Stingray Justification?
Pro
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 517
Likes: 426
From: Myrtle Beach, SC
Yes get on the Z06 list. 2 years will go by quickly. The z06 will likely also resell for close to $200K by that point (depending on your spec/options) so think of it as an investment as well.
In terms of performance, the reality is that it will be negligible to the average Corvette owner. The Stingray and Z06 will have roughly the same torque. 0-60 is like .3 seconds apart....so driving around town there won't be any real difference. The top end is where the Z06 will shine but not sure how many people are revving to redline from light to light on a quick drive to Walmart.
In terms of performance, the reality is that it will be negligible to the average Corvette owner. The Stingray and Z06 will have roughly the same torque. 0-60 is like .3 seconds apart....so driving around town there won't be any real difference. The top end is where the Z06 will shine but not sure how many people are revving to redline from light to light on a quick drive to Walmart.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 2,781
Likes: 3,105
I have the first allocation for a Z06 from my small dealership at MSRP and honestly don’t know if I want it for the same reasons as the OP stated. I know I won’t have to decide probably for a year or two so I will keep my spot.
I think my C8 will be all the car I will ever need.
I think my C8 will be all the car I will ever need.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 13,602
Likes: 12,864
From: Virginia
I'm on a waiting list for both, however the Z06 will be my keeper in that in addition to the performance aspects, I like the 'look' and 'stance' of the Z06 better than the Stingray.
The additional width, new boomerang and especially the rear end add significantly to the overall looks IMO.
The additional width, new boomerang and especially the rear end add significantly to the overall looks IMO.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 1,925
Likes: 1,170
From: New Orleans, Louisiana
Most people will never drive any of these sports cars to their full potential, I wouldn't get too hung up on that concept . I for one and not a speed demon, I do the speed limit everywhere I go honestly ... my c7 is my daily driver and my c8 will be as well, it's really just to get me from point A to B in style. I'm even getting the Z51 package on it just for the hell of it . Buy whatever u want and drive it however u want but you'll most likely never drive it to its fullest potential and that's ok.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 19,954
Likes: 6,755
From: Bonneville Salt Flats
For most buyers the Z06 is nothing but a "bench racer," garnering much talk over beers or coffee. Why bother? On the other hand should you decide you really want to be competitive, buy/build a genuine race car, not a street car GM suggests is a racer. 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 5,345
Likes: 91
My new HTC is already my favorite car ever and I have only had it a few weeks!
I am amazed at how perfectly designed this car is for my pleasure. It is like they had ME in mind when they built this car.
I lust after the Z06 but realize that there is nothing legal that I could do in it that I can’t do in my Stingray.
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Race Director
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 12,351
Likes: 14,183
From: Central Illinois
I'm on the list for one, but am very happy with my Stingray. Two things have come clear for me, after driving a 458 Ferrari for a day, I realized I couldn't ever get enough of a high revving V8 FPC engine. The other thing was how reasonable that car was on the street. GM will do an even better job at making the Z06 a car you can live with, they made MSRC standard on the car, it will ride fine and be drivable, they don't make Corvettes that aren't.
Last edited by Phil1098; Dec 7, 2021 at 07:27 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 2,555
Likes: 1,213
I admire your sentiment. How would you feel about taking the spot from someone who intends to flip it and how do you tell what the person who gets your spot will do?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 3,485
Likes: 3,312
A few thoughts:
I think the full potential of the Z06 is in putting a smile on your face, and that it will most certainly do. I owned two C7 Z06's (and now a Z51 HTC C8) and other than driving them at Spring Mountain, mine never saw the parking lot of a race track. It was stupid fun to drive and I do not regret getting one for a second. I'd put the "track" destination criteria out of your mind...I bet fewer than 5% see a track.
Stop there...you've nailed it right there and this represents one of the biggest reasons I want one.
Not necessarily...with magnetic ride (which has historically been standard on the Z06) it is both capable of being tighter / harder and smoother with MRC. It is an amazing system. I drove a C7 Z51 without Magnetic Ride over 5 hours to pick up my first Z06 WITH MRC...driving them back to back on a shitty Michigan road, the difference was startling. The non Z51 would have rattled my fillings out, and the Z06 was smooth, solid and stable.
Possibly and yes, certainly...but a year 2 Z06 should have any initial bugs worked out.
Sincerely, you aren't going to put it any more use than the next guy and Z06 production is not a zero sum game. You are not "taking" anything away from anyone who wants one...all you are asking is they wait for ONE more to be made ahead of them.
I am in your shoes, and I am #583 at a volume dealer for a Z06. I MIGHT see one in year two and with my '22 C8 to enjoy, I'm ok with that. My Z06 WILL be a HTC. Its going no where near a track. None of us are getting off this rock alive. If you can afford it, I say get it and drive it where and how you want to and don't worry about the next guy in line.
I think the full potential of the Z06 is in putting a smile on your face, and that it will most certainly do. I owned two C7 Z06's (and now a Z51 HTC C8) and other than driving them at Spring Mountain, mine never saw the parking lot of a race track. It was stupid fun to drive and I do not regret getting one for a second. I'd put the "track" destination criteria out of your mind...I bet fewer than 5% see a track.
Stop there...you've nailed it right there and this represents one of the biggest reasons I want one.
Not necessarily...with magnetic ride (which has historically been standard on the Z06) it is both capable of being tighter / harder and smoother with MRC. It is an amazing system. I drove a C7 Z51 without Magnetic Ride over 5 hours to pick up my first Z06 WITH MRC...driving them back to back on a shitty Michigan road, the difference was startling. The non Z51 would have rattled my fillings out, and the Z06 was smooth, solid and stable.
Possibly and yes, certainly...but a year 2 Z06 should have any initial bugs worked out.
Sincerely, you aren't going to put it any more use than the next guy and Z06 production is not a zero sum game. You are not "taking" anything away from anyone who wants one...all you are asking is they wait for ONE more to be made ahead of them.
I am in your shoes, and I am #583 at a volume dealer for a Z06. I MIGHT see one in year two and with my '22 C8 to enjoy, I'm ok with that. My Z06 WILL be a HTC. Its going no where near a track. None of us are getting off this rock alive. If you can afford it, I say get it and drive it where and how you want to and don't worry about the next guy in line.
I really like Big L's take. Stay on the list and decide later.
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If the Z06 is really the car you would rather have, go for it. It will be a car that not everyone will have. As has been said, not many C8 owners experience the car at its full potential, so that is not really a prime consideration IMO unless you will be tracking the car a lot.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,577
Likes: 295
From: Overland Park KS
The clock is ticking for internal combustion engines. That will help maintain used car values , especially limited edition high performance cars like the Z06, ZR1 and to a lesser extent base Corvettes. I expect down the road low mileage examples will be like the Ford GT from the mid 2000's, more than twice the original MSRP.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 517
Likes: 426
From: Myrtle Beach, SC
The clock is ticking for internal combustion engines. That will help maintain used car values , especially limited edition high performance cars like the Z06, ZR1 and to a lesser extent base Corvettes. I expect down the road low mileage examples will be like the Ford GT from the mid 2000's, more than twice the original MSRP.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 2,703
Likes: 984
From: Annandale VA
The clock is ticking for internal combustion engines. That will help maintain used car values , especially limited edition high performance cars like the Z06, ZR1 and to a lesser extent base Corvettes. I expect down the road low mileage examples will be like the Ford GT from the mid 2000's, more than twice the original MSRP.
OTOH, tens of thousands of C8 Z06s will be built in order to recover the costs of the engine. They won't be rare or particularly unique like the GTs. They are not faster than many other cars on the market either.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2021
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: West Burbs of Chicago IL
