GM’s must-drive-gotta-have-it car
By Brian Chee
|
April 20, 2006
Introduction
It starts at the base of your neck. A small shiver at first, a tingle, and it travels up and down and spreads across your shoulders like a fire.And then your pulse quickens.
Your hands begin to get sweaty and your mouth dries out, yet still you push your fist toward third gear, step on the egg under your foot and there you are: between speed and sound, traveling at a force of 505 horsepower with a ribbon of torque that runs through your soul and shakes your senses like a rag doll.
You are alive, and you are behind the wheel of a 2006 Chevrolet Z06. You hit a corner, take it hard, harder than you ought to, yet the beast keeps its composure under your fingertips, keeps its bearing as it leans into the curve and breaks out into a low-slung predatory chase down the straight-away, vicious hunter on the prowl for prey. You close in, slide over, and whomp, you’re gone, the pass little more than a grunt.
In the jumbled automotive world where there’s always another great car, a better vehicle, or a hotter deal, in a world where the din from spinmasters grows to the point of insane chaos, the 2006 Chevrolet Z06 splits it, silences the clamor and cleaves that world in two: There are cars you drive. And then there are cars that drive you. Whether you should buy and drive the amazing 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 depends on which side of that divide you wish to live.
Overview
Overview With a $20,000 premium, the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 is much more expensive than the standard ‘Vette – and it may well be worth every penny.
You only need one Z06. That’s enough, especially with the impressive array of technology and engineering found in the 2006 edition. Available at a base price of $65,850, the Z06 is about $20,000 more expensive than the standard Corvette coupe.
You probably get more than $20,000 in thrills.
The 2006 Z06, after all, upgrades the ‘Vette to super car status: its new LS7 7.0-liter V8 engine (427 cubic inches for you old farts) makes 505 horsepower at 6,300 rpm and 470 lb.-ft. of twist at 4,800 rpm. That makes the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 the fastest ‘Vette ever, getting to 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds, ramming up to 198 miles per hour, and registering a decent 16 miles per gallon in the city and 26 miles on the highway according to the EPA. The engine, which is mated to a six-speed manual transmission, gets racing-bred technology such as dry-sump lubrication, and heavy-duty coolers for the power steering, gearbox, brakes and rear differential. Built on the same frame as the standard Corvette, the Z06 gets a lighter and stiffer aluminum structure, a magnesium front cradle and fixed roof panel, and carbon fiber front fenders – all of which make the Z06 faster then ever. Handling all that speed are big wheels measuring 19-inches in back and 18-inches up front, clad with Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar run-flat tires, sized 325/30ZR19 at the rear and 275/35ZR18 in front. That’s the largest wheel-and-tire combination ever offered on a Corvette. The Z06’s brakes are also bigger, with red-painted, six-piston calipers and large, cross-drilled rotors spanning 14 inches in front and 13.4 inches in back. Suspension differences include Sachs monotube shock absorbers, stiffer springs and heavy-duty struts. Exterior styling differences include a wider front fascia with a larger grille opening, an air scoop at the leading edge of the hood, wider rear fenders with flares to cover the massive rear tires, and a brake cooling scoop in front of the back wheels. There’s also a rear spoiler, unique 10-spoke wheels, four stainless steel exhaust outlets, and special badges. Inside, the 2006 Corvette Z06 loses the electric seat bolsters and power passenger’s seat in order to save weight, but upgrades the gauge cluster with the Z06 logo on the tach and a new readout on the oil pressure gauge to reflect the higher standard pressure of the dry-sump oiling system. Like other 2006 Corvettes, the Z06 has a new, smaller-diameter 370-mm three-spoke steering wheel. Seats feature two-tone leather surfaces, with Z06-logo embroidery and contrasting stitching. Standard features include high-intensity discharge (HID) lighting, fog lamps, dual-zone air conditioning, cabin air filtration, a head-up display (HUD) with track mode and g-meter, and a stereo with a CD/MP3 player. Options for the Corvette Z06 include a Bose audio system with an in-dash six-disc CD changer, XM satellite radio, polished wheels, a telescopic steering wheel, heated seats, side airbags, a navigation system, and a universal home remote.
Road Test
Road Test With 505 horsepower and 470 lb.-ft. of torque on tap, the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 competes with the best in the world, but can also take you to the grocery store in comfort.
The power of the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 is like that of a 30-foot boa constrictor. The driving force, the brute strength of it feels as though you could knock down a wall with a single, smooth and silent strike.
Don’t try that at home.
Instead, try taking the Z06 out to a track, or at least a good long open road with some twisties on either side. You’ll find that from hair-on-fire acceleration to carving a turn, it is among the most well-balanced and just plain fun cars available, at any price. While the Dodge Viper has rawer, wild power, the Z06 is more forgiving and easier to drive, despite a shifter that can be balky at times. Our drive from downtown San Diego to the Anza Borrego desert featured a little bit of everything, from city driving to lovely long straight-aways and hair-pin mountain roads. In the city, the Z06 showed its tame side, handling stop-and-go travel easily and comfortably. It took a few minutes to get in sync with the transmission’s clickety-clack shift character, but once interplay with clutch, shifter and power base was aligned, driving the Z06 proved smooth and easy. You do sit quite low in the cockpit, however, so long stretches of traffic or stop lights become quite tiresome. Then there’s the patience factor: you know what you have at your fingertips, and that darn truck is keeping you from your appointment with the Speed God…
Arrrggh. When you do make it to your appointed time, the Z06’s 7.0-liter engine is ready to play and you head straight for glory, exercising the six-speed manual transmission and dipping into its ample well of power. There’s nothing quite like it, and at just $65,800, the experience is quite a bargain: open up the throttle and the Z06 pushes you back into your seat with authority, accelerating like a sling shot but giving you the confident feeling of control. The cockpit is comfortable, and seats supportive, during aggressive driving. A major benefit is GM’s head-up display, which keeps eyeballs on the road and is very easy to adapt to; with it you rarely look down at the instrument panel. That’s a good thing, too, because the Z06 is like owning a tame tiger: you know what the beast could do, but you feel pretty good that, just as long as you keep the whip out, that tiger won’t turn. For the Z06, the whip is a stability control system that’s among the best, with a “Competition Mode” that gives the Z06 a disciplined sense of wild and crazy fun. Few people can drive the Z06, with its 505 horsepower and 470 lb.-ft. of torque, to the edge. Nor should you try, unless you’re on a track. The Competition Mode allows you to really stretch the envelope within the safe confines of the stability system, stretch your driving talent and do so in a much safer setting. But if you do something stupid, it’s not gonna save you.
There’s more to the Z06 than the price and the powertrain, however. Weight also factors into its performance. The Z06 is lighter than the regular Corvette coupe, thanks to the extensive use of carbon fiber, aluminum, and magnesium that improve stiffness and cut out some of the weight. As a result, the Z06 is more nimble, and gives a great accounting of itself during tight corners. This is not a typical straight-line-to-glory Chevy, but a true performance car in every way. General Motors says that the Z06 generates 1.04g of lateral grip, and, after a day spent whipping the thing around corners only to have its big tires mock us, we believe ‘em. Thanks to those big tires, and the Z06’s light and stiff structure, the steering is also razor sharp, with a precise feel of the road and instant response to commands. Stopping is also impressive: with 14-inch brakes up front and 13.4-inch brakes in back, the ZO6 gives excellent feel during a slow down, with prompt stopping and zero fade no matter how hard you step into it, whether on a hairpin turn or pulling up on a straight-away.
The 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 is simply a great car to drive for people who can afford the ultimate level of street power and performance, yet have never quite experienced it. For a tick under $66,000, you can take this car to Ferrari-land in just 3.7 seconds – and to the grocery store as well. That sort of combination is a rare find, and a true American jewel.
Comfort and Convenience
Comfort and Convenience Capable of handling the track and the traffic jam, the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 offers versatile service as a two-seat sports car.
If you’re looking for an iconic sports car with a premium on performance, the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 is among the most comfortable and convenient cars of its competitive set. Okay – so maybe that’s like saying if you’re looking for a party girl, Paris Hilton is a class act. But it’s true, especially when you consider that the Corvette Z06’s competition includes the Dodge Viper, with its overheated and cramped cockpit. These cars are simply not designed with comfort in mind, but, rather, performance, which makes the ‘Vette a unique player. With all that power under the hood, with all the emphasis on weight loss for the glory of performance, there’s still plenty of room inside the cabin, with ample elbow room for a two-seater and supportive, comfortable seats. Instrument panel gauges are big, sporty, stylish and easy to read, and the GM head-up display that flashes speed, rpm and other critical data on the windshield is a smart piece of technology. Stereo, environmental and secondary controls are easy to comprehend at a glance and to reach while driving, and the steering wheel – which was too big in the C6’s freshman year – has been downsized and, as a result, feels the way a sports car wheel should feel in hand. Cargo room in the back is suitable for a healthy-sized suitcase or a passel of groceries, and the quality of construction is mostly spot-on, with consistent gaps and smooth surfaces. All of that makes day-to-day living, um, livable in the Z06, even when life gets snarled in bumper-to-bumper traffic jams. It’s actually surprising how comfortable the Z06 is while barely motoring, even though cabin noise – courtesy of big tires and a revised suspension – soaks into the cabin.
That’s the good news. The bad news is that despite a significant upgrade from the previous-generation Corvette, the new Z06’s interior competes in a price range where many shoppers expect more refinement, better plastics, and a nicer design to the cockpit. Even though the leather interior is a big improvement, it still feels dark and dated. Even though construction is good and the plastics are upgraded, it still feels less-than when you consider the price tag. The seats, while comfortable and supportive, could be easier to climb into, and there is no power adjustment for the passenger’s seat – a weight-loss victim to the Z06’s performance mandate. It’s a good thing, then, that the Z06 has the marvelous burble of its 505-horsepower engine to keep disgruntled rich people happily cooing as they drive down the road.
FAQs and Specs
FAQs and Specs While the interior left us a bit wanting, the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06’s amazing performance, efficiency and value makes it a must-drive-gotta-have-it kind of car.
What’s the best thing about the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06?
Surprisingly, it’s value. First, there’s the engine, which creates 505 horsepower and 470 lb.-ft. of torque, all while keeping fuel efficiency high enough to avoid the federal gas guzzler tax. Add to that a more comfortable interior than most of its competitors and a price tag that’s significantly less at just under $66,000, and you get one heck of a car for the money.
What’s the worst thing about the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06?
To our tastes, the interior needs one more upgrade to compete with the Big Boys. Though the seats are comfortable and instrument gauges are easy to read, the interior still feels a little dated, and a turn-off for those shopping in the $70,000 market.
What’s most fun about the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06?
Really, anything to do with the streams of power that come from its 7.0-liter V8 engine, especially acceleration. Step on the throttle and the Z06 moves like an All-Pro linebacker with a clear shot at the quarterback.
SPECIFICATIONS
Test Vehicle: 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
Base Price: $65,800
Engine Size and Type: 7.0-liter V8
Engine Horsepower: 505 at 6,300 rpm
Engine Torque: 470 lb.-ft. at 4,800 rpm
Transmission: Six-speed manual
Curb Weight: 3,130 lbs.
EPA Fuel Economy (city/highway): 16/26
Length: 175.6 inches
Width: 75.9 inches
Wheelbase: 105.7 inches
Height: 49 inches
Legroom (front): 43.1 inches
Headroom (front): 38 inches
Max. Seating Capacity: Two
Max. Cargo Volume: 22 cu.-ft.
Competitors: BMW M3, BMW M6, Cadillac XLR, Dodge Viper SRT-10 Coupe, Ferrari F430, Ford GT, Porsche 911, Porsche Cayman S
Second Opinion
Second Opinion Given the Corvette Z06's performance, technology, construction, and standard features, I'm flabbergasted that the sticker price is lower than the starting price for a Porsche 911.
For miles around, nothing moves but desert scrub rustling in the warm breeze and critters skittering along the gritty floor of the Anza Borrego desert. Beyond the Corvette Z06’s trembling nose and behind its rumbling rear, blacktop writhes over the whoops and dips of the terrain. There’s no traffic. There are no black-and-white California Highway Patrol units, hulking Ford Expeditions in this region of the state. My right foot hovers above the Z06’s accelerator, then insistently revs the monstrous 7.0-liter, 505-horsepower V8. Vrroooom. Vrrrooooomm! VRRRROOOOOOMMM!!
Hammer down, clutch up, and the Z06 damn near liquefies its rear tires while shattering the tranquility of the desert. The 7,000 rpm redline arrives, but the Corvette’s not doing more than 20 mph, so I shift, stomp, and repeat. The tail slews almost all the way through second gear, so I grab third and the Z06 rockets down the highway, wailing like all the banshees in hell.
You know when you get into a Corvette Z06 that the car is going to be ridiculously fast. Chevrolet says it will run to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds – in first gear. But until you actually experience this kind of acceleration, you have no frigging idea what ridiculously fast is. Shoved into your seat, you’re pulling back on the steering and fighting g-forces to reach the shifter. And as much fun as it is to repave lonely desert highways in smoking black stripes, the Z06 is most impressive when driven with skill rather than abandon. Indeed, when the car is launched like a mature, responsible driver might, 60 mph does arrive before the shift to second, and before you can plead “Not Guilty” you’re well into triple-digit territory.
But since you can’t drive the Corvette Z06 this way in polite company, the car is docile at lower speeds. The clutch doesn’t substitute for a workout at the gym, the shifter is easy to move between gears, the suspension compliant enough that your chiropractor won’t be seeing you every 48 hours. The Corvette Z06 is more than a real sports car; it’s a real car, with useable trunk space and comfortable leather seats and automatic climate control. And check this out: The trip computer said the car was averaging 14.4 mpg, even with a flock of lead-footed journalists flogging it at every opportunity.
Given the Corvette Z06’s performance, technology, construction, and standard features, I’m flabbergasted that the sticker price is lower than the starting price for a Porsche 911. But if undercutting Zuffenhausen is why the Z06 buyer gets silver plastic trim inside rather than real brushed aluminum, I say charge more and plant some metal on that center console. The Z06 would still be a raging bargain. – Christian J. Wardlaw
Overview With a $20,000 premium, the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 is much more expensive than the standard ‘Vette – and it may well be worth every penny.
You only need one Z06. That’s enough, especially with the impressive array of technology and engineering found in the 2006 edition. Available at a base price of $65,850, the Z06 is about $20,000 more expensive than the standard Corvette coupe.
You probably get more than $20,000 in thrills.
The 2006 Z06, after all, upgrades the ‘Vette to super car status: its new LS7 7.0-liter V8 engine (427 cubic inches for you old farts) makes 505 horsepower at 6,300 rpm and 470 lb.-ft. of twist at 4,800 rpm. That makes the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 the fastest ‘Vette ever, getting to 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds, ramming up to 198 miles per hour, and registering a decent 16 miles per gallon in the city and 26 miles on the highway according to the EPA. The engine, which is mated to a six-speed manual transmission, gets racing-bred technology such as dry-sump lubrication, and heavy-duty coolers for the power steering, gearbox, brakes and rear differential. Built on the same frame as the standard Corvette, the Z06 gets a lighter and stiffer aluminum structure, a magnesium front cradle and fixed roof panel, and carbon fiber front fenders – all of which make the Z06 faster then ever. Handling all that speed are big wheels measuring 19-inches in back and 18-inches up front, clad with Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar run-flat tires, sized 325/30ZR19 at the rear and 275/35ZR18 in front. That’s the largest wheel-and-tire combination ever offered on a Corvette. The Z06’s brakes are also bigger, with red-painted, six-piston calipers and large, cross-drilled rotors spanning 14 inches in front and 13.4 inches in back. Suspension differences include Sachs monotube shock absorbers, stiffer springs and heavy-duty struts. Exterior styling differences include a wider front fascia with a larger grille opening, an air scoop at the leading edge of the hood, wider rear fenders with flares to cover the massive rear tires, and a brake cooling scoop in front of the back wheels. There’s also a rear spoiler, unique 10-spoke wheels, four stainless steel exhaust outlets, and special badges. Inside, the 2006 Corvette Z06 loses the electric seat bolsters and power passenger’s seat in order to save weight, but upgrades the gauge cluster with the Z06 logo on the tach and a new readout on the oil pressure gauge to reflect the higher standard pressure of the dry-sump oiling system. Like other 2006 Corvettes, the Z06 has a new, smaller-diameter 370-mm three-spoke steering wheel. Seats feature two-tone leather surfaces, with Z06-logo embroidery and contrasting stitching. Standard features include high-intensity discharge (HID) lighting, fog lamps, dual-zone air conditioning, cabin air filtration, a head-up display (HUD) with track mode and g-meter, and a stereo with a CD/MP3 player. Options for the Corvette Z06 include a Bose audio system with an in-dash six-disc CD changer, XM satellite radio, polished wheels, a telescopic steering wheel, heated seats, side airbags, a navigation system, and a universal home remote.
Road Test
Road Test With 505 horsepower and 470 lb.-ft. of torque on tap, the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 competes with the best in the world, but can also take you to the grocery store in comfort.
The power of the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 is like that of a 30-foot boa constrictor. The driving force, the brute strength of it feels as though you could knock down a wall with a single, smooth and silent strike.
Don’t try that at home.
Instead, try taking the Z06 out to a track, or at least a good long open road with some twisties on either side. You’ll find that from hair-on-fire acceleration to carving a turn, it is among the most well-balanced and just plain fun cars available, at any price. While the Dodge Viper has rawer, wild power, the Z06 is more forgiving and easier to drive, despite a shifter that can be balky at times. Our drive from downtown San Diego to the Anza Borrego desert featured a little bit of everything, from city driving to lovely long straight-aways and hair-pin mountain roads. In the city, the Z06 showed its tame side, handling stop-and-go travel easily and comfortably. It took a few minutes to get in sync with the transmission’s clickety-clack shift character, but once interplay with clutch, shifter and power base was aligned, driving the Z06 proved smooth and easy. You do sit quite low in the cockpit, however, so long stretches of traffic or stop lights become quite tiresome. Then there’s the patience factor: you know what you have at your fingertips, and that darn truck is keeping you from your appointment with the Speed God…
Arrrggh. When you do make it to your appointed time, the Z06’s 7.0-liter engine is ready to play and you head straight for glory, exercising the six-speed manual transmission and dipping into its ample well of power. There’s nothing quite like it, and at just $65,800, the experience is quite a bargain: open up the throttle and the Z06 pushes you back into your seat with authority, accelerating like a sling shot but giving you the confident feeling of control. The cockpit is comfortable, and seats supportive, during aggressive driving. A major benefit is GM’s head-up display, which keeps eyeballs on the road and is very easy to adapt to; with it you rarely look down at the instrument panel. That’s a good thing, too, because the Z06 is like owning a tame tiger: you know what the beast could do, but you feel pretty good that, just as long as you keep the whip out, that tiger won’t turn. For the Z06, the whip is a stability control system that’s among the best, with a “Competition Mode” that gives the Z06 a disciplined sense of wild and crazy fun. Few people can drive the Z06, with its 505 horsepower and 470 lb.-ft. of torque, to the edge. Nor should you try, unless you’re on a track. The Competition Mode allows you to really stretch the envelope within the safe confines of the stability system, stretch your driving talent and do so in a much safer setting. But if you do something stupid, it’s not gonna save you.
There’s more to the Z06 than the price and the powertrain, however. Weight also factors into its performance. The Z06 is lighter than the regular Corvette coupe, thanks to the extensive use of carbon fiber, aluminum, and magnesium that improve stiffness and cut out some of the weight. As a result, the Z06 is more nimble, and gives a great accounting of itself during tight corners. This is not a typical straight-line-to-glory Chevy, but a true performance car in every way. General Motors says that the Z06 generates 1.04g of lateral grip, and, after a day spent whipping the thing around corners only to have its big tires mock us, we believe ‘em. Thanks to those big tires, and the Z06’s light and stiff structure, the steering is also razor sharp, with a precise feel of the road and instant response to commands. Stopping is also impressive: with 14-inch brakes up front and 13.4-inch brakes in back, the ZO6 gives excellent feel during a slow down, with prompt stopping and zero fade no matter how hard you step into it, whether on a hairpin turn or pulling up on a straight-away.
The 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 is simply a great car to drive for people who can afford the ultimate level of street power and performance, yet have never quite experienced it. For a tick under $66,000, you can take this car to Ferrari-land in just 3.7 seconds – and to the grocery store as well. That sort of combination is a rare find, and a true American jewel.
Comfort and Convenience
Comfort and Convenience Capable of handling the track and the traffic jam, the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 offers versatile service as a two-seat sports car.
If you’re looking for an iconic sports car with a premium on performance, the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 is among the most comfortable and convenient cars of its competitive set. Okay – so maybe that’s like saying if you’re looking for a party girl, Paris Hilton is a class act. But it’s true, especially when you consider that the Corvette Z06’s competition includes the Dodge Viper, with its overheated and cramped cockpit. These cars are simply not designed with comfort in mind, but, rather, performance, which makes the ‘Vette a unique player. With all that power under the hood, with all the emphasis on weight loss for the glory of performance, there’s still plenty of room inside the cabin, with ample elbow room for a two-seater and supportive, comfortable seats. Instrument panel gauges are big, sporty, stylish and easy to read, and the GM head-up display that flashes speed, rpm and other critical data on the windshield is a smart piece of technology. Stereo, environmental and secondary controls are easy to comprehend at a glance and to reach while driving, and the steering wheel – which was too big in the C6’s freshman year – has been downsized and, as a result, feels the way a sports car wheel should feel in hand. Cargo room in the back is suitable for a healthy-sized suitcase or a passel of groceries, and the quality of construction is mostly spot-on, with consistent gaps and smooth surfaces. All of that makes day-to-day living, um, livable in the Z06, even when life gets snarled in bumper-to-bumper traffic jams. It’s actually surprising how comfortable the Z06 is while barely motoring, even though cabin noise – courtesy of big tires and a revised suspension – soaks into the cabin.
That’s the good news. The bad news is that despite a significant upgrade from the previous-generation Corvette, the new Z06’s interior competes in a price range where many shoppers expect more refinement, better plastics, and a nicer design to the cockpit. Even though the leather interior is a big improvement, it still feels dark and dated. Even though construction is good and the plastics are upgraded, it still feels less-than when you consider the price tag. The seats, while comfortable and supportive, could be easier to climb into, and there is no power adjustment for the passenger’s seat – a weight-loss victim to the Z06’s performance mandate. It’s a good thing, then, that the Z06 has the marvelous burble of its 505-horsepower engine to keep disgruntled rich people happily cooing as they drive down the road.
FAQs and Specs
FAQs and Specs While the interior left us a bit wanting, the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06’s amazing performance, efficiency and value makes it a must-drive-gotta-have-it kind of car.
What’s the best thing about the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06?
Surprisingly, it’s value. First, there’s the engine, which creates 505 horsepower and 470 lb.-ft. of torque, all while keeping fuel efficiency high enough to avoid the federal gas guzzler tax. Add to that a more comfortable interior than most of its competitors and a price tag that’s significantly less at just under $66,000, and you get one heck of a car for the money.
What’s the worst thing about the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06?
To our tastes, the interior needs one more upgrade to compete with the Big Boys. Though the seats are comfortable and instrument gauges are easy to read, the interior still feels a little dated, and a turn-off for those shopping in the $70,000 market.
What’s most fun about the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06?
Really, anything to do with the streams of power that come from its 7.0-liter V8 engine, especially acceleration. Step on the throttle and the Z06 moves like an All-Pro linebacker with a clear shot at the quarterback.
SPECIFICATIONS
Test Vehicle: 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
Base Price: $65,800
Engine Size and Type: 7.0-liter V8
Engine Horsepower: 505 at 6,300 rpm
Engine Torque: 470 lb.-ft. at 4,800 rpm
Transmission: Six-speed manual
Curb Weight: 3,130 lbs.
EPA Fuel Economy (city/highway): 16/26
Length: 175.6 inches
Width: 75.9 inches
Wheelbase: 105.7 inches
Height: 49 inches
Legroom (front): 43.1 inches
Headroom (front): 38 inches
Max. Seating Capacity: Two
Max. Cargo Volume: 22 cu.-ft.
Competitors: BMW M3, BMW M6, Cadillac XLR, Dodge Viper SRT-10 Coupe, Ferrari F430, Ford GT, Porsche 911, Porsche Cayman S
Second Opinion
Second Opinion Given the Corvette Z06's performance, technology, construction, and standard features, I'm flabbergasted that the sticker price is lower than the starting price for a Porsche 911.
For miles around, nothing moves but desert scrub rustling in the warm breeze and critters skittering along the gritty floor of the Anza Borrego desert. Beyond the Corvette Z06’s trembling nose and behind its rumbling rear, blacktop writhes over the whoops and dips of the terrain. There’s no traffic. There are no black-and-white California Highway Patrol units, hulking Ford Expeditions in this region of the state. My right foot hovers above the Z06’s accelerator, then insistently revs the monstrous 7.0-liter, 505-horsepower V8. Vrroooom. Vrrrooooomm! VRRRROOOOOOMMM!!
Hammer down, clutch up, and the Z06 damn near liquefies its rear tires while shattering the tranquility of the desert. The 7,000 rpm redline arrives, but the Corvette’s not doing more than 20 mph, so I shift, stomp, and repeat. The tail slews almost all the way through second gear, so I grab third and the Z06 rockets down the highway, wailing like all the banshees in hell.
You know when you get into a Corvette Z06 that the car is going to be ridiculously fast. Chevrolet says it will run to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds – in first gear. But until you actually experience this kind of acceleration, you have no frigging idea what ridiculously fast is. Shoved into your seat, you’re pulling back on the steering and fighting g-forces to reach the shifter. And as much fun as it is to repave lonely desert highways in smoking black stripes, the Z06 is most impressive when driven with skill rather than abandon. Indeed, when the car is launched like a mature, responsible driver might, 60 mph does arrive before the shift to second, and before you can plead “Not Guilty” you’re well into triple-digit territory.
But since you can’t drive the Corvette Z06 this way in polite company, the car is docile at lower speeds. The clutch doesn’t substitute for a workout at the gym, the shifter is easy to move between gears, the suspension compliant enough that your chiropractor won’t be seeing you every 48 hours. The Corvette Z06 is more than a real sports car; it’s a real car, with useable trunk space and comfortable leather seats and automatic climate control. And check this out: The trip computer said the car was averaging 14.4 mpg, even with a flock of lead-footed journalists flogging it at every opportunity.
Given the Corvette Z06’s performance, technology, construction, and standard features, I’m flabbergasted that the sticker price is lower than the starting price for a Porsche 911. But if undercutting Zuffenhausen is why the Z06 buyer gets silver plastic trim inside rather than real brushed aluminum, I say charge more and plant some metal on that center console. The Z06 would still be a raging bargain. – Christian J. Wardlaw
Photos courtesy of General Motors