I've had both. Tracked the Z51 and doing my first HPDE with the Z06 next month. The Stingray is a ridiculously well rounded and capable car on road and track, especially for the money. And it is SO confidence inspiring on the track, even stock. A few minor mods and better tires and it's setting some heroic lap times. But ultimately it just was not visceral enough for me. I never liked the sound/tone of the engine which was also way too quiet. It just didn't seem to match the rest of the car. The Z06 is a revelation and the engine IMHO is one of the best in any car ever. It revs so quickly and just begs to go to redline. I drive around in track mode with the stereo off and windows down most of the time. It is a thrilling event and a hoot EVERY time. The turn in is far sharper, the rear end is PLANTED, and it just sticks and goes where you put it. My Z06 stickered at $143 vs $80 for my Z51. Is it double the car? No. It never works that way. In fact, the Stingray is a better everyday car and a far better road trip car. But for pure, hard driving and a visceral thrill, the Z06 is damn tough to beat at any price.
I was not much of a Corvette fan growing up, I loved Vipers. But I took delivery of my Z06 in July and have to say it’s phenomenal. It’s the best car I’ve ever owned. My poor Viper has a layer of dust on it now.
@@Gr1mmjoww_13I had a z51 and GT500 during 2 years.. I was riding both 50/50…I sold my Stingray and bought my ZO6 6 months ago… I drive it exclusively 100 per cent of the time.. this C8 ZO6 is an addiction…What he said above is true..I was totally satisfied with my Z51……But now, don’t ask me to take it back…the sound of the ZO6….is something you have to live 😍
I agree whole heartedly. The Stingray was so composed that I felt like I needed the additional horsepower and flat plane crank engine. So, I put cash down and waited 2 years for the ZO6
I have similar experience and the z51 is too refined to be a truly great weekend or occasional track car. Not a ton of feel even though its limits are very impressive.
Just got my 2025 this week, I don’t have words to describe how great this car is when it comes to the design language, performance, exhaust note, list goes on. For its price range, nothing can beat this. Hats off to GM💯
Best bang for the buck was when these first came out 4 years ago. A base 1lt with Z51 package and magnetic ride dampers were around $65,000. It still is a good value but the price is around $78,000 now.
@@liken1288 there were huge markups back then. They were selling for $15-20k over MSRP on the used market. I put in an order for mine in 2020 and it took 19 months to get it, but I got it at MSRP.
I owned the Z51 and now the Z06 and is a complete different animal The Z51 is a muscle car on a super sport chassis and the Z06 is a super sport car 100%
Well I can tell you the C7Z is a monster and beast. The C8Z is the younger kid trying to be something it’s not but sounds great. The C8Z is great but… the C7Z and C7Zr1 are different animals in a real jungle. The C8 is the perfect size…. The C8Z and Eray are big cars especially compared to exotics. 😊
I drove the old NSX, 997 911 and Evora. Then I drove the C8. The C8 feels bigger, and for sure the steering feedback is its weak point. BUT, its easily for me the most confidence inspiring, best riding all rounder. The torque makes it push you back on the seat a lot more, it feels quicker and is much quicker due to the ride and straight tracking (its not nervous). On the track it will eat most 911s alive. Flip a button and its a perfect long distance GT with the top down. Chevy, get rid of the ugly button wall and give us steering feedback for an A+ car. Manual would be icing on the cake for a few of us dinosaurs
I own a z51 c8 with mag ride. It's mind blowing GM makes a car that looks like an exotic and performs like high end Porsches. One of the best values in the market today.
Got my 2024 Rapid Blue z51 3LT 7 months ago. Absolutely love it. Took the Ron Fellows Corvette Performance Driving School out in Pahrump, NV. It wasn't until the end of the first day, during the instructor driven track segment (where an instructor drives you around the track in the z51 you've been assigned), that I realized how good, how capable the car is. I started the course thinking I had a sports car. I ended the course realizing I have a race car and a car easily able to handle what just about all of us have the driving ability to do with it. If you want to see what your C8 can do on a track, on the Nurburgring, see Misha Charouin's vid from about a year and a half ago. Lets just say he was extremely impressed. It's essentially z51 porn to us owners.
Digging my HTC Z51 after 2 1/2 trouble free years. Cheat code: lower the small rear window and you’ll hear the exhaust much more and won’t need to swap it out.
I've owned and tracked a couple of these. It looks like you may be driving this car carefully since it isn't yours but if you corner on throttle, the steering will wake up a bit as you get the back end dancing and use the mid engine layout to your advantage... that's what makes this car special :)
Those comp seats are sweet!! I tracked the Z51 at NCM 3 20 min sessions and the car is a beast!! I will still get a Z06 as soon as I can afford it due to the raw sound and driving ability of the widebody FPC American Ferrari! I will be getting the HTC as I love nighttime top down driving. Wish I could get the Tension blue in 2LT but np. Almost Identical spec as this Z51 just Z06. I live near the dragon now so that will be fun. Until I have my down payment I will just enjoy my ATSV and 24 MT09.
I have 2024 Z06 3LZ convertible. I've driven both. I winced when I wrote the check but after 6 months now. Not a single regret. The Z06 is simply a different level beast. Also, the sound is unmatched, unless of course you drop another 150K and buy a Ferrari.
I beg to differ, the LT6 sounds every bit as good or better than any Ferrari. Never mind the extra cash you have to spend. I don't care to deal with the pretentious, arrogant dealer! You can keep your Italian car.
Did a few laps of VIR in a Z51. Felt a bit synthetic, like the rear was actively being controlled, especially in turn one. The owner said the brakes are good but they don’t provide enough feedback, electronic pedal I believe. We both thought it was quick but on the back straight it didn’t really feel fast, lacks drama in stock form. Great street car though.
Mines Rd in Livermore, CA just east of the Del Valle Rd split - one of the best canyon carving driving roads in the SF Bay Area and one of my go-to fav along with Fenton's
Have a loaded 2LT Z51 C7 I bought with 3 miles on it at delivery. I ordered it with everything the 3LT had but hated the fake SUEDE interior! I did miss out on the better leather but the 2LT leather is fine. Other than those two items it is all that the 3LT is. I have gone head to head with a buddy's C8 similarly equipped and have pulled him at the mid point as his C8 is a bit porky at 4000lbs with him in it. My C7 is nearly 400lbs lighter. Until GM corrects the camaro rear end appearance I'm staying firm with the real Corvette.
I don't need to even watch the video or drive either of these cars and I know the answer is a big yes. At least for me, because I value high revving V8s with flat plane crank over anything I could get from a cross plane that revs over 2000 rpms less.
If a high revving NA FPC engine is your priority, then totally. This is the least expensive new car that provides that. But in all other aspects of driving dynamics, I think the Z51 with MagRide feels at least 90% as capable in every way.
@Zygrene don't forget the z06 has less torque. And if anyone really wants to they can mod a stingray to 1000+hp where as a z06 cant have much if anything done to it atm.
Hope you can get your hands on a Eray. I am still having trouble choosing Z06 raw badassery over the AWD Eray. My 15 Golf R AWD was surgical in the canyons of HWY 9 and Stevens Creek Res.
That big wall of buttons....the lower buttons are for the passenger. All of the buttons on the wall are redundant to the buttons on the LCD display when you select climate. Two golf club bags in the trunk. Has a frunk also. Good to hear your thought on the cars. Have you driven the E-ray? I'll sub and look forward to more of your excellent work. Thanks
I love my C8. It’s an amazing car. With a few mods it’s even better. The problem I find with the c8 is that it’s not mod “friendly” 25k for a supercharger, 50k for a twin turbo setup etc. nearly 4x the cost of previous generations. The average person can’t mod this car and make it fast so imo that’s the c8s biggest down fall. By the time you mod a base C8 and add HP to it, you’re in the realm of getting a z06. If you have the money get a z06 or a C7 z06.
when i did my build and got the discounts and everything. for the same level equipment the z06 would be 64000$ more. thats the price of another amazing car. simply put im not that rich. if i got a base z06 it would be about 25000$ more thats still alot. I got a fully loaded base with the HTC under 100k brand new with my exact spec that I want. you cant convince me that the z06 is the better purchase. NOW if you can afford a 150k car then the argumetn for BETTER purchase is irrelevant to you. the z06 is the better car but the argument for price can not be made for a z06 until in a couple of years when its prices go down to under 100k being comparable to a new base. until that happens this argument is moot. becasue people who buy cars for 90k aren't in the market for 150k cars.
While I get it. If you are willing to look, I'm planning (hoping) to get one spring 2025, a "base" model 1lz z06 for around 116-125 is an option. If I'm seeing this car for around 100 -110 convertible option etc. Is almost 300 horses worth 18 to 30 more for it........Y.E.S. Or, if I can't swing the extra 20+, this will be this is the backup idea. Get a 2lt with the race package around 80k, get a supercharger, magnuson supercharger LPE TVS2650 for one. It will get you to 700....just saying there are ways to get z06 power around 100k💯
As a daily driver/weekend canyon carver which probably covers 95% of buyers the base, non-Z51 is the right choice. How many owners actually have the driving skills, much less the driving venues to take advantage of the extra z51 handling abilities for that .5% of driving time at best where you can enjoy the extra handling since acceleration is basically the same without the extra 5 HP? On short freeway challenges, the base car might even beat the z06 before it can rev up.
Would like to know this too. I was about to buy a GTS 4.0 but my local Chevy dealer got a Z06 allocation and called me. I didn’t hesitate to get the Z06 instead. Only a GT4 RS would get me to think twice about a Z06…and I’d still probably take the Vette.
Im almost 100% positive you made the right decision. The GTS is a sweetheart, but a Z06 is more special and exciting at this price point. GT4 RS is a sharper and more purposeful weapon on track if I had to make educated assumptions over the Z06. The argument is whether one would want to use the RS on the road the way one could and enjoy in a c8 Z06 Z07 and all.
Does it feel like driving a video game because of the lack of steering feedback? That’s how I felt with the new M2. I hated it. Especially coming from owning a 987
America 🇺🇸 makes a good v8. ❤ I like European style high revving engines too. But for a drivers car on American road. I'd take a OHV big V8 that doesn't need to be revved out to enjoy. Don't put any ice cream in that trunk 😂.
Thumbnail: is the Z06 worth the extra money? Conclusion at the end of the video: I’ll see you on the next one. I’m sorry, that’s clickbait. Pisses me off!
@@mikedelape6609 I do prefer the look of the C5 Vette but I would want the larger 7 liter engine in the C6 version, despite the valvetrain issues with the LS7 engine.
I think a base Z06 which is around $120k is certainly worth the extra. Over the life of the car, the Z06 will probably depreciate less which makes the difference in MSRP less relevant. You will pay more for gas though.
On the streets, a Z51 with intake and exhaust does everything a Z06 can do and sounds amazing too. The Z51 has more torque so light to light and accelerating from low rpms goes to the Z51. The Z06 is incredible, but needs a track to really show its stuff.
I'm debating a Z51 now.... or put it off a year or so until some Z06's trickle below $100k. Your comment makes a lot of sense that the Z51 on streets will be about equal to a Z06 - I'll never go to a track. Both cars do 0-60 about the same, yes?
NSX type S = 1.760 kg MC 20 = 1720 kg Revuelto= 1966 kg SF90 = 1800 kg R8 V10 plus = 1685 kg 296 GTB = 1648 kg C8 Stingray= 1641 kg C8 Z06 = 1665kg Huracán técnica= 1574kg If you consider the fact that the C8 is huge, has an aluminum chassis and uses much less carbon fiber, the weight is still average for mid-engine car
@@TenaciousTentacruel a 430 scud is a 2 decades older car and a limited track edition, that would never pass modern safety protocols. C5 Z06&C6 Z06 is 1400 kg as well, what's your point? Modern Ferrari's are quite heavy, even though they're undertired and underprepped for track duty. Corvette c8 is heavy, but so are all the other cars, except Mclaren's. P.S. 430 scud is 1430 kg.
At $100,000 I would go Cayman GTS allllll day. These are good performance cars no doubt. But they are ugly, the interior is meh, having owned a few Corvettes the owner groups are borderline insufferable.
the interior is not meh and the car is not ugly, people love it and so do i, the interior is really nice actually, no plastic anywhere, its not just meh
Your title doesn't work. no one needs even a Mustang. People want. In communist language=what you need. Capitalist free people language=what you want. Food for thought. :) Bless America and the pursuit of what you want. No matter how silly or impractical it is.
Lol, car with solid bushings everywhere, insufferable on CA roads, more downforce than even z06 z07, and four times the price is the exact opponent of 70k regular gran turismo. I think it would better be compared to 25k Malibu, is that not scary enough competition for GT3 or should we go lower? P.S. Nurburgring mention is a brainrot sign by a person who never ever was on a track. Porsche does not even lap stock cars, save for gazillion years of tracking it before making an attempt (which is why noone else bother pretty much). Lap "records" there are as irrelevant as it comes
