Z06 vs Z-R1

[Phily]

What do you guys prefer and what are your reasons?

Me personally I love the Z06: its great value and unbeatable performance. Also, where the ZR1 hindered in ride quality, the Z06 excels at according to many magazines.

[stangvette1]

I would take the Z06 for the same reasons.

[tazz3]

my dads friend has a zr1 and this car is fast.
but if i had to pick from a zo6 and a zr1 that would be tough.
i would pick the ZR1

[hakka]

I could have had either, and you see the car in my sig You really have to ride in a ZR-1 to understand...The sound of a big V-8 with the whoosh of 32-valves and 4cams at 7000rpm will make you understand though. The ZR-1 is the original beast... It is capable of over 180mph, which no Corvette has matched yet (including the Z06). The deciding factor for me is the fact that you see a Z06 every day. Since the ZR-1 has come out, I have never seen one driving around (besides going to/from shows). Many people don't know what a ZR-1 is, but those that do give it a lot of respect. You might even say the ZR-1 is a legend

[themodelkid]

If i could find it, i would take a 1985 or do experimental ZR-1, i thin like one survived, and someguy owns it. Alot of the engine parts are all "homemade" by GM. But otherwise i would take a ZR-1 hands down, like other people said this car is a legend. "the King Of The Hill'' as the saying goes.

[1995grandam]

It is capable of over 180mph, which no Corvette has matched yet (including the Z06)

you must mean no stock vette has done...

[themodelkid]

He means no other stock:


Taken from Motor Trend Web Site:

Fastest Tuner Corvette MT Has Tested
Lingenfelter Performance Engineering built a twin-turbo C5 that ran 226 mph on Transportation Research Center of Ohio's 7.5-mile high-bank oval test track-- accomplished using street radial tires and pump gas.

Fastest Corvette
Jim Epler's Easy Care-sponsored C5 Corvette blew past the finish line at 311.27 mph during the 1999 NHRA Gatornationals.

But other wise he would be correct:

Fastest Stock Corvette
As part of a top-speed test (August 1993, page 37), we tested a '93 Corvette ZR-1 (C4) to 181 mph, and a few years later we pushed a '99 Corvette Z-51 (C5) with an LS-1 V-8 to 173.6 mph (July 1999, page 40). We haven't had the opportunity to top-end a new 405-horse Z06, but stay tuned.

[hakka]

yes, I meant stock.

[jak112460]

The ZO6 is the better car in every way. The only advantage the ZR-1 has is that it was much more limited in production numbers. The ZO6 starts out with the same HP numbers but has much more potential because of the availability of aftermarket parts. I don't think anyone can make the argument that a ZR-1 is a better overall car than the ZO6.

[TEXAS-HOTROD]

It's like the old saying, "How do you compare apples to oranges" (that's not it exactly, but close enough). I have a C-4, and have driven a few different C-3s. There is a huge difference in the ride quality, performance, and handling. I have heard many people say the same when comparing the C-4 to the C-5.
I read a test article in Corvette Quartely about the performance difference between the ZR-1 and the 1997 LS-1. They were so close on lap times (on a road track) it was amazing. It had a lot of ZR-1 owners upset for the performance closeness versus cost comparison (the ZR-1 option was almost as much as the car itsself). It was like brute power against agile handling. The ZR-1 has 32 valves and makes lots of power in the upper rpm range. The LS-1 is looked at as to be low-tec, for the use of pushrods, and has a good, flat torque curve. They are both good machines. Look how brutal the Viper is (so they say), and the Vette wins the all-around comparison every year. For how many years now?
If you hurt any ZR-1 mechanicals, the parts are expensive, but then again, parts for any of the newly produced vehicles will be paid for out the @%#.
If I had a choice, it would be the ZR-1, because it looks really muscular with those wide rear wheels and for the rarity.
---TEX---

[jak112460]

I believe if you compare apples to apples, the ZR-1 is not as far ahead in overall performance to it's C4 counterpart as the ZO6 is to its C5 counterparts. It could be argued that the Grand Sport or LT4 Corvettes were a better bang for the buck. I too would like to own a ZR-1 but it would have to be only the last two years of production because of the horsepower rating and the fact that the earlier ZR-1 engines were prone to bearing problems. The ZR-1 is the more collectible car but simply from a performance standpoint the ZO6 is a far superior car.

[TEXAS-HOTROD]

---EXACTAMUNDO---

[hakka]

Originally posted by jak112460
I too would like to own a ZR-1 but it would have to be only the last two years of production because of the horsepower rating and the fact that the earlier ZR-1 engines were prone to bearing problems. The ZR-1 is the more collectible car but simply from a performance standpoint the ZO6 is a far superior car.

Even though the later cars have higher ratings, they are a bit heavier and lose some more power through the drivetrain than the earlier cars. The performance is virtually identical on a drag strip. Also, it is thought that the first 300 or so LT5s were built with "extra care" from MerCruiser. I don't know whether there is any truth to this rumor or not, but I do know that the factory dyno for mine was 387hp (it is #254), though it should have only been 375hp.

The bearing problems you are talking about were only in the very early cars because when the cars were first started, the woman doing it gave them full throttle upon ignition. This coupled with the below zero temps. they were having that year led to the problems.

[jak112460]

What is it that makes the later ZR-1s heavier?

[TEXAS-HOTROD]

Full throttle start-ups? AAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!
Wasn't anyone there with any sence to stop her any sooner in production? Like maybe after the first time.
Is that really a true story?
What some women will do. I guess I'm not surprised.