captainbob

Hello all, I just wanted to post a report based on owning a GT500 w/ upgrades vs. owning a 2011 GS w/ upgrades. I have owned and ran the 2011 GS w/ the 599 Eforce supercharger for nearly 2 yrs. I'm on a drag team, and run the car pretty hard. (HUGE knock on wood) I have been running consistently low to mid 11's with DR's and headers with ONLY oil changes for 2 years. My GT500 breaks several times a year. First it was the axles, then clutches, then rear end. Constantly changing plugs, and changing tires and the track a major PIA!! Continuous break downs, including engines, and drive train.. Only a couple of tenths of a second difference. Also, notable is the MPG.. Getting 24 MPG with the LS3 on the hi way, about 1/2 that with the Upgraded 5.4L in the Shelby.. Hands down a no brainer..
Although the 2013 GT500 does look much better than my 2008.. I have to say hands down the C6 2011 GS has rocked the track, and street, with very little work and major dependability... Not so with the GT500..
Just my 2 cents after years of comparing..

Rathmullan

Thank for the post Capitainbob. That's good to hear.

I think the LS3 is a better engine than credited by the general public and when integrated with other of the C6 components (including the 6L80E) I think the car becomes both a thoroubred and work horse in one!!

bladex10

Sounds like you got a lemon on the GT500..

edit: Notice it is an 08. Those cars aren't exactly popular in the performance community. Most people skipped that generation of GT500s completely and kept their Terminators until the 2010+ came out. Even more when the 2013 hit the streets. That car is hurting alot of feelings right now.

C6RaceCar

Agreed. I had an 09 with all the usual mods, and it was rock solid. Its in the tune if you are needing plugs all the time or popping the factory forged motor. And the 2013 is a 700rwhp car with like $1k in mods...so Its beastly and can deal with just about any C6 accept the very highly modded ones. There are several guys on here that like the GT500s and actually have experience with them. But for the rest trying to get the warm and fuzzies about their C6 corvettes, this is a great feel good thread. Not for me tho. I would take a 2013 GT500 over any C6 any time of the day or day of the week.

Z06LUST

2008 GT500...pleaseeee................. first generation, overweight cast iron engine, 3.31 rear grear pig car...NOT a great car- sorry. My 2012 Boss 302 will own one on a strip or roadcourse (humuliate it on a road course actually). The GT500 has gone through 3 generations since its introduction in 07.

Heck a GS without the blower will own a first generation 07-08 GT500. I know my 11 GS would...

By the way- my opinion on this is real clear--Mustang, best Pony car ever built, Corvette best american sport car ever built-outside of an original Cobra (have owned 2 C5 Zs, 1 C6 Z, 1 C6 GS, awaiting on a C7). Totally different vehicles with different purposes and audiences for the most part (I own both so I don't count in the normal audience)

Jefe's GS

Which do you own? Either?

captainbob

Well I installed 410 gears on the GT500.. Had the best tuner in the Nation tune the car with a 3.6 LC Kenne Bell.. I started with a TVS blower on the GT500 runnning low to mid 11's.. The GT500 has 780 rwhp, and However, MPG sucked, so did the handling.. Sorry pal.. I might take a 2013 GT500 on the strip with a few mods.. Anyone who understands drag racing know an A6 will be much more consistent than a manual.
I don't enjoy as much as my blown GS.. Not replacing a clutch every season is just the tip of the iceberg.. If you knew that I had to change plugs because I ran C16 race gas to get those 1/4 mile times you would have some basic knowledge of how the 5.4L obviously you don't.. But to drive it everyday like my GS problem free.. No way.. Pull up at the strip and peel off 11.3's all day long with only oil changes with the GS... REALLY DUDE??? Like I said now brainer..I have owned Many Vettes, and once believed my GT500 would always own vettes.. After many years at the track, and breaking so many frkn parts with upgrades on the GT500.. This is just some info for folks from a guy who has great passion for both cars.. Just the my experience over the years having raced, modded, and enjoyed both..
The point I'm trying to make here is that I haven't had to drop a penny into the GS for 2 yrs except oil changes vs. thousands every year with the GT500 running high 10's to low 11's.. That's all..

bladex10

Curious to know how much power you where making with the GT500?

captainbob

Is your C6 blown?? You may have a different take if you owned a blown C6?? I own both.. Trying to bang gears in a manual vs a A6?? Takes work even the pro's have a hard time doing..

captainbob

My pick is the C6 to the track, and the street.. Over the GT500.. IMHO Love both cars.. But I choose the blown GS as my FAVORITE..
775 rwhp..My pick is the C6 to the track, and the street.. Over the GT500.. IMHO

bladex10

If youre still on the stock drivetrain, i can see why everything is breaking. Just goes to show how far the GT500 has come. A pulley swap and tune W/ Drag radials on a 2013 GT500 would probably put you at similar times as youre getting now. The 07-09 GT500s SUCKED. There is a reason why they are so cheap right now. You'd probably be ALOT happier with a 2011+ GT500 .

captainbob

Hmm.. That is what I'm trying to tell everyone.. I had to replace the stock drive train on the GT500 like everyone else.. AND upgrade blower, pulley, tune, relocate sway bars, change tires at the track, change the tune, add race gas, change plugs regularly due to race gas.. And have yet to be beat by a GT500 in my GS.. Although after replacing my drive train, and many other parts on the GT500 I was able to run high 10's.. Not worth it.. IMHO.. That's all.. I'm done.. Just wanted to share years of experience..
Good luck to all..

Old Boot

Sounds to me like a man that knows... the next thing Im gunna read here is ya but ya cant take the kids shopping in the Vette!!\
LOL nice info thanks for sharing. Im hearing what you are saying.

veloz

im sure you meant at least $10K in mods.

91redragtop

I'm not gonna lie! I was trying to buy a '13 GT500 when we were shopping for a new toy, but the wife wanted another Vette! Got the GS and I LOVE it!! Happy with my choice, but it would be really cool to have both sitting in the garage!!

C6RaceCar

dont you feel foolish...


And I owned an A&A 07 c6, an 09 gt500 and now an ecs 11 GS......

All2Easy

Not starting a pissing match...Just curious....why not dump your C6 for the new GT500?

Seems to be where your heart is.

Mikado463

agreed....

with that much HP you could only manage low 11's ?? not very impressive.

my '86 Monte (712 HP @ the crank) ran 10.17 @132.7, 10.33 in DOT legal trim, cost alot less to build and I know it was far more bullet proof than either the Stang or the Vette.

oh yeah........all motor, no need for 'girly' blowers !!!

C6RaceCar

Oh that's happening as soon as I can find a buyer for my gs.

bladex10

Not even close. You must be talking about Corvette mods. A bone stock ' 13GT500 will put down 600RWHP. A pulley swap and tune will but you close to around 700RWHP.

They are monsters.