[Z06] Drove a C6 today
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,936
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas NV
Originally Posted by KMK454
Don't hate cause you ain't. I had a blast with my C6 on the track last Saturday.
It seems most of these generational wars start because someone is trying to justify their choice.
It seems most of these generational wars start because someone is trying to justify their choice.
I don't "hate cause you ain't" - whatever that means... I have the 'vette I want and I assume you do as well. I simply rendered my honest opinion on a C6. There's other things I don't like about it, but the post is about driving it. So to stay on subject and clarify: When I drove it I noted that it was too soft feeling in the corners, the clutch was like a light switch that flipped on in the first centimeter it left the floor, the steering provided no feedback, - it felt very isolated and fly-by-wire. Sliding it off an apex with only visual ques to work with was interesting - sort of like playing a video game with consequences. Now reading this back, I can't help but think you'd rather I just stuck with my first description that it was a great Cadillac, no?. It certainly sounds better. And after all, it was a Cadillac to start with - an XLR to be precise.
Last edited by Twil1ght; Dec 6, 2006 at 08:44 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,218
Likes: 3
Originally Posted by Twil1ght
I don't "hate cause you ain't" - whatever that means... I have the 'vette I want and I assume you do as well. I simply rendered my honest opinion on a C6. There's other things I don't like about it, but the post is about driving it. So to stay on subject and clarify: When I drove it I noted that it was too soft feeling in the corners, the clutch was like a light switch that flipped on in the first centimeter it left the floor, the steering provided no feedback, - it felt very isolated and fly-by-wire. Sliding it off an apex with only visual ques to work with was interesting - sort of like playing a video game with consequences. Now reading this back, I can't help but think you'd rather I just stuck with my first description that it was a great Cadillac, no?. It certainly sounds better. And after all, it was a Cadillac to start with - an XLR to be precise.
I drove a C5 Z06 back to back with my C6 Z51 numerous times, and my dad and I swap cars when we go driving a lot. Capability wise neither of us can detect much of an advantage with either other than the C5 Z06 transmits more feeling and rawness to the driver. Neither of us have the complaints you do. We both love the two cars. Of course, now that he put Penske Coil-overs on his C5, it's a different story regarding handling... I don't know what type of C6 you drove, however. I noticed a big difference between the old man out cruising F55 and the stiffer Z51.
There seems to be a lot of pride and fear of one-upsmanship in the Corvette community. That's what I meant by "don't hate cause you ain't." I know you like your C5 Z06 a lot, so good for you. I like the C5 Z06 too. Also, I understand your car was the best ever and anything to follow it is inadequate and unworthy of consideration. That's the way it always is, I'm sure the majority of the C6 forum will say how awful the C7 is and so on. Oh Corvetteforum...
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,936
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas NV
Originally Posted by KMK454
The XLR came after the C6... and the C6 is essentially a slightly more refined C5 chassis.
Originally Posted by KMK454
I drove a C5 Z06 back to back with my C6 Z51 numerous times, and my dad and I swap cars when we go driving a lot. Capability wise neither of us can detect much of an advantage...
Originally Posted by KMK454
There seems to be a lot of pride and fear of one-upsmanship in the Corvette community. That's what I meant by "don't hate cause you ain't." I know you like your C5 Z06 a lot, so good for you. I like the C5 Z06 too. Also, I understand your car was the best ever and anything to follow it is inadequate and unworthy of consideration. That's the way it always is, I'm sure the majority of the C6 forum will say how awful the C7 is and so on. Oh Corvetteforum...
Last edited by Twil1ght; Dec 6, 2006 at 09:42 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 25,889
Likes: 7
From: Virginia Beach
CI 3-5-6-7-8 Veteran
I like them both... I almost sold my car for a white/red C6 coupe. Then I realized my car is almost paid for so I decided to just mod mine more.
Also, a custom C5 Z06 is more fun to me than any stock car.
Also, a custom C5 Z06 is more fun to me than any stock car.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,936
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas NV
Originally Posted by Cobra4B
I like them both... I almost sold my car for a white/red C6 coupe. Then I realized my car is almost paid for so I decided to just mod mine more.
Also, a custom C5 Z06 is more fun to me than any stock car.
Also, a custom C5 Z06 is more fun to me than any stock car.
Modding is a virus!
I think we've all spread the bug.What I don't get is why anytime someone says something about another Corvette it becomes this whole drawn out argument in an effort to either prove them wrong, slander them, or chalk it up to some lame generational argument. I don't like the base C5 either. What's the big deal? You for example, like them both and you don't see me trying to say how crazy you are...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,102
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by KMK454
I have a C6 and my dad has a 2002 C5 Z06. The C5 Z06 has a more "raw" and "visceral" feel to it and is more of a factory race car than the C6, which has more luxury and amenities. However, things like the headlights, interior, and overhangs are all tragically dated on the C5. The interior especially feels like a bad tupperware experiment. That being said, the C6 interior is still a piece of work, maybe one day GM can build a great one.
Performance-wise, the C5 Z06 is marginally quicker, but it only matters for those who split hairs on track day or for those who need a confidence boost regarding their manliness. And we can't forget those third-member enlarging Z06 badges
I love both cars though. I would have bought a C5 Z06 because it offered all the performance of a C6 Z51 at a lesser price; however, as my only car the storage space on the C6 is vastly greater, and I didn't anticipate falling in love with the C6's lines... but I did. I liked how it finally got rid of the remaining "fat elvis of sports cars" cues that began with generation 3.
Here are some photographs of us cruising together. Sorry to say, the C6 gets much more attention than my dad's ride. It was this way before the mods, too. I don't really care for attention either way, but he feels a bit down when people check out the cars and then move over to the C6. I know that in 10 years the Z06 will carry much more weight than just another regular C6, though. My guess is it's just "new Corvette" fever.
They're all awesome rides to me, I just love cars.
Pics:
Side comparison:
Profile comparison:
They're friends, not enemies. Let's all get along!
Performance-wise, the C5 Z06 is marginally quicker, but it only matters for those who split hairs on track day or for those who need a confidence boost regarding their manliness. And we can't forget those third-member enlarging Z06 badges
I love both cars though. I would have bought a C5 Z06 because it offered all the performance of a C6 Z51 at a lesser price; however, as my only car the storage space on the C6 is vastly greater, and I didn't anticipate falling in love with the C6's lines... but I did. I liked how it finally got rid of the remaining "fat elvis of sports cars" cues that began with generation 3.
Here are some photographs of us cruising together. Sorry to say, the C6 gets much more attention than my dad's ride. It was this way before the mods, too. I don't really care for attention either way, but he feels a bit down when people check out the cars and then move over to the C6. I know that in 10 years the Z06 will carry much more weight than just another regular C6, though. My guess is it's just "new Corvette" fever.
They're all awesome rides to me, I just love cars.
Pics:
Side comparison:
Profile comparison:
They're friends, not enemies. Let's all get along!
But looking at the to in black. Makes me love the C5ZO6 HARDTOP much better.That black C5Z is so cool looking. Great PIC.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 417
Likes: 0
From: Cleveland TN
You’re comparing oranges to tangerines here.. Yet there in the same group, but they’re different as well.. The C6 isn’t a Z. The C6 was, well, made to be more luxurious. Just like comparing a C5 to a C5Z.. You’re coupe is going to have all the “fluffy” options to make the car more luxurious. As do the same for the C6’s coupes.. They’re going to have the softer tranny, more buttons, etc etc. You’re Z was made for the track. It’s a true factory race car, if you will. C6 coupes are the “softer” side of the Corvettes. Start comparing the rides of the C6Z to the C5Z.. That would be more logistical.
OH and BTW.. You're also comparing a 1996-97 design style to an 2004-05.. Of course more people (today) will like it!
OH and BTW.. You're also comparing a 1996-97 design style to an 2004-05.. Of course more people (today) will like it!
Last edited by EB-Z06; Dec 6, 2006 at 10:32 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,087
Likes: 17
From: GTA Ontario
Originally Posted by KMK454
...Here are some photographs of us cruising together. Sorry to say, the C6 gets much more attention than my dad's ride. It was this way before the mods, too. I don't really care for attention either way, but he feels a bit down when people check out the cars and then move over to the C6. I know that in 10 years the Z06 will carry much more weight than just another regular C6, though. My guess is it's just "new Corvette" fever.
Profile comparison:
Profile comparison:
Last edited by rpanesar; Dec 6, 2006 at 10:48 AM.
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Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 25,889
Likes: 7
From: Virginia Beach
CI 3-5-6-7-8 Veteran
Do so many of you people put your sense of confidence and self worth in your sports cars to the point that you have to defend them to the death? I mean ****.. that C6 w/ black wheels and tint looks way meaner than the C5Z.
I think the C5Z is a sleeker car from the side, but anywhere elese the C6 looks a good bit meaner.
Thus... I bought a Tigershark facia and finally found my DRM hood to give mine a facelift
I think the C5Z is a sleeker car from the side, but anywhere elese the C6 looks a good bit meaner.
Thus... I bought a Tigershark facia and finally found my DRM hood to give mine a facelift
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,936
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas NV
Originally Posted by Cobra4B
Do so many of you people put your sense of confidence and self worth in your sports cars to the point that you have to defend them to the death? I mean ****.. that C6 w/ black wheels and tint looks way meaner than the C5Z.
I think the C5Z is a sleeker car from the side, but anywhere elese the C6 looks a good bit meaner.
Thus... I bought a Tigershark facia and finally found my DRM hood to give mine a facelift
I think the C5Z is a sleeker car from the side, but anywhere elese the C6 looks a good bit meaner.
Thus... I bought a Tigershark facia and finally found my DRM hood to give mine a facelift
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,087
Likes: 17
From: GTA Ontario
Originally Posted by Cobra4B
Do so many of you people put your sense of confidence and self worth in your sports cars to the point that you have to defend them to the death? I mean ****.. that C6 w/ black wheels and tint looks way meaner than the C5Z.
I think the C5Z is a sleeker car from the side, but anywhere elese the C6 looks a good bit meaner.
Thus... I bought a Tigershark facia and finally found my DRM hood to give mine a facelift
I think the C5Z is a sleeker car from the side, but anywhere elese the C6 looks a good bit meaner.
Thus... I bought a Tigershark facia and finally found my DRM hood to give mine a facelift
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 2,920
Likes: 2
From: North Bend WA
What is kind of ironic to me is that a good driver behind the wheel of a C6 Z51 could beat an average Joe driving a C5 Z06 both on the drag strip or on the road course...that is how close they are. Sure...given equal drivers the C5 Z06 will win both contests, but that is why so many of us love the Z06, and GM didn't want to overstep the performance boundaries of the C5 Z06 with the base C6 since they were going to do that with the C6 Z06 down the road.
It wouldn't have been a good move to **** off that many happy C5 Z06 enthusiasts and they knew it...choosing instead to give them an expensive and logical upgrade step later on. I definitely have C6 headlight envy, but I think that is the number one thing I like about the new styling. However, I also think that C6's are really cool cars, and a logical evolution of the Corvette brand.
It wouldn't have been a good move to **** off that many happy C5 Z06 enthusiasts and they knew it...choosing instead to give them an expensive and logical upgrade step later on. I definitely have C6 headlight envy, but I think that is the number one thing I like about the new styling. However, I also think that C6's are really cool cars, and a logical evolution of the Corvette brand.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Staten Island New York
KMK454, you and your father's cars both look sick. I have an 04 Z and wanted to lower it, i will be getting the Pfadt Coil Overs soon, i was looking at your dad's Z and that is the exact ride height i want, you have any idea how many inches lower than stock it is?
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,936
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas NV
Originally Posted by Steve Theodore
What is kind of ironic to me is that a good driver behind the wheel of a C6 Z51 could beat an average Joe driving a C5 Z06 both on the drag strip or on the road course...that is how close they are. Sure...given equal drivers the C5 Z06 will win both contests, but that is why so many of us love the Z06, and GM didn't want to overstep the performance boundaries of the C5 Z06 with the base C6 since they were going to do that with the C6 Z06 down the road.
It wouldn't have been a good move to **** off that many happy C5 Z06 enthusiasts and they knew it...choosing instead to give them an expensive and logical upgrade step later on. I definitely have C6 headlight envy, but I think that is the number one thing I like about the new styling. However, I also think that C6's are really cool cars, and a logical evolution of the Corvette brand.
It wouldn't have been a good move to **** off that many happy C5 Z06 enthusiasts and they knew it...choosing instead to give them an expensive and logical upgrade step later on. I definitely have C6 headlight envy, but I think that is the number one thing I like about the new styling. However, I also think that C6's are really cool cars, and a logical evolution of the Corvette brand.
They don't have to be close for that to happen. I used to run my 600cc into the 1100 class and place in the top 5 on a regular basis - leaving a whole lot of unhappy 1100cc motorcycle owners behind me. I wouldn't even pretend to say that my 600 was close to the speed of an 1100. But if the guy driving the superior vehicle can't drive it, it doesn't matter.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,936
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas NV
Originally Posted by Steve Theodore
That must have been a pretty good feeling, knowing that you were beating the others based on skill and not horsepower.
As for the C6 chassis - since this apparently is news to at least one person:
Originally Posted by KMK454
The XLR came after the C6... and the C6 is essentially a slightly more refined C5 chassis.
They took a C5 convertible frame, and hacked on it - or to put it as Cadillac XLR Chief Engineer Dave Leone did in an interview in March of 2003, "While the foundation is Corvette, the house is distinctively Cadillac." Leone explains, "To preserve the visual theme established by the Evoq concept, we stretched the Corvette's wheelbase by 30mm and trimmed 50mm from the front overhang."
Wheelbase numbers:
XLR=105.7 in (2685 mm)
C5 =104.5 in (2655 mm)
2685 mm - 2655 mm = you guessed it, 30 mm. The C6 Wheelbase is of course, 105.7 in, as the C6 was subsequently built on the same chassis - arguably due to a decision made by a bean counter. Now before this breaks off into a bunch of people reading between the lines - note that he didn't say "to make it handle better" or anything like that. What he said was, "To preserve the visual theme established by the Evoq concept" - which was the concept vehicle of the XLR shown in 1999. What happened here, is that GM was in a rebirth period for Cadillac, and they loaned them the Corvette team to build the XLR. You were then subsequently given a Cadillac with a Corvette body and running gear. No matter how you want to look at it, those are the facts.
Last edited by Twil1ght; Dec 6, 2006 at 02:28 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,756
Likes: 6
From: Gulf of Mexico Florida West Coast
Inpressive research. For some time now, I thought I was the only one obessing or the XLR/C6. And you are right about the bean counter. The General's mindset is a cad is a cad and a corvette is a chevy. And the winner is.............. The C5 production run was cut short. Look as the sales numbers, C5 were still selling big time. There were no shouts in the industry calling for a new design like the C3's demise. I will wait for the C7, of course that will probably be a GTO.
