I also have both and I agree with jvp. The V is the far superiour daily driver and a great performer on the street (it doesn't feel anywhere near 4200 lbs on twisty mountain roads) but I am really glad that I still have the Z for track days. If I wasn't doing track days I'd just have the V.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jvp
I traded my '07 Z06 in for a new V back in April. Here are my 4+ month thoughts on the matter.
Executive summary: The V is an AWESOME car. But I miss my Z06.
For daily driver use, there's no comparison between the two cars. The V is WAY better than any of the available Corvettes. My reasons:
Seats - Really. The heated/cooled Recaros are second to none in any car I've ever been in. They're infinitely adjustable, incredibly comfortable, and superbly supportive. Wow. Unfortunately, even if they could fit in the Corvette (which they can't), they're insanely heavy. Before the mounting brackets and tracks are added, the seats alone are 55 pounds each.
Entertainment/Navigation - No comparison. The Alpine-built unit in the CTS is so much more user-friendly and usable than the piece-of-sh1t Denso unit in the Corvette. It's almost laughable that the Corvette continues to use that crud. The screen is nicer, the stereo sounds better, and it has built-in iPod connectivity as well as MP3-playing capability (ie, connect a thumb drive full of MP3s to the USB port, and it just plays 'em).
Overall Interior Comfort - Hard to really put in words. The V is just NICER inside than the Corvette is.
Overall Suspension Comfort - The V engineers at HPVO worked a lonnnnnnnng time to make sure the RTD, sway bars, springs, and tires(!) worked well together to not only provide a phenomenal-handling sedan, but one that is also incredibly comfortable to drive. It soaks up bumps, heaves, etc in the road so much better than the Corvette can. Even a Corvette equipped with RTD.
As for handling, the V is a super-star among 4-door sedans! That has to be emphasized. It will not out-handle a Corvette. It may match up against a Z51-equipped LS3 Corvette, but it certainly won't beat it. And it'll get trounced by a Z06 or ZR1, handily.
Handling performance is achieved:
Tires - Non-runflat PS2s. Super-sticky and very compliant.
RTD - In "Sport" mode, tuned for very tight handling (for a sedan!)
Brakes - Infinitely better than anything available in Corvette, except the ZR1.
But, a well-driven Corvette is still going to beat it. One of the big problems is that the car is.. well.. big. It's 4200lbs big. Another is that it doesn't have enough meat touching the road. It needs much fatter tires up front and in the back. Turn-in is lazy, compared to a Corvette. It rates high when compared to other sedans, but when you're used to a Corvette, it seems like it's taking a little to long to respond to steering inputs. This can be fixed with fatter tires, but the V's fenders won't allow for them (safely).
Yes, I've taken my V to the track, and driven it briskly. Unfortunately, as my HPVO buddy promised me, the differential overheated after a few laps into my second session. Neither GM nor the aftermarket has a differential cooler ready yet. So, I won't be doing much in the way of track days with the car.
And honestly, depending on what happens with Z06 in the near future, I may be back.
I actually did contemplate on getting the new V since I had the previous one...but gotta to have the Z I would have one too when the market for them drops
There's no reason this car shouldn't come in closer to 3500. Not usually a neigh sayer, but numbers hitting the scales pretty much speak for them selves.
I'd certainly love to hear how you'd get the current V down to 3500 pounds. Have you looked at the V closely and seen what it's carrying around?
thanks for the info guys i've considered traiding in for the v but can't get myself to go through w/ it. i wont even let myself go to a dealer, i only use my z as a driver and the occasional trips to mulholland (canyon runs) don't get me wrong i love it but i get to thinking about a back seat and a more luxorious interior for the record i'm 21 y.o ..before anyone starts making old jokes lol.
Guys thanks for the vote of confidence on my V purchase. I'm not a computer geek so I don't know how to posting Pic's, on the forum. I'll need some help!!! I bought the White Diamond with Titanium/ebony interior. To me it looks awesome and a total sleeper until I step hard on the Loud pedal. I wish it had the Bi-mod exhaust and could add the MTW switch like I had on my Z!! If anybody can help me I would be more that happy to post my pic's especially with both V & Z together @ dealership.
I have my 08Z, but also picked up a V in June. I call it my 4 door Vette! Took a cruise
to western P.A. last week. It is an amazing car for a highway trip. As mentioned the
Nav and the radio are far superior to the Z and the Recaros offer so many adjustments
that it is almost like having a custom seat made.
The power is effortless, way too easy to get in trouble. You don't hear or feel the power
as you would in the Z, cept when you look down at the speedo and go WOW!
My complaints would be no HUD, and the gas pedal is not heel and toe friendly. The gas
tank is a tad small for a highway cruise - but the trunk is deceptively large.
All in all, a real bargain in the 4 door sedan category that can run with most sports cars
anywhere!
Guys thanks for the vote of confidence on my V purchase. I'm not a computer geek so I don't know how to posting Pic's, on the forum. I'll need some help!!! I bought the White Diamond with Titanium/ebony interior. To me it looks awesome and a total sleeper until I step hard on the Loud pedal. I wish it had the Bi-mod exhaust and could add the MTW switch like I had on my Z!! If anybody can help me I would be more that happy to post my pic's especially with both V & Z together @ dealership.
Beautiful ride, my brother
I'm going to wait a year or two and get one that's already had the major part of the depreciation hit, but I was impressed with the car...even the automatics
Freakin' fast cars
Hawkeye2 I hope you were able to get my pic's. If it doesn't work out oh well. But I really like my 4 door vette, but like the Z i'm not modding due to GM not honoring warranties for V/Z's that have tunes/mods. The guys on the V forum are swaping upper and lower pullies, MAFS,160 stats and tunes. Not my yet.
After reading this post I decided to check into getting one for myself.
I actually found 15 within a 50 mile radius of my office....Unfortunately all the dealers still think it's just like when the car debuted & still want sticker for the car. One of the larger Caddy dealers in my area has what he called a "program" car with 1200 miles on it and still wants sticker for it.
If anyone knows of any dealers willing to deal on a V please PM me. I don't expect a huge discount like are being offered on Vettes right now.....but full sticker on a car that within the next 30 days will be one model year old??
My dealer here in the Panhandel of Florida (Pensacola area) will sell for supplier price all day. He has the Cyrstal red in the showrrom. I haven't checked his web sight in a while but he was going to get a White Diamond for a buddy of mine from South Carolina. Checkout Vince Whibbs cadillac.com If you like what they have ask to speak to JP the manager and tell him that I sent you and to give you a good deal. I got mine for GMS= employee price, no-way near sticker and my V is loaded. Let me know if I can help in any way. You won't be dissappointed buying a V!! If you can keep the Z you will have the 2 badass GM cars available to the average blue collar worker.
Corvette Store
I would have one too when the market for them drops
