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Z06 guys are lucky

This goes back to the age old comparison we've seen in many threads - if you don't demand 3 pedals, your choices expand exponentially.

The Z06 was phenomenal. I was especially surprised by the ride quality - it was very comfy for daily driving. I didn't think ow-end torque (or the lack thereof) was an issue. That's one area the DCT shines - it'll hit low gear and away you go with just a slap of your right foot.

I've been trying to figure out how to get that phenomenal engine into something else. Chevy Performance doesn't sell it as a crate engine, but think of that sound and 8,600 RPM redline in a Cobra...........that would be perfection !!

But the 5 BW is the only way you can get the best of all worlds. :)
 
I also had a C8 Z06 for ten months and miss it every day. Unfortunately my dad bod/old man knees from sports/work didn’t agree with the more cramped cockpit and exit wasn’t the easiest. My gawd though what a car! Every car guy/gal should have the chance to experience that thing. I had no issues with visibility as others who’ve owned them and got used to it. Set your mirrors correctly and the rear view camera mirror covered the blind spots. I also don’t really get the no low end torque complaints. A simple push of the right foot in the correct gear and you are going to out accelerate pretty much everything on the road. Even the annoying as hell Tesla drivers who think their ugly ass jelly bean looking cars are sports cars. The LT6 is almost reads your mind, it’s the most responsive engine I’ve ever owned, only one that came close was Porsches N/A 4.0.
 
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I’ve never driven a C8 Z06. However, it still has the same crappy DCT that’s in my C8 Stingray. Plus if you’re a torque junky like myself, you may find the lack of low-end torque disappointing, especially for street use. I think people forget the C8 Z06 is the “track focused” model of the C8 line-up.

Now comparing my C8 Stingray to my M6 5BW, the BW is the way better car. The only area the C8 is better than the Cadillac is handling. The mid-engine design does make a significant difference in that regard. But the 5BW wins on ride quality, power and build quality. It takes something really special to beat 670 HP, a manual transmission, and Cadillac luxury.

Personally the only C8 I would consider as a daily driver would be the ERay. The AWD and All-Season tires give it the advantage in that regard. If you live in an area that has the potential to get more than 4 inches of snow, no sports car not even the Cadillac is a good choice as a daily driver. That’s when you look at a 4W drive pickup or Jeep as a daily.
The programming and performance of the DCT in the ZO6 is significantly improved over the Stingray.
I don't think anyone will really drive a Eray in bad weather, especially with 345 rears and the MSRP. With that said, the ERAY is ridiculously overpriced, overweight, and overcomplicated for what it is.
Once DCT tuning is available, a Stingray with turbos or a 2650 will be a hell of a car and good deal.
Until then, I think the ZO6 and 5BW stick are great options.
 
The programming and performance of the DCT in the ZO6 is significantly improved over the Stingray.
I don't think anyone will really drive a Eray in bad weather, especially with 345 rears and the MSRP. With that said, the ERAY is ridiculously overpriced, overweight, and overcomplicated for what it is.
Once DCT tuning is available, a Stingray with turbos or a 2650 will be a hell of a car and good deal.
Until then, I think the ZO6 and 5BW stick are great options.
I still see posts from C8 Z06 owners with transmission issues over on the Corvette forum so things aren’t totally peachy and keen with the DCT in the Z06.

I seriously considered trading my Stingray for an ERay but after picking up my M6 5BW I lost all interest in an ERay. Then after having the transmission in my Stingray repaired I’m not interested in owning any other Corvette as long comes with a Tremec DCT.
 
This goes back to the age old comparison we've seen in many threads - if you don't demand 3 pedals, your choices expand exponentially.

The Z06 was phenomenal. I was especially surprised by the ride quality - it was very comfy for daily driving. I didn't think ow-end torque (or the lack thereof) was an issue. That's one area the DCT shines - it'll hit low gear and away you go with just a slap of your right foot.

I've been trying to figure out how to get that phenomenal engine into something else. Chevy Performance doesn't sell it as a crate engine, but think of that sound and 8,600 RPM redline in a Cobra...........that would be perfection !!

But the 5 BW is the only way you can get the best of all worlds. :)
Its not just the pedals. Needing a usable rear space is also the other issue. I miss my C6Z every day but needed a more practical car to haul kids in on a pinch than just driving the family mover. Theres not much out there thats a manual with livable rear seats. If I didnt want a manual, I'd probably be rolling in a M5 CS or RS6 Avant over an auto 5BW.
 
I still see posts from C8 Z06 owners with transmission issues over on the Corvette forum so things aren’t totally peachy and keen with the DCT in the Z06.

I seriously considered trading my Stingray for an ERay but after picking up my M6 5BW I lost all interest in an ERay. Then after having the transmission in my Stingray repaired I’m not interested in owning any other Corvette as long comes with a Tremec DCT.
Wait, what transmission are in the ERays? Always assumed its the same DCT for the C8s regardless.
 
I had the good fortune to borrow a C8 Z06 this weekend. The map below shows the route I took, illustrating how great it is to live in Central Texas !! Google 3 Twisted Sisters if you haven't heard of it.

I would not trade my CT5 BW with 3 pedals for the 'Vette, but for those fortunate enough to own a Z06, I am a little jealous.

First, is that soundtrack. It is mesmerizing. I am blown away that a factory exhaust is that loud and sounds so great.

Automatics do have one use - passing traffic. Its so effortless and so instantaneous - stomp the gas and disappear. It drops immediately to the lowest possible gear - ensuring you're always at WOT approaching redline as you actually pass them (allowing you to share that beautiful soundtrack with your victim :) ). Then it redlines the next gear, and by then you're already in triple digits and that traffic has long disappeared. Its intoxicating............and you get that soundtrack the whole time. Man was it great.

I did have a question and some nits to pick.

First, the HUD would never remember the setting. Z-mode nor driver pre-sets - nothing. I had to manually change it every time I started it. Is that normal ?

Visibility - forget about it............its infinitely worse than any Camaro. The windshield is the only thing you can see the road from. Even the exterior mirrors can only see the rear fenders !!

The G-force meters on the HUD are funny too. There are 2 different meters on opposite sides of the display to show Right and Left Gs separately. Does it really seem like a good idea to force your eyes to hunt over the windshield when the number - not the side - is all that matters ? I hit 0.72 once or twice. Just over 0.60 a few times, and >0.50 fairly often. I know the vehicle is rated at like 1.15 or higher, but how much do you think it could do on normal roads ? I doubt the rough asphalt in this area would support anything near the carefully preppped track I'm sure those specs are measured on.

I can't say its a bad daily driver, as much as it is such a striking contrast between the glory of the open road and the torture of sitting in traffic. This car just exaggerates that difference more than others.

View attachment 28205
I had the good fortune to borrow a C8 Z06 this weekend. The map below shows the route I took, illustrating how great it is to live in Central Texas !! Google 3 Twisted Sisters if you haven't heard of it.

I would not trade my CT5 BW with 3 pedals for the 'Vette, but for those fortunate enough to own a Z06, I am a little jealous.

First, is that soundtrack. It is mesmerizing. I am blown away that a factory exhaust is that loud and sounds so great.

Automatics do have one use - passing traffic. Its so effortless and so instantaneous - stomp the gas and disappear. It drops immediately to the lowest possible gear - ensuring you're always at WOT approaching redline as you actually pass them (allowing you to share that beautiful soundtrack with your victim :) ). Then it redlines the next gear, and by then you're already in triple digits and that traffic has long disappeared. Its intoxicating............and you get that soundtrack the whole time. Man was it great.

I did have a question and some nits to pick.

First, the HUD would never remember the setting. Z-mode nor driver pre-sets - nothing. I had to manually change it every time I started it. Is that normal ?

Visibility - forget about it............its infinitely worse than any Camaro. The windshield is the only thing you can see the road from. Even the exterior mirrors can only see the rear fenders !!

The G-force meters on the HUD are funny too. There are 2 different meters on opposite sides of the display to show Right and Left Gs separately. Does it really seem like a good idea to force your eyes to hunt over the windshield when the number - not the side - is all that matters ? I hit 0.72 once or twice. Just over 0.60 a few times, and >0.50 fairly often. I know the vehicle is rated at like 1.15 or higher, but how much do you think it could do on normal roads ? I doubt the rough asphalt in this area would support anything near the carefully preppped track I'm sure those specs are measured on.

I can't say its a bad daily driver, as much as it is such a striking contrast between the glory of the open road and the torture of sitting in traffic. This car just exaggerates that difference more than others.

View attachment 28205
 
I had the good fortune to borrow a C8 Z06 this weekend. The map below shows the route I took, illustrating how great it is to live in Central Texas !! Google 3 Twisted Sisters if you haven't heard of it.

I would not trade my CT5 BW with 3 pedals for the 'Vette, but for those fortunate enough to own a Z06, I am a little jealous.

First, is that soundtrack. It is mesmerizing. I am blown away that a factory exhaust is that loud and sounds so great.

Automatics do have one use - passing traffic. Its so effortless and so instantaneous - stomp the gas and disappear. It drops immediately to the lowest possible gear - ensuring you're always at WOT approaching redline as you actually pass them (allowing you to share that beautiful soundtrack with your victim :) ). Then it redlines the next gear, and by then you're already in triple digits and that traffic has long disappeared. Its intoxicating............and you get that soundtrack the whole time. Man was it great.

I did have a question and some nits to pick.

First, the HUD would never remember the setting. Z-mode nor driver pre-sets - nothing. I had to manually change it every time I started it. Is that normal ?

Visibility - forget about it............its infinitely worse than any Camaro. The windshield is the only thing you can see the road from. Even the exterior mirrors can only see the rear fenders !!

The G-force meters on the HUD are funny too. There are 2 different meters on opposite sides of the display to show Right and Left Gs separately. Does it really seem like a good idea to force your eyes to hunt over the windshield when the number - not the side - is all that matters ? I hit 0.72 once or twice. Just over 0.60 a few times, and >0.50 fairly often. I know the vehicle is rated at like 1.15 or higher, but how much do you think it could do on normal roads ? I doubt the rough asphalt in this area would support anything near the carefully preppped track I'm sure those specs are measured on.

I can't say its a bad daily driver, as much as it is such a striking contrast between the glory of the open road and the torture of sitting in traffic. This car just exaggerates that difference more than others.

View attachment 28205
I am fortunate to have both and a recent 60-130 mph had the BW win the first race with the hit and the Z winning the next two but only by a few car lengths…..hard choice on which one to drive but the Caddy wins best all around!
 

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I am fortunate to have both and a recent 60-130 mph had the BW win the first race with the hit and the Z winning the next two but only by a few car lengths…..hard choice on which one to drive but the Caddy wins best all around!
And you picked the correct color! Twice.
 
This goes back to the age old comparison we've seen in many threads - if you don't demand 3 pedals, your choices expand exponentially.

The Z06 was phenomenal. I was especially surprised by the ride quality - it was very comfy for daily driving. I didn't think ow-end torque (or the lack thereof) was an issue. That's one area the DCT shines - it'll hit low gear and away you go with just a slap of your right foot.

I've been trying to figure out how to get that phenomenal engine into something else. Chevy Performance doesn't sell it as a crate engine, but think of that sound and 8,600 RPM redline in a Cobra...........that would be perfection !!

But the 5 BW is the only way you can get the best of all worlds. :)
For what it's worth Fantom Works in Virginia put an LT4 in a '69 Chevelle. It took major revision of the front frame as that engine is huge in length and width but it did work and sound fantastic. They got the engine as a crate sale, so I would guess it is obtainable.
 
For what it's worth Fantom Works in Virginia put an LT4 in a '69 Chevelle. It took major revision of the front frame as that engine is huge in length and width but it did work and sound fantastic. They got the engine as a crate sale, so I would guess it is obtainable.
It's available ... Site Maintenance
 
That's our LT4.

The Z06 has the LT6 with DOHC and the flat plane crank, along with an 8,600 redline.

Just found this in eBay - $25K for a used one:

The C7 Z06 was the original application of the LT4 and the crate engine version has been available since 2015 (before the 5BW was released). There was also a engine with the LT4 code (no relation to the current LT4) for the C4 Corvettes.
 
For what it's worth Fantom Works in Virginia put an LT4 in a '69 Chevelle. It took major revision of the front frame as that engine is huge in length and width but it did work and sound fantastic. They got the engine as a crate sale, so I would guess it is obtainable.
I got an even better one. A custom shop out of Wisconsin put an LT5 in a ‘66 Corvette. When I talked to them at Goodguys, I was told they had 4 LT5s sitting in their shop waiting to go into builds because they knew GM was no longer going to sell LT5 crate engines.

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That is a beautiful C2.

But that's the C7 ZR1 engine, which is still the same 6.2L LS engine we have in our cars, just a bigger blower.

The DOHC flat-plane LT6 is a completely different animal. Sadly GM is the last OEM on the planet to put one in their sports car.

Interestingly enough, GM pioneered its own DOHC V8 for Cadillac over 30 years ago. Again, it was saddled with FWD and never had a chance to be mated to a chassis that deserved it.
 
That is a beautiful C2.

But that's the C7 ZR1 engine, which is still the same 6.2L LS engine we have in our cars, just a bigger blower.

The DOHC flat-plane LT6 is a completely different animal. Sadly GM is the last OEM on the planet to put one in their sports car.

Interestingly enough, GM pioneered its own DOHC V8 for Cadillac over 30 years ago. Again, it was saddled with FWD and never had a chance to be mated to a chassis that deserved it.
I think the LT5 has different internals etc form the LT4 so I don’t think it is just the SC difference. Been awhile since I’ve looked at both, but I seem to remember some significant differences.

But yes, agreed the LT6 is a very very different motor from the LT4/LT5.

 
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Yes, the LT5, besides having a 2.65L blower vs the 1.7L on the LT4 also had a few changes. It also has port fuel injection in addition to the direct because of the fuel demands.
 

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