DoctorV8

I assume you aren't aiming those comments at me....

vette6799

Excuse me, but JAS was the one who took this thing to a personal level. It seems like he is capable of defending himself without your assistance.

My comments merely reflect what I, a lot of other folks, and much of the motoring press feel about certain aspects of the ZR1. For what it is worth, I have never said the ZR1 is anything except a great car, but one which could be improved upon. If you disagree, you are entitled to your opinion. If you like that lovely little opening in the hood, again, enjoy it.

I have owned a slew of vettes dating back into the '60's and have a Z06. Same criticism, except my car was 50K less. Your comment about the waiting list but for the economy going into the toilet and causing ZR1 sales to be slow is speculative at best. I don't believe the corvette fan base would support more than the 2K cars originally intended or GM would have planned for more production. The jump from a Z06 to a ZR1 is huge in terms of cost. Even before the crash, Z06 sales had started dropping significantly. This is where the ZR1 market would largely have come from, but the market was decimated by used Z06 values, even assuming that most Z06 owners could afford a 120K car, something I don't happen to believe. Even the Z06 market was going south in a hurry even before the fall of 2008 - August of '08, before things hit the fan, there were almost 2000 Z06's and over 8,000 vettes on dealer lots. To me, that suggests market saturation. You are now six years into the C6, which unlike the C5, was very evolutionary. It is time for something new. The economy, obviously, didn't help, but maybe the demand simply wasn't there in the numbers you suggest. Per Jeffhardy, there are 118 cars available as of this morning, in a brightening economy, and with BG largely on furlow.

Kyle Lemish

No....not at all pointed at you......Pointed toward the one that was touting that one domestic car company didn't need bailout funds!

rideintothesun

I am just curious, is it true GM used plastic to build the rear/front fender and trunk for the zr1.

I watched a top gear episode and they seem to think all of the zr-1 is made out of plastic, I thought the rear/front fender and trunk for the zr-1 were magnesium?

Can any zr-1 owner or zr-1 Guru shed any light on this please?

jvp

The C5 Corvette introduced the widespread use of the plastic: SMC for its body panels. The C6 continues its use. The ZR1 is no different. It has some body panels (front fenders, roof panel, rocker panels) that are carbon fiber. The rest of the car's body is SMC.

Underneath the SMC and carbon fiber is where the aluminum and magnesium live.

jas

rideintothesun

Thanks for the info jvp

Howydo

I believe the front and rear fenders, roof, rocker panel extensions, hood and much of the floor is made of carbon fiber. The engine cradle is magnesium and the chassis aluminim. The trunk, rear and front bumpers as well as the doors are plastic. The ZR1 is much different in composition. Then a regular corvette.

30YR W8T

"Why the ZR1 looks like old technology"
Okay think about this for a minute; 638 HP and 600 ft. lbs. of torque in a production vehicle that has a manufacturers warranty. Contrary to popular belief, there is some serious technology in this car. Life time rotors, Six and four piston calipers, Mag ride, Launch control, Active handling, Carbon fiber all over it, Dry Sump oiling system, Magnesium cradles, Diff cooler, True six speed trans, Dual clutch, and back to just power numbers (most powerful American car ever made) this is a 200 mph car that you can take a cross country and back trip in. I wonder if folks do that in the Lambo's, Ferrari's, Aston Martin's, etc. Yes there are a lot of cars out there making this kind of power and may go faster than a ZR1, but I doubt seriously that 99% of the owners would be willing take a several thousand mile coast to coast trip in one. You could do that in the ZR1. I am sorry but it took some state of the art technology to produce a 200+ mph American made car that can take on the world’s best costing 3 and 4 times the price. Now I bet if GM had asked about $25K more, they could have put a lamb skin leather interior, wool carpet, aluminum interior bits and pieces and even a titanium exhaust.

dietrich

I have an SMG gearbox in my BMW M6. It is ok when you are in M mode and drive fast but it is a bit jerky at low speeds in non-M mode especially when the car has not warmed up yet. Overall I would prefer a manual to SMG.

But .. SMG is now old technology compared to DCT gearbox in the latest M3. DCT is much better and although I have not driven this new Porsche the PDK transmission is also I think going to be very good. With these latest paddle shift I think they are finally getting better than a manual gearbox and unfortunately the manual gearbox may be disappearing pretty soon from most high performance cars. I don't know if Porsche would dare put one in the GT3 or Lotus in an Elise though (for examples) so I think at least some manuals will still be around.

zeshawn

DCT transmissions, well I was impressed by those honestly. In a friends Carrera S, you CANNOT tell when the car is shifting, its smoother than an auto, barely has any lag during shifts and is pure insane.

One day vettes will have DCT's and infact pretty soon i shall guess.

REMIX

At the end of the day, the ZR1 is 3+ year old tech. Certain parts are older than that (rotors). That's eons in automotive technology. The nice thing about the Porsche and other manufacturers nipping at its heels is it will keep GM thinking on its feet.

I like the ZR1 and everything it stands for, but it really needs to evolve a little (DCT as per above poster, possibly AWD, better interior materials, etc). Those things should be exclusive to the ZR1 and would also help separate it from the Z06 which, IMO, is the best bargain in the Corvette line.

RMX

REMIX

Ferrari has eliminated manuals on the upcoming 458.

RMX

vette6799

It has been replaced with a 50 ms seven speed DCT

http://www.thefirstpost.co.uk/56071,...ari-458-italia

From C6ZO62C8

Yes it would be nice for a tru automated trans, faster on a road course, AWD to take advantage of the power, but this car still out performs many super cars and is a challenge to drive.

The most important things is it can be driven daily and take a beating on the track and drive home, not many exotics can make that claim.

tripwrL68400hp

You know what? Who give a sh*t. I would not trade my ZR1 for another car. I looked at all the imports even a Ford GT40,,,and this car works for me period so I bought it and I have zero regrets,,,end of story,,,(if you want to know more see my post under the " What do you like best about the ZR1)

Jorday

I've never really thought about the ZR1 looking like old technology. Might have been because I was too busy beating the crap out of pretty much every other car being discussed in this thread.

ole

Anyway, when you drive your ZR1 you should be proud of what GM was able to produce at a reasonable cost that now gets compared to all the "exotic" super cars out there. Also, any time you are in it and are driving around....just look around you and see if you can spot anything remotely in your performance category. Chances are, you will not. Besides, other than bragging rights around your friend circle what does it matter that a newer car came out that could "beat" yours? Unless you track them and do it for $$ I don't see what it matters. You press the fun pedal and hold on.

How true

NytmereZ

I'm sorry I would never buy a sports car that I couldnt slam the gears on. While I agree that something should be done to the Body of the ZR1 that would set it apart from the others more, you have to remember its a sports car you can cut its ***** off with to much plush on the inside, it has enough already. If you want that, buy a Caddy. I quote the late John Lingenfelter when he said, "Just give me an engine a body and a shifter" There is nothing wrong with the interior, people who want to roadrace the car can easily have the bolsters stuffed with more padding.

Jorday

Agree, if you can't drive a ZR1 or a viper for that matter because it isn't "nice enough" inside your man card should be suspended.

Zlicious

I don't know what the BCN some of the people on here are talking about, but I agree with the above poster..