Scissors

Jump start instructions for dummies and French Canadians:

Bwright

Good man. Great report.

I am particularly struck by the demand for power tops. In Corvette C6 by Phil Berg, the author notes that incomes and education levels for Corvette buyers shot up significantly when the C5 came out. I am reminded of just how strong this trend was and the degree to which it has continued when I hear that stat on C6 power tops. Considering that convertible buyers are already paying far and away the most of any current Corvette buyer and account for fully half of all Corvettes sold that is a simply stunning metric. They should simply make the option standard.

Further evidence of just how much GM now gets it is that they have gained enough confidence to really spend the money and charge accordingly for the new Z06. Aluminum frame, carbon fiber body panels, extensive use of magnesium and titanium etc. Judging from the legion of posts on the Viper, Porsche and Ferrari sites indicating just how many are now on the list for this amazing car GM will sell every last one.

Way to go GM. Way to go.

Scissors

Oh, I just remembered as I was thumbing through my pics. The C6 Z06 is a ULEV1 vehicle. Outdated low-tech pushrod technology my ***.

barondw

If it works who cares.

SteveJ

Yes, the C6 Z51 is about equivalent to the C5 Z06. See the folowing thread for reference:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...33&forum_id=74

I'm going nuts right now waiting for the Z06 price.

Miaugi

Great post!

Thanks Scissors!

Scissors

The point was the spelling. Thanks for missing the point completely.

666 Z06

What's "TRC"?

vetteship

Great write up... Did you get a chance to carefully look at the steering wheel and are the 9 and 3 o'clock spokes symetrical ?

Scissors

I meant to, but I forgot to.

I got a pic of this, though:

rockettc

I believe you but I wonder about Dave Hill. Didn't Corvette Quarterly test the C5 Z06 and the C6 at the track and the C6 was slightly slower? Haven't there been other tests? When Dave Hill said that the C6 "would not be as fast" at the 'Ring as the C5 Z06, shouldn't he have added "but it should be as fast" as the C5 Z06?

Oh well, Dave's comment that the C5 Z06 and the C6 have the same performance should create a couple more terabytes of forum debate.

Samas

Transportation Research Center in East Liberty, Ohio.

It's a 7.5 mile banked oval (140-mph "neutral speed") test track.

Tom Steele

He's said a couple of things about that, some of them contradictory. I believe you that he said it, but as an owner of both - I'm going to have to give an edge to the C5 Z06 vs C6 Z51.

Tom Steele

Well, I for one, would like Michelins on the car but they won't do that because they are furriners tires...

Scissors

It depends on the track, conditions, and driver. On a high-speed oval, for instance, the C5 Z06 simply can't win because it has a lower top speed. In some categories the C5 Z06 is better, and in others the C6 w/ Z51 is better. It's no secret that the C5 Z06 has a better power-to-weight ratio, but it's also no secret that the C6 has a much better F/R weight distribution.

And take a look at that other new thread about the stock C6 beating the stock C5 Z06es. If the difference is so great that the driver doesn't matter (as I've been told be several C5 Z06 guys), then how did that happen?

GM (and Dave Hill) have a history of saying one thing to avoid pissing off buyers, but then changing their story once the time has passed where saying such things is beneficial. C5 Z06es are no longer sold, so they no longer need to keep from pissing off C5 Z06 buyers. It's the same way with the CTS-V, where it has the same LS6 with a better exhaust system than the Z06 had, yet it was rated lower on paper. The truth is that the CTS-V was putting out more power than a Z06 (at the crank.)

jim482

Looks and sounds great in person....Can't wait to go for a ride in one...

Retired GM Engr

I could get a C6 Z51 for about 3 large plus my Z16. But, I ask "why?", when the new Z06 is such an improvement.
I'll continue to plan on keeping my Z16 until (and if) the C6 Z06 is available at GMS.
Thanks for the "confirming" info.

rbartick

I believe he said it, but he is contradicting himself and to make matters worse he is wrong. Maybe he is trying to appease the buyers of the C6 Z51.

08msmZ06

The C5 Z06 is history; he's trying to sell C6s now. That's why he now
says it's equal to the C5 Z06. Before the C6 was out he was trying to
make sure the remaining C5 Z06s got sold, so he said repeatedly that
the C5 Z06 was still a bit faster in all areas. The car magazine tests
have all said the C5 Z06 is still the "King" (ala Corvette Quarterly), but
in reality the C5 Z and C6 are so close it comes down to the driver.
They're both great cars in their own right.

Dr Octane

Thanks for the info!