c6 zo6 vs. '05 viper

0-60? 1/4? prices? handling? weight? need specs please

427 cid Aluminum C5R blueprinted block
512HP with advertised 500HP
Aluminum block w/104.8mm bores & pressed-in liners
Forged steel crankshaft with 101.6mm stroke
6-bolt forged steel main bearing caps
Titanium connecting rods
Cast Eutectic aluminum flat-top pistons
Racing-derived CNC-ported aluminum heads w/ 70cc chambers
56mm titanium intake valves
41mm sodium-filled exhaust valves
11.0:1 compression ratio
Composite manifold with 90mm single-bore throttle body
Camshaft with 15mm (.591-inch) lift
Dry-sump oiling system
7000rpm redline
Weight: 2900 lbs
Rear spoiler
Functional air induction from hood vent
Hydroformed aluminum chassis*
*The chassis was developed by Pratt and Miller, the engine by Katech. Since these two companies brought us the C5R, one might expect the Z06 platform to be a C5R with a license plate. That would be close.

The performance of this package will blow the doors off any comers, including the exotics.
Source: www.corvettels7.com

price rumered to be from $50,00-$76,000


VIPER
8.3L 500 CI V10 20 valve SFI engine
500 HP at 5600
525 TQ at 4100
3.07 axle ratio
6-speed Man
21 highway MPG
9.6 compression ratio
Weight: 3380 lbs
Price $85,000+

also, performance packages (twin turbo) available from Hennessy performance, to boost HP to 1000!!!
upgrade price $50,000+

05 viper srt-10 with hennessy twin turbo upgrade:
0-60: 2.25 sec.
1/4 mile: 9.75 sec. @ 148+ mph

I think that in stock form the zo6 will put a solid beating on the viper. The last z06 with 100 less horsepower could run pretty close to the viper. I don't see why this one thats more race car than anything shouldn't be able to beat a viper.

The Z06 is going to own anything in it's price range, which has been confirmed by GM to start at $65,800. A base 997 911 is $69,300 fyi. It's going to handle the Viper, no doubt in my mind on that. In fact it may even best the F430 and at nearly 1/4 the price that is quite an accomplishment.

Few extra things to add about the new Z06.
The Curb Weight is 3132, That's 6.2 lbs/hp
The HP is rated at 505, TQ is 470 lb-ft
0-60 in 3.7 sec in first gear, 1/4 mile in the 11s.
It is truely a race car for the street.

yeah the c6 will beat the viper, nothin can compare to the vette in that price range stock

Dodge should revise the Viper SRT10.

check here for the 2006 Corvette Z06

New Z06 (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=420611)

Death to the garden snake.

I'd take the Viper for the rarity. But I'd take the Vette for the fact that its the newest Vette out there. SO I'm pretty split, but I am a Chrysler man, so I'd go with the Dodge.

how come nobody mentioned the 8.9X 1/4 mile (9.5 with street tires) and 240mph+ lingenfelter vette? even though the doug levin motorsports viper has insane torque and horsepower i think the vette would beat it around a track because it's more balance IMO....anyways...i agree with death to the garden snake...chrysler better either cut the wieght or get some extra horsepower because now they're not in a class of their own.....go vette baby...oh yeah on www.lingenfelter.com they just tested their new LS2 Monster...a measily 950hp 951tq....now hennessey is in trouble because their car is heavier....i can't wait to see the numbers on the new LS2!!

I'll take the Viper for rarity, it has more of an aura. The 'Vette, is by far the better buy, but If I could afford either, I'd get the Viper.

It's just like, when people would ask what you drive, most people (not-all), would be taken more aback if you said you drove a Viper, than a 'Vette. And most drivers don't care about that, but for me, these cars would be about pleasure, and a status-symbol, so I'd go with the Viper.

If there was no basic 'Vette, the Z06 would win, but since there is, there will be too many C6 Vettes out there soon.

Oh and isn't one of the reasons the Viper costs so much more, is because it's hand built?

i like the viper more, but i'd take the zo6 b/c it's probably going to be considerably faster. if they were equal in performance, the viper would be in my driveway.

...but I am a Chrysler man...

Your screen name is "porscheguy9999" and you say you're a Chrysler man...hmmm...???

lol

well the viper is cool car but the new zo6 is going to bit it. The regular c5 gos 0-60 in 4.1 seconds. Thats fast. The new zo6 is going to have 100 more hp, it weights less so it has to do way better times then the c5. The current zo6 can go 0-60 in 4.0 and it has less power and weights more. I think it wll also bit the gt. Im not sure in wich mag it was i think it was motertrend or car and driver were the viper bit the gt in the quarter mile run. Not but much but still for what they say about the gt it needed to bit the viper.

Oh and isn't one of the reasons the Viper costs so much more, is because it's hand built?

Yeah, it is.

If you want performance for not a lot of cash get the new Z06 because, quite honestly, it will kill the Viper. Though I would love to see a test on braking since the Viper can do 60-0 in less than 100 feet. There aren't many cars that manage that.

However, if you don't want a "me too" car then get the SRT-10.

The fact of the matter is that these cars have two different purposes. The Z06 is a flat out sports car while the SRT-10 is a boulevard bruiser. It is a convertible for crying out loud. I would say that it doesn't weigh very much and handles pretty damn well for a convertible.

Anyhow, the Viper already proved that it could smash the Vette in GT racing getting it banned after the killing spree in 98 and 99.

I'll wait for the Viper GT-S to come back and see what Dodge does with that before I think about this comparo. Odds are that the Z06 will kill anything near its price, though. If Chevy can basically put a C5R on the street and call it the new Z06, then I don't see why Dodge can't basically put a Competition Coupe on the street and call it the new GT-S. I think that'd be pretty interesting.

Yea the ZO6 for me...the new SRT10 Coupe looks weird. It's gonna need an edge against the ZO6. 500HP I dont think is going to cut it.

http://www.seriouswheels.com/top-2006-Dodge-Viper-SRT10-Coupe.htm

Polygon, I'm a little disappointed in you. As a Mopar Man, you should know that the Vipers were never banned at Le Mans.

What happened was that Chrysler and Oreca decided that they'd done all that could be done in the GTS class (which with absolute dominance at Le Mans, Sebring, and even an overall win at Daytona, they did) and decided that it was time to attack the overall win at Le Mans with an LMP900 car.

In 2000, Oreca attacked Le Mans with not only three factory GTS-R Vipers (which went 1-2-5 in the GTS Class) but two LMP900 cars. The team used the Reynard 2KQ chassis and the Mopar Performance 410ci SPRINT CAR engine.

http://www.racingsportscars.com/photo/2000/Le_Mans-2000-06-18-006.jpg
http://www.racingsportscars.com/photo/2000/Le_Mans-2000-06-18-005.jpg

It was a disaster. The Reynard was a flexi-flyer chassis with lousy downforce and poor handling that badly compromised the promise of the program. The team's second car DNF'ed on the first lap of the race with oil pressure problems, and the lead car finished 20th overall - 76laps down.

In 2001, Chrysler and Oreca went big into their LMP900 program with an all new Dallara chassis (that, oddly enough, had been Dallara's proposal to Audi for the R8 replacement. After all, Dallara did design the R8) and some power boosts to the Mopar Sprint engine.

http://www.racingsportscars.com/photo/2001/Le_Mans-2001-06-17-014.jpg
http://www.racingsportscars.com/photo/2001/Le_Mans-2001-06-17-015.jpg

Oreca brought three of the new Chrysler/Dallaras to Le Mans in 2001. The car was fast and proved to be a strong competitor to the Audis. Though the #15 car blew its engine early in the race, and the #14 car unfortunately was taken out by a freak fire, the #16 car of Olivier Beretta, Karl Wendlinger, and Pedro Lamy finished 4th overall, and was in contention for the better part of the race.

However, in 2001 Chrysler decided it was better for business to send the money they spent at Le Mans to NASCAR and Ray Evernham. The side effect was Oreca choosing to use the potent Judd V10 in the Dallara chassis for one more attempt at dethroning Audi. A 5th and 6th place overall finish were their rewards.

Meanwhile, teams like Larbre, Carsport, Equipe de France, Paul Belmondo Racing, and Scorp Motorsport have all fielded Vipers at Le Mans.

Well, Layla, thank you for correcting me. I had heard that because of restrictions Chrysler pulled factory backing much like what happened in NASCAR in the 70s.

I'm glad I know what really happened.

Wow haven't been to this site in awhile. The C6 vs. Viper argument, if I recall correctly, I was involved with an individual claiming that the C6 would not be able to match the Vipers E.T.s or trap speed. He talk a lot of crap, to make himself seem very smart, when all he was doing was talking when the facts starring him in the face proved otherwise. Finally an official test of this car, and guess what? The facts were once again right- 11.7@125MPH

http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/showthread.php?t=213725

i like the viper more, but i'd take the zo6 b/c it's probably going to be considerably faster. if they were equal in performance, the viper would be in my driveway.

the vette supposedly is going to be about 2 tenths of a second faster to 60: 3.7 vs 3.9. i guess that's a fairly big margin once you get under 4 seconds, but the fact is that it'd come down to a drivers race if they went head to head. so, i wouldn't choose these cars base on performance. in which case i'd take the viper on exclusivity and "sex appeal", and i that fact that i love convertibles.

Car & Driver tested (in Michigan) a new Corvette Z06 in their newest issue.

0 - 150 mph in 17.5 second.

0 - 150 mph in 24.1 seconds (Road & Track September 2005 issue in the desert) Viper SRT10

I like the Viper, it's far more charismatic than the Corvette. Along with TVR, it's about the closest there is to a modern day Cobra (Even though the Viper has become much less Spartan with age). The Vette is a good car and a very fast one at that, but I don't see myself going out of the way to buy one.

I saw a Viper GTS in person(hardtop, slightly older model) and I must say it was so freaking beautiful. Even though the new Vette is faster than the older Vipers, I would take the Viper. Simply because they are way rarer and turn more heads. Really, would you COMPLAIN about owning a Viper because its a bit slower than something else? There is ALWAYS someone faster.

Motor Trend also tested the new Z06.
0-60: 3.5sec
1/4 Mile: 11.5sec @ 127.1mph
Braking, 60-0: 104ft
Lateral Acceleration: 1.05g avg

Motor Trend also tested the new Z06.
0-60: 3.5sec
1/4 Mile: 11.5sec @ 127.1mph
Braking, 60-0: 104ft
Lateral Acceleration: 1.05g avg

Well, I guess at least the SRT-10 stops better...

If we're going to talk about looks, "sex appeal", and rarity then throw these two out because the GT-40 takes the cake :biggrin:

Honestly people this is about performance. If looks were the case then get a damn Ferrari or a top end BMW, Porshe, or some other exotic European car.

Personally though I think Chevy is stepping up with the ZO6. I think the last generation ZO6s weren't as good because they were busy developing the C6. I watched on Discovery channel and the base C6 is a work of art of itself. I really don't think we'll be disappointed when the ZO6 comes out to play with the other cars :evillol:

while it's true that i would take a ford gt, or a ferrari or a porsche or a BMW over either of these two cars, that doesn't enter into this comparison and while pure performance is one of most important criteria in a comparison for me,it become less of a deciding factor when both cars are sub 4 second cars to 60. i don't think anyone would be dissapointed when they drive their newly purchased viper because it isn't fast enough. there are a lot of other things to judge a car on. why else would the old VW beetles be so popular?

The Viper is more of a pure performance car than the new Corvette Z06 and I think the new Z06 has more to it than just incredible performance. I think it is the best-looking Corvette since 1967. I also enjoy watching the Corvette C6-R in sports car racing which has benefited the new Z06.

Sure the GT40 is a gorgeous piece of machinery. The definitive MkII's are also 40 years old and were never road cars (and the MkIII road cars weren't entirely pretty).

The Ford GT is a dishwater bland attempt at reclaiming the mystique of one of the most historically significant sports cars of the postwar period.

But this is a Viper v Vette comparison.

As of right now, the cars are almost too close to call.

Corvette Z06 - Front 275/35ZR18 Rear 325/30ZR19
Viper SRT10 Coupe - Front 275/35ZR18 Rear 345/30ZR19

Corvette Z06 - 3132lbs
Viper SRT10 Coupe - 3450lbs

Figure the Viper has an equal track and longer wheelbase than the Z06, so basic suspension geometry tells us that it would be more stable than the Z06, and with the wider rear tires it'd have equal lateral grip to the Vette in high speed corners.

Chrysler doesn't give the Viper the attention it deserves, basically put, if Chrysler put into the Viper what Chevy puts into it's Corvette Z06 then the Viper would be on top by a hell of a margin, it probably has more potential but the suspension sucks, it's heavy, and it's engine, although VERY powerful with all it's torque is kind of lazy for it's size, this compared to the Corvette. If you pick up this months issue of MT, C&D, or R&T then you'll see why, a lot went into the Z06. The Corvette is highly important to Chevy's lineup, while I don't think that Chyrsler/Dodge even care about the Viper, they just did what they had to do to keep it, otherwise they only carry about there other brands, and Dodge just wants to win in NASCAR. I'm probably wrong but that's my view.

Chrysler doesn't give the Viper the attention it deserves, basically put, if Chrysler put into the Viper what Chevy puts into it's Corvette Z06 then the Viper would be on top by a hell of a margin, it probably has more potential but the suspension sucks, it's heavy, and it's engine, although VERY powerful with all it's torque is kind of lazy for it's size, this compared to the Corvette. If you pick up this months issue of MT, C&D, or R&T then you'll see why, a lot went into the Z06. The Corvette is highly important to Chevy's lineup, while I don't think that Chyrsler/Dodge even care about the Viper, they just did what they had to do to keep it, otherwise they only carry about there other brands, and Dodge just wants to win in NASCAR. I'm probably wrong but that's my view.


makes sense to me

That's a good point, v10. It doesn't seem as though the Viper is in the spotlight as much as the Vette. You see a lot more vettes around because they're within a price point where a lot more people can afford one. Also, it's an everyday driveable car whereas the Viper is more of a rich man's toy. If I were to make a prediction I would say the Vette would be faster both on the track and in a straight line.

If I were to make a prediction I would say the Vette would be faster both on the track and in a straight line.

I'll however disagree with you on that. The Viper, in coupe form, will prolly beat the Z06 on track due to better braking, handling, and equal, if not better acceleration on the track. Plus the Viper will get better traction than the Corvette with it's bigger tires, which are prolly what help it so much, they've never been famous for a car with traction. I mean look at their 0-60 times, then their 1/4 mile times, just like the Ford GT, the Viper gets smoked in the 0-60, but catches up in the 1/4 mile. I think the Viper just simply needs to be re-geared, such as 3.55's in the rear end, because with the gearing now it's designed to hit 220 mph in 5th gear, so with that shorter gearing it would be ahead of the Corvette now I'd think. We'll just have to wait for a mag to do a test of the big 3 here in some short time.

I'll however disagree with you on that. The Viper, in coupe form, will prolly beat the Z06 on track due to better braking, handling, and equal, if not better acceleration on the track. Plus the Viper will get better traction than the Corvette with it's bigger tires, which are prolly what help it so much, they've never been famous for a car with traction. I mean look at their 0-60 times, then their 1/4 mile times, just like the Ford GT, the Viper gets smoked in the 0-60, but catches up in the 1/4 mile. I think the Viper just simply needs to be re-geared, such as 3.55's in the rear end, because with the gearing now it's designed to hit 220 mph in 5th gear, so with that shorter gearing it would be ahead of the Corvette now I'd think. We'll just have to wait for a mag to do a test of the big 3 here in some short time.

And I'm going to have to disagree with you on that :biggrin: . I think the Viper is more car than most can handle. Most would rightly so think that a sports car thats has pizza size brakes, massive tires front/back, a 500hp torque monster of an engine, and a aggressively tuned suspension would simply put a beating on anything you matched it up against. But some lap times just don't do it any justice at all. The SRT-10 lapped an 8:13 (sports auto 10/2004) around the Nurburgring. Just to give you a bit of comparision, the 04 C5 Z06 (yes the 405hp one) lapped it in 7:56. Why is this? All statistical data would clearly show the Viper to be a faster car, but strangly, it wasn't even close on this track.

Yes, in acceleration, braking, cornering tests, etc. they will look close. But once you take away the fancy numbers and throw them on a track IMO, the Viper Coupe hasn't a shot at even seeing the bumper of the new C6 Z06. All biases applied :grinno:

V-10 Viper, what in HELL makes you think the Viper's suspension sucks? Have you ever studied the geometry of the layout? Have you ever watched the way the car moves in corner transitions?

The Viper's weak point isn't suspension (in fact, the unequal length A-arms of the Viper, front to back, are one of the reasons the Viper is able to plant those monstrous Michelins so well).

The Viper Competition Coupe is one of the most numerous cars in Speed World Challenge competition. Because it's so able, it's limited to being an almost SPEC car. The engines are sealed by Mopar Performance, they limit the size of the tires (narrower than stock on the rears), and only recently the Vipers got a competition weight break.

As far as Nurburgring times are concerned, they're irrelevant. They take place on different days under different atmospheric conditions with drivers of different competency levels AND the Nurburgring is far from being a complete measure of a car's abilities.

Honestly, a course more along the lines of Suzuka or Mid-Ohio would be much more suitable.

05 viper srt-10 with hennessy twin turbo upgrade:
0-60: 2.25 sec.
1/4 mile: 9.75 sec. @ 148+ mph

You know, I always wondered about these numbers. Yes, I know that they are official and that you didn't pull them out of your ass, I watched the video of that run etc. but how is it that in the latest R&D test, this very "same" car was "only" able to record 0-60: 3.6 sec and 1/4 ET: 11.0 @145.5mph. Please don't get me wrong, I am not trying to dispute anything, but it kind of makes you wonder, doesn't it? For those of you who are familiar with drag racing, a difference between 9.75 sec and 11.0 in 1/4 mile is HUGE!!! And difference between 2.25 sec. and 3.6 sec in 0-60mph is again - HUGE!

http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=2&article_id=2572&page_number=1

My guess? The 9.75 sec car was not the same as the "regular" Hennessy Venom TTs. It just can't be. I suspect lower gearing, higher boost, full slicks and God knows what else. I guess I am trying to make a point that comparing raw data (as real and accurate that it can be) doesn't mean much in reality.

Back to the comparo, Viper is an awesome straight-line performer, but if you've ever driven one, it simply does not handle that well on the track or even street. Or should I say you have to work hard to get what you want out of the car. I can take tight corners faster and safer in my Audi S4. My bet is on Z06 any time, especially knowing that Hennessey is already working on the 2006 Z06 upgrade...stay tuned!

bah Lingenfelter has always been the top vette....the new LS2 will have 950+hp...the most i've seen on a street vette...http://www.lingenfelter.com/images/ls2950.jpg...9.5 @ 145 on STREET TIRES.....i've heard 8.95 with drag radials.....but i can't wait till both hennessey and LPE get their vettes out....it'll be sweet :grinyes:

V-10 Viper, what in HELL makes you think the Viper's suspension sucks?

Why do I say this?? Because Hennessy, obviously it's a tuner, but still makes a much, much better suspension for the Viper, it's not only more comfortable, many in which said it was easier on the streets than a stock Corvette, but it also handed way better than a stock Viper can, I didn't go out and say a Viper's suspension is worse than a Geo Metro's, I just said it sucked in comparsion to the Z06's, and to what it should be. Now I'm not saying it needs to be state of the art but for almost 90grand it could be a little better. And no, I haven't studied the geometry of it, not really like I have the chance. And to the racing on the nurburing thing that's fine, I don't know who the drivers are but that's a key when it comes to racing a Viper, is the driver, or any car for that fact. Viper's can handle flat cars unlike many other cars can, but bumps upset them quite a bit.

You don't want my opinion on the Nurburg, lets see them at Montery, California.

Its not so much that I believe in the lack of awareness in the capabilities of the Viper, but more-so; the capabilities of the drivers driving the Viper. And when it comes to fast cars, its only as fast as you can drive it.

The Vette may very well be a car that feels more confident within your regular user, but given to somebody who knows what their doing, it could be a considerably different outcome (as Layla so kindly may have put it in a word or 2?). And when you configure other factors (such as conditions during the event) it further expands on the possible incertainty in making a neutral decision between the two.

Even then, nonetheless; I will still favor the Z06 as a much more potent package (price excluded).

The difference between Hennessey and Lingenfelter (besides Lingenfelter always putting out quicker cars,) is that Hennessey also has a bad name for screwing people over, and unreliable vehicles. With Lingenfelter you get quality parts and reliability along with your performance.

The difference between Hennessey and Lingenfelter (besides Lingenfelter always putting out quicker cars,) is that Hennessey also has a bad name for screwing people over, and unreliable vehicles. With Lingenfelter you get quality parts and reliability along with your performance.

That is so true.

This is starting to get pathetic. First thing, the Viper is in now means a straight line car, it was built for fucking road courses, this has been established lonnggg ago, get it right. Oh, and don't always believe magazines, these guys are not that great at testing the cars and are as biased as can be. Wow I'm still appauled(sp) that you said the Viper was a straight line performer, shit I better go walk off a mile or two.

Looking at Kurtdg19's post he makes the most sense out of anybody to have posted yet, great post man.

Vettribution, you should study a little more. Hennessy has in general, had VERY reliable cars, he's never had one blow up, start on fire, or fry a clutch, in fact, of the three big stupid magazines they've all said he's had very well built cars, and if you look at Car & Driver, November 2004, the Hennessy Viper Twin Turbo beat the Lingenfelter 427TT, these are again, magazine times but this was a Viper with only 800 hp and stock gearing. Now when Motor Trend tested the Venom 650R SRT-10 they also said it was a great car, and fast as hell too, it did 0-60 in 3.0 flat, and the 1/4 in 10.76 @ 128, this on factory equipped tires, quite impressive. So compared to the higher, 800 hp, and 1000 hp Hennessy tuned Vipers, this one gets off the line much quicker than the others.

http://www.motortrend.com/features/performance/112_0312_tuners/index.html

Take a look at the September '05 issue of Road & Track too, about the Viper in there, 210 mph and 5th gear isn't even used up, not to mention they said they had to ease on the throttle because of it's ablities to spin the tires at 160 mph.

I'll just sum it up as King of Crunk said, I can't wait for Hennessy, and Lingenfelter to knock out both of their highly upgraded Vette's and Vipers. Maybe one of them could somehow make the Viper magically lose a couple hundred pounds too, and do like the Z06's have and use carbon fiber for body parts. The biggest upper hand the Vette has is it's much lighter, the way it should be.

Ill study these numbers. When Hennessey beats them. Then Ill study more. 0-60 1.97. 1/4 8.9.

"First thing, the Viper is in now means a straight line car, it was built for fucking road courses, this has been established lonnggg ago, get it right."

Yet since the new Z06 has come out, the Viper has hardly compared to the Vette in anything BUT straightline.. What are you thinking?

Look check out the new Motor Trend.. Where did the Viper hit on the Nurburgring? And the New Vette? I think this thread was originally about the stock z06 and Viper.. and I am sorry, but both Lingenfelter and a stock Z06 beat the Hennessey and Viper respectively. ESPECIALLY on the track.

Maybe you need to do more studying in a comparison.

The Viper as it is... Against the New Z06 as it is.. Will get spanked. Straightline. Road Course. Your mom's house.

The Viper as it is... Against the New Z06 as it is.. Will get spanked. Straightline. Road Course. Your mom's house.

You left out "your sister's bedroom..." Z06 all the way!

Honestly, the viper is much less impresive as technical feat. They just dropped a HUGE v-10 into a light body. What really disapointing is that the engine doesn't pump out more power and torque for its ridiculous displacement and its 10 cylinders. It seems that the v-10 has a lot of dead weight that only limits the viper's performance. That said, the Z06 doesnt exactly have a small engine either, but its no where near as insane as the viper's. But I wish Detroit would develope truly great engines rather than truly gigantic ones.

Honestly, the viper is much less impresive as technical feat. They just dropped a HUGE v-10 into a light body. What really disapointing is that the engine doesn't pump out more power and torque for its ridiculous displacement and its 10 cylinders. It seems that the v-10 has a lot of dead weight that only limits the viper's performance. That said, the Z06 doesnt exactly have a small engine either, but its no where near as insane as the viper's. But I wish Detroit would develope truly great engines rather than truly gigantic ones.

The LS7 in the Z06 is a small block, it's in no way a gigantic engine. It has large displacement, yes, but it makes gobs of torque, and still manages to achieve 26mpg highway due to the low end power the engine makes (thanks to the large displacement) which in turn allows it to run two overdrives, in fact the Z06 is the only vehicle with 500 or more hp to avoid the gas guzzler tax in the US.

I wish Detroit would develope truly great engines rather than truly gigantic ones.

hp/liter is a number. The new 505 hp LS7 is a very lightweight and compact engine.

The 2005 Saleen S7 Twin Turbo outperforms many exotics.

SuperHighOutput is right about the gas mileage on the new aluminum Z06. Besides the new Z06, the base Corvette C6 is the only car with 400 or more hp that doesn't have a gas guzzler tax.

I'd have to say that Detroit has produced some truly great engines lately. The zr1 in 90, then the new generation sb chevy introduced in the vette in 91 then the fbody cars in 93 were truly great engines. The modern Ford v8's are great engines as well. Granted, we never saw the great turbo engines of Japan throughout the 90's, but they also didn't last production either. Too expensive to produce and warrantee. Anyway, back to the thread topic. Z06 is a much better car than the Viper, even without considering cost.