Truth About Cars (Huge Critic of GM) Raves About Corvette Z06
 

These guys hate GM, and even host a site called 'GM Deathwatch.'

They rave about the Z06, though, and in truth, who doesn't?

LINK TO REVIEW

4 April 2006
By Sajeev Mehta


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"You have the car everyone wants right now." Souls are ice-skating in Hell. Pigs are airborne. The guy handing the Corvette Z06 the ultimate accolade wasn't a sixty-year-old Midwestern mid-life muscle car maniac. It was a BMW M3 owner fresh from the track at the Motorsport Ranch roadcourse in Houston. General Motors may be on Death Watch, but its Chevrolet-branded halo car has, after 53-years, ascended to the top of the honest-to-God sports car category. Of course, even Euro-snobs are susceptible to baseless hype. Well guess what? The Z06 is all that, and more.

Unless you’re looking for pretty. In ideal lighting, the Z06' form evokes all the sleek, thrusting glamour of a 550 Maranello. Take off the beer goggles and it’s a bit of a mess. Peep the bulging carbon-fiber fenders, hood scoop and brake cooling ducts: items longing for Pininfarina’s magical powers of integration. The matte black "Gurney Lips" (mud flaps) stand out like a fanny-pack'd tourist strolling the Louvre. Tacked-onto on the C6 Vette's clumsy profile, the performance-oriented addenda create an unsightly blend of hard edges and undefined curves, not to mention a posterior straight from the Sir Mix-A-Lot School of Design.
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The exterior may be a challenge to skin deep beauty theorists, but the Z06 interior gets it done. Dual-zone climate control, XM radio, in-dash navigation and power everything supplies sufficient indulgence. The cabin's soft-touch petroleum byproducts are another giant step-up from the brand's Avis-grade interiors. (The door panels alone would make some wikkid kicks.) The 'Vette's heads-up display provides useful eye candy, and can be switched off faster than you can say "i-Drive." Metal grilles hide seven crackalackin’ Bose speakers. Pump up the volume via chrome-ringed knobs that move with Teflon-coated precision. Yes, this is still a road test of a GM product.

Close the Z06’ portals and the side windows bury themselves deep inside ample weather stripping (finally ending the dreaded Corvette triple digit howl). A new three-spoke wheel supersedes last year's headless doughboy, though the thin rim can’t match a BMW M-series’ beefcake hula-hoop. The seats also need to leave Atkins behind and hit the pasta bar. Cushions this flat, short and lacking in lateral support belong in a Monte Carlo, not a car boasting a Nürburgring-fettled pedigree. And just in case you forgot that the Z06 hails from the Land of Lawsuits, the GM parts-bin rearview mirror brightly shines "PASSENGER AIRBAG ON/OFF."
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Once underway, the Z06' compliant ride and docile demeanor help the uber-'Vette mount a convincing challenge to the 911 for everyday drivability. The 'Vette's peanut butter smooth idle, dual-stage exhaust system (from mild to monster), light but accurate steering (with a welcome improvement in on-center feel) and mid-weight clutch will endear it to unrepentant boulevardiers and brand loyal commuters. Aside from the Goodyear run-flats’ tendency to holla back over rough pavement, it’s hard to fault the Z06' civility. A real world twenty-nine mpg at 75mph seals the deal.

Pull the trigger on the Z06' 7.0-liter powerplant and it's clear pushrod proletariats needn’t take a backseat to OHC elitists: the ‘Vette’s burbling aluminum/titanium masterpiece provides unadulterated four-cycle fun. Switch to "Competitive Driving Mode," put your foot down and unleash the beast. Massive low end grunt belies the 7000rpm redline, pinning your spine to the seat back at any engine speed. Quick? Only in the same sense that a photon is sprightly. Accelerating from zero to sixty takes just 3.7 seconds, while a quarter mile deducts a mere 11.8 seconds from your lifespan.
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An aluminum, magnesium and carbon-fiber diet has significantly improved the donor car’s turn-in and cornering poise. And why not? The 505hp Z06 weighs three hundred and sixty-four pounds less than the 480hp next gen Porsche Turbo. Missile the Z06 into a turn and its run-flats stick with supernatural tenacity, carving corners with uncanny balance and, most deliciously of all, the option of a predictable power slide exit. [Traction control aversive greenhorns beware: you'll trim the landscape the hard way with even a little extra throttle.] The Z06’ brakes are equally astounding, equally reliable. Lap after lap, manhole-cover sized discs serve-up bottomless cups of stopping power java. Much to the dismay of the folks at Hurst, even the short-throw shifter is perfect.

In short, the Z06 is the best vehicle to come out of General Motors in decades. Which begs the question: how can such a fantastic vehicle come from such a horribly flawed organization? The fact that combative Corvette project manager Dave Hill capped his career with this car is one possible explanation-- and a stark warning that the Z06 may represent a Pyrrhic victory for a terminally ill automaker. If so, there’s no question: the manufacturers of “America’s sports car” saved the best for last.



Author's Rating

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Summary:
The silver lining in GM's dark cloud.

Chevrolet Corvette Z06
Design ****
Performance *****
Ride *****
Handling *****
Desirability *****



Model Tested: Chevrolet Corvette Z06
Curb Weight: 3130 lbs.
Engine: 7.0L LS7 V-8, OHV, 2 Valves per cylinder
Horsepower: 505 hp @ 5000 rpm
Torque: 475 lb-ft @ 3750 rpm
Drive Type: rear wheel drive
0 to 60: 3.7 secs.
1/4 Mile: 11.8 secs. @ 123.5 mph
Price as Tested: $70,820
Top Speed: 190 mph (est)
Towing Capacity: NA
MPG: 16/ 26

GM has had an unorthodox marketing philosophy with the Corvette that dates back to the 60s, 'if it's expensive, it has to be good'

It's a great car...basically (virtually) perfect in every way.

That's why when that driver from Japan put the Vette behind a bunch of cars...I call...

"Anglo hate" instead of a impartial review of a cars skills.

Just my opinion, I don't know the guy...but he is basically alone in calling the Vette something to hard to handle or not a good track car.

It’s a Beast…something us American’s should take pride in. Even…us none-native Americans…lol.

Totally disagree. For what you're getting, the new Z06 is cheap.

In the world of supercars, I don't think there can be any legitimate question that the Z06 is, by miles, the best value out there.

And yes, it performs exactly like a supercar does. Don't let the plebian price fool you.

The corvette is proof GM can do it right, why they can't replicate this ability to other vehicles is sad.

The corvette (even in base form) is the best performance buy on the market, and unlike the EVO and Sti, I like the looks. A base vette will hand nearly everything on the street its ass in a straight line and a corner.

My favorite part, is the engine. People bitch about pushrod being old school, but the engine is more powerful, lighter, cheaper, more fuel efficient and more tuner friendly than any high strung DOHC V8 on the market. Figure that out. I think the only thing a DOHC engine may have on the LS series is better emissions.

The corvette gives me hope that GM may actually turn themselves around and figure out how to make real cars.

How could you possibly say it's virtually perfect in every way? Have you driven it? or sat in it?

People on an Rx-8 forum should know that there is far more to a car than the numbers. In terms of absolute performance, it seems the Z06 is on par or above many more expensive sports cars. But, I have yet to be convinced the Z06 has the same qualitative and even the intangible attributes as those more expensive cars.

this car is pretty high tech. saw one at a local meet and talked w/the owner about just the computer stuff. things like the fob, and the computer control of the car(the car has preset limits until it is broken in) and a couple other things.

id love to have one but would probably buy a turbo porsche first(just something about a porsche).

Yeah, I agree that thing is no Ferarri. It just doesn't have that level of refinement that those cars have. Some will say that refinement is for fancy pants Europeans, but these people probably have never driven one of these more expensive super cars.

However, what the Z06 appears to do for the price is phenomenal. It's a daily driver supercar -- just minus a few refinements. I honestly think that if GM wanted to up the price $10k, they could make a lot of those discrepancies disappear elevating the Z06 to an extrordinary status.

Of course, they'd probably have to hire someone from Italy to do it :yelrotflm

I have never driven the ZO6.....but I did sit it one at NAIAS this year and it wasn't bad......almost exactly the same inside as the base C6. I spent about 30 mins looking over every detail of the car and for the money it is a great buy......however, the build quality is no where near that of $100K+ supercars. When you close the door the bottom of the door shakes and so does the rocker area. That was strange to me considering the base C6 was parked next to it and didn't have the same issue. Not sure if this was a condition of weight reduction or not. I agree with TTAC about the 'after thought' scoops and vents that could have been done a whole lot better. The body of the ZO6 looks like a kit they stuck on a base C6 instead of a well designed big brother it should have been.

Either way.....If I had the cash, I would get this car over anything else in the same price range.

The door shaking is a function of weight reduction, AFAIK.

To compensate for some of the bits of weight they took out of the Z06, Chevy enhanced the structural rigidity of the chassis by using hydroformed rail tubing, which is incredibly strong and phenomenally resistance to flex.

I agree!!!

The short answer is YES…the long one is on a short track at the Autoshow in motion.

The question is…have you driven it?

Bascho…your Ford loyalties are showing….lol (I wouldn’t question GM’s quality when Ford’s…aint nothing to brag about, lol) But…buddy, I’m just messing with you. I think it’s quality is pretty good but I’ve never been in one of those 100K cars to compare.

Just messing buddy...lol.

I don't try to hide it :) I bleed Ford blue and proud of it. :ylsuper:


But really, I wasn't knocking the ZO6 because it's better than anything Ford has to offer within $50k of it's sticker price. I do think the FORD GT is a higher quality build......but it's expected at $150K sticker price.....not to mention it's mostly assembled by Saleen.

My biggest complaint about the ZO6 quality is just that it seems worse than the base C6 which I thought was a pretty solid car.

Ha. Well, I guess you have enough experience to claim the car to be virtually perfect.
Nope. I sat in it. Kicked the tires. The real question is, what have you driven that you can compare it to?

Gosh...that would be very strange??? Why in the world would the base C6 appear to have better quality...very strange but possible. Maybe they rushed the Z06 to market or something.

Hmmm...


Ahh...my friend, that's where you got me (lol). I have not had the joy of driving an exotic other than the Z06.

True that...

To me, my opinion, it's near perfect because there isn't much to complain about with the Z06. Performance, daily driving characteristics, agility, and price are impossible to match by any car out there.

But I know...unless GOD is making a car, I don't think there is a perfect one out there. We all will have our own "taste" of what is the best or what we consider near perfect.

i understand all the rave about the price & performance of the vette, and i can acknowledge that it's impressive for an american co. to finally get a sports car right in the eye of critics. but, like everyone's been saying here, we each have our own tastes & opinions. and, to me, no matter how they try to redesign it, the vette still looks like a disproportionate ugly flat pancake wedge with eye balls. just not my cup of tea, even if u could launch a nuclear missile off it. <shrugs>

I've never driven a Vette that had good steering feel and communicated to the driver well, and I've driven everything from a split window Stingray to a C5, maybe the C6 is better but from what I've heard that's not really the case. It may put up supercar numbers but I doubt it has supercar feel.

True, but the Z06's sticker still isnt exactly cheap.

Ike,
My '64 Stingray with manual steering has the most steering feel possible, and communicates too well.

Yet I will agree, when I drove a 2005 Vette, I was unimpressed with the rubbery steering feel.

I was 16 when I drove one and most of my driving experience at that point was in a race kart so I could be wrong. Maybe the tires on the car at the time played a big roll as well, it had some pretty narrow whitewalls on it IIRC.

Are you saying it isn't a performance bargain? I don't know how cheap you expect to get world class handling and performance.

I think he's saying bargain or not, it's still out of reach of most people.

The vette (especially a Z06) wasnt made/priced for most people to actually afford.... just to give most people "hope" ....

like having a wet dream about the cute girl next door.... yeah its possible if you play your cards right - you definitely have a better chance of getting with her than with a super model (ferrari, lambo..) but realistically the odds still arent too much in your favour ... but you never know and thats what keeps you going :)

There are doubts here, too...I've never even seen one, but I find it hard to believe that it is "super-car" material.

Of course it isn't. It starts @65K.

To say that the Vette doesn't have extremely strong intangible qualities (such as heritage) is pretty far off base. The Corvette is an American icon.