Rex Ruby

I have an opportunity acquire a 1995 ZR1. I would have to sell my 2006 to fund this acquisition. I have a buyer for my 2006 lined up. My 2006 has 40K on it and is fairly well sorted out, recently put new Michelins on and I really like this one. The ZR1 is a low mile 16K second owner car. I had it inspected today and it needs some minor paint work, a major detailing, tires, complete fluid change and probably a plenum pull to replace the vacuum hoses. I had a '94 ZR1 for 10 years that was a lot of fun. Financially it's just about a break even not counting my time.

What would you do?
Keep the C6 or get into the ZR1?

jbc1995fb

What would be your plans with the ZR1? Do you plan on keeping it for 10+ years like your '94? Why did you get rid of the '94 in the first place? Was it to buy the 2006? Do you want a ZR1 for nostalgia?

Lastly, I would imagine the ZR1 will always be worth more than a base 2006.

I've always wanted a '74 (year I was born), a '96 C4 LT4 from when I was in college, and a 2001 Z06. I currently have a 2012 GS. I don't think I would get rid of the 2012 to get any of those.

I'm not sure basing your decision on what people on a forum recommend is the best route to go, but it does make for an interesting thread.

Best of luck in what ever you decide.

Patsgarage

This. If you want a "cool" car to drive on sunny weekends the ZR1 would fit the bill, but if you want something to drive semi regularly keep the C6.

h8snow

Owned several of both. Keep the C6. Keep the C6.

HBsurfer

1995 ZR1 for me. Not even close.

Iceaxe

C6 for me, not even close.

FWIW - I do a lot of cruise-ins and car shows with my 70. 99.9% of the population has no clue what a C4 ZR1 is, at any car show it's just another plain C4 that everyone walks by without giving it a second look.

warren s

C6 ...

I know your history with C4s, and I had 2 myself. I always loved the look of the C4, not bad angle on it, cant say the same for the C6, but overall ride and comfort is no comparison. Go anywhere any time in a C5 to C7, and even the wife cant complain... C4? - not so much... I dont miss how removing the roof and needing it securely bolted in place keep the car from twisting....

FAUEE

I currently have a c6 GS and a c4 lt1. They're very different cars. In your case, the power would not be very different, so that's sort of a wash. What will be different is the experience. The c4 is a MUCH more direct platform, way more analog. It's a lot less refined too, so the C6 is superior for cruising, but the c4 is vastly superior for beating it up around town and having fun.

A 95 zr1 is a rare and collectible car. It'll likely not go down in value. That said, for me, it's too low mile and collectible. If I bought a c4 zr1 I would want one a little older and a little more miles, so I could drive it without worrying about speculative value and stuff. I would want to be able to have it all ported up to 500hp without knowing I torpedoed the value of my mint collector car.

So I guess what I'm saying is, yes I would get rid of an early c6 for a c4 zr1. Just not THAT ZR1. I'd get one older I would be free to fiddle with and drive.

JABCAT

The 2 C4s I’d own would be the Grand Sport & ZR1, and I’d take either over a Base of any Gen after them. I don’t drive my Vettes very often so I’m not worried about racking up miles, and I prefer the special or rarer versions of each Gen if I’m going to buy them.

Good luck with your decision

Dano523

Huge fan of the ZR-1's LT5 powerplant for the time, but it still built on a C4 chassis; which both are really dated.
So even a Base C6 with LS3 will out power/out handle the it, and not my idea of a collection piece instead.
Having said that, and looking for a collection piece to just take up room in the garage/few car shows a year, would be looking at maybe another C2 or something else instead. Hence had a 63 split window through college, and the reason it was sold off, for a driver was just too expensive for repair parts with the mileage I was putting on it each year.

So really, If I was looking for something to take up space in the garage, would be may a old SL Gullwing, Volvo P1800, 356C, or something along those lines.
Hence the C4 Zr1 is not really old enough to be considered a collector that is going to turn any heads in the first place, and more of a gap filler if one is stocked through the years with all the other vets to start with instead.

ClothSeats

Tough decision. The base C6 is nothing remarkable, but the 95 ZR1 has the downside of difficulty of getting parts for the ZF 6 speed and the LT5 engine due to low production numbers.

EvanZR1

It really depends on what you want it for. For a "weekend" car driven to shows, lunch with buddies or just going out for a fun drive, the ZR-1 is a blast. If you're going to use it more than that or for longer trips, then it becomes more questionable. The C6 is a much more "livable" car for more frequent use and for trips. Also, do you like working on your own cars? C4 ZR-1s are getting old, even a 95 is 26 years old at this point. On top of that there's not many people that really know ZR-1s (although you are reasonably close to a couple good ones in Chicago), so you're going to have to do your own work (which it sounds like you're aware of). I love my 91, especially with all the mods, but it always seems like there's something that needs attention, which is just par for the course with an old car. People tend to forget how much degradable parts (rubber, plastics, gaskets, etc) have improved over the last few decades, which makes the C6 the better choice even as it ages.

Having said all that, the C4 ZR-1 is a really fun car to drive. It's very direct and raw and loves to rev. And when you go to a show and raise the hood, it always draws a crowd. I've parked next to C6 ZR1s, C7 ZR1s, Ferraris, McLarens, etc, and often still had more people around the C4 ZR-1 staring at the LT5.

EvanZR1

It's not an issue. This comes up all the time, but there's good sources for anything you need for both the LT5 and the ZF.

Topduarte

ZR-1 for me. No questions.

LilNutSac

Not sure if serious..

GS982

I'll reiterate what several others have said. I drive my fun cars 500-2,000 miles a year, and I would pull the trigger on the ZR-1 in a heartbeat! If it were going to be my daily, C6 is a way more comfortable car, and I would hate to rack up those sort of miles on a rare '95 ZR-1. IMO collectible C-4s have hit their bottom dollar and are only going up from here. '95 ZR-1 is one of my bucket list cars! Good luck!

Red Greene

😆🤣😅 That sh!#ts funny !

_zebra

hmm... run-of-the-mill C6 that every college kid is getting his hands on nowadays or a low-production, almost-collector-status car?
the fact that your '06 only has 40k on it says enough - you don't drive it that often, so mileage shouldn't be a worry. those fix-up items on the Z are all normal expectations for an old car anyway.

still trying to understand the debate.

_zebra

granted this is coming from a guy with an instantly-recognizable paint job, but i'd still prefer the subtlety of the ZR-1 because those who know appreciate it & those who don't wouldn't care anyway.

JD'S WHITE 93

I have never been a fan of sitting next to my sports car in a parking lot, or cared what anyone in the parking lots thinks of my car as I drive by......