jlamb01

Guys I know this has been discussed to death, but I'm still gonna take my chances and ask it anyway. I'm new to the forum, but I own a 08 zo6 and am looking to either buy a new 2012 zo6 or bite the bullit, spend the extra 35,000 and buy a zr1.

I will be honest with u guys in saying that I am looking for a reason not to spend the extra money and stick with the zo6. But I am afraid that if I do get the zo6 I am gonna wish I would have just bit the bullit and went ahead and spent the extra money and be done with it.


My question is, and I hope the owners of both won't be deterred from responding honestly. My son is a gm at a chevy dealership in denver colorado and he says their is night and days difference in the performance of the two. He says I will regret not buying the r1. Again my question is, is he right. And thank u for your help.

Racer

I have had both and he is right. Some Z06 only guys will want you to believe other wise, but I would tend to believe people who ACTUALLY own/ed both.
Enjoy your ZR1.

whatcop?

I just traded in my Z06 last week for a ZR1. So far I am happy with it and it is a big improvement. I did a full 3rd gear pull yesterday and it made me giggle like a little school girl. lol

camirocz

You ve had a z06. Why trade for the same car? Get a zr1, and be done with it.Enjoy.

JDRacing

Lots of folks on this forum went from a Z06 to a ZR1 and never looked back. Yeah, it's more money (but I don't think the difference is $35,000 given the forum dealer discounts on both 2011 and 2012's), but as much as I loved my Z06, the ZR1 is a better car in almost every way.

Obviously everyone on this forum is biased towards a ZR1, but if you can swing it financially, you'll realize the difference on the ride home from picking it up.

Lawdogg

In comparing a "base" Z06 to a ZR1, the extra power, brakes, tires, and better suspension of the ZR1 cannot be ignored and are, for many, worth the extra dollars. But, if you were to compare a Z06 carbon that has the ZR1 suspension, tire, and brakes to a ZR1 there becomes only two real differences: the ZR1's extra power and the styling differences which would mainly be the ZR1 window hood. The price then becomes much closer also. If I had the bucks, I'd go for the Carbon because I like naturally aspirated motors and hoods without windows. But that's just my opinion. I would imagine the torque curve of the ZR1 alone would be worth the cost of admission for a lot of people.

careyj1inalamo

Find a new 2011 ZR1, best deal currently. ZR1 is the best corvette ever produced. Don't miss out.

jlamb01

Thanks guys, its been really helpful. I'm trying the zo6 guys and seeing what they have to say. I'll keep u posted.

Jimmy Z

Once upon a time there was this guy (me)he purchased a 2007 Z06. i kept it for two years, it was a fantastic car but I still had the desire for a ZR1.
Well, one day while driving past my local chevy dealership (in the Z06).
I was flagged by the same salesperson that sold me the Z06. He said this is your lucky day...........and so it was!
One hour later I was driving home in my dream car. I got the trade-in I wanted and the deal I wanted on the ZR1 and I'll live happier ever after.
Buy the ZR1.......it's only money.

Merry Christmas

355Spider

I owned 2 Z06s(06/08) and a 2010 ZR1 and yes it is a much better car. The brakes and suspension are worth the price. It's not much faster at all. As to whether it's worth it or not really depends on your financial situation which non of us can tell you.

Gary '09 C6

don't trade for another Z06...despite improvements/refinements for each succeeding model year,
it's still the same engine (which is a true mighty beast in its own right !!)

go for the ZR1 if you can swing it financially...it rocks !

rob62

Not gonna say what you should do but I've had 2nd thoughts on my ZR1.I think I should have gone the Callaway route on my G.S.vert and been done with it.I simply don't/cant use the ZR1 for what it's designed for.THE TRACK!!!Good luck.

range96

Why can't you use your ZR1 for the track?

range96

There isn't much (if any) difference between the 08 Z06 and the new Z06 unless you opt for the Z07 package. That would bring the Z06 closer to the ZR1 in performance (minus the extra power/torque), but the price difference would be much smaller.

I would venture to guess if you bought the standard Z06 you would always wonder about the ZR1.

Listen to your son, he is already a GM at a Chevy dealer he ain't no dummy.

I don't have a Z06, but have driven it on a race track...

rob62

Unfortunately we are lacking in the N.Y.,N.J. area.

range96

lacking what?

Mr. Gizmo

Thats what everyone was saying about the c4 zr1. Something bigger, and better will always come around

I can not see going from a c6 z06 to another c6 z06. AND The Z06 and Zr1 are both C6's. If you have had a c6- why get another.

there are a couple of forum members that have had both the zr1 and z06 and have said there is not enough of a difference to justify the cost. one owner even had a z06 went to a zr1 and then back to a z06 as he felt the extra
40k he had tied up in the zr1 was not worth it. Now there are others as seen in this post that think this is the best move ever.

When I bought my Z06, I went in with cash in hand to buy a zr1, and ended up buying a z06 because I liked the look better without the high rise hood and the plastic see through portal, side skirts, and the busy looking wheels.

I drove both, and while I did not wring either of them out, I could not tell much difference in a test drive. I am sure if I did a full throttle 80-150mph roll on there would be a difference and that might have changed my mind.

I was also skeptical of the ceramic rotors and the adjustable suspension - too much complication. And now when I see the posts on the zr1 forum of many zr1 owners complaining about mysterious vibration problems - and the ceramic rotors are suspect of causing this while GM would never admit this. - I would be very upset if I were driving down the road in my 115k car at 70mph and the steering wheel oscillated back and forth like my College girl-friend's Nissan Sentra.

Back when I bought my Z06, they were not discounting the zr1 either, so I walked out the door with my Z06 for 61k, and the Zr1 would have been 115k. - So l left with a z06 and 50k+ left in my back pocket.

What I would have preferred is a Zr1-lite - This would be a
1lz equipped z06 with steel rotors, without the adjustable suspension and WITH the super charged LS9. That would have been worth 15 extra over the 61k I spent for my brand new 2009 Z06 in the fall of 2009.

In my opinion If you have a C6 Z06, hang on to it , save the money you would spend on another c6 and wait for the next highest performance variant of the C7. Or if you can stand being without a vette for a 12-18 months sell your C6 Z before it depreciates more while waiting for the high performance variant of the c7.

However if you have the itch for a new car and have the money, - money can help scratch those itches.

range96

with Gizmo. It all comes down to the question of $.

ZR1sry

I have owned a 2006 C6 with an F55 magnetic select ride and traded up for 2008 Z06 and never looked back because I loved the power, although I missed the F55 ride. I have also owned a 2009 Z06. The Z06 is a great car. However, in February I traded for a 2011 ZR1. The Z07 was a potential optiond, but having owned both cars, if you can afford it I would buy the ZR1. Good luck with your decision.

Gary '09 C6

Limerock, CT ? (northwestern CT)

Watkins Glen, NY (it is farther away if you're in the NYC / NJ area)