93LT1

checkur6

100%. If you have money to burn and are planning to track the car consistently, a Z06 is your best buy in sports cars. BUT....., if you're looking for a car that will be driven only on the street, or only occasionally seeing the track, save the 20 or 30K and get a well appointed Z51. It's a very satisfying alternative.

RonnieC6Z

I have a 3LT Z51 Sting Ray convertible on order. MSRP is $81,615.00. I configured a Z06 with the same options (3LZ, competition seats, yellow stitching & calipers, carbon dash, etc) and the difference in price taking into consideration the discount I am getting on the Sting Ray and the difference in sales tax comes out to 30K. Since the car is my daily driver and never sees the track, I can not see the point of spending an extra 30K.
(plus the difference in fuel, maintenance, and insurance costs).

george vee

Yolo

C7/Z06 Man

Just took my Z06 to the track this last Friday, got in one run which was a 10.68, not bad but in a conversation at the local barber shop Saturday a young female barber asked me if that was my corvette that she saw on the road a few days ago (it was), the reason she asked me was she got a glimpse of the driver and thought it was me.

She said that car is "gorgeous" and tried to get up close but could not so she took a photo from the back, to hear her talk you would think she was comparing it to the best looking man she had ever seen; and the man lost!

scrmeagle

They are both awesome. I just got the Z51 3LT A8 and it is absolutely incredible. Compliments I get are overwhelming. Get what you want. It's your life, make it good.

MSG C5

Off topic, but what kind of nose cover is that in your avatar photo?

bearphoto

The average person will not know or appreciate what a Z06 is. Bang for the buck, there is no comparison to the Corvette or the Z06. I sold my C6 Z06 and bought a new 14 (at the time) Stingray. The C6 had a lot more room in the driver seat than the C7 does however I love the looks of the new C7's. For me though I would not buy another Z06 unless I won the lottery.

I dont race them, track them or beat them up. I am a spirited driver though but the Stingray is more power than I need.

C7/Z06 Man

Stock with the Stage 1 front splitter removed because it would not clear my driveway entrance.




PS: After removal, I like it. I think it makes the car look leaner and meaner.



But added side skirts, to keep the rocks at bay.

AUTO_X_AL

I understand. That's why you sell in a different market or sell to someone who is selling in a different market. Also, online auctions attract buyers and dealers nationwide.

markmott

Suns_PSD

I'm in the process of buying a used C6 Z51 with some very smart mods but it's NA, and that's important as I track cars. This was what I would consider as far as the C7 Z51 versus Z06 debate.

There are a few realities to consider:

- Even if you live near good empty canyon roads, there is precious little room to exercise 400+ rwhp. and going straight is pretty boring for the most part.

- Most people that can afford these cars, probably understand the consequences of getting a 25mph over ticket or God forbid being the cause of an accident that is deadly for others. When I was younger I had no sense and nothing too lose and drove the crap out of everything I ever owned. Thankfully the things with 4 wheels were all slow.

- Track driving, get real. Sorry but I destroyed (passed, easily) too many Z06s and GT3s while driving dialed in Hyundais and Miatas to EVER believe that more than .1% of the population can make use of 650 hp. The reality is that on the tight confines of most tracks 300hp in a dialed car is enough to turn very, very fast lap times.

- FI (Forced Induction) sucks. It generates so much heat and adds notable weight. If you do some street rolls with an FI car you will find by the 3rd pull that the Fi car has lost a lot of speed where-as the NA vehicle hasn't. These Supercharged engine generate a ton of heat, wear out tires like crazy, are hard to control (did you hear Top Gears very accurate description of the Z06?) making them hard to get out of the turns, they are heavier, and eventually, even an OEM built one, will blow up as they always do at the tracks.

- Unless your Vette is your daily driver (single guy, maybe 1 grown kid?, no home) it's a toy. You can't haul anything but bimbos and KFC home in it. which means it's a HUGE waste of resources. IMO, the cost of a Vette as a toy should represent a small % of your income or net wealth. So $20K extra is a lot of money to anyone that is making less than $350K per year imo.

- I think there are a lot of people here that just assume the C7 Z06 is a better track car than a Z51. I think they have not a clue. Except for drag strips, I'd 10x over rather turn fast lap times with a well dialed in C7 Z51 over the C7 Z06. It would be less money, you would get much closer to your personal limits (still not to the limits of the car), and it would be a more reliable product for you in the long run.

That's my position on it. I'd have to be VERY wealthy to buy a Z06 over a Z51. Like. I'm pissing away money cause I can wealthy.

CaryBob

Well, I had a 2015 C7 Z51 for a few months while I was waiting for my 2015 Z06 to be built and I can assure you that the torque difference is quite noticeable. One car is way quicker than the other. However, if you want a daily driver that isn't tracked, the only justification for the $30K price differential of the Z06 is purely emotional. Unless you have the cash to burn, stick to the Z51, which is a fantastic driving machine.

Both cars are tons of fun. But I agree that both cars are toys that you buy because you can afford to play with toys.

MSG C5

Thanks. The shadow on your avatar photo made it look like you had a Novistretch or some other cover.

MSG C5

All good points. In the end, if you keep the car 5 years, the difference in cost is $333 per month to cover a $20K price gap and $500 per month to cover a $30K price gap. If the Z06 is worth that much, go for it. In looking at my driving routine and if history serves, I'm not sure if I want to spend an extra $333-$500 each month for bragging rights, although I would certainly enjoy it!

VictorBarron

My 2015 Z06 is the most sexiest and performance minded car I have ever owned for the money.

tail_lights

From someone who has gone from a base to a Z06 back to a base.... Yes! Don't get me wrong the base C7 I have now is sweet and plenty fast, but the Z06 was something else. I am already counting pennies to try and get back in a Z.

C7/Z06 Man

Forum should make the side pics larger.

Here's my take on, to Z06 or not:

1) What's this stuff about never really being able to use all the power, I could use "MORE" going down the drag strip or even on a long straight at a road course "AND" on the street if "you" are that type of person. I know I don't like looking at tail lights, do you? I like showing them.

2) Money, if you can afford it and you wantsss it, then you getsss it.

To all of you that show a good business sense. REMEMBER, YOU ONLY GO AROUND ONCE IN THIS LIFETIME and what is money for anyway?

ilivas

I agree. The base c7 doesn't have enough of a hp rush as I like which is why I had to mod the crap out of it. I sometimes wish I bought the z06 initially and modded that instead.

15Stingray

I am amazed how many people stop and comment on my Stingray
And I have owned 3 of the former generation Z06s C5s and C6 and never had the response as much as my 15 Stingray.
And in my opinion my 15 A8 with the Z-51 package matches my 2008 Z06 and is more fun. Also, they ain't disounting Z06s in my area like they will a Stingray so you are really taking 25k-30k more for a Z06.
But to each his own I'd rather put the difference towards another toy to drive.