A little glimpse into what it costs to own a C6 Corvette Z06. Let me know if you guys have any questions or any content you'd specifically like to see with this car! 👍👍
The C6 Z06 with original 6 spoke rims is absolutely my dream car. I’m a young corvette enthusiast so I had to settle with a base C6 with a 6 speed. I’m happy with that for sure, but one day I’ll add a C6 Z to the collection.
I bought a really clean C6 Z06 with 30K miles for $40K but I put $8500 into the engine, the heads were totally rebuilt, upgraded and did a Cam, headers, high flow airbox, plugs wires, Cat delete, and a tune all Texas speed parts. I was guaranteed over 700 HP and it’s a total monster it still gets 18 mpg street and 20 mpg on the road.
Nice review. I paid $33k for my clean title 29k mile z06. It was also victory red, and was a 2008 as well. Kept it stock other than axlebacks and I loved it. This was 2018, so pre-pandemic of course, but I'm very happy with the deal that I had got and it never gave me an issue other than another starter due to bad design placement. (fantastic idea GM, of placing it near the stock exhaust manifold with ZERO heatshielding). Except for insurance, being 23 at the time, I was paying $340 a MONTH for 2 cars with the full coverage. High, yes but expected. Now 27, I'd like to get another but I'm not sure I can stomach essentially what would be a ~$10k premium of what would be the same car in today's market. Different times and I wish I would've kept mine.
In 1987 I ordered a new loaded 5.7 IROC-Z Camaro at the age of 21. I paid $125 a month for insurance back then, that's now $336 in 2023. I did put a nice chunk of cash down on it back then, my insurance was only about $80 less monthly than my car payment.
Just picked one up myself great car well worth the price, better value then then c8 and more fun with the manual, liked it so much that I canceled my c8 reservation and I was next on my dealership list
A highly regarded local shop in Delco PA reconditioned the heads for less than $1600 including complete cleaning, skimming .003" to true the sealing surface, new mang-bronze guides, new Manley solid stem Inconel ex valves, seats cut, and assembled. With the gaskets required, and me doing the rest of the work, less than $2k for peace of mind. Well worth it for a real gem of a motor with SERIOUS linear power from 2000 to 6500 RPM. I love everything about this car. Driving in suburbia and some surrounding rural areas where I live, 16 MPG is not unusual per fill up including maybe 20% spirited to very aggressive driving. Best front engine Vette model, period, in my experience.
@@HorsePowerObsessed Are you asking if I've used the shop (Mahler Engine in Collingdale PA) before?. I had not. Rob Mahler was recomended by Race Proven Motorsports. They were right. Being a former machinist myself I can attest that Rob has the correct equipment and does stuff right.
1. Sales tax was paid in full when the vehicle was purchased new, therefore, shouldn't exist on used vehicles. 2. Insurance companies should be prohibited on increasing premiums for added vehicles because you can still only drive one vehicle at a time. 3. GM service bulletin 13-16-01-001A could help address the LS7 valve guide wear issue. Good vid. I have an 09.
Agreed, you can only drive one vehicle at a time, and when you're out ripping around in one of your vehicles, a band of thieves could roll up and steal everything from you. Then, that extra insurance you have been paying will hopefully kick in! We don't have a shortage of bad people in this world, that's for sure!
One of the most painful parts of any Corvette ownership are the tire costs, it’s worth it but it hurts now and then. I’m pretty satisfied w everything else.
I love this breakdown Justin. This one is just too nice NOT to do the headwork. Just for your own reliability and sleep easy insurance. Some people think you'd only spend the money if you're going to race/track it. Not so! The only other expense I'd invest in would be to have all four corners aligned, unless that's been already done recently by the previous owner. Once again, great video on a great C6 ZO6. Save the Wave 🙋♂
That's good to hear Justin. Then it's time to ride and not hide with smiles for miles, or is it miles of smiles? 😉🤠 Winter will be here before we know it. ARGH! 👿
Great video bud! I’m 37 myself and also have Erie Insurance (I’m in Ohio near Cleveland). I’m planning on getting either a c6 or c7 zo6 so this video was super helpful 💪🏼
cool format. you need some falkens or sumitomos in your life, maybe not the best but good enough and dont have to think about the cost as much. real or fake doesnt hurt to have someone check and fix the heads, had a valve spring break on an 30k mile stock 03 and got super lucky thankfully it was just warming up in the driveway, they all got new springs after that.
Justin, A nice change of pace on your video styling. A sit-down segment discussing the C6 Z06. Your is pretty mint having been passenger each day of Corvette's of Carlisle with Jason behind the wheel...ha ha ha! What are your plans for the car? Preserving the car as is or tasteful modifications? Please say the latter...ha ha ha! Would love to see some modern black headlights and black Aerolarri Z06 rims on her! Tell Chet, Shane sent ya! -Shane
Thanks, Shane! I wanted something a little different for this video since it's all just informational. I am going to be doing tasteful mods and bringing it up to current standards. It's a great car that small mods will make even better!
Paid $48k for my ‘07 with 4700 miles on it. Registered it in Montana even though I live in AZ. Skirted the taxes associated with the purchase. Plan on keeping it stock for future value. Love the car.
I bought a 2011 c6z 56k miles z07 package 1lz for 45k last month. But I really wanted a modded one and this one has the rpm stage 3 already, I think this was a steal of a deal for a rare z07 c6
Hey, cool! I saw my video thumbnail at @2:04. 😎 Justin, get those heads fixed and throw a mild cam in there while you are at it...makes an awesome engine even better!
Yeah,, Try getting that insurance rate in Los Angeles... It cost me over $650 a year to add a 2005 C6 base... With AAA,, and I have 4 cars on this policy. Then there's gas,,, 93 is currently $6 a gal. When you can find 93 in California,..
Great vid bud! “Joe Professional “ ! Love it! Hope you remember me when ya make it! Nailed this btw. All kidding aside we sometimes live in rose colored glasses for sure. Need a reality check sometimes. Cheers brah
Ive never owned a corvette buf look forward to when i do, but i have owned a lot of cars and trucks and i have to say, i have a real hard time believing you can see anywere near 17mpg in a 500 hp vehicle on the low side, and never seeing the highway on top of that!!
So I do want a C6Z but I'm afraid of the valve drop issues as well. Not really willing to take the chance. Located in Jersey and really the only shops that I can currently trust is RaceProven and EastCoast Supercharging. The thing is their valves fix is way more than $2500.
There's another guy who does videos who paid to have all that fixed. He said that if he had it to do over again, he would save the dough. I bought an 08 15 months ago, and I had a few folks recommend for me to just let it ride, and I am.
Work on finding one that's already been done. OR ... do as I did and buy a Grand Sport 😁. I could gave gotten either one. I knew my Vette wasn't going to be a daily driver as I've always owned more than 1 vehicle since 1987. I found a 2010 3lt triple Black GS manual convertible, a 1-owner car that was ordered back in '10. He also happened to be a very high ranking official in Law Enforcement, so I also knew the car had been babied. I bought the car in 2016 with less than 10,000 original miles, here we are in 2023 and it now has a whopping 13,800 miles on it. The ls3 engines from 2008 & on will take some serious mods and are pretty much bullet proof on the bottom end up to about 750 hp. If you don't want a convertible, the GS Coupes ls3's (manual ONLY) were also hand built at the same factory that did the ls7 & ls9 ZR1 engines. The GS coupe also came with a dry sump oiling system like the z06. 😁
It is so worth it to do even a mild cam on the LS7. It really wakes the engine up and the sound is amazing. Just realize that if you put a large cam you need to inspect and valve stem clearances every 20k miles, due to side loading of rocker arms on high lift cams. Also valve springs will need to be checked and most likey replaced every 20-30k miles.
@@HorsePowerObsessed same victory red it had 1700 miles on it , I got it out of a guys car collection, it has 5900 on it now I drive it more then he did 🤙
So I have a currently paid for 2018 Chevy Camaro zl1 with oretty much straight pipe. Bought it with an orange cream wrap and kooks long tubes awe track exhaust no cats no muffler and a 6 speed around 750 bhp. I had a 2019 Camaro ss before with a 10 speed, I did like the ss but the zl1 is better and has more storage than say a c5 vette I was looking at before I bought either my ss or zl1. One thing the c5 zo6 was $30k with 30-40k miles then I moved to wanting a c6 zo6 around 2010 or a last year 2013 c6 zo6 which I found a couple with 40k-80k miles but the one I looked at was a 2013 with 40k miles but out of my price range at the time. Btw this was 3 years ago and the zo6 was $60k to $70k for the 2013 with 30-40k miles but I don’t know now If I realjy want to go from a 2018 zl1 with under 38k miles for around $60k I bought it at 34k miles. But I don’t know if I want a 2010 c6 zo6 for $40k-$50k or trade my 2018 zl1 for this stock 2020 zl1 with 49k miles then wait a year or two for my dream 2013 c6 zr1 3zr hopefully a low mileage one, but I’m not paying close to $100k for a c6 zr1 or even $80k.i may wait till early 2026 to get a c6 zr1 for $50k to $60k
Can you do a driver input focused video? Would be interested in a detailed view of steering response/feel, same with the pedals and drive train. Hard to tell how good/bad it is vs the German sports cars (911/m3)
BIG, BIG, BIG news in sports car news. The Porsche IPO just made the C8 series more valuable than ever. Look for a Corvette spinoff only branding very soon. Porsche just out Ferraried Ferrari, and GM DEFINITELY is taking notice.
I have a C7 Z51, my brother had a C6. Both cars are manual and I found the C6 much more fun to drive. I'm thinking about buying a C6 Z06 or 13 427 Vert I never drive a C7 before I bought one. I flew out to Jersey and drove it 20 hrs home. Was a little disappointed in the feel of the car.
I might agree with what you said given it's the Stingray, but Z06 for Z06, you'd feel differently. I think the C7 Z06/ZR1 is a really amazing platform to drive and edges out the C6 Z06 in my opinion.
@@HorsePowerObsessed I should have probably told you my Z51 is supercharged with kooks long tube headers catless X pipe and a tune.. There is just something about the feeling of the C6, it just feels lighter and is more fun IMO. There was another you tuber reviewing the C6 Z06 and he said the same thing. He said the C7 feels like it was neutered. Yes, they are fast, but they don't have the fun factor. I agree with him. You own both, I don't know how you don't feel this in the 2 cars. You take off in a C6 and it just feels a lot lighter and when you shift the car lurches ,which I love. The C7 doesn't do that. I don't know how to explain it properly. Savagegeese you tube channel said it had something to do with the toque curve on the engine. Being the LT1/LT4 has the same HP to Torque ratio, it makes the engine less exciting. Does that make sense? Thank you for your videos..
I do feel the difference in weight, but it isn’t enough to counteract the difference in quality in my opinion. In my ZR1, there is no shortage of rawness or feel in general, so I definitely don’t agree that it feels neutered compared to the C6 Z06. Now that is a word I would definitely use to compare the C8 to the C7. I have thrown around the word “numb” a lot in that comparison.
The biggest difference between the C7 stingray and the C7 Z06 is not just power but aero and suspension differences that really give it that very similar feel to the C6 z06.
@@HorsePowerObsessed I think I would have to show you what I'm talking about. IMO the C7 feels nothing like the C6. There is just something special about how the C6 feels that the C7 doesn't. I won't buy a C8 for the reason you stated. I want a car that feels exciting, not just average. The C6 does that for me. Lotus and Porsche possibly could do it also, but I've never driven them.
For me the Z06 dream car became a costly nightmare. About ten years ago I bought a 2008 Z06. At that time there was little or no talking about valve drop.Unfortunately while on the highway traveling at about 4,000 RPM the engine destroyed itself.Sadly the block was cracked and needed total replacement The event cured me of sixty years of my love obsession with sports cars. It is far less painful to love and marry a unfaithful women,
What specific insurance coverage do you have? I recently purchased an 08’ C6 Z06 and it’s my 2nd car and I have a limited use policy on it and it costs me $800/year. I have State Farm and live in PA. Thx and great info.
What’s “full coverage”. Erie is elsewhere. Cheap. Are miles limited for insurance? Is it a stated value policy or Actual Cash Value? I need to get spare rims for my C8 and my new All Season. I wanted to be able to swap out having 2 sets. Ideas for rims? I have black OEM of course on my white stormtrooper.
I have a 2008 Jetstream blue C6 ZO6 with 50,000 miles in mint condition what would you consider the worth of that vehicle in this current market? I appreciate your opinion
hello I just recently bought a c6 z06 with 32k miles. I'm in PA as well, what shops would you recommend I take it to to get the valves and heads done. I heard Race proven motorsports in Delaware is good but they are very expensive for their packages. thank you
Started looking / researching C5 z06's after I sold my 16 Cadillac xts vsport. Stuck valve at 140k and traveling 300 miles a day I decided to buy a Hyundai elantra hybrid for its 50mpg. Anyways, the car insurance is so cheap on the Z06 I checked the C6's once determining it would better suit my comfort needs . 99% highway driving. Not to mention the LS7. a youtube guy had his c5 lean tuned and achieved 40mpg! I'm leaning more towards a stage 2 maybe 3 package car with documentation over a low mileage stock car myself. One that's already sorted. Many on the forum have had their heads fixed o ly to suffer issues later thus saying go with aftermarket heads and be done. So, maybe $8-10k for a HCI package. Throw in a clutch and your up another $3k . Another fear I'd have buying a stock Z is buying one that came low power. Just watched RPM do a stage 3 and it finished at 590whp ! Stock it made like 430....others make upwards of 470+480 stock soo those individuals will have.a significantly higher whp car after all is said and done. Love your vids bro. Subscribed and on standby lol
Almost bought a C6 Z06. Always loved my old 2008 Corvette I daily drove for a few years, so I figured I'd go C6 Z06. Then I found out about the valve drop issue being fairly common. Scared me off the C6 Z06 into a C7 Z06, and for that I'm grateful. MUCH nicer car overall. I still think the C6 looks much better (prefer the smooth lines over the aggressive C7-C8 styling), but there's no denying the C7 was leaps and bounds a nicer, more comfortable car to live with. One day, the finances may align to where I could afford to get a C6Z for a track car... but then I'd almost rather upgrade to a C7 ZR1 haha
@@DonnieDarko727 Ugh, not me. I think the C8 is ugly. The rear end is... droopy... I've always preferred front engined car design. Mid-engine is boring, and limited in the lines that can be designed around it.
@@DonnieDarko727 I went witht the 8 speed, and couldn't be happier. There was only a single M7 car within 300 miles of me, and it had more miles, a lower trim package, and was priced higher. Got a good deal on the A8, so I went with the auto. Plus, with this much power in a car journalists always describe as a bit loose in the back end under hard driving, I'd rather have an auto and be able to keep two hands on the wheel at all time lol
just picked up an 06 z06 with 29k miles 1 owner. got an inspection and they say its sipping oil so idk what to do. probably heads, valves, seals and gaskets all at once after i save up money.
All I got was ”Sipping oil- needs additional diagnostic” so I gotta figure out what the diagnostic would be. Maybe compression tests or send the oil for testing. Forums say this is normal and to take care of seals, gaskets, etc but I fear it could be more. It is a 16 year old car so I hope its just the gaskets fingers crossed.
Z06/Z07 low mile C7’s are 85-100k. Prices are insane wonder if they will fall? For the money is it worth that much more $ than a C6 Z06? What would you get if you were getting your first sports car and why?
I spun a main bearing on a low mileage ls7. new short block parts and labor, set me back 17k. That one hurt. A buddy of mine had a similar blown engine within a few months of mine. I think it happens more often than you hear about. Wish I didn’t fall ❤ for the z06.
@@HorsePowerObsessed yes of course, BUT it won't last. Things are deteriorating rapidly. Look at the housing market. Dropping like a stone. Auto supply is still meager, but the peasants are getting hit with inflation left and right. IMO, I would sell all but one or two and make out like a bandit.
ZR1s are available well under $250, under $200k if you look online. So those have already started to depreciate from their most recent high, but he is still in a positive position.
Don't forget about the clutch.... every LS I have ever owned has had the pedal stuck to the floor. It's not going to be an issue if you wax it every weekend and obey the speed limit out to cars and coffee but if you actually drive it, the stock GM hydraulics are not up to the task.
Had a stuck clutch pedal happen to me twice in my c6z. When I had it in a corvette shop he knew exactly what the problem was. Dirty hydraulic fluid. They changed it out. No problem since.
2006 is the only year that they had a problem with the heads. Keep it stock and don't rev the motor past 6200 and you're fine. Its red line is at 7000 rpm yea I know but you don't want to go that high!
There's stuff you probably arent aware of. First is the AFM system is absolute shit. so if u dont get a manual, you probably have this shit system in your car that eventually gonna cost u some $. so if ur doing to valve stem seats, you might as well do an afm delete. next is the issue of the rocker arms shedding Trunnion needle bearings. Very common, actually happening on my own car, super irritating once it gets started. if u changed the cam, but not the rockers this problem will probably present itself. lastly. one lawsuit failed, but there are a bunch more that are hanging in the balance. There is a class action lawsuit out on the entire AFM system, which is what actually causes the compound problems like the rocker arm issue, the afm lifter issue, etc. and its alot higher than 10% of the cars actually have this problem. alot of the time all u have to do is drive the car normal and it will eventually have valve train issues. typically after the warranty has expired so u can be forced to pay the full cost. Remember my car is having these issues, and my car has a god damn warranty till 171k miles. my car only has 104 k miles AND THEY REFUSE TO HONOR THE 4,000 DOLLAR WARRANTY THEY SOLD WITH THE CAR. BE CARE OUT THERE. My car has an australian version, this version of my car is VOID OF AFM, and VOID MOST THE ENGINE ISSUES.
@@HorsePowerObsessed i looked up the owners manual on google and under fueling it say 91 or higher. will you please look at yours, i really want to get one but not if im going to ruin it.
Uh, this car NEEDS the suspension upgrades to perform like MODERN cars. Everything from around town to track has been improved with suspension upgrades on this car, and thats about 2,500 well spent bucks. Rear oversteer problem is lessened tremendously, and steering is radically improved. This is not a DRAG RACER, and if you go that route then you will be disappointed with usability on the street. I would go FULL Alibaba with the headlights and carbon fiber interior as well, and wheels because its all in the Chinese market for cheap. The suspension is not available in the Chinese market, and its probably the most important upgrade you can make. With great horsepower comes great suspension, or something like that.
The ls7 is overall a junk engine. Yes you can send it to rmp or lmr and have the heads cam replaced and have a monster. 40 to 45k for a decent c6z06 then 10 to 20k to have it "fixed" depending on how much you want to upgrade, and now we are hearing of rod bearing issues. With all of this in ay the c6z06 is a Russian roulette
@@DonnieDarko727 There are a lot of examples of high mileage Z07's out there with new heads. The heads aren't really a band aid style fix, these are legitimately fixing a problem. The LS engines in general are basically bullet proof and the LS7 is no exception (after the heads are fixed that is)
@@HorsePowerObsessed I hope so. I'm torn between a C6 Z06, C7 Z06, or C8 base. C8 base would be the best at consistently putting power down, but I think it would be the least fun due to computer nannies
A little glimpse into what it costs to own a C6 Corvette Z06. Let me know if you guys have any questions or any content you'd specifically like to see with this car! 👍👍
The C6 Z06 with original 6 spoke rims is absolutely my dream car. I’m a young corvette enthusiast so I had to settle with a base C6 with a 6 speed. I’m happy with that for sure, but one day I’ll add a C6 Z to the collection.
Base c6 is stil an amazing car especially if it’s 2008+ with that ls3
I bought a really clean C6 Z06 with 30K miles for $40K but I put $8500 into the engine, the heads were totally rebuilt, upgraded and did a Cam, headers, high flow airbox, plugs wires, Cat delete, and a tune all Texas speed parts. I was guaranteed over 700 HP and it’s a total monster it still gets 18 mpg street and 20 mpg on the road.
Nice review. I paid $33k for my clean title 29k mile z06. It was also victory red, and was a 2008 as well. Kept it stock other than axlebacks and I loved it. This was 2018, so pre-pandemic of course, but I'm very happy with the deal that I had got and it never gave me an issue other than another starter due to bad design placement. (fantastic idea GM, of placing it near the stock exhaust manifold with ZERO heatshielding).
Except for insurance, being 23 at the time, I was paying $340 a MONTH for 2 cars with the full coverage. High, yes but expected. Now 27, I'd like to get another but I'm not sure I can stomach essentially what would be a ~$10k premium of what would be the same car in today's market. Different times and I wish I would've kept mine.
you got a great deal at $33k👌
In 1987 I ordered a new loaded 5.7 IROC-Z Camaro at the age of 21.
I paid $125 a month for insurance back then, that's now $336 in 2023.
I did put a nice chunk of cash down on it back then, my insurance was only about $80 less monthly than my car payment.
Just picked one up myself great car well worth the price, better value then then c8 and more fun with the manual, liked it so much that I canceled my c8 reservation and I was next on my dealership list
A highly regarded local shop in Delco PA reconditioned the heads for less than $1600 including complete cleaning, skimming .003" to true the sealing surface, new mang-bronze guides, new Manley solid stem Inconel ex valves, seats cut, and assembled. With the gaskets required, and me doing the rest of the work, less than $2k for peace of mind. Well worth it for a real gem of a motor with SERIOUS linear power from 2000 to 6500 RPM. I love everything about this car. Driving in suburbia and some surrounding rural areas where I live, 16 MPG is not unusual per fill up including maybe 20% spirited to very aggressive driving. Best front engine Vette model, period, in my experience.
Have you used them before?
@@HorsePowerObsessed Are you asking if I've used the shop (Mahler Engine in Collingdale PA) before?. I had not. Rob Mahler was recomended by Race Proven Motorsports. They were right. Being a former machinist myself I can attest that Rob has the correct equipment and does stuff right.
Beautiful car. Congrats! I love the timeless design and keeping it stock. Driving one is and insta-smile experience.
1. Sales tax was paid in full when the vehicle was purchased new, therefore, shouldn't exist on used vehicles.
2. Insurance companies should be prohibited on increasing premiums for added vehicles because you can still only drive one vehicle at a time.
3. GM service bulletin 13-16-01-001A could help address the LS7 valve guide wear issue.
Good vid. I have an 09.
Thanks. I agree with all of this.
Agreed, you can only drive one vehicle at a time, and when you're out ripping around in one of your vehicles, a band of thieves could roll up and steal everything from you. Then, that extra insurance you have been paying will hopefully kick in! We don't have a shortage of bad people in this world, that's for sure!
One of the most painful parts of any Corvette ownership are the tire costs, it’s worth it but it hurts now and then. I’m pretty satisfied w everything else.
Agreed. Tires get more expensive every year it seems.
i think a cammed c6 z06 still is one of the best sounding cars I’ve ever heard …
Agreed!
I love this breakdown Justin. This one is just too nice NOT to do the headwork. Just for your own reliability and sleep easy insurance. Some people think you'd only spend the money if you're going to race/track it. Not so! The only other expense I'd invest in would be to have all four corners aligned, unless that's been already done recently by the previous owner. Once again, great video on a great C6 ZO6. Save the Wave 🙋♂
Thanks, Peter! The alignment was already done so there's not much left to do!
That's good to hear Justin. Then it's time to ride and not hide with smiles for miles, or is it miles of smiles? 😉🤠
Winter will be here before we know it. ARGH! 👿
I enjoyed this video. I’ve been looking for a 2008-2013 Grand Sport. Covid prices have kept me from doing so. Hoping for the prices to fall.
Glad it helped!
Love that shirt!! 🔥
This C6 Z06 is a lot of fun.
💯
I just bought a 2011 arctic white coupe. 32k miles for 35k out the door. I love it. Not really, but I like it a lot.
No way it's a z06
@@evansjustin2459 it’s not, but it’s a corvette. I’m 69 and with bad knees I’ll keep my automatic with paddles.
Great video bud! I’m 37 myself and also have Erie Insurance (I’m in Ohio near Cleveland). I’m planning on getting either a c6 or c7 zo6 so this video was super helpful 💪🏼
Awesome! I'm happy to help!
Great video! I will buy a C6 as soon as my ship gets closer to shore. Keep up the good work!
Thank you!
cool format. you need some falkens or sumitomos in your life, maybe not the best but good enough and dont have to think about the cost as much. real or fake doesnt hurt to have someone check and fix the heads, had a valve spring break on an 30k mile stock 03 and got super lucky thankfully it was just warming up in the driveway, they all got new springs after that.
Justin,
A nice change of pace on your video styling. A sit-down segment discussing the C6 Z06. Your is pretty mint having been passenger each day of Corvette's of Carlisle with Jason behind the wheel...ha ha ha!
What are your plans for the car? Preserving the car as is or tasteful modifications? Please say the latter...ha ha ha!
Would love to see some modern black headlights and black Aerolarri Z06 rims on her!
Tell Chet, Shane sent ya!
-Shane
Thanks, Shane! I wanted something a little different for this video since it's all just informational. I am going to be doing tasteful mods and bringing it up to current standards. It's a great car that small mods will make even better!
Paid $48k for my ‘07 with 4700 miles on it. Registered it in Montana even though I live in AZ. Skirted the taxes associated with the purchase. Plan on keeping it stock for future value. Love the car.
Thanks for the info, I'm currently looking for a C6 Z06 2009, I'm in Los Angeles so I know prices will be slightly higher, one agin Great Info..
Glad to help!
I bought a 2011 c6z 56k miles z07 package 1lz for 45k last month. But I really wanted a modded one and this one has the rpm stage 3 already, I think this was a steal of a deal for a rare z07 c6
Wow. Definitely. Selling my paxton 14 gt for a c6z
💯
Great information. Love this style of video.
Thanks, Jason!
Clear and direct video. Keep it up
Thanks, will do!
Hey, cool! I saw my video thumbnail at @2:04. 😎 Justin, get those heads fixed and throw a mild cam in there while you are at it...makes an awesome engine even better!
Lol yup I purposely left it in there cause your video is awesome!
@@HorsePowerObsessed Thanks, man! It's an oldie but a goodie! 🤘🏼
Heck yeah! 🤘
You missed one topic: oil. The Z06 and manual GS coupes have a dry sump oil system that takes about 10.5 qts if I'm not mistaken.
I HATE that your VLOGS look so GOOD!😂
🤣🤣🤣
Yeah,, Try getting that insurance rate in Los Angeles... It cost me over $650 a year to add a 2005 C6 base... With AAA,, and I have 4 cars on this policy. Then there's gas,,, 93 is currently $6 a gal. When you can find 93 in California,..
Great vid bud! “Joe Professional “ ! Love it! Hope you remember me when ya make it! Nailed this btw. All kidding aside we sometimes live in rose colored glasses for sure. Need a reality check sometimes. Cheers brah
Thank you my friend!
I would like to see a comparison between the Z06 and Z/28 it would be an interesting video
That would be awesome. I need to find someone who has a Z28 locally first, though.
I have a 2007 Z06 with 180K on it. No head work was ever done to it. Supposedly the valve issues were limited to the 2006 model year.
Ive never owned a corvette buf look forward to when i do, but i have owned a lot of cars and trucks and i have to say, i have a real hard time believing you can see anywere near 17mpg in a 500 hp vehicle on the low side, and never seeing the highway on top of that!!
So I do want a C6Z but I'm afraid of the valve drop issues as well. Not really willing to take the chance. Located in Jersey and really the only shops that I can currently trust is RaceProven and EastCoast Supercharging. The thing is their valves fix is way more than $2500.
There's another guy who does videos who paid to have all that fixed. He said that if he had it to do over again, he would save the dough. I bought an 08 15 months ago, and I had a few folks recommend for me to just let it ride, and I am.
Work on finding one that's already been done.
OR ... do as I did and buy a Grand Sport 😁. I could gave gotten either one.
I knew my Vette wasn't going to be a daily driver as I've always owned more than 1 vehicle since 1987.
I found a 2010 3lt triple Black GS manual convertible, a 1-owner car that was ordered back in '10.
He also happened to be a very high ranking official in Law Enforcement, so I also knew the car had been babied. I bought the car in 2016 with less than 10,000 original miles, here we are in 2023 and it now has a whopping 13,800 miles on it.
The ls3 engines from 2008 & on will take some serious mods and are pretty much bullet proof on the bottom end up to about 750 hp.
If you don't want a convertible, the GS Coupes ls3's (manual ONLY) were also hand built at the same factory that did the ls7 & ls9 ZR1 engines. The GS coupe also came with a dry sump oiling system like the z06. 😁
thanks for the breakdown, awesome video.
Thank you!!
It is so worth it to do even a mild cam on the LS7. It really wakes the engine up and the sound is amazing. Just realize that if you put a large cam you need to inspect and valve stem clearances every 20k miles, due to side loading of rocker arms on high lift cams. Also valve springs will need to be checked and most likey replaced every 20-30k miles.
I might let mine go for fifty
I love all Corvettes as long as their RED! LOL JK. I’d settle for a black ZR1 if I had to settle 🤣
🤣🤣🤣
Race Proven Motorsport stage 4 with a monster triple clutch!!! That’s what your car needs 🤙
I'm not sure if I want to do that much to this car yet!
@@HorsePowerObsessed it’s clean!! Looks just like mine lol!! I got mine last year 🤙
@@derekperkins4141 Sweet! What color is yours?
@@HorsePowerObsessed same victory red it had 1700 miles on it , I got it out of a guys car collection, it has 5900 on it now I drive it more then he did 🤙
@@HorsePowerObsessed I have one video of it on my UA-cam page check it out 😊
So I have a currently paid for 2018 Chevy Camaro zl1 with oretty much straight pipe. Bought it with an orange cream wrap and kooks long tubes awe track exhaust no cats no muffler and a 6 speed around 750 bhp. I had a 2019 Camaro ss before with a 10 speed, I did like the ss but the zl1 is better and has more storage than say a c5 vette I was looking at before I bought either my ss or zl1. One thing the c5 zo6 was $30k with 30-40k miles then I moved to wanting a c6 zo6 around 2010 or a last year 2013 c6 zo6 which I found a couple with 40k-80k miles but the one I looked at was a 2013 with 40k miles but out of my price range at the time. Btw this was 3 years ago and the zo6 was $60k to $70k for the 2013 with 30-40k miles but I don’t know now If I realjy want to go from a 2018 zl1 with under 38k miles for around $60k I bought it at 34k miles. But I don’t know if I want a 2010 c6 zo6 for $40k-$50k or trade my 2018 zl1 for this stock 2020 zl1 with 49k miles then wait a year or two for my dream 2013 c6 zr1 3zr hopefully a low mileage one, but I’m not paying close to $100k for a c6 zr1 or even $80k.i may wait till early 2026 to get a c6 zr1 for $50k to $60k
I sense the car going to RPM Motorsports in the near future being that you’re so close to them.
We’ll see soon!!
Can you do a driver input focused video? Would be interested in a detailed view of steering response/feel, same with the pedals and drive train. Hard to tell how good/bad it is vs the German sports cars (911/m3)
BIG, BIG, BIG news in sports car news. The Porsche IPO just made the C8 series more valuable than ever. Look for a Corvette spinoff only branding very soon. Porsche just out Ferraried Ferrari, and GM DEFINITELY is taking notice.
I have a C7 Z51, my brother had a C6. Both cars are manual and I found the C6 much more fun to drive. I'm thinking about buying a C6 Z06 or 13 427 Vert
I never drive a C7 before I bought one. I flew out to Jersey and drove it 20 hrs home. Was a little disappointed in the feel of the car.
I might agree with what you said given it's the Stingray, but Z06 for Z06, you'd feel differently. I think the C7 Z06/ZR1 is a really amazing platform to drive and edges out the C6 Z06 in my opinion.
@@HorsePowerObsessed I should have probably told you my Z51 is supercharged with kooks long tube headers catless X pipe and a tune.. There is just something about the feeling of the C6, it just feels lighter and is more fun IMO. There was another you tuber reviewing the C6 Z06 and he said the same thing. He said the C7 feels like it was neutered. Yes, they are fast, but they don't have the fun factor. I agree with him. You own both, I don't know how you don't feel this in the 2 cars. You take off in a C6 and it just feels a lot lighter and when you shift the car lurches ,which I love. The C7 doesn't do that. I don't know how to explain it properly. Savagegeese you tube channel said it had something to do with the toque curve on the engine. Being the LT1/LT4 has the same HP to Torque ratio, it makes the engine less exciting. Does that make sense? Thank you for your videos..
I do feel the difference in weight, but it isn’t enough to counteract the difference in quality in my opinion. In my ZR1, there is no shortage of rawness or feel in general, so I definitely don’t agree that it feels neutered compared to the C6 Z06. Now that is a word I would definitely use to compare the C8 to the C7. I have thrown around the word “numb” a lot in that comparison.
The biggest difference between the C7 stingray and the C7 Z06 is not just power but aero and suspension differences that really give it that very similar feel to the C6 z06.
@@HorsePowerObsessed I think I would have to show you what I'm talking about. IMO the C7 feels nothing like the C6. There is just something special about how the C6 feels that the C7 doesn't. I won't buy a C8 for the reason you stated. I want a car that feels exciting, not just average. The C6 does that for me. Lotus and Porsche possibly could do it also, but I've never driven them.
Other than the heads needing to be reworked all other costs are the same for any purchase.
Purchase price is different and this tax is different. Insurance costs are going to be different for every car as well.
For me the Z06 dream car became a costly nightmare. About ten years ago I bought a 2008 Z06. At that time there was little or no talking about valve drop.Unfortunately while
on the highway traveling at about 4,000 RPM the engine destroyed itself.Sadly the block was cracked and needed total replacement The event cured me of sixty years of my love obsession with sports cars. It is far less painful to love and marry a unfaithful women,
Besides the valve drop issue there is nothing hidden cost wise compared to any other cheaply made GM car.
Tires, brakes, etc. Definitely more expensive on this car than on a Cruze.
What specific insurance coverage do you have? I recently purchased an 08’ C6 Z06 and it’s my 2nd car and I have a limited use policy on it and it costs me $800/year. I have State Farm and live in PA. Thx and great info.
What’s “full coverage”. Erie is elsewhere. Cheap. Are miles limited for insurance? Is it a stated value policy or Actual Cash Value? I need to get spare rims for my C8 and my new All Season. I wanted to be able to swap out having 2 sets. Ideas for rims? I have black OEM of course on my white stormtrooper.
We are definitely 100% going to be talking about this soon!
I have a 2008 Jetstream blue C6 ZO6 with 50,000 miles in mint condition what would you consider the worth of that vehicle in this current market? I appreciate your opinion
Right around 40k in my opinion.
Great video! Where is a good place to look for used C6 zo6 for sale?
I personally like Cars.com and Cargurus.com but this one was found via word of mouth.
Justin, are you going to fix the valve drop issue with new heads, then maybe cam it? What does something like that cost? 5k?
I've been quoted as low as 2000 if I buy the parts.
@@HorsePowerObsessed That's not bad. I would just want to get that done if I buy one. Just so I can sleep at night.
For that price you can buy a much newer corvette in the same shape
hello I just recently bought a c6 z06 with 32k miles. I'm in PA as well, what shops would you recommend I take it to to get the valves and heads done. I heard Race proven motorsports in Delaware is good but they are very expensive for their packages. thank you
Congrats on the car!! I would check out CSP (complete street performance) as well! Let them know I sent you!
@@HorsePowerObsessed will do, thanks!
Started looking / researching C5 z06's after I sold my 16 Cadillac xts vsport. Stuck valve at 140k and traveling 300 miles a day I decided to buy a Hyundai elantra hybrid for its 50mpg. Anyways, the car insurance is so cheap on the Z06 I checked the C6's once determining it would better suit my comfort needs . 99% highway driving. Not to mention the LS7. a youtube guy had his c5 lean tuned and achieved 40mpg! I'm leaning more towards a stage 2 maybe 3 package car with documentation over a low mileage stock car myself. One that's already sorted. Many on the forum have had their heads fixed o ly to suffer issues later thus saying go with aftermarket heads and be done. So, maybe $8-10k for a HCI package. Throw in a clutch and your up another $3k . Another fear I'd have buying a stock Z is buying one that came low power. Just watched RPM do a stage 3 and it finished at 590whp ! Stock it made like 430....others make upwards of 470+480 stock soo those individuals will have.a significantly higher whp car after all is said and done. Love your vids bro. Subscribed and on standby lol
I gotta move to PA , I pay $150 a month for my Corolla hybrid in FL 🫤
Hey i am shopping for a Z06, what website is that in your video where it showed a bunch of Z06 for sale? Thanks
cars.com, cargurus.com, autotrader.com.
@@HorsePowerObsessed OK thanks
Almost bought a C6 Z06. Always loved my old 2008 Corvette I daily drove for a few years, so I figured I'd go C6 Z06. Then I found out about the valve drop issue being fairly common. Scared me off the C6 Z06 into a C7 Z06, and for that I'm grateful. MUCH nicer car overall. I still think the C6 looks much better (prefer the smooth lines over the aggressive C7-C8 styling), but there's no denying the C7 was leaps and bounds a nicer, more comfortable car to live with.
One day, the finances may align to where I could afford to get a C6Z for a track car... but then I'd almost rather upgrade to a C7 ZR1 haha
Same here. C8 base specs are basically equal to C7 Z06 in every metric. Edging me toward base C8
@@DonnieDarko727 Ugh, not me. I think the C8 is ugly. The rear end is... droopy... I've always preferred front engined car design. Mid-engine is boring, and limited in the lines that can be designed around it.
@@iwasadeum I agree. I like the mid engine, don't like the rear end either. C7 is more practical
@@iwasadeum did you go 8 speed or 7 speed and are you happy?
@@DonnieDarko727 I went witht the 8 speed, and couldn't be happier. There was only a single M7 car within 300 miles of me, and it had more miles, a lower trim package, and was priced higher. Got a good deal on the A8, so I went with the auto.
Plus, with this much power in a car journalists always describe as a bit loose in the back end under hard driving, I'd rather have an auto and be able to keep two hands on the wheel at all time lol
good stuff!
Hey thanks!
Excellent
Thank you!
just picked up an 06 z06 with 29k miles 1 owner. got an inspection and they say its sipping oil so idk what to do. probably heads, valves, seals and gaskets all at once after i save up money.
That’s where I’d start but it’s not necessarily that!
Do you think I should be worried?
Not necessarily. Get another opinion and see if they can tell you specifically what’s happening? Did the last place say it was head related?
All I got was ”Sipping oil- needs additional diagnostic” so I gotta figure out what the diagnostic would be. Maybe compression tests or send the oil for testing. Forums say this is normal and to take care of seals, gaskets, etc but I fear it could be more. It is a 16 year old car so I hope its just the gaskets fingers crossed.
Yeah if you don’t see anything on the ground it’s probably ok.
9:00 I'm sure you mean the last sports car thats is cheap to maintain?
Cool! I gave the 427th like :)
Awesome thank you!
Any interest in selling this? If so how much? Thanks
Z06/Z07 low mile C7’s are 85-100k. Prices are insane wonder if they will fall? For the money is it worth that much more $ than a C6 Z06? What would you get if you were getting your first sports car and why?
I own a 2012 with 6700 miles. I m not touching the heads.
I spun a main bearing on a low mileage ls7. new short block parts and labor, set me back 17k. That one hurt. A buddy of mine had a similar blown engine within a few months of mine. I think it happens more often than you hear about. Wish I didn’t fall ❤ for the z06.
Ouch!
When you say valves, did you mean valve springs?
Heads
1:18 What website is that for the Z06 listings?
Car gurus
This doesn’t entice me to buy a corvette. But thanks for the info.
It was never meant to entice, only to educate so it did its job! 😁👍
Is $64K too much to pay for a 09 JSB ZO6 with 5.6K miles?
Yes.
Where did you get quoted for 2500$ head hit?
2500 for just the labor.
Almost 300k in depreciating assets. Someone call Dave Ramsey!
Depreciating? Have you looked at the car market recently? lol
@@HorsePowerObsessed yes of course, BUT it won't last. Things are deteriorating rapidly. Look at the housing market. Dropping like a stone.
Auto supply is still meager, but the peasants are getting hit with inflation left and right. IMO, I would sell all but one or two and make out like a bandit.
ZR1s are available well under $250, under $200k if you look online. So those have already started to depreciate from their most recent high, but he is still in a positive position.
@@cjsnylons for now. The goal should be to have fun AND do well. Timing is everything
I had a new 2009 Z06. Paid $61K. Sold it for $41K at 10,000 mi. Do the Math.
37 years old? OMG 😱
Wow what a cheap insurance!
@@PeterSchneemannexactly here in Michigan it would be out the roof
How the hell do you only pay 27 dollars a month for insurance.. 🤔
I have a lot of cars on my policy. Multi car discount and what not.
Don't forget about the clutch.... every LS I have ever owned has had the pedal stuck to the floor. It's not going to be an issue if you wax it every weekend and obey the speed limit out to cars and coffee but if you actually drive it, the stock GM hydraulics are not up to the task.
Had a stuck clutch pedal happen to me twice in my c6z. When I had it in a corvette shop he knew exactly what the problem was. Dirty hydraulic fluid. They changed it out. No problem since.
@Andrew K it was a bandaid solution for my clutch, worked better for a bit and started sticking again.
2006 is the only year that they had a problem with the heads. Keep it stock and don't rev the motor past 6200 and you're fine. Its red line is at 7000 rpm yea I know but you don't want to go that high!
Funny now 5 mo later a C7 can be had for 40k
There's stuff you probably arent aware of. First is the AFM system is absolute shit. so if u dont get a manual, you probably have this shit system in your car that eventually gonna cost u some $. so if ur doing to valve stem seats, you might as well do an afm delete. next is the issue of the rocker arms shedding Trunnion needle bearings. Very common, actually happening on my own car, super irritating once it gets started. if u changed the cam, but not the rockers this problem will probably present itself.
lastly. one lawsuit failed, but there are a bunch more that are hanging in the balance. There is a class action lawsuit out on the entire AFM system, which is what actually causes the compound problems like the rocker arm issue, the afm lifter issue, etc. and its alot higher than 10% of the cars actually have this problem. alot of the time all u have to do is drive the car normal and it will eventually have valve train issues. typically after the warranty has expired so u can be forced to pay the full cost.
Remember my car is having these issues, and my car has a god damn warranty till 171k miles. my car only has 104 k miles AND THEY REFUSE TO HONOR THE 4,000 DOLLAR WARRANTY THEY SOLD WITH THE CAR. BE CARE OUT THERE.
My car has an australian version, this version of my car is VOID OF AFM, and VOID MOST THE ENGINE ISSUES.
I think you may be confused. The c6 z06 only came in manual form. I’m thinking you’re talking about the c7 z06..
can you run 91 in the c6 zo6?
I wouldn’t. GM recommends 93 so if you use a lower octane it isn’t running like GM wants it to.
@@HorsePowerObsessed dam that sucks all my state has is 91, but i see a lot of c7 z06s and c8s out here.
@@HorsePowerObsessed i looked up the owners manual on google and under fueling it say 91 or higher. will you please look at yours, i really want to get one but not if im going to ruin it.
You might be able to get away with it but I’d hate to say yes and then have something happen to ya!
I’ll check it out!
I have erie in MD. Go pack
Gotcha. I'm probably wrong about where that insurance company exists then lol. Go pack!
Uh, this car NEEDS the suspension upgrades to perform like MODERN cars. Everything from around town to track has been improved with suspension upgrades on this car, and thats about 2,500 well spent bucks. Rear oversteer problem is lessened tremendously, and steering is radically improved. This is not a DRAG RACER, and if you go that route then you will be disappointed with usability on the street. I would go FULL Alibaba with the headlights and carbon fiber interior as well, and wheels because its all in the Chinese market for cheap. The suspension is not available in the Chinese market, and its probably the most important upgrade you can make. With great horsepower comes great suspension, or something like that.
lol love the last line! It definitely needs coil overs, I'm with ya!
Bs! I dropped a valve. Cheap as gm didn't want to spend money on fixing it
I'm sorry to hear that.
You paid too much for a 16 year old car,35k to 39k would have been a reasonable price.
2 years ago, when I made this video, this was the price.
non of these are hidden
The ls7 is overall a junk engine. Yes you can send it to rmp or lmr and have the heads cam replaced and have a monster. 40 to 45k for a decent c6z06 then 10 to 20k to have it "fixed" depending on how much you want to upgrade, and now we are hearing of rod bearing issues. With all of this in ay the c6z06 is a Russian roulette
LS7 blowing up is a hidden fee
Why would it "blow up"?
@@HorsePowerObsessed maybe grenade is a better term lol. The C6 Z06 is very tempting, but has anyone done long term reliability on the "fixes?"
@@DonnieDarko727 There are a lot of examples of high mileage Z07's out there with new heads. The heads aren't really a band aid style fix, these are legitimately fixing a problem. The LS engines in general are basically bullet proof and the LS7 is no exception (after the heads are fixed that is)
@@HorsePowerObsessed I hope so. I'm torn between a C6 Z06, C7 Z06, or C8 base. C8 base would be the best at consistently putting power down, but I think it would be the least fun due to computer nannies