Help me shop for a v8

[BAD SS]

Ok so I'm out of the Honda game and I've been wanting a v8 for a few months now and I'm finally able to afford one.

I've got about $20,000 to spend but would prefer to keep it around 15-18k if I can

I know of someone that's trying to sell their silver '02 Z06 for 15k. Stock except for longtubes. 114k miles though... Highway miles mostly.

I've been told to stay away from ctsv's and gto's

Why?

Those are the two that I would be looking at if I were in your position.

what kind of mileage should I be weary of? Problems with c5s? Is it ok if I bought a base model good condition c5 99-00 and did stuff like heads cam exhaust rather than buy the z06? What are the engine differences between ls1 and ls6(zo6 right?)

Try and stay away from anything with more than 100k miles. Obviously highway miles are different than city miles.

C5 power steering pumps tend to leak.

Base model C5s have more interior room than a Z06. IMO, Heads/Cam C5 > C5Z.

The cam is a little more aggressive in an LS6 as compared to the LS1. The heads are different. Compression is different. The LS6 factory intake manifold also flows better than the LS1.

LS6 > LS1.

Answers in black.

Heads/Cam/Tune LS motors tend to make anywhere from 410-440 to the wheels depending on the setup.

My shit is cam/longtube/tune only and made 405 to the wheels through a three speed automatic, with a 3200 stall, on a nitrous tune.

[NoRotor]

For just a "daily with some pep", I'd agree that a lightly modded C5 will suit your purposes. C5 = more interior room and cheaper cost of entry. However, due to inferior heads, power will be a little harder to come by. Be wary of the Vette-tax though.