boony1968

I am looking for a toy (3rd car), mostly autocross with a few HPDE's a year. I am still a novice with about 2 years autocrossing experience. My 1st toy was a SC'd S2000 with 350 WHP - this car broke my virginity with autocrossing and the learning curve was STEEP. My 2nd car was a SC'd Lotus Elise - awesome car and easy to drive hard, but I was just too big for it an let it go back in November.

I decided a Corvette would probably be the best fit for me, so I have been reading and looking since November and I am ready to buy - T&T's are starting in a few weeks.

At first I landed on '04 Z's. Then '08 - '09's with Z51 package. Now, I find out I am getting a bigger bonus than expected. So, C6Z's and GS's are now potentially on the radar....

I am leaning towards the GS's. All the tire, brakes and suspension of the Z with power levels that may be better suited for my experience. With the GS, HP could easily get bumped with a few mods down the road to meet or exceed a Z but that wouldn't help any potential resale. I am struggling with this as an '08 Z can be had in the low 40's and GS's are going for high 30's - low 40's.....

I know I should drive a few, but there are only C6 Z51 cars available within a couple hours drive - no GS's, no Z's. I am most likely going to have to catch a flight to buy.

Any input would be appreciated.

StreetSpeed

Id go with the GS for all the reasons you mentioned. Should be a dime a dozen with the C7s out now. I'd expect to find one barely used in the low 30s.

Charley Hoyt

It really depends what your goals are. Just autocross? Or do you want to do track days also? When autocrossing are you going to compete in a stock tire class? Or with DOT R compound tires. I havn't autocrossed in a few years..... But when I did the added width of the Z06 / GS was not an advantage, and the Z06 gearing was not as good as the Z51 gearing. At the time the most competitive corvettes were C5 Z06's . If you plan to do track days I would go with a C6 z06 if you can afford it.

I don't see any advantage to the GS... The C5 Z is better for autocross, and the C6 Z is better for the track....

For the best autocross advice look up Mountainbiker2 (Steve A.) he is one of the best Autocrossers I know of.

crimlwC6

GS is what I would get but I never did autocross.

troyguitar

Buy one that's already been set up for whatever you want to do, cooling mods + brakes/suspension + seats/harnesses add up to a huge amount of money but add absolutely ZERO to resale value.

boony1968

Thanks guys, bought a C6 Z last week.

Charley Hoyt

Great choice.... Enjoy!

rfn026

Autocross and track days are totally different. Autocross events are competitive. You can actually win a plastic trophy.

Track days are all about fun. No one wins. No one is the fastest.

The really good autocross folks shop the class. In every class one car seems to dominate. You go for that car. There is no marque loyalty with the autocross winners.

Richard Newton