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My new Z *cough, cough* Oh Sicks

This is a TLDR thread. Cliffs notes below, and go ahead to the second post for pictures. Cliffs Notes: ( Click to show/hide ) Bought a Z06 to replace the

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Old 04-30-2013, 10:40 PM   #1 (permalink)
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Default My new Z *cough, cough* Oh Sicks

This is a TLDR thread. Cliffs notes below, and go ahead to the second post for pictures.

Cliffs Notes:
( Click to show/hide )
Bought a Z06 to replace the Z
Like better about the vette: The glorious LS7 engine, the incredible handling, the shifter and transmission, the throttle response, telescoping wheel and radio, heads up display
Like better about the 370z: Some creature comforts like shelves behind seats, cubby in the dash, fuel economy, trunk space, spare tire
Verdict: I love everything about the Corvette. I loved my Z, and it was what I could afford at the time. I like the Vette better, but not by an enormous margin.


The Story
I wrecked my 370z last month and this past Saturday, I've bought its replacement, a 2009 Corvette Z06.

So, I've posted pictures of this all over the place recently, but I haven't really given my capsule review of the car. And I figured that I would take some more detailed photos of the ins and outs of the vehicle.

a bit of background... you can skip if you don't want to read it.
I have been playing with different vehicle options for about a year. Last year at this time, I was driving a 2003 Mazda6 and a 2010 370z. The Mazda was getting long in the tooth, and the Z was my pleasure vehicle. I started looking then at various models and options, ranging from practical and cheap Mazda3's, to various v8 Mustangs, and test drove and fell in love with a 2007 Z06. At the time, I was very torn as to how to proceed, because I wasn't looking to replace the Z, and I needed a daily driver. I even considered buying it and DD'ing the 370z. Well, I ended up finding a Subie WRX STi to be my daily driver, and figured I would put off my Vette purchase for a few years, until the STi was paid off. Then I wrecked the Z. So, I test drove a few other competitors, including a Porsche 911, a new Boxster S, a BMW M3, a used Shelby GT500, and I was even toying with the idea of just buying another 370z. Please don't misunderstand my love for the Corvette as saying there was anything wrong with the Nissan Z Car. Before the wreck, I was going to also compare the next gen Z against the next gen Vette. And I loved my Z. I did everything with it, ran it on a race track, conquered mountain roads, placed her in car shows. It was a fantastic car. I just decided that I wanted to try something new, and I've been a fan of Corvettes since the C5 Vette back in the early 2000's. I also test drove a base Corvette and a Grand Sport, to see if I liked them as much as a Z06, but it just wasn't happening.

So, I set about shopping for a Z06. After some frustrating run ins with dealers, I found one not far from me that was almost perfect. 2009, Jetstream Blue, 29k miles on it (but it is certified), for a decent price. I got them down to my price after some work, and I bought some extra years on the warranty.

My Review
I've been driving everything over the last year or so, and the car I kept coming back to was the Z06. The best test drive I've ever had. I'm not much for luxury amenities in an automobile. I loved my Z. 6spd manual, RWD, front engine pumping out decent power. It was great. The Z06 is very similar in feel. In contrast to the muscle cars (Mustangs, Camaros, Chargers) and grand tourers (M3, Genesis Coupe, G37), this is a low slung sports car. I'd class it with the 911 and Boxster as well. It's composed in every corner. It's lower than the Z, has enormous tires (275/325!!!), and it's beautiful (subjective).

The engine is magnificent. I played with every Corvette option I could think of. I test drove the Base. Because of its sponginess and heft in comparison, it was out of the competition early. I toyed with getting a Grand Sport, because I could get one new for a decent price, and it has a Targa Top. It has very similar handling, but is just a bit heavier, and has a slightly less powerful engine. Out of the 6th generation Corvettes, though, I knew I had to have the Z06. I didn't even consider a ZR1 or Nissan GTR, because I'm not daddy warbucks. The LS7 Engine is remarkable. Unlike any other engine I've experienced, it is immediately and always ready to go, growling at you, torque ready in any gear. Hearing it sing at 7000 rpm is orgasmic. And the acceleration while getting to that point will pin your ears back. I have never driven anything with that much torque that quickly, and then been able to rely on it to brake and corner like the 370z, probably better. I say probably, because I haven't tested this car's limits like I had the 370z. I'm only assuming based on weight distribution and tire patch. Finding a suitable place to test this car's limits will probably require me to sign up for a track day. I could never comfortably approach them on any public roads.

I had also considered waiting for the c7 Corvette, which I could have scrimped and saved for and entered happily at 60k or so. But I'd be waiting roughly a year, paying MSRP, and potentially disliking the vehicle. I knew I was already in love with the Z06, and that I can always trade later if the c7 is that much nicer.

The interior of the c6 has taken a lot of flak, but I like it. Being a bigger man, I like the width of the interior and the comfortable leather seats. Perhaps my feelings will change if and when I track the car, but for now, I love those seats. I know the interior is spartan, but that doesn't bother me much, either. Luxury options and fashionable toggle switches are nice, but functional is more important to me. The only option I really geek out about is the Heads Up Display. No matter what vette I was going to buy, that option is a must. I love the ability to see my speed and revs without having to look down at the gauge cluster. So convenient.

The short throw shifter is nicer than the Z's. When you're rowing gears in this car, it feels intuitive. No rattle, no indecision. You're in and you're moving. What I heartily dislike is the CAGS (Computer Assisted Gear Selection), which is basically a nod to fuel economy. If you're not driving hard, the car will occasionally force you to shift from first to fourth, skipping two gears. This is unpredictable and annoying, although I hear it's easy to disable. It's fairly annoying to blip the throttle expecting second and get thrown into fourth needing considerably more throttle, especially if putting that kind of throttle on a shift to second will launch the car forward with a quickness. Just an odd "feature" that I can do without. But when driving spiritedly, I love the shifting. The gears are very tall. Second gear tops out around 80mph. This sounds like a gripe or an issue, but I'm quite comfortable with this. If I really need that speed, it's there. But for the most part, the car is a joy to drive in low rev ranges, as the torque is ample in nearly every gear at nearly any speed. You never feel it lacking oomph, even when just cruising along.

The audio system sounds great, in spite of the cheap looking Chevy radio. It lacks bluetooth, which would have been nice, but is no dealbreaker. My car didn't come with Nav, and that's A OK with me.

The boot is wider, but more shallow than the Z. A quick sam's club run, and I completely filled the rear compartment. It would have been a close call in the Z as well, but I feel there is more room in the 370.

I miss some of the creature comforts of the 370z, like the shelves and hidden compartment behind the seats, the cubby on the center console, and the cup holder was nicer than the two in the Chevy's cabin. I was also surprised at how considerably wider and more squat the vehicle is than the Z. But those are niggling gripes, nothing I can't get over. The Chevy's cabin is more spacious, despite being lower and hard to get into and out of. It's more comfortable once you're in.

I scrape on everything lol, but I scraped on most things in the Nissan.

One nice feature I didn't know about has to do with the seat memory. There are two save slots for seating positions, and a center button. I call it the "fat guy button". When you press it, it moves the seat back and telescopes the steering wheel back, making it very easy to get in or out. Love that feature.

Also, I love that the steering column not only rocks up or down, but telescopes in or out. Wasn't a dealbreaker in the Nissan, but I would have liked to have it. One thing I liked better about the 370z was that it came with a donut spare. The Vette is on run flats.

As far as the "compliment factor", I get a lot of "nice car" in the Vette, but I also got that a lot in the Nissan. Almost nobody tells me that about my Subie, although I get more Subie waves than I did Z waves, and who knows about Vette owners yet.

Bottom line with the Corvette Z06 is that I'm head over heels in love with it. Much as I was with my 370z. I almost considered getting back into a 370, but I wanted to try something new. And getting into one of the fastest sports cars in the world for under $50,000 is a pretty great feeling.

One of the things that I preferred about the Z06 to the Porsche 911 is its rawness and its brute power. The 911 in that price range is the base Carrera or a Carrera S. Not as fast, but still silly fast. Much more refined, as well. As I test drove one, diving into the apex of a few nice corners, I was fairly bored. I could have read a book, it was so easy. Getting up to high speeds was just par for the course. In the Vette, it feels like an all out event. The glorious v8 trumpets the speed in extremely loud fashion. The car corners much like the Z, very engaging. It makes you work for it, and you love every minute of it. Or at least, I do. I came away from the 911 impressed, but not in love.

Compared to the BMW M3, I was a little more torn. The M3's v8 sounds incredible, especially near redline. It's very, very quick. It also has no business handling as well as it does for such a heavy car. Its shifter and transmission are fantastic. It is sooooo refined. The M3 may be the best all around car in the world. But I didn't want sort of the GT/Muscle car. I like two seaters, low slung sports cars. The Vette is faster, but it's also cheaper to maintain and much more my style. Still, the M3 finished second in my eyes.

The stats on the car are mind boggling. At 3100 lbs, it's the lightest 6th generation Corvette. The engine cranks out those huge power and torque numbers, and it's all motor. As fun as the turbo is on my STi, I prefer the direct and consistent delivery of an NA motor, and this engine has gobs of it on tap all the time. Although the price of 505hp and 470ft-lbs of torque out of a Normally Aspirated 7 liter v8... is extreme thirst. If I'm just cruising, the car is capable of mid 20's mpg numbers, but to enjoy the engine, you're probably looking around 13mpg.

In the end, I am in love. Pics to follow

Last edited by shadoquad; 04-30-2013 at 10:56 PM.
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Old 04-30-2013, 10:41 PM   #2 (permalink)
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First pic I took of her. I was out looking at the car a week before the dealership hit my number.















LOOK AT THOSE FAT TIRES












Showing off the Heads Up Display, but someone else nosed into the picture














The heart of the beast


Attached Images
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Last edited by shadoquad; 04-30-2013 at 10:52 PM.
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Old 04-30-2013, 10:45 PM   #3 (permalink)
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Pics!!!
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Old 04-30-2013, 11:06 PM   #4 (permalink)
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I am beyond jealous, congratulations
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Old 04-30-2013, 11:11 PM   #5 (permalink)
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Old 04-30-2013, 11:15 PM   #6 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shadoquad View Post
You've liked all my posts whenever I mentioned the used c5 or c6 the best you can buy right now. Glad you got it
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Old 04-30-2013, 11:26 PM   #7 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JungleZ View Post
You've liked all my posts whenever I mentioned the used c5 or c6 the best you can buy right now. Glad you got it
Thanks. Yeah, it's got to be one of the best performance bargains out there. Still a steep cost of entry, but just wow.
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Old 05-01-2013, 01:40 AM   #8 (permalink)
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Congrats Shadoquad. The Z06 is an absolute beast and can take an astounding amount of punishment. Drove one at the track and can't say enough good things about the car. You will have a blast.
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Old 05-01-2013, 06:02 AM   #9 (permalink)
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Congrats big guy, really happy for you. Can't wait to see it in person.
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Old 05-01-2013, 06:23 AM   #10 (permalink)
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Congrats, Al. Hell of a car. I can't wait to check it out in person.
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Old 05-01-2013, 06:27 AM   #11 (permalink)
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Congrats man! Looks bad ***
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Old 05-01-2013, 06:36 AM   #12 (permalink)
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Awesome....however, I no longer like you... Would love to own one myself.
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Old 05-01-2013, 06:37 AM   #13 (permalink)
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now take that motor and trains out and go put it into a Pontiac Solstice!
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Old 05-01-2013, 07:01 AM   #14 (permalink)
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Very nice shado! When do I get my ride?


And also, when can I check out the car?
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Old 05-01-2013, 07:17 AM   #15 (permalink)
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Damn, that took forever to read. lol

First off, Congrats on the Zodd6. Great choice of vehicle. The Chevy community is the best community in the world. You're not only going to get thumbs up from other vettes, But from camaro's. Chevy SS's. Impala drivers, Silverado's etc. The Chevy community is top notch brotha. I used to be part of it and miss it.

nissan community out on roads is...

I loved the objectivity in your review and depth of explanation. You really nailed a lot of my own observation driving the GS (rental) The vette is an awesome car and contrary to many. I love the camaro too.

Enjoy it, stay safe and you'll always be a Z owner regardless.

Perfect color choice by the way...
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