I've been a long term lurker. I finally found a gorgeous low miles 2002 Z06 that I really like. It drives like a dream and has only a couple little nit-picky things that would need to be taken care of to make it perfect.

I've seen all the threads about how easy it is to scrape the front especially when entering a steep driveway and that it doesn't hurt anything if it is only the air dam. I've even seen it mentioned in the owner's manual.

On my second test drive I was able to test out my horrendous driveway. There is a steep transition from the road to the driveway. On the first try at good angle it scraped. Backing out at a different angle it scraped. Trying to go in at a different angle it scraped again. I don't think it hit anything but the air dam since I didn't feel a jolt inside the car. I'm guessing that hitting the nose or radiator support would be felt and not just heard as a scrape. I was going quite slow.

Needless to say, I wasn't happy. We ended the test drive and I walked away feeling there was no way I could have the car.

Even when I repave my driveway (probably this year) that end transition can't be made a whole lot better, if at all. None of those wood plank or prefab ramp pieces would make a difference in my situation. And no, I'm not moving any time soon.

My question is how bad would it be to have this scrape every time driving up, and backing out of my driveway? I don't want to ruin a beautiful car by scraping the hell out of it - especially after spending a chunk of change on it. Again, I don't think I hit anything solid on the car, probably just the air dam. From what I've read it seems this isn't that much of a concern, but man it put a chill down my spine.

Thanks.

 

Get over it...buy the car...been dragging mine on driveways etc since Nov 98.....its still the OEM one....sure I have had to reattach the side ones a few times as they will come loose.....

BTW my car is also lowered..the bottom of the painted fascia is only 5.5 inches above the ground

you can always buy the frame savers that several vendors on here sell...I have a set

 

Have you checked out fangs or similiar products? Not sure how steep the driveway is but I think there are some videos on the web of fangs being used. Check it out, I'd hate to see the driveway keep you out of a z06.

Good luck!

 

Lower it!

(Just joking!)

My plastic air dam scrapes every time I back out of my driveway, even at an angle. I live in Florida and due to the heavy summer rains, many side and service roads are designed with a severe pitch to encourage rain run-off. I scape on those too, even when I enter on an angle.

The only time I have ever come close to damaging my front bumper or radiator support is when I pull in to park over a curb or raised sidewalk. As a Corvette owner over the years, I have learned to back on as much as possible and to invest in a set of "Fangs" to protect the radiator frame.

Good luck. Pic of the driveway?

 

Some say you get used to it but I still cringe and say bad words every time I scrape on a driveway or roadway. Have a look under the car and satisfy yourself that it is only the air dam and not the radiator frame supports. Fangs are an option. Good Luck

 

I would spend all day if that was the case

 

This is probably the perfect topic to answer and ask this question. You have mag ride control right? What I've noticed is that there is alot less scrapage if you move the dial over to sport mode. I use your mode all the time unless there is an upcoming steep hill, driveway, or bump. Tour mode gives a good ride but it loosens up the suspension alot.

 

Buy it. I scrape every time I back out of my driveway. When I back out I turn my wheel sharply just as I am entering the street. This minimumizes the scraping for me.

 

scraping just goes with the territory for some. me, i'm pretty lucky that most of so florida is flat so that generally isn't an issue. taking a steep angle is your best way to minimize the scraping. for what it's worth, i have seen a kind of "filler" that can take some of the steepness out of severe transitions. i can't remember where exactly i saw them, but they do exist. they lay against the sharpest part of the transition to reduce the angle. i'm sure someone here has also seen them and may be able to remember where. a google search might also provide you with some direction. hope that gives you some better comfort level in acquiring the car. believe me, i have owned at least one corvette at all times during my adult life (and i'm almost 69 yrs old, lol). there is nothing like owning and driving a corvette. the smile lasts forever.

 

I don't have a picture of the end of the driveway handy. Since I live on a hill in a rural area, it curves down my property and hits the street at about a 45 degree angle. Plus the road is sloping so I think it is the combo of those two factors that give it the weird shape at the bottom. For lack of a better description, it is like there is a hump on one side.

If I had hit the nose or the radiator supports I assume there would be a pretty good thud and not just a scrape.

The car doesn't have selective ride control so the suspension is where it is. It is also bone stock - so it hasn't been lowered at all.

I've wanted one for years and am finally in the position where I can do it without a problem. Other than the driveway test, the test drive had me grinning ear to ear. In the 30 minutes driving it today, I saw four separate state troopers... Love that HUD to keep your speed on track.

 

Park it on the street if a little scraping bothers you. My air dams are scraped. My radiator supports are scraped. My headers are scraped. My rockers are scraped. And I still enjoy the car. You haven't lived until you're airborne flying through an intersection. It's the landing that gets you ;-)

 

I scrape the air dam on mine every time. It gives and flexes back, but my dad's driveway is horrenous! After many tries I've figured out the correct angle to enter and exit, and I'm sure you will also.

Buy Her!!

 

i do the same, sometimes ill even pull back up in the driveway cutting hard in the opposite direction so i can make sure to turn it real hard as i crest the driveway lip, coming out.... almost like a 3 point turn. seems to scrape less that way.. on a stock ride height vert.

 

They are designed to take a scrape...buy it!

 

Z06's don't have the magnetic ride control.

To the OP - like others mine scrapes every time I go in and out.
Can't say it doesn't bother me, but it does get easier to live with.
In my case the city repaved the street and caused a dip at the driveway.
I haven't lowered mine due to this, but I plan to put some plastic pipe in the dip, then build a concrete ramp over it to make a smoother transition.

 

I scrap everwere I go . My air dam is .5in of the ground (coilovers). If its the air dam scraping you will be fine. Just as long the chassis or etc is not hitting the ground. Also get fangs like other members suggested.

 

One thing I didn't think of is that there were two of us in the car. 99% of the time it will only be me. So maybe it would even be less of an issue. Even with the tight suspension, the car probably settles down a bit lower with more weight in it.

I'm guessing hitting the radiator supports sounds and feels different than an air dam scrape?

 

YA THINK!?? Just kidding Bud. I have the identical car. I scrape my driveway frequently. I have contacted the skids only in a parking lot with those big abutments. ( which is why I back into spaces 90% of the time) Believe me, if you hit metal you will know it. I also scrape going into a local parking deck. The PO of my car had a steep driveway like you describe and no transition/apron at the street. He would go in/out at a crazy angle to avoid scraping. It doesn't hurt the car. I don't know how long you've been waiting, but I waited almost 50 years to get a car like this, and believe me, you will be grinning ALL the time and getting used to the scrape in no time. It's designed to do exactly what you saw in the manual.
btw, not such a dumb question!

 

Mount four skateboard wheels to front radiator supports, two on each side.

 

Will something like this work?

http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/...ortby=ourPicks