[Z06] True spirited drivers! Have you ---
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 264
Likes: 3
True spirited drivers! Have you ---
Have you experienced driving a modern musclecar with AWD? I haven't and was curious on the differences with some spirit involved. Do they take off from the line any differently than our Z's? Serious cornering different? If so ,How differenet? Coming out of an apex? Panic swerving? All the fun stuff 
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
From: Northern VA
I had a B5 Audi S4 with around 400hp(twin turbo 6 cylinder) before my Z. Off the line, on the street, it was unbeatable. You could launch hard in ANY weather. I could also do very stupid things and get away with it; like launching into a corner. With the Z I have a hard time with traction when launching, especially if it is below 60 degrees. It was not as good from a roll because of the extra drivetrain loss due to AWD obviously.
As for conering, AWD vehicles tend to understeer a lot. The S4 was extremely easy to take it to the limit because of the AWD where as I think the Z takes more practice/skill to take to the limit. The added wieght of AWD also made the car have a lot of body roll which could have been correct with proper sway bars/suspension.
The best part about AWD was just having fun in the snow and the fact that you could enjoy the car all year round.
As for conering, AWD vehicles tend to understeer a lot. The S4 was extremely easy to take it to the limit because of the AWD where as I think the Z takes more practice/skill to take to the limit. The added wieght of AWD also made the car have a lot of body roll which could have been correct with proper sway bars/suspension.
The best part about AWD was just having fun in the snow and the fact that you could enjoy the car all year round.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 14,051
Likes: 9
From: Houston TX
Have you experienced driving a modern musclecar with AWD? I haven't and was curious on the differences with some spirit involved. Do they take off from the line any differently than our Z's? Serious cornering different? If so ,How differenet? Coming out of an apex? Panic swerving? All the fun stuff
I was able to apply power much earlier in corners, and to drive out of any understeer, you just push the gas pedal. My Rt12 times (on PS2's) were about 1 to 2s slower than my 427ci C5 Z times (on V700's). The Rt12 brakes are unbelievable.
Quite a different experience to a high HP RWD car.
Here is a little sample (I am just a weekend hack mind you, but this might give some idea of just how easily it is to "chuck a high HP AWD car" around track:
Last edited by RC45; Dec 29, 2008 at 09:17 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 14,051
Likes: 9
From: Houston TX
Enormously fun... that car is just so well designed and so competant.. it makes anyone look like Schumacher on boost and below...
For those that are brave enough (not I) to not short-shift and drive it into the boost and beyond, you are transported to another dimension.
I did about 10 laps in the passanger seat with a pro Porsche race driver at the wheel.
OMG that car is so much more capable in expert hands. It is truely frighteningly fast if you want it to be. It has lapped the Nurburgring in the mid 7:20's I believe.
As you could see, I simple tickled the lower levels of its performance.
If I had a spare $400K laying about, that is what I would buy.
For those that are brave enough (not I) to not short-shift and drive it into the boost and beyond, you are transported to another dimension.
I did about 10 laps in the passanger seat with a pro Porsche race driver at the wheel.
OMG that car is so much more capable in expert hands. It is truely frighteningly fast if you want it to be. It has lapped the Nurburgring in the mid 7:20's I believe.
As you could see, I simple tickled the lower levels of its performance.
If I had a spare $400K laying about, that is what I would buy.
Last edited by RC45; Dec 29, 2008 at 09:15 PM.
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Advanced
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
From: Northern VA
This is true, but I'm just saying from my experience. My audi would NOT oversteer when letting off the gas. It was almost impossible to get the back end to break out without using the e-brake or driving in rain/snow.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 186
Likes: 0
From: Somewhere in Alberta
That depends on your definition of a modern musclecar. I have a 760HP/900TQ Syclone sitting in my garage. It benefits in a whole lot more areas than just panic swerving. 
I don't know of too many vettes that can cut a 1.4X 60' at a red light on asphalt. There are no traction issues...period. Just point and shoot. 
I don't know of too many vettes that can cut a 1.4X 60' at a red light on asphalt. There are no traction issues...period. Just point and shoot.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 264
Likes: 3
RC45 I liked that video,love to take the Z on a little pavement fury there.The co-driver didn't have the time,bummer,you sounded sooo dissappointed but what the heck,you had a rush,eh!
Albertan Thanks for the input,bro.Guess you'll have that monster out come spring.When is that , May
Lots of snow in Vancouver,now. Closing in on a 40 year record. never heard of a Syclone,must be interesting driving the Z06 then that. When you get a good launch with the Z you still must get off on the rawness of the true american musclecar.Then again the C5 years of our Z's are not really that raw! Had a '69 tri-power 427,stock,and yes,that was raw,for me. PS I found my Z06 in Edmonton. Flew there and drove her back!
Albertan Thanks for the input,bro.Guess you'll have that monster out come spring.When is that , May
Lots of snow in Vancouver,now. Closing in on a 40 year record. never heard of a Syclone,must be interesting driving the Z06 then that. When you get a good launch with the Z you still must get off on the rawness of the true american musclecar.Then again the C5 years of our Z's are not really that raw! Had a '69 tri-power 427,stock,and yes,that was raw,for me. PS I found my Z06 in Edmonton. Flew there and drove her back!
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
Yes - I spent a day getting to know the Ruf Rt12 AWD. And the AWD made the car quick in a different way that a 650bhp Corvette is.
I was able to apply power much earlier in corners, and to drive out of any understeer, you just push the gas pedal. My Rt12 times (on PS2's) were about 1 to 2s slower than my 427ci C5 Z times (on V700's). The Rt12 brakes are unbelievable.
Quite a different experience to a high HP RWD car.
Here is a little sample (I am just a weekend hack mind you, but this might give some idea of just how easily it is to "chuck a high HP AWD car" around track:
I was able to apply power much earlier in corners, and to drive out of any understeer, you just push the gas pedal. My Rt12 times (on PS2's) were about 1 to 2s slower than my 427ci C5 Z times (on V700's). The Rt12 brakes are unbelievable.
Quite a different experience to a high HP RWD car.
Here is a little sample (I am just a weekend hack mind you, but this might give some idea of just how easily it is to "chuck a high HP AWD car" around track:
great vidOnce some one does more and more of these type of events, you lean the TC & AH hinder your abilities.
a slight sideways slide while going though a corner is actully faster then FULL grip.
Tires have their best grip just as the tires surface rubber starts to melt from a slight slide, or at about 180*.
So we tell ppl to Leave AH & TC ON to learn the track and the basics of high performance driving, but turn TC & AH OFF to really learn how to drive the car.
For street use, be safe and dont turn AH & TC off, leave it ON.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 186
Likes: 0
From: Somewhere in Alberta
Albertan Thanks for the input,bro.Guess you'll have that monster out come spring.When is that , May Lots of snow in Vancouver,now. Closing in on a 40 year record. never heard of a Syclone,must be interesting driving the Z06 then that. When you get a good launch with the Z you still must get off on the rawness of the true american musclecar.Then again the C5 years of our Z's are not really that raw! Had a '69 tri-power 427,stock,and yes,that was raw,for me. PS I found my Z06 in Edmonton. Flew there and drove her back!
Lots of snow in Vancouver,now. Closing in on a 40 year record. never heard of a Syclone,must be interesting driving the Z06 then that. When you get a good launch with the Z you still must get off on the rawness of the true american musclecar.Then again the C5 years of our Z's are not really that raw! Had a '69 tri-power 427,stock,and yes,that was raw,for me. PS I found my Z06 in Edmonton. Flew there and drove her back!Yeah, May is probably about right by the time they get the roads cleaned up. That's alright. I have Andy's SC kit, some ARH LTH's and other odds and ends to install before then. Should be around 500-525 RWHP when its done. It'll be my daily driver. The Syclone will still beat it up and takes its lunch money at will, but they're two different vehicles. The Syclone was built to go fast in straight line. It ran 10.3@129 on pump gas and methanol the first time at the track during some shakedown passes before being escorted off the premises for not having a cage.
Driving your Z home from Edmonton must have been fun. I made the trip in reverse years ago when I brought my Typhoon home from Vancouver. And back in October, I drove my Z home from Sacramento. Gotta love those desolate northern Nevada highways. I think I made a few practice runs for the Silver State Classic on the way home.
I had a deposit on an Audi R8 for a year also. They phoned me this Fall earlier than I was expecting and I had to pass. I just couldn't justify $170,000 for a car with 420HP. The Z at $29K was infinitely more bang for the buck, and I can actually drive it and enjoy it.
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 70
Likes: 1
Ex Evo owner chimes in
I just traded my 06 Evo MR for an 08 vette. The evo is a hell of a car for the money, as is the vette.
With only 2 months of mostly winter driving under my belt, I'm still getting used to the power of the vette all at the rear wheels, so I'm definitely slower in the corners than I was with the evo. I may never be as fast - the AWD w/ 300hp in a light, tight car is simply too easy to drive fast - I completely smoked an 05 viper that had a 200hp edge over my car on tight twisty roads - he was beating the hell out of his car trying to lose me and I had one hand on the wheel and taking pics of his *** end with the other.
And that's the thing - it was too easy - with all his powersliding and crazy accelerating, he looked like he was having much more fun than I was - I love the rear wheel drive, the fact that the vette scares me and needs to be treated w/ much more respect - it's much more challenging to drive fast, and I find that much more rewarding.
An awd car makes you look like a champ, and I'm sure if I could race myself in the evo vs myself in the vette, Evo me would smoke vette me on a curvy road...but vette me would be having more fun.
With only 2 months of mostly winter driving under my belt, I'm still getting used to the power of the vette all at the rear wheels, so I'm definitely slower in the corners than I was with the evo. I may never be as fast - the AWD w/ 300hp in a light, tight car is simply too easy to drive fast - I completely smoked an 05 viper that had a 200hp edge over my car on tight twisty roads - he was beating the hell out of his car trying to lose me and I had one hand on the wheel and taking pics of his *** end with the other.
And that's the thing - it was too easy - with all his powersliding and crazy accelerating, he looked like he was having much more fun than I was - I love the rear wheel drive, the fact that the vette scares me and needs to be treated w/ much more respect - it's much more challenging to drive fast, and I find that much more rewarding.
An awd car makes you look like a champ, and I'm sure if I could race myself in the evo vs myself in the vette, Evo me would smoke vette me on a curvy road...but vette me would be having more fun.
