Warning: a TL;DR post but hopefully interesting.

Some of you guys may have seen that I feel like the luckiest guy in the world right now because I was lucky to join the world of Vettes 15 months ago (‘17 Gs 3lt a8) and now I’m lucky to experience a second c7/ different model from the same model year (’17 z06 m7 1lz optioned with carbon ceramic and pdr). The Z has 650 miles on it so it just passed its breakin and dry sump oil change, but basically feels new to me.

While I had the two yellow Vettes parked side by side in the dealer (thanks Boardwalk Redwood City!) lot, waiting to make the exchange, I took the unique opportunity to do some real time “testing” of features and was wondering whether I’d miss changing from the previous better optioned auto vette to the more powerful manual vette. With the exteriors being pretty similar (although I noted the z seemed slightly lower to the ground even though it was stock- a manager’s car he gave back when he broke his leg and couldn’t drive the manual), it felt almost like a blinded taste test from the days of Coke vs Pepsi. As a separate experimental control, I had a chance to spend an hour sitting in a fully optioned New GS vert testing everything except for driving it (105k MSRP= 3lt+ heritage collector edition #245+ Gt seats + carbon effects package + z07+Premium spoiler + Jake premium wheel hubs + windscreen)

(i’m prepared to be absolutely roasted by the forum but who cares, it’s fun right?)

here are my initial impressions:
1. I mentioned the z06 seemed perceptibly lower to the ground. I’m missing the look of my side skirts.
2. I was surprised the 1lz leather is not that worse than the 3lt leather.. I used to be one of the people who gushed over Napa leather... now, wouldn’t notice it at all.
3. The 9 speaker Bose is perceptibly worse than the 10 speaker system but not lethally so. You have to change the equalizer settings you’re used to - a touch more forward/ less fade, etc. eventually I’ll need a sub to make “Trap Queen” sound like hip hop again.
4. I’m missing my ventilated seats a little and my visor garage control. I also noticed the seats don’t have lumbar adjustments or seat memory I’m used to.
5. Parking: I’m missing my forward cameras. I can no longer try to park an inch from the front curb. Right now I’m landing multiple feet away from the front curb.
6. The DRIVE: most importantly, this makes you forget the little things. It’s hard to differentiate getting back to a manual on top of the more powerful engine. (Opened the hood - sweet blower!)
People say you won’t be able to use the power fully on the Streets, which is true... but boy did I notice the kick from the line... it is so easy to go fast, I’ve lost everyone with moderate throttle from a stop sign by the time I reach 30 mph.
The carbon ceramic Brembo brakes feel familiarly linear but they are perceptibly better at stopping at little braking pressure.
Rev match works really well- it didnt take long to get used to not touching the throttle.
The shifter is short throw (much shorter than my bmw 3 series) and fun. I’m not used to the 7 speed yet and still missing some gears ( 3rd vs 5th, 4th vs 6th)
The clutch is just the right resistance to control precisely, though I’m still finding the engagement point.
Together, so far, going around the familiar curves near the dealership felt completely new and exciting.
Huge difference in the loudness of the sport exhaust- neighbors will be getting POed. I turn it to stealth mode when I get home and my wife chastises me for not getting the tricked out GS vert... I laugh joyously because she can’t drive a stick either way !!

no sadly no. I’m now stopping short of front curbs by a mile and running scared from near sighted looking old Asian women driving toward me slowly (some what racist but I’m Asian).

thanks bro I’m pretty stoked.

on the financials, Of course I took some hit.new luxury cars depreciate— but life is short right?! I paid for the optionality much like a short term lease...But altogether I’ll spend 100k over the lifetime getting the use of not one, but two, new Gs/z06 c7, minus whatever I recoup on the z06 if i sell it. If I bought a new 2010 Maserati gran turismo for $150k I’d only resell it 7 yrs later for 30k.

Btw, I feel like I got a decent deal on the Z (thanks Boardwalk)... this was 1lz but has PDR Nav and the carbon ceramic Brembo package. As optioned vs new car, my 600 miles car was 22% off MSRP. And my financing rate was 50 bips lower on this car than 15 months ago!

Thanks for the comparison and best of luck with the new Z.

Thanks for everyone’s comments.

day 3 impression: mag ride (maybe )
unless it’s my imagination the ride in Sport mode in the same year Z is smoother/ cushier than the same year GS 3lt.

Ive been hitting bumps on purpose on familiar roads on consecutive days (same road with GS day before and with Z now). Not sure why that is- weird- but it’s so noticeable that I prob won’t use Tour again except for exhaust dampening.

yes it must be the different engine note from the lt4. Unless someone else knows better.

So U have a Heritage- congrats.

I will say the #245 vert I saw was a beauty and very heavily optioned, maybe a bit too much (3lt, z07, carbon effects, comp seats, jake hubs).
i tried to make the argument to myself it would retain value...but at 120k (even with discount, plus taxes and financing), I wasn’t sure it was the next late 60’s L88 or ‘63 split window. For that $, there are too many other options to consider Unless u have to have that car. Perhaps others feel this way because it’s been sitting there since 12/2016.

thanks for taking the time with the detailed comments.

If u look at list of trim features, yes 1lz has th 8 way seats but u need 2lz to get the “lumbar/wing” support. I wouldn’t have known unless I had the c7 3lt before that this is a third control button on the seats- now I only have two I think.

Will have more pics from the wild- here’s a lame one in the garage for now


yeah I wondered abt that ...It was a long day over there with many customers in line so I didn’t push the issue but i’ll send them an email.

the answer could be the particular scenario I got the car under, which technically makes it used with 600miles.

it was the manager’s lease car (btw he has penchant for yellow which is why he is eyeing my trade in ‘17 GS 3lt A8 now)... it was at a dealership in Wyoming before being shipped to the california dealer with 62 miles... the manager leased it two months ago and got to drive it for 500 miles or so before he broke his left leg (no more m7 for him).. when I met him two days ago while I was doing the paperwork, I saw him in a brace and heard the whole story...Point is maybe he didn’t want the rockers, now I’m taking “ as is”... but maybe they help me because I’ve bought two Vettes from them in 15 months.

At my gym, the new girl next to a GTR in the parking lot.

I’m biased but no contest!!