Z06, how are they on the road, really?

[Job38]

Hi Guys,

'we' are seriously considering a Z06 as a weekend/track day 'toy'.

But, despite Mr Clarkson's comments (I love him dearly, but don't hold much store by his automotive reviews ) what are they like for normal road use?

I'm not expecting a Nissan Micra, and I'm used to some fairly naughty machinery, but would really appreciate your comments.

[vetteheadracer]

C5 Z06 or C6 Z06?

If a C5 Z06 then expected to have to convert to coilover shocks and stiffer swaybars for track use. May also be worth upgrading the brakes.

[anonymous-user]

Job38 said:

I'm used to some fairly naughty machinery, but would really appreciate your comments.

From a glance at your PH profile I think you would find a Z06 (C6) rather sporting and quick after those German " golf club specials" you have become accustomed to!!

[Job38]

Thanks for your patronizing reply, had hoped for something a little more constructive.......
If it was meant in humour a little smilie would have been nice.
(I wouldn't have thought a 5.7L V12 with 405 Lb/ft and a 6 speed manual box a 'golf cart' )

ps., Its a C6 Z06

[Cuban]

There are a number of owners both here and on my site, that use their C6 Z06s as
combined daily driver / track car and of course weekend use / track car.

One of these is also a regular on our tours covering around 2000 miles in a week,
so I would say "Yes" to their ability to meet your requirements.

I say go for it - but then, naturally I would!

Best of luck
Cheers
Graham
C6Z06.co.uk
The Unofficial UK Corvette C6 ZO6 Site.

[akeithj]

Hi Job38

I am now the proud owner of a C6 Z06 for about 10 days now. This is the first American/Left hand drive car that I have owned so it really was a step into the unknown for me.

Firstly I think the car is fantastic, I am only just starting to get used to the peformance and I have not even been above 5000 rpm yet!

Road holding is excellent and it does not take long to get used to the left hand drive configuration. We went of a 250 mile trip last weekend, a mixture of motorways plus A and B road and actually achieved 21 US MPG, or close to 25 which I think is excellent.

Comfort wise, really quite good, I don't think it's any worse than a 911 or Boxster S and road noise again I don't think it's much worse than either of the cars mentioned, although this can vary a great deal depending on road surface.

I think the external finish on the car is excellent, the only thing in my opinion that lets it down a little is the interior quality, which I don't believe is up to Porsche/BMW/Audi standards, but then again this is virtually a racing car for the road, so one should not really expect anything else.

An important factor for me when deciding to buy a Corvette was the level of owner satisfaction. I think once you buy a Vet you won't want anything else and there are not a lot of cars you can say that about.

[vetteheadracer]

C6 Z06 is almost too good a car to only use it as a track day car.....having said that it is also possibly too expensive a car to use for track days.
For £50k you could probably find a lot more extreme a track day car than a C6 Z06, for example an Ultima springs to mind.

[owenemyr]

5 USA said:

Job38 said:

I'm used to some fairly naughty machinery, but would really appreciate your comments.

From a glance at your PH profile I think you would find a Z06 (C6) rather sporting and quick after those German " golf club specials" you have become accustomed to!!

What is wrong with a BMW 850 CSi??, it certainly beats the corvette when it comes to the "quality" areas, and in most B road driving conditions, would not be that far behind (if at all) AND wouldent suffer the "lateral hop".
Having said this however, I enjoy the corvette more.
It would be nice to have both, but I have sold my stable of BMW 8 series cars including my 850 CSi.
If you wish to compare to an SL55 AMG, that is another story.
It might be better if we all stopped rubbishing others cars, especially if we have never driven them!!!
I feel particularly stroppy tonight.

[cheeky]

All I can say is that it is superb on the road, whether that be round town, on motorways or on normal A and B roads. Seriously. No complaints at all.

[ZR1cliff]

I actually found 5 USA's comment quite amusing and inline with the OP's remark about the Micra
Good to see a bit of banter now and then amongst the marques.

[anonymous-user]

Thanks Cliff!

Glad to see you're awake and paying attention!!

The great thing about Corvette ownership is converts come from so many other marques and backgrounds, once they've had a drive. Maybe the General should bring back its advertising tag line "once driven, forever smitten" and use it for the Vette!!

[V1PER]

Drove a C6 Z06 for a while last week and thought it was a great car....

Drove real nice under normal driving and very good driving a little hard...
Baz

[Godzilla]

And that's coming from a Viper owner!

I've had loads of very "naughty" machinery over the years and none have been more fun (and certainly none more reliable) than my C6 Z06.

For thrills and fun factor it beats my Ferrari F430 Spider hands down!

Yes the materials and finish of the interior aren't up to Merc/BMW/Audi and maybe Porsche standards, but the actual design and layout is at least as good as the best of them and the comfort a lot higher than most of them.

The road noise which JC (semi-)justifiably moaned about is down to the run-flat tyres and lack of sound deadening. Both can be sorted easily.

My car of course has been fairly extensively tweaked and I now consider it to be pretty close to being the ultimate all round supercar. Quick enough to annihilate Porsche 997 GT3 RSs at the Nurburgring and comfy enough to tour Europe carrying a lot of luggage.

The start of my ownership saga can be read here: http://www.auto-journals.com/content/corvettez062....

[Cuban]

5 USA said:

Maybe the General should bring back its advertising tag line "once driven, forever smitten" and use it for the Vette!!

Good call.

I came within a blink of buying a C5 in 1999 and was talked out of it, but
having had one for not far off two years, I still grow more passionate about
the cars by the day.


However, kind of a sad Corvette day for me today as my wonderful C5 leaves me.


Still, looking to the future, in around a month I'll have the new one and
may even be driving it in America this time next week!


Remember, life is a Driving Adventure, so do it, you won't regret it!

[woof]

Dave - was just re reading yr journal (does look very nice in black doesn't it)

Yr getting 15.6mpg ?
what are you driving like - Miss Daisy

LOL

[Godzilla]

woof said:

Dave - was just re reading yr journal (does look very nice in black doesn't it)

Yr getting 15.6mpg ?
what are you driving like - Miss Daisy

LOL

I know and that regularly goes up to 17 on the display which is 20mpIg!

People automatically assume a 7litre engine must be a gas guzzler but it is positively parsimonious compared to my 4.3 litre Ferrari and even my wife's 2.7 litre Audi only averages 19.5mpg.

As for the 5.5l V12 in the 456GT, I haven't dared work it out yet (and can't afford to brim its 95litre tank anyway!).

[woof]

I'm down to 10mpg - that's because I'm driving alot in London and giving it plenty

mind you my JCW mini only gets 21mpg !
(might be my driving style i guess )

On my trip to Monaco i was getting nearly 22mpg and that was at an average of 100mph - with the occasional blat