ElCid79

I have been on track with z51s. They absolutely get WALKED by the z06. They are both fabulous cars, but the z06 is much much faster. It's a matter of what you want personally. But anyone who claims there isn't a performance difference is sorely mistook.

NiteriderFRC

Ill say that people enjoy their cars for plenty of different reasons. Some see or feel 650hp is overkill, some believe its not enough. I enjoy trowing the car harder into corners and being able to control the car. 460hp is plenty to get u in trouble. If i could afford the step up hell id do it!

ExRedRacer

Almost 200 extra horses would tend to do that....and I don't recall anyone claiming there's little or no difference in the performance between the two.

BelchfireV8

Traded my 15 Z51 for a 16 Z06. Love the power, sound, brakes, and handling.

themonk

exactly, it was just like in the early days of the C7 and people wondering if the Z51 was worth buying over the non-Z51. IMO I would get the baddest and fastest that you can afford and have ZERO regrets.

Maxie2U

Personally I love everything about the Z06 body style and wider tires but not keen on the HP that's why I think the GS is the best of both worlds.

desmophile

If I didn't want to take the Z to the track and spend some time/money with coaching to learn how to drive it, I would choose the Stingray. Beautiful car, plenty performance for the street.
Haven't meet a cute chick yet that could tell the difference.
(except my SO, that is why I have her)
But then I also have a Ducati 1199 that will walk my Z06 in the quarter or any straight on a track. We go to the track frequently.
Best Performance Deal:
Stingray
Ducati 1299
$5000 to learn how to use them both.

Foosh

Just curious . . . are the tracks you're talking about 1/4 mile straight lines or do they have lots of left and right curves in them over 2 miles?

sunsalem

Many do...and I wouldn't argue otherwise.

rbartick

Huh? This is bad advise. You chould have purchased a base C6 or C6 GS instead of your C6Z and then modded it after the warranty expired.

woodsguy

Your 5000$ to learn to drive them might be the best money spent!

AttyVette

I will keep my 2014 Stingray (non z51) and not buy a z06- but then again, I don't track my 'Vette nor, as the old saying gives..."drive it like I stole it" either. To each their own -- I love my Vette like it is but if you want more power, then the z06 is what you should buy.

aerobaticflyer

When I decided to go with the GS one of the factors I considered when not going with the Z06 was the supercharger. To my way of thinking something turning that kind of RPM's, over time, would become a problematic issue and potentially high repair / replacement cost. I plan to keep the GS a long time (yeah I know most of us think that until the shiny new object appears!). Should that have been a concern based on experienced Z06 owners?

I have no regrets on my decision and love my GS but I also have no doubt the Z would increase the fun factor some degree. FWIW the cost of the Z was not really a big factor in my decision.

JoesC5

Huh?

I purchased my 2009 C6 Z06 on July 28, 2008. There was no GS on July 28, 2008 and I didn't like the narrow body base C6's weak styling, so a base C6 W/WO Z51 was out of the question.

A supercharged base C6 W/WO Z51 was not in the cards for me.

What I did get with my C6 Z06 was a fixed roof, huge brakes, wide wheel/tires, lightweight aluminum frame and carbon fiber and magnesium components that were not used on the base C6 W/WO Z51. I then picked up more horsepower, 505 from 427 cu in, that wasn't available on the base C6 W/WO Z51 with it's 400/430/436 HP.

But there was another choice in July 28, 2008. I could have paid another $25,000+ for a ZR1 that had the aluminum frame, fixed roof, huge brakes, carbon fiber and magnesium components, wide wheels/tires but with the supercharged 638 HP engine that was not available in the C6 Z06. A friend purchased new C6 ZR1 a couple of months after I purchased my C6 Z06(and he paid a $20,000 "market adjustment"). Side by side, his ZR1 was quicker than my C6 Z06, but not by that much. My lighter weight plus my lower gearing helped negate some of the 133 horses he had over me.

As I suggested, I had the same option back when my powertrain warranty ran out in 2013. I could install an E-Force supercharger for 657 HP and I would have lower gearing that the C6 Z06 has that the C6 ZR1 does not have.

So, I would end up spending less money for a C6 Z06 with less weight(even after the E-Force supercharger installation), lower gearing and more horsepower(and way better gas mileage to boot) than buying an off the shelf 2009 C6 ZR1 that weighs more, has less horsepower, and gets way less gas mileage than a modified C6 Z06 with an E-Force.

I was thinking long and hard about the E-Force in 2013 for my C6 Z06, but age( I was 71 years old back then) and continuing poor health put that purchase on the back burner. A much younger person(like maybe the OP) would not be facing that challenge.

I don't need 657 horsepower(with the stock Edelbrock very conservative tune and low boost) at age 75(2017), as I don't drive my car at 160+ MPH anymore. Believe me though, when I put my foot in it(as I do occasionally), my C6 Z06 accelerates, even with it's puny 505+ HP(I have higher flowing aftermarket heads and a tune that was installed two days after my warranty ran out).

village idiot

Best mod I ever did my C6 was buying a track Miata. My Corvette got substantially faster around the track with this one cheap trick!

sbmike

I traded a Stingray in for a LT3 2016 Z06 because I really wanted it and could afford it. I have not regretted my decision for one minute as attested to by the grin on my face every time I drive it.
Regarding the comment about it being an expensive paper weight, perhaps that is accurate for some, but to me it is no different than buying a super high end Italian hand-made shotgun ($30,000+) with no intention whatsoever of actually shooting it. Instead it is put on display or in many cases, just taken out of a gun safe a few times a year to look at it or show it to someone else. Yes, the shotgun retains its value and may even increase over many years but to me it's a tool, just like the Corvette (and, no, I do not own a $30,000 shotgun! ). Of course, my situation, likes/dislikes and financial position differ from many others on this forum as theirs do from mine. Remember, "you are unique, just like everybody else". I'm happy, but that's just me.

txapezl1

Carbon Ceramic Brakes. Nuff said. Saved my life. Literally. Of course, my evasive driving skills helped, but it was do or die and those brakes saved my ***. I will forever love my Z06.

DogTag-C7R

explain exactly why you can't trade in a z06 to me please?

JoesC5

Carbon Ceramic brakes are not standard equipment on the Z06. They are an expensive option and also an option on the Grand Sport.

JoesC5

You can trade a Z06 but there is less initial cost with the base StingRay and less depreciation(in dollars) with the base StingRay when you do trade.