Hi guys,

I'm sitting here not so patiently waiting for my gs to be delivered. I think this wait might be worse than the museum delivery wait! Anyways, I was thinking about all the things I want to do when I get the car. Most of them I have done before but one thing I want to try is to hit the top speed of the car. I believe I've read around 190 which is pretty quick.

I was thinking how cool it would be to take the car to a super speedway and do a few laps. From what I can tell though Daytona doesn't have open track days. I'm not to sure about talledega. I was also thinking about the airport events where they close down the runway for a day and give everyone a chance to run full out.

So, does anyone have any recommendations? Also, how much length would I need to hit top speed and decelerate again? Can the stock tires take the speed? This is unfamiliar territory but it's on that list of mine.

Thanks guys!

Pat

 

Due to lower gearing I think the GS tops out in the 170s. Due to the gearing the GS was able to go around VIR almost as quickly as the Z06.

 

Silver State Classic?

 

I thought it was around 182-183mph.

 

Be careful above 165. You might feel the front end want to "float" just a little bit. That will most certainly get your attention very quickly and the IMMEDIATE reaction should be to just ease off the gas pedal. Only to be done on an appropriate track under professional supervision.

 

82 mph at 2K rpm in 6th, and redline is at 6.5K. Do the math . Yes, the GS has lower gearing than the regular Vette, but only slightly less. It's still ultra tall, especially compared to European cars. But I like that . And don't get fooled by thinking its lower gearing achieves a higher top speed; it does NOT. Added aerodynamic drag can't overcome the lower gearing, and it gives 2 mph to the coupe. Convertibles are an additional 6 mph slower.

Anyway, a magazine (forgot which) just listed the '12 GS top speed at 190, but I bet it's just a mathematical calculation under ideal conditions (sea level, low humidity, cool weather, etc). And no way you're going to hit that on a typical airport runway. And yes, top speed is achieved in 5th gear. You'd either need a lot of ***** to attempt that on a flat and desolated public road in excellent shape , or on a banked oval racetrack where you can go flat out at that speed (Indianapolis Motor Speedway?). I've been a passenger at that speed on a Lambo on an arrow straight desolated TX road (one of the few advantages of living in the desert )... but I don't have the intention of doing that myself .

 

The only major car magazine to quote an actual top speed for the GS was Car and Driver back in 2010, when they said it topped out at 182 MPH, here:

http://media.caranddriver.com/files/...e-cayman-s.pdf

 

Just checked the magazine, and it's Road & Track that listed 190. They featured all Centennial Edition Vettes on their April 2012 issue. And just listed those results on their May 2012 issue, which I just got. Several numbers improved, but top speed is the same 190, although on the April issue says it was 'electronically limited' . It was removed on the May issue. The 0-60/0-100 times improved, probably due to the new G2 tires, which are 'extreme summer', vs the 'max summer' F1s.

My question is if they actually achieved those speeds, or are just mathematically calculated. I suspect the latter .

Finally, top speed is going to vary dramatically depending where and how you measure it. A 250-lb driver and passenger with a full tank of gas in Colorado is going to have dramatically different results than a 150-lb driver with 1/4 tank at sea level .

 

Did Road and Track actually test it, or are they just repeating what GM says is the top speed of the base C6? Undoubtedly, the GS is going to have a lower top speed because it has both larger frontal area and worse coefficient of drag, being .342 versus .286.

I read an article some time ago by one of Car and Driver's tech editors on how they measure top speed. They actually don't get all the way to top speed, but by running flat out near top speed, in opposite directions on the same road, they get acceleration curves and apply a curve-matching algorithm that has been shown to be accurate within a very small amount, like a MPH or so. Otherwise, it would take five or more miles for a car to reach top speed and besides, anything happening at that speed, like a tire going out, would be excessively dangerous.

As far as I have read, of the major magazines, Car and Driver and MotorTrend do the most comprehensive vehicle testing.

 

I'll leave the top speed runs to the magazines 140mph is fast enough for me.

 

Break it in first....

 

I have read that the GS has different gearing inthe trans but this is the first I have seen it has a different final ratio.

anyone know what the final rear ratio is?

 

An A6 GS has 2.73 gears; an A6 coupe(or vert) has 2.56 gears. Not sure about the M6.

 

You can do a Hooked on Driving event on the Daytona Speedway. This year it will be the weekend of Dec 8. No verts allowed. A stock Z06 will hit 165 crossing the start finish line, before braking to turn left into the infield course. A GS LS3 should hit ~150-152 MPH.

Every May, the Vettes4Vets rents the Talladega Super Speedway for "parade" laps around the track. I hit 162 MPH down the backstretch in my Z06 and BEZ06 hit 168 in his ZR1. The fastest LS3 I saw hit 151. Verts welcome. All speeds GPS verified.

There are some events where they close off public roads and you can run in the unlimited class and can top out your car. The Big Bend event in Texas is one, that runs on a section of around 95 miles. The problem is that to run in the unlimited class, you have to install a full roll cage plus other safety stuff. The fastest class with a roll bar is 165 top speed, and I think to run without a roll bar, you are limited to around 135 MPH.

With the mile runs, a stock Z06 will hit around 170-172 MPH so I suspect a GS LS3 would hit around 155 MPH(maybe, as I don't recall seeing any times for a stock LS3 C6 on a mile).

Only one track in the US where you could possibly hit your top speed and that is a private oval that is 4 miles in length with very wide corners with very high banking. It is in Ohio, but I doubt if you have the pull(resources) to get on that track.

 

some speeds in different gears...

C5/C6 A4 w/2.73, in 3rd gear=189 MPH(theoretical)

C5/C6 A4 w/3.15 gears, in 3rd gear=164 MPH

C6 A6 w/2.56 gears, in 4th gear=175 MPH

C6 A6 w/2.73 in 4th gear=164 MPH

C5/C6 M6 w/3.42 gear in 4th gear=150 MPH (base, Z51 & GS)

C6 Z06 M6 w/3.42 gear in 4th gear=162 MPH

 

I can vouch for that. The power difference between 7500' of elevation, where I live, and almost sea level, where my mother lives is amazing.

 

This kinda stinks! Not that I'd be able to do it, but let's pretend I could close down 16R/34L at DIA. Would 16,000 feet get us pretty close? I know all about the density altitude problems but it would be fun to do! I don't want to do the run on a public street. No point in going to jail or risking someone else's life if something goes wrong. I am surprised though that after a mile the top speed of the car would only be 150.

I travel to Germany for work a lot and just this last trip we went 150 for about 30 minutes straight in a 335i.

 

As far as the elevation and less air equaling less power, wouldn't there also be less drag on the car........riddle me that..
Probably not enough to combat the lack of oxygen but it might off set it a little.

I would think a 16,000' runway at 5,430' of elevation at DIA would get you a pretty good top speed. Surely if you asked nicely they would let you do it

 

Break it in and then take it to Bonneville.

No matter where you attempt a top speed run, be sure you first have plenty of life insurance.

 

There will be a 1.5 mile standing start event this year at the Mojave Mile, but even 1.5 miles will not be long enough to hit Vmax. In a stock C6 Z06, when you shift into 5th at 160+ MPH there is a dramatic RPM drop. You can hit those speeds fairly easily in a standing one mile event with a Z06 (mid 160's to low 170's), but I'm guessing a 1.5 miler would only give you room to hit high 170's in a Z06....you're covering SO much ground at those speeds you just plain run out of room.

To get into the 190's is going to take 3+ miles of acceleration, IMHO....that's well over 15,000 feet and longer than most runway's. And that doesn't take into consideration your stopping distance.