Great Z06 review

While we all wait for the GRM take on the Z06, here's a great review of the car from Sam Smith at R&T. It's worth reading the whole thing, if only for phrases like "newly enplumped rump" and the statement that all automatic Z06 buyers will be deemed "sexless weenies" by future enthusiasts.

http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-reviews/first-drives/2015-chevrolet-corvette-z06-first-drive-review

Still reading it, but my favorite quote thus far (emphasis mine):

Like many modern cars and the Corvette Stingray upon which it's based, the Z06 is thus one big algorithm suite, its feedback and handling constantly adjusted underneath you. And it's distinctly American. Think Nissan GT-R by way of the battleship Iowa and one of those beef-jerky warehouse outlets you see in rural Tennessee.

Like many modern cars and the Corvette Stingray upon which it's based, the Z06 is thus one big algorithm suite, its feedback and handling constantly adjusted underneath you. And it's distinctly American. Think Nissan GT-R by way of the battleship Iowa and one of those beef-jerky warehouse outlets you see in rural Tennessee.

Hey, wait a minute...

Oh yeah. I live in rural Tennessee, and I've been to a beef jerky store.

Carry on.

This one involves Randy Pobst, at least...

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/coupes/1502_2015_chevrolet_corvette_z06_first_test/

Thanks for posting that Keith! I really enjoy Sam's writing.

Road & Track said: Everything you'd expect is here: The V8 sounds like unholy intercourse artillery-you want to use it to visit destruction on small countries, or maybe launch it into space and take over the moon.

I think road and track has finally rode the metaphor train into crazy town.

jsquared wrote: Still reading it, but my favorite quote thus far (emphasis mine):

Like many modern cars and the Corvette Stingray upon which it's based, the Z06 is thus one big algorithm suite, its feedback and handling constantly adjusted underneath you. And it's distinctly American. Think Nissan GT-R by way of the battleship Iowa and one of those auto parts warehouse outlets you see in rural Tennessee.

Agreed. Been reading the whole stuff last night after cleaning my engine block.

The Pobst article is better IMO. Less drivel where they are trying too hard to make up new metaphors. It's to the point with statements like "the 8 speed automatic actually makes the downshift while the car is in the air" because, you know... Randy took their new car over turn 3 like you are supposed to ;). "The landing is sweet, so sweet -- and I'd go to the power and say 'Whoa!' I was not expecting to be in that low of a gear, but it put the power to the ground."

Also... "you have to spend nearly a million dollars elsewhere to get this level of performance". That about sums it up.

I can't wait for someone to show up at the track with one so I can hoon it.

I just have 1 word to say....DAMN. All of that for 77K. Home run for the chevy guys. The styling to me makes more sense with the Z06 add-on. That I like better than the base model.

As a fan of Pobst as a race car driver. I may be an even bigger fan of his test driving work.

Is that a 7 speed manual? Interesting, but probably a pain for just cruising around.

3 overdrive gears! The last on is a .45! Crazy stuff. On a track, looks like its basically a 3 speed.

The Road and Track article was really good. I'm disappointed that GM diluted the Z06 brand. They could have called it a Grand Sport, and made the Z06 mostly the same, but with a hardtop and 7 speed manual only.

They did a Head 2 Head video with Randy and the Nismo GTR the GTR came out on top but the Z06 was still impressive. The issue was it was a handful to drive. I love the first line "Let me play you the sound of my people" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5F18o8xayA

Different strokes I guess. The R&T article read like the author was trying too hard, with so many ridiculous metaphors and asides that it came off like I was reading the automotive equivalent of a Family Guy episode. Oh well.

Jaynen wrote: ...The issue was it was a handful to drive...

You mean "more fun"?

I am sure they are both great cars, but a bicycle is more fun to ride then a tricycle for a reason.

For me the fun thing is inversely proportional to the threat of death. I've often lambasted newer cars for making what sounds like a high hp number feel boring in the real world. Even the 550hp CTS-V 6spd i drove suffered from this to some extent. But i think the lack of drama that makes an 'actually fast car' boring on the street probably makes it feel safe enough to still have 'fun' when you're actually going ludicrously fast.

I've driven some very 'fun' slow cars that were only fun because they werent actually fast enough to get me killed without a long, terrifying lead up. A car that is terrifying at low speeds AND goes 0-120 in 8 seconds is probably a car i wouldnt even have fun with. So i think being a handful could be fun or a real downside depending on what speed range you're talking about.

aircooled wrote:

Jaynen wrote: ...The issue was it was a handful to drive...

You mean "more fun"? I am sure they are both great cars, but a bicycle is more fun to ride then a tricycle for a reason.

Well we are talking about Randy Pobst's impressions and the GTR beat the z06 laptime as well. At the ragged edge the GTR was easier to go faster