SLO VETTE

i had occasion recently to drive an italian "supercar" (an aventador) for a brief romp through some country roads, and it was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. incredibly unnerving at first, not least of which is i'd never driven a paddle shift vehicle before. reverse is an interesting experience, involving a combo of the dash-mounted camera as well as turning & stretching out to look over the roof if need be. between that task, and the price....boy was i nervous if something went wrong. it all goes away though when the sound of that motor is screaming up towards redline. man oh man. nirvana.

am curious to hear from folks who've driven that kind of vehicle (or something comparable, e.g., top shelf porsche, mcclaren, etc) and who own a zr1. what's the zr1 like to drive in comparison? is it like most vettes, which is to say easy to noodle around town, but when things open up.....it just hauls *** & handles with the best of 'em?

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BrunoTheMellow

The zr1 is just a Z06 with 100 extra hp unless you're on track. Literally identical driving experience on road unless you're above 50% throttle and still identical handling experience because you aren't taking a turn at 80+ mph at the limit when aero actually helps.

With that said. The Z06 is just a base model MSRC car with 200 extra hp and slightly stiffer springs. Identical driving experience on road unless you're above 50% throttle.

Anyone that tells you otherwise is trying to justify their purchase.

This coming from a guy that has had a z51, then procharged it to stock z06 power, then added Z06 suspension. Then bought a Z06 z07. And driven a 750 hp z06 (basically zr1 on street).

duanesZ06

I have both cars ZR1 and ZO6 both are C7's and I totally disagree with your scenario. The ZR1 is a totally different car than my Zo6 from the handling to the acceleration, the sound, really the feel of the car is different. I believe you are one of those trying to justify not buying a ZR1 or whatever. Drive one then climb right in the other you will see. If you do some checking you can find all the changes that were done for the ZR1 it's not just 100 more HP drive one if you get the chance see for yourself the proof is in the pudding. And a Callaway is not a ZR1.

HTXSkydiver

Can’t like this post enough lol

HTXSkydiver

A Frankensteined Z51 isn’t a Z06... and a Z06 with 100 more HP isn’t a ZR1. Stay in your lane

BrunoTheMellow

Hah. The zr1 pretty much the same suspension as the z06 as far as I know. My z51 had the EXACT same suspension and chasais as the z06. Just slightly narrower tires. Okay fine the zr1 has better sound?

See what I mean? You're who I was talking about.

I never spoke against the cars on the track. I know for a fact there is a big difference on track. My post was about street driving.

The problem is not the setup it's the chassis or the basics of the car. It's hard to compare a chassis make for a 50k car (tuned up to 140k) to a 250k chassis.

HTXSkydiver

“Hah.” You have no idea what you’re talking about. Take the guy above’s advice and drive both cars (we have). You’ll see. Sounds like you’ve driven a bunch of modded and tuned vettes and think you know what a ZR1 “feels” like. Lol

duanesZ06

But that is it, you better do some checking the ZR1 suspension is not the same as the Zo6 unless you have a 2019 Z then you have the improved version but you don’t get the ZR1 ZTK suspension that is only on the ZR1.

BrunoTheMellow

Do you have a 2019 Z06 and a 2019 zr1? Or an earlier Z06 with all the updates? both same transmission? That's awesome. Seriously.

I get it. Zr1 invokes a different feel. Different sound. I'd love to have one instead of my Z06 z07. But you need to get past that and look at the facts. If you didn't know which car you were driving. Are they that different? It can't be. Physically it can't. All c7s share the same k members, same control arms, same suspension geometry, same MSRC shocks (except Z06 z07), same engine mounts, same shifter, same interior. How much can port injection, a bigger blower, and exhaust do? (Yes I know about the aero and cooling)

Frannkestein. Thats elitist talk. Has someone measured the spring rates on the ztk springs or the ztk swaybars and used a durometer on the bushings? I must have missed that.

I get it. I really do. It's all about the full package. But on the street. It's just power and sound.

Kiddgolfer

I owned a 2015 Z06 and now own a 2019 ZR1, two totally different cars in every aspect.

.gearhead.

Definitely a different driving experience between the new ZR1 and Z06. At the end if the day, that’s what it’s about.

SLO VETTE

Well this question is going well.

I don't care about ZR1 vs. Z06 comparisons. There are a million threads on that.

Let's try this again....I am asking how does the totality of driving the ZR1 compare vs. driving another high end European or Asian "supercar?"

duanesZ06

My Zo6 is an 2018 and this may be hard to believe but ZR1 feels like a very improved Zo6 it just feels better. And being able to drive one then get in the other, they really do feel different. Now is it night and day different, no but it is very noticeable and the performance is really unbelievable different. Now don’t get me wrong I love my Zo6 also and was very surprised at the different of the cars when I got the ZR1. But I will keep the Zo6 also at least for a while because I do so love it too.

BrunoTheMellow

I've driven a gt3. It's tighter and been In a crap ton other european sports cars. The biggest problem with the c7 is the weight and compromise. GM tried to make it a cruiser and track weapon. Somehow succeeded but compromised. It is waaaaaay more comfortable but at 150 mph a 991 turbo s is planted in comparison.

A c7zr weighs a whopping 500 lbs over say a mclaren 720. That's why it gets murdered in speed. Not shitting on the c7zr but that's why it's affordable.

On the other debate. I'll stop here. I know 99% of guys with a zr1 have never even taken their wheels off themselves, or been under their cars, or set foot on a track (ill listen to the handful that have, poor-scha for example) "THERE IS NO WAY MY $140,000 GOLDEN GOAT SHARES PARTS WITH A LOWLY BASE MODEL STINGRAY"

moon2605

I went from a 2015 Z06 2LZ ( 830 whp) to a 2019 ZR1 low wing 3LZ - more of a straight line guy.. The ZR1 has a nicer interior . The carbon Fiber, the headliner, better cameras. the outside is nicer, again a lot of carbon fiber, great looking hood setup. aggressive looking front end. I dont see a huge difference other than the appearance. I do like the track mode better on the ZR1. The ZR1 felt very familiar which i liked. i am not a road course guy so cant comment on that. had I gone from a stock z06 to a stock zr1 I may have felt like a bigger difference, got tired of a modded car and wanted the fastest stock car I could afford. The ZR1 was it. Glad I bought the car and very happy with it. But they are not that terrible different to me .

duanesZ06

Stingray verses ZR1 that does make me laugh whatever and I have tracked my my Zo6 and do all my own work yes that includes jacking it up. Believe what ever makes you sleep at night I really don’t care.

moon2605

After my obligatory Z06 to ZR1 comparison I will actually try to answer the original question. I own an 2017 Audi R8 V10 Plus. I have driven a Huracan and a 720S,. On the street is the only comparison I have not a track guy. The ZR1 is comparably in my opinion. all of these cars are very cool. the Audi is more of an everyday driver than even the Zr1. All wheel drive make it launch like a freak. less road noise. Better stereo. I like the steering better in the Audi. The ZR1 is a very capable car. I actually prefer it in stop and go traffic because it has a torque converter. push the right pedal down on the Zr1 and it will go. really fun. makes great noises. The 720s has more of a race car feel to me - road noise, suspension not as nice as the corvette to me. The performance on the 720 is over the top for sure. However for that price point I personally want something I can drive to work a few days a week and enjoy. I think after the new wore off I would park a 720 unless going to track or HPDE. The Huracan is very similar to the Audi. A little harder to get in and out of for an old fat guy. great car. Could be a daily. More so then the 720.

So I guess the simple answer is the ZR1 very similar. probably more user friendly in a lot of cases but still a blast to drive. good visibility, good manners, and can still spin the tires like nobodies business.

BrunoTheMellow

Hey. I agree with you. Thanks for a level headed response.

Sometimes it's tough to understand that it's just a car.

hcvone

Have a 17' Z06/Z07 and a ZR1, daily driver is a 18' turbo s stage 4, have a 19' GT2 RS and other euro cars too. ZR1 is really great performance for the money, now it's not the performance per dollar like my Z06 was, because of the deal I got, once in a lifetime, BUT the ZR1 is a totally different car, it's not the extra hp, it's not the better handling, it's the complete package, you have to have both cars and drive them both on the same roads on the same days to see how much difference there really is. For where I live and drive my porsche's just do everything better and in more comfort, that's why it's my daily driver,but also costs a lot more money. My ZR1 is my 13th corvette, best by far so far anyway. Have all makes of cars, there are many good ones

BrunoTheMellow

^^^ That's a turbo s no?