Motor Trend hates the Z06!!!!!!!!
#1
Racer
Thread Starter
Motor Trend hates the Z06!!!!!!!!
Hard to believe that in the latest issue of MT, their handling test comparing 10 "sports cars", the Z06 came in 9th below the Porsche GT3, Cayman S, Lotus Exige S, Mitsubishi EVO, Mini Cooper, BMW 3, Honda S2000 and Mazda Speed3. the only car it beat in their ratings was the Honda Civic Si!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Do ya think Max Angelelli can't drive? He has terrific credentials but sure does not like the Vette.
Don K
Do ya think Max Angelelli can't drive? He has terrific credentials but sure does not like the Vette.
Don K
#2
sometimes the vette just isn't the best at everything as much as we all would think it is
trust me though, the Z06 would put up some of the fastest lap times and 1/4 mile times
the article was about handling though - and every possible facet of handling.
trust me though, the Z06 would put up some of the fastest lap times and 1/4 mile times
the article was about handling though - and every possible facet of handling.
#6
the cars were all on OEM tires - bone stock cars, nothing was changed. Even tire pressure was OEM specs
S2000
Exige
Cayman
GT3
Civic SI
335i
EVO
Mazdaspeed 3
Mini Cooper
Z06
The Exige and GT3 had the stickiest tires there
the Z06 was on stock run flats, but it still came in 9th overall in the handling dept in terms of steering feel, precision, smoothness, driving on rough pavement, lateral G skidpad, chassis quality, etc etc
Last edited by sentry65; 05-07-2007 at 06:47 PM.
#7
What was the criteria? Was it objective or subjective? I believe that some of these cars on the list would handle better, but not all. The Corvette puts up faster lap times than some of them because of it's power and handling.
#9
the article was based on all aspects of handling - steering precision, chassis, quick turns, big turns, smooth and rough pavement, smooth steering, user feedback, overall grip at different slip angles, etc
it was mostly all based on data. They had measurements for every possible thing. I think a couple out of 10 categorizes were mostly subjective, but backed up by some amount of data too. Some tests were more important than others
The pro driver and staff said the Z06 felt the scariest to drive at the limit because of the stiff suspension, vague steering and chassis feedback, heavy/soft front, said the rear springs were too stiff which created oversteer on corner exits. Great amounts of grip from the tires, but because the Z06 has so much power on tap all that grip is easy to upset and break into sudden oversteer.
It posted the 2nd fastest lap time though, losing only to the GT3 which was something like 4 or 5 seconds faster around the track than the Z06 which was a pretty wide gap
First place overall was the GT3
2nd was the Cayman
3rd place overall was the exige
4th was the EVO
...
9th place was the Z06
10th was the Civic Si
The Z06 of course would out handle a BMW 335, Mazdaspeed 3, or Mini Cooper, etc on the track, but the testing wasn't just track performance. It was every possible handling test in the real world except driving in the wet, dirt, or drifting
has anyone else noticed the Z06 hype has really died out in magazines? Seems like the magazines are making the Z06 out to be slower now with slower times on just about everything. This seems like it's happened with a lot of cars in magazines. It's like the honeymoon effect has worn off. Seems like all you hear about these days in magazines are shelby cobra whatever mustangs, and STI's/EVO's
it was mostly all based on data. They had measurements for every possible thing. I think a couple out of 10 categorizes were mostly subjective, but backed up by some amount of data too. Some tests were more important than others
The pro driver and staff said the Z06 felt the scariest to drive at the limit because of the stiff suspension, vague steering and chassis feedback, heavy/soft front, said the rear springs were too stiff which created oversteer on corner exits. Great amounts of grip from the tires, but because the Z06 has so much power on tap all that grip is easy to upset and break into sudden oversteer.
It posted the 2nd fastest lap time though, losing only to the GT3 which was something like 4 or 5 seconds faster around the track than the Z06 which was a pretty wide gap
First place overall was the GT3
2nd was the Cayman
3rd place overall was the exige
4th was the EVO
...
9th place was the Z06
10th was the Civic Si
The Z06 of course would out handle a BMW 335, Mazdaspeed 3, or Mini Cooper, etc on the track, but the testing wasn't just track performance. It was every possible handling test in the real world except driving in the wet, dirt, or drifting
has anyone else noticed the Z06 hype has really died out in magazines? Seems like the magazines are making the Z06 out to be slower now with slower times on just about everything. This seems like it's happened with a lot of cars in magazines. It's like the honeymoon effect has worn off. Seems like all you hear about these days in magazines are shelby cobra whatever mustangs, and STI's/EVO's
Last edited by sentry65; 05-07-2007 at 07:05 PM.
#11
"Hate" the Z06?? ... don't think so.
That was a really good, technical article and one I will be keeping! But I don't think they emphasized how much the tires affected the results. The GT3 and Exige S come stock with r-compounds. Stiffer sidewalls and softer compounds are really going to affect both the feel (turn-in, response) and the final grip numbers. The C6Z would most likely have had the fastest lap if it had comparable tires.....
Maybe I should post my own review
That was a really good, technical article and one I will be keeping! But I don't think they emphasized how much the tires affected the results. The GT3 and Exige S come stock with r-compounds. Stiffer sidewalls and softer compounds are really going to affect both the feel (turn-in, response) and the final grip numbers. The C6Z would most likely have had the fastest lap if it had comparable tires.....
Maybe I should post my own review
#12
#14
"Hate" the Z06?? ... don't think so.
That was a really good, technical article and one I will be keeping! But I don't think they emphasized how much the tires affected the results. The GT3 and Exige S come stock with r-compounds. Stiffer sidewalls and softer compounds are really going to affect both the feel (turn-in, response) and the final grip numbers. The C6Z would most likely have had the fastest lap if it had comparable tires.....
Maybe I should post my own review
That was a really good, technical article and one I will be keeping! But I don't think they emphasized how much the tires affected the results. The GT3 and Exige S come stock with r-compounds. Stiffer sidewalls and softer compounds are really going to affect both the feel (turn-in, response) and the final grip numbers. The C6Z would most likely have had the fastest lap if it had comparable tires.....
Maybe I should post my own review
Is that blule car a skyline, maybe?
Yeah, I thought it was bull that the GT3 had freaking Michelin Pilot Sport Cups and the Z06 had its crappy tires. O well, let them say what they want, I still love my C5Z better than any car they had (except that GT3, of course )
#15
Le Mans Master
If it were car and driver, the ZO6 would have been dead last. Would have read something like this:
The top 9 cars are all imports, therefor God's gift to the auto world. They are all so great, that it is hard to determine an absolute winner. Of course the Japanese take a slight edge over the Germans, but they are all so very wonderful. We are truly blessed to have been given the opportunity to pilot such amazing vehicles.
The 10th place car was a Chevrolet something-or-other, so it is a domestic. This means, it is a total pile of steaming garbage, and not worth the price of a happy meal.
The top 9 cars are all imports, therefor God's gift to the auto world. They are all so great, that it is hard to determine an absolute winner. Of course the Japanese take a slight edge over the Germans, but they are all so very wonderful. We are truly blessed to have been given the opportunity to pilot such amazing vehicles.
The 10th place car was a Chevrolet something-or-other, so it is a domestic. This means, it is a total pile of steaming garbage, and not worth the price of a happy meal.
#16
Instructor
"Hate" the Z06?? ... don't think so.
That was a really good, technical article and one I will be keeping! But I don't think they emphasized how much the tires affected the results. The GT3 and Exige S come stock with r-compounds. Stiffer sidewalls and softer compounds are really going to affect both the feel (turn-in, response) and the final grip numbers. The C6Z would most likely have had the fastest lap if it had comparable tires.....
Maybe I should post my own review
That was a really good, technical article and one I will be keeping! But I don't think they emphasized how much the tires affected the results. The GT3 and Exige S come stock with r-compounds. Stiffer sidewalls and softer compounds are really going to affect both the feel (turn-in, response) and the final grip numbers. The C6Z would most likely have had the fastest lap if it had comparable tires.....
Maybe I should post my own review
I don't think it's important enough to be upset about Motor Trendy and their opinions. The article was indeed informative,(if read calmly and thoroughly), but the tire disparity was blatantly obvious.
Any of us on this forum could invest a few thousand in handling upgrades to be more than "competitive" with the Porsche and still be well below the cost of the GT3!
I admire and respect Porsche for raising the bar constantly and offering a unique driving experience. But for an adrenaline pumping, heart pounding rush, I'm hooked on the sound and the gut wrenching torque of the Corvette!
Cheers,
CV
#17
If it were car and driver, the ZO6 would have been dead last. Would have read something like this:
The top 9 cars are all imports, therefor God's gift to the auto world. They are all so great, that it is hard to determine an absolute winner. Of course the Japanese take a slight edge over the Germans, but they are all so very wonderful. We are truly blessed to have been given the opportunity to pilot such amazing vehicles.
The 10th place car was a Chevrolet something-or-other, so it is a domestic. This means, it is a total pile of steaming garbage, and not worth the price of a happy meal.
The top 9 cars are all imports, therefor God's gift to the auto world. They are all so great, that it is hard to determine an absolute winner. Of course the Japanese take a slight edge over the Germans, but they are all so very wonderful. We are truly blessed to have been given the opportunity to pilot such amazing vehicles.
The 10th place car was a Chevrolet something-or-other, so it is a domestic. This means, it is a total pile of steaming garbage, and not worth the price of a happy meal.
I have no idea what you're talking about. For the last 2 years the Z06 has been on the cover of every 3rd or 4th issue of every major magazine getting nothing but praise for the most part with great benchmarks against ferraris, vipers, Ford GT's, GT500, noble M400, various turbo imports, different porsches, etc etc. If the Z06 wasn't enough, there were lots of articles where the C6 was brought in as a basis of comparison
I love reading about the Z06, but it started getting funny that it was on the cover of every 3rd or 4th magazine I grabbed out of my mailbox....and it was like that for months - actually years
Last edited by sentry65; 05-07-2007 at 09:05 PM.
#18
#19
I see the Evoness now, lol.
Yeah, and the C5Z is actually a comfortable DD that can go RR on the weekend.
I love my little acronyms
#20
I haven't driven an EVO, but have driven a STI and damn, those are pretty fun to drive. A totally different experience than a vette. You feel like you're getting shot out of a cannon every time you mash the gas -with tons of grip to spare. It's not really the total accelleration, but mainly how it accellerates due to how the turbo kicks in all at once
not as good looking or good sounding as a vette, but AWD and a turbo make driving around in traffic a blast in a totally different way than a vette. Those cars might be ugly as hell, but they're bred from rally cars and there's something to be said for that after you drive one
not as good looking or good sounding as a vette, but AWD and a turbo make driving around in traffic a blast in a totally different way than a vette. Those cars might be ugly as hell, but they're bred from rally cars and there's something to be said for that after you drive one