Is a stock Z06 better than a tuned one?
Discussion
Well judging by the results of this impressive showdown, the answer could be yes. Perhaps "too much is sometimes too much":
www.motortrend.com/roadtests/coupe/112_0606_performance_sports_coupe_comparison/index.html
www.motortrend.com/roadtests/coupe/112_0606_performance_sports_coupe_comparison/index.html
Well there's tuned and there's OTT!
I read that when it first came out and it made me remember that at the end of the day the Vette is still a front-engined rear wheel drive car. That layout simply cannot make use of much more than 650bhp due to traction limitations. Any more and you'll need 4WD and preferably a mid-engine layout to get the power down.
What was interesting was that even with professional drivers, they couldn't get the 1100+bhp Lingenfelter 427 TT to hook up enough to beat the stock Z06 to 60mph! Pointless.
However, I'm expecting their 616bhp NA conversion to be more useful...
I read that when it first came out and it made me remember that at the end of the day the Vette is still a front-engined rear wheel drive car. That layout simply cannot make use of much more than 650bhp due to traction limitations. Any more and you'll need 4WD and preferably a mid-engine layout to get the power down.
What was interesting was that even with professional drivers, they couldn't get the 1100+bhp Lingenfelter 427 TT to hook up enough to beat the stock Z06 to 60mph! Pointless.
However, I'm expecting their 616bhp NA conversion to be more useful...
godzilla said:
the Vette is still a front-engined rear wheel drive car. That layout simply cannot make use of much more than 650bhp due to traction limitations. Any more and you'll need 4WD and preferably a mid-engine layout to get the power down.
Guess that's right. P******s don't generally have all that much power but they get excellent traction with rear engine weight. On 5th Gear last night they had a Lichfield Subaru whose 4-wheel drive system enabled a 0-60 time of 3.5 seconds. Which is quick!
During 5th Gear there was a TV ad' for Clarkson's new DVD "The Good, The Bad And The Ugly" which looks like a USA v Europe showdown. There's plenty for LuSIfer in there and something for Vette fans too!
"For my all new DVD I've come to the U.S. of America-land to find out if the country that gave us Fast Food and the Fast Buck make a decent Fast Car? In fact, can they make any decent cars at all?
"In my quest, I pitch the best of the West against Europe's finest. The Stig's along for the ride too as we put the BMW Z4M head to head with the mighty Dodge Viper SRT 10. And the little Lotus Exige against a tuned Mustang.
"I also put the 200mph Corvette ZO6 through its paces alongside the Cadillac XLRV, the Ford GT and its topless cousin, the GT X1.
"And then we find out what would happen in a car chase if a big American police cruiser were to set off in pursuit of an Ariel Atom. (This bit's quite short!).
"There's science too, as I flood an old Jaguar and a Lincoln with water, tear drop Buicks into little pieces ... race a Mustang horse against a Mustang car ... and use high explosives to make my very own Star Spangled Banger. Oh, and we discover what happens if you fill Toyota's green machine, the Prius, with a special kind of lead ... bullets.
"Have a Nice Day ... Jeremy Clarkson"
www.amazon.co.uk/Jeremy-Clarkson-Good-Bad-Ugly/dp/B000I5X1CG/sr=1-1/qid=1162894184/ref=pd_bowtega_1/026-9257230-8936403?ie=UTF8&s=dvd
Hmm, now can I see into my crystal ball and see a whupping coming from the tongue of Clarkson. I believe I do since he is all about anti-US baiting despite having a Ford GT and confessing a C6 is in his Top 12 cars he'd actually pay for. Think I'll wait for it to drop into the bargain bin and then er...leave it there. Why? Well even considering pitting an uncomfortable 2 seater flyweight plastic carton with no creature comforts, shaved tyres and an ability to deafen you against a fully kitted muscle car is a farce in itself. Might as well pitch it against a Mosler or pitch a Corvette Z06 against a Bentley Continental GT. I'll also warrant the Exige in the US costs a lot more than a Mustang too.
LuS1fer said:
Hmm, now can I see into my crystal ball and see a whupping coming from the tongue of Clarkson. I believe I do since he is all about anti-US baiting despite having a Ford GT and confessing a C6 is in his Top 12 cars he'd actually pay for. Think I'll wait for it to drop into the bargain bin and then er...leave it there.
No no, I have an older one of his where he blows up a C4 with an air to ground missle, great fun! The real amazing thing was that this attack helicopter with the missle was owned by a private individual, nuff said I guess
sayerbloke said:
LuS1fer said:
I believe I do since he is all about anti-US baiting despite having a Ford GT
He's sold it again. He got bored with it breaking down so now he's got a Gallardo spyder on order.
The reliability was to do with the alarm and the security system telling him he'd stolen it when he was driving it. That was fixed a long time ago. He's buying a Gallardo Spider after driving one on TG. I can anticipate the reasons behind it - the Ford is thirsty and it's impractical with those doors (I wonder if anyone has come up with a targa panel and scissor door conversion yet?).
Even though it was his "dream car", your dream car cannot remain your dream car forever and once you've achieved it, you need a new dream. It must be particularly tough for people like Clarkson who regularly get to drive the very best supercars in the world. I'm sure he'd love a Veyron but can't afford one. I suppose once you have tested and enjoyed a car like the Gallardo which also offers open-top motoring, it must be easy to find your dream car no longer ticks all your boxes.
To some extent, I also think Clarkson is a the type of guy who needs to change his car regularly otherwise it would be a bit like the presenter of the Gadget Show having a black and white TV and a BetaMax video at home. You have to be seen to be at the cutting edge otherwise you end up being perceived like George Bishop with his garage full of old clunkers like Jags and Lancia Gammas. I suppose it backs up your credibility if you actually get out there and buy one.
EVO put the Ford GT ahead of the Gallardo SE in the PCOTY test so I doubt it's the Ford;s capabilities that are in question. The other thing, of course, is that the Ford is LHD so the Lambo, besides having a snobbier name down the pub (Yes, I've owned a Ferrari and a Lamborghini...), is bound to have that advantage over the GT. I imagine for a busy journalist using tolls etc, LHD could become tiresome. I hope he feels the same way when he gets the service bills.
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