Which Model????????
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 8,244
Likes: 850
From: Hamilton Square NJ, Ocean City N. J. Key Biscayne Fla.
Couldn't have said it any better. Widebody, big brakes/tires, hood scoop, brake ducts, all the way. 
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 41,732
Likes: 1,718
From: Springfield MO
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 2,106
From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
But that means 30% are interested in those attributes.
When Z06 sales dropped to only 4%, it became apparent that power wasn't the biggest appeal.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 41,732
Likes: 1,718
From: Springfield MO
)? True that Z06 sales dropped, big time, but the GS is a Z51 on steriods. People still wanted performance mixed with style. ZR1 one sales didn't drop as much as the Z06, but for 2011, the Z06 production jumped 76%.
Last edited by JoesC5; Aug 23, 2011 at 09:06 AM.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
I want to thank all of you for honest answers: Please don' stop!!!!
1) Spent three days at Bondurant in a Zo6,I almost bought one (2010), but raised the the concerns mentioned in my blog.
2) Had a 2000 coupe auto Just didn't do it for me
3) Had a couple hot cars in the 60's
4) I live in the midwest so winters are a problem --Probably store it
5) this car WILL NOT be a garage queen
6) fortunately money is not a problem
7) A loaded GS seems to fit the bill
One other question no one seems to answer: What about road and/or exhaust noise? Can you hold a descent conversation Don't tell me to buy a Cadilac!!
Again thanks in advance Jim
1) Spent three days at Bondurant in a Zo6,I almost bought one (2010), but raised the the concerns mentioned in my blog.
2) Had a 2000 coupe auto Just didn't do it for me
3) Had a couple hot cars in the 60's
4) I live in the midwest so winters are a problem --Probably store it
5) this car WILL NOT be a garage queen
6) fortunately money is not a problem
7) A loaded GS seems to fit the bill
One other question no one seems to answer: What about road and/or exhaust noise? Can you hold a descent conversation Don't tell me to buy a Cadilac!!
Again thanks in advance Jim
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 35,617
Likes: 167
Tech Contributor
Cruise-In 11 Veteran
NCM Ambassador
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'10
I want to thank all of you for honest answers: Please don' stop!!!!
1) Spent three days at Bondurant in a Zo6,I almost bought one (2010), but raised the the concerns mentioned in my blog.
2) Had a 2000 coupe auto Just didn't do it for me
3) Had a couple hot cars in the 60's
4) I live in the midwest so winters are a problem --Probably store it
5) this car WILL NOT be a garage queen
6) fortunately money is not a problem
7) A loaded GS seems to fit the bill
One other question no one seems to answer: What about road and/or exhaust noise? Can you hold a descent conversation Don't tell me to buy a Cadilac!!
Again thanks in advance Jim
1) Spent three days at Bondurant in a Zo6,I almost bought one (2010), but raised the the concerns mentioned in my blog.
2) Had a 2000 coupe auto Just didn't do it for me
3) Had a couple hot cars in the 60's
4) I live in the midwest so winters are a problem --Probably store it
5) this car WILL NOT be a garage queen
6) fortunately money is not a problem
7) A loaded GS seems to fit the bill
One other question no one seems to answer: What about road and/or exhaust noise? Can you hold a descent conversation Don't tell me to buy a Cadilac!!
Again thanks in advance Jim
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
I want to thank all of you for honest answers: Please don' stop!!!!
1) Spent three days at Bondurant in a Zo6,I almost bought one (2010), but raised the the concerns mentioned in my blog.
2) Had a 2000 coupe auto Just didn't do it for me
3) Had a couple hot cars in the 60's
4) I live in the midwest so winters are a problem --Probably store it
5) this car WILL NOT be a garage queen
6) fortunately money is not a problem
7) A loaded GS seems to fit the bill
One other question no one seems to answer: What about road and/or exhaust noise? Can you hold a descent conversation Don't tell me to buy a Cadilac!!
Again thanks in advance Jim
1) Spent three days at Bondurant in a Zo6,I almost bought one (2010), but raised the the concerns mentioned in my blog.
2) Had a 2000 coupe auto Just didn't do it for me
3) Had a couple hot cars in the 60's
4) I live in the midwest so winters are a problem --Probably store it
5) this car WILL NOT be a garage queen
6) fortunately money is not a problem
7) A loaded GS seems to fit the bill
One other question no one seems to answer: What about road and/or exhaust noise? Can you hold a descent conversation Don't tell me to buy a Cadilac!!
Again thanks in advance Jim
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 6,350
Likes: 273
From: Hoschton Georgia
Here's my 02 cents.
OEM tires do get noisey as they wear. Since funds are not a problem, Michelin can solve that problem for you. Personally I'd stay with run flats since it's going to be used on trips. Brakes on a GS or Z06 produce a lot of dust. Here again, there are some great after market brakes for street cars that do away with the dust problem.
I had no long distance travel problems with my 09 Z06 but my 2LZ did not have a passenger power seat. This did bother the wife at times on long trips. This too can be corrected with a 3LZ.
Best of luck.
OEM tires do get noisey as they wear. Since funds are not a problem, Michelin can solve that problem for you. Personally I'd stay with run flats since it's going to be used on trips. Brakes on a GS or Z06 produce a lot of dust. Here again, there are some great after market brakes for street cars that do away with the dust problem.
I had no long distance travel problems with my 09 Z06 but my 2LZ did not have a passenger power seat. This did bother the wife at times on long trips. This too can be corrected with a 3LZ.
Best of luck.
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 45,267
Likes: 8,542
From: Rochester, NY
For best tire wear and long trip, GT comfort, look at a base model with F55 suspension and the J55 (formerly Z51 pkg) brakes.
Next step up would be a Grand Sport with F55 and it already has BIG brakes and wheels and faster wearing tires.
Z06 would be my last choice for trippin'.
Next step up would be a Grand Sport with F55 and it already has BIG brakes and wheels and faster wearing tires.
Z06 would be my last choice for trippin'.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 41,732
Likes: 1,718
From: Springfield MO
Here's my 02 cents.
OEM tires do get noisey as they wear. Since funds are not a problem, Michelin can solve that problem for you. Personally I'd stay with run flats since it's going to be used on trips. Brakes on a GS or Z06 produce a lot of dust. Here again, there are some great after market brakes for street cars that do away with the dust problem.
I had no long distance travel problems with my 09 Z06 but my 2LZ did not have a passenger power seat. This did bother the wife at times on long trips. This too can be corrected with a 3LZ.
Best of luck.
OEM tires do get noisey as they wear. Since funds are not a problem, Michelin can solve that problem for you. Personally I'd stay with run flats since it's going to be used on trips. Brakes on a GS or Z06 produce a lot of dust. Here again, there are some great after market brakes for street cars that do away with the dust problem.
I had no long distance travel problems with my 09 Z06 but my 2LZ did not have a passenger power seat. This did bother the wife at times on long trips. This too can be corrected with a 3LZ.
Best of luck.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 41,732
Likes: 1,718
From: Springfield MO
For best tire wear and long trip, GT comfort, look at a base model with F55 suspension and the J55 (formerly Z51 pkg) brakes.
Next step up would be a Grand Sport with F55 and it already has BIG brakes and wheels and faster wearing tires.
Z06 would be my last choice for trippin'.
Next step up would be a Grand Sport with F55 and it already has BIG brakes and wheels and faster wearing tires.
Z06 would be my last choice for trippin'.
Rick,
Have you driven a Grand Sport on a long trip? Have you driven a Z06 on a long trip? Or are you jumping on the Z06 hater wagon because you don't own one?
Go Canes!
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,975
Likes: 329
From: Boca Raton FL
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21
Any of the Corvette models with stock exhaust will not prevent you from listening to the radio or having a conversation and there is no drone from the OEM exhaust system to prevent conversation or induce fatigue on a long trip. Convertibles are probably a little more quiet on the road then a coupe with the top up. Less area behind the driver to echo road noise but a coupe is just fine. I've done several thousand plus mile trips in my coupe with my wife and never found it to be an issue.
Stock exhaust is quiet. The NPP will growl a bit once open, but without headers or a cam, it is still relatively quiet. The Goodyears are a bit noisy, and changing the tires to something else maybe be in order.
I haven't driven a coupe, so I cannot comment on the difference between the convertible and the coupe. I would imagine that contrary to what was said above that the convertible is a bit louder than the coupe?
No matter, because that slight difference should not be your deciding factor of a coupe to vert! That is personal preference. Good luck on your choice!
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 12,122
Likes: 418
From: Cold Hell, Minnesota...for now
St. Jude Donor '15 thru '26
I have the M2W. I have my switch set to Wild all the time. Done a few long distance runs now, and have had no issues with conversations.
Even talking on the phone is no problem.
Even talking on the phone is no problem.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 19,459
Likes: 48
From: Schaumburg IL
CI 7-8-9-11 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
I have even replaced some of the disc's in my back from taking a couple of 2-3 hour trips. Car is just brutal.. I totally regret buying it..
My radio also jumps stations on it;s own the car rides so rough dam GM. If I take a quick trip to the store , I often have to drink one of those 5 hour energy drinks cuz my Z just "wears me out"
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 8,506
Likes: 5
From: West Michigan crew Mich
CI 7-8-9 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07-'08 & '12
First, Have you ever taken a Z on a long road trip?
Second, If you have did the Z have the runflat tires on it?
The reason I ask is everybody on this forum knows the stock runflats are very hard and noisy. My Z has non runflats and the ride is very smooth and quiet. My wife says my car rides better than my c5 coupe and that was a pretty good ride. The Z gets beat up pretty good because of its ride but really the tires have a lot to do with that. I have heard base and GS people even change the tires for better ride and noise. Like I said before I am crazy but I like taking my on road trips it does everything a base and GS will do
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,681
Likes: 2
From: Mooresville (Race City USA) NC
Your exactly right! For most buyers it is all about looks and image, and hasn't got a damn thing to do with being practical, comfortable, or buying the best handling vehicle for the everyday roads on which they drive exclusively. The magnetic adjustible suspension option, although standard on the ZR1 and virtually every supercar on the road today, doesn't sell all that well where it is an electable option, certainly not as well as CHROME wheels, or vinyl stripes on fenders. The majority of Vette buyers also choose an automatic torque conveter transmission over a standard transmission when given the option, even though the Corvette is supposed to be a sports car. What does THAT tell you?
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 25,013
Likes: 79
From: Manitoba/San Jose del Cabo
Cruise-In III Veteran
St. Jude Donor '11
Your exactly right! For most buyers it is all about looks and image, and hasn't got a damn thing to do with being practical, comfortable, or buying the best handling vehicle for the everyday roads on which they drive exclusively. The magnetic adjustible suspension option, although standard on the ZR1 and virtually every supercar on the road today, doesn't sell all that well where it is an electable option, certainly not as well as CHROME wheels, or vinyl stripes on fenders. The majority of Vette buyers also choose an automatic torque conveter transmission over a standard transmission when given the option, even though the Corvette is supposed to be a sports car. What does THAT tell you?
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 12,122
Likes: 418
From: Cold Hell, Minnesota...for now
St. Jude Donor '15 thru '26
Your exactly right! For most buyers it is all about looks and image, and hasn't got a damn thing to do with being practical, comfortable, or buying the best handling vehicle for the everyday roads on which they drive exclusively. The magnetic adjustible suspension option, although standard on the ZR1 and virtually every supercar on the road today, doesn't sell all that well where it is an electable option, certainly not as well as CHROME wheels, or vinyl stripes on fenders. The majority of Vette buyers also choose an automatic torque conveter transmission over a standard transmission when given the option, even though the Corvette is supposed to be a sports car. What does THAT tell you?
No stats on your "majority" claims? 