Z06 is Killing it on the Nurburgring, thats stick shift

[Captain Unknown GT4]

[Phatcat]

Originally Posted by Captain Unknown GT4

SA supertest.

SA asked GM why they didn't get the automatic version for supertest (since it's faster in acceleration), GM told them the auto box is for the road while the stick shift is for the track. The horizontal radiator behind the air intake in the front skirt is a radiator for the transmission in the auto version, the same radiator is used as an additional water cooler in the manual version. So it has became clear why GM didn't want to send the auto version to SA for ring track test. SA did not experience the heat soak problem during their time with the Z06.

On the ring, the Z06 is actually ahead of the AMG GTR in the first two sector, the Z06's corner speed are similarly high or even higher than the AMG GTR, but on the straights, higher drag and long gear ratio meant the Z06 is at an disadvantage (Dottinger Hohe straight: Z06 275km/h (slower than M5 CP) vs AMG GTR 295km/h).

Z06 is a bit of hate love, the car is let down by the manual gearbox. SA actually believe if the Z06 has a shortened and fast shifting auto-gearbox, you would be looking at the new king of the ring.

[KevinM]

Can't say I'm a Corvette guy, but damn...

[Captain Unknown GT4]

Agree, no vette guy but dang this one Is fast. If the limp mode Issue Is gone Its sure a propper one now.

The stickshift Porsche 991.2 GT3 car was only 3 seconds slower on the lap than the 991.2 GT3 PDK car wich Is totaly sick..
I would not guess how far of the vette stick shift car Is vs Its auto sister. It would never be as close as Porsche anyway.

[basscadet]

First of all, could that guy sit ANY CLOSER to the steering wheel?

2 seconds faster than the Camaro ZL1 1LE which was also run as a stick.

The fact this is a non-factory driver driving a car with a manual transmission speaks volumes. If GM can ever figure out how to make an attractive car that is as fun to drive at 60mph as it is 120mph, Porsche will be in deep shit.

[phyek]

Damn, the dude has balls.

[swanson]

Originally Posted by basscadet

First of all, could that guy sit ANY CLOSER to the steering wheel?

2 seconds faster than the Camaro ZL1 1LE which was also run as a stick.

The fact this is a non-factory driver driving a car with a manual transmission speaks volumes. If GM can ever figure out how to make an attractive car that is as fun to drive at 60mph as it is 120mph, Porsche will be in deep shit.

[gmd2003]

Originally Posted by Captain Unknown GT4

Agree, no vette guy but dang this one Is fast. If the limp mode Issue Is gone Its sure a propper one now.

The stickshift Porsche 991.2 GT3 car was only 3 seconds slower on the lap than the 991.2 GT3 PDK car wich Is totaly sick..
I would not guess how far of the vette stick shift car Is vs Its auto sister. It would never be as close as Porsche anyway.

He shifted horribly , on the straight he lost 5km/hr on the 4-5 shift . My friend who is an excellent non pro driver loses 0 -1 mph on his shifts in a C7 , Z07 Z06 . Either something was wrong with the transmission or he hasn't driven a high powered manual on the ring in awhile lol . Would likely be sub 10 if they had brought the auto . Manual Z06's have not and never have had cooling issues , enough with the limp mode bs. My friends Z06 has done dozens of 30 minute sessions in 95 degree Southern heat and humidity at a near pro pace and never had an issue once and the fixed the transmission overheating issue with a cooler on the autos almost 2 years ago now . It's THE fastest out of the box trackable street car you can buy , and by far the best value .

[basscadet]

Originally Posted by swanson

-lack of steering feel
-lack of feeling connected to the car

Those are things that I feel contribute to making a car feel fun. A Cayman/911 will give you that anywhere, at any speed. In the Corvette you have to be hauling ass to make it feel alive. Long gearing doesn't help either. Drive one and you'll see. Edit - former Z06 owner. I've owned 2 actually. Stingray Z51 felt very similar. Haven't driven new Z06 but don't believe it fixes any of my issues with the cars. Won't lie, still interested in one now that the 2015's are falling well into the $60k's.

[basscadet]

Originally Posted by gmd2003

He shifted horribly , on the straight he lost 5km/hr on the 4-5 shift . My friend who is an excellent non pro driver loses 0 -1 mph on his shifts in a C7 , Z07 Z06 . Either something was wrong with the transmission or he hasn't driven a high powered manual on the ring in awhile lol . Would likely be sub 10 if they had brought the auto . Manual Z06's have not and never have had cooling issues , enough with the limp mode bs. My friends Z06 has done dozens of 30 minute sessions in 95 degree Southern heat and humidity at a near pro pace and never had an issue once and the fixed the transmission overheating issue with a cooler on the autos almost 2 years ago now . It's THE fastest out of the box trackable street car you can buy , and by far the best value .

It is the best value track car provided you have a stick and don't experience the countless heat soak issues that have plagued the 2015-2016 models.

It sounds like GM believes the garbage torque converter tranny can't handle track abuse (or the auto cooler inhibits engine cooling, the article postulates). This is what they get for pinching pennies in the development cycle and not putting a real DCT transmission in there. They are literally robbing 5+ seconds off these track times by not having a modern transmission in the car.

[CirrusSR22]

The even-faster ZR1 will be here soon. That'll have an automatic (of some sorts).

[nicknaz]

Awesome car, and definitely on my list of "must haves"

[OhioRiderAaron]

Great time! Lots of great cars available to us, it's actually a bit crazy what you can buy under 100k these days!

I was not surprised at all when I saw his struggling with the shifts. That damn 7spd can be pretty vague and shitty (esp. 3rd and 5th shifts for some reason). The first C7 I drove I looked like him (all be it driving around time lol), and the second I drove recently was a C7 Z06 and it shifted totally fine, felt like a totally different tranny. Not sure what it is, maybe higher mileage car with more wear, but not totally surprised to see even a professional struggling with it.

[Fake News 2017]

Originally Posted by basscadet

If GM can ever figure out how to make an attractive car that is as fun to drive at 60mph as it is 120mph, Porsche will be in deep shit.

Chevy will never figure out how to make an attractive interior

[kitesurfer]

No Doubt the new ZR1 will be the King of the Ring

[ASAP]

Here is the problem with Vettes... the vehicle itself is a stellar performer and sounds great but everything about the car ends there.

1) Vettes are everywhere... everywhere.
2) The design got boring after about 1 year since there was so many of these cars around.
3) All out, the car is fun... just driving around at 5/10, the car is zero fun.
4) The auto transmission should not be within a mile of this car... it sucks ass.
5) The interior is not a good place to be... its better than before, but you dont want to be there too long, and yet its a 100K car.
6) its a large car with a long hood, it makes the car feel like a truck.
7) go to a car meet, and look at the crowd driving Vettes, it is always the same
8) Z06 resale values took a massive shit after the limp issues and factory discounts

[MaynardZed]

Originally Posted by basscadet

First of all, could that guy sit ANY CLOSER to the steering wheel?

2 seconds faster than the Camaro ZL1 1LE which was also run as a stick.

The fact this is a non-factory driver driving a car with a manual transmission speaks volumes. If GM can ever figure out how to make an attractive car that is as fun to drive at 60mph as it is 120mph, Porsche will be in deep shit.

Originally Posted by gmd2003

He shifted horribly , on the straight he lost 5km/hr on the 4-5 shift . My friend who is an excellent non pro driver loses 0 -1 mph on his shifts in a C7 , Z07 Z06 . Either something was wrong with the transmission or he hasn't driven a high powered manual on the ring in awhile lol . Would likely be sub 10 if they had brought the auto . Manual Z06's have not and never have had cooling issues , enough with the limp mode bs. My friends Z06 has done dozens of 30 minute sessions in 95 degree Southern heat and humidity at a near pro pace and never had an issue once and the fixed the transmission overheating issue with a cooler on the autos almost 2 years ago now . It's THE fastest out of the box trackable street car you can buy , and by far the best value .

Sitting close to the steering wheel puts less strain on your shoulders and arms, reducing fatigue. Ever see where the steering wheel is on a NASCAR stock car?

I thought he shifted fine through most of it. Little slow on the final straightaway yes. Nevertheless takes a lot of balls and skills to put a lap down like that.

[clutchdj]

Originally Posted by MaynardZed

Sitting close to the steering wheel puts less strain on your shoulders and arms, reducing fatigue. Ever see where the steering wheel is on a NASCAR stock car?

I thought he shifted fine through most of it. Little slow on the final straightaway yes. Nevertheless takes a lot of balls and skills to put a lap down like that.

Yes sir. As ridiculous and slightly uncomfortable it may be seem, it's the only way to properly drive fast (or sideways, going fast) as his shoulders never came off the seat.

[turbo8765]

Originally Posted by ASAP

Here is the problem with Vettes... the vehicle itself is a stellar performer and sounds great but everything about the car ends there.

1) Vettes are everywhere... everywhere.
2) The design got boring after about 1 year since there was so many of these cars around.
3) All out, the car is fun... just driving around at 5/10, the car is zero fun.
4) The auto transmission should not be within a mile of this car... it sucks ass.
5) The interior is not a good place to be... its better than before, but you dont want to be there too long, and yet its a 100K car.
6) its a large car with a long hood, it makes the car feel like a truck.
7) go to a car meet, and look at the crowd driving Vettes, it is always the same
8) Z06 resale values took a massive shit after the limp issues and factory discounts

I've owned countless BMWs including but not limited to an e36 M3, e46 M3, and two e92 M3s. I driven most everything they've made over the last 20 years... including the latest M3, M4, M5, M6, X5M, X6M etc etc etc.

I currently own a Z06.

By the numbers, I'm a BMW fanboy.

The Z06 is fun as nuts at 5/10ths. It's fun as nuts anywhere. The only downside on the street is the gearing is tall, so you don't get to do many red line shits (if you like having a license). On the other hand, it makes 480 ft-lbs at idle and the torque peak is just over 3k, so you don't have to rev it out to have a shit ton of fun.

On the track, the only car I've had as much fun in as my Z06 is an s2000.

Brand hate is a bit tired.

[WarrENDeatH]

How does the Vette hang with the M4? I've been looking. I think I'd rather take a CPO M4 still though for creature comforts.

[M-Pilot]

Originally Posted by WarrENDeatH

How does the Vette hang with the M4? I've been looking. I think I'd rather take a CPO M4 still though for creature comforts.

Z06 vs M4? Lol, M4 has no chance and will be lost in Vette's rearview mirror.

[Dethsupp0rt]

Originally Posted by WarrENDeatH

How does the Vette hang with the M4? I've been looking. I think I'd rather take a CPO M4 still though for creature comforts.

I have more creature comforts in my ZL1 than I had in my M3 (magnetic ride, ventilated seats, Android Auto, etc.) The M3 interior is better overall though, no denying that.

As far as the M4 hanging with the Z06? I used to say the M3 pulled like a train, which I guess it did, but this thing is on another level.