pkincy

Is the C6Z06 the end of an era? It seems like the new performance cars are all looking at huge horspower, but accompanied by huge weight.

True the 14 Viper is only 3354 lbs delivered, but the ZR1 is a bit over 3400, the HellCat is way porky at 4400 lbs, the Fifth Gen Camaro is over 4000 lbs unless you give up everything and buy a Z28 which is still 3800. The new 2015 mustang is over 3800 lbs, and the C7Z06 looks to be 3500 lbs or so.

Seems like having an NA lightweight good handling (for more than one lap) performance car is a thing of the past.

Well, maybe Porsche will stay the course but the rest of the Germans seem to love building a car north of two tons.

I probably am in the minority but the first nunber I look for on any new car announcement or magazine or internet test is the delivered curb weight, primarily because I wouldn't have a performance car over 3300 lbs. Why bother?

Or am i wrong?

croatbob

Ppl want all the creature comforts n electronics these days. All added weight

User24

Light, NA, hi-po model, mass produced, domestic, 8 cylinders. You are right, that is a category that doesn't exist with the new z06 going supercharged. Base models on the other hand, C3 - C7 have stayed in the same weight range over many decades, it would appear.

The "NA lightweight good handling performance cars", are all in the 4 cylinder market now. And getting lighter, surprisingly.

8-cylinder pony Dodges are hopefully maxed out on weight / power. The newer ones should be lighter once the switch to LA platform size.

Undoubtedly in the minority, as undoubtedly people will try to try to talk you out of that "archaic thinking". I think I understand, some people must be able to respect a car philosophically before they will be caught dead in one. It is not a matter of whether one has enough "skill" to utilize the available horsepower or handling on a commute to pickup groceries, whether one "notices" the additional weight, whether on or off the track. It's about idealistic truths and abstracts, something people will never recognize on a mass scale.

bill.c6z06

I'm in the same camp, PK. I share your disappointment and dismay at the weight gain. I will never buy a Corvette that weighs that much. But I'm not particularly brand loyal - I'll consider any make that offers the right combination of performance criteria and cost. For example, I would buy an Alfa Romeo 4C before I ever bought a C7... Unless GM were to miraculously come out with a lightweight, widebody, NA, track edition of the C7 that knocks off a good 300 lbs - now that would get my attention!

CasinoCityZ06

Already has mine! I'll take one if those if that were to happen.

American Heritage

Great thread.
Company's make what people buy. This would suggest that the vast majority want a "fully loaded" performance car. Which of course comes at the expense of added weight.
So the question should be is there a market for a light weight high HP corvette type vehicle (as a mass production auto)? The trend is seeming to suggest there isn't.
How many would buy a Corvette with manual locks and windows, manual seat, ect.. ? I know I would as well as some of the other member on this forum but i think the vast majority would rather have all the modern comforts that we are no used to (and often times expect).

Hirohawa

Lambo Cabrera the Upcoming R8 and the New Miata all had shed significant weight. Team Corvette went off their path on this new car.

C7 Z06 is a big disappointment for me that it gained so much weight. That and that funky Japanese Camaro rear end might have me completely skipping the C7 Z altogether.

LT5 John

^^^^
What he said above!

ROUTE 66

Ditto
I do not want a heavy car. I would like to shed weight on my 07 Z06. It has dropped 78 Lbs at this time.[ LG headers/ Ti Exhaust] Looking for a total of 150 Lbs.
I bought a GM CF hood not long ago when I put that on it should drop another 10 Lbs.
I have never tracked my car and don't plan to but it is a great car for driving mountain roads.

SlickShoes

The era is dead. Despite the industry's best attempts, they're only going to get fatter. We can make light creature comforts. We can make light accessories. We can make light tech.


What we cannot make is lightweight legislation, lightweight NHTSA requirements, or lightweight government interference. Cars are heavy because US legislation dictates excessive levels of occupant, pedestrian, and environmental protection, as backwards as that sounds. For example, the new Alfa 4C is a 21XXlb car in Europe. It gained somewhere just short of 400lbs coming abroad to meet US standards and regulations. Defeats the entire ethos of the car.

o2baZR1

overall performance is what matters most, but this is something that's been on my mind a lot lately too. I'm really surprised that the trend seems to be toward the heavier, in some cases going way over 4000 pounds.

my guess is that eventually we'll move more toward lighter cars and fewer behemoth-sized pickups and suvs, but I don't see that as happening anytime soon. kinda ridiculous to see cars that weigh more than 2 tons that still can't fit anyone larger than a 10-year-old in the backseat.

personally, I even take gas mileage into consideration in choosing a vehicle. and, I'm very happy that GM can deliver both performance and mileage even if the weight is creeping upward.

Bad_AX

I'm glad this is still getting some discussion. At least I know I'm not the only one disappointed in the direction the Z06 was taken by GM. I will end up keeping my C6Z longer than I thought and embarking on some performance and weigh reduction upgrades along the lines of Jim Hall's JSB Z06. I'm not sure what my next performance car purchase will be, but if I had to write the check today it would be for the Viper. A flawed car too in my opinion but more to my taste than the C7 Z06.

rsalco

Mandatory safety/emissions/fuel economy/etc. regs. probably account for the majority of the weight gain. NVA targets also have an effect. The rest would be up-contenting to compete with other mfr.'s offerings. Competitive pressure is a powerful force affecting decisions about how a car will be equipped in a given segment.

Porsche can only afford to do the GT3 stripper track-car because the Cayenne is such a runaway sales success. As likely will be the Macan. GM is much more de-centralized; each division has to make its own business case. And with the 'Vette that applies to the sub-division as well. Whether we will see a bare-bones Z06 track-day special will I suspect depend on the sales success of the mainstream models. So far, the C7 has been the most successful 'Vette yet sales-wise. So there's hope.

rprice

Take a look at the C7 narrow body parked between two C6 wide bodies. Add the extra weight and I am really not liking the C7 as much

Garibaldi

Yup. My 2000 C5 FRC was just such a car. Loved that puppy.

capevettes

I share your concern on the weight issue. Not only will the new Z06 be heavier, it is a more confining cockpit with less storage space in the back for those of us that go places in these cars. The C7 Z is a heck of a car but you wonder if it will ever feel as agile and light on it's feet as the C6 Z.

Unreal

Miata, BRZ, FRS, Atom, Lotus, Seven, KTM, upcoming Local motors car, etc.

I would say no, the lightweight sports car is definately not dead unless your requirements are a 400+hp v8. There are probably more than ever.

GMuffley

Exactly. A light weight, stripped down high peformance car will not sell in suffiicent quantities to justify its existence. Those that want such a vehicle are a extremely small market segment.

1 BAD BURB

I just weighed my 07 Z the other weekend, half tank of gas without me in the car, 3050lbs. I couldn't believe it!!! I was at a roll race event and ran against a few heavily modded mustangs, gtrs, Camaros, etc, all making more power then me. And I won mostly every race. Some even by car lengths.
Ultimately, the weight makes a huge difference. I agree, all the new cars are getting away from the n/a lightweight sports car. But as someone mentioned, people want creature comforts, GM will appeal to those buyers bc they are the majority. Myself and you loyal Z06 owners, opt for no nannies and gadgets, just plain simple driver! we are the minority and they don't make money off us... Why cater to this then...

So yes, those days are over... Time to move into a Ariel Atom or something of that nature. Been eyeing one up for a while... Just not legal to have in my state. FTL

LFZ

No me gusta las gorditas!