Zig

since i've got a c6 i already think the vette is the best american sports car out there, but does a ring time of 7:43 make the c6 z06 make the z the best all around sports car in the world ? who else matches the performance for the price ? i know, the uber rich don't care what it costs but just like the power to weight ratio a performance to price ratio should come into play when picking the "King of the Hill".

Scissors

Yes.

Bobby J

For the price, without a doubt, YES. Although ring times by themselves are really not a valid means of comparison unless tests for cars are run on the same day, same conditions, with equal drivers.

gonzalezfj

This "equal drivers" business is beginning to frost me. Does anyone realistically expect that the car manufacturers would to send someone other than their best driver to the 'Ring for times?

If the car manufacturer sends a second-best (or third-best) driver to the 'Ring, they screwed up, just the same as if they incorporated a poor design in their car.

How do you get "equal drivers" anyhow?

Scissors

Agreed. Additionally, manufacturers going for official times are also going to aim for the best conditions. So the times are comparable.

I'll dismiss the times as invalid the day I see an Escalade turn a 7:43.

Bobby J

Everybody knows GM puts a lot of time and money in testing/tuning at the ring. They bring in drivers like JM to get the car ot perform at it's highest potential. Others, especially American manufacturers, don't put the emphasis on the ring that GM does. Put the same driver in different cars on the same day/conditions, and the comparison would be more valid. Otherwise, the time basically shows what the car's upper performance limit is, since conditions were good and it would be hard to find a better driver.

AP

Yes!

05C6spdvert

It is clealry a very very capable car. You can argue all day aobut who drove it and what the track conditions were, but a 7:43 is bordering on staggering. It is a very low time for a street going car in production trim with only elite exotics in close company. I think they made their point.

ajindfw

Another issues concerning drivers is that drivers will get their best times when driving cars that they're used to. I wouldn't expect Walter Rohrl to be best in a Corvette or JM to be in top form in a 911 without weeks upon weeks of practice.

We can micro-analyze this all we want, but fact is, anything below 9:00 on the north loop is flat-out hauling a**. Breaking into the sub 8 minute ranks requires great suspension and air management- you might be able to muscle a crappy car into a sub 10 minute time, but the law of diminishing returns simply won't allow a subpar machine to turn a 7:4x time in showroom trim.

The time is valid, and in a few years we'll be here amazed at the 7:2x times of the nextgen car.

Bobby J

The time is astounding. Especially considering the price. Looks like the bargain of the century. I can't wait to see some of the comparison test against Europe's best. And one magazine absolutely has to do the Viper, Z06, Ford GT test.

Zlicious

To answer your question, YES!!

And in regards to the price, I don't and wont understand why people always are saying "It is the best, for the price". I disagree. I think it is the best performance in general. How many cars period can trap 124 mph (As seen in Beech Bend- the slowest, and most rediculous track in the nation with STRONG headwinds and a crappy driver)? How many cars can run the N-ring at 7:43 in 100% stock trim ON RUNCRAPS? And the list goes on. Sure it might not be as exclusive, or as pretty as some of the super exotics, but I think it is safe to assume that ANYTHING short of a CGT, Enzo, Ford GT, Sallen S7 or an SLR (This might be a close) is going to get beat by the new Z in terms of what is out there today in regards to handeling, braking, straight line, etc.

So, in conclusioin, yes!! imo, it is the best all around performer IN GENERAL, and all for the fraction of the price..

666 Z06

Forget the Viper, its far, far outclassed. I want to see a comparo with the Z06, Ferrari F430, Porsche GT3, and Ford GT.

Zlicious

The 996 GT3? That would get it's *** stomped by the new Z. And so wouldn't the F430, but not as bad as the GT3. The C5 Z and the GT3 are close enough, nevermind the new Z.

I think you might be underestimating the SRT-10. Up top, past 120, that cars pulls like a fright train. In the 1/4 mile, the Z will have the Viper beat, but past 120, I think it will be close, HOPING for the Z to edge it out

Like stated, Ford GT vs. Z06 vs. SRT would be something I would love to see.

GrantG

A stock 996 GT3 has turned a 7:49 lap - I wouldn't call that getting its *** stomped. The F430 will not be able to match this time, btw...

EuG

Why would Viper do better past 120?
Z06 has ~same HP (according to the specs anyway), but better aero.
I'm not even bringing up weight.
The faster you go the more advantage goes to Z06

Gary2KC5

Here is a comparison of other production cars which ran at Nurburgring:
7:28 --- Porsche Carrera GT, Walther Röhrl, Autobild July 2004
7:32.4 -- Porsche Carrera GT, definitive time by Horst Von Saurma
7:32.5 - Gemballa Porsche GTR 600 EVO, Wolfgang Kaufmann (2001)
7:36 --- Porsche Carrera GT, factory test driver Walther Röhrl (2002)
7:40* -- Porsche Carrera GT, *estimated time on cold and partially wet track (2003)
7:40* -- 161.217 km/h – Corvette Z06, 505 PS/ 1419.7 kg (estimated), Jan Magnusen
7:40 --- Mercedes Benz McLaren SLR, Klaus Ludwig, Autobild July 2004
7:42 --- Radical 1500 SR3 (2002)
7:43 --- TechArt GT Street (2001)
7:43 --- Porsche 996 911 GT3 RS, factory test driver Walter Rohrl, MOTOR Magazine
7:43.5 - Lamborghini Murcielago (Autocar magazine, 2002)
7:44 --- Pagani Zonda C12S (07/2003)
7:45 --- Gemballa Porsche GTR 600 (12/2000)
7:46 --- Porsche 996 GT2
7:46 --- SHK Porsche 993 GT2, 652 PS (1999)
7:47 --- Porsche 996 GT3 RS, 381PS (996) (2004)
7:49 --- Porsche 996 GT3 Cup
7:50 --- BMW E46 M3 CSL (08/2003)
7:50 --- Blitz Supra, 750 PS, Herbert Schürg (1997)
7:50 --- Honda RC30, Helmut Daehne (1993)
7:50 --- Lamborghini Murcielago (06/2002)
7:52 --- Gemballa Porsche 911 Le Mans (1995)
7:52 --- Lamborghini Gallardo E-Gear (12/2003)
7:52 --- Mercedes Benz SLR McLaren (06/2004)
7:54 --- Porsche GT3 (996) (2003)
7:55 --- Caterham R500 Superlight (2002)
7:56 --- Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale (02/2004)
7:56 --- Porsche 996 Turbo
7:56 --- Honda NSX-R - Motoharu Kurosawa, Best MOTORing
7:56 --- Chevrolet Corvette CE Z06
7:56 --- Chevrolet Corvette C6 (tested by Dave Hill)

Crushinator

I agree 100%. Leave the Porsche and Ferrari out. I think we've all read far too many times how much better the interior of the Porsche is, and how much better the Ferrari sounds. Leave it to good old American iron! PS, you guys shouldn't be so quick to write the Viper off. Over 500 horsepower and well over 500 ft/lbs make it a match for just about anything...performance speaking.

Scissors

Fixed.

DT

I agree, and make sure the Viper representation is done with the new Coupe, so it's a coupe-to-coupe/apples-to-apples comparison.

They (C&D, R&T, T&A, whatever ) should do a 2-stage elimination, across a few issues: "US -v- the World", so a US shootout with the cars above, then a non-US shootout, *then* a single winner take all final shootout between the 2 finalists!

sefa01

For an extra $400,000, you can beat the C6 Z06's lap time.

Nurburgring Lap Times of Notable Stock Cars

Porsche Carrera GT: 7.32
Chevrolet Corvette C5 Z06: 7.56
Lamborghini Diablo SV: 8.09
Ferrari 360 Modena: 8.09
Porsche 993 Turbo: 8.12
BMW Z8: 8.15
Cadillac CTS-V: 8.19
BMW M3: 8.22
BMW M5: 8.28
Honda NSX: 8.38
Honda S2000: 8.39
Chevrolet C5 Corvette: 8.40