Just Drove an '07 Z06..........Holy Hell
 

:ohmy: I ran by a car dealership today and drove a Silver Z06 Vette.............All I can say is GOT DAMN!

The way that car pulls is literaly intoxicating. Just to test it out I juiced it in 2nd going about 10 mph and waited to see what happened. When I say I was seeing the hp curve that RC posted up on the other thread as I was accelerating I am not joking.

The car I drove had limited rubber and it was quite an eye opener when I was still gunning in 2nd gear, hit the ~450hp range and the tires went to shit. Nothing more nerve racking than when a 505hp car that ISNT yours decides to wash its rear end out a bit :laugh:

IMO the ride is not as bad as every one makes it out to be. The steering isnt quite as direct as some of Germany sport cars, but its not far from it!

It was a short drive, but a real eye opener to what the car can do. I have never felt power like that before............:twisted:

My contemplation to save up for a Z06 just got that much harder.

Anyone else driven one??

Now that you have tasted 427ci's worth of torque there is no going back.... :)

But you dont have to wait till you have the $55,000 saved for a used C6 Z... step there in smaller steps - start with a C5 Z, and then upgrade it till you are satisfied :P hehe

Yeah I know I could do that, but I was never a huge fan of the looks of the C5. The C5 Z is not bad looking, but the C6 is just outstanding to me. If I wanted a C5 I could get that now, but I know I would be upset with myself that I didnt wait to get the C6.

Rave, nice report. Good luck with your goal in getting a Z06! Bang-for-buck, it can't be beat. :-)
A z06 is close to $181,000USD, if I was to import one and convert it to RHD in Australia!

(Are you guys from the U.S aware of any LHD-RHD conversion places?)

Awesome,I want to drive one 2,I'll love to own one,the Z06 is a supercar killer.
at Miami International AutoShow

http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/2360/img1853ld6.jpg

Mod Edit: No direct linking imageshack to MW, No direct image tags on images wider then 800 pixels

I have gotten to drive one, as well, and it is extremely impressive. I drove it after a Ford GT, and the Z06 felt almost as fast, plus it was easier to drive. I have never been a huge vette fan, but the C6 Z06 completely won me over. It is really a world-class sports car.

Easier to drive then the GT? In what respect? PArking is easier... as is backing up.... but other then that?

In the GT, the clutch pick-up point didn't feel natural and the throttle was extremely sensitive, so while I never stalled it, I was never really comfortable starting from a stop. Also, for me, the driving position was much more comfortable in the Z06. I had to lean too far back and kind of hunch my head down in the GT (but I am a little taller than average). While the GT never felt out of control at all, on small back roads, it felt a little too wide, plus the fact that I had all that torque to manage with no traction control safety net was always in the back of my mind! I don't mean to sound like I didn't enjoy the GT- it was extremely fun and ungodly fast, but I was just surprised at how much I liked the Z06.

The clutch felt very easy to modulate.... pick up point was very similar to the Mustang, and natural to me.... maybe an aftermarket clutch in the GT you drove? or maybe low miles? Clutche's need to be broken in... the two I drove were both 1000's of miles in.

The GT breaking loose is VERY controlable.... remember, the engine is over the rear axle... and the suspension is very very very well set up for stability, and grip.

as to the tallness thing... I myself am 6'2" and fit in the GT with enough room for a helmet... considering that I'm a tall torso .... so i suppose your taller?

I've had the pleasure of being in a GT on the track too... and the car is incredibly well planted, even on hard 2nd gear exits with 600 rwhp.

I feel the same way about it

Im starting to really consider this car instead of the M3 now, I will definitely test drive one this week.

I still think the M is a better everyday car with more creature comforts than the Z, but coming from an STI, I think I'll be more than pleased with the build quality of both.

I Actually test drove an M3 and a C6 Z51(?) today back to back within 45 minutes.

In summary, felt like i was driving the M3, felt like the C6 was driving me. Granted the torque on the C6 is awesome and the car didnt feel quite as slushy as I expected. Love the gearing and the presence of the vette, but the M3 as a car is much more refined and filled with technology.

Hopefully RC45 Reads this haha, Dont tell me I didnt give the Vette a chance. Going to test the C6 Z06 tomorrow, can't wait to feel the power.

I could have told you any Vette Coupe would be a wallary over weight plastic pig compared to any Z :)

But chances are the C6 Z will also be "too much car" for you ;) :P

dude go on and save for the C6 Z06, ain't nothing worse than spending loads of money on another car that's a little similar to the one u want and then regreting it... keep on checking ebay, u might find an angry divorcee trying to piss of her ex-husband by selling one for 2 dollars :rofl:

some Z06 pics i took at the miami show ;-)
http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/1...2463qf9.th.jpghttp://img401.imageshack.us/img401/9...2465rl2.th.jpg http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/4...2466rl2.th.jpg
http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/7...2471kh8.th.jpg http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/7...2533dy5.th.jpg http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/9...2681ss1.th.jpg

PS- i have to agree, in the US, the Z06 is an awesome daily car8-)

:laugh: I wish!

Hehe, I think I may be starting to understand your humor. I think.

Don't worry I'm never going to complain about a car being too much haha. I'll just shit my pants quietly. I've been seeing Z's everywhere I look. I followed one today on the way home and talked to the owner for a bit, nice guy too. He said he was getting the new one, the 100k one asap. He then pointed out that his z06 handles better than ferrari's and I was going to love it. Which I dont doubt.

I love the way the car looks , but Im still in shock at the interior. When i went to test the c6 I took a look at a z06 and sat in it for a little while. It smelled like the epoxy they used to glue the interior together so I jumped out before I got intoxicated by the fumes and really started flying.

That was the smell of you own bile man.. you must have puked your lungs in fear of "the Beast" :P

Im guessing you drove an 07.. go drive an 08... The C6.5 is like a completely different car in this respect.

Hahaha, I just got back from my test drive. While its not the fastest car I've been in, it was definitely the most powerful.

I came in to see this..
http://photos-371.ll.facebook.com/ph...74043_1578.jpg

Which led to this..
http://photos-371.ll.facebook.com/ph...74042_7260.jpg

Which then led to :twisted::twisted::twisted::twisted::ohmy::ohmy::l augh::laugh::thumbup::thumbup::mrgreen:


Cold tires + 3/4 throttle in second = :niet:

That car has a lot of power, it was really impressive. Annoyingly loud at idle. Long gears, steering lacked a bit of feel, gearbox throws were longer than I expected with such a short and stiff shifter. Clutch was nice. Visibility was good. Suspension felt shot, I dont know what was up with that. Great brakes, this car had racing pads.

I think it would be a little unnerving to play around with it on the street, but on a track it would be a lot of fun. Definitely far from a daily driver.

No, I drove a spanking New 08.

This is true for any powerful car.

Are you being serious? This is obviously why BMW appeals to so many people - all it seems is people want is some pussy sounding whoosh..

All these things describe a competant super GT. The idea of a "shot" suspension seems a little odd, there is really not much to "wear out" - even with 100,000 miles on them. Perhaps it was just softer than you expected based on all the crap about it being hard and unusable being written out there.

Hmm - sound more like street+ pads - race pads take a while to warm up and need heat to keep working

Again - seems like an odd response from a "sports car" enthusiast. And this from a stock 500bhp unit?

;)

I am sure there is a wimpy chicks M3 out there with your name on it - leave this car for the next man to come along and buy it :)

hehe

Maybe a C6 Z51 would be a good compromise. I know you test drove one earlier, but I'm not sure that it wasn't just a non-Z51.

While this is somewhat true, its not necessarily always true. There are cars that have lower torque and power up top that dont do this, such as an F430. I'm not saying I'm a ferrari lover, but you cant sit there and tell me that the Z06 isn't tail happy.


Not, my old car and even my current car are both louder than the Z06 at idle. It's just that it has a sort of annoying hum to it that you think will go away once warmed up but then never does. Be careful because you said you never make personal attacks and here you are calling me a pussy for liking BMW's. :)

No need to feel personally attacked, you didn't design the car RC. Don't be so reluctant to admit that the car isn't perfect. I didnt say it wasnt a competent GT (if thats what you want to call it). It was a little odd, maybe it was just how the bench-like seats creaked and moved around as I went over bumps.

It wasn't that it was soft. There's a difference between soft, hard and firm for me. A road car should be firm. I don't think there is anything wrong with the way the suspension is setup on the z06, but it did feel slightly old fashioned I dont know why.

And any competent car shouldnt have steering that lacks in feel.

Yes they were track pads, squeaking at every stop and useless when i first got the car moving. I had race pads before, I know what its like...

Again with the name calling.
Yes a stock 500bhp unit on a car I've never driven before and cant get traction for shit.
I know you have more track time and more experience with vettes than I do. I have no problem admitting to that.

Unnerving from the point of view that you have to be aware of your driving much more so than in other cars because of the size and power of the car. I'm sure anyone could get used to it and drive it like an everyday car. But for a first drive, thats what I felt. Sheesh I shoudlve just said that it was the god of all cars.

Hehe, yeah. You know...that car was sitting in the back of that room for a long time, I think there was something up with the throttle because it would get stuck about a 5th of the way down and then jump out when it released. Felt like it anyway. I asked the guy why he moved it and he just said.. "We don't sell corvettes here.." and gave me a look.

Again, Im sure it would only be a matter of getting used to it RC. Remember that I come from AWD cars currently and I can get away with a lot more throttle inputs than you can on your z06. Even at 550hp, I could still mash on the gas on my old car in..spin first but then no drama ever again.

I could've been completely negative about everything, but rather I wanted to be a little more honest about it. Next time though, I'm going to talk about how much American cars suck. You know, back to the usual hahahaha.

Hehe, I think that if I'm going to go with a high hp car its going to be something built from the ground up to my specs.

Like say a 4l Stroker Twin turbo 350z with 800rwhp. :laugh::laugh:

nah, 350z's are a major pain to modify (so little space in the engine bay!). Just get something a bit older (and cheaper :-D) if you're going to go the mod route.

Your above post, RCSTI, is a post of perfect diplomacy. :clap:

I never said the car wasnt tail happy - again, any high hp on cold tyres will lack grip at 3/4 throttle... even F430.. that is the nature of cold tyres.

Well - that "annoying hum" is what some people like and pay for - that is who this push rod V8 is designed for... not to cater for the pussy whoosh brigade.

I never called anyone a pussy... I called the whoosh pussy sounding. :)

I never ever ever ever ever said any Corvette was perfect. Far from it - I have criticised and will continue to criticise all the "weak' points of the car... however many first time Vette drivers critique none of the actual weak points.

The bench like seats crak and groan? Did you salesman not show youhow to cinch the belts inplace so youwouldnt move about in the seat?

And I suppose a GT-R would feel slightly new fashioned? Hehe - again, it just seems that the things people critique are not the actual weaknesses of the cars ;)

yet if the car had Exige like steering with those steamroller front tyres, I bet you would complain the steering was always hunting, tramlining and darty ;)

No need to get so defensive ;) - most likely Hawk HP+'s - unless you had to do some some 110/10th's braking to heat them up :)

What name calling? Are all the 4 banger guys this thin skinned? ;)

BTW, did youturn of traciton control? Because unless you were just mashing the gas, the TC would have reigned in simple cold tyre wheelspin for you.

You need to always be aware when piloting uber-horsepower cars on the public street ;) - but you knew this.

You woul dbe the only one saying it was the god of cars if you did :P Remember, instaed of plonking down $70K for a new one, I kept my 8 year old car and put the $40K into it I would have had to pay to upgrade to the new one - it is not the perfect car, and even at $60K used, is not really the performance bargain it once was either.

Probably a severly track abused car that was hastily put up for sale ;)

Although that throttle sounds like the spring on the pedal was sticking. The actual throttle mechanism is "fly by wire" so the sticking would need to be the actual pedal assembly.

And I was just giving you a hard time... hopefully you never took any of it too seriously - because I sure don't.

Sounds like the traction (or lack there of) you were experiencing came from old tyres more than cold tyres... I can bury the throttle out of a 2nd gear corner on my track tyres... on the street with a set of Ferrari F50 rears, anything over 3000rpm in 1,2 or 3 just goes up in smoke.

;)

But on a serious note, glad you had the chance to try one out... now imagine what it would have been like if all the trashed bits had been working well ;)

Hehe, yeah I definitely don't disagree that thats supercar performance for relatively cheap. Amazing bang for the buck. I'm glad I got to try it.

Now tomorrow I'm driving my friends 997 GT3 haha, he's letting me take it for a spin since we're going GT3 RS hunting here in Miami... He is about to dump 50k in mods into his GT3 to make it behave like an RS, he might as well spend the money on the RS. That should be interesting, I'll get shitty phone pics of it too.. maybe I'll post about my experience, but I dont know if I should since I'm so afraid of what you may say. ya right.. hehe.

Nice one with the GT-R comment too haha, I liked that one. Don't you have ridiculous cams to go buy for your car now? Oh, already in the car? Get some real seats.

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/3...5012qs4.th.jpg

;)

Lies!

What's with the fluffy steering wheel cover? I hope that comes off when you drive.

LoL, that's suede or alcantara... definately not supposed to come off ;-)

LOL Joke right...?

And the stupid smurf colored seat belts!

And I see you always keep tools handy rolling around your feet so you can fix the dash pieces as they fall off from all the rattling.

Oh yeah and get a door!:laugh:

The Estwing hammer on the floor in that pic really completes the effect.

What? You never used a metric socket on a standard bolt before?

I thought thats what the hammer was designed for.. :P

Hahahaha