Big Dan 427

It is amazing to me how different the Z car makes the C7 look, I mean they hardly even resemble each other. Almost all that IMO was wrong with the C7 they have corrected with the new Z model. The wide body, the massive rubber, the splitter and side skirts, the "real" spoiler and of course the power plant. I mean geez, they gave the C7 a 24hp increase and kicked up the Z by 120. I truly felt another Corvette wasn't on my radar until the release of the new ZO6, GM seems to have listened and made some excellent choices they've implemented into the Z.

1985 Corvette

Welcome back, Dan.

zhopper05

I think the new Z06 makes the base model look wimpy, just like the C6Z did with the C6 base model.

red2012

I was not a fan of the C7 but I will beg borrow and steal to try and afford the $100k this car is gonna cost. The whole aspect of the car blows the base C7 away and I'm glad I don't own a base now. It does look wimpy and outdated sitting next to the ZO6. BTW what happened to all you people that said the new C7 doesn't need the wide tires anymore because the car is so far advanced mechanically and rubber wise that it will do just fine and doesn't need the 'gimmick' of wide rubber to compete like the wide body uses. Well GM went right back to the wide body and wide rubber. Or is this a 'gimmick' also.

WaxWeekly

The C7 Stingray eats the Grand Sport all up in almost every measurable metric. Pushing it to the next level is easiest to accomplish with more rubber.

I don't see any mystery here, nor do the skinny tire lovers need to concede anything. Both cars are improvements over their predecessors.

slief

Ummm. The base model doesn't need the wide tires. At least from a handling perspective. The Z06 with 650ish HP sure as hell will. There is obviously a very big difference between the Stingray and the Z06!

I have a C7 Z51 and it replaced my 09 Z06 and I can tell you from first hand experience, that the C7 base is just fine with it's smaller tires and handles every bit as well as my Z06 did.

That said, I agree with most on this thread. The Z06 is really well done and does make the base look a tad wimpy however a set of side skirts and a front splitter on the base model will certainly close the gap a bit. I will say that I am extremely impressed with my C7 Z51. It's truly an amazing car on every level and I can only imagine how this Z06 is going to be. I'd venture to say it will be absolutely insane and violently fast too! Hats of to GM. They raised the bar so much with the C7 that I'm still shocked at how good this car really is and can only imagine how great the Z06 will be on every level.

Personally, I have no regrets about getting my Z51 now and have every intention of getting the Z06 in 3 years when the prices come down to earth just like I did with my C6's. Those of you with cars on order, I can't wait to hear your reviews this time next year! That car will be an absolute beast yet extremely well refined. Congrats to you guys with orders in place!

red2012

If that's a jab at my GS your barking up the wrong tree as I could care less what the C7 would do to my GS. All as I know and care is the GS with its wide body and massive tires is by far the better looking of the two. I couldn't drive either car to it's capabilities to see the difference ( just like everybody else here ) so your analogy is a moot point as far as I'm concerned.

skank

Considering the original Jalopnik leak was a view of the narrow Stingray body panels and not the widened ones that have ended up on the ZO6, I think that most Corvette fans still couldn't visualize what the car would look like. Now that everybody has seen the car in person and have accepted the new progressive look, they widened it to what is now the final proportions. I think both cars are totally appropriate to the overall C7 formula. If you compare the ZO6 exterior dimensions to any one car, it is the Ferrari 458 that comes nearest to the ZO6. The ZO6 is actually 3/4s of a inch wider than the 458 at 77" vs 76.3". It's shorter than the F-car at 177" vs 178.2" but actually has a longer wheelbase of 106.7" to 104.3" for the 458. If anyone of you have seen a 458 driving down the road, it looks incredibly wide and menacing. The ZO6 will have that same menacing look.

Big Dan 427

For me it's the whole combination of changes, not just any one item. The Z car looks like a stout beast next to a C7 which is nice to see such a distinguishable difference. As we all know in the past many "regular" folks couldn't tell the difference when looking at a Corvette, the new Z defines it fantastically!!

GTB/ZR-1

A little wimpy as stated above, but dated? Not so much...

musclecar6

To me, the C7 is not dated. It's an awesome head turning very fast street car. Most non gear heads won't know the difference between a C7 or a C7 Z06. Obviously us vette junkies and other assorted car nuts, will get excited by the more muscular presence of the Z06, not to mention the total package of a street supercar.

Eagle Ray 7

Just like we don't care you drive an OLD car!

JoesC5

That thread was like watching Comedy central.

red2012

How does the Kool-Aid taste?

Toxic Z

Agreed that the C7 Z, looks awesome. However, It was developed with the C7R... Because the C7 R had a much less than Stellar debut at Rolex.. I think that the jury is out regarding the performance of C7 Z. After all, the performance of C7R at Rolex is the only data we have at this point.

Do we buy the C7 Z because of looks?

OnPoint

At Rolex, one of the car's sequential trans had issues. No sequential trans on the C7Z. They also had a radiator puncture. That's before even mentioning the different engine, aero from the C7Z.

I'm not sure how any of that translates to how the C7Z will or will not perform.

Eagle Ray 7

Taste good cry baby!!!

Big Dan 427

I don't think it would be fair to judge the car on its maiden voyage at the Rolex but all in all it did pretty well. Just like when SRT introduced the Gen V last year, it took some time to hone it in but they looked good at the end of last year and at Rolex. I can't speak for what equipment they share either but I'm pretty confident the Z will be a real performer.

DanTheFireman

Well said IMO and my thoughts all the way. The moment I saw the C7 my '08 Z went on the chopping block, no regrets and same timeline or sooner for the Z version in just the right color.

Lavender

It does make the entire C6 lineup look dated...but the C7? Yeah right