Personal test drive:'06 Z-06!
09-15-2006, 12:55 PM
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The Prototype
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Personal test drive:'06 Z-06!
Well my buddy calls me up and tells me to peak outside my living room window. I do, and low and behold sitting in my driveway is a bright yellow Z-06! First off i must say, the Z-06 looks so beautiful! Here are the changes that i notice from the current C-6:
Its definitely lower, the fenders are flared out the wheels are larger, tires were wider, sports a black chin spoiler and a small black rear lip spoiler abover the third brake light that is molded into the hatch, has the scoops etc.....over all it has the apearance of a Viper when looking at it from the side. Its very wide and exotic looking , wider than the base vette, it looks like it meens business.
My friend passes me the keys and say's lets go for a drive. I am all for it, but i have to tell you all i was pretty nervous! I never have driven anything with 505HP, even though i got to drive his 405HP Z-06 last time and his '02 E55AMG (469HP/516TRQ). As i approach the door, i notice there are no key holes , my friend tell me to put my hand on the touch pad to open it . I was blown away, you put your tips of your fingers where the door handle would be, and *thunk* the door opens! Very cool!Nice touch GM....
When you open the door,your invited to a very bolstered front seat , thick door stills like on a Lambo or Ferrari or anything on the exotic side. I was very impressed with the fit and finish of this Z-06, GM did a excellent job this time around. My friend with his '02 Z-06 before this one , the interior was cheap, plastic and poorly designed! Fast car , but the interior seem like Rubber MAID had designed it and made it. GM definitely stepped up the quality in the Z-06, it uses the same vinyl thats in our 8's or close to it. Carbon fiber pieces are scattered throughout the cockpit. The seams are tight and the silver trim pieces are a nice touch along with the Navigation. The front seat is snug , you can try and move , but you are planted , very comfortable, good lumbar support, just a good overall feel. The steering wheel is a nice size and is wrapped in the traditional leather attire.
I started her up, put the key in and hit the push start button,the engine started up with a massive throaty sound. I let it idle and it was music to the ears. It had that flub, flub, flub sound that hearty V8's make. Blipped the throttle and it sounded like a beast ! OMG!!!!! The car rocked evertime i hit the gas, and as the needle came back down, the exhaust made that cracking , bubbling sound.....PURE BLISS!!!!!!
On a side note his 02' Z-06 with 405 HP sounded a tad throatier and meaner, but i noticed his06 Z-06 sounded a bit more exotic with a throaty note.
My friend tells me the new features on the HUD display, the G-meter,the diffrent modes, etc. Well we were ready to rock! He kept telling me if that i crash it , he was going to kill me, meen while he doesn't know that same thoughts were already going through my head, "Raph don't crash, don't crash, don't crash"!
The car seem tight, the engine and exhaust note isn't to bad in the cabin. Its definitely loud but not abnoxious. We took her on the street , the TCS and the DSC is on . I press on the pedal and the car takes off! Instantly your thrown in your seat and the motor and exhaust are at full song!! Mild slipage from the tires 10-30-50 Shift! The back ends steps out , and i let off then get back on again then coast ! Whoa! The car is fast , i meen really fast!!!! The thrust is insane! Back on the gas and she comes to life instantly , ready to attack with the press of the right foot! The view is awesome out the front window! The fenders sticking up from the side and the hood bulge sticking up in the middle , it looks very exotic!
Cruising at 55 mph, the road noise is present, but the motor note is more present. Turning the wheel left and right , the steering is precise and the car is very responsive. Hit the throttle , even in 6th gear the car takes off with authority!
Our first light and i hit the brakes pretty hard , almost caused my friend to have whip lash! LOL! Brakes are solid , they grab very well!
Off again and i run through the gears , pressed into my seat , the car is like being on the HULK coaster at Universal Studious ! The thrust is so intense! 60 mph in first gear, shift into 2nd and the back end steps out again but i stay on the gas and it corrects itself. Looking at the HUD i am telling myself i better slow down approaching Tripple digit speeds , 90 MPH in 2nd gear and still have sevral thousand rpms left! Looked back and the cars at the light look like specs of dust in the rear view mirror. My friend has a ear to ear grin on his face, i am smiling to but its out of fear of how fast this car can get up and boogy!
I make a u-turn and not even trying to gun it, just pressing the gas normally and tail kicks out! The car just has too much POWER for everyday use! We get back home and i gladly hand the keys back to my buddy! Would love have to taken it out on the highway or hit some twsities , but not enough time, but i will inform you guys when i do! He wants to run his E55AMG against it , me driving the E55. I will let you guys know when we do that run!
Final thoughts:
My friend paid 88k for it, is the Z-06 worth that price of admission?
HELL YES!Its worth every red cent! From the sound, the looks and performance level its definitely a step up from your average vette! With its effortless appeal to get to any speed, to the sweet music that comes out those pipes, its a ferocious ride when under WOT, yet tame as a RX-8 when driven normaly. GM has built a fine machine people, you aren't hearing me , GM HAS HIT GOLD WITH THIS CAR!!!
Its like GM had listen to the old '01-'04 Z-06 owners and critics and made the corrections and improved the car dramatically! Its like calling this 2nd edition Z-06 ,2.0. Its impressive......
For a budget exotic that doesn't break the bank account, the Z-06 is it!
Damn i want one!
Its definitely lower, the fenders are flared out the wheels are larger, tires were wider, sports a black chin spoiler and a small black rear lip spoiler abover the third brake light that is molded into the hatch, has the scoops etc.....over all it has the apearance of a Viper when looking at it from the side. Its very wide and exotic looking , wider than the base vette, it looks like it meens business.
My friend passes me the keys and say's lets go for a drive. I am all for it, but i have to tell you all i was pretty nervous! I never have driven anything with 505HP, even though i got to drive his 405HP Z-06 last time and his '02 E55AMG (469HP/516TRQ). As i approach the door, i notice there are no key holes , my friend tell me to put my hand on the touch pad to open it . I was blown away, you put your tips of your fingers where the door handle would be, and *thunk* the door opens! Very cool!Nice touch GM....
When you open the door,your invited to a very bolstered front seat , thick door stills like on a Lambo or Ferrari or anything on the exotic side. I was very impressed with the fit and finish of this Z-06, GM did a excellent job this time around. My friend with his '02 Z-06 before this one , the interior was cheap, plastic and poorly designed! Fast car , but the interior seem like Rubber MAID had designed it and made it. GM definitely stepped up the quality in the Z-06, it uses the same vinyl thats in our 8's or close to it. Carbon fiber pieces are scattered throughout the cockpit. The seams are tight and the silver trim pieces are a nice touch along with the Navigation. The front seat is snug , you can try and move , but you are planted , very comfortable, good lumbar support, just a good overall feel. The steering wheel is a nice size and is wrapped in the traditional leather attire.
I started her up, put the key in and hit the push start button,the engine started up with a massive throaty sound. I let it idle and it was music to the ears. It had that flub, flub, flub sound that hearty V8's make. Blipped the throttle and it sounded like a beast ! OMG!!!!! The car rocked evertime i hit the gas, and as the needle came back down, the exhaust made that cracking , bubbling sound.....PURE BLISS!!!!!!
On a side note his 02' Z-06 with 405 HP sounded a tad throatier and meaner, but i noticed his06 Z-06 sounded a bit more exotic with a throaty note.My friend tells me the new features on the HUD display, the G-meter,the diffrent modes, etc. Well we were ready to rock! He kept telling me if that i crash it , he was going to kill me, meen while he doesn't know that same thoughts were already going through my head, "Raph don't crash, don't crash, don't crash"!
The car seem tight, the engine and exhaust note isn't to bad in the cabin. Its definitely loud but not abnoxious. We took her on the street , the TCS and the DSC is on . I press on the pedal and the car takes off! Instantly your thrown in your seat and the motor and exhaust are at full song!! Mild slipage from the tires 10-30-50 Shift! The back ends steps out , and i let off then get back on again then coast ! Whoa! The car is fast , i meen really fast!!!! The thrust is insane! Back on the gas and she comes to life instantly , ready to attack with the press of the right foot! The view is awesome out the front window! The fenders sticking up from the side and the hood bulge sticking up in the middle , it looks very exotic!
Cruising at 55 mph, the road noise is present, but the motor note is more present. Turning the wheel left and right , the steering is precise and the car is very responsive. Hit the throttle , even in 6th gear the car takes off with authority!
Our first light and i hit the brakes pretty hard , almost caused my friend to have whip lash! LOL! Brakes are solid , they grab very well!
Off again and i run through the gears , pressed into my seat , the car is like being on the HULK coaster at Universal Studious ! The thrust is so intense! 60 mph in first gear, shift into 2nd and the back end steps out again but i stay on the gas and it corrects itself. Looking at the HUD i am telling myself i better slow down approaching Tripple digit speeds , 90 MPH in 2nd gear and still have sevral thousand rpms left! Looked back and the cars at the light look like specs of dust in the rear view mirror. My friend has a ear to ear grin on his face, i am smiling to but its out of fear of how fast this car can get up and boogy!
I make a u-turn and not even trying to gun it, just pressing the gas normally and tail kicks out! The car just has too much POWER for everyday use! We get back home and i gladly hand the keys back to my buddy! Would love have to taken it out on the highway or hit some twsities , but not enough time, but i will inform you guys when i do! He wants to run his E55AMG against it , me driving the E55. I will let you guys know when we do that run!
Final thoughts:
My friend paid 88k for it, is the Z-06 worth that price of admission?
HELL YES!Its worth every red cent! From the sound, the looks and performance level its definitely a step up from your average vette! With its effortless appeal to get to any speed, to the sweet music that comes out those pipes, its a ferocious ride when under WOT, yet tame as a RX-8 when driven normaly. GM has built a fine machine people, you aren't hearing me , GM HAS HIT GOLD WITH THIS CAR!!!
Its like GM had listen to the old '01-'04 Z-06 owners and critics and made the corrections and improved the car dramatically! Its like calling this 2nd edition Z-06 ,2.0. Its impressive......
For a budget exotic that doesn't break the bank account, the Z-06 is it!
Damn i want one!
09-15-2006, 01:39 PM
#2
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Damn right its worth every penny. It's a bargain. I've seen one yellow one and it looks almost like a totally different car than the C6 and is kinda of exotic looking.
Nice review. I'm jealous...
PS-get some video next time your friend brings it around.
Nice review. I'm jealous...
PS-get some video next time your friend brings it around.
09-15-2006, 01:41 PM
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The Prototype
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Originally Posted by JRichter
Damn right its worth every penny. It's a bargain. I've seen one yellow one and it looks almost like a totally different car than the C6 and is kinda of exotic looking.
Nice review. I'm jealous...
PS-get some video next time your friend brings it around.
Nice review. I'm jealous...
PS-get some video next time your friend brings it around.
Will do!
09-15-2006, 05:05 PM
#10
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Originally Posted by DailyDriver2k5
With its effortless appeal to get to any speed, to the sweet music that comes out those pipes, its a ferocious ride when under WOT, yet tame as a RX-8 when driven normaly.
09-15-2006, 07:53 PM
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The Prototype
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Originally Posted by spork
Really? Top Gear LOVED the Z06 on the track but Clarkson said he wouldn't be able to stand it on the normal streets because it was just way too punishing...
Thats because Clarkson is a English Softy!
But for real,it is stiff, one of the stiffest rides i ever driven. You will feel every nook and cranny on a old well traveled road. But on the main drag where we drove it on, it was freshly paved , so it seemed real smooth on that particular stretch. I think "punishing" may be the wrong word to describe the suspenion on the Z-06.
Its sports car stiff, thats the only way i can really describe it. I guess if you drove in a beemer than jumped into the Z-06 then drove it, i can see why Clarkson would use those words though,but once your driving it for 10 min. you get use to it being very stiff. One thing i forgot to mention is that when driving it, it feels like a part of your body. I always like the RX-8 for that feeling too. You feel like you can do anything in that Z-06. Even when it steps out after shifting under WOT, it doesn't seem like its going to go into a fish tail ,it just corrects itself and keeps on gaining momentum!
I will tell you one thing , i told my friend , he would be a fool to drive his car without the TCS and DSC on. Its border line scary when those driving aid are on, off ... in novice hands or wrong hands with so much power under your right foot, you would be begging for trouble. I see why the mag testers test drove this car on a air strip, seriously.....Its a monster!
09-16-2006, 08:20 AM
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I agree this beast is damn nice almost perfect except I think it has too much low end torque, not that its a bad thing. I watched the Drift King drive it around Tsukuba and he had to correct the car way too many times, I would definitely crash if I drove one.
09-17-2006, 09:29 AM
#18
there was a black one at the car show I was at yesterday lowered (?!?) on gigantic HRE's, absolutely stunning, only thing more distracting was the 550 next to it lowered on Fikse's, those 2 cars along with about 4-5 others (including an SC300 with 2jz swap and a vicious Black 69 Camaro) are all owned by the same guy, must be nice to be that guy's friend lol
09-18-2006, 07:59 PM
#21
Originally Posted by DailyDriver2k5
My friend paid 88k for it, is the Z-06 worth that price of admission?
Originally Posted by DailyDriver2k5
HELL YES!Its worth every red cent! From the sound, the looks and performance level its definitely a step up from your average vette!
85 or 88 big ones (with tax) is a lot of moolah for just a vette. Yeah, it's 100 more horses than the base; and yeah, they use some cheap grade of carbon fiber for the front fenders. But in the end, you've still got a car that's part of a 7000 annual run and eventually prices will fall big, just like they did for the last gen Z.
09-18-2006, 09:23 PM
#23
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Tsuchya and the rest of the BMI crew seems to not be high on the new Z06. They ran it at the Touge and the verdict was that the handling was not linear at all, the handling would get very nervous and unpredictable around the turns. They specifically cited that the handling is not up to par compared to the likes of s2000 and 350z.
Ive always been a huge vette fan but I respect these professional GT500 drivers' oppinion a lot. But linear feedback isnt super important to me as far as everyday driving is concerned Ive seen a couple in person already, they look drop dead gorgeous.
Ive always been a huge vette fan but I respect these professional GT500 drivers' oppinion a lot. But linear feedback isnt super important to me as far as everyday driving is concerned
Ive seen a couple in person already, they look drop dead gorgeous.
09-19-2006, 06:51 AM
#24
The Prototype
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Originally Posted by playdoh43
Tsuchya and the rest of the BMI crew seems to not be high on the new Z06. They ran it at the Touge and the verdict was that the handling was not linear at all, the handling would get very nervous and unpredictable around the turns. They specifically cited that the handling is not up to par compared to the likes of s2000 and 350z.
Ive always been a huge vette fan but I respect these professional GT500 drivers' oppinion a lot. But linear feedback isnt super important to me as far as everyday driving is concerned Ive seen a couple in person already, they look drop dead gorgeous.
Ive always been a huge vette fan but I respect these professional GT500 drivers' oppinion a lot. But linear feedback isnt super important to me as far as everyday driving is concerned
Ive seen a couple in person already, they look drop dead gorgeous.
I think maybe chevy can tweak the suspension just a tad, because the minute somebody that is unfamiliar with going fast/shifting/controling a high HP car goes WOT then shifts into 2nd gear, they will get a frightful surprise of that backend stepping out on them and if they freak, they will certainly crash.
Also i will get the 8 and his Z-06 together for some pics.....it really is a beautiful car! And i am not to fond of yellow, but GM made this yelllow the SEX!!!!
Last edited by DailyDriver2k5; 09-19-2006 at 06:53 AM.
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