Looking for a new toy, and have a couple 2008 Corvettes at the top of the list right now. But I'm having a hell of a time deciding between the two:

1. AOM Z06 with 3LZ and nav

2. Black convertible with 4LT, magnetic ride, automatic, nav, chrome wheels, ie ALL the bells and whistles.

The problem is I want a Z06, but am used to having a convertible and it's REAL hard deciding to do without another one. Since I can't have both, I'm stuck in this purgatory of indecision *L*. I've been doing LOTS of research and reading on here, but haven't seen anything yet to sway me conclusively one way or the other. There is a price difference of course, and far be it from me to say cost is no issue, but it's not a critical one here.

So if you have any tidbit of uncommon info regarding one or the other, or anything someone who's gone through the same quandary, would like to share, it would be much appreciated!

TIA!

 

Both are great choices depends if you want more ponies or if you like to let your hair blow in the breeze.

 

I went through a similar situation, I chose the Black Z06.
It's hard to keep clean but looks great when it is. The wide body was a major reason of why I chose the Z06. And of coarse the HP didn't hurt! any.
Things I miss:
Removable top.
Electric pass seat.
Ipod Jack (I have nav)
Auto close hatch.
AUTOMATIC (Shifting sucks in traffic)
Ride quality.

Just my 2 cents worth,
Tim

 

That's a choice only you can answer. The Z06's capabilites are mostly a waste on the street. You really need to get on track and run some HPDEs to appreciate it's power/gearing. The car has a fat torque curve and very long gearing so it's not "fun" on the street. Wind out 1st and 2nd and you're at "go to jail" speed. I compare this to something like a Boxster S where I can ring out the first 3 gears all day long and throw it through onramps etc. and have more "fun" on the street. Z06 is the superior performer, but there are cars with more "fun factor" for purely street driving.

The loaded C6 vert w/ the slushbox would be a great DD, but I've nver driven the A6 w/ paddles. I have driven Jaguars, Porsches, and Audis (I sell them) with them and don't love them. The new double clutch setup in the '09 911 is incredible, but that's a whole different ballgame than a shifted automatic.

If I were in the market right now I'd get a JSB vert w/ F55 and a manual trans. But have a Panoz GTRA for a track toy. If my needs were different and I wanted 1 car to do it all I'd get a C6Z.

IMO, if it's not a race car the top should go down or come out as you can only go so fast so often on the street.

 

Please go with the AO Z06!

The black Vette looks good but...its only black.The AO would look so much better plus ITS A Z06!

 

How do you intend to use the car...solely for pleasure driving...any competitive events? Remember, you can always modify a C6 convertible. A C6 will never be a Z06 but you can modify one to out perform a Z06 if you want.

 

Sound's about right. I miss those things too. I don't track my car and I'll sadly never know it's true potential (like those Porsche Turbo/Ferrari/Lambo owners).

Now, that being said, when I legally mash the pedal and, shall we say, stretch the legs, it really is a different world. Also, the number of flattering comments from other people is almost unbearable. Almost.

Red Cell.

 

easy choice....the only advantage that the Z has is at the track with its power, et cetera....if you are looking for a car for the track (and that is more than once a year) go with the Z. If you are looking for something that you drive on the street 95% of the time go for the other one...

It is really as simple as that...don't get caught up in the hype and get a Z, just to say you have a Z....

 

I had very similar issues when I was looking for a C6. The Z06 takes performance to another level. I like the removeable top of the C6 coupe and ended up with a 2008 AOM C6. The LS3 is definitely not short on power and still fun to drive. Also, the like the Magnetic Selective Ride. This is another option not found on the Z06. It comes down to what features you like the best.

 

Exactly! I'd wager that many Z owers get them just to say they have them.

I got mine back in '03 because I got into HPDEs and for the money there was no better track car than a C5Z06.

Now that my needs have changed I've toned the car down some and cut the roof out.

 

Thanks for the input everyone. A little more info on use that I should have included origionally; car will be a daily driver other than winter storage. I don't live in a large population area, so no heavy traffic and no issues with using a manual trans as a DD, as I've done so in the past. Once upon a time I'd live and die for the dragstrip, and have also dabbled in autox. These days, maybe a couple times a year I'll see the track and that's it. Modifications - I've heavily modded cars in the past, again for track use, but that desire has faded a bit too. What I want now is a car that will comfortably do 12's as is out of the box. My previous car (an AMG SLK55, also a convertible and with a slushbox) ran very consistently 12.7 to 12.8 at 110-111 traps. What to 'vert A6 LS3's run anyway? I know what the Z06 can do, but haven't found any results for a bone stock drop top A6 LS3.

 

I considered the Z06 when I went looking for a car but I knew I would miss removing the top and not having an auto (I have a bad hip). I knew that I would rarely feel the power difference so I went with the coupe. If you want Z06 power but with a Vert, Callaway is an option for about the same price as a Z06.

 

If you are not going to use that extra power in the Z and a track is about it as far as really using its HP than I would go for the Convertible. It will have all the power you need, all the options you could want and of course top down driving.

 

Well Said!!

 

Couldn't have said it better. Unless you are going to go to the track, you won't use the full horsepower of either car. You will have better cornering in the Z but again, where are you going to use it. It would seem your choice is fixed roof vs. wind. You can't make a wrong choice.

 

You can't go wrong with either one. If you want top down driving, then you should go with the vert. If you want more power, and a track ready car from the factory, go with the Z06. Both are excellent choices.

 

I'd go with a vert, and add a supercharger to it. That way you get to have the top down and have the power of a Z