Is C7 driving experience light years ahead of C6?
03-04-2014, 02:24 PM
#1
Melting Slicks
Thread Starter
Is C7 driving experience light years ahead of C6?
Interested if veteran Vette owners feel the C7 is really "light years" ahead of the C6?
Specific examples would be great:
ie,
-razor sharp Steering,
-Linear Manual Shifter,
-Rock solid Chassis,
-Tactile feel of interior
-Smiles per Miles
Given the C6 is a 10+yr old design none of above is surprising...as a quantum leap has occured in all aspects of industrial and automotive engineering.
Less interested in "arent perfect" issues that dont meet expectation as a base MSRP $51,000 ceiling is in place and certain trade-offs happen and are not as important to enthusiasts (ie, a la Ford using Focus/Explorer parts in Ford GT to keep MSRP at $159K!)
Specific examples would be great:
ie,
-razor sharp Steering,
-Linear Manual Shifter,
-Rock solid Chassis,
-Tactile feel of interior
-Smiles per Miles
Given the C6 is a 10+yr old design none of above is surprising...as a quantum leap has occured in all aspects of industrial and automotive engineering.
Less interested in "arent perfect" issues that dont meet expectation as a base MSRP $51,000 ceiling is in place and certain trade-offs happen and are not as important to enthusiasts (ie, a la Ford using Focus/Explorer parts in Ford GT to keep MSRP at $159K!)
03-04-2014, 02:27 PM
#2
Team Owner
Member Since: Aug 2007
Location: I live my life by 2 rules. 1) Never share everything you know. 2)
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St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '16-'17-'18
Bottom line...yes on all counts
The C7 is more solid feeling, light on its feet feeling, plenty of power (and low end torque), the interior is light years ahead of the C6's and (so far anyway) tracks like it is on rails. VERY comfy on the highway too.
Z51 Coupe with MRS, 7 speed
The C7 is more solid feeling, light on its feet feeling, plenty of power (and low end torque), the interior is light years ahead of the C6's and (so far anyway) tracks like it is on rails. VERY comfy on the highway too.
Z51 Coupe with MRS, 7 speed
03-04-2014, 02:33 PM
#3
Race Director
It seems much faster, but that is just seat of the pants. Seems like it gets from 40 to 85 in an instant on the highway if you are not watching closely. (And I have a non-Z51 if that makes difference). I don't remember that feeling of instant acceleration in either of my C6s.
Also because of the cockpit feeling of the C7 it feels like you are part of the car. You sit IN the C7's seat. You sit ON the C6 seats.
Also because of the cockpit feeling of the C7 it feels like you are part of the car. You sit IN the C7's seat. You sit ON the C6 seats.
Last edited by BigJoe; 03-04-2014 at 03:12 PM.
03-04-2014, 02:46 PM
#4
Coming from a '12 GS 'vert to a '14 Z51 'vert. Both manual transmissions.
-razor sharp Steering - Steering is more precise, but not "light years"
-Linear Manual Shifter - No difference, imho. In fact, 4-5 upshift and 7-5 downshift took a little getting used to.
-Rock solid Chassis - Stiffer, but not "light years"
-Tactile feel of interior - Better, but not "light years".
-Smiles per Miles - Not much difference, imho.
Long trip seat comfort - Yes, light years better
Low end torque - Definitely light years better. With LS3, engine was pretty much dead on the highway in 6th gear. Had to downshift to 5th, or 4th for decent acceleration. With LT1, there's massive amounts of low end torque. Even is 7th gear, pickup from 75mph is OK without downshifting.
I know some members aren't going to like this post. But these are my personal opinions. And overall, I'm delighted with the car. Wouldn't go back in a heartbeat.
-razor sharp Steering - Steering is more precise, but not "light years"
-Linear Manual Shifter - No difference, imho. In fact, 4-5 upshift and 7-5 downshift took a little getting used to.
-Rock solid Chassis - Stiffer, but not "light years"
-Tactile feel of interior - Better, but not "light years".
-Smiles per Miles - Not much difference, imho.
Long trip seat comfort - Yes, light years better
Low end torque - Definitely light years better. With LS3, engine was pretty much dead on the highway in 6th gear. Had to downshift to 5th, or 4th for decent acceleration. With LT1, there's massive amounts of low end torque. Even is 7th gear, pickup from 75mph is OK without downshifting.
I know some members aren't going to like this post. But these are my personal opinions. And overall, I'm delighted with the car. Wouldn't go back in a heartbeat.
Last edited by cam30era; 03-04-2014 at 03:37 PM.
03-04-2014, 03:08 PM
#5
Race Director
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Ditto - I've had 2 C5 Z51's, a C5 Z06, and 3 C6 Z51's. I cancelled the option on my C7 when Z51 went on constraint, and I still like this car much better than the C6.
03-04-2014, 03:30 PM
#7
Melting Slicks
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Lots more torque, feals more glued to the road, interior is many times better, and I like the exterior design a bunch.
Last edited by Glenmcp; 03-04-2014 at 03:43 PM.
03-04-2014, 03:40 PM
#9
Coming from a '12 GS 'vert to a '14 Z51 'vert. Both manual transmissions.
-razor sharp Steering - Steering is more precise, but not "light years"
-Linear Manual Shifter - No difference, imho. In fact, 4-5 upshift and 7-5 downshift took a little getting used to.
-Rock solid Chassis - Stiffer, but not "light years"
-Tactile feel of interior - Better, but not "light years".
-Smiles per Miles - Not much difference, imho.
Long trip seat comfort - Yes, light years better
Low end torque - Definitely light years better. With LS3, engine was pretty much dead on the highway in 6th gear. Had to downshift to 5th, or 4th for decent acceleration. With LT1, there's massive amounts of low end torque. Even is 7th gear, pickup from 75mph is OK without downshifting.
I know some members aren't going to like this post. But these are my personal opinions. And overall, I'm delighted with the car. Wouldn't go back in a heartbeat.
-razor sharp Steering - Steering is more precise, but not "light years"
-Linear Manual Shifter - No difference, imho. In fact, 4-5 upshift and 7-5 downshift took a little getting used to.
-Rock solid Chassis - Stiffer, but not "light years"
-Tactile feel of interior - Better, but not "light years".
-Smiles per Miles - Not much difference, imho.
Long trip seat comfort - Yes, light years better
Low end torque - Definitely light years better. With LS3, engine was pretty much dead on the highway in 6th gear. Had to downshift to 5th, or 4th for decent acceleration. With LT1, there's massive amounts of low end torque. Even is 7th gear, pickup from 75mph is OK without downshifting.
I know some members aren't going to like this post. But these are my personal opinions. And overall, I'm delighted with the car. Wouldn't go back in a heartbeat.
03-04-2014, 03:46 PM
#10
Race Director
Member Since: Aug 1999
Location: Bluffton SC via Canton Oh
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As I always say all depends what you intend to do with the car? You a waxer or tracker? You flip cars often or want an investment if there is such a thing. Each of us is different in our car goals.
Light years.......... thats a big statment. But IMHO it is better is every aspect. Plus for less money you get more car!!!!
I was at Spring Mountain 2 weeks ago. In our class of 12 were 2 great guys who decided the deals of ZR1s where too tempting to resist. If they were looking for performance not sure they were happy at the end of the 3 days school. The C7 is more balanced .... the Zr1 has more power but can't get it down on the track as well as the C7 according to the instructors. Then the Zo6 is coming...... look out!!!
Smiles per mile???? Man few folks commented on my 13 GS C6. I have to budget time to chat about the C7. Folks are blown away.
It's a GREAT car......... just an impressive piece of machinery.
Light years.......... thats a big statment. But IMHO it is better is every aspect. Plus for less money you get more car!!!!
I was at Spring Mountain 2 weeks ago. In our class of 12 were 2 great guys who decided the deals of ZR1s where too tempting to resist. If they were looking for performance not sure they were happy at the end of the 3 days school. The C7 is more balanced .... the Zr1 has more power but can't get it down on the track as well as the C7 according to the instructors. Then the Zo6 is coming...... look out!!!
Smiles per mile???? Man few folks commented on my 13 GS C6. I have to budget time to chat about the C7. Folks are blown away.
It's a GREAT car......... just an impressive piece of machinery.
03-04-2014, 04:49 PM
#14
03-04-2014, 05:35 PM
#15
Safety Car
Improvements, yes definitely. Light years ahead, with the exception of the interior quality (and we have a 3LT, as well as an equivalent '13 C7) no. The interior is awesome, but as mentioned does not feel as roomy. Still getting used to all the choices on the various screens, but the infotainment center can be frustrating. The ride is better, but we have a base C7, and are comparing it to a 427 Convertible and Z51 C6 and C5, so I would expect it to be better. Overall, my wife (the primary driver) likes it a lot more than her C6 Z51 vert. I prefer my 427 Convertible for the raw LS7 power rush. The LT1 feels good, but not LS7 good.
03-04-2014, 05:36 PM
#16
Team Owner
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St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '16-'17-'18
I have to add.... the voice recognition IS light years ahead of the C6's 
It works flawlessly for me so far
It works flawlessly for me so far
03-04-2014, 05:40 PM
#17
Le Mans Master
Last edited by Turbooo2u; 03-04-2014 at 05:46 PM.
03-04-2014, 05:41 PM
#19
Drifting
Coming from a '12 GS 'vert to a '14 Z51 'vert. Both manual transmissions.
-razor sharp Steering - Steering is more precise, but not "light years"
-Linear Manual Shifter - No difference, imho. In fact, 4-5 upshift and 7-5 downshift took a little getting used to.
-Rock solid Chassis - Stiffer, but not "light years"
-Tactile feel of interior - Better, but not "light years".
-Smiles per Miles - Not much difference, imho.
Long trip seat comfort - Yes, light years better
Low end torque - Definitely light years better. With LS3, engine was pretty much dead on the highway in 6th gear. Had to downshift to 5th, or 4th for decent acceleration. With LT1, there's massive amounts of low end torque. Even is 7th gear, pickup from 75mph is OK without downshifting.
I know some members aren't going to like this post. But these are my personal opinions. And overall, I'm delighted with the car. Wouldn't go back in a heartbeat.
-razor sharp Steering - Steering is more precise, but not "light years"
-Linear Manual Shifter - No difference, imho. In fact, 4-5 upshift and 7-5 downshift took a little getting used to.
-Rock solid Chassis - Stiffer, but not "light years"
-Tactile feel of interior - Better, but not "light years".
-Smiles per Miles - Not much difference, imho.
Long trip seat comfort - Yes, light years better
Low end torque - Definitely light years better. With LS3, engine was pretty much dead on the highway in 6th gear. Had to downshift to 5th, or 4th for decent acceleration. With LT1, there's massive amounts of low end torque. Even is 7th gear, pickup from 75mph is OK without downshifting.
I know some members aren't going to like this post. But these are my personal opinions. And overall, I'm delighted with the car. Wouldn't go back in a heartbeat.
WOW a reasonable assessment, thanks.
03-04-2014, 05:57 PM
#20
Le Mans Master
Light years? Absolutely. I don't know why anyone would embarrass themselves by driving and be seen in an obsolete, outdated C6. You may as well be driving a '52 Hudson. In fact, the C7 is so superior in every area, I wouldn't be surprised if GM stays with the C7 generation for the next 20 years. I am still wondering why GM wants to keep any C6 models in their museum now that the C7 has arrived. No one wants to see those cars. Anyone driving a C7 has finally "arrived".
