Z06 on the track

[1MOREMOD]

Had a chance to track a race prepped c5 Z06 yesterday at the ridge. I went into it thinking i wasnt going to like the car. Never driven a vette much less full stripped one on the track. I came away smiling and very impressed with it. No traction control, no abs no problem. it felt fairly easy to drive and control at a relativey high limit and really liked it overall.

[AlpineE92M3]

Originally Posted by 1MOREMOD

Had a chance to track a race prepped c5 Z06 yesterday at the ridge. I went into it thinking i wasnt going to like the car. Never driven a vette much less full stripped one on the track. I came away smiling and very impressed with it. No traction control, no abs no problem. it felt fairly easy to drive and control at a relativey high limit and really liked it overall.

That sounds like fun! I test drove a c6 Z06 and it was an animal. Raw power, great handling/ braking and looks beastly. Still prefer the M though...

[1MOREMOD]

braking and turn in were great. not sure what they start at weight wise but this was 2700 which helps everywhere.

[Porschefile]

yep, the Z06's rock. My only complaint (for track purposes at least) is the steering feel doesn't convey the limit as well as a M3. But otherwise it kicks any German car's ass other than a really well driven GT3, and would probably even outrun that.

[Car54]

I think the Z06 is the most popular car to wad up.

Glad your experience was pleasant.

[M3Carbon]

C5 Z06's are fantastic track machines. Had to the opportunity to drive the c5 Z06, C6 Z51, and C6 Z06 at Spring Mountain for a 3 day race school. On paper the C6 Z51 and C5 Z06 matched up well, but on the track the Z06's brakes, better suspension and faster revving engine made it easier to drive fast. The C6 Z06 was just in a different league though ...speed on the back straightaway was easily 30+ mph faster. That's another thread...

Haven't tracked the M yet so I have no direct comparison. Looks cooler.

[1MOREMOD]

Originally Posted by Porschefile

yep, the Z06's rock. My only complaint (for track purposes at least) is the steering feel doesn't convey the limit as well as a M3. But otherwise it kicks any German car's ass other than a really well driven GT3, and would probably even outrun that.

great maybe i should be building a budget z06 instead of e46.

[THE TECH]

I can also say that the Z06, either C5 or C6 are great machines.

[1MOREMOD]

i would be interested to get a seat in a c6 now. the 5 felt like more of a handful than the m3 for sure.

[Porschefile]

Originally Posted by 1MOREMOD

great maybe i should be building a budget z06 instead of e46.

Building a racecar is an emotional decision rather than rational, but if speed matters much, a vette racecar will wipe the floor with a M3 racecar. I had a E36 M3 racecar because I love BMW's, but for what I had in that car I could have had a decent C5 z06 that would run 10 seconds quicker.

And the whole steering feel thing kinda goes out the window when you throw on wide slicks up front etc.

I've seen well set-up C5 z06's run damn near formula mazda times at VIR.

[1MOREMOD]

Originally Posted by Porschefile

Building a racecar is an emotional decision rather than rational, but if speed matters much, a vette racecar will wipe the floor with a M3 racecar.

yes it is, i hear once a week how crazy i am from my wife. im hoping to be on par with a stockish z06 at lower price point. requires more driver mod than anything now. i too choose m3 cuz i drank the koolaid.

[Modena NYC]

996turbo

[S65V8]

bang for buck for the car and the mods, the vette wins by a long shot is the truth. I wish I just liked it more to have one for the track. it's stupid fast.

[Fen335i]

Originally Posted by Modena NYC

996turbo

Dude, comon'....it's an all-wheel drive vehicle. That's not driving. ;-)

[w00tw00t]

Originally Posted by Fen335i

Dude, comon'....it's an all-wheel drive vehicle. That's not driving. ;-)

that's how I felt when I had a GTR... it felt like cheating

[Fen335i]

Originally Posted by 1MOREMOD

yes it is, i hear once a week how crazy i am from my wife. im hoping to be on par with a stockish z06 at lower price point. requires more driver mod than anything now. i too choose m3 cuz i drank the koolaid.

I'm with you man....it's a really hard thing to decide when it comes to a dedicated track rat. I've had this argument in my mind multiple times. Z06, M3, GT3, etc....they are all amazing machines. It's all what you want in the end. Do you want the "feel" of a BMW? Or, the power and exhilaration of a high hp Corvette?....or the strangely unique (but awesome) feel of a Porsche with the engine in the rear? Or, maybe a little slower but better handling Cayman S with the engine in the middle? All are priced similarly... It's a tough call. I hope to make that same tough call soon myself.

Good luck....let me know what you end up with, being a local Seattlelite ;-)

[1MOREMOD]

Originally Posted by Fen335i

I'm with you man....it's a really hard thing to decide when it comes to a dedicated track rat. I've had this argument in my mind multiple times. Z06, M3, GT3, etc....they are all amazing machines. It's all what you want in the end. Do you want the "feel" of a BMW? Or, the power and exhilaration of a high hp Corvette?....or the strangely unique (but awesome) feel of a Porsche with the engine in the rear? Or, maybe a little slower but better handling Cayman S with the engine in the middle? All are priced similarly... It's a tough call. I hope to make that same tough call soon myself.

Good luck....let me know what you end up with, being a local Seattlelite ;-)

Its already been decided. Have an e46 build in progress right now. Just like the higher torque feel also of the vette on the track. - may end up with multiple things if I can. We are building a chump car also.

[skxf430]

Check out this nicely sorted out C5 Z06.

http://youtu.be/0iABD9Wapv8

[StealYourFace]

50/50 weight, great suspension, awesome responsive small block. What's not to love?

The 5th gen Z06 was one of the best cars out of the gate for its day. Add in the fact that they are cheap and easy to maintain and it's an easy choice

If I had one car for getting to work, picking up groceries and doing 3-6 track days a year I would still take an e46 M3. A corvette is a great second car though. I think the budget cake and eat it too option would be an e46 or e90 328/330i and a 5th gen Zo6 second car... or a cayman s.... yada yada, options galore

[Richard@M-World]

'vettes are one of the best bang for the buck track cars you can buy. I am a sponsor on corvetteforum.com and there are a ton of track guys which means widely available and affordable parts.

Also, if you are thinking about w2w racing or time trial in the future, you will find very mature and well-attended classes in NASA/SCCA.

[1MOREMOD]

Originally Posted by Richard@M-World

'vettes are one of the best bang for the buck track cars you can buy.

amen to that. i will have to settle for stalking them in the corners or preying on the less skilled drivers.

[Slapshot9]

A well driven GT3 is a beautiful thing. Not cheap, but its one amazing track machine.