Z06 or Grand Sport?
10-24-2016, 08:43 PM
#41
Race Director
Z06 is awesome with 650 hp. I'd definitely suggest a c7 z06 over the grand sport if you want the best of the best.
Good luck deciding,,,
I know I'll got the z06 next time round.
My present car is a z51 after owning a z06 and I won't go for anything less next time around.
Jmo
Good luck deciding,,,
I know I'll got the z06 next time round.
My present car is a z51 after owning a z06 and I won't go for anything less next time around.
Jmo
10-24-2016, 08:51 PM
#42
Race Director
On a tight track that doesn't warrant high HP, the Grand Sport will be right on the Z06's butt if not quicker. Even on a higher speed road course, the GS wouldn't be embarrassed by the Z06.
If you drive 99 % on the street, you will be able to use 100 percent of the GS, no so with Z06. In fact I will bet I could shake a Z06 in the twisties on the street as well as some fun from a dig on the street both with OE tires.
If you drive 99 % on the street, you will be able to use 100 percent of the GS, no so with Z06. In fact I will bet I could shake a Z06 in the twisties on the street as well as some fun from a dig on the street both with OE tires.
I can toy with my friend's C7 from any speed. him all in me barely half throttle short shifting staying below 4500rpm..
i cannot imagine the thrashing the Z06 will give him once broken in lol
it's all about the driver my friend. didn't motor trend or car and driver rant and rave about the GS only to see it 3 plus seconds or something behind a Z06 on some track somewhere?? the Z06 posts supercar times the GS is a dramatic improvement over the base. and horsepower only increases that gap. not opinion, fact. it's all about the driver
Last edited by 23/C8Z; 10-24-2016 at 08:56 PM.
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Micster (10-27-2016)
10-24-2016, 11:39 PM
#43
Depends on your goals. If going to track days I would choose the GS for the NA engine. The car has it's merits for sure. If you are looking for the top dog street car the Z06 is a thrilling car, perfect for some spirited driving and good ole fashioned hell raising Blower/turbo power for the street, smooth consistent NA power for the track has always worked for me.
10-25-2016, 12:18 AM
#44
Melting Slicks
Sounds like we all need both.
10-25-2016, 12:43 AM
#45
i probably wont buy another corvette with the base engine again. I am sure for most people its plenty, specially those older guys who just cruise around town.
I would rather my car scare me.
I would rather my car scare me.
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10-25-2016, 02:47 AM
#46
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Thanks for all the input.
I'm leaning towards the Z06 just because, back when I had my C6 Z51, I always regretted not getting the Z06.
650HP, scary and exciting at the same time.
I'm leaning towards the Z06 just because, back when I had my C6 Z51, I always regretted not getting the Z06.
650HP, scary and exciting at the same time.
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10-25-2016, 04:08 AM
#47
Le Mans Master
The ideal combo is get the GS, then put a centrifugal blower on it. More power, less heat and lighter then a Z06, and virtually no heat soak. Two caveats tho..
1) Not covered under warranty
2) Aftermarket blowers and belt drives are not nearly as reliable as OEM units.
If you can live with those two risks, the GS with a blower is the way to go. Not to mention WAY more room for upgrades.
Pretty much the same scenario as the C6Z vs C6 GS.. The C6Z has a lot more power and way faster out of the box, but throw a blower and bolt ons on the GS and it's considerably faster then the C6Z. Even if you threw a blower on the Z, you will have power constraints that you don't have with the GS....(like the paper thin cylinder walls.)
On the flip side tho, I can't see myself spending $80k+ on what is basically a Z51 with a wide body kit.. Especially when you can get 16' C7Zs for $75k.
1) Not covered under warranty
2) Aftermarket blowers and belt drives are not nearly as reliable as OEM units.
If you can live with those two risks, the GS with a blower is the way to go. Not to mention WAY more room for upgrades.
Pretty much the same scenario as the C6Z vs C6 GS.. The C6Z has a lot more power and way faster out of the box, but throw a blower and bolt ons on the GS and it's considerably faster then the C6Z. Even if you threw a blower on the Z, you will have power constraints that you don't have with the GS....(like the paper thin cylinder walls.)
On the flip side tho, I can't see myself spending $80k+ on what is basically a Z51 with a wide body kit.. Especially when you can get 16' C7Zs for $75k.
10-25-2016, 08:39 AM
#48
1. GS conv well equipped and properly discounted can be had for 70 or less. Z conv similarly equipped will be closer to 80, as far as I can tell.
2. Professional reviews talk about non-linear power delivery with the Z, which presents some dicey situations.
3. There's a thread on this forum about the Z motor "loping" at low rpm in high gears. Seems as if many people are experiencing this.
4. We are in an era where high hp NA motors are probably on the way out, and close to their pinnacle in power and tech.
........Leaning toward GS for all of these reasons. Likely will be able to get a very high hp FI motor in the future, and tech improvements should lead to continuous refinement in power delivery. Same can't be said for NA.
2. Professional reviews talk about non-linear power delivery with the Z, which presents some dicey situations.
3. There's a thread on this forum about the Z motor "loping" at low rpm in high gears. Seems as if many people are experiencing this.
4. We are in an era where high hp NA motors are probably on the way out, and close to their pinnacle in power and tech.
........Leaning toward GS for all of these reasons. Likely will be able to get a very high hp FI motor in the future, and tech improvements should lead to continuous refinement in power delivery. Same can't be said for NA.
10-25-2016, 09:11 AM
#49
Burning Brakes
If money was no object I would have a Z06 ... but I have a budget.
I actually went to dealer to buy a left over 2016 2LZ coupe that was around $15K of sticker. When I got there they had just got a Yellow GS Convertible off the truck which they discounted $7K off sticker. It was a tough choice because the z06 was definitely the better buy ... but since the z06 was Black ... and I have little patience for a black car .... I went with the GS .. If the Z was just about any other color ... I would have probably bought it ... But I have no regrets .. I use the Convertible Top way more than I use the extra Horse Power. The main thing was that I got the GS/Z widebody which I really like ...
I actually went to dealer to buy a left over 2016 2LZ coupe that was around $15K of sticker. When I got there they had just got a Yellow GS Convertible off the truck which they discounted $7K off sticker. It was a tough choice because the z06 was definitely the better buy ... but since the z06 was Black ... and I have little patience for a black car .... I went with the GS .. If the Z was just about any other color ... I would have probably bought it ... But I have no regrets .. I use the Convertible Top way more than I use the extra Horse Power. The main thing was that I got the GS/Z widebody which I really like ...
Last edited by dmhines; 10-25-2016 at 09:12 AM.
10-25-2016, 09:16 AM
#50
Selo, I disagree, that NA motors are on the way out. In fact the NA motor is one of the main reasons many choose the GS over the z06.
I would rather drive a build NA motor over the blown one personally, if both built to the same level. Yes, you would be looking at cam, heads, etc., but you can bring the rwhp of a GS up to the level of the Z06 and that is a car that would be amazing.
Unfortunately, it would still be worth less on the market too, another consideration for the OP if he is going to resell it anytime soon.
I would rather drive a build NA motor over the blown one personally, if both built to the same level. Yes, you would be looking at cam, heads, etc., but you can bring the rwhp of a GS up to the level of the Z06 and that is a car that would be amazing.
Unfortunately, it would still be worth less on the market too, another consideration for the OP if he is going to resell it anytime soon.
10-25-2016, 09:51 AM
#51
10seconds918
I'm not as much of a student as many on this forum, but it seems to me the writing is on the wall........with tighter EPA residents and emissions controls, seems to me all manufacturers are jumping on board this smaller motor with FI bandwagon. Seems like it will be short lived, bridging the gap to cheaper and improved hybrid or electric tech, but it seems as if regardless of the ability of manufacturers to create good NA motors, they're moving away from it.
I'm not as much of a student as many on this forum, but it seems to me the writing is on the wall........with tighter EPA residents and emissions controls, seems to me all manufacturers are jumping on board this smaller motor with FI bandwagon. Seems like it will be short lived, bridging the gap to cheaper and improved hybrid or electric tech, but it seems as if regardless of the ability of manufacturers to create good NA motors, they're moving away from it.
10-25-2016, 09:58 AM
#52
Drifting
Depends. Do you like your car overheating and pissing all over the track??
10-25-2016, 11:29 AM
#53
Drifting
Member Since: Jan 2006
Location: Metro Detroit - miss FL
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I bought a Z06 for the same reason I bought a King Ranch F150 over an XLT. I'm lucky enough to be able to afford them and I wanted all the extra "stuff". Nothing wrong with lesser equipped vehicles but I've become spoiled over the years and really don't want to chinch out. I see me replacing my TaylorMade M2 irons with PXG irons next year if I like the feel hitting them. Sure, I could score about as well with a cheap set of Wilsons but..... It goes on and on...... I love the feeling I get when I go in the garage just to check out the Z06 Corvette and my 32 Ford.
10-25-2016, 11:34 AM
#54
Le Mans Master
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I bought a Z06 for the same reason I bought a King Ranch F150 over an XLT. I'm lucky enough to be able to afford them and I wanted all the extra "stuff". Nothing wrong with lesser equipped vehicles but I've become spoiled over the years and really don't want to chinch out. I see me replacing my TaylorMade M2 irons with PXG irons next year if I like the feel hitting them. Sure, I could score about as well with a cheap set of Wilsons but..... It goes on and on...... I love the feeling I get when I go in the garage just to check out the Z06 Corvette and my 32 Ford.
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Jus Cruisin (10-25-2016)
10-25-2016, 02:13 PM
#55
I bought a Z06 for the same reason I bought a King Ranch F150 over an XLT. I'm lucky enough to be able to afford them and I wanted all the extra "stuff". Nothing wrong with lesser equipped vehicles but I've become spoiled over the years and really don't want to chinch out. I see me replacing my TaylorMade M2 irons with PXG irons next year if I like the feel hitting them. Sure, I could score about as well with a cheap set of Wilsons but..... It goes on and on...... I love the feeling I get when I go in the garage just to check out the Z06 Corvette and my 32 Ford.
10-25-2016, 02:21 PM
#56
Safety Car
10-25-2016, 08:22 PM
#59
I am a '016 Z06 owner and love the car....as you won't be surprised, I would tell you to buy the Z06 if the money difference didn't strap you. I see a lot of shots taken on the Z06 overheating. From what I gather from reading everything I can on that subject, the overheating issue has surfaced on a number of occasions with A8 transmission cars running track events in warmer weather. I don't believe near the frequency of overheating problem the A8 has supposedly experienced while tracking, have been seen with the M7 car....I believe it probably would be seldom. I don't track my M7, just drive it on the street and it has NEVER even gotten close to raising the temperature one bit. The same could be true for A8's, but I can't confirm that. The 2017's I believe have been slightly modified to cure that overheating problem of the A8's (and M7's if they have that problem). Buy whatever you like and can comfortably afford....I can't believe you'd ever be disappointed with the Z06. They are an absolute blast to drive! To me, it was a very easy decision.......
