With new sports cars emerging constantly, older generations of impressive vehicles slowly fade into the background as their tech and performance gradually go out of date. However, this also means that in many cases, sports cars that were once expensive begin to depreciate to the point where they become accessible bargains, and that’s exactly the case with the 2001 Chevrolet Corvette C5 Z06.
Produced from 2001 to 2004, the Z06 is the high-performance version of the 97’ Corvette C5, boasting increased power, improved suspension, and weight reduction that saves about 40 pounds. It also provides plenty of desirable exterior upgrades over the regular Corvette C5, similar to what we see nowadays with the C8 and its Z06 counterpart, and even the previous C7 Z06.
Since its release, the Corvette C5 Z06’s resale value has dropped drastically when compared to its original sticker price, which now makes it an undeniable sports car bargain with plenty of performance even for today’s standards.
The Corvette C5 Z06 Was And Still Is Fast
At the time of its release, the Corvette C5 Z06 was about as good as sports cars could get, and that was especially true in the performance department. It came with an LS6 5.7-liter naturally-aspirated V8 that made 385 horsepower and the same amount of torque at 385 pound-feet. However, after slight engine revisions for the 2002 model year, the C5 Z06’s power output rose to 405 horsepower and 399 pound-feet of torque.
The RWD croup was only available with a six-speed manual transmission, and skilled drivers could blast it from 0-60 mph in as low as 4 seconds while on its way to a top speed of about 135 mph - which is still impressive even for today’s standards.
The C5 Z06 Provides Effortless Handling
Let’s get one thing straight, nobody should expect the 20-year-old C5 Z06 to drive like a modern sports car despite its impressive performance specs. While today’s high-performance vehicles somehow manage to provide versatile and more refined driving dynamics on-demand, while also being capable of offering reasonable comfort when needed, the old-school C5 Z06 doesn’t have the chassis tech to manage such a feat. As a result, it delivered a very harsh ride, but it had to be that way in order to achieve high-performance handling capabilities.
The Z06 features double-wishbone suspension with transverse leaf springs as well as a high-grade anti-roll bar that translates to an immensely stiff yet poised handling experience, even at high speeds around corners. Steering is also perfectly weighted, and the C5 Z06 responds precisely to every input, motivated by a balanced body weight and low center of gravity. Furthermore, the sports car’s 6-speed manual transmission engages through a well-weighted clutch - though it’s nothing like what you’d find in a modern performance vehicle, and the roaring sound of the 5.7-liter V8 makes for an engaging and raw driving experience.
The Corvette C5 Z06 Still Looks Good
The C5 Z06 still stands out on the road thanks to its sleek and elongated coupe styling, and many still consider it to be the best-looking ‘Vette ever made. While the regular C5 came mostly as a coupe-like hatchback or a convertible, the Z06 variant actually features a full-fledged coupe roof with a rear body-colored trunk hatch. Up front, it boasts a long sloping hood with tasteful fender bulges, and it’s actually one of the last vehicles to sport pop-up headlights. From the side, the view is simply gorgeous, as the C5 Z06 fully displays its true-bred sports car shape, as well as front fender air outlets and rear brake-cooling intakes that are exclusive to the Z06. In the rear, it showcases the iconic set of double-circle taillights and centralized dual or quad exhaust tips.
The interior of the C5 Z06 was a subject of heavy criticism due to its generic General Motors hardware, which featured hard plastics, hideous buttons, and outrageous panel gaps that you’d find on other less-extravagant GM models. Leaving that aside, however, the Corvette C5 Z06 actually featured some pretty impressive tech, such as a heads-up display, a Bose sound system, and even a traction control button that allowed drivers to completely deactivate the vehicle’s stability control - or partially deactivate it for safe track use.
The Chevy C5 Z06 Is Temptingly Cheap
18 years have gone by since the last C5 Z06 left GM’s assembly lines with a sticker price of $48,000, and that puts the vehicle in the sweet spot for second-hand buyers. Enough time has passed to where its value has dropped significantly, yet there are still plenty of examples in pristine condition around.
You can get your hands on a C5 Z06 for an average price of only $20,000 with decent mileage, and the best units in the market fetch about $30,000 if they’re in mint condition with low mileage. When you consider the C5 Z06’s performance resume, it easily becomes the ultimate sports car bargain.