Nathan Plemons

With all this talk about "upgrading" to a C5 I thought I'd just see how people compare the ZR-1 to the Z06. Raw horsepower wise the two are very close. The ZR-1 falls short in the handling department when compared to a Z06 though.

I'm not sure about the production numbers but it seems like the Z06 is a dime a dozen while the ZR-1 was almost impossible to get even when they were new.

Leave all the C4 vs C5 debate out of the equation. Ultimately which car will be remembered as the bigger legend? IMHO it's the ZR-1, no contest. Afterall it had a completely different powerplant while the LS6 is just a hopped up LS1. What do you think?

1989redvette

i think the ZR1 ..it is a lot rarer or seems to be any how.. the LT5 is a very ahead of its time motor and is still a threat.. just my opinion

LT1Vetteguy78

i gotta say the z06, just cause all the hype it gets from Motor Trend and the way they compare the Z06 to Exotics and Vipers....while i think the Zr-1 is the King of the Hill, times change and the z06 is the king of the mountain.....

scorp508

The Z06 in my mind doesn't go far enough. The ZR1 honestly destroyed the competition out there during its time. The Z06 is a slightly hopped up C5 which yes does beat its competition, but doesn't pummel it into the ground. I think the C6 performance model that comes out is going to be the real deal to take the crown from the ZR1.

rocco16

Which would I rather have a ride in? ZR-1.
Which would I rather own? Z06.

Larry

smokeyburnouts

i agree somewhat. i think the ZR1 has more of a mystique to it, which is really cool. but people already, for the most part, consider the Z06 alot better car, so i bet the general public and even most vette enthusiests consider the Z06 king of the hill. i voted ZR1. for its time just an amazing car, the engine is so sweet. sure the z06 is a "better" overall race car, but i hate how the ZR1 is almost obsolete in most ppls eyes. it deserves much more credit.

bogus

The ZR1 may be more rare, but the Z06 is more accessable. The power is the same, but the Z06 is faster... better traction... better handling... better chassis.

Time will tell, but the Z06 is already eclipsing the ZR1.

96 Collector Edition

Scoob

I currently have a '90 ZR1. I love it. It handles great, has tons of power, sounds incredible at wot, looks great, and will kick the snot out of 99% of the cars out there.

In a little more than 2 years I will have the opportunity to snag an '04 Z06 coming off lease.

I will answer the door.

Edit: As for which will go down in history, imho, the ZR1 is more historically significant in the Corvette story.

Aaron71771

Once you've heard that LT5 scream at 7,000 RPMS at the top of 3rd and you are blasting thru 120mph like its nothing - you will never be the same.

The Z06 is a great corvette, the ZR-1 at 100+mph is a life changing expirence.

90 Corvette ZR-1

I have a friend who just bought a Z06 and hates it. He said he likes his ZR-1 more.

ShawnZR-1

By the sheer number of books and articles written on the ZR-1, and the original owner of the title of "King of the Hill", I'd say it will live on in infamy. Hell, they are still comparing cars to the ZR-1 in magazines.

I must also point out that of all of the engines that GM has ever put into production, the LT5 is the only one that has been a Corvette exclusive.

That being said, I'll own a Z06 in the future, but it will be parked right next to my ZR-1!

tempest

in an apples to apples technical comparison, i would choose the Z-06.

when the ZR-1 came out, it was amazing for its time, but the base Corvettes then had such a handicap with emissions standards that it is not a wonder that a DOHC 4 valves/cyl will kick the power up 130 HP.

the Z-06 on the other hand, it managed to squeeze an extra 50 horses or so from the same engine configuration as the base, which was no slouch itself.

where the Z-06 really scores brownie points in my book is its attention to weight reduction. it's near 8 lbs/hp is absolutely world class.

however....still to me ZR-1 = "King of the Hill." that particular term, in my mind, is not a position to be won, but a nickname already used for the ZR-1. GM marketing or the car magazines just need to find another nickname for the Z-06.

FASTAZU

The Z06 may be Quicker but not Faster than a ZR-1

all4c4lt4

We'll see in 14 if anyone is comparing the Z06 to the then present day corvette. With the base model C6 boasting performance numbers similar to a current Z06, I highly doubt a the Z06 will have the history and mystique of the ZR-1. Will future production corvettes out-perform the ZR-1? Certainly. But the ZR-1 has such a great history, and was such a significant step forward for the corvette (and GM) in performance for the sports car world, it will always be the King of the Hill.

Mikez40

Well first off , to answer your poll, The ZR-1 has already gone down in history as the "KING of the HILL". So that will never change. The Z06 never erned that title. Now with the C6 Z06 on the way, the C5 Z06 will be history with out ever eraning the title of KOTH.

With that said, since I already have ZR-1, I would love to own a Z06, if only I had the garage space. But I would not give up my ZR-1 for a Z06.

To simply put it, the Z06 is a C5 with a little more HP, The ZR-1 well, its a Legend!

GoodbyeGirl

onedef92

I'd love to own an LT-5 someday!

jvette44

Definitely ZR-1!! It made the rest of the auto world wake
up and realize horsepower is a good thing and will not destroy
Mankind!! ZO6 is great but ZR-1 is Legendary!!

rjetrider

I've seen a lot of these posts and after reading them you'll notice the guys that own both mostly choose the ZR-1. My friend has a 90' ZR-1 and a 2003 Z06 and would burn his Z06 before selling his ZR-1.