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I am starting a new post because the other threads where I have posted no longer seem relevant.
For those of you who I have not yet met, I ordered my car on August 10 (I think), and it was delivered on November 22. My VIN ends in 00052. I don't know how to interpret this data other than to say the VIN ends in 00052. I chatted with a guy that says he is number 00086 and does not expect to get his car this year, but again I don't know how to interpret that bit of data.
Anyway, about the car: 2023 Corvette Z06/Z07, Convertible Hard Top, 3LZ, red mist metallic, front lift, edge red calipers, Carbon Flash painted aero and grand effects, red/black interior. I removed the Cup Rs that come on it and replaced them with street tires 4S ZPs. I used the GM recommendation for track set up (Front: Castor + 8 degrees, Camber -2 degrees., Toe in 0.1 degrees. Rear: Castor 0 degrees, Camber -2 degrees, Toe in 0.1 degrees, Thrust Angle 0 degrees).
Driving Experience: I went straight from a C7 Z51 to the C8 Z06. The main reason I waited, is back in 2020 I knew I wanted to wait for the wide body. Back then I (obviously) knew nothing else about the car. Plus, I love shifting gears and was loathe to part with my beloved C7 Z51 (but not nearly as much as I hated parting with my C6 Z06!). Aside from a bit of track time in a 488 GTB and a 911 Turbo S, I had exactly zero experience driving a mid or rear engine car.
I do not need to say how amazing the car is. Everyone knows that, and words simply fail to do the car justice. This car is absolutely amazing. But it is taking me time to learn. With my old cars, I could rotate them without thinking. I could put the car on nearly any angle I wanted and drive it that way, steering with the rear wheels. As of now, I am unable to do that with the Z06. The grip is just too good but keep in mind I am still not comfortable winding up the motor as it was meant to be driven. When the back end of this car steps out, it does so quickly and it comes back into line quickly. The engine revs so fast, its almost hard to catch when you are hooning it. I have done a couple of low rpm slides, 180's and 360s, and I really am nowhere near comfortable sliding the car (the way I was with the C7 and C6 Z06). I will get there I am sure, but for now I am having to be super super cautious.
I don't know what I like more, the engine or the gear box. Both are absolutely extraordinary. I for street driving I have the car set up in the most mild setting possible. The engine is LOUD. And in Race 2 the shifts are violent. In tour mode I have the engine at minimum sound, steering and brakes as light as possible, and gear shifts super low (short shifting). Z Mode is pretty much the opposite. In Z Mode the car is violent and pissed off. I honestly do not recommend driving around town in Race 2. For me that is a real change, because that is the only way I have been driving for years. Race 2 in the C8 Z06 truly is intended for track duty only, and you will hate it on the street. It actually makes me a bit nauseous if I drive around in Z Mode for too long.
Tires: Pull the Cup tires off NOW. They are seriously sketchy when they are cold, and heaven forbid you encounter any amount of moisture or sand on the road. I pulled mine off after a couple hundred miles (had to wait for the 4S ZP to arrive). I took the car out to Spring Mountain Motorsports Park today and my buddy helped me burnish the brakes (he is a professional driver). We also drove around the autocross coarse a bit and the 4S ZPs performed extremely well. I am saving my Cup tires for the spring, and for track duty only. I figure driving those tires on the street is not only a waste, but they are just not as fun as the higher tread 4S ZP.
Brakes: The carbon ceramic brakes are garbage until you burnish them. Seriously. There is no feel, and the stopping distance is terrible. The brake pedal feels super heavy and stiff. Be very, very careful in this car until you burnish the brakes. Once they are bedded-in though they are absolutely fantastic. And they are QUIET unlike the Hawk DTC 80s which are an embarrassment when cold (how many times has someone commented that your brakes need replacing?). But yeah, once they are bedding in they freaking bite. They are very linear too.
Before I did the track set up, I honestly did not like the feel of the car. I guess because I have been driving around in track mode for about 13 years, and it just felt weird at first. Once I did the setup though, wow. This car is very, very responsive. The confidence I have on turn-in is epic. With a front engine car, I always have to be mindful of "backing it in" to corners and being very mindful on corner exit. This car never gives me that feeling. I feel like I can threshold brake all the way to the apex and aggressively pick the throttle super early with no worry or drama. As mentioned above, I do not plan to really push the car until the spring time so check back with me then. I may have a different answer. I may also go to another setup that was recommended to me (Camber front: -3.1 degrees. Camber rear: -2.6 degrees).
What else can I say? The front lift is incredible and you can set up to 1,000 gps defined locations. Every time I pull up to my driveway, the front end automatically lifts. Every time I approach the massive speed bumps at my club, the front end automatically lifts. If you get the Z07 option, you really should get the front lift.
First gear feels stupid low, and eighth gear feels stupid high. To give you an example, the car reaches 125 MPH in 7th gear at about 3,000 rpms. There's an additional gear and 5,500 rpm at your pleasure. In tour mode, the car feels like it can be a daily driver though for me its mostly a track weapon. I so enjoyed chasing down Europe's finest in my previous gen cars, I simply cannot wait showing up in this thing. I think it is going to surprise a lot of folks. I am a little surprised GM did not go with steel braided brake lines as standard equipment though, and I am a bit surprised they just don't equip the car with high temperature brake fluid (in the Z07 anyway). Not a huge deal, but it is one more thing to fool with. I guess that is about it for now. In summary, freakishly fast, responsive, planted, and head-turning. A real joy to drive and worth every penny. Best sports car I have ever owned or driven.
If you get a Ferrari it comes with about 50 to 70 miles on the clock. Part of it is -- getting the CCB's broken in. I found them "sketchy" until warmed up. The first couple of stops you need to apply more pressure than you would think or like to.
Excellent write up BTW. I got 1000 times more info than any stupid Youtuber.
I also appreciated the write-up. And your car looks gorgeous in the pic. How is the ride and noise (wind, road, tire) when you're just cruising around in "mild" mode? What's your honest opinion of whether the car is worth the money and the cost increase over a C8 Stingray (or C7, in your case)? Does $150-160K+ for a coupe or convertible spec like yours feel appropriate? I can somewhat surmise your response based on your write-up. I figured it's a helpful thing to know since many of the folks on here are upgrading from a C7 or C7 Z06--I'd be upgrading from my C7 Z07.
Last edited by Cubicinches; 12-01-2022 at 03:37 AM.
Thank you very much for taking the time to write this. This is exactly what we have been waiting for! Real driving impressions from our peers. Sounds incredible. Thx again!
As someone who tracks, I greatly enjoyed your write up and impressions of the car. I’d be a bit careful of dialing out all the understeer as well……you probably know the possibilities there with a mid engine. Mine are different on the 458, but I ended up with compromising between road and track alignment after it stepped out at Road Atlanta (you’ll also get more wear inside with the track setting).
Good move swapping out the Cups and saving them for a nice track day, I have two sets of rims for that purpose.
I also installed stainless steel lines to the calipers (Ferrari didn’t have them as stock either), and it’s better for fade but sets off the ABS under hard brake. And i run Castrol SRF exclusively. If you do a lot of tracking, you’ll appreciate it.
Beautiful car, enjoy to the fullest! Ain’t nothing like a mid engine car on track!
Thanks for the write up. That "86 person" must be 86 on a list, not VIN 86. VIN 86 should have been delivered weeks ago. They have produced 166 non-anniversary Z06s at this point.
Great write up,m beuatiful car! Looking forward to hearing your impressions as you get more seat (and track!) time!
Originally Posted by swmccarthy
and I am a bit surprised they just don't equip the car with high temperature brake fluid (in the Z07 anyway).
I think I've read that it comes down to maintenance. Most of the high performance brake fluid attracts water significantly faster than the more pedestrian DOT 3 stuff, and the "typical" buyer doesn't track often, so the additional fluid flushing maintenance is seen as too large of a downside. I agree it would be a neat touch on Z07 cars, or at least as an option, but I'm guessing the extra complication of having multiple fluid fills during production is undesirable.
1. From your other thread… who mounted your new tires?
2.Who aligned the car?
3. The OEM hoses are very good, SS really aren’t needed. Minimal change in pedal feel often from smaller orifice.
4. Is the burnish process something you can do on a back road?
5. The factory fluid is DOT4. It is high temp. It’s not race fluid, but it’s suitable for the average trackday. They recommend race fluid because lawyers.
Thanks! I note you have a 2019 Z06. That is one car I have been dreaming about, and will likely buy at some point. My 11 year old daughter was kind of sad when I sold my C7 Z51 because she wants to learn to drive with a manual transmission and this is the first time in many decades that I have not owned a car with a manual transmission. So I am thinking, in a couple of years when I have more garage space I will find a 2019 Z06/Z07 with a manual transmission!
Great write up,m beuatiful car! Looking forward to hearing your impressions as you get more seat (and track!) time!
I think I've read that it comes down to maintenance. Most of the high performance brake fluid attracts water significantly faster than the more pedestrian DOT 3 stuff, and the "typical" buyer doesn't track often, so the additional fluid flushing maintenance is seen as too large of a downside. I agree it would be a neat touch on Z07 cars, or at least as an option, but I'm guessing the extra complication of having multiple fluid fills during production is undesirable.
Yeah I think I read that somewhere and I do think most owners do not track that often. Plus it gives me something to do on a Saturday afternoon.
Only question I have is how did you get yours so soon? Lol, I got on the wait list for mine 2 years ago now. Or do you mean you've been on the wait list for years and actually placed the order with the dealer in August?
11-30-2022, 10:56 PM
C8 Z06 Second Impressions
