C5/C6 Vette as an economy car? | FerrariChat

C5/C6 Vette as an economy car?

Discussion in 'American Muscle' started by GrigioGuy, May 7, 2008.

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  1. GrigioGuy

    GrigioGuy Splenda Daddy
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Nov 26, 2001
    29,334
    E ' ' '/ F
    Full Name:
    Trailer Swift
    I recall someone talking about averaging 30 MPG in his Vette on the highway. I know there's a bunch of Vette folks here, so is that really achievable? My truck is averaging 14, I have to get something new with the miles I pile on. The standard econoboxes are looking good, but if I can get something interesting instead, that would be great.
     
  2. 8 SNAKE

    8 SNAKE F1 Veteran

    Jan 5, 2006
    6,948
    Springfield, MO
    Full Name:
    Mike
    A C5 Z06 can achieve upper-20's and good examples can be purchased for upper-20's as well. Not a bad combination at all, imho!
     
  3. James_Woods

    James_Woods F1 World Champ

    May 17, 2006
    12,755
    Dallas, Tx.
    Full Name:
    James K. Woods
    The octal snake tells it correctly. Our C5 Z06 pulls out about 27-28 on the highway, but there is a disclaimer:

    You have to keep it in overdrive 6th - and you WILL NOT shift down to pass trucks. You WILL NOT push down on the you-know-what to regain speed on hills. You WILL just leave it in overdrive and take your shame.

    And that's the truth, Ruth.

    BTW - my old ZR-1 showed exactly 13.1 MPG on the trip computer on the way to work this morning. The 993 Targa (no computer) always averages about 25 MPG no matter city or highway.

    James
     
  4. TexasF355F1

    TexasF355F1 Six Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Feb 2, 2004
    68,612
    Cloud-9
    Full Name:
    Jason
    Not sure about city or mixed driving, however I know my aunt got 28mpg on her trip to Alabama at 75-80mph on cruise control. She has an '02, unfortunately it's an auto.:(
     
  5. MarkPDX

    MarkPDX F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Apr 21, 2003
    15,111
    Gulf Coast
    I get good MPG with the C5...... When I'm on longer trips it's easy to get 30mpg at 70mph, above that it begins to drop off, around town it's more like 25mpg.
     
  6. Choptop

    Choptop F1 Rookie

    Aug 15, 2004
    4,455
    Carmichael, CA
    Full Name:
    Alan Galbraith
    with my wife driving our 2001 C5 auto gets 23mpg in mixed driving.

    with me driving it gets much less.

    on the freeway it will get 25-27mpg
     
  7. WILLIAM H

    WILLIAM H Three Time F1 World Champ

    Nov 1, 2003
    35,532
    Victory Circle
    Full Name:
    HUBBSTER
    I was getting 25 mpg in my C6 Z06 so I'm sure 30 mpg is possible in a regular C6

    Its a great car
     
  8. Denis GTPRO

    Denis GTPRO Karting

    Apr 25, 2008
    91
    Fullerton, CA
    Full Name:
    Denis Dickerson
    the ls3 6sp can achieve that if you stay out of it and put the car in economy mode. the c6 z06 gets low 20s if you keep out of it ,,,,but who the hell would ?
     
  9. FerrariF50lover

    FerrariF50lover Formula 3

    Aug 12, 2005
    2,383
    Ohio
    Full Name:
    Nate
    Ive heard of people getting 32 with modded C5's. So low 30's is defiantly possable
     
  10. DMC

    DMC Formula 3

    Nov 15, 2002
    2,385
    WI/IL
    Full Name:
    Dean
    I would look for a C5 or C6 base coupe with Z51 suspension and 6-speed manual. I have pulled almost 31 mpg @ 70 mph with this combo (C5, long highway trip, short shifting all the way). Z06 will get slightly less as others have noted. The base coupe is still plenty fast for the street. Should be able to find good to excellent C5's , '99-'02 model years for low 20's.
     
  11. LightGuy

    LightGuy Three Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Oct 4, 2004
    39,481
    Texas
    Full Name:
    David
    Getcha a P bug.
    NSX ?
     
  12. LightGuy

    LightGuy Three Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Oct 4, 2004
    39,481
    Texas
    Full Name:
    David
    PS; I tried to talk the wife into getting that "cute little manual tranny C-6 economy car".
    She didnt buy it. :(
    Working on the P bug line now.
     
  13. SSNISTR

    SSNISTR F1 Veteran

    Feb 13, 2004
    8,046
    SFL
    My Camaro has an LS1, just like a C5. Even with my cam, headers, intake, gears etc....on the highway in 6th if I stay out of it I get over 22 mpg. And this is with a 11 second car. No complaints here.
     
  14. JBsZ06

    JBsZ06 Formula Junior

    Dec 6, 2003
    761
    On the highway with the cruise control you can average 27 mpg in a C5 Z06 or a C6 coupe..

    Around town it really depends how you drive the car to get good gas mileage..

    The car is fast as hell and if you want good gas mileage..you gotta concentrate to keep your foot out of it.

    The automatics tend to get even better gas mileage than the manuals because the computers are so dam efficient...


    I had a 1999 C5 that I ran hard for about 26,000 miles before I sold it in 2001 for a c5 z06..

    Sure enough even though I drag raced it a lot at englishtown...autox'd it...and even ran pocono ..Just before I sold the car...I found the average Gas mileage button on the D. I . C and it stated with city driving....track days etc...I averaged over 20mpg ..

    that was dam impressive consider the car ran high 12's at 109.5 mph down the strip.

    If you don't mind automatics I think the gas mileage tends to be better....because the driver of manual corvettes tend to rev them a little higher just to hear the engine roar a little longer and because its easier to continually hot dog it.

    Good luck

    JB
     
  15. JBsZ06

    JBsZ06 Formula Junior

    Dec 6, 2003
    761
  16. Jim Bremner

    Jim Bremner Karting

    Jan 2, 2006
    148
    mine is around 23-24 mpg on the hwy at just faster than average speed if I stay @70ish it get's 25. the z51 cars have a quiker rear gear that hurts mpg a little

    the truck is staying at home alot more @ 15mpg
     
  17. Craigy

    Craigy Formula 3

    Mar 19, 2006
    1,679
    Louisiana
    Full Name:
    Craigy
    My uncle claims he gets 27 on the highway in his '04 Z06. Says if he backs off to 65 then he gets 30. Ridiculous.
     
  18. solofast

    solofast Formula 3

    Oct 8, 2007
    1,773
    Indianapolis
    C5 Z's can be very efficient. I generally get 29 on the highway, crusing between 75 and 80... Around town expect 22-24, depending on the traffic, although occasional moments of exuberance don't seem to effect the mileage much. Car is stock but lowered.

    Note that to get above 22 around town you need to short shift and keep it in 6th gear at speeds above 45 mph, but really, in terms of enjoyment per gallon, very few cars beat the Vette.

    I was talking to a salesman friend of mine that does a lot of highway driving and he was amazed that a car with that much performance could get that kind of mileage. He has been driving typical mid-sized cars and doesn't get near that on the highway.

    He is now thinking of getting a C5 "purely for the highway fuel economy", or at least that is what he is telling his wife...
     
  19. JoshVette

    JoshVette Formula Junior

    Aug 12, 2007
    708
    Grand Prairie/Dallas
    Full Name:
    Josh
    I used to get 28-29mpg cruising at 70mph. Mine was an Automatic 4 speed with intake and exhaust mods and the optional 3.15 gears. So 6 speeds could get better.

    Around town I normally got 19-21 but I liked to have fun with when the lights turned green....

    Josh
     
  20. Square

    Square Rookie

    Mar 7, 2007
    23
    SE Va
    Full Name:
    Fred Garrett
    I have 2 vettes, an 86' and a 99'.

    The 86' is an automatic with a 2.59 rear gear in it. It has long tube headers, and an aftermarket intake manifold. It gets about 16MPG in town, and 28MPG highway at 70MPH.

    The 99' is a 6 speed. It is stock. It gets 22-24 around town, and 32MPG at 70MPH if you let the cruise control do the driving.

    The key to the vette's milage is the tall highway gears. Vettes turn 1500RPM in top gear at 70MPH.

    Going up hills is not a problem (unless it is a steep hill) as the torque available at 1500RPM is substantial in those cars.
     
  21. ST&A

    ST&A Formula Junior

    Apr 4, 2007
    559
    Lake Stevens
    Full Name:
    Sid Thayer
    I have a 2002 C5 corvette with a Automatic and when checked yesterday i was getting 21.6 mpg, now compare that to my 2003 VW GTI 1.8T my vette wins hands down. I just drove about 500 miles on last weekend and on the freeway at 70 mph running 1800 rpm's i was avg'n 24 mpg. So for a daily driver i love it.
     
  22. BLT2DRIVE

    BLT2DRIVE Karting

    Nov 3, 2008
    234
    Holmby Hills,Calif.
    Full Name:
    Todd Varble
    #22 BLT2DRIVE, Mar 31, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    I put an LS7 with a six-speed in my '62 Belair, kind of a brick, but with an air dam and splitter, side skirts,and rear wing it gets right at 29-30 HWY, and I see 22- 25 in town during the week. I too started to drive the (Vette Powered) Hot Rod as a daily driver because it just rocks the MPG! I leave the Beamer and the F-350 crew cab dually sit since last fall. Most of the time, unless I have to go somewhere to park unattended for long...
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  23. checklist_34

    checklist_34 Karting

    Nov 26, 2008
    168
    the c6 z06 has never gotten less than 23-24 on the highway, but never better than 32, probably avg 26-28. The C6 coupe w/a manual probably can do 30mpg in alot of conditions. In a 20 mile test drive in a standard C6 w/a manual, I got 33.something at 55-65. it was unbelievable.

    C5s are a bit better for most people, I think...
     
  24. INTRUBL

    INTRUBL Karting

    Mar 6, 2006
    102
    Mahopac N.Y.
    Full Name:
    Bob Anderson
    I laugh at hybrids.

    [​IMG]
     
  25. Darkhorse575

    Darkhorse575 Formula Junior

    Mar 20, 2005
    634
    Pasadena, CA
    Full Name:
    DJ
    My best city mileage on a 9 mile street commute was 21.6 mpg using CAGS. But I don't think this could be very good for the clutch. On a recent trip to Vegas from L.A. I observed 25 mpg and 1900 rpms in 6th is good for 92 mph in 3hrs 13min. Wow, what a car.
     

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