Daekwan06

I think you see 3, *possibly 4 models*. Their official names (as listed on the GM website and customer brochure) would be:

Stingray
Stingray Z51
Z06*
ZR1

Paulchristian

they are just playing with words. Make no mistake about it, the stingray LT1 is the "base" vette.

Matt26

I see what you are saying, but the Z51 on the C6 is a little different from the Z51 on the C7.

Besides the wide body and wider tires (although the C7 Z51 gets larger wheels), the C7 Z51 is effectively the grand sport.

The C6 Z51 badge guys get flak because those emblems are tacky

AVETTE

base corvette

rcallen484

Yep, there is a "base" everything. From toothpicks (no mint flavor) to F-22 fighter jets (no depleted uranium armament). I'm thinking that if I was in the market for a luxury sedan that a "base" Rolls would do. For me a "base" Corvette suffices. Would not belittle anyone who wants more or different.

1985 Corvette

I agree. Horsepower spoils people and badging sells. For what it's worth, the "base" has always been a Corvette to me. Anything as a performance option, I always said Corvette ZR-1 or Corvette Z06, not just the RPO. Could be worse....it could be like those few posters who wanted Z06 to just be it's own separate car not even a Corvette.





Time will tell but I'm betting the magazine guys will be saying, "Our Z51 equipped Stingray" or "Our Stingray with the Z51 option" instead of Stingray Z51 or whatever. And I definitely agree: if the car did not come with badges for whatever you have, DO NOT put them on the car. *shudders at L98/LS1 badges*

JoesC5

I think that if GM wanted to get rid of the "base" nickname then they should have a name for the base car. They did just that by calling it a Stingray. But then it is necessary to prevent the Stingray from being called a base again. They do that by having each model having a different name.

Just as the 1957 Chevrolet had a 150 and a 210 and a Bel Aire, the Corvette C7 should have a Stingray, a Z51, a Z06 and a ZR1, not a Stingray, then a Stingray Z51, and a Stingray Z06 and a Stingray ZR1. If they are all Stingrays then how do you differentiate a Stingray from the Stingray Z51 or the Stingray Z06 or the Stingray ZR1? By calling it a base Stingray C7. Now were back to square one.

Jawnathin

With all due respect, isn't the wider body and wheels what makes a GS a GS and not a Z51?

C6 Z51s also had different gearing, larger brakes, revised suspenion, and a few other minor performance enhancements. Pretty much the same as the C7, though that gets a dry sump now.

I guess I just don't follow that Z51 on C6 is different from Z51 on a C7.

And yeah, I'm not a fan of those Z51 badges, they are a bit tacky.

HurricaneRN

C7envy

In a short answer yes it is.

They felt bad for those who could only afford the base corvette to feel like they are buying a base POS which is 50k when compared to a zr1 version. So they called it stingray so that people feel better about buying a base car. Go look at the interview with jay leno, this is exactly how it was explained for why they called it a stingray.

Kind of like porsche, there is no "base" porsche. But the entry level is the boxter I believe.

RC000E

Sh*t man...that 135i is on a lot of radars out there. That is a hell of a package for the money. Guys are getting to 400hp with mild mods. I am already seeing them under 25k. It damn well may be my next modded daily.

daixloxbmw

Shhhh... let's keep that between us. On the exterior, my 135i looks completely stock and most people seem to think my baby BMW is only a 4 cylinder and has FWD hahaha! Needless to say, I have caught a few local V8 Mustangs and Camaros by surprise. Both my 135i and my previous 335i are tuned and easily made 410hp/450tq.

Finally, I have been a long time member of e90post and 1addicts, haven't I seen you in those forums before?

JudgeNjury

Yes ..just as Ferrari is just a fancy name for car

Sneed

Not if you consider some products to be a variation of the original.

Coca-Cola has Diet Coke, Vanilla Coke, Coke Zero, etc., but when you want the original, you don't ask for "base" Coke.

A Corvette with RPO Z51 is still a Corvette.

ArcticC7

FYI Z-51 is an option not a stand alone model. Even though many would like to think it is it's not.

gthal

What's your point? No different than the GS for the C6. Base car with upgraded components.

Daekwan06

Yep. A GS is a base C6, that has added wide body panels, wider wheels & tires and beefed up brakes. Those 4 items are the difference between a base & GS. We can argue semantics all day. But a GS is simply a base C6 with a more options added.

I see the Z06 & ZR1 as a little different. Mainly because the engine is different, the frame aluminum and many exotic materials were used in the process. I can turn a base C6 into a GS pretty easily.. in fact many people on this forum have created their widebody C6 from a base car. But even if I tried my damndest.. I still cannot turn a base C6 into a Z06 or ZR1.

Caddylac10

Huh?