jarmist

I have a 2012 Grand Sport Convertible, and have been entertaining moving to a Z06. My gut feeling is that there is a substantial difference in performance between the cars, but I've not yet driven a Z06, so I don't have personal experience to go by. If anyone has driven and/or owned both models, I would greatly appreciate any comments you might have about the two, comparing performance, and also any ownership experience comments about the two.

1MEANGS

Dont take the trade in price hit on getting rid of yours... Take some money & do add ons to your GS... Honestly your not gana get a good opinion on the forum because all the Z06 guys are gana side with the Z's and the GS guys are gana side with the GS's honestly its up to you what u wana do..

jarmist

Good point, and definitely a consideration... saving the hit on making a trade, and putting that $ to use in performance mods to the GS. Thanks

1MEANGS

NP, speaking from experience... Was gana buy a Z but decided to buy a GS and put a blower on it which I jus got back and the second I hit the gas I knew I made the right move!

jarmist

That's kind of what I've been thinking. If you don't mind me asking, what did you put on? I've heard some good things about the Edelbrock, but have not heard much about the others. I want to keep the stock hood, so I like the low profile of the Edelbrock.

mracer14

There is nothing like a 427 !!!!!

Vette_DD

Forum members, showroom stock, quarter mile.

Showroom Stock LS3 Grand Sport (2010 - 2013)
12.319 @ 115.75 - Grand SportMan - 10 A6 - (5128)
12.559 @ 115.41 - Fastenuf - 11 A6 - (5269)
12.805 @ 113.33 - PhillyLS1 - 11 M6 NPP - (5085)

The C6 Z06 Fast List
Bone-Stock on Stock Tires
Rank~~ E.T.~~ Trap~ 60'~ Driver~~~~~ M.Yr. Details Thread Video
1~~~~ 10.981 128.90 1.77 Jamie Furman~ 2006 details~~ thread
2~~~~ 11.025 127.25 1.70 Ranger ~~~~~ 2006 details~~ thread video
3~~~~ 11.177 127.08 1.79 walterm32~~~ 2008 details~~ thread
4~~~~ 11.242 122.38 1.68 Dr.Ron ~~~~~ 2006 details~~ thread
5~~~~ 11.311 122.89 1.80 BLU-BY-U ~~~ 2006 details~~ thread
6~~~~ 11.349 124.97 1.75 zosix427 ~~~~ 2006 details~~
7~~~~ 11.392 124.84 1.92 C5 Frank ~~~~ 2006 details~~ thread
8~~~~ 11.429 124.88 1.86 dgdoc ~~~~~~ 2006 details~~ thread video
9~~~~ 11.443 125.93 1.95 O7zeeO6 ~~~~ 2007 details~~ thread A
10 ~~~ 11.458 124.13 1.80 layjzay~~~~~~ 2006 details~~

CrvtBB

Having driven both on the track, there is no doubt the Z06 is a superior track car. Better balanced, quicker transitions and more power. That being said, it was definitely more challenging to drive - even at 8/10ths. It took a great deal of concentration and careful brake, throttle and steering modulation to turn quickest times.

On the other hand, the Grand Sport certainly doesn't have the same potential as the Z06, but it was easier to push beyond 8/10ths, and I found it as much or maybe even more fun to drive because it was easier to get into a rhythm on the track instead of focusing so hard to maintain control.

So - yes, there is a significant difference and the Z06 is a superior performing car, without question. But the fun of driving the GS really stuck in my mind, even though I know the lap times were not quite as quick. Tough call to pick a preference taking all variables into consideration, but if speed is your priority, I'd say you can't choose anything but the Z06.

blkgs

Nothing like the targa top!!!

tcccac

there is a big difference in price so $ is a factor in most peoples decision. the other major factor is what is the vehicle to you: daily driver, weekend cruiser or a future track car. I went with a well equipt left over 2013 GS LT2 for a little over $52k because $ was a factor and it isn't going to be a track car. it isn't a daily driver so I have no issue adding mods to it. just hit 500 miles and already has the vararam snake, corsa x and rear exhaust. I just received the ARH 3/4 headers as a father's day gift so as soon as they arrive a custom tune will be installed and it will be dialed in. I know it won't post the numbers that the Z does but it also won't be at the track often (at least until I figure out if I will cam and head it or not). for now, this GS is going to stick with the just about everything else that I will run into on the streets. or at least anything that I will mess with. plus I do love having the roof off for a cruise.

skip89

And now a 13 GS. I really like my GS in all ways but the 427 power is really what I miss. I know that I can add the power and loose the warranty, but I am waiting for a C7 similar to the Z. I have had enough C6 cars after this GS coupe it will be on to the new generation C7.

londonk

I have had both .... Keep your GS mod the ls3 it's just as fast with a few mods .... Ls3 is a better engine for boost to don't listen to all that 427 bs I can show how to build a na 416 ls3 that will stomp a Z in the

Ferocious C6

And how much of a ticking time bomb is the stock drivetrain with more power?

OBSSSD

If you are in a hot climate the e-force will really heat soak. If it was me I would do an A&A kit on the car. At the moment I have a 12' GS coupe with the A6 and have Kooks 1-7/8" headers with cats, Airaid intake, 218/230 116+2 cam with PAC 1518 springs, and I'm about to add a ported LS3 intake and throttle body. I expect to be around 450 to the tires after I do the final retune on the car.

I want to do an A&A kit to get the car over 600rwhp, but it only has 1800 miles on it now since I just bought it in April. Cam and all the other mods were done at 600 miles and I am still breaking the engine in. But as the car sits now I think I could hang with a 427 car no problem, and from a dead stop the A6 launches like a cannonball shot out of a cannon

The LS3 is just a far more durable motor than the LS7 for modding - see the FI section it is the engine of choice for those guys. If you have the money the 427 vert is an awesome car my dad has one and it runs like my car does even though it is bone stock with a tune. But if you don't have money to burn I would just mod your car

lebvette

I would just charge the one you have. If you start swapping cars you will take a hit some where.

tcccac

oh please..you shouldn't have to worry about the drivetrain until you are putting out around 600 HP at the motor. the weak area would probably be the axle shafts and clutch. the torque tube and rear transaxle can handle a lot of power.

jarmist

Lots of great comments; thanks all. I wish I could say I have money to burn, but that's definitely not the case, so making mods to the LS3 in the GS is feeling preferable to taking a big hit by trading vehicles. Ours is not a daily driver, but I do want to keep it reasonable to road trip with. We've managed to put 7800 miles on it in the almost two years that we've had it, mostly day trips. We're in MO, and you can't beat the fun of a good-handling car on Missouri back roads. Thanks again for the good feedback.

Ferocious C6

And the transmission? Especially the 6l80.
And how much would it cost you to beef all of those up?

1MEANGS

I decided to go w/ the ECS kit, very proven kit... & the power comes on very linear... Not jus raw unusable power like a lot of high hp cars!

tcccac

for what i have done to mine i am not worried about the tranmission at all. If i was supercharging I would need need to do more research first but don't forget you can also tweak the shifting points with the tune to help it out. unless you are really hard shifting at the track...if launching at 5,000 RPM's you might blow the rear end. there might be a stonger version of the A6. 4L60E or 4L80E???? for standards i think it's just changing out synchros and shift forks and that's it. The tranny itself is fine.