2006 Corvette Z06 | Retro Review

By way of a special super fan request, we're stoked to drop an additional Retro Review today. Please enjoy our review of the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06.
Show 2507 | Original Airdate 10-18-2005
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[@augustortiz]

Its still such a badass car in 2023.

[@bcullen5417]

IAgree

[@kingrandor7432]

Yeah it is

[@corvetteZ3r]

That’s why I’ve had 4

[@andrewe4277]

Own a 2013 60th Anniversary Grand Sport and would like to get a C6 Z06 in the future.

[@corvetteZ3r]

@@andrewe4277 you wont regret it

[@MarkMeadows90]

This is still, by far, my favorite modern Corvette. The C7 and C8 Z06 just doesn't appeal to me.

[@P71ScrewHead]

i agree, love that LS7, n i'm a Ford guy..lol

[@carado1984]

Same. LS7, 6 speed, circle tail lights was peak Corvette.

[@srmurc6zo6]

Same for me. They're one of the few cars that still command my attention whenever I see one on the road. I don't even notice c7 s and 8s. I think there's enough variations of the C6 to keep me occupied for the rest of my days. Would love a C2 as well but they're just too much money.

[@classiccorvettesmusclecars5846]

The C6, when a Corvette looked like a Corvette from behind.

[@andrewe4277]

I own a C6 60th Anniversary Grand Sport and couldn't agree more. Just a great car..

[@debowiec3]

Isn't it!!!!!!!!!!

[@blaketindle4703]

Now THIS was a badass Corvette!!!

[@mr.wildcat405]

*is

[@Commentleaver-c6x]

You daggone right ol son.

[@gregmayled]

This looks 100x better than the C8

[@427Cabriolet]

People say c8 can't even give road head lmao

[@Ninja-py1ss]

100x better than C7 for sure but only 10x times better than C8 xD

[@CapoKabar]

ZR1 definitely is hotter than c8

[@keith5801]

It’s kinda sad! Wtf are they doing at GM design wise!

[@cjsnylons]

MW dropping retro videos almost as fast as a 7.0L does valves! I kid, I kid. (Z06 owner, btw)

[@danziger69]

Haha. There's a lot of truth there. Still won't sell mine.

[@RippinLyons]

Hahahahah

[@lukepotter5863]

Oof how bad is it? I’m looking at selling a c4 to make room for one

[@RippinLyons]

@@lukepotter5863 they are very cool cars, but I feel people downplay them dropping valves, I personally know a handful of people who have dropped valves or spun bearings in their C6Z. One of my friends just picked up his Z06 this week after getting the engine rebuilt from spinning a bearing at 26k miles and it wasn’t cheap! Mine never gave me issues but I didn’t own it long as I was to worried about it blowing up.

[@danziger69]

@@lukepotter5863 It's pretty well documented.

[@Vicky-Hugh-Martini]

2006 is now retro? Wow.

[@MWBenDavis]

We consider anything before the 1st iPhone to be retro

[@elmandarin1002]

Almost 20 years ago, time flies

[@KartKing4ever]

If it wasn't put on their youtube channel when new, then yes.

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

For real!😮yikes times fly!

[@kamrankhan-lj1ng]

Supposedly MW channel on YT started in 2008. So two years before the retro segment might have started, is retro!

[@vwsandvettes3253]

I love these Z06 reviews. Its almost as much fun reading the comments as it is watching the video. Lots of super fans (including me) of the C6Z!!

[@dannydm2133]

these are totally affordable these day. As long as it's been kept well, why not!

[@rexspangler4641]

this may not be the fastest vette made, but it"s the BADDEST looking VETTE ever made!! C6"s RULE!!!

[@3O2MuStAnG]

Actually... It is (at least) still the fastest (naturally aspirated) Corvette ever made and still one of the fastest naturally aspirated cars on the market even today. That's something when you think about it. There still aren't many naturally aspirated cars that can match the C6 Z06'S performance.

[@ahmadfaisal6778]

Still looks beautiful. IMO it still looks beautiful than the current Corvette.

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

Man that corvette still strikingly beautiful! Still look like it just came out today! Is ageless!👌🥰👍my brother in law have one!

[@hobojakobo]

At a prior job one of my coworkers was a middle aged petite woman probably no more than 5 feet tall. Every day she drove a C6 Corvette Z06 to work. Badass lady and a badass car.

[@noi5829]

Even on snow??

[@Commentleaver-c6x]

I bet her husband was rich.

[@KenanTurkiye]

I propose a back to back Corvette reviews, preferably oldest to newest. Come on MotorWeek

[@TheCaffeinatedDrive]

Were faster than a Porsche GT3 around the Nurburgring at the time

[@TheCarCrazyGuy]

Love my C7 Z06. She’s going on 7 years now.

[@CJDavid-pe9ue]

So happy I got one a year ago. Such a beautiful and fun car. Timeless design

[@andrewe4277]

Keep it stock and it will live a long life and hold its value.

[@CJDavid-pe9ue]

@@andrewe4277 Upgrading the performance. HCI build. Don't want to drop a valve in the motor.

[@P71ScrewHead]

@@CJDavid-pe9ue Yes definitely..

[@lifeonmars03]

What year?

[@CJDavid-pe9ue]

@@lifeonmars032007, dropping the car off next week

[@dohc1067]

I still see plenty of these on the road. I would take this over the new one.

[@Kaiser187]

Beautiful sports car. Will never get old looking, timeless masterpiece.

[@douglasallen9428]

Two retro reviews in one day?! Awesome!!!

[@fry.master]

Agreed

[@FirebirdDude]

Yes! More Firebirds and Corvettes please!

[@GrandPotatoe]

Someone at Motorweek has been obsessed with Corvettes recently.

[@cellpat2686]

24mpg highway. Wow! And from a 427 V8 engine too. The only thing I don't like is that it does not hide the headlights. A minor peeve.

[@TheMGChannel]

Thank you MotorWeek! You guys rock

[@KenanTurkiye]

MW is spoiling us with these retros. :))

[@antonparks9147]

Truly a living legend for more that meets the eye.

[@junkyarddawgs9956]

Best looking vette of the modern era!!

[@oliverroo59]

This car is so much better looking than the current Corvette

[@pontiacGXPfan]

This is more Z06 than the C8 Z06 could ever be

[@j_mars_cars]

Uhhhhhh ok. The new z06 is no joke

[@pontiacGXPfan]

@@j_mars_cars no manual. not impressed

[@carado1984]

​@@pontiacGXPfannew people only care about stats on paper and not fun on the road.

[@pontiacGXPfan]

@@carado1984 that's the worst thing

[@93tegDA]

My dream car.. I still want one

[@robertrichards4930]

imagine this with a supercharger and a modern 8-speed Auto? FIRE!

[@kgthegreatone943]

Literally my favorite corvette

[@Charlemagne89]

We need every Corvette episode MW has ever shot!

[@TheStudawg75]

I remember this show vividly as a child. Owens Mills, Maryland at the end os every episode is burned into my brain!

[@PhillyDee215]

Arguably the C6 is the best Corvette ever.....

[@andrewe4277]

I own a 2013 60th Anniversary Grand Sport and completely agree....

[@PhillyDee215]

@@andrewe4277 there you go....😎

[@yudhabagaskara98]

Anything before their first video was uploaded is considered a retro review on this channel

[@MWBenDavis]

I'm sure you're aware this is almost 20 years old

[@jessieharbinjr.6589]

A friend of mine had a modified version of this car. I was able to get it passed 150mph and man that was scary for me! I backed off to around 80 and kept it there the entire time. Being that the car was new, I was like nope! I’m not gonna wreck it lol!

[@watchandjewelryloft4713]

Friend took me for a ride in a C5 Z06 and it was so smooth at 150. I wasn't scared at all.

[@elijahprasad7884]

@@watchandjewelryloft4713 Good to know. Been thinking about getting one in 2024.

[@BAYAREA_PizzaParty]

Omg look at that thing go in the corners.

[@revelare_xvii6269]

I still can’t believe that the latest Corvette Z06 is a full on mid-engined, flat-plane crank, Ferrari contender.

[@boyfrmnewyork]

Great bang for the buck!

[@boblogan3405]

Beautiful car.

[@VetteRocZ]

Great car! Cool to see this throwback video.

[@davy1458]

My favorite car in the world...and my dream car....i want one so bad.

[@kingrandor7432]

Still a good looking car

[@goblinzl1]

one of the best PTW cars ever designed. as long as you dont drop a valve youre stomping ass.

[@billmcmeekin7909]

Had to have one, got one, and love my Atomic Orange Z. Get the heads done, and sleep well 👍

[@pjcornell9691]

WOW, my brand new C8 1LT Corvette is a bargain! $65,000 same as the 2006 Z06. I had a GTS and RT/10 Viper back in 2006.

[@user-bi9fo3sx6l]

One of my favorites. Take mine in Red. Only car that can take off in 5th gear ! And still pulls ! 😊😊😊

[@blaketindle4703]

Please post the 2009 Corvette ZR1 review!

[@corvetteZ3r]

Woooooooo yellow and Daytona sunset! Still mad at myself for selling my DSOM Z

[@TheWolfMatt]

I'd rather find one of these than spend 100k for a new C8Z any day of the week.

[@kevinlogan2306]

Excellent fit and finish 😂

[@KennyboyGM]

Lol. Gm interiors in the early 2000 are plastic bins. I owned a 2001 s-10. Cheap plastics everywhere

[@TL-pb6sz]

Only when compared to a C5 or any Chrysler product in 2006

[@FarmerDrew]

Now upload the one on the S197 Mustang

[@2dfx]

Hey Ben, don't suppose you could upload the 2006 STS-V video too?

[@PaweloZ28]

7.0 liter engine - small block. I love Murica

[@rj12345rj]

Individual piston brake pads? I’ve never heard of such a thing…

[@thefuzzypickle8277]

Yeah its pretty cool, they look like little baby pads. Watch one of my co workers change a set way back. Google them you'll see how they look.

[@carado1984]

A lot of people replace them with 1 pc.

[@emilianocruz11]

Keep going with Corvette retro review ❤❤❤

[@theKevronHarris]

I love the doubleheader of retro reviews!!!

[@jorgeluiscapiello414]

Still looking so good.

[@2F4R4W4Y]

To me the very last purest 'vette made. Remember C7 didn't get the LS7.

[@greasyhitchball]

LS7 is flawed, don't forget. An LT1, C7 Z51, is just as fast 0-60 as a C6 Zo6. The interior and available options are significantly better too.

[@2F4R4W4Y]

@greasyhitchball No doubt C7 was the gen that made vette world-class sports car. But since GM didn't do much to differ the Z06 from the ZR1 other than aero and brakes. C8 in other hands...

[@Commentleaver-c6x]

Are these good in the snow?

[@lukerinderknecht2982]

In before all the Boomers take over the comments 😅

[@douglasb.1203]

You go Milly!!! Nothing like being 'portent!

[@danziger69]

Not a Boomer and own one. If you think this is a Boomer Vette, you probably should learn some more about it.

[@canoedoc2390]

The C8 looks like an angry toaster on wheels; designed by a gen Z who grew up playing with Transformers. The C2 and the C6 were the high water marks for Corvette design.

[@sanharibtoma7652]

Come on guys 505 likes :)

[@vwsandvettes3253]

lol

[@XX-sl2ir]

FYI - 65k in 2006 is roughly the same as 98k in 2003.

[@KaayJaay]

Beautiful!!!!!!!

[@fijitears]

Don’t forget the New Balances! I’ll have a C5 or a C6 one day I promise.

[@gaddyify]

The only deal breaker for this car is. It was only offered with a manual transmission.

[@CJDavid-pe9ue]

Right, the CORRECT transmission for this car lol

[@ronaldn2962]

Amazing car.

[@AM-uk7jv]

C6 is peak Corvette.

[@danziger69]

I will never sell my 2009 Z06. 3100ish lbs, manual transmission and a high=revving NA V8. Cars like this are gone forever. Just FYI, with some basic bolt-ons and tune 500+rwhp is easily attainable. That plus some lightweight (carbon fiber if you have big money) wheels and modern tires equals ridiculous performance for the money.

[@danziger69]

He mistakenly says P235s out front. It's actually P275/35 out front.

[@vwsandvettes3253]

Yep I had a CAI and LG 1 7/8 LTs on mine. I never had it dynoed but thought it mighta made around 485 - 500 at the wheels.

[@danziger69]

@@vwsandvettes3253 With a 455rwhp average baseline, I think that is totally believable.

[@beemer345]

Would love to have a 427 edition. Then the ZR1.

[@josearteaga9667]

That lil hood scoop tho

[@dflet03]

My favorite vette

[@JJPMustang]

I didn’t like the C6 at all when it came out. Still don’t like the face but the rest has grown on me 👍🏻

[@terryspray2319]

Get the heads done!

[@CPAJayhawk]

These things were untouchable by anything domestic when new

[@sbinnala]

Shame the LS7 was the victim of suits and cost cutting. Finally exposed by the lead engineer in a forum post.

[@bcullen5417]

To my knowledge thats th3 Best Year i Fluyw at way up in 2 Myspac3

[@sliknik1025]

Front tires are 275, not 235!

[@StuPedassol]

What a beast

[@BryceCzirr-jz7ju]

06 C6 Z06 😈666🔥

[@srmurc6zo6]

The number of the beast! It never occurred to me.

[@BryceCzirr-jz7ju]

@@srmurc6zo6 Very fitting for this car

[@srmurc6zo6]

I agree. I call the 06z "The Caveman Corvette" as they are less refined than the later Zs.

[@BryceCzirr-jz7ju]

@@srmurc6zo6 I wouldn't say less refined I'd say more raw

[@schwiftyRican62]

Dream car ..

[@jrhlogan]

If its 7 liters, wouldn't that make it a big block? Im confused.

[@johndale8614]

Why no 1/4 mile time?

[@szh4494]

C6Z or C7GS?

[@vwsandvettes3253]

I would go C6Z all day long over the C7GS. The Z is raw and plain scary. The GS is refined and more a grand tourer.

[@maineiacman]

Are these under 10k yet?

[@sean92591]

In the junkyard yes

[@joshthemediocre7824]

It's crazy that you can find these Z06's for 20k, The stand alone chassis it uses makes worth well more than that. These are cars that you buy and hold onto, they will be priceless someday.

[@billsouza4457]

20k ? Where ?

[@CPAJayhawk]

Lol.. maybe one without a motor

[@danielfair4675]

Lol, you're not finding a c6 z06 anywhere from $20k - $29k, unless it's in a junkyard.

[@Dragunov302]

How is a 7 liter a small block

[@StrykerV8]

235s up front?? No way that's correct

[@ddarkknight13]

I heard the same thing ...lol, 275/35/18 in the front and 325/30/19 in the rear!

[@butchjohnson3953]

John Davis is the best

[@jhonsmith2150]

No 1320 times 🤔 ! 🤷🤦

[@vwsandvettes3253]

I think you're looking at between 11.6 and 11.8 in the 1/4, assuming DA is right and driver knows how to launch it. With no mod other than a set of drag radials these cars have gone low 11s even high 10s.

[@MetikalMan]

Peak Corvette.

[@jp23x]

So nice, too bad they shot up in value.

[@xxxpensive1415]

Did the commentator say the engine was a small block?😂

[@Mazak23]

He was telling the truth. The LS7 is actually a small block.

[@danziger69]

It is a small block. It still a LSx...

[@CPAJayhawk]

It is a small block

[@srmurc6zo6]

Big block and small block designations are not and have never been named by cylinder displacement.

[@tsnaha]

No 4 doors run that to 60....lol

[@mrslcom]

Too bad they use the same oversized steering wheel as the Chevy Cobalt.

[@robwwhit3453]

Cobalt got the Corvette steering wheel.

[@mrslcom]

Hahaha. So does all other Chevy sedans.

[@srmurc6zo6]

A Ford GT from the same era used a truck engine and interior parts from a Taurus. These things happen on production cars. What's your point?

[@BurtSampson]

The best engine Chevy ever made up until the new Z06 came out.

[@MarcBossYT]

Lightning McQueen?

[@mperformance3502]

Damn I’m old