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Unbiased Opinions: Better value GSX VS ZR1?
Photo credit: Chevrolet
With the GSX having better weather driving capabilities via AWD. Yeah its a few hundred horses short on power VS the ZR1 but the GSX may have the same if not a quicker 0-60... Is the GSX the C8 to get considering the price too?!
Last edited by Fabspeed_Motorsport; May 29, 2026 at 09:57 AM.
Value? GSX totally, but I think this is more going to be cross-shopped with a z06 than a ZR1, especially if value is your concern. That's the real decision. This is coming from a ZR1 owner. The ZR1 is like 2x the price. Not sure value is really part of the comparison between these 2.
Value? GSX totally, but I think this is more going to be cross-shopped with a z06 than a ZR1, especially if value is your concern. That's the real decision. This is coming from a ZR1 owner. The ZR1 is like 2x the price. Not sure value is really part of the comparison between these 2.
Maybe some may say the ZR1 value is the potential for it to hold its value.
Value? GSX totally, but I think this is more going to be cross-shopped with a z06 than a ZR1, especially if value is your concern. That's the real decision. This is coming from a ZR1 owner. The ZR1 is like 2x the price. Not sure value is really part of the comparison between these 2.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
GSX vs Z06 is probably more likely comparison. The GSX will definitely be the car to get if you don't love the sound and rev range of the Z06. Having gone Z06, E-Ray and now back to Z06, my choice was obviously Z06. I know the E-Ray and GSX are faster straight line, ride better, and are a way better street car, but the sound and rev range of the Z06 is just intoxicating.
GSX vs ZR1, again the GSX will likely be a better street car due to the AWD, and is obviously a way better price. But, again, I think those who really want the key points of the ZR1 won't even consider the GSX. 1,064HP and 8K RPM are just insane. And granted the ZR1 won't sound as good as the Z06 (due to the turbos acting as mufflers), it's still going to sound more exotic than the GSX.
GSX vs Z06 is probably more likely comparison. The GSX will definitely be the car to get if you don't love the sound and rev range of the Z06. Having gone Z06, E-Ray and now back to Z06, my choice was obviously Z06. I know the E-Ray and GSX are faster straight line, ride better, and are a way better street car, but the sound and rev range of the Z06 is just intoxicating.
GSX vs ZR1, again the GSX will likely be a better street car due to the AWD, and is obviously a way better price. But, again, I think those who really want the key points of the ZR1 won't even consider the GSX. 1,064HP and 8K RPM are just insane. And granted the ZR1 won't sound as good as the Z06 (due to the turbos acting as mufflers), it's still going to sound more exotic than the GSX.
It’s impossible for me to get past this. Actually don’t want to try. It probably goes back to my new ‘69 Z-28 days. Spooling up ~7500 Rs through 4.10s easily made it my favorite muscle car then and I had many.
I love all C8s and think they’re all terrific cars each in their own right. But I do firmly believe that the C8Z is as close as an American V8 production car is ever going to get to a real race car on the street, if the owner chooses to drive it that way. It may not be the purely quickest accelerating or fastest on a one or two lap hero run, but put it up against any other C8 for a 25-30 lap brawl and see what happens. There’s something very satisfying to me about owning a car with this capability. Expensive as it is, somehow it seems like a bargain.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
Originally Posted by pastexpirationdate
It’s impossible for me to get past this. Actually don’t want to try. It probably goes back to my new ‘69 Z-28 days. Spooling up ~7500 Rs through 4.10s easily made it my favorite muscle car then and I had many.
I love all C8s and think they’re all terrific cars each in their own right. But I do firmly believe that the C8Z is as close as an American V8 production car is ever going to get to a real race car on the street, if the owner chooses to drive it that way. It may not be the purely quickest accelerating or fastest on a one or two lap hero run, but put it up against any other C8 for a 25-30 lap brawl and see what happens. There’s something very satisfying to me about owning a car with this capability. Expensive as it is, somehow it seems like a bargain.
Yep. I was really looking hard at upgrading to a GSX, but when it was announced with the same 6600 rev limit as the LT2, I just couldn't do it. I'm sure the LS6 will sound better with the Tri-Y manifold design and center exhaust, but 6600rpm is just such a fun-kill. As fast as the C8s rev with the DCT, using manual mode on a LT2/LS6 version is just hard to do when you're really on it as you're in the rev limiter too fast. The LT6 with the 8600 limit gives you soo much more room to play. Looking back at all my Corvettes, my next favorite was probably my built 391 C4 ZR-1, which had a 7500rpm limit.
Can someone tell me what is a GSX. I google it a no car comes up.
Thanks
Just search for Corvette GSX and you'll pull up all sorts of stuff. It's a new Corvette model. Well, fairly new, the hubbub about it has been out there for a while now.
GSX is the better value for the street imho, don’t see someone cross shopping a ZR1 with one though maybe a Z06X if it was produced. If someone was to offer me a ZR1 or a GSX and Z51 being they’re similar in total value, I think I’d have a hard time not going with the latter honestly as I’d track the Z51 and daily the GSX.
GSX is the better value if you prefer AWD and an OHV CPC engine. ZR1 is the better value if you prefer less weight, RWD, a FPC turbo, and no electrification. IOW, they're so radically different that the better value should be extremely obvious based on your preference between those differences. Value also depends on your budget. If ZR1 falls outside one's budget then GSX defaults as the best and only value. Otherwise, they're both great values
GSX is the better value if you prefer AWD and an OHV CPC engine. ZR1 is the better value if you prefer less weight, RWD, a FPC turbo, and no electrification. IOW, they're so radically different that the better value should be extremely obvious based on your preference between those differences. Value also depends on your budget. If ZR1 falls outside one's budget then GSX defaults as the best and only value. Otherwise, they're both great values
Agreed, but many just view it as dollars per horsepower I was thinking and the GSX is $155/hp vs the ZR1 is $185/hp.
if the GSX is 4-wheel drive, then ZO6 all the way... no more 4-wheel-drive Supercars for me, ruins the entire experience IMO. And I have a Twin Turbo R8, so I have great comparables. Same reason I would want a ZR1 over the ZR1X.
Unbiased Opinions: Better value GSX VS ZR1?
