xkrcobraz06

Hey all, relatively new to a 2008 z06 and still learning how to drive it but I wanted to give some impressions. I am comparing the car to a 1999 mustang cobra which is entirely different animal and I know the z06 is alot faster but it doesn't feel that way.
Here is why... the cobra has shorter gearing and I have 3.73's in it- it revs alot quicker than the z. The power is alot more linear in the z, comes on like a shot in the cobra at 3500 rpm. The cobra is cable driven verus electronic throttle body. My cobra is really loud with straight pipes and that makes it feel fast. I have a carbon fiber drive shaft on the cobra and it spins faster. It just feels more raw.
The cobra is putting down 310 rwhp with mods naturally aspirated.
Haven't had the z06 tuned/dynoed yet- it has a KBII on it and LPE ported t-body and intake manifold. The z06 just pulls and pulls and pulls, but not the same.

Greenstealth

So what you're saying is a modified cobra with gears and straight pipes has a more visceral feel? I don't see what the shocker here is.

xkrcobraz06

I guess I was expecting something a little different from the z06. It's deceptively fast in my opinion, rather than just an ape like I was expecting. Others have said they feel slower than they are.

AirBusPilot

You're comparing a high 13 second car to a car that can run high 10's. I don't get it.

Antonio1988

I agree 100%. The Z06 is deceptively quick and fast, my 08 GT with a turbo and a built auto felt MUCH faster than the Z feels (ran 11.3@122; Z ran 11.5@132), until I look at the speedometer. Going 100 in the mustang felt like I was breaking the speed of sound, while going 200 in the Z feels "normal" lol. Just a different breed of car, that's all

Madclown

I agree on the power band being very wide. I had a moderate cam in my LS1 TransAm and it had no bottom end at all, just came on at 3500 rpm kinda like you hit a button, lol, and that was without using the Nitrous. The LS7 is an amazing motor that has power everywhere. If you want raw all you have to do is turn off the Traction Control, Active Handling, and put your foot in it.

nitrojunky

i find my C6Z to be deceptively less violent than my C5Z, but i think much of it has to do with a bone stock C6Z vs. an american racing headers + GHL exhaust + vararam C5 + the C5's short gearing. most of the lack of wildness has to do with the power delivery (first gear is usually useless in both, and in the C6Z, i'm off power in second when running around at 45 mph, unlike the C5Z) and the sound. an exhaust would fix the second part, and second gear WOT at 65 mph in the C6Z fixes the first issue.

xkrcobraz06

Yep, I think I need to find the sweet spots for the gears.

BigMike NY

The mustangs with the shorter first gear plus your 3.73's "might feel" faster but it isn't. My best buddy had a mustang with bolt-ons, gearing, its was fast in the bottom of the rpm range. Problem was the car fell flat after around 4000rpms...

The ZO6 is a freight train in any gear, at any rpm, that's how I feel when I drive it anyway...

BigMike NY

OP, even though you have a carbon fiber driveshaft, I can't see that mustang motor revving quicker than an all aluminum motor with titanium connection rods...

C5 Frank

My 540 rwhp 550 rwtq Built 347 Supercharged Mustang Cobra "felt" absolutely violent and WAY faster than my stock C6 Z06.... But the bottom line is my best time on drag radials in the Mustang was 11.20 at 128..... in my stock Z06 on DR 10.92 at 128.

No question the taller overall gearing is what makes the Z06 feel more slugish...

95jersey

The reason is because the suspension on the Z06 is VASTLY better than that of your old Pony car. I used to have a 5.0 mustang and it would spin out and get all squirly. The Z06 is refined and just hunkers down and goes, before you know it you are doing 120 in the blink of an eye, but my mustang felt more violent and because the back end would kick out, it made it seem like it had gobs of power.

Also, the tall gearing has a lot to do with it. Welcome to the world of big cubic inches. We don't need no stinking 3:73's, we use torque!!

FAsnakes

I had a 600HP mustang Cobra /w full aftermarket suspension.. It was a fun car but felt like it was going to fall apart. It was so loose and sloppy compared to the Z in a straight line - it was really bad.. In a turn, forget it.

If you're expecting a C6Z to 'feel like a muscle car'.. You're going to be out of luck.. The Z is a sports car, what you're feeling is refinement, balance and efficiency..

It is better than any year mustang in ever way..

Vette5.5

I think Mustangs are pretty cool, but really in a whole nother market. Modern top end Mustangs are hitting the scales at 4000 lbs and based off $20K platforms. Kind of tells you a few things.

spicytuna

Faster in terms of visceral feel? I can believe that.

Heck, my friends Subaru WRX STi feels faster than my Z06 when the boost kicks in.

BigMike NY

And brand new they still cost as much as a C6 Corvette! The Roush and Shelby's anyway...

DSOM Z06

One of the reasons I modded my A4 C5 was that it felt so much slower than my A4 T/A with an LT-1, even though it wasn't. I guess seat of the pants does mean a lot. The Z06 is very quick bone stock but again all corvettes in general were made with a different audience and goal in mind than a stop light to stop light build.

Wulverine

My 03 cobra feels faster than my Z, but 600 RWHP vs a stock Z isn't a fair comparison. I'm sure after the H/C/I package being installed on my Z is finished , the tables will be turned.

GMuffley

My 04 Cobra felt more raw--but not faster.

04_Z06_CE

I for sure understand where your coming from.. I had a 510 rwhp 03 cobra and felt days faster than my Z06 . But before I sold it and had my buddy drive the Z06 and from basically 100 I was walking away from the stang. Gears will play a huge roll in this.
Kinda like having gears on a C5Z with the Mn12 gears , it rockets out.

Mustangs are pretty much the best bang for the money out there in term of perfomace/money factor.

Last I love the new GT500 , they are a little lighter now at 3800 lbs and with about 5k , you can run a 2.9 whipple making 700 rwhp, yes completely different car than the Z06 but ya gotta give it up to Ford. Heck even the new 5.0's are faster than the porker SS. I love my GM cars but mustangs will and always be great