C6 Z06 v Lambo Mercialago
Discussion
We held a corporate driving day this week at Elvington nr York and i had the chance to do back to back runs from my C6 Z06 to a Lamborghini Mercialago. First thoughts of the Lambo is it's size, i thought the Z06 felt wide but christ this car takes up space. There's no question their is a visual drama with Lambo's but I felt before my outing it would be just to heavy to throw about. Lambo was dificult to get in and out of and the visibility is poor. Internal layout OK but didn't feel that special but clearly miles ahead of the Z06. Paddle system works Ok but not as good as a previous car owned, M3 CSL. Power delivery was not a linear as the Z006 with a noticable step change of grunt at about 4000-5000 revs. Turn in was sharper than expected but I struggled to interpret grip levels, maybe due to the four wheel drive system. Exit was again neutral and planted, not that difficult to drive quick. But I have to say i was rather dissapointed, I was expecting great theatre but If I was honest (and maybe biased) I wanted to go back into my Z06, just so much fun. The Z06 turn in is equally as sharp, but the useability and adjustability of the car through high sped corning is staggering.The Z06 is so bloody good fun (except then tire bill!). Now the big surprise to me was the speed compairson. We had about a quater to half mile straight and in the Lambo I got to 138 and in the Z06 I just managed 145mph before very heavy braking. Didn't expect that and just confirms how impressive and how fun the Z06 is becoming to my driving life.
On another note We also arranged for a Aston Martin V8 vantage to be driven. the car is simply beautifull, both inside and out. The car drives as well and as quick as a 997 S which I owned recently. I was quite surprised how much I liked the car and how drivable they are, but obviously way of the Z06 pace, but would love one for a daily /weekend cruiser.
On another note We also arranged for a Aston Martin V8 vantage to be driven. the car is simply beautifull, both inside and out. The car drives as well and as quick as a 997 S which I owned recently. I was quite surprised how much I liked the car and how drivable they are, but obviously way of the Z06 pace, but would love one for a daily /weekend cruiser.
I reckon the Z06 would be just as fast as the Murci up to about 150, then the Murci's greater grunt and better aero would probably take over.
But one point, my Euro car's speedo overreads by a good 10mph at 100mph.
The US cars are apparently dead on, but the Euro ones are a bit too wary of the "mustn't underread at all" Euro law.
The Murci I drove overread by about 5mph at over 100mph.
But one point, my Euro car's speedo overreads by a good 10mph at 100mph.
The US cars are apparently dead on, but the Euro ones are a bit too wary of the "mustn't underread at all" Euro law.
The Murci I drove overread by about 5mph at over 100mph.
I’m a newbie here...Thanks for a great forum...really helped me with my car purchase.
Jonathanf, I’ve just purchased a Z06 as a replacement for my 997 C2S and i'm over the moon with the car...what a car....
After 4 days of ownership I drove the Z06 to Le Mans, then travelled accross France to Chablis and back to UK...the car was exceptionally comfortable and performed to a level I’ve not witnessed before.
Petrol consumption is not that different to the C2S, 6th just kills the revs, at approx. 110 mph revs indicated just over 2K, computer was registering 25 mpg...acceleration is in another world, i really cannot imagine why anyone could want more power.
Steering is not as good as the PO and takes some getting used too and wet driving (wet Le Mans) is not as predictable as the C2S and needs a gentle accelerator...Satnav is very complicated, although once you get the hang of the system it performs better than the PO....Interior is is inferior to PO but not that bad...boot space is fantastic and very refreshing after living with the PO
I highly recommend this car, it feels bullet proof and for the money (purchased from main dealer....as I must have proper warranty) nothing comes close.
If you want a really fast capable car, that's also practical and wont cost an arm and a leg to own...there's nothing else out there that compares IMO.
i’ll post some pics very soon
Jonathanf, I’ve just purchased a Z06 as a replacement for my 997 C2S and i'm over the moon with the car...what a car....
After 4 days of ownership I drove the Z06 to Le Mans, then travelled accross France to Chablis and back to UK...the car was exceptionally comfortable and performed to a level I’ve not witnessed before.
Petrol consumption is not that different to the C2S, 6th just kills the revs, at approx. 110 mph revs indicated just over 2K, computer was registering 25 mpg...acceleration is in another world, i really cannot imagine why anyone could want more power.
Steering is not as good as the PO and takes some getting used too and wet driving (wet Le Mans) is not as predictable as the C2S and needs a gentle accelerator...Satnav is very complicated, although once you get the hang of the system it performs better than the PO....Interior is is inferior to PO but not that bad...boot space is fantastic and very refreshing after living with the PO
I highly recommend this car, it feels bullet proof and for the money (purchased from main dealer....as I must have proper warranty) nothing comes close.
If you want a really fast capable car, that's also practical and wont cost an arm and a leg to own...there's nothing else out there that compares IMO.
i’ll post some pics very soon
Edited by Tomo2 on Saturday 23 June 13:09
I am sure more and more people who would never have considered a Corvette before, are now seeing just how good these new Z06's are.
As more and more buy the 'vette, so the 'vette is getting more, and better reviews.
It's the old addage,
"Bang for the buck, it can't be beaten"
Seriously though 500+ ponies at your control,and thats before you start "tampering" and you have to be super cool, or I would believe, even with A.H., T.C., & F55, you could end up in a mess.
As more and more buy the 'vette, so the 'vette is getting more, and better reviews.
It's the old addage,
"Bang for the buck, it can't be beaten"
Seriously though 500+ ponies at your control,and thats before you start "tampering" and you have to be super cool, or I would believe, even with A.H., T.C., & F55, you could end up in a mess.
ws6 said:
Howdie fellow WS6er
Indeed, been a trans-am man for 20 years, and the C6Z06 has converted me
,Indeed, been a trans-am man for 20 years, and the C6Z06 has converted me
,
Hi there,
Just sold this a few weeks ago. 2002 Convertible
had it for almost 3 years.
Very reliable.
toured all of Europe last year.
Put almost 8k miles on her.
Effortless.
Now gone, and replace by this,
2004 C,E. 'vette
Still got yours?
I've tested the speedo reading against a tomo tom sat nave and it was 4-5mph out at 100mph.
Comparing against a 997 S is an interesting deabte I had a few months ago before purchasing Z06. In short the cars are very different but both capable of putting smiles on faces. The 911 is a fantastically engineered car that gives you great sterring feedback and rewards good driving, once you understand the rear weight issues. Traction is great but not that rewarding on track. the 997 is a very usable car day to day and with the massive bonus of rear seats if you have small kids (which I do). The Z06 is a performance great with the best engine i have ever driven. The power is available throughout the rev range and is totally linear, unlike the 997 or Lambo. The chassis just copes with the power and when you don't want it to the opportunity to drift is fantastis. The interanl experinence is fine and the level of kit is abive my Porsche. The left hand drive is seriously not a problem but needs a week or two experience to get fully used too. The boot space is larger than you think but I do miss the rear seat space of the Porsche.
In terms of attraction, and yes I do like a car that attracts some attention, I found the Porsche got the attention it always does in that you are perceived to have loads of cash and you like a bit of flash (not the case in a GT3 though). The Z06 gets a whole different kind of perception, firstly people are not quite sure what it is but everyone has told me that it looks great. I get lots of questions, what is it, what engine does it have, how fat, how much did it cost etc but on whole very positive. Everyone who has been for a drive with me are gobsmacked at its performance and just drool.
But the main reason for the purchase was the smile I got after driving one and something that David Yu (aka Godzilla) posted me in that "try something different to those boring old German cars" and he couldn't of been more right. The Z06 is absolutely stunning.
Comparing against a 997 S is an interesting deabte I had a few months ago before purchasing Z06. In short the cars are very different but both capable of putting smiles on faces. The 911 is a fantastically engineered car that gives you great sterring feedback and rewards good driving, once you understand the rear weight issues. Traction is great but not that rewarding on track. the 997 is a very usable car day to day and with the massive bonus of rear seats if you have small kids (which I do). The Z06 is a performance great with the best engine i have ever driven. The power is available throughout the rev range and is totally linear, unlike the 997 or Lambo. The chassis just copes with the power and when you don't want it to the opportunity to drift is fantastis. The interanl experinence is fine and the level of kit is abive my Porsche. The left hand drive is seriously not a problem but needs a week or two experience to get fully used too. The boot space is larger than you think but I do miss the rear seat space of the Porsche.
In terms of attraction, and yes I do like a car that attracts some attention, I found the Porsche got the attention it always does in that you are perceived to have loads of cash and you like a bit of flash (not the case in a GT3 though). The Z06 gets a whole different kind of perception, firstly people are not quite sure what it is but everyone has told me that it looks great. I get lots of questions, what is it, what engine does it have, how fat, how much did it cost etc but on whole very positive. Everyone who has been for a drive with me are gobsmacked at its performance and just drool.
But the main reason for the purchase was the smile I got after driving one and something that David Yu (aka Godzilla) posted me in that "try something different to those boring old German cars" and he couldn't of been more right. The Z06 is absolutely stunning.
Here are some images of our track event last week. By the way my Z06 was been driven by my friend Guy Smith who won the Le Mans 24hr back in 2003 with Team Bentley. He showed me the true capability of a Z06 and he was surprised ho0w capable a track car the Vette was, bar the brakes! He usally struggles to pass them in the American Le Mans series in his Dyson Porsche Spyder!
Everyone keeps saying about how well the Porker is "Engineered". Yeah, it's engineered that well because the design is crap to begin with! Let's not forget that having the engine hanging out over the rear wheels basically causes all kinds of physics and weight distribution issues that Porsche had to "engineer around" in order to make the 911 a tangible proposition anywhere.
I'm sorry, but engineering yourself out of a corner which has been imposed on you by historical legacy is nothing to be overly impressed by - for me, designing it right in the first place (front or mid engine, rear wheel drive) is always the way to go. As dodgy as some of the older Corvettes have been, they were always pretty predictable (I could drift my 1982 - which was a design from 1969 - on request), whereas the internet and TV alike abound with stories of fat stock-brokers in the 1980's landing their super tail-happy 911's in trees.
Would you admire a plane that had it's engines at the front "just because the creator said so?" even if they'd managed to engineer around the problems that came with that, or would you just think it was as dumb as a bag of door-knobs?
I'm sorry, but engineering yourself out of a corner which has been imposed on you by historical legacy is nothing to be overly impressed by - for me, designing it right in the first place (front or mid engine, rear wheel drive) is always the way to go. As dodgy as some of the older Corvettes have been, they were always pretty predictable (I could drift my 1982 - which was a design from 1969 - on request), whereas the internet and TV alike abound with stories of fat stock-brokers in the 1980's landing their super tail-happy 911's in trees.
Would you admire a plane that had it's engines at the front "just because the creator said so?" even if they'd managed to engineer around the problems that came with that, or would you just think it was as dumb as a bag of door-knobs?
Edited by Colvette on Monday 25th June 13:43
When I say engineered I'm referring to the quality of responses for all angles of the car, the steering, the transmission, the brakes etc. I agree the engine at the rear is not ideal but it does make the car feel so much different to others and the traction on corner exit is stunning. Having said that I agree the Corvette is a better car!
SagMan said:
When I say engineered I'm referring to the quality of responses for all angles of the car, the steering, the transmission, the brakes etc. I agree the engine at the rear is not ideal but it does make the car feel so much different to others and the traction on corner exit is stunning. Having said that I agree the Corvette is a better car!
Sorry, mate - wasn't aimed at you specifically... 
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