Garrett W

I had a 2Lz Z06 for about year and recently purchased a 3LZ Z07.

Handling / Tires: I am used to taking onramps and other turns I am very familiar with in my Z06 at certain speeds. Recently driving the Z07 makes me realize how vastly superior the handling on the Z07 really is. In the Z06 I can feel the car start hitting it's peak and am hesitant to push it anymore. When taking the same turns in the Z07, I am able to push it significantly harder. The sport mode is fantastic but the touring mode is also awesome. There are certain bumps and bad parts of the road around my hometown which I have to slow down for. When in the touring mode, it feels more like a luxury sedan gliding over the bumps opposed to me being used to lifting my a$$ up in anticipation for the rough road. Accelerating out of turns is far superior in the Z07 due to the sticker / wider tires and suspension. The car grips much better and really uses the power more efficiently.

Braking: There really is a dramatic difference. The Z07 simply gives you more confidence in stopping the vehicle. The brakes are just straight godly. I feel safer in the Z07 than I thought imaginable. It stops in situations with ease where the Z06 may struggle to come to a halt in time.

Carbon fiber roof, front splitter, side skirts, Zr1 wheels / Spoiler: When lined up next to the Z06, the Z07 just looks lower, meaner, and wider. Alone with the black roof, black side skirts, black splitter, and comp gray Zr1 wheels, it just gives it a much sportier look.

Off topic 2LZ vs 3LZ: I am not sure if the leather, stitching, etc in the 3LZ is worth the price difference, but it does give you a more luxurious feeling

Overall: I switch between these two cars just about daily, and it is almost dangerous to get comfortable in the Z07 and then jump in the Z06. You expect the Z06 to perform as the Z07 does and it simply cannot. The Z06 just seems to be a have a lot looser feel while the Z07 feels like it is just attached to the pavement. Between the handling, braking and tires, the Z07 really is able to use a lot more of the 505hp in all situations. For the price, IDK if the Z07 is worth THAT much more, due to price being subjective. It is hard to put a price tag on sheer performance. But for me in my financial situation, I would not change my decision in a second. The Z07 is a straight beast.

tonypittman

Good review.

redzone

So there's a big difference in stopping power? Interesting,and I'm not doubting you,but I was under the impression that the biggest advantage of CF brakes was fade.

JoesC5

Tires make a big difference. Put the Michelin PS2's on the Z06(as thousands have done) and it will feel much more secure in the twisties and straight line acceleration and also braking. Even the runner up Bridgestone's will make the OE Goodyear's seem like dog poopie.

I get the feeling you are dissing the Z06 when you should be dissing the Goodyear tires that are OE on the base Z06.

GMuffley

I wish the Z07 option was available when I bought my Z in 2007.

Hirohawa

HyperX

it's 90% tires, 8% brakes and 2% everything else. Get those Michelin's on your Z06, and you will have a feel of Z07. However, GM marketing may disagree.

agentf1

rfopt

Garret SNA,

Does the Z07 Z06 give the impression of having a little less body roll and being sharper when twitching the steering wheel in general.

Z07 Ed

I have the Z07 package on a 2011, having sold a 2006 Z,which had Michelin,s on. The first thing I noticed driving the back roads from Bowling Green to Florida was the ride over railroad tracks in all the small towns,way smoother. Brakes and the ultimate handling of the car,that I won,t find out till this October at Roebling Road.
If you have watched the the last run of the 2012 ZR1 and the 2012 Z06 at Nuremberg,the Z06 with the Z07 package was only 3 sec's slower than the ZR1. Same GM driver and the same tires. My take on that is, since both cars had the same tires, that suspension and brakes being the same,the same driver but the Z06 giving up a 125 HP deficit just shows how important brakes, downforce and suspension are. It's just not the tires.

Roidz

Nice write-up.

PhysiPhile

Extrapolating from a ZR1 and a Z07 race to a Z06 and a Z07 race is a tenuous comparison. You would need to compare a Z06 with Michelins against a Z07.

OP - Do you know the increase in lateral g's you were able to obtain and still feel comfortable when going from the Z06 to the Z07?

AirBusPilot

Runner up? Says who?

1 BAD BURB

So why not pit better pads (carbotech), better tires, and better suspension in a z06... For under 5-6k! Then would this car would be a better driver compared to the z07?

Or are we comparing stock to stock, bc if so, you cannot swap tires on an oem z06.

The comparisons can go on and on, but we need to compare apples to apples.

Just my thoughts, but I agree, the z07 is leaps and bounds compared to a z06. But, with the aftermarket, a z06 can be made to compete with those of the z07/zr1. It's just $$$.

Aj

HyperX

Are those Michelins even available yet?

JoesC5

I say that in jest as most people rave about the Michelin PS2's. I suspect that many of those same people have never driven a Z06, much less one with either Michelins or Bridgestones. They read that the ZR1 and the Z07 have the Michelin and then repeat what they have read.

I have the Bridgestones on my Z06 and am 99% happy with them. I do believe that the Michelins might be a tad better then the Bridgestones, but since I don't drive my Z06 at 10/10 100% of the time, I'm happy with my 99% Bridgestones.

JoesC5

The Michelin tires that come on the 2011 Z07 are the same Michelin tires that have been on the ZR1 since 2009. They are available. If you are thinking the Michelin Cup tires that are new to the 2012 Z07 and optional on the 2012 ZR1, I don't think they are available yet, but not entirely sure of that.

LTVN68

I'll be interested to hear the wear statistics on the cup tires. Motortrend review of the 2012 speaks highly of them.......but includes that their wear rating is 86.

Keith N

I believe the Michelin tires on the 2011 Z07 and ZR1 are the PS2 ZP (run flats). They have a 220 treadwear rating. IMO - They are very good tires and a big improvement over the older Goodyear run flats.

Z07 Ed

Thread wear on the Cups is 080. That means they will last only about a third of the miles.