2015 Corvette Z06: Everything You Didn't Know You Need To Know -- AFTER/DRIVE 

All I saw in this video is a bunch of pretentious car snobs trying to subtly put down a car that had to go through many hoops of the regulatory a holes in American government and has made great strides in performance despite our restrictive laws. And I would absolutely buy the convertible just so I could enjoy the open air on Galveston Islands sea wall knowing all the time that it's just as stiff and responsive as the other version. Put the top up and hammer it. Very few cars at this price could give it a run for the money. So what if it's not a flagship Ferrari or Lamborghini. It cost a fraction of the price of most cars that could outperform it. I think Chevrolet has done well and I hope they make it better in the future. I want this car. But I will wait a couple of years just to see where they go from here.

How could you NOT think the Corvette Z06 wasn't a Supercar? Insanity

Finally someone said something about convertibles. It literally kills your car. It's freaking pointless. Especially on something like a Corvette. Seriously feel like slapping the person driving a convertible Z06.

I drive my C7 Z06 all the time and I find no faults with the car. You can putt it around with the AC freezing you out or you can punch it and basically blow the doors off of everything under 200K out there. Handles like a race car and brakes on a dime. I paid 70K for mine with 10K miles. How do you beat this??

I love that people that hate on american cars and specifically corvettes are reviewing the C7 corvette and changing their mind. Seeing them sputter out that the car is incredible makes my day every time!

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I believe the new ford gt, z06, ect...should be classified as "super muscle." Definitely different than the european counter parts, but can perform to their level.

I like the targa too. I am following @JasonHarperSpin because of his opinion on this amazing machine.

Few things are more annoying than a presumptuous man in purple pants dominating the conversation with cynical bullshit.

12:53 THANK YOU, JASON!! I can't tell you how sick and tired I am of people bashing this car just because it has a pushrod valvetrain (which, kids, is still the most efficient way to operate the valves).

Am I the only one who loves Travis??? I love that you can see how excited he is.

The Corvette C7 Z06 is a brilliant car, it has everything, looks, styling, performance and technology along with history and price. Funny they mention the Ferrari 458 as a "super car" but it's a full 13 seconds slower than a Corvette ZR1 around the nurburgring!!!

I liked the guy on the left better when he was scalping tickets on 'Fast Times at Ridgemont High'.

Typical conversation with Mike Spinelli: Random car guy: "I drove the Z06 the other day." Mike: "You see now that's a good point.. let's talk about the new Corvette.." Random car guy: "Yea, so it's a beautiful car, I really like what Chevy's done.." Mike: "Well THAT'S interesting.. you bring up a good point." Random car guy: "It's got brutal acceleration and just pulls in any gear." Mike: "Ok so this is an interesting point..." Drive ought to make a montage of all Mike's "interesting" and "great" points.

Mike Spenilli got it right. You're buying a track car that is trying to be a sports car. With that much torque, extremely wide almost slicks and all the aero, it's a track car. It got wider front tires than Porsche 918. In a sports car you want to have fun and rev the engine. Imagine reving that thing in 3rd gear (forge any higher gears). With all the torque it will be in crazy speed before you're even half way to red line. I feel today's sports cars are slave under Ring times and trying to beat each other by turning into track cars. Just look at Z28. Worlds widest front tires, semi slicks and extreme aero pack. Personally I think the Stingry was magical but this one feels like a step back.

In May 2023 I bought a 2016 Z06, 3LZ, convertible, A8, in Daytona sunrise orange metallic, with Kalahari interior. I've added a cold air intake and new larger super charger lid. I love it! Thanks for the video! I have a poser vehicle. The trunk lid looks so much better than the coupe. It's fast as fuck (I've owned a 1991 ZR-1, and a 2011 CTS-V) It's awesome.

The C7 Z06 is the 2nd greatest Corvette Chevy has ever released. The C2's the only Vette to be better, considering it's time period. The Z06 with automatic & magnetic ride is a tier breaking car, similar to how the Nissan GTR was when it was released. It's sub 100k that out performs many cars above that price range in more than one category, while being amazingly reliable & easy to maintain; except tires, the Z06 just melts rubber, but you don't mind. The styling is also one of the most dramatic that Chevy has ever done. When I first drove a base LT1 C7, people were asking me if it was a Ferrari or Jaguar. Finally we have an exotic looking domestic that can scare yet excite anyone around. Now, the Hurican, Z06, 911 non Turbo or GT2+, F-Type R, M3/M4 & C63 amg are all great cars, but they are not supercars. No doubt these cars are high performance cars but Supercars are now on a completely different level.

I just have to say: I completely agree with Travis -- 650S/Huracan/458: not "supercars."

These make 730+ whp with minimal mods. I'm sold.

every American I've seen test drive this car..LOVED IT! Every European or British guy who tested it..just puts it down.

point blank the Almighty C7 Z06 IS A SUPER CAR AND THE ZR1 IS THE HYPER CAR

i really love that you left afterdrive out of the whole drive+ thing it is my favorite part of the channel.

Absolutely no ZR1 huh 🙈

Best way to describe the z06 most just feel different cuz they like other cars but they seed the true things about the car I'm proud of you GM for making a cheap awesome super car

This should be titled "3 Dull Dudes". They actually make a hot ass car seem like a boring school health film.

I want the convertible with an automatic and I don't give a shit what anyone thinks. I'd rarely push it's lateral limits and just love the feel of acceleration and cruising with the top down listening to the exhaust.

What upsets me is that they diluted the Z06 name. This car is closer to a ZR1 than a Z06. It's too heavy to be a pure track car and they catered too much to the 55-year-old Florida retiree market. A proper Z06 would've been another big NA V8 (like the beloved LS7), making 580 non-heatsoaked horsepower, a stickshift, and a 3100 pound curbweight.

I love how honest these guys are

If you are the yard stick in which the worth of other sports cars are compared to then you are a super car. By that I mean listen to what these guys are saying when they make comments like "Is it as fast, or aerodynamic, or have the handling of a Ferrari, Lambo, Porsche, etc." Why would they even compare them if those companies haven't over set the standard for sports cars for decades making them "super cars". The other thing would be the difference in engineering, A Lambo or Ferrari V10 and V12 compared to the Chevy V8 is totally apples and oranges, you can google it yourself most already know this. The Corvette is the working mans "super car" 90% of the performance numbers with only 20% of the cost and pomp and circumstance, this is a good thing in my opinion it keeps most of the automakers honest and helps the rest raise the bar to keep that "super car" status. Final thought is for Travis, if McClaren designs a car (the MP4) with the mission statement that they want to build there next car to be better then the Ferrari 458 then its safe to call said car a super car, I mean McClaren is kind of a gold standard in making super cars and F1 race cars and they saw the 458 for what it is, an absolute masterpiece.

I have a C7 ZO6 zo7 package with a manual. Upgraded from a stingray. This whole dialogue was way over analyzed, perhaps it was the hype of the car at the time. The car is an amazing daily driver, super smooth in tour, sport is my preferred and track is way too stiff for the street. This thing drives way better than my Stingray, solid as a rock, flat in the corners and if you know how to modulate the pedal actually has pretty good traction. Yes, it can leave you unsatisfied because even if you do a quick pull in first and second up to 90 that leaves you wanting more which can be dangerous. But the fact is you have all the power in the world on tap whenever you want it and you could decelerate extremely quickly either by letting off the throttle or course the brakes. So there's plenty of fun to have around town in quick spurts safely. My advice to people in the market is if you don't get a ZO6 definitely try to get a Grand Sport if you really want amazing handling. And to clarify my Stingray had Magnetic Ride in the z51 package which I thought would be similar to a Grand Sport but I know now it's not at all

I wouldn't consider any corvette a supercar, but it looks outstanding, I would buy this over any over car besides the mercedes benz sls amg and the porsche cayman gt4. Best looking american car by far. You did well chevrolet,you did well.

Great to see American cars making a comeback. Especially dodge, chevy, Cadillac, Chrysler, ford, Buick, ect

It only took you fucks YEARS to bring this show back! lol. This is by far one of my favorite shows!!! Keep em coming!

The problem is that the Corvette has always had to be "all things to all people". I have never once heard buyers of the so called "exotics" complain about sill heights, luggage space, et all, but the Vette? OMG! This Z06 is the best all around sports car made, PERIOD. I bought my first, a C4 when I was 28 and even that car satisfied the folly of my youth just fine. This car is (relatively) cheap, but well appointed with abilities far beyond almost any production sports car out there and still cheaper than a similarly equipped 911. I don't begrudge buyers who opt for autos / verts simply because this is that good of a car that even those who don't do track days want it. That ensures that they will continue to improve upon and sell in sustainable numbers America's interpretation of the sports car, and that is good...no, GREAT for Vette lovers.

What is their point of reference ? What do they drive ? I drive Mercedes AMG and my 2016 corvette Z06 is my 9th corvette, And by far the best I have ever driven. Switch the performance setting from sport to touring and you actually Feel the ride difference. Power. Hit the gas pedal and you doing 120 in seconds. Great car I love it.

This is a car that is made to be tracked. For sure. Stingray is more than adequate for the street. This is supercar performance for sports car pricing.

It’s funny how they said that Chevy would not build a c7 zr1. This is a great example of how tech is always moving fast and forward.

lol GM saying this is the best they could do with this platform. This is the best they could do at the price point they aimed for. I'm not talking about throwing down Ferrari money, but at mid $100k's you'd definitely have a street legal race car in your hands with some thoughtful, utilitarian engineering. However, as a modified C5 Z06 owner who tracks his car regularly, the Z06 is the shit!

Never seen any 3 people with less chemistry

AT the 3-27 thru 3-29-15 Texas mile,the best the 2015 C7 ZO6 could do was 168.2 mph.The 2015 Dodge Hell Cat blew it away at 174.5 mph.A 2013 C6-ZR1,ran 182.2 mph.a stock 09 C-6 ZR1 ran 186.5 mph.The numbers speak for themselves,as to which car is fastest on top.

Fun discussion to watch, the quirks of each guy is what makes it interesting. Personally, all I want is a Z51...unless I had free access to a good track, the Z06 wouldn't do anything for me. At least the comparable super cars (performance-wise) get you attention/status and mayyyybeee become investments over time. I wonder what percentage of Z06 owners actually regularly track them

Mike sounds like a mom or wife. He is not helping our side when trying to explain why you would buy such a car. Its NEVER too much car! even if you never "use it", its the feeling of knowing it can kick ass at will. That is what a daily driven sports car is about for most people. I do agree that the convertible Z06 shouldn't even exist.

I hope to see more of Mike Spenilli. Very good dialog.

A couple of HATERS!!! Best BANG for the buck...

In my mind, a supercar is super because of it's performance abilities, not it's looks, price, where it's made, or how many are made. Cars like the Viper, z06, and GTR are absolutely supercars; it's just not an exotic supercar or a "hypercar".

i got 2009 z06 amazing car exotic killer

the C7 IS MY DREAM CAR POINT BLANK

Great cast, enjoyed this episode as well as others. And 3 is the magic number....

I love watching AfterDrive because I find they raise some good points on certain topics throughout their videos, I just wish that more often a conclusion was reached by the end of the discussion. Case in point, the "What IS a Supercar?" video, and this video here. Both videos lack structure, I think with key questions a conclusion can be reached. Also Spinelli should do more car reviews, it's easy to see he's a good writer and I enjoy his analogies.

This is a bang for buck car but the problem is dealer hypercars or super cars are more of art cars as opposed to an everyday car like the Ferraris and Lamborghinis and every other car that's out there but this Corvette most likely is it and everyday car then pretty much anyone can buy but other than that I think this is one of those cars that could set the bar for an everyday car in the supercar market

I've never listened to a guy try to talk about a car he clearly knows nothing about before. "Stage two gets you some of the level two stuff"... well no shit.

The guy from Time seems like a douche to start, but the truth is he is a real professional. Bring him back and keep the ego right where it is. Too much more would be hard to sit through, but the guy is smart. Probably the best Drive episode in a long time. Been watching you guys off and on, sometimes for years at a time since FLD 2007.

Well, yes, it's a ton of car :) Credit given but the formula GM is using is actually the easy route. More tire, more motor etc. the hard thing to do for GM is to actually build a better more refined car. If they want people other than blockheads to by this car or if they really want a potential GT3 buyer to switch to a Z06 than they are light years away still in fit and finish. But the beauty of it there are buyers for both segments. So who cars?

It's fun listening to you guys talk, but it would be nice if we had some driving shots too.

i love the cars made in America

Its not just the Z06, there are other trim models for the Corvette...duh! It will not be an issue if you track it or not. The only important thing is that it is already capable for the track. Besides, no Bugatti Veyron owners will drive their cars 250 mph every time they use it either.

I wouldn't take the Z06 to race track but would love to drop the top and go for a drive. I'm not a professional photographer but still want the best camera to take pictures with, even if I only use 10% of the potential. Why not have the best corvette as well. Their argument doesn't make sense to me.

C7 base or Z51 is WAY MORE than enough car for the street, and much more car than 99.9% of people can handle on the track (unless you turn nannies on). Buying a Z06 without using it on the track is just a stupid waste of money. Personally I find slower cars with less grip that you can explore the limits on the streets (BRZ, FR-S, Miata, E30, 944 etc) is more fun on the street than a car with so much power that you break the speed limit in 2 seconds... and you have to double the speed limit to approach the limits of grip. This is from personal experience owning both types.

I was hoping they'd talk about the overheating issues that the Z06 has been rumored to have on track (I think it was the automatic that really suffered?), but instead they are debating "what is a supercar". Whatever.

What do you mean it doesn't qualify as a supercar? It's a $100,000, 650 horsepower less than 3500lb two door car that does the quarter mile in less than 11 seconds. Are you a joke..?

1) The Corvette is already Mid-engine. Front Mid-engine. 2) There will be no Rear mid-engine Corvette, at least under Chevrolet. IN all likelihood it'll be a Cadillac. Remember the Cien? Look it up. 3) The Next Corvette, C8, will be build on a totally new architecture, not a rear mid engine setup, from what has been a evolution of the C5 Corvette. Somethign that will drop up to 20%, about 700lbs, compared to the C7. 4) The C7 Zo6/Zo7 is a super sports car, a sports cars capable of superlative performance and capability but has lesser, non-super, variants available at the same time. BTW, the C7 is a better build and higher quality cars than 95% of the cars you could call a super cars and half of the Exotics, After all, never once has a factory Vette caught fire due to overheat (see Porsche 991-911 GT3, Ferrari F458). And that's the low hanging fruit.

He's right about the convertible. That's just silly. Now, if it were a hard top or a targ, sure. Why not? But a soft top? Even with my first car, a Triumph TR-6, I've hated them. They go bad too fast, and are noisy. But being 6' tall, I did need it. I don't understand why they're arguing about manual transmission. The auto tests at a higher speed, oddly enough.

Funny cause he said no overheating issues but I heard plenty of heating issues due to the engine restriction itself for sake of warranty.

The guy on the right needs to check out some driver comments about the Z06. He claims "it never overheats," and "it is a phenomenal engine," yet reviewers and owners that run their Z06's on the track, constantly complain of the terrible IAT's and heatsoak issues from the Z06. Heatsoak will be present in any supercharged application, but in the Z06's case, after one or two laps, it is already losing power, and it shows in lap times on the track.

These guys aren't assholes, perplexed. My lottery car.

I always thought the whole point of the stingray line was to sit on the rear axle which leaves the rest of the car for the engine... out front! Changing this to mid engine would make it a whole different car. One thing that could be done to take the stingray to another level would be all wheel drive. I heard a rumor about an all wheel camaro and I am sure an all wheel drive vette would be insane.

Loved this video!

The beauty of the Z06 is in 5-years most enthusiasts with decent paying jobs and no kids can afford one (I'm assuming a 40K USD price, used). That is an obscene amount of car for "regular guy" money.

This is an awesome debate! I enjoyed the shit out of it. I like all of their points of view.

Ferrari Laferrari isn't just a car its a peice of art

Sick sideburns bro...

I'm here to join the lynch mob gathering against Mike, can I borrow a pitchfork or was I suppose to bring my own?

Try going over a speed bump off center at any speed with a full cup of Starbucks in the cup holder. The Vette is "almost" too stiff.

Built around an amazing tires? How about buit around an amazing platform!

I feel like I'm at a cruise night or something when I watch some of these after drives. Well informed individuals disagreeing with each other, on a topic I can blab on and on about. Good stuff.

im a chevy guy, why am i watching this

Yeah. A true enthusiast does not say that " the slower car is fast enough" - of course he is from jalopnik.

In watching this I still as always hear so much European snobbery (and these folks appear from the US) its like the first days of the C-6 Z06 I read an article and the Vette just got done beating up (badly I may add) on a Ferrari and a 911 type S on the track and the best slam the editors had for the car was that the car is fast it handled OK (remember who the Vette just beat) but the interior is cheap and Americans dont build castles??? Really?? I used to drive a 911 and a 928 for my fun cars then found a 08 Z06 with 989 miles on it and thought what the heck and bought it, That first Z06 Rocked HARD! I sold that one this last Fall and my new 16 Z06 will be here in April, I have a few friends who are Porsche all the way but they are out of my future, I will stick where I am really Happy the Z06 works well!

Look at dude in the middle calling the mid engine Corvette. And yes there was a 2019 ZR1. That's the one to get. (The fastest and last of the front engine pinnacle era of the Corvette.)

I completely agree about the convertible model being for posers. It's silly they don't have a fixed roof either. Great, informative video, I like listening to these guys.

I'm not hot on having the car parked behind you while you discuss it. How about some in-car and track side video with similar cars around and an accelerometer in the camera's view. How about the same on a skid pad?

Why are these days every car becomes easy to drive, it's so annoying, we want a car that challenges the driver without so much electrical help. Yeah I know I can disable ALMOST every function. But it's still not difficult to drive than unless you go full throttle.

GTR still faster

I like the Corvette Convertible because Chevy already made the car very stiff and because the car was designed in the beginning to be a convertible not a lot of weight is added on.

Cosmetically this car is controversial. I first saw it in Vegas last year and immediately thought of the angle lined and straight edged look GM has been pushing for way too long. Yes, the older model needed a face lift, but just a mini lift, not turn it into a Cadillac CTS or ATS with flashy emblem treatments. Sorry, performance aside, I'll take the older Z06.

Serious question.. Would you do a r8 v10 coupe manual ( used) for 100k or a new z06 w/z07 coupe manual? Tracked once a month. The vette is way faster, removable roof when not at track, can get competition seats, Alcantara wheel and shifter, heads up, different traction systems, newer. The audi is more exotic/rare, gated shifter is awesome, the v10 I like better due to high rpm (which I love high revving), awd for wet track days etc. No heads up, slower etc.. I'm torn

I guess you guys were a bit wrong about the C7 ZR1 and C8 mid engine Corvette lol 😄 Now the real question. C6 or C7 Z06?

You guys did not mention that you can turn of the cylinders in the car to 4

They are making a mid engine someone I know has seen the hand built prototype. Idk if it's a 2016 or 17

The Viper has some catching up to do!

I really don't think the "this car might be too much for you" argument has any place in the sports car industry. It's pure rhetoric seeing as how it applies to any car that exceeds practical use and speed. I met a young girl selling her 240sx because it was too fast. Too fast?! This conversation belongs at the insurance office or your mom's house.

I hate when people are like "oh its too much for the street you cant have fun with it" NO !!! my suzuki gsxr 750 does 0-60 in 3.1 seconds and can hit a top speed of 186mph and let me tell you..... its not too much it is a BLAST maybe too much power to follow the speed limit but who doesn't speed when they have a performance vehicle that is the price we pay for buying performance cars

This conversation is extremely disorganized.

As with all these types of car, people buy it for the image projection. They'll never used it to anywhere near its potential on the road.

Good chat, informative!

great show and thats awesome you let the biggest 12 year old in the world sit in the middle

Yikes, It's Fast Times at Ridgemont High's, Mike Damone ! (Robert Romanus).

LOL...they just all agreed..."there will not be a front engine ZR1"...woops!

A Saleen S7 is a supercar, and it had a pushrod v8

I'm obnoxious so i'm not going to let the host finish his statements.