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A couple of thoughts. First, a buddy of mine and I were both cross-shopping the 718 GT4 and the C8. I picked the C8 and he picked the other. He ended up paying a lot more for the 718 and it is nowhere near as comfortable but will probably sell for more than he paid and he gets a proper manual transmission. The PDK/DCT manual time differential is huge on a track with long straights like VIR. That easily could explain the time difference.
I've previously posted how much I dislike the tires on the C8 and you can hear them howling around the track in the video. Interesting how all the early gnashing of teeth about massive understeer is gone with an alignment and I've found that a middle ground between the GM track and street alignments are superb. Notice how the back end actually starts to come around at turn in at turn 3 and again in the esses at the bottom of the infield section, the GM track alignment is too loose if anything.
The current C8 will fit much bigger tires as some folks are already running 275/345 Hoosiers on them. Even swapping the stock tires out to stock size Goodyear 3Rs made a huge difference. Is the C7 GS in the ranking a Z07 on the Cup 2 tires?
Impressive for a base Corvette... Only the Huracan EVO, GT500, 911 Turbo S and the McLaren 765LT were faster...
Beat the Cayman GT4 and the BMW M8 and a dozen other cars...
It was 5th this year & in 30th place overall. Track has been faster since 2014 & was improved after that with some wider turns. The Base C8 is a great start but not the killer that was suggested in the early posts.
Last edited by BEAR-AvHistory; Feb 5, 2021 at 11:00 PM.
No it did not. Here is the official lighting lap results from when they started it. It shows that C8 getting beat by a lot by the 2018 ZL1, C7 GS, and C7 Z06. Heck the ZL1 beat it by 4 seconds. You must be looking at the older gen Camaro times. Heck the old FE, manual transmission, leaf spring C7 GS beat it by 2 seconds with less horse power.
The C8 beat the ZL1, the SS1LE and the Shelby GT350R but not the ZL1 1LE nor the GS. The C7 Grand Sport seems to be a better track car compared to the C8 Z51.
Savagegesse's already compared the C8 Z51 and the C7 GS (non Z07) on same type of tires and the C7 GS had a faster lap time.
Last edited by 911Hunter; Feb 6, 2021 at 09:13 AM.
A couple of thoughts. First, a buddy of mine and I were both cross-shopping the 718 GT4 and the C8. I picked the C8 and he picked the other. He ended up paying a lot more for the 718 and it is nowhere near as comfortable but will probably sell for more than he paid and he gets a proper manual transmission. The PDK/DCT manual time differential is huge on a track with long straights like VIR. That easily could explain the time difference.
I've previously posted how much I dislike the tires on the C8 and you can hear them howling around the track in the video. Interesting how all the early gnashing of teeth about massive understeer is gone with an alignment and I've found that a middle ground between the GM track and street alignments are superb. Notice how the back end actually starts to come around at turn in at turn 3 and again in the esses at the bottom of the infield section, the GM track alignment is too loose if anything.
The current C8 will fit much bigger tires as some folks are already running 275/345 Hoosiers on them. Even swapping the stock tires out to stock size Goodyear 3Rs made a huge difference. Is the C7 GS in the ranking a Z07 on the Cup 2 tires?
Yes, the C7 GS from 2017 was a "Z07" package with Carbon Ceramic brakes and Cup 2's
It was 5th this year & in 30th place overall. Track has been faster since 2014 & was improved after that with some wider turns. The Base C8 is a great start but not the killer that was suggested in the early posts.
In fairness, the C8 is the fastest under 500HP car ever with the exception of the 2017 C7 GS Z07, which had Stage 2 aero, carbon ceramic brakes, and Cup2's
PS. IMO, Cup 2's would be worth at least a second a lap on a C8.
We never got the chance to see what an awd FME corvette could have done. It would have been interesting.
The GT BS ran a 6:43 at the Ring. I don’t think we’ll see a FE street car go that quickly possibly ever again no matter how many wheels are driven. I consider that the very limit right now and for $400K+ it should be.
And really, the GT AMG has the engine set back in the chassis to such an extreme is pushing the boundaries of I’d call front engined.
Regardless, this was a good showing for the C8. The next performance models should also be faster than their C7 Z06/ZR1 counterparts with better traction and on the limit handling.
The C8 beat the ZL1, the SS1LE and the Shelby GT350R but not the ZL1 1LE nor the GS. The C7 Grand Sport seems to be a better track car compared to the C8 Z51.
Savagegesse's already compared the C8 Z51 and the C7 GS (non Z07) on same type of tires and the C7 GS had a faster lap time.
Same type, but not same width. Give the C8Z51 an extra 1.5” up front and 1” in the rear like C7GS and I believe they will be neck and neck, no surprise as they have very similar power to weight ratios.
In fairness, the C8 is the fastest under 500HP car ever with the exception of the 2017 C7 GS Z07, which had Stage 2 aero, carbon ceramic brakes, and Cup2's
PS. IMO, Cup 2's would be worth at least a second a lap on a C8.
Agree, said it was a great start just that the post overstated where it was in high end performance. Its the golden age with 500+ BHP cars in almost everybody's line up. Looking forward to the DOHC Turbo to put my money down on.
Last edited by BEAR-AvHistory; Feb 6, 2021 at 03:28 PM.
The C8 beat the ZL1, the SS1LE and the Shelby GT350R but not the ZL1 1LE nor the GS. The C7 Grand Sport seems to be a better track car compared to the C8 Z51.
Savagegesse's already compared the C8 Z51 and the C7 GS (non Z07) on same type of tires and the C7 GS had a faster lap time.
Even that the C8 has higher HP, ME and DCT advantages over the C7 GS.
Last edited by 911Hunter; Feb 6, 2021 at 06:08 PM.
Even that the C8 has higher HP, ME and DCT advantages over the C7 GS.
Just saw the video, so this particular C8 also had upgraded pads and custom exhaust in addition to a full track alignment, yet they still mention chronic understeer and “numb” and “synthetic” feel in both handling and braking. But they do nail the many strengths of the C8 in the video.
Sorry folks, the C8 Z51 is just a better car than a C7 GS. Every magazine and individual with any credibility has said the same thing. Lap times are only one of the C8 tricks. The car has been described as having the feel of a Cadillac on the open road. The C7 didnt come with such accolades.
Sorry folks, the C8 Z51 is just a better car than a C7 GS. Every magazine and individual with any credibility has said the same thing. Lap times are only one of the C8 tricks. The car has been described as having the feel of a Cadillac on the open road. The C7 didnt come with such accolades.
Says the dude with no credibility. See, comments like yours do nothing to increase our understanding of anything. To an enthusiast it’s important to understand what something is, but also what it isn’t. Every EVERY car has pros and cons. Sometimes more pros than cons, but sometimes to some individuals the cons are too significant. To speak in such absolute terms like you do adds nothing. Plus it’s stupid.
Sorry folks, the C8 Z51 is just a better car than a C7 GS. Every magazine and individual with any credibility has said the same thing. Lap times are only one of the C8 tricks. The car has been described as having the feel of a Cadillac on the open road. The C7 didnt come with such accolades.
Not everyone prefers the feel of a “Cadillac” otherwise they’d all buy Cadillac’s. To me if someone described a car as driving like a Cadillac it’s a bad thing as that means it’s vague, being so plush and not giving good feedback which I’m not interested in. It might be a plus to you, but not everyone has the same preferences and that’s ok as it’s great to be able to have choices!
The problem with these course comparisons - is it the same driver, weather, wind, tires? No matter how you twist it, these comparisons are not true comparisons. The same driver driving the same car will get different lap times each time. It is apples to oranges. I have had elapsed times at the drag strip vary by 3/10 tenths with an auto Vette and made within minutes of each other.
This is one step up from bench racing. Info is good for generalizations and not much more.
The problem with these course comparisons - is it the same driver, weather, wind, tires? No matter how you twist it, these comparisons are not true comparisons. The same driver driving the same car will get different lap times each time. It is apples to oranges. I have had elapsed times at the drag strip vary by 3/10 tenths with an auto Vette and made within minutes of each other.
This is one step up from bench racing. Info is good for generalizations and not much more.
And to take a full juxtaposed analysis of such flawed comparisons just adds to more futility. One thing is to fan cheer with a magazine in the hand and another is to claim conclusive findings based on nothing more than parade marketing.
The problem with these course comparisons - is it the same driver, weather, wind, tires? No matter how you twist it, these comparisons are not true comparisons. The same driver driving the same car will get different lap times each time. It is apples to oranges. I have had elapsed times at the drag strip vary by 3/10 tenths with an auto Vette and made within minutes of each other.
This is one step up from bench racing. Info is good for generalizations and not much more.
So much truth here. But this doesn’t make for good banter! Let’s not forget tires. If you are after ultimate lap times you don’t put on the tires the C8 comes with stock. Same is true for many other cars too. Put cup tires on any sports car that doesn’t come with them stock, then you are talking massive time improvements on a track.
