Corvette ZO6 vs Mustang Cobra SVT

I am mostly a import guy as I own a Honda Civic, but Im also kinda interested in these v8 muscle cars that need little or no modification to be fast!

Which car would win a Chevy Corvette ZO6 with 405 hp or a Ford Mustang Cobra SVT with 390 hp?

I think I would have to say the ZO6 but im still wondering, it would definetly be a great race though.:)

zo6 in any race you want. it's not a huge kill but i'd put money on the vette everytime. not saying the cobra is slow, it'll whoop my ass easily but i'm gonna have to give this to the vette. the stang defiantely has the power to dollar ratio goin for it given it's $18,000 price advantage over the vette, plus 2 extra seats. but can't deny the potential of the zo6.

I saw a video where the ZO6 gets it's butt handed to him...not sure if it was the 385HP one or the 405HP...obviously there's a slight difference...

But in a road race...ZO6...autocross...ZO6...street race...it might come down to driver skill and tires...

I read an article(can't remember what mag.) some time back and the Z06 beat it in I think every test except maybe one. And its said, b/c the Cobra R has no A/C or radio and the Z06 is decked out. Imagine a stripped down Z06, it would really kick ass!

the Corvette ... faster and sleeker ... but the new Mustang is incredible good looking ... wait for this model I suggest .. :)

I have also read someplace the Z06 took the Cobra, but not by much. They are different kind of cars but the vette is the fastest of the current affordable crop of pure sportscars. (the viper is just a bit to expensive to fit in this categor IMO)

Originally posted by TexasF355F1
I read an article(can't remember what mag.) some time back and the Z06 beat it in I think every test except maybe one. And its said, b/c the Cobra R has no A/C or radio and the Z06 is decked out. Imagine a stripped down Z06, it would really kick ass!

We arent talkign about the Cobra R...we are talking about the SVT Cobra...supercharged...has 390HP and runs 12's out of the box STOCK!

i'd have to go with the z06 vs anything . Not much faster in the world for under 60k (not that i have it hehe)

Originally posted by BigJustinZ28
i'd have to go with the z06 vs anything . Not much faster in the world for under 60k (not that i have it hehe)

Hmm...it would be a close loss if it raced a TVR or a Lotus Elise 190 on a track

hehe I forgot about lotus' , I'd like to have a v8 TT esprit I think it is ? They are very exotic for the money , they arent much more than a z06 correct ?

Originally posted by NISSANSPDR


We arent talkign about the Cobra R...we are talking about the SVT Cobra...supercharged...has 390HP and runs 12's out of the box STOCK!
My bad, I didn't read well enough to realize that. I'd still rather drive a vette than a Cobra.

Originally posted by BigJustinZ28
hehe I forgot about lotus' , I'd like to have a v8 TT esprit I think it is ? They are very exotic for the money , they arent much more than a z06 correct ?

I've seen some used for like 50k the V8TT ones...but I was talking about the Lotus Elise...a car that weighes like 1700 lbs and has 190HP...and is a track MONSTER! Think of a Miata but much lighter and much faster...only problem is that they dont have the top end that the Vette has but if it's autocross or Solo I trial...it wont matter...a road course....well then it gets tough...


Hehe...

If I was on a limited budget, I think I'd go with the 03 cobra and throw that 18g's(or whatever) into mods and be able to pull on a few Vipers and possibly some t-66 Supras:D

I believe the Z06 would win. It does 0-60 in 3.9 seconds (well, potentially, but its more realistic to say 4.1), and the Cobra does it in 4.6.
Around a track, the corvette will annihilate the Cobra, due to the fact that the Cobra traces its frame/suspension back to the 1960's.

IMO, no sane person would take the Mustang over the Z06. No doubt the Z06 would win a race, and the styling is almost uncomparible inside and out. Maybe I just am too much of an anti-Mustang guy, but I think the Z06 is clearly the better car.

The 1/4 mile times are:

Corvette Z06: 12.8 seconds @ 113.5 mph

Cobra SVT: 13.2 seconds @ 108.1 mph

yeah but i think the esprit is more exotic looking than the elise , like a cheaply made lamborghini heheh :)

Originally posted by NISSANSPDR


We arent talkign about the Cobra R...we are talking about the SVT Cobra...supercharged...has 390HP and runs 12's out of the box STOCK!

I would love to see that. Every magazine out there that has tested it has only managed to get 13s out of it.

No question the Vette. Mustangs are like driving a truck with a lower stance. They don't handle that well, they aren't that fast, and they are VERY heavy. Heavier than my damn Vision, that is way too much.

For me there is no question in my mind that I would take the Z06 over the SVT any day of the week.

This is a Joke rifght..

they've tested the Hardtop Z51 C5 and its adead on match for acceleration and it beats the Vobra around the track and auto corss..

the Z06 i don't know about where you live but LISTED at 48k


As far as the elise and TVR and think the TVR wouldn't be as much of a problemthe Elises well they hada cobra R 00 get beat by one but the 00 R got beat by "01 385" Zoz the 02-03 Zo6 are significantly faster

i'll say this with some differet street tires BFG KWD's i ran stock a click over 12 flat .. if thats not fast out of the box for under 50 k.. what is?
a nd it will post highher than 1 g' with the Comp KWD.. so imagine at least a 1.12 g.. since theuve made a regular Z51 C5 go from .91-.92 to 1g i'm sure theyimprove the Zo6 equally

the Cobra handles surprisingly well.. but it just does have it..

Remeber you get what you pay for

excuse me if its TRV.. a dislexic condition from birth..lol

Its TVR;)

NO doubt the Z would burn the Cobra pretty bad, not only does the Z have more power, but it is much, much lighter, and is geared differently. Not to mention better tires, those Goodyear Eagle F1's are bad ass. And pretty damn good for a factory tire. If you get a chance, read the May 2003 issue of motor trend. They matched a C5 vette against a 390hp cobra, and the C5 still mananged to slip past it, not by a whole hell of a lot though, but hey, wining is wining right? And that was a C5 vette, so what does that say that a ZO6 would do to a Cobra, or any of those other over rated supercharged mustangs? I guess you could say the real winner is the person who buys it, there are people out there that would wouldnt be caught dead in an underpowered ford, and those who would not be caught dead in a fiberglass bow-tie.

the mustang lost!the z06 can totally kick its little ass mustangs can never match the power of a z06!!:eek: :flipa: :flipa: :devil:

For all of you chevy fans, the cobra doesn't actually have 390 horsepower: it has around 420. Ford made it a modest number because of the cobra horsepower incident a few years ago. A stock cobra will run a 4.2-4.7 0-60 and around 12.5-12.9 in the quarter mile. It will beat a stock c5 and keep up with the Z06.:cool:

In the motortrend article the C5 convertable edged out a Cobra convertable.
The cobra coupe will out run a C5 coupe in the 1/4 and is only .1 seconds behind the ZO6.
If you look at motortrend a few months earlier when they first started reviewing the cobra you will see that the 1/4 mile times were quicker than in the most recent issue. It was well in the 12's. Only in the new issue did it get 13's because that driver messed up the launch. He might be a professional driver but he definately messed up.

These GM guys have chips on their shoulder because they are falling behind. The FORD GT will stomp a Z06 and a Viper in the 1/4 or on the track.

Originally posted by stangvette1
For all of you chevy fans, the cobra doesn't actually have 390 horsepower: it has around 420. Ford made it a modest number because of the cobra horsepower incident a few years ago. A stock cobra will run a 4.2-4.7 0-60 and around 12.5-12.9 in the quarter mile. It will beat a stock c5 and keep up with the Z06.:cool:

I'd like to see that stat. No Cobra has ever run 12's stock. I'd be willing to bet a C5 can stay neck and neck with a Cobra.

Originally posted by Pick


I'd like to see that stat. No Cobra has ever run 12's stock. I'd be willing to bet a C5 can stay neck and neck with a Cobra.

I ran 13.4 at 103 mph with a 1999 Cobra before I did anything to it. There was no superchargers on the Cobra back then. It's not that hard to launch one with a little practice.

Go to www.svtperformance.com and ask any of those '03 Cobra owners what they ran stock.:p

this shouldnt even be a comparo. the cobra is no match for the zo6, i have a video of a zo6 taking out a ferrari 355F1 on a road course, the mustang would be off into the woods somehwere. stock zo6 will do a low twelve. ive heard of em doin 11.8s. some math will show a zo6 (3200lbs) and 406hp at the crank equates to a 114.5mph trap speed. is a 12.2, get a real 60 foot on some stickies and ur knockin on 11s door

I've heard of Z06's beating cobra's and I've heard of cobra's beating Z06's. I'm not saying that the cobra is better than the Z06, but it is just as fast! They both run low to mid 12s in the quarter and both are very good bangs for the buck! I think that is exciting to have a mustang finally compete with the corvette Z06.

Originally posted by stangvette1
I've heard of Z06's beating cobra's and I've heard of cobra's beating Z06's. I'm not saying that the cobra is better than the Z06, but it is just as fast! They both run low to mid 12s in the quarter and both are very good bangs for the buck! I think that is exciting to have a mustang finally compete with the corvette Z06.

how is a lighter car (vette) and more powerful (vette) going to go the same time in the 1/4 as the heavier less powerful cobra?

That's just it. The cobra has more power. The cobra runs 360-380 rwhp while the Z06 only runs around 355 rwhp.:)

Originally posted by stangvette1
That's just it. The cobra has more power. The cobra runs 360-380 rwhp while the Z06 only runs around 355 rwhp.:)

What the hell are you talking about?

The Cobra weighs more and has less power. The ZO-6 is faster.

And why don't you explain how the ZO-6 has more powertrain loss.
;) :rolleyes:

How do I get that the cobra is more powerful. That's easy. Ford said that the cobra had 390 horsepower. 390 is a very modest number. Ford made it a modest number because of the cobra horsepower incident a couple of years ago. The cobra is actually running around 420-230 hp, which is higher than the 405 in the vette Z06.:smoker2:

Originally posted by stangvette1
How do I get that the cobra is more powerful. That's easy. Ford said that the cobra had 390 horsepower. 390 is a very modest number. Ford made it a modest number because of the cobra horsepower incident a couple of years ago. The cobra is actually running around 420-230 hp, which is higher than the 405 in the vette Z06.:smoker2:


even if you are right you do realise that power is not important...the car's performance it what it ultimatelly comes down too......some 18wheelers have something lile 700Hp and over 1000Tq....qnd they are not performance vehicles....while a 200Hp engine in a lotus elise its a performance monster


truth is te zo6 will outperform a cobra.....

The truth is that a cobra can outperform a Z06 too. I like both these cars, but the Z06 will never just kick the crap of a cobra. The cobra is a very nice car and a far better deal than the Z06. Sometimes I feel that people look down on the cobra just because it is a cheap mustang. The truth is that this is not just another cheap mustang; this is an awesome sports car that can and will compete with cars triple its price! :flash:

Originally posted by stangvette1
The truth is that a cobra can outperform a Z06 too. I like both these cars, but the Z06 will never just kick the crap of a cobra. The cobra is a very nice car and a far better deal than the Z06. Sometimes I feel that people look down on the cobra just because it is a cheap mustang. The truth is that this is not just another cheap mustang; this is an awesome sports car that can and will compete with cars triple its price! :flash:


if you want some side by side comparions....take the june issue of motor trend...very well done

I have looked at the June issue of MT, and all I can say is that those people need to learn how to drive. Most cobras do not run 13s in the quarter; they run mid 12s. Also in Motor Trend there is a road test section. In that section MT has the cobra going 12.8 in the quarter and the Z06 going at 12.9. I am not trying to make anybody mad!! I just think that the cobra is underrated!

stangvette- you are deluded- just get over it :rolleyes:

lol 12.9, a stock ls1 t/a or ss will do that. get ur #s straight. a stock ls1 puts out average #s of 320 at the wheels and the vettys are over 13mph faster at the track, u do the math.

and remember, horsepower sells cars, torque wins races :)

and remember, horsepower sells cars, torque wins races The cobra has 25-30 more net torque and horsepower to make up for the big weight disadvantage. I think that in a race it would come down to the driver. Again I say that I just think that it is possible for a Z06 to go down to a stock cobra. I didn't say that it would happen every dang time, just that about 40-50% of the time. Yes I think that MT's numbers are screwed up also, but I didn't mess up the #'s. I promise that I took them straight from MT's road test section. I believe that both cars will run low to mid 12s bone stock.:)

Originally posted by stangvette1
I have looked at the June issue of MT, and all I can say is that those people need to learn how to drive. Most cobras do not run 13s in the quarter; they run mid 12s. Also in Motor Trend there is a road test section. In that section MT has the cobra going 12.8 in the quarter and the Z06 going at 12.9. I am not trying to make anybody mad!! I just think that the cobra is underrated!

yes they need to lean how to drive lets forget that the driver for that test was Justin Bell the winner of GT2 class of 24H lemans in 98....yeah he must be an amateur....


and you know what is so good about that test....is that the cars were tested side by side...same temperature same altitude same everything.....

the cobra was second to last on most of those tests....and BTW even the evo was only 0.07 sec slower in the quarter...that is a few inches....from a car 5K cheaper...oh and btw the evo walked all over the cobra in braking handling etc....the Z06 was in another league altogheter

Originally posted by Neutrino


yes they need to lean how to drive lets forget that the driver for that test was Justin Bell the winner of GT2 class of 24H lemans in 98....yeah he must be an amateur....


and you know what is so good about that test....is that the cars were tested side by side...same temperature same altitude same everything.....

the cobra was second to last on most of those tests....and BTW even the evo was only 0.07 sec slower in the quarter...that is a few inches....from a car 5K cheaper...oh and btw the evo walked all over the cobra in braking handling etc....the Z06 was in another league altogheter
Justin Bell is not a drag racer.

I would still take the Cobra. Its much less expensive yet can run with a Z06 and its the cheapest car to modify and make horse power. With a couple hundred bucks you can add over 100 rwhp.

Originally posted by stangvette1
The cobra has 25-30 more net torque and horsepower to make up for the big weight disadvantage. I think that in a race it would come down to the driver. Again I say that I just think that it is possible for a Z06 to go down to a stock cobra. I didn't say that it would happen every dang time, just that about 40-50% of the time. Yes I think that MT's numbers are screwed up also, but I didn't mess up the #'s. I promise that I took them straight from MT's road test section. I believe that both cars will run low to mid 12s bone stock.:)

Where do you get this shit? Every fact you pull is just some crap with no proof and it is just random BS.

Originally posted by SVTerminator

Justin Bell is not a drag racer.

I would still take the Cobra. Its much less expensive yet can run with a Z06 and its the cheapest car to modify and make horse power. With a couple hundred bucks you can add over 100 rwhp.


ok so now we only care about drag racing???....ok fine lets igonore the accleration runs.....however in all the other categories the cobra had its a@# handed to it....and don't tell me now he is not a track driver either


and the modding debate has no ending....i'll just bring over here a hybridsol he spent only 4 K and his crx is running low 10 sec...how is that for cheap...you can make almost any car very fast given the money

Besides for SVTerminator, you guys are a bunch of chevy-loving freaks that don't know anything about the cobra. That was one article in one magazine. Big DEAL!!!!!!! SVTerminator is smart. He knows about the cobra. As for some of the rest of you guys, I'm not sure that you know much of anything.:flipa: :finger: :flipa:

Originally posted by stangvette1
Besides for SVTerminator, you guys are a bunch of chevy-loving freaks that don't know anything about the cobra. That was one article in one magazine. Big DEAL!!!!!!! SVTerminator is smart. He knows about the cobra. As for some of the rest of you guys, I'm not sure that you know much of anything.:flipa: :finger: :flipa:

They are expert Magazine racers.:p

:p :p I know!!!:p :p

yes i drive a cougar----i must be a chevy fan:rolleyes:


and i just love how precise your arguments got....yeah i must be masine racer....especially compared to you that are respected in all the forums here and have time slips that you guys got by testing both cars and can prove the cobra is better....

I'm sorry of accusing you of being a chevy fan, Neutrino. I just really think that people under-estimate the cobra. It is a great car and the best bang for the buck @ $34,000. I'm not saying that the Z06 cannot beat a cobra; I'm just saying that it is possible for a stock cobra to beat a stock Z06. Their 0-60 and quarter mile times are almost identical, and I really think that in a race, it would come down to the driver!:cool:

Originally posted by stangvette1
Besides for SVTerminator, you guys are a bunch of chevy-loving freaks that don't know anything about the cobra. That was one article in one magazine. Big DEAL!!!!!!! SVTerminator is smart. He knows about the cobra. As for some of the rest of you guys, I'm not sure that you know much of anything.:flipa: :finger: :flipa:


Grow up :rolleyes:



It was proven that the Vette is better than the Mustang- get over it- unless you canprove otherwise

Yes, I know that the majority of people in this forum have said that the vette is better. But what I do understand is that this is a forum which voices people's opinions ( not neccessarily the truth) and not a race track!!!! I have looked at many SVT sights, and people in those sights say that they can kill Z06s with their 03 cobra. On a race track this is my opinion: they are near equals and the conclusion will be determined by the driver. p.s. I do have proof that the cobra's horsepower numbers are underrated and that actually the cobra has around 430 net. Just go to www.stangnet.com and look in the svt forums. There is a thread about it with true stock dyno results.:flipa: :flipa:

Originally posted by stangvette1
Yes, I know that the majority of people in this forum have said that the vette is better. But what I do understand is that this is a forum which voices people's opinions ( not neccessarily the truth) and not a race track!!!! I have looked at many SVT sights, and people in those sights say that they can kill Z06s with their 03 cobra. On a race track this is my opinion: they are near equals and the conclusion will be determined by the driver. p.s. I do have proof that the cobra's horsepower numbers are underrated and that actually the cobra has around 430 net. Just go to www.stangnet.com and look in the svt forums. There is a thread about it with true stock dyno results.:flipa: :flipa:

the problem with those siter is that they are biased.....most mustang guys that i know compare their car with the vette....especiallly after modding the suspension the most heard aboout words are i can outhandle a vette....you know it might even be true but i have yet to see proff...either with my own eyes or froma third source (profesional and unbiased), actaully allthose magazine that tested it had very good things to say about it....but those were the numbers they came up with ...

in another article for example the cobra beat a g35 coupe on a track....the g35 took the corners faster but the 100hp/Tq gap was enough for the cobra to make up on the starights....so in some cases the tests the cobra wins...(and btw i want to buy a G35 so i'm biased but still admit it was beat in at least one test).....so there are cars the cobra can beat and cars it can't....yes its a very good value fort the money and probably a better bang for the buck...but from all the tests that i saw the zo6 outperforms it.......

mustang + corner = nightmare. the quad shock, 4 link suspension is not designed for cornering and the weight distribution wont allow that car to keep the rearend planted around a hard turn. mustangs have a hard time out handling fbodys nevermind a vette

Well consider me unbiased because I like Mopars. But I know the Z06 Vette is a tad faster. And will also outhandle the stang. Sorry Ford guys:(
But as far as price=performance I would go with the SVT cobra. Just do a couple of mods that will still equal way less than the price of a Z06 and the Stang will outperform the Vette in every way. Sorry Chevy fans:D

Just get a Viper and call it a day.

Even though I am a Ford man, I will admit that the vette and Z06 will both out-handle a cobra. Yes, the Z06 will probably win in a race around the track a couple times. That's where I would like to see the cobra improved. The Z06 is a great car. I'm just saying that on a straight away that the cobra could possibly keep up or even beat the Z06 with a good driver! :flash:

Originally posted by stangvette1
Even though I am a Ford man, I will admit that the vette and Z06 will both out-handle a cobra. Yes, the Z06 will probably win in a race around the track a couple times. That's where I would like to see the cobra improved. The Z06 is a great car. I'm just saying that on a straight away that the cobra could possibly keep up or even beat the Z06 with a good driver! :flash:

what they really need to change on the cobra's is the weight...3600+ pounds is way to much for a sports car....get it close to 3000 and then wi'll talk....i don't like how heavy cars feel...even if they make up with power..i know they are trying to make it cheap but give some aluminum:)

theres no way around it, were surronded by delusional people.

The Z06 is a better car overall, but you pay for it. The Cobra has a better dollar to horsepower ratio. The ZO6 is an awsome car and in most cases would beat the Cobra stock for stock. Modded is a different story if price is an issue. The only kind of racing that I am going to do in my daily driver is drag race it or race it stop light to stop light so I don't need a vette for that purpose.

Originally posted by 1BAD305
mustang + corner = nightmare. the quad shock, 4 link suspension is not designed for cornering and the weight distribution wont allow that car to keep the rearend planted around a hard turn. mustangs have a hard time out handling fbodys nevermind a vette

Have you driven an '03 Cobra? This car will out proform any production F-body ever built, on the street, on the track, and on the drag strip.:devil: