Talk me into/out of a C6 Z06

[FuriouslyFast]

Originally Posted by JamesNoBrakes

Well yeah, if all you care about is going fast in a straight line, most people aren't going to get to the speeds where bigger displacement will go faster and if your primary goal is to be #1 from a stoplight, turbo AWD is usually a pretty sure bet. At the higher (very illegal) speeds, you'll taper off faster as the driveline drag takes it's toll and acceleration will take a big hit (especially if you are trying to go to higher RPMs than max torque). In general, it's usually possible to get a bit more out of turbo engines, but this usually has the effect of exaggerating the turbo drop-off past around 5K, to get the earlier higher peak. Add a DCT to the mix for rapid shifts and you can often hang with cars that have much more HP that have issues putting it all down early. Get to a longer track though...or god forbid an actual road course, and the cars like the C7 Z06 will handily hand the RS-TT it's ass. It's all about what you want. To be sure, it can be a lot of fun to have a quick accelerating car (turbo AWD) that is more fun at slower speeds, rather than one that has to stretch it's legs at "go-directly-to-jail" speeds.

Let's not forget the Hellcat is more than just 700+ HP. Heated/vented seats, heated wheel, comfy & roomy, all the needed bells & whistles, etc. Makes a great DD for me just driving normal.

[Rmtt]

Originally Posted by The HACK

C6 Z06 engine has a tendency to drop valves into the cylinder causing catastrophic failures. If you're going to get one, make sure the springs on the valves are/were replaced with aftermarket ones of the HIGHEST quality. I had a co-worker who dropped a valve in his Z06, GM replaced the first engine, then promptly within the same year dropped another valve in the replaced engine, and GM basically saying "the first one on us. Not so much on the 2nd" and he sold the car immediately after the $20K engine replacement.

Of course, this could have ALL been avoided if he replaced the valve springs ASAP after purchase.

This is true. I would hope anyone going into a purchase like that would be informed as it was all over the boards for awhile.

I think I had my Cartek 4X Heads/Cam package purchased and waiting before the car was even in my garage. They were worked over with Solid SS Valves and upgraded valve guides.

Granted this was overkill....but I was upgrading a lot of stuff. And really, the car had enough power stock now that I look back on it. Much more than I could handle. The best upgrade I ever made was driving classes.

[The HACK]

They ALL have their little "quirks" to be honest. The C7 LT1 and LT4 has AFM valves that sort of does the same. You have to keep the engine out of cylinder deactivation as much as possible, otherwise the Active Fuel Management valves has a tendency to fail too. Not so much an issue with the manual LTx engines (7 speed manuals don't go into AFM unless you specifically put it in ECO mode) but automatic versions are prone to some expensive repairs.

On top of that, the oil pump has a tendency to grenade itself and cause expensive failures. Check the 6 Gen Camaro boards for LT1 (SS) and LT4 (ZL1) oil pump failures. Same problem that ate the C&D long term tester engine. Not a common issue, but common enough where if you walk in to a Chevy store complaining of a "low" or "no" oil pressure issue it's 4 weeks in the shop waiting for a new engine.

They're good, solid, reliable as long as that one or two corners that GM cut doesn't come back and bite you. Really they've been living on the reputation the LS1 and LS3 bought them.

[Rmtt]

I agree....the LS1, LS6, and LS3 are some great examples. The LS2 was decent as well, just a different cylinder head port configuration.

I think what sucked me in the most was the ease of working on the cars...I've actually flycut pistons on one of my early builds when I had a mistake with some heads at a machine shop. I think I ended up with a 58cc chamber....so clearance was an issue with the cam selection. But man the TQ increase was crazy.

The other plus was the tuning platform. HP Tuners and its simple GUI made it easy for non-professionals such as myself to learn something fun.

[vt100]

Originally Posted by JamesNoBrakes

Yeah, C7 interior is reasonable, C6 is kind of ridiculous. Just google some pics.

Interior in Z06?! Nonsense!
You don't buy Z06 for interior

It's like complaining about bad and minimalistic interior in S2000. But who cares if the car drives that good


PS: I personally love C6 Z06 a lot. It's like a bigger and way more powerful version of S2000.
Was cross shopping it with Z4M few years ago.
Z4M won for now but still I keep dreaming about getting a Z06 one day...

[N54Yankee]

Originally Posted by vt100

Interior in Z06?! Nonsense!
You don't buy Z06 for interior

It's like complaining about bad and minimalistic interior in S2000. But who cares if the car drives that good


PS: I personally love C6 Z06 a lot. It's like a bigger and way more powerful version of S2000.
Was cross shopping it with Z4M few years ago.
Z4M won for now but still I keep dreaming about getting a Z06 one day...

One of the holiest of grails Ferrari’s is the F40 and is reverend by all sports cars fans around the planet and is still a contender today and pretty much has similar stellar performance of the C6Z. F40 has an atrocious interior cheaply put together and sparse in the goal of weight savings and several of today’s sports cars. Lotus, some Porsche versions of the 911 and some Corvettes.
Me, I don’t drive my C6 for its cushy interior. I hit the start button and it roars to life with about 100 more hp then the Z06 and at only 3,200lbs with the Z51 suspension it’s not a cushy ride nor do I want it to be, It stays planted and flat through high G turns. Power to weight ratio is where it’s at for me.
It’s interior doesn’t bother me at all just as F40 drivers don’t mind theirs either. It’s my weekend car and it’s a blast to drive especially when you get into the throttle. Others can scoff at it but I don’t care because after years of ownership I still smile every time I light it off. Now go get the Z06, one is waiting for you somewhere.

[BMWILUVU]

If you want to buy the cheaper Z06 make sure it is because its a manual. Because I track, I like the idea of the heavy V8 in the mid-engine.

[vt100]

Originally Posted by BMWILUVU

If you want to buy the cheaper Z06 make sure it is because its a manual. Because I track, I like the idea of the heavy V8 in the mid-engine.

IIRC C6 Z06 was only manufactured with manual.

[Rmtt]

Originally Posted by vt100

IIRC C6 Z06 was only manufactured with manual.

They were. But I don't think that is the point he was trying to make. I'm assuming he's referring to the C8 not having a manual transmission as he said "mid-engine".

[JM98]

I am going to go out this weekend and look at a few good examples, I appreciate all the info/opinions.

[FuriouslyFast]

Originally Posted by JM98

I am going to go out this weekend and look at a few good examples, I appreciate all the info/opinions.

Links to some you plan to see?

[JM98]

Originally Posted by FuriouslyFast

Links to some you plan to see?

https://tucson.craigslist.org/cto/d/...083559675.html

https://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/c...085307145.html

https://tucson.craigslist.org/cto/d/...079349597.html

https://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/ct...092149513.html ---- I have a buddy in Dallas thats going to look at this one for me

Whats interesting is that values on these vary wildly. Edmunds and KBB for intermediate mileage (50-80k) hover around 26k for a clean example, but Ive seen them priced from a low of 22k all the way up to 32k. I am willing to hold out for just the right example, so this weekend will be more of a feeler to see what I can expect.

[Housekeeping]

I have an 08 Z06, heads fixed btw. These are incredible cars and up there performance wise with cars 2-3x as much. Cheap to maintain, crazy reliable (owned mine 5 years with zero issue, just oil changes), comfortable and track weapons. Easy to mod too.

[FuriouslyFast]

Originally Posted by JM98

https://tucson.craigslist.org/cto/d/...083559675.html

https://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/c...085307145.html

https://tucson.craigslist.org/cto/d/...079349597.html

https://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/ct...092149513.html ---- I have a buddy in Dallas thats going to look at this one for me

Whats interesting is that values on these vary wildly. Edmunds and KBB for intermediate mileage (50-80k) hover around 26k for a clean example, but Ive seen them priced from a low of 22k all the way up to 32k. I am willing to hold out for just the right example, so this weekend will be more of a feeler to see what I can expect.

Silver is boring. Did you get the mod list & dyno sheet on the black one?

[JeffB-M3]

Here's a decent looking one down the street from me....although it's a long drive for the OP to take a look at it.

https://www.caseykia.com/used/Chevro...0dba625319.htm

My best friend has a track-only C6Z and he's been impressed with it. Bought it in track-ready form (cage, cams, heads, stripped interior, suspension, aero, etc.) and has had to do nothing to it (excluding tires and brakes, of course) in about 3 years of ownership at 10-12 track events per year. Parts are cheap and plentiful.

I was trying to convince my wife to look at it -- she loves Corvettes -- but for some reason a newer, nicer house is more important to her than having ANOTHER fun car. (shrug)

[Z06Driver]

What's there to talk you out of...having owned one I can tell you it's an amazing bang for the buck. It's stupid fast in stock form and easy to have fun in and puts a stupid grin on your face as soon as you start the damn thing. Get heads fixed and enjoy!

[FuriouslyFast]

Originally Posted by Z06Driver

What's there to talk you out of...having owned one I can tell you it's an amazing bang for the buck. It's stupid fast in stock form and easy to have fun in and puts a stupid grin on your face as soon as you start the damn thing. Get heads fixed and enjoy!

Exactly. Anyone trying to talk him out of it is just plain ridiculous.

[JM98]

Originally Posted by JeffB-M3

Here's a decent looking one down the street from me....although it's a long drive for the OP to take a look at it.

https://www.caseykia.com/used/Chevro...0dba625319.htm

My best friend has a track-only C6Z and he's been impressed with it. Bought it in track-ready form (cage, cams, heads, stripped interior, suspension, aero, etc.) and has had to do nothing to it (excluding tires and brakes, of course) in about 3 years of ownership at 10-12 track events per year. Parts are cheap and plentiful.

I was trying to convince my wife to look at it -- she loves Corvettes -- but for some reason a newer, nicer house is more important to her than having ANOTHER fun car. (shrug)

That car is practically new, hard to believe someone would put so few miles on it.

This one is down the road from my parents house and tastefully modded, that blue really stands out:

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/sf...088460119.html

[BMWILUVU]

Originally Posted by Rmtt

They were. But I don't think that is the point he was trying to make. I'm assuming he's referring to the C8 not having a manual transmission as he said "mid-engine".

Correct. Othewise, I would get the C8.

[shawntech]

Have owned a manual LS3 C6 for 12yrs since new, much experience with LS7 Z06 also. C6 is a hell of a car to drive but leave interior and nvh concerns at the door. There's no "fix" for ls7 heads... it's a check and correct item and if you add a higher lift cam you're going to make it a maintenance item.

I also own a Charger Hellcat and m340i xdrive, each of these cars has it's own character and emotion but of the hundred+ cars I've owned in the past 20yrs m340i really moves all the needles... but it doesn't have that V8 roar unfortunately.

Excited to get a C8 that may be the turning point in all of this car stuff under $130k

[JM98]

Update: Now that I've sat in a few and heard a couple HCI Full Exhaust examples... my mind is pretty much made up. I will be jumping ship, just looking for the right example.

The Z06 feels like I'm sitting in a race car compared to the 135i. It handles on rails and the engine is linear and brutal, regardless of how much power it makes (doesn't matter that my car might be as fast in a straight line vs a stock one). This is definitely the full package, can't believe I waited this long to check em out.

[5.M0NSTER]

Originally Posted by JM98

Update: Now that I've sat in a few and heard a couple HCI Full Exhaust examples... my mind is pretty much made up. I will be jumping ship, just looking for the right example.

The Z06 feels like I'm sitting in a race car compared to the 135i. It handles on rails and the engine is linear and brutal, regardless of how much power it makes (doesn't matter that my car might be as fast in a straight line vs a stock one). This is definitely the full package, can't believe I waited this long to check em out.

For any kind of performance application it's hard to go wrong with the Vette. Z06 has a special place in my heart as this is the car in which I achieved my land speed record. 186mph in a 2006 Z06. Don't think I will be beating it anytime soon even though I live in a country with no speed limits. Hope you find a good example, and enjoy the hell out of it!