DarthStig

Hi guys,

I'm looking into getting my first Corvette since it's pretty much the only Chevy I haven't owned. Now I'm a speed freak and I'm pretty well versed in building cars and working on them myself. I've got a '70 Chevelle N/A with just over 700 whp I built from the ground up. And I'm starting to get into track days so I'm of course looking for the best bang for the buck with these C7 Corvettes. I'm buying used since well, a 120k for a Z06 seems a little ridiculous to me. I'm not saying it's worth it, or that the car isn't a steal to beat 458's and R8 V10's; it's just personally I can't spend that kind of cash on a car. Don't hate on me, it's just I haven't spent over 50k on a car to date... call it being thrifty and staying on speaking terms with my wife.

So here's what I know:
The Z06 looks better and has more than just the 200+hp engine going for it.
Both cars can come with the upgraded suspension and Z07 brake package.
The Z06 has wider and better tires (plus an inch on either side in the wheel well to make up for it) so it looks more agressive and better.

But is it worth the extra 30k-ish if you can get the same hp with a 10k aftermarket supercharger?

That's a considerable chunk of change for limited amounts of return. Am I missing 20 grand worth of extras? I may miss out on some limited badging or clear taillights but performance wise? Looks to me it'll be the same or darn near the exact same.

MikeLsx

first off a base Z06 goes for 80k, now put a few options and you are still under 100k.

The only way I would ever buy a base c7 and add a supercharger instead of buying a Z06 is if i didnt care about the GM warranty.

I prefer to drive my cars hard, and sleep well at night knowing GM has my back .

you dont have to be on this forum long to see the boosted engine failures, and the 15-20k bills to fix them.

C8Jake

you want a warranty?

matt3310

I bought a Z51 and added a supercharger. Very happy with it! If I did it all over again I'd do it the same way.

dvilin

Used C7 add the supercharger and you should be a happy camper.

BlueDevilZ51

I'm looking to buy an Edelbrock E Force, stage 2 super charger in a few months. It has a 3 year full power train warranty and makes 590RWHP. I'll be installing it myself and the kit comes in around $7000.
If money wasn't an issue I would very much consider just buying a Zo6. In my case I brought a 15, Z51 and I can get to Zo6 performance so I'll just add the SC.

ovrebo1

hahahahaha

DickieDoo

Z06 represents and entire package of hardware and not just a supercharger. When you start boosting something, you'll find you might need upgrades everywhere else. So if i was doing it.. i would go for a Z06.

blown81bu

I have a 2016 z51 ..I added 3 mods
Procharger 8lbs lower than 9 a z06 has
meth kit
arh headers w cats
10.4@135
same day other z06s were racing 10.8 -10.9@ 129
0 heating issues and sounds like a jet airplane lol

meth adds for a safer combo also

ZEEEE06

new 2016 Z06s are available for $76k, maybe less. With that you get full factory warranty.

blown81bu

With not many options ..u can get a fully loaded stingray bottom 60s...thats 100k in z form but u do get the wide body

MikeLsx

Thats just not true at all, you can get a 3LT Z06 for 90 grand.

How many people here actually even bought a 3LT Z51 corvette?

The only reason you see Z06s reaching 100k is because of the Z07 package.

People that talk up the price of a Z06 are simply trying to justify buying a used Z06 OR buying a non Z06.

I dont even own a Z06 by the way.

DAFFYDRUNK

If you're willing to eat the power train warranty, why not a wide body GS to mod? Might be a fun project...

spinkick

How about a grandsport and go to katek and get the 427 they are working on? 750hp no extra heat

skvette

Added the E-Force Supercharger to my 2015 Z51 and love it. Warranty is important to me also. Stage 2 gives me plenty of power and looks good too.

///ADMAN

Bill Dearborn

The Z51 is a well sorted stock package and the Z06 is a well sorted stock package. However, power isn't everything when it comes to performance. The extra things you get when you have the Z06 give you more performance. If you are a drag racer then go with the Z51 and a supercharger since power is your only performance measure. You don't care about stopping or turning.

Now if you are getting into track events then the added features of the Z06 performance package become self evident. Why do you think GM is offering a number of Z06 items as performance upgrades through GMPP for the Z51 Road Racing Program? It might be they make a better car. However, you don't get everything.

Go with the Z06 get everything that comes on the car and enjoy a truly great track car with a warranty. Or you could get a GS and have almost everything but the engine. Then add your supercharger and have a pseudo Z06 without a warranty.

Guess which ones have the better resale value when you want to get a new car? I will give you a hint, it isn't the modified cars.

Bill

TommyV

Well, the OP did state that he was looking at a used Stingray and some of the SC's come with a 3/36 warranty. I do agree about the resale value.

To the OP, if you don't care about the wide body, get a used Stingray and slap on the Edelbrock.

solarstingray

its a no brainer a z06, 5 year waranty, and all the z06 body parts also,

Nosferatu

The Z51 is an impressive track car as well but it's in the shadows compared to the Z06.

If you care about straight line power alone don't buy a Z06. Just boost the C7. Honestly, even cheaper would be a boosted C6. Lighter car, more proven design (LS3 has been around way longer than the LT1 has). For less than 40K parts labor installed you could boost and meth inject a C6....and have circular tail lights

Lastly, be ready for no traction (or a compromised street tire in an attempt to get some traction). IMO 500ish RWHP is the sweet spot for RWD. I was well north of 600 and it was an exercise of patience on the throttle to keep the car pointed straight.