996 vs Z06

Posting this as it's a thread from the vette guys on the Z06vs the 996. Biased of course but an interesting read. http://www.z06vette.com/forums/showt...threadid=49183

This Porsche owner is a classic example of someone over reacting to the RMS issue. None of us know the true incidence of RMS failures. Does this keep us from enjoying our vehicles? No! Stories about dealerships not honoring warrenties for tracked cars? This guy is afraid of breaking his car so he wants to buy a Z 06 which requires numerous modifications to make it a reliable track car! (I had a good time with a C5 owner who I met a Button Willow race track. After four 30 minute sessions, her brakes had faded, her discs were glazed, and the car was overheating. My Porsche kept ticking.) I think he should trade in his Porsche and get the Z 06. Only then will he appreciate what a great car he has.

I've raced both Z06s and 996 C2s at the track, and in stock condition there's no comparison. The C2 is superior. Keep in mind that there is about a $25K price gap between the two cars, and if you invest around $20K in the Z06, any Speed Shop can can turn the Z06 into an awesome track car. What I learned many years ago is that in racing money is king. The more you spend the faster you go.

As have I and the one thing you fail to mention or simply overlooked is that the Z06 out of the box will simply walk a standard C2 on any long straight away. It simply has more power.

I've reeled in Z06's in my old modified Boxster S at the track on several occassions. Not because the Boxster S was faster in the straights (it wasn't) but because it was faster in the corners and could last an entire run without the brakes fading, etc. I like the Z06, but could never stand the interior and the radio that said "Cavalier". I hope the new vettes really stand apart from the rest of the Chevy parts bin and are adequately equipped for continued track performance. It's funny some of the vette owners at the track know the guy at the parts counter by name because they are always going in for new rotors and pads.

My brother has a Z06, and I have a 996. Yes the 996 is sharper brakes better adn more pleasurable to drive on the track. To thoes of you biased against the Z06, don't knock it. I have turned in better times with the Z06 at Willow Springs than with the 996. All the guys who said they can keep up with the Z06 you must consider the driver. Hey there is a guy in a Boxster who can keep up with my 996. Does that make it the faster car?

My last DE, there were a couple Z06's out at the same time as me. They were extremely fast on the straights and they looked decently balanced in the corners. One guy was a real menace, running up on people's bumpers and driving very ragged lines. I caught him but backed way off because I was concerned he might cause an accident. But that of course is no fault of the car.

The Z06 is a nice car considering its very low price, though I don't think I would want to own one long term. One thing it lacks for me, and cannot be fixed, is that it only has two seats. I can take all 3 of my daughters to school or the barn or practice every day in a P-car; not possible in the Z-car. It means I get a lot more use out of the car. Steve 99 996 76 930 64 356C

Steve, I hear ya! Now that I am looking for a new P-Car, I have tested a number of "other" cars including Z06's, Vipers .etc, however the one advantage with the 993/996 is a backseat. My wife and daughter (8 years old) can go with me on trips/drives vs having to choose with a two seater. The Z06 just seems like pretty good value for the money, but lacks the allure of a Porsche. Even with all the RMS talk and such it just seems any other car but a P-Car is a compromise. Maybe Porsche puts some type of feremone in their cars that keeps them coming back regardless of quirks in build. Rob

So what?

ok so... with all that power, more favorable weight distribution, stiffer out of the box suspesnion...It is hard for me to imagine that a z06 would do anything less then walk a stock c2 on a couple of hot laps at willow, pir, seca, etc (with equal drivers) there is one problem with the vette no one has so far mentioned though... It is not a porsche, period Anyway The z06 is really not the base model c5 its more a kin to a gt3...which it is highly unlikely to walk anywhere anytime

Rob: it sure seems to be working on me! Steve

I own both a GT3 and a ZO6. My comparison is based on equal driver, equal conditions (give or take a few degrees in temperature) except for the all important tires. -Build quality with out a doubt goes to Porsche, there is no argument there. -Handling again goes to Porsche, grip in my GT3 seems to be twice as good. Then again tires are huge in this section! -Acceleration in a straight line the ZO6 has very few competitors. -Acceleration out of a corner the GT3 eats the ZO6 up eventhough the ZO6 has traction control. The ZO6 has a huge torque curve which almost hinders it because out of slow corners one really has to be precise with the throttle or else you will have a loss of traction, costing you valuable time. Tires and set up play a huge role here! -Braking well you know the answer there. The one caviat is that with $10K-$15K invested into a ZO6 you could resolve all its shortcomings and have yourself a deadly track weapon, capable of beating almost anything else on the track. Just my $.10

excellent points, I couldn't agree more. I have been the 'meat' in a viper/zo6 sandwich many times at open track days and de's. the z06 is very capable, but i've always been able to reel one in, in heavy braking zones or accelerating out of corners--as you mentioned--especially up hills.

z06 is half the car of 996. performance numbers might be similar but i think similarity ends there. everything else porsche is just better car.

Well, I did end up getting the Z06, so I think the only ones so far who can accurately describe the performance differences between the two are MJSpeed and myself. I know other Rennlisters have enjoyed the pure track performance of the Z06 as well. People who think one car is slow just because they passed one that some other guy was driving need to get a dose of reality--IT'S all driver!! Now take the driver variable out of the equation, then we can talk comparisons. MJSpeed compared it to a GT3 (which is faster than the Z06 no doubt), I'll compare it to my regular '02 996... It not only is faster in a straight line, but has much more lateral grip (skidpad tests confirm this as well), and can power out of corners faster than the base 996--my exit speeds at track out were faster than they ever were with my 996. It is also easier to drive fast, except for very low speed corners like MJSpeed mentioned. Porsche brakes are the best no doubt, but small upgrades to the Z06 brakes bring them up to snuff. The car also runs HOT!! Oil cooler is going in soon with near 300 degree oil temps. Bottom line is it's a outstanding performing track car, even when compared to much more expensive cars. When looking at the performance/dollar and then how much dough is left over for track fees and tires and all, it becomes very attractive. I could care less about the crappy interior of the Z06 or the fact that the 996 looks better-- I'm just about the experience/performance of tracking of a car, others place more emphasis on the car they have--whatever floats one's boat...

Bool****. When you say raced, do you mean you have raced track prepped M3s and Z06s in a wheel to wheel racing event, or did a DE in them, or neither? Anyway, a Z06 will rape any n/a 911 except for a GT3 on track, and it's a great match for the TT. Even though you are an experienced racer (GT3 and E46 M3) and a prior factory test driver from Audi, and a prior Porsche mechanic, and accordingly seemingly a german car fan, I'm surprised you state this. A z06 is devastating on track. Too bad I'd have to grow a mullet to pimp in one. LOL.

I don't think you'll find too many who disagree that dollar for dollar, the Z06 is one of the best performance values out there. I also don't think that you'll find too many Rennlist members out there who would trade in their Porche for a Z06. It always comes down to personal taste and the size of one's pocket book.

Next time you're in the Chicago area...let me know. I would love to add you to the list of Corvettes that my car leaves behind. Enjoy the ride.

Agreed. One of my associates has a Z06. I respect them and applaud Chevy for the best ever vette made, but I'd never buy one.

No comparison, Z06 quality is bottom of the barrell inside and thats where you spend most of your time driving...My friend has had a number of vette's and they are still made by GM and thats most of the problem. No doubt they are fast but so were a couple of Lance Armstrong's rivals...but the most finely tuned machine won in the long run........... Robert

I would also like to know, not making a statement but asking a question, what the reliability of the Z06 is like in 5 years? The people that I know that had vettes seemed to complain more as the car aged, even more so if driven on the track or very aggressively. I also don't think raw numbers are everything. There could be some kid in a tricked out Toyota Supra that has 500HP, who cares? Does that make my 911 any less of a beautiful machine?

Knowing the interior quality has always been an issue, GM is making a big deal about the improvements in the interior style and quality of the new model coming out in a few weeks. It will be interesting to see what it looks like ,....

I just read this thread for the first time. What amazed me was that the Corvette guys responded on their thread with what I thought were understated, unbiased and informative evaluations of the Z06 without knocking the 996. Now read the silliness in this thread. So much for stereotypes. I'm pretty sure my car is among the fastest na 996 track cars around. Not bragging but there just aren't many 2900 lb, 3.6L x51 club racering 996s roaming about. I've been on the track with many Z06s and I have the utmost respect for the capabilities of that car. In the hands of a good driver these cars can scoot. Jim