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Been driving sticks all my life until I bought my '23Z06 this past July. Got on the MacMulkin wait list way back when everyone thought the car would be TT. The car is awesome, with 3 very big caveats, for me at least. First, C8Zs are expensive...My car was only $105k after point rebate, but I'm just not comfortable driving/owning a 6 figure car and trusting GM dealers to work on it. Second, I really like the DCT, but it still is not as engaging as a third pedal and, as I tend to be the type to keep cars I like for a long time, I don't trust the DCT to age well. Third, unless you're at WOT, the LT6 sounds like $hit, especially at idle. I realize these are all subjective variables and others may feel entirely different, but I was bothered enough that about 2 months ago I bought an '18Z (stick, 1LZ w/PDR, 6k miles) thinking I would drive both over the next several months and likely eventually sell one of them. I know this thread would suck without photos, so here they are:
It's really nice to be back in a stick, and I've already added an AWE Track axle back exhaust. Everything else on the car is stock and it will stay that way. Will be selling the C8Z in the next couple of months.
Last edited by SharkDiverZ06; 12-20-2023 at 04:28 PM.
I am with you M7 guys, I tried to like the C8, just couldn't live without a manual, so I spent about the same amount of many as a C8 Z would have cost and bought a 2019 ZR1, now I have a pair of the last of the C7, manuals, a C7 Z06 & the C7 ZR1, I guess a always be a low end torque push rod engine driver.
Don’t blame you. I wouldn’t trade my c7z for 2 c8z’s. They sound awful.
Yeah, I'd seen a C8Z before I bought mine, but had never heard one in person...Really disappointing...And it wasn't just me, neighbors, friends, family, everyone that weighed in had a negative opinion. "That doesn't sound like a Vette", or "Your other Vette sounded a lot better". I'm not one to generally give a flip about the opinions of others, but it's tough when you agree with them. Overall still happy I got to own and drive a C8Z for a while...But mostly just happy to be back in an OHV stick that cost significantly less than the C8Z.
Yeah, I'd seen a C8Z before I bought mine, but had never heard one in person...Really disappointing...And it wasn't just me, neighbors, friends, family, everyone that weighed in had a negative opinion. "That doesn't sound like a Vette", or "Your other Vette sounded a lot better". I'm not one to generally give a flip about the opinions of others, but it's tough when you agree with them. Overall still happy I got to own and drive a C8Z for a while...But mostly just happy to be back in an OHV stick that cost significantly less than the C8Z.
it’s tough to beat the sound of an ls/lt motor. Add headers and a cam? Forget about it! Music to my ears
glad you were able to find a c7 that checks all the boxes for you
I have owned a 2021 C8 Stingray Z51 for almost three years and a 2019 C7 Z06/A8 since last July. I track the C7. I enjoy driving both, but if I had to get rid of one it would be the C8.
The Z06 has much more power over a much broader range and I feel like I can work on it (oil, brakes, tires, etc).
it’s tough to beat the sound of an ls/lt motor. Add headers and a cam? Forget about it! Music to my ears
glad you were able to find a c7 that checks all the boxes for you
Yup...My last Vette had headers, GESI cats, cam, intake and exhaust...It was glorious.
I have owned a 2021 C8 Stingray Z51 for almost three years and a 2019 C7 Z06/A8 since last July. I track the C7. I enjoy driving both, but if I had to get rid of one it would be the C8.
The Z06 has much more power over a much broader range and I feel like I can work on it (oil, brakes, tires, etc).
Agreed, and everything for the C8 seems to be so much more expensive.
Yup...My last Vette had headers, GESI cats, cam, intake and exhaust...It was glorious.
no reason you can’t go down that road again
is it safe to assume your last car was shark gray? My 15 is shark gray. Not cammed yet, but hopefully at some point if I can ever find someone to tune it somewhat local
For as long as I'm able to drive them, I'll own nothing but 3-pedal vehicles. Having taken a road trip with friends who own a new C8Z, I completely concur with your take on its sound. I've always preferred traditional American V8 sounds over those of flat-plane crank power plants. For all the time and money GM supposedly put into the C8Z's sound, I expected something much better. Even my non-gearhead wife commented on how much better our C7Z sounds! Moreover, I find the LT4's low-end grunt preferable to the LT6's high-end bias.
well its good u were able to experience c8 Z first hand and were able to make a decision to go c7 Z.
Im assuming you were able to make a profit actually selling C8 Z? so overall doest seem to be a bad deal to be able to drive it around for a few months.
congrats again!
Certainly a hot take. I understand the C8s are expensive, especially the Z. Also understand wanting to drive a manual. But this is the first i have read someone complaining about the sound of a C8 Z. I have only heard them on YT and never in person....and most people on YT praise the way they sound..
Don’t blame you. I wouldn’t trade my c7z for 2 c8z’s. They sound awful.
Is it sacrilegious here to say that the C8 Z06 sounds awful? With the mid-engine platform, flat plane crank, & design styling, Chevy has done what they set out to do, build a car that looks like, sounds like, & competes with an exotic European/Italian car. The C8 Z06 is the polar opposite of a C7 ZO6
is it safe to assume your last car was shark gray? My 15 is shark gray. Not cammed yet, but hopefully at some point if I can ever find someone to tune it somewhat local
No, it was a 2006 C6 Z51 I owned for 17 years. I wasn't kidding when I said I tend to keep cars for a long time if I like them. And it's much tougher to mod cars in Colorado these days as the state has gone blue and adopted California exhaust standards...Sad!
Certainly a hot take. I understand the C8s are expensive, especially the Z. Also understand wanting to drive a manual. But this is the first i have read someone complaining about the sound of a C8 Z. I have only heard them on YT and never in person....and most people on YT praise the way they sound..
Cheers and welcome back!
Thanks! GM undoubtedly knew marketing a FPC exhaust to a customer base accustomed to OHV engines was one of the car's biggest challenges, so they tried to address it with some pretty sophisticated sound engineering, including changing back to center exit, and a marketing campaign priming the market for the car's "special and exotic" FPC exhaust note, but if you frequent the C8Z section (and look at some of the comments on this thread) you'll see there are plenty of folks not buying the marketing BS.
Last edited by SharkDiverZ06; 12-21-2023 at 12:04 PM.
Thanks! GM undoubtedly knew marketing a FPC exhaust to a customer base accustomed to OHV engines was one of the car's biggest challenges, so they tried to address it with some additional sound engineering, including changing back to center exit, and a marketing campaign priming the market for the car's "special and exotic" FPC exhaust note, but if you frequent the C8Z section (and look at some of the comments on this thread) you'll see there are plenty of folks not buying the marketing BS.
I may check out the C8Z section out of curiosity. Honestly i am more interested in the E-Ray than the Z06, though i am not likely to buy either one at this point. Still enjoying the C7 and C5 for now (both auto)
Congrats. I appreciate all of the engineering that's gone into the LT6, but from a torque / power delivery standpoint I still prefer my C7Z by a pretty large margin.
12-20-2023, 03:59 PM
Bought C7Z And Will Be Selling My C8Z
Is it sacrilegious here to say that the C8 Z06 sounds awful? With the mid-engine platform, flat plane crank, & design styling, Chevy has done what they set out to do, build a car that looks like, sounds like, & competes with an exotic European/Italian car. The C8 Z06 is the polar opposite of a C7 ZO6
And it's much tougher to mod cars in Colorado these days as the state has gone blue and adopted California exhaust standards...Sad!
