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C6 Corvette ZR1 & Z06General info about GM’s Corvette Supercar, LS9 Corvette Technical Info, Performance Upgrades, Suspension Setup for Street or Track
I'm doing some "soul searching" and trying to decide. I've owned a 2007 Z06 which I sold to get a 2010 ZR1. Both cars are now sold and gone. I loved both of them, great cars. I spent almost $30,000 more to get the ZR1 than the Z06. I'm getting that "itch" again and want to get another C6. However my dilemma is if I really want to spend close to $60,000 to get the ZR1 or if I should "settle" on the Z06 for around $40,000.
I won't track the car, it will strictly be a weekend cruiser around town. I would want to modify either or but not extensively. Of course if money wasn't an issue I would get the ZR1 for the added power, supercharger, and other upgrades. But then I'm thinking I could get a Z06 for much less and use the money saved to begin modding. The exclusivity of the ZR1 is cool, though not really a factor for me. I don't really care much if I have a car that is rare. As long as I like the cars looks and performance, that's all that matters. So I don't care that the ZR1 is more rare and I personally feel like there isn't a huge performance difference between the two from 0-120mph.
I don't know, I guess I'm just looking for some insight. Has anyone gone from a ZR1 to a Z06 and not regretted it?
By the way, I appreciate everyone providing insight. I didn't want to reply to everyone individually, so I will give a collective "thank you" to everyone for sharing their thoughts.
Here is a picture of my CG ZR1 right before I sold her. What an absolute beauty
I'm doing some "soul searching" and trying to decide. I've owned a 2007 Z06 which I sold to get a 2010 ZR1. Both cars are now sold and gone. I loved both of them, great cars. I spent almost $30,000 more to get the ZR1 than the Z06. I'm getting that "itch" again and want to get another C6. However my dilemma is if I really want to spend close to $60,000 to get the ZR1 or if I should "settle" on the Z06 for around $40,000.
I won't track the car, it will strictly be a weekend cruiser around town. I would want to modify either or but not extensively. Of course if money wasn't an issue I would get the ZR1 for the added power, supercharger, and other upgrades. But then I'm thinking I could get a Z06 for much less and use the money saved to begin modding. The exclusivity of the ZR1 is cool, though not really a factor for me. I don't really care much if I have a car that is rare. As long as I like the cars looks and performance, that's all that matters. So I don't care that the ZR1 is more rare and I personally feel like there isn't a huge performance difference between the two from 0-120mph.
I don't know, I guess I'm just looking for some insight. Has anyone gone from a ZR1 to a Z06 and not regretted it?
I would never go back to a Z06 from the ZR1 - too many worries with the LS7 - seems too delicate of an engine to me. I'll take a factory forged blower car anyday over it.
After the experience I had with my heavily modified 2008 Z06 and comparing it to the experience I get with my lightly modded 2010 ZR1, there is no way I could ever go back to a Z06. I mean, if you can find it, you could always pick up a Z07, which is basically a ZR1 with an LS7 in it, but then to get the power of one you'd still have to go to the expense of adding a supercharger. No thanks. I'll take factory forged and forced induction. I won't make that same mistake again.
Last edited by VetteVinnie; 05-03-2020 at 07:07 AM.
Most would probably say ZR1....but you have owned both and it doesn't seem like you are swayed to have it again......so I say find a clean Z06.....one that you can mod and enjoy or even better...a Z06 that someone has done some tasteful mods that you would do anyway.
I too have owned both...
If you are planning on modding… (which we all do) You would be wise to go with the ZR1.
Put it like this... I probably spent $15-$18K maybe more on my 08 Z06 with some nice stageIV AHP heads, VR Kaotic cam,Monster LT1SC, MSD ported intake, injectors, NW102, AR headers, Akro exhaust, 10
pulley, tune, labor.. The car was a beast... 596/540
As a comparison, I recently did some simple bolt ons on the ZR1.. No headers, No cam, no heads,. and spent < half of what the mods cost on the Z06.. and am at 668/625.. The next round of mods will be sure to get me in the 700's and I will still be < $11K for everything... AND as you said, the C6ZR1's were not mass produced like the Z06's.. Let me be clear.. the C6Z06 is a raw animal...and I am not trying to take away from that. The ZR1's respond VERY WELL to simple bolt ons… add E85 and its a game changer.
I am speaking from experience, as I have owned and modified BOTH platforms. These are not "feelings" or some stats that I dug up on the internet. Can the Z06 be made to be faster? Absolutely.. Will it ever be anything like the ZR1...? The answer is a hard no...
Do what makes you happy bro... you cannot go wrong with either car.
the things that lead me to a zr1 above all the other corvettes including a c7 z06.
1. first and foremost the INCREDIBLE brakes! the visual and the mechanical performance of carbon ceramics cant be compared to any other setup.
2. im a carbon fiber *****. having hood, fenders, roof, roof bow, side skirts , splitter and the c/f interior pieces really appeal to me.
3. low production # always a plus for me.
4. the ability to mod increase hp easily. I have less t5han 6k$ in my mods. bought used quality parts good tuner and help from some friends and im at 717 rwhp/691 ft/lbs and the car is as docile as stock. until you mash the pedal!
5. resale value. seems the zr1 holds its value better than any other corvette short of a concours c1 or c2
When I jumped on the C6 Z06 or ZR1 bandwagon in the spring of 2018, I found that I was talking myself out of the ZR1 because of the cheapskate that lives in the far corner of my brain. Sure enough, I opted for a 6,735 mile one owner 2008 VY Z06 and had a blast with the car all summer ($38K). However, the itch of a ZR1 still existed. In February 2019 I located a 6,775 VY ZR1 in showroom condition and absolutely had to have the car ($58.5). The Z06 going down the road that spring didn't phase me a bit. The ZR1 arrived and I drooled over it for the remainder of the winter. Once I finally drove the ZR1, the choice was clear. ZR1 all day over the Z06. In early May 2019 the Z06 was sold to someone in Wisconsin with 11,400 miles on it ($36K). Now that I have done some light bolt on mods from Lingenfelter and Kong combined, the car is an animal with 653whp!!
The extra money on the zr1 is justified in my opinion, for 20k more you're getting a forged motor, carbon brakes, more carbon everything, beefier parts, magnetic ride (huge difference compared to my previous 09 Z06), it's easier/cheaper to mod, you won't have to listen for odd sounds every second of driving... And in my opinion looks better with the carbon skirts/spoilers and front fenders
Z07 would be awesome too
Last edited by chubbs6350; 05-03-2020 at 01:17 PM.
I sort of assumed what the general consensus would be but I wanted to ask anyways because, well, this is a car forum and who doesn't like discussing cars. Like I said...if money was NOT a factor, I would be getting the ZR1 over the Z06, no questions asked. However, for almost anyone, unless you are super wealthy, I think money in some way is ALWAYS a factor. And it is for me too. I definitely think the ZR1, even though it has the same body style as the Z06, looks much more aggressive. I too like carbon fiber and I like that aspect of the ZR1 as well. I think I am just being impatient. I haven't had a Corvette since September of 2018 and I really want one again. I'm not in the position to drop $60,000 on a car at the moment but could be by very early next year. Whereas, I could drop $40,000 right now. So I think, me being impatient, I'm trying to justify just getting a Z06 so I can get something now.
However, I think deep in my brain, I know that ultimately I would want a ZR1 again, over a Z06 and if I did get a Z06 now I may end up regretting not waiting. So I think, at this moment in time, I'm going to "hold out" and wait until early next year. Get myself into another ZR1 and be happy again.
By the way, I appreciate everyone providing insight. I didn't want to reply to everyone individually, so I will give a collective "thank you" to everyone for sharing their thoughts.
Here is a picture of my CG ZR1 right before I sold her. What an absolute beauty
My thought process is, I want to do it right this time. I've had a C6Z and ZR1. If I'm going to get another one, I want to do it right. I'd prefer 2010 and up. Low miles. Exceptionally clean. Most of the ones (though not all) that have low miles will be around $60,000 or more. So I'm expecting to spend around $60,000
05-03-2020, 03:10 AM
Z06 or ZR1
