Viper vs C5 Z06

[ViperRT98]

I found it a thread on a different forum and thought I would bring the topic here...

Of course we are all very proud of our cars but subjectively how does the ZO6 compare to Our Vipers?

I have owned a Corvette both C4 and C5 Corvette for the past 15 years... I made the decision to sell my Corvette for my Viper however their are some benefits of the Corvette I miss like a decent Radio and surprisingly lot of storage room... The performance was very good but nothing like the Viper...

The Viper is a very raw and very aggressive in your face type of car that makes me smile... I believe the radio is really poor in the Viper and storage capacity is really non Existent... But it is a real super car...

The Corvette owners always seem to bash the idea that the Viper is a stunning automobile that is in a class of its own...

They seem to talk about how slow and ugly the Viper is... How many of you have owned a Z06 or a Corvette and what is your opinion on this topic... How does the Z06 compares to the Viper?

 

[Invasivore]

I currently own a 98 GTS and have previously owned an 01 Z06. IMO, there is less of a learning curve with driving the Z06 fast. Also, the vette had excellent fuel economy and was easy to drive everyday. The Viper is definitely not a daily driver, nor should it be parked outside. Things like a tall first gear get annoying with slow speed traffic. Though it is definitely the only car that can be considered exotic that is a muscle car. For the money, there is no car this badass with exclusivity .

 

[Geronimo]

I don't own a C5 Z06 but my bud down the road does. I spanked him hard with the 96 GTS and as for as wow factor the C5 doesn't even compare.

 

[Allan]

I have a C6 Z06. I had a C5 before that
Corvettes are way more useful as cars than Vipers

The Z06's are really fast. great performing cars.
The Viper is the superior car though. The true American bad-ass.
Vipers require a lot more driver skill to be quicker than the Vette.

The Viper is more engaging and more rewarding to drive.

 

[MoparMap]

I haven't driven a Z06 before, but have been in a C5. There is no doubt the Vette is the more "useful" car for the money and still the king of performance to dollar. That being said, I've always thought the Viper was ultimately the better performer in the right hands. If someone calls a Viper slow, they are flat wrong. Ugly? That's personal preference. I would agree early ones could be called uncivilized and unrefined, but sometimes that's why people like them. Everyone has their tastes. I like being in control of all of a car's systems, I don't want computers changing everything all the time. I want to know what is changing and to have control of it. The Vette I drove was fun if you romped on it, but fairly tame for normal driving. The Viper always feels like it's tugging at the reigns. It's just a different experience.

 

[agentf1]

I had both and loved them both. Viper is quicker than the C5 Z and obviously more exotic. Vette is more practical and there are a ton of them on the road. As a weekend car the Viper wins hands down. Value the Viper wins again. I think it will hold its value much better than the Vette down the road and you will pay a lot more for an equal car. I would expect to pay at least 40's to 50's for a nice Gen II where you can get a Z in the same condition for probably 20 to 27. I would go 01 or 02 Viper for the abs brakes and minor improvements. That said the C5 Z06 is one of my favorite cars and I will probably own one again. I always said if I was to cut back on my hobby I would just get a really nice C5 Z06 for like 20 to 25k and enjoy the hell out of it. I love my Viper but it is perfect condition and has less than 4000 miles on it so I think I hold back on driving it as hard as I would like to fearing I will scratch it. If you want a Viper I would buy one soon before people realize what gems they are and how rare nice cars are and prices go through the roof, it is only a matter of time. I think they will be the next Cobra, maybe not in my lifetime but it will happen.

 

[MoparMap]

I think some of the forum banter also just depends on the kind of people involved. You can tell the fanboys from the real car enthusiasts when discussions like this come up. I grew up loving Vettes and still appreciate them, but I think I'm a Mopar man at heart. A real enthusiasts can see why any car can and is appreciated. Fanboys are usually just blind to anything but their favorite.

 

[Geronimo]

I would pick a C6 Z06 over a C5 if the viper isn't for you.