gdmiller123

i need help deciding something. I currently have a mint 13 grand sport with cam, full exhaust, lowered with forgestar wheels, zr1 Carbon kit ect. I love the car of course but always wanted a zr1. Frankly it's always just been a dream car. I have someone highly interested in purchasing my car but now I'm having second thoughts about selling and "upgrading" to a zr1. It'd use it as a second car/weekend car that I cruise to cruise in's and do highway pulls ect with. What I'm wanting to know is, how many of you have went from a nice grand sport to a zr1 and thought it was the best decision, or wasn't really worth the jump in price? I know I'm looking at another 20k in just car price for one I'd want with lower miles and mint like mine plus another 5k in mods and cam to be able to enjoy it as I do mine with the sound and cam ect. Trying to justify the jump or just throw a blower on my current grand sport and call it a day. Please chime in.

darth g-f

If your GS was stock I'd say go for it. But with the money already spent on it, you'll lose a lot. Because of that I'd say keep it. Unless money is no object, then buy whatever floats your boat.

A blower to the GS is gonna make more power than the ZR1, so you could do that. Plus you have a removable top, not bad a car imho.

gdmiller123

Thanks for the input. With the sale, I was going to lose roughly $4000. I'm certainly not well off by any means. Just your typical middle class working guy with big dreams lol. Yea the removable top was a big part of me justifying keeping the car. It is sweet! I figured once I do the blower I'd be so deep into the car I would absolutly have to keep the car. Which is fine too if I went that route.

darth g-f

I was in a similar position last fall. I wanted to go GS+add a blower.

Finally, I came to these conclusions:
1. I really wanted a ZR1 as it is a dream car for me.
2. In the end the ZR1 will probably cost less as most of the value is already gone while the GS are not done.

You sound like me on my conclusion 1. If you only lose 4000$ it's not bad and in the end you might lose less by going ZR1 sooner than later... If I were you, I'd test drive one and see from there.

gdmiller123

Yea I really want to drive one. I'm either going to fall in love, or it's not going to be what it's all cracked up to be in my head. I'm not sure I can find one to test drive though.

Can'tHave2MuchHP

Get the ZR1. The GS may be nice but with a cam it's not going to be as friendly/reliable as the LS9, fact, and with an aftermarket blower, while it may make a lot of power, IMO is going to be a time bomb for you, reliability wise. I know people will jump on me for this but the fact is that the ZR1 will be a helluva lot more reliable with a pulley swap, full exhaust, and an intake, will probably make similar power if you're playing it safe with the GS, and you own the King of the Hill.

ZR1

AngelSpeedFreak

Difficult choice. Having a ZR1 I will tell you I often consider the opposite. "Downgrading" to a Z06 or Grand Sport. There is something about owning your dream car however.

Personally I would keep the GS unless you just find a great deal that you cannot walk away from.

Good luck.

gdmiller123

Yeah I know what you mean. I believe the GS will be perfectly safe and reliable to say 650. im just trying to justify the extra 20k+ for a zr1. I know I can only truly answer that but its just a huge leap of faith.

Can'tHave2MuchHP

Probably will be safe at 650, wheel or crank, but a bolt on ZR1 can make that same number, plus it's got other upgrades, like the Carbon ceramics, carbon fiber panels, and it's a ZR1.. I mean, it's not like it's a way better car, but I think that you'd be well off to buy the ZR1. Let's not forget the ZR1 will hold value a lot better, and the Blower and install will probably cost you nearly 10,000 all said and done (Blower, install, injectors, and more little things that we all know will pop up, you'll probably need a clutch upgrade, and more...)

gdmiller123

There is no doubt in my mind a zr1 is a better car. I certainly know they will hold value better of course.

The blower instal with Ecs kit and tune along with swapping a blower cam for my na cam is going to be $5500. If the clutch goes on down the road figure another $2000 ish.

Can'tHave2MuchHP

Wow if you can get a blown for 5500 out the door then you're doing something I don't know.

gdmiller123

Just got to know the right people kit is $4550 which includes everything down to injectors and bap. $200 for cam and instal, $800 to install blower and tune.

ROCKGT

I would go with the ZR1 in your shoes.
ZR1 prices will go up once supply dries up for low miles/unmolested cars. By this I don't mean for you not to drive it, just that average people like to buy lower miles cars.
Get the color you love (as long as it's red or yellow) and don't look back.
Watch those prices start climbing like crazy in a couple of years...just my .02 cents 😃

Eric Reeves

Seriously, your asking this on the ZR1 forum? Just because you have mods on your GS does not make it comparable to a ZR1. Try asking the same in the the Z06 forum and see what you get. Anyone can make anything faster but not necessarily better. There is more to the price difference between the models than just horsepower. Otherwise the ZR1 would not have been a $120k car when the GS was a $70k. There is a reason the LS9 is a $25k engine and the current LT4 is $12K vs the LS3 being $6k. I could keep going. To rationalize that a modded GS is as valuable to a ZR1 I cannot. Anything can be modded but most buyers want stock. I say get the ZR1 if you have someone offering you what you want for it and get the ZR1.

BearZ06

I moved from an 08 C6 Z06 to a 13 ZR1. I really loved my Z06 but I'm glad I made the change and it will be hard to ever let the ZR go. The C7's just haven't tempted me but if you like them you could probably soon go to a C7 Z06 for the same money and have the new model.

SPEEDEMON

The GS isn’t even in the same league with the ZR1. The ZR1 is a lighter car with better components such as carbon fiber panels, larger brakes made of carbon ceramic and the LS9 which is built with some of the best materials. I could go on and on, but if you want the cream of the crop then there’s no comparison.

1Sikstik

Now matter how you modify your vette, it will never be a ZR1. Faster, sure compared to a stock one maybe. I gave up a 700rwhp Z06 for my ZR1 and I thought I may regret it but I dont. Would never go back, and absolutely have no plans to ever sell it. Theres only 53 others in my color, and from what I have found, mine is the only one with its headlight color option. I may be wrong, but I think these cars will appreciate in value sooner then later. Fwiw, people do notice its not your everyday corvette which is pretty cool. I love my ZR

gdmiller123

yes im asking this on a zr1 sub forum because if you would have read my post instead of imidiatly going on a rant of how much better the zr1 was than a grand sport you would have realized I was looking for input of people that went from a grand sport to a zr1 and their thoughts on the switch Vs price difference in the two. Yes I realize a zr1 is a better car and yes I realize everyone is saying the zr1 will hold more value which is a no brainer but I'm not buying it for a Ln investment, I'm buying to enjoy and mod if I made the switch.

Jimnc

Buyavette in Atlanta has two. They will let you test drive.

gdmiller123

Might be a excuse for a road trip then, thanks