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Cons:
- Cost. You will likely take a decent depreciation hit on your current C7 to get into a Z and then another depreciation hit on the Z if you buy it new. Not knowing your financial situation the cost to get into a Z may not be a concern and money is not an issue.
- ZR1 is coming soon, so if money is not an issue you may want to go straight to that. If I was craving more horsepower I would likely go this route as you don't want to buy a Z06 and then regret not getting the ZR1.
- It might make sense to wait to buy a Z06 after the ZR1 is out because you know a pile of Z06 owners will dump their cars for the ZR1 and you might be able to find gently used Z06's at firessale prices.
- Other cons? Insurance will likely cost more. Maintenance will cost more (tires, oil, etc). Gas will cost more, etc The Z06 is probably not as good a daily driver as your current Stingray. Yes it is faster, but you will give up some ride quality.
Not trying to come off as negative, just giving you something to think about. Otherwise hell yes do it. Z06 is just more of what makes the Corvette such an amazing sports car.
Frankly, I enjoy my 2016 Z51, A8 loaded convertible. 460hp is way more than enough. The torque keeps me happy. Another big factor is, my wife enjoys driving the Stingray. Frankly, the Z06 would be too much for her to handle, and perhaps even me.
Thank you for your service.
U.S. Navy 1970-76. Hoorah!!
Chemdawg99, I'd be right there with ya' trading up to a Z06 however paying for a wedding reception took the wind out of the sails for a Z06 for me. Otherwise I'd be looking at the Z06 too. If you decide to stay with the Stingray, there's nothing wrong with that decision as these are great high performance sports cars, but the Z06 is something special.
Here's the newly weds:
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21
Originally Posted by thill444
Cons:
- Cost. You will likely take a decent depreciation hit on your current C7 to get into a Z and then another depreciation hit on the Z if you buy it new. Not knowing your financial situation the cost to get into a Z may not be a concern and money is not an issue.
- ZR1 is coming soon, so if money is not an issue you may want to go straight to that. If I was craving more horsepower I would likely go this route as you don't want to buy a Z06 and then regret not getting the ZR1.
- It might make sense to wait to buy a Z06 after the ZR1 is out because you know a pile of Z06 owners will dump their cars for the ZR1 and you might be able to find gently used Z06's at firessale prices.
- Other cons? Insurance will likely cost more. Maintenance will cost more (tires, oil, etc). Gas will cost more, etc The Z06 is probably not as good a daily driver as your current Stingray. Yes it is faster, but you will give up some ride quality.
Not trying to come off as negative, just giving you something to think about. Otherwise hell yes do it. Z06 is just more of what makes the Corvette such an amazing sports car.
Hi there.
Excellent points and I don't view them as negatives. I view your post as a very sober caveat and is greatly appreciated.
In the interest of full disclosure, I wasn't planning on buying a Z06 until about this time next year anyway and even then, I was planning museum delivery. Point being, this wasn't going to be an impulsive decision done quickly.
With your post in mind, I'd like to explore what the ZR-1 will be like, but that car would likely be more than I'd want to spend. I'd be better served waiting for people to upgrade to a ZR-1 and buying used. Wouldn't be the first time I scooped up a used Vette at fire sale prices. I got my previous C6 GS as a result of people trading up to the C7.
At any rate, thank you for the great post and sage perspective
Last edited by Chemdawg99; 06-22-2017 at 09:27 AM.
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21
Originally Posted by roadbike56
Chemdawg99, I'd be right there with ya' trading up to a Z06 however paying for a wedding reception took the wind out of the sails for a Z06 for me. Otherwise I'd be looking at the Z06 too. If you decide to stay with the Stingray, there's nothing wrong with that decision as these are great high performance sports cars, but the Z06 is something special.
Here's the newly weds:
I think your money was money well spent
Many things in life are far, far more important
Great point about the Stingray. It is a great performance car and I'm satisfied and willing to be patient on getting a Z. thill444 posted a few very sober points that I will be taking to heart.
I just did it! I am trading my 7 week old GS for an '18 Z06! The pros are obviously the 190+ HP and status of owning the most powerful Corvette ever built to date. The cons are also obvious as the base cost is $24,000 more than the Stingray and $14,000 more than the Grand Sport. Insurance and gas mileage will also be more with the Z06.
To me the pros outweigh the cons...buy what you really want and can afford and don't settle!
Last edited by Supersonic 427; 06-22-2017 at 09:36 AM.
I haven't felt the urge, which is weird for me because in the past I always wanted to upgrade to the top dog model. I've purchased many dozens of cars of all makes and models over the years, and averaged a new one about every 12-18 months. I bought one of the first C6 Z51s in 04, and one year later, I had one of the first 500 C6 Z06s.
I've also have a fair amount of track time, which taught me HP isn't everything, and you can have too much. I've seen good drivers humiliate amateur "super car" jockeys with hundreds less HP. For whatever reasons, I'm perfectly happy with my C7 Z51, which has been flawless, and haven't had the slightest urge to go up the C7 pecking order.
+1
i thought I would want more hp but truth be told my Z51 is more than enough performance. I rarely get to touch its performance limits and living in SF Bay Area the traffic is limiting as well. I'll happily stick with my beloved Laguna Blue Z51. It will be 4 in October and has 12k miles. I may get another sports car but will keep my Corvette always with no regrets about not having the top of the line.
oxymoron. buy new for you, its a treat, not a lets be rational and frugal and what would Consumer Reports do? decision
you are a 2 hr commute from summit point. if, after hitting your head against the wall for 20+ you jump right back in and do the washington crawl for another 20, then you need that 1. push pedal 2. instant go into two time zones simultaneously - escape that 650/650 will provide. Either that, or put a roller coaster in your back yard.
yeah, you can do summit point in your stingray, but you will always leave wondering what would 190 more hp in a stickier chassis feel like on that course?
Time of your life kid. don't think you have unlimited minutes.
That doesn't mean the Stingray isn't a great car - it is, and a powerful one too. But the Z is more. It's not just faster, it's brutal. Don't overreach financially, it's not worth the stress for some car parts, but if it's in your wheelhouse, do it.
My experience at Spring Mountain a couple weeks ago was all the verification I needed that my GS was more than adequate for me. I wasn't exactly lapping the instructor in his SS Camaro and even if I was in a Z06 the only thing that would be different is I'd be in the rocks. In my case the driver is the limiting factor to more speed and better cornering...not the car, so I'm good with where I am.
I have a 2016 Z06 A8 with 12,000 miles. It has never overheated( I haven't "tracked" the Z) in heavy traffic in 90 degree + Georgia heat. Zero problems with the 8speed auto. no problems what so ever with getting up to Highway speed from on ramp
Cons:
Takes much longer to get gas, people always come up to me while pumping gas wanting to ask questions and see under the hood and they always ask "how fast have you been in it"? answer is 55 Then they ask "can I take a picture of your car"? The answer is always, yes, of course you can.
Then there are the people that pull up beside you while driving and wave and give you the thumps up then you have to smile and give the thumbs up back.
The biggest Con of owning A Z06 is the pain!! Your face will hurt for DAYS after you have driven the car because of the ear to ear grin you get just starting the Z06 up
Bottom line, If you want a Z06 and you have the money to get one( without putting yourself in a financial bind) I say get a Z06. Life is short and you can't take the money with you when you die.
Best of luck to you
Last edited by Monkey D. Luffy; 06-22-2017 at 02:32 PM.
^^^ Yesterday I had a 16 year old boy come up to me in a target parking lot and ask me if he could take a picture of my Z06 I said yes of course but then he asked me if he could go for a ride in it with me I said NO OF COURSE!
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21
Originally Posted by TheVettePirate
CD
I have a 2016 Z06 A8 with 12,000 miles. It has never overheated( I haven't "tracked" the Z) in heavy traffic in 90 degree + Georgia heat. Zero problems with the 8speed auto. no problems what so ever with getting up to Highway speed from on ramp
Cons:
Takes much longer to get gas, people always come up to me while pumping gas wanting to ask questions and see under the hood and they always ask "how fast have you been in it"? answer is 55 Then they ask "can I take a picture of your car"? The answer is always, yes, of course you can.
Then there are the people that pull up beside you while driving and wave and give you the thumps up then you have to smile and give the thumbs up back.
The biggest Con of owning A Z06 is the pain!! Your face will hurt for DAYS after you have driven the car because of the ear to ear grin you get just starting the Z06 up
Bottom line, If you want a Z06 and you have the money to get one( without putting yourself in a financial bind) I say get a Z06. Life is short and you can't take the money with you when you die.
06-22-2017, 08:34 AM
I said NO OF COURSE!