Z issues I know and have experienced:
1. HVAC display going out
2. Knobs for the radio popping off
3. Leather seats tear and expose extremely sharp metal frame. I sliced my leg 6 inches climbing into one and had to get a tetanus shot. Sliced through my jeans and into my leg.
4. Headlight motors grinding
5. Column lock issues (requires aftermarket bypass kit)
6. Service Stabilitrack errors
7. Electrical gremlins out the tail end
8. Emblems fading and peeling on trunk and front bumper
9. Heads Up Display going out and requiring dash removal to repair
10. Suspension prematurely fails
11. LS6 engine repairs are HUGELY expensive. This is the only vehicle ever built with the LS6 motor. Thus, the Corvette Tax applies to parts needed for it.
12. You have to drop the transmission to do almost anything, including installing a simple catback exhaust.
13. Parts are very expensive
Most have been run hard and put up wet. It takes some time to find a good one, and even then you're going to pay top dollar and have to treat it like it is made out of golden eggshells.
There are a LOT of electronics in those cars, and what is GM famous for? Electrical problems.
Someone who owns the regular C5 said he hadn't had issues with electronics, but you have had a different experience. Did you sue with your leg getting cut? I would never use the heads up display anyway so I wouldn't break it. The other stuff is concerning but the car is going on 20 years old so you do expect a few issues. The pop up head lights could be a concern. I also heard someone who has a C5 non Z06 say something about an aftermarket kit the alleviates the suspension issue. You can get two seats for under $700. The seats would be better anyway. The emblem fading doesn't matter too much too me. But there are issues and thank you for letting me know, The LS6 also came in the first gen Cadillac cts v..
Do you know of any sports cars that I could get for around $15k that have reasonablely close performance to the C5 Z06, is reliable. A sports sedan would be fine, sports car with back seats is optimat and a 2 seater is fine two. It also needs to be comfortable enough to be a daily driver. Needs to weigh under 3750 lbs and handle well, and have at least 5 or six cylinders if not 8, 10, or 12. I would really like the advice. Thanks!