RE: Driven: Corvette ZR-1
Discussion
G4HKS said:
Vetteran said:
effortless monumental power is the drug of course the ZR1 is a supercar.
+1Totally agree with that bit.
you know my point about the interior, thats not supercarrish, I not mean the plastic or leather or color but the whole design could be more racy(racecar)
anyway I wished I had that power 
enough said....when can I drive.;)Edited by GTRene on Tuesday 1st September 17:53
evile said:
Unfortunately, you still have the hard plastics.
I know you aren't trying to be overly critical of the Corvette interior but what hard plastics are you referring to? The only hard plastics are the part around the gauges and the part around the radio that extends down around the shifter. How is that different than any of the competition. Really, I think what GM needs to do is simply add some splash to the interior. If you listen to Lutz talk about the old CTS vs the new car one of the things he noted was the first CTS had an expensive interior. GM really did spend the money on the good materials and surfaces and all that. He said the problem was it didn't LOOK like a good interior. The design and styling was a negative with respect to perceived quality. I think we see the same thing with the Corvette. The interior is actually not bad and certainly comparisons to economy cars are only made by those who really aren't being fair. The materials generally are good and so is the fit. However, the styling, especially the dark gray on dark gray interior, really makes the interior look less than the sum of it's parts. I do hope that GM solves that problem with the C7. I have faith that they will given the new CTS, Buick and several of their other newer products.G4HKS said:
Let's hope the next Z07/C7 addresses the choice of materials used within the current versions and they employ the same stylists that had a hand in the current Caddy CTS. Not only is the quality every bit as good as BMW but it looks and feels superb. Maybe then NO ONE with have anything to whinge about.
Z06 is a historical tag and nothing to do with the generation. Regular production Option (RPO) Z06 basically offered the public a turnkey race-car in 1963:
This one topped a million dollars at auction and the interior is terrible!
It was Z06 in 1963, C5 Z06 in 2001 and C6 Z06 in 2005 and it will be a C7 Z06 when it eventually arrives.
Just like the Camaro will always be a Z28 and not a Z29.
Slickskid said:
evile said:
Unfortunately, you still have the hard plastics.
I know you aren't trying to be overly critical of the Corvette interior but what hard plastics are you referring to? The only hard plastics are the part around the gauges and the part around the radio that extends down around the shifter. How is that different than any of the competition. Really, I think what GM needs to do is simply add some splash to the interior. If you listen to Lutz talk about the old CTS vs the new car one of the things he noted was the first CTS had an expensive interior. GM really did spend the money on the good materials and surfaces and all that. He said the problem was it didn't LOOK like a good interior. The design and styling was a negative with respect to perceived quality. I think we see the same thing with the Corvette. The interior is actually not bad and certainly comparisons to economy cars are only made by those who really aren't being fair. The materials generally are good and so is the fit. However, the styling, especially the dark gray on dark gray interior, really makes the interior look less than the sum of it's parts. I do hope that GM solves that problem with the C7. I have faith that they will given the new CTS, Buick and several of their other newer products.Also, I believe GM will devote more resources spec'ing materials for the C7 varient. I could be wrong, but the switch gear of the CTS-V had a different feel than the last C6 in which I sat. I don't have a Chevy any longer, and I haven't been to a dealership for a while. I guess I'll have to take a field trip this week.
Edited by evile on Tuesday 1st September 19:58
BlackSteel said:
I wander how much that crate motor is?
$21,000 usdhttp://www.motorauthority.com/blog/1030462_corvett...
euroboy said:
Well it seems like very few people on this thread have actually spent time with one of these cars.
We have done nearly 1500miles in the ZHZ now and the car has over 31k on the clock, so far from a new car.
The rentals basically have the base interior - some leather covered surfaces and a dab of 'carbon' mixed in here and there with the hard plastics.
Let me tell you its really not that bad - im used to Alfa Romeo interiors and I could quite happiily live day to day with the Corvette interior.
You dont have too much time to notice the odd plastic piece of trim when your eyeballs are planted in the back of your forehead (which belive me, is what this car is all about).
To dismiss the car out of hand for its interior totally misses the point of Corvette. I have never had so much fun in a car and I cant quite get over how it does EVERYTHING so well - it swallows luggage, itll cruise at 80mph returning over 30mpg, it looks like a supercar and performs like one too.
If the inside bothers you that much spend 5k at an interior trimmers and make it look a whole lot better, the choice is available.
About three years ago, I payed for a supercar experience. I drove six cars, each for about twenty minutes on the streets and highways of Miami to Miami Beach. The six cars were the Aston Martin DB9 Volante (auto), Bentley Continental GT, Ford GT, C6 Corvette Z06, Ferrari F430 F1, and Lamborghini Gallardo e-gear.We have done nearly 1500miles in the ZHZ now and the car has over 31k on the clock, so far from a new car.
The rentals basically have the base interior - some leather covered surfaces and a dab of 'carbon' mixed in here and there with the hard plastics.
Let me tell you its really not that bad - im used to Alfa Romeo interiors and I could quite happiily live day to day with the Corvette interior.
You dont have too much time to notice the odd plastic piece of trim when your eyeballs are planted in the back of your forehead (which belive me, is what this car is all about).
To dismiss the car out of hand for its interior totally misses the point of Corvette. I have never had so much fun in a car and I cant quite get over how it does EVERYTHING so well - it swallows luggage, itll cruise at 80mph returning over 30mpg, it looks like a supercar and performs like one too.
If the inside bothers you that much spend 5k at an interior trimmers and make it look a whole lot better, the choice is available.
My favorites without regard to price, purely on driving enjoyment and the smile they plastered on my face were, in order:
1) Ferrari F430 F1
2) Aston Martin DB9 Volante
3) Corvette Z06
The Corvette and the Ford GT were the only ones that were just stupid fast, downright scary fast. But the Z06 was an absolute joy to drive and would've been just as easy to live with as far more mundane cars. When Jeremy Clarkson said that the Z06 is hard to live with and its shift quality was agricultural, or something along those lines, I thought he was on crack.
The Z06 does what that kind of car is supposed to do but also is great at the subjective stuff, which typically Yank cars aren't as good at. I even thought its shift quality was very good. It was also extremely comfortable and livable... if that's a word. I was floored. Yes, I did like the Aston and F430 better, but at twice and thrice the price.
I also think that the interior of any Vette does not look any worse to me than that of the yellow Gallardo on page 2 of these comments. Oh, and the Cadillac CTS-V does not get the LS9 engine. Its engine has another designation, indicating not only its lower output, but also its smaller supercharger and less heavy duty parts that it doesn't need due to its lower power and torque.
Miguel
said:
Miguel When Jeremy Clarkson said that the Z06 is hard to live with and its shift quality was agricultural, or something along those lines, I thought he was on crack.
The Z06 does what that kind of car is supposed to do but also is great at the subjective stuff, which typically Yank cars aren't as good at. I even thought its shift quality was very good. Miguel
I agree on the shift quality. From 2008 model year they altered the linkage and my Z06 is superb, almost approaching BMW prescision. (Unlike my previous 2005 C6 where the shifter was sometimes a bloody nightmare). In addition the ride quality is far improved as no doubt Mr. VetteHead Racer will confirm, using his on a daily basis. The Z06 does what that kind of car is supposed to do but also is great at the subjective stuff, which typically Yank cars aren't as good at. I even thought its shift quality was very good. Miguel
Edited by G4HKS on Wednesday 2nd September 11:06
Great car. I would certainly buy one of these if I had the money.
Not too bothered about the interior, there has got to be some catch in performance for that price and it comes with enough gadgets to keep you amused. I do wish the seats were a bit more sporty but going on how comfortable the C5 seats are, I would imagine these would be the same when driving long distances. A skinny runt like me finds them to have adequate support around the waste anyway for hard cornering.
I saw one of these in this colour at LeMans surrounded by a group of DBSs and I thought it really stood out in a good way.
IMO certainly not a supercar, maybe blue collar supercar but like the Porsche 911 turbo and GT2 it looks too much like its cheaper relatives to gain the title.
Nice little video of ZR1 performance:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9wbe2HNrAg&fea...
Not too bothered about the interior, there has got to be some catch in performance for that price and it comes with enough gadgets to keep you amused. I do wish the seats were a bit more sporty but going on how comfortable the C5 seats are, I would imagine these would be the same when driving long distances. A skinny runt like me finds them to have adequate support around the waste anyway for hard cornering.
I saw one of these in this colour at LeMans surrounded by a group of DBSs and I thought it really stood out in a good way.
IMO certainly not a supercar, maybe blue collar supercar but like the Porsche 911 turbo and GT2 it looks too much like its cheaper relatives to gain the title.
Nice little video of ZR1 performance:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9wbe2HNrAg&fea...
Edited by minipower on Wednesday 2nd September 11:50
As Mr. Lynch (aka G4HKS) says the ride quality and gearshift are excellent. The interior of his one is also very nice given he has the leather wrapped option.....almost Aston Martin in quality
The ZR1 interior is very similar to the Z06 and if I were to invest in one, I would probably spent $5,000 and upgrade the seats to a set of Carravaggio GT Racing seats.
http://www.caravaggiocorvettes.com/dev2007/C5_C6_F...
The ZR1 interior is very similar to the Z06 and if I were to invest in one, I would probably spent $5,000 and upgrade the seats to a set of Carravaggio GT Racing seats.
http://www.caravaggiocorvettes.com/dev2007/C5_C6_F...
Edited by vetteheadracer on Wednesday 2nd September 13:29
Gaz. said:
There is a yellow ZR-1 in the classifieds almost permanently. It's been on sale for as long as I can remember.
Would that be a ZR1 Gaz?I think you'll find that's one of our illustrious traders who exercises the very annoying habit of placing a library photo (albeit of a car sold previously by them) in the classifieds to advertise cars that he hasn't got right now but "can get" if you should want one.
IMHO if you haven't got the car don't advertise the same classified advert over and over again.
Another specialist car trader working from home is Tom Hartley. He has a ZR1 on his books for a good while now, originally described as an "auto" ?? then had several prices nailed to it, now showing "POA", with the statement "(Saving On List)".
Whilst I would like one in my garage tomorrow, they don't appear to be the hottest seller at this moment in time, however stunning a performer they may be.
And for that reason alone, "I'm out" as that bloke on BBC Two's Dragons Den so admirably puts it.
I wouldn't want a grey one which might be the problem he is having selling it.....it's not a very "supercar" colour now is it?
Just reading DB9Vol-au-vents comment about interior smell...if you want a nice smelling interior then either buy yourself an air freshner or stick a fragrant lady in the passenger seat and sniff that !!
I agree you can't use all of the power all of the time and if you are sitting in a traffic jam you do look at the interior, but to be honest I find the Z06 interior to be perfectly adequate and the ZR1 is even better if you opt for the leather wrapped option.
The driving experience is what makes a car "super" and that is purely personal and very subjective.
Just reading DB9Vol-au-vents comment about interior smell...if you want a nice smelling interior then either buy yourself an air freshner or stick a fragrant lady in the passenger seat and sniff that !!
I agree you can't use all of the power all of the time and if you are sitting in a traffic jam you do look at the interior, but to be honest I find the Z06 interior to be perfectly adequate and the ZR1 is even better if you opt for the leather wrapped option.
The driving experience is what makes a car "super" and that is purely personal and very subjective.
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