GS vs Stingray
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 7,079
Likes: 1,922
From: DFW, Tejas!
The revs weren't high, and the clutch wasn't dropped or dumped. It was popped zealously, and no more than 1/2 throttle was engaged. Regardless, it overcame the TC, which I never disengage. Not into street racing - so it's not going to be an issue at speed. Caution is advised nonetheless.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 347
Likes: 119
From: Henderson NV
I'm a past president of LVCA, Las Vegas Corvette Association. Oldest club in LV, lots of members. Currently, I'm in BCC, Blackjack Corvette Club, and am the Events Coordinator. Smaller club, 10 years old. Swing on by PT's at Ranch Pebble and Eastern on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM. My name is Dan, introduce yourself, and see if we are for you...
http://www.blackjackcorvettes.com
Last edited by DanZR1; Jun 20, 2018 at 09:09 PM.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 572
Likes: 101
You’ll notice a difference moving to a Z51 and/or the GS. However, since you’ve already owned a Stingray, go for the GS. You may regret getting “the same car” twice.
Last edited by airforcex; Jun 20, 2018 at 09:34 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,216
Likes: 285
From: Ten Mile TN
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 14,492
Likes: 549
From: Dallas, TX
I think the point I was making got lost. To the degree that traction control and stability controls work, my guess is that they are tuned and capable for the chassis and HP of the regular Vettes and thus leaves Z06s in a more precarious situation.
Last edited by pdiddy972; Jun 21, 2018 at 11:25 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 13,602
Likes: 12,865
From: Virginia
In my opinion, MOST Definitely. I wouldn't want a "kit" over a factory Grandsport. It's got to be quite expensive to convert to a wide-body
and you would most likely never get your money out of it. Probably lower the value of your Stingray by adding a wide-body kit.
and you would most likely never get your money out of it. Probably lower the value of your Stingray by adding a wide-body kit.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 24,129
Likes: 1,038
From: The Beautiful Pacific Northwest
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09, '14-'15-'16-'17-'18
In my opinion, MOST Definitely. I wouldn't want a "kit" over a factory Grandsport. It's got to be quite expensive to convert to a wide-body
and you would most likely never get your money out of it. Probably lower the value of your Stingray by adding a wide-body kit.
and you would most likely never get your money out of it. Probably lower the value of your Stingray by adding a wide-body kit.
I wonder if anyone has done a cost analysis on trade-in vs. kit conversion.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 304
Likes: 115
I went from a 2014 Z51 (A6) to a 2016 Zo6 (A8). The wide body vette (Zo6, GS, and now ZR1) absolutely require skirts/flaps and should get paint protection. You will other wise sand blast your rear quarters and rocker panels with the wider and potentially sticker front tires. You will also probably not fit on track of any car wash. Our local hand washes here all use a track, even if the actually washing is done by people with mitts. These may be small points and not matter to you, but just worth being aware of as an owner.
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Instructor
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 140
Likes: 48
From: Las Vegas NV
St. Jude Donor '17
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 7,382
Likes: 3,501
From: Lake Havasu City Arizona
I agree. The GS and Z06 are only 3.5 inches wider. But I do like that flare of the window fender wells. To hear a lot of owners of those two models they sometimes make it seem 18 inches wider! But, again, I do like that look.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 32,146
Likes: 4,619
Some guys like the '60s Cobra look of huge outward bound wheel well flared fenders. That GS & ZO6 look with the Jeep inspired black fenders look somewhat grotesque to some.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 16,671
Likes: 7,738
From: NJ
Can't agree with the above. The C7 was hottest looking vette I ever laid eyes on..... then the widebody came out and like with the C6, it's a game changer....
having said that? For as often as I use my Z06? I wouldn't be upset to own a base C7. Only when parked next to a widebody C7.
the GS through my insurance company was same rate and price as a base. The Z06 was 40% more and considered an "exotic"
it still burns me up that I pay that much extra coverage for the Z06. I really believe (unless a hp junkie) the GS is the sweet spot in terms of value for a Corvette fanatic.
having said that? For as often as I use my Z06? I wouldn't be upset to own a base C7. Only when parked next to a widebody C7.
the GS through my insurance company was same rate and price as a base. The Z06 was 40% more and considered an "exotic"
it still burns me up that I pay that much extra coverage for the Z06. I really believe (unless a hp junkie) the GS is the sweet spot in terms of value for a Corvette fanatic.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 395
Likes: 136
From: Goldens bridge NY
When i bought my ZO6 last March the Grand sports were just released and the discounts on them were not nearly as much as the ZO6. The difference in price was only like 4K so i went with the ZO6. Don't know if they are discounting the grand sports more this year?
Racer
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 395
Likes: 136
From: Goldens bridge NY
Can't agree with the above. The C7 was hottest looking vette I ever laid eyes on..... then the widebody came out and like with the C6, it's a game changer....
having said that? For as often as I use my Z06? I wouldn't be upset to own a base C7. Only when parked next to a widebody C7.
the GS through my insurance company was same rate and price as a base. The Z06 was 40% more and considered an "exotic"
it still burns me up that I pay that much extra coverage for the Z06. I really believe (unless a hp junkie) the GS is the sweet spot in terms of value for a Corvette fanatic.
having said that? For as often as I use my Z06? I wouldn't be upset to own a base C7. Only when parked next to a widebody C7.
the GS through my insurance company was same rate and price as a base. The Z06 was 40% more and considered an "exotic"
it still burns me up that I pay that much extra coverage for the Z06. I really believe (unless a hp junkie) the GS is the sweet spot in terms of value for a Corvette fanatic.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,486
Likes: 1,659
From: Las Vegas NV
Seems to me that the only reason one would buy a 'kit' is if they'd bought a Z51 before the GS was in production. They may regret having bought a Z51 and would have gotten a GS had it been available at the time. And, the bottom line is that it'd be more expensive to sell the Stingray or trade it in on a GS than it would be to buy a kit and do the conversion, as expensive as that might be.
I wonder if anyone has done a cost analysis on trade-in vs. kit conversion.
I wonder if anyone has done a cost analysis on trade-in vs. kit conversion.
Cost difference? Buying a new/used C7 outright, I'd definitely go for the GS. However, trade-in is a different story. Last time I checked, it would cost me about $5000 for me to do a widebooty conversion on my 2014 Stingray, but over $15,000+ to trade up to a GS. That's a $10,000 difference. To me, that's a LOT of extra cash.
Yeah, you're also getting bigger brakes on the GS but for street use, the Z51 brakes are plenty. And yes, the future value of the GS is always going to beat the Stingray. But for initial cash outlay, it is very pricey to trade up.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 32,146
Likes: 4,619
It's impossible to downplay the ZO6' 650 hp, and impossible to quantify it's bump+ up in price, especially when you couldn't afford one new in the first place. Better to stay in a lowly GS, with it's base-powerplant,, for them.
Drifting
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 1,429
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From: LOS ANGELES CA
I pay less for the corvette than I do for the subaru.. I'm pretty sure that makes no sense but it's all arbitrary to 1000' conditions
0 tickets, accidents, violations.
=California gotta love to hate it. That's per year btw.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 13,602
Likes: 12,865
From: Virginia
Just like the C6, a COMPLETE (front and rear) C7 widebody conversion is very pricey, but you can do a 'widebooty' conversion (just the rear fenders) very easily and reasonably. Using the rocker adapters from ACS, it's pretty much an afternoon of unbolt Stingray & reattach Z06/GS rear panels and you're done. The rear body is (to me) by far the best part of GS/Z06 appearance.
Cost difference? Buying a new/used C7 outright, I'd definitely go for the GS. However, trade-in is a different story. Last time I checked, it would cost me about $5000 for me to do a widebooty conversion on my 2014 Stingray, but over $15,000+ to trade up to a GS. That's a $10,000 difference. To me, that's a LOT of extra cash.
Yeah, you're also getting bigger brakes on the GS but for street use, the Z51 brakes are plenty. And yes, the future value of the GS is always going to beat the Stingray. But for initial cash outlay, it is very pricey to trade up.
Cost difference? Buying a new/used C7 outright, I'd definitely go for the GS. However, trade-in is a different story. Last time I checked, it would cost me about $5000 for me to do a widebooty conversion on my 2014 Stingray, but over $15,000+ to trade up to a GS. That's a $10,000 difference. To me, that's a LOT of extra cash.
Yeah, you're also getting bigger brakes on the GS but for street use, the Z51 brakes are plenty. And yes, the future value of the GS is always going to beat the Stingray. But for initial cash outlay, it is very pricey to trade up.
Last edited by Kevin A Jones; Jun 22, 2018 at 01:30 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,048
Likes: 300
From: FL
But then in addition to the bigger brakes, for GS's extra $10,000 you're getting Z06 style grill; front splitter; rocker skirts, wickerbill rear spoiler; GS CUP-style wheels; Michelin super-sport summer only tires (P285/30ZR19” front, P33525ZR20” rear); Magnetic Ride Control and Electronic Limited-slip differential; NPP exhaust, Dry-sump oil system; Rear differential cooler; transmission cooler. And not only is the future value of the GS always going to beat the Stingray, but adding a wide-body 'kit' is most likely going to diminish a Stingray's value.
If I were buying today I would look at it like this.
- Base Stingray 1LT with NPP = under $50k. Unbelievable performance bargain. Arguably makes for the best daily driver.
- Grand Sport 1LT = ~$60k. Best bang for the buck if you want/need all the track hardware or just gotta have the wide body look.
- Z06 - $$$ price doesn’t matter. Paying for the horsepower, torque and quicker lap times.
- ZR1 - $$$ price doesn’t matter. Paying for the top dog Corvette. Be careful with those airbags though. :-o
Last edited by falcon5619; Jun 22, 2018 at 08:39 AM.