TPAVette93

Will one of the 2 steal sales from the other. I'm betting their performance numbers will be near as makes no difference. This is kind of like the C4 ZR-1 vs Callaway TT two cars with the same performance give or take, costs the same when new but drove very differently.

Steve Snake Driver

Probably depends alot on availability of either.

64drvr

Apples and oranges to me. Most of the callaway offering is stickers and car show doodads for $thousands with the exception of a *I believe* recently unveiled supercharger option. The Z06 is fully beefed up around the LT6 and better in every measure than the base car. More cooling, more grip, much better looking body panels, the exotic FPC experience, beefier drivetrain, bigger brakes, etc.

Straight line acceleration may be close but every other performance metric is a solar system apart.

SharkDiverZ06

Yeah, two completely different cars...One will go down as a legend, the other will just be another modded push rod.

Z0HS1CK

The stingray already has enough issues with the DCT, imaging throwing another 150hp into the powertrain.

TPAVette93

Honestly I would be more impressed if Callaway could keep things Naturally Aspirated

*89x2*

I've driven many C4 ZR-1 Corvette and owned more than a few Callaway Corvettes. One thing is for sure - they all did what I expected them to do, delivering performance and a return on my investments.

One thing I do wonder on the new Z06 is going to be the same thing which made the C4 ZR-1 uninteresting to me in stock form... One had to keep the engine revved high to deliver performance. It loved to rev and lived at the upper end of the tachometer. Sounded better there, too...

The Callaway Twin Turbo Corvette was quicker and faster than the C4 ZR-1, but the marketing of the ZR-1 by Chevrolet was excellent and it sold well, at least when it was first introduced.

To the question at hand on sales - most who want the Z06 will buy the Z06 if they can get one. The Callaway SC Corvette provides a really interesting alternative in my opinion. One worth a look, to me.

AustinVetter

I agree its apples vs oranges. Both great cars but the Z06 is far superior in pretty much every way. The other thing to consider is that the Z06 will almost certainly hold its value far better and longer than any modded base C8, be it a name brand or not. The other thing to consider is that a person *can* mod their car on their own for MUCH less to equal or exceed the performance of a Callaway. With the Z06, you don't need to mod it and in many cases most won't because keeping them stock will keep them more special. Can't go wrong either way.

JABCAT

For those saying the Z06 is far superior in every way - how exactly? The Callaway C8 Stingray will either match the performance of the Z06 or beat it. Lingenfelter is advertising 700hp for their C8 system, Callaway will probably be close to the same. The interior of both cars (Z06 & Stingray) is the same, so push there. The Z06 has a better appearance pkg (body panels, aero, wheels) but from a strictly performance standpoint the Callaway will be just as good or better.

For those not familiar with Callaway cars, they hold their value very well, and they're equivalent to Joe Schmo modding his car for less.

ZRacerLE

Genuinely curious, does the Callaway have the same level of cooling? The supercharger will generate even more heat for the same level of power. That would be my main concern.

AustinVetter

Why Z06's are superior to base C8 with Callaway package or any similar mod
> Flat plane crank
> Better sound (subjective)
> Instant throttle response
> Faster, free revving motor
> Better brakes
> Better suspension
> Better handling
> Bigger tires
> Better aero
> Wide body
> Better steering wheel (3LZ)
> Better cooling
> Better steering/turn in (with carbon wheels/ceramic brakes)
> Additional clutch plate
> Shorter final drive
> Better, less restrictive exhaust system
> Larger sump lube system
> Updated transaxle
> Way nicer center exhaust than those tiny side exit tips on C8
> Will hold its value much better than base C8

Just to name a few...

Having said that, if I could not get a Z06 I would certainly get a base C8 and possibly upgrade it as that is a GREAT backup plan and would make a fantastic car.

AustinVetter

On the resale part, I am not that sure that they hold their values well. If you look at BAT, you will see what Callaway cars have sold for from all generations. Most of them are really not much more than a non modded car and certainly no where near what the original owners had in them. That would be my fear in getting a C8 and modding it. I will lose my shirt if I resell it.

https://bringatrailer.com/chevrolet/callaway-corvette/

Imola2001

I would suspect it will be very similar to the C7 generation cars in 2015 & 2016...
* SC627 w/ 627hp vs Z06 w/ 650hp
* Callaway came in slightly lower in price
* C7 Stingray was significantly more available thus making the Callaway option a significatly quicker purchase with some dealers having SC627s in stock for immediate purchase

Looking at C8 generation cars for 2023 & 2024...
* C8 Z51 w/ mag ride starts at $74,135
* add $25,000 for Callaway SC for Estimated 650hp (price estimated)
* add $2,000 for shipping the car from Callaway back to you
* Total = $101,135 starting price (price estimated)

C8 Z06 price starts at $106,395

Is @$5,000 for the extra Z06 content worth waiting for between the time that it would take you to get a Callaway C8 SR versus the additional time for you to get a Z06 (depends on where you are on a wait list)?

That is the question that will vary by person and where they are on the Z06 list, and how they value the Z06 content versus a SAE validated HP & TQ #.

hcvone

I have a few C8 Z06's on order, and gave Callaway a deposit too, I only did this because I purchased a Tahoe and sent it to Callaway, it ran and performed great everyday, and they were fantastic to deal with

Savoy2001

The Callaway package upon resale generally returns roughly half of what it cost. So not bad. That’s the general rule of thumb.

Savoy2001

Callaways compared to its base counterparts generate roughly half of the cost of the package more vs the regular car. Look at c7 z06 of the same year and mileage with out sc757 package and with. You will find the Callaway versions pull roughly 10k more. I got about that much more for mine when I sold it two years ago vs the same car without the sc757.

combatninja

Anyone actually interested in what the C8 ZO6 is would not cross shop these cars. If you find yourself doing it because horsepower to dollars computes in your brain, you were never the intended customer for the ZO6 to begin with. Let someone else buy it and enjoy your tuner car. Alternatively, you might also want to look at a Hellcat something or other.

ArmchairArchitect

What does the Callaway offer in performance besides horsepower? Suspension/Handling? Braking? Grip? Z06 will likely slaughter it on the track. Don't forget, these are SPORTS CARS, not low-rent DRAG RACERS.

*89x2*

Straight line performance does sell cars. Always has.

good thing is, most people who buy a Corvette will never match the pedal to the floor longer than three or four seconds, every now and then. Very rare to really explore the potential in straight line.

Road course numbers, Forget the numbers that either car will turn out, the fact of the matter is if you look at the percentage of people that actually drive their Corvettes on the track, it is incredibly small. Even smaller, does it really know how to actually extract the most out of them. Most are posers with a bunch of added on doodads, pretending that just because they have a performance suspension and a big wing, it makes them a racer

*89x2*

I actually priced out a Hellcat Challenger for my wife the other week, as she wants a performance 2 door to drive daily. The one we drive before was a seriously quick car. Loads of fun. So don’t write them off as a contender.