C8 Z06 vs C8 Z51 Track Comparison & Analysis | Does the C8 Z06 Transmission suck?

Go to Speed Phenom's channel to check him out: / speedphenom
Does the new C8 Z06 have a disappointing gearbox? Are the gears too long? Is the Z06 not that much faster than the C8 Z51? Let's answer those questions.
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[@jesseorourke1317]

Something that I think a lot of people are misunderstanding is that the zo6 doing laps was not being driven at full pace. What was recorded was warm-up laps and there's a disclaimer in speed phenoms video that it is not 10/10th driving. On public streets a normal c8 is more than enough but on a track you're kidding yourself if you think there's any competition between the two.

[@JerryCecco]

$106k....you wish........Z07 is $180k before ADMs.....hearing $100k ADM making this $280k+ car....FAILURE

[@frankbeans2175]

I just rented a z51 stingray for a day. Holy shit that thing is fast. I can't imagine the z06 being too much better to justify the cost difference

[@FlyinGato]

Honestly, if I could get the Z06, replace the engine with the LT2, and sell it for 80K base price, that would be it right there.

[@Howdy762]

@@FlyinGato how? the engine of the z06 is the most impressive thing about it.

[@FlyinGato]

It is, but I’m cheap, I’m likely spending 120k to get my Z06

[@LuisDiaz-gq2nf]

@@FlyinGato that’s how much I spent for my 2021 c8 3Lt convertible

[@shanksta81]

I have hit 2.7 seconds with my stock Z51. I do not see the value in the Z06 compared to the Z51.

[@g4do]

Thinking a little further than most , knowing how the engine in the C8 z06 takes in air gives me the giggles . It takes in twice the air naturally aspirated than regular V8's . A turbocharger would give you 200 hp in lower boost settings and would increase torque significantly. The Z06 is a tuner's delight. Yes it's worth the price. It most definitely is. It's actually a bargain.

[@thereissomecoolstuff]

His name is Austin and it's Speed Pheeeenom come on man

[@johnshuler1396]

Enjoyed your video, but have to call you out! I attended the Ron Fellows performance driving school after purchasing my c8. I'll tell you straight up that we were encouraged to do our own shifting in the track mode when we were out on the track!

[@FlyinGato]

It’s not necessarily bad, and it is more fun, I could see that.

[@jorgemunoz8335]

Totally agree! A car can’t predict what’s coming. You can definitely set the car up better than the computer.

[@Turbo329]

As a Track Rat, I'm going to be honest, in that opening video, while the ratios appear shorter, that straight at Laguna Seca is uphill. You can't really go by that. Find another press video with the Z06 acceleration to make your comparison. The issue I have with the C8-Z06 is that the Torque figures are underwhelming. It's a very high strung engine and it will be difficult to drive fast and on the limit. It will be a 'momentum car'. My gut tells me that they have not been able to hit that Sub 7 minute Nurburgring time. With that said, the gearing on the Z06 may not be too long. The car is nearly 200hp stronger than the base C8. It might be just right and also taking into account fuel economy and emissions as you stated in the vid. It's a completely different car with 750lbs of downforce, racing suspension, steering calibration, and a bunch of other things to list. Now for most of us, it is more about bragging rights than anything else. However, as far as the ability of the car the Z06 is head and shoulders above the base C8.

[@richarddobreny6664]

I think that GM would be bragging already about a Ring time under 7 seconds. All that aero is holding the car back, they should have put active aero on the car and make it tuneable to the track you’re on, high downforce in the hard turns and less on the straights, instead of max downforce all the time, just think of an F-14 fighter jet ( as they like to make comparisons)

[@sonydominates]

It's a high revving V8, so it probably makes up for the torque with rpm. If the torque numbers are low, but it revs high, I'd argue that's better for the track, but worse for street driving

[@justsomerandomguyman]

Head and shoulders above a stock C8, yes, but start modifying the stock C8 and you will likely be able to get even more performance out of it for the price Z06s are going for. You can buy widebody kits that are even wider already. So, matching or exceeding the wheels & tires isn't going to be a problem. Then, if you add forced induction, your power capability is going to be well above the Z06.

[@CanadianSpeedster]

The C8 Z06 wasn’t driven to its max potential, the stingray was. Also, the Z06 had the extra weight of a passenger, the stingray didn’t. From seeing that, I feel like it’s going to be a beast. It just keep pulling.

[@bens3641]

looking forward to seeing a C8 vs C8 Z06 video on a track, no holds barred. Havent found one yet, and me thinks the reason is......there aint THAT much difference....we'll see.

[@StupidFastTruck]

Great job on the video. If the difference is $40K yes its worth it....Unfortunately that's not the world we live in, it appears getting an MSRP deal will be few an far between with markups into the 6 figures. (Insane!)

[@mikewatch1487]

Top 5 Chevy dealerships are at MSRP. I have it in writing from Ciocca the largest C8 dealership

[@FlyinGato]

What number are you? I’m 962. Also number 4 at my original Corvette dealer

[@martinheath9973]

Both cars are better than 98% of the drivers who will own them and 98% of these cars are only going to be driven on the streets so it really doesn't matter which one is supposedly faster. Driven hard on the streets and either one of them will get you one of three things, in jail, in the morgue or in the hospital.

[@sh3755]

I think for a long lasting daily with low maintenance, the stingray is the best choice. That 6.2 is a very good motor. The Z06 is cooler for sure but if it's my money I'm going with a car that is going to last me a long time and the stingray fits that bill

[@FlyinGato]

I might be rethinking my Z06 choice, using a 120k dollar sports car to run around town might not be the smartest idea, but I’ll have to see, I may be back in a stingray before long

[@sh3755]

@@FlyinGato I know what you mean, I just don't think the z06 gives you that much more for the upcharge that people are going to pay and since it's a new engine you really don't know what your getting, the stingray is fast enough and for the majority of owners they will never go fast.I know where I live you can't really open it up many places and we don't have any tracks to race around.

[@markdavid4897]

S h Another issue: your car insurance will not cover the costs of a crash on a track.

[@gerrydave7586]

Seems to me, with the ripoff going on on Z06s the Z51 C8 is fine. Also don’t know about mechanical longevity on Z06…

[@markdavid4897]

Since the release of NESARA is nearly here, a new consumption tax 25% is added to all new vehicles. If you’re going to buy one, better do it soon.

[@justsomerandomguyman]

You're seriously off saying that leaving it in auto will produce faster lap times. Skilled drivers are always going to use manual shifting. Look at any time attack driver using DCTs or the 8HP auto found in BMWs and the A90 Supra. They're all manually shifting for more precise control.

[@goonthreegtr]

I had a 2023 m2 and in auto it sucks. I also have a 2022 c8 stingray and (2) c8z06s and I leave it in auto on track and they do just fine. my feeling is even pro driver, you ain't going to gain much (less than .3s) but manual shifting. I have already went thru 3 + sets of tires on stingray and z cars. on a small track 10 turn 1.6 mi track, the stingray with good track tire like 3r can hang and possible beat z06 on oem 4s tires. driven on different days but my best in stingray on goodyear 3r is faster than z06 on 4s. for me the stingray is much easier to drive than z06

[@Pmtd1234]

Trying to determine anything from the Ron Fellows video does not make sense. That was not run maxed out. By all measures the Z06 is significantly faster. Unfortunately we do not have the firm Nurburgring time on the Z06 yet. However, we do have that it did 7:12 in traffic, we also have Jim Mero saying that the C8 Z06 should be 12-14 seconds faster than the C7 Z06 which should puts the C8 Z06 around 7 minutes. Now compare that to the C8 Stingray at 7:29.9. Then 0-60 Stingray 2.9, Z06 2.6, 1/4 mile Stingray 11.2, Z06 10.6. I was actually considering the C8 Stingray, so I could get back to running at Road Atlanta until I watched Austin (Speed Phenom) at the track. It looked like the car did well but when the McLaren, Porsche, and C7 Z06 passed him, I decided to wait on the C8 Z06. My last track car was a custom built C5R-427.

[@shanksta81]

GM says 2.9 for the Z51 but I can hit 2.7 consistently. I’m not sure if the z06 is the same, but for the price difference, I do not see the value for an average driver.

[@Pmtd1234]

@@shanksta81 I agree. IMHO the Z06 is a waste of $$$ unless you do track days where you can actually use the performance advantages of the Z06. When you look at published track results between the Z06 and the Stingray there is a significant difference.

[@LastCallDemon170]

I just think there are too many unknown variables to know whether it is worth it. I guess we will find out sooner or maybe MUCH later. When will he get his car?

[@Howdy762]

ytes leaving the trans im auto is fastest and best. additionally, the z06 is worth it to me just for the engine and not the looks. that is a VERY impressive engine. while the TQ is lacking it is still the most powerful NA V8.

[@rjung_ch]

Good morning Elias, nice to catch a video from you!

[@FlyinGato]

Good morning bud! yea I'll be going live this week to catch everyone up. No one told me having a baby will change your life! Everything is going well and I finally have some time to dedicate to making videos again, I'll take it where I can find it :)

[@rjung_ch]

@@FlyinGato nobody told you that? Well, it's for real, family does take a toll on your free time, something to embrace and cherish, the kids grow up sooo very fast. Enjoying it is more important than anything else (at least for the next decade or two) 🙂

[@saeed5853]

One clear reason for the wide ratio that they are using the same transmission with the same ratio of stingray so they can keep the price reasonable. They only changed the final gear ratio.

[@FlyinGato]

I agree, it's likely the same transmission, but I really don't like the final drive being changed to make the gears longer. 100MPH at the top of 3rd gear is way too much, it's almost as if they're trying to copy Porsche and their long gearing

[@saeed5853]

One thing I have to mention that the exiting speed of that corner was in favor of stingray by almost 10 mph. Z06 start to accelerate 10 mph slower than stingray and end up with 6 mph faster. Clearly Z06 can reach 140mph in that section if it took that corner faster with early full throttle acceleration.

[@FlyinGato]

yea it's quite a bit faster for sure, Speed Phenom was MOVING in his C8 Stingray, Ron Fellows was doing fun laps for sure

[@yourgrandmasalzheimerpills1143]

Well otw hard to actually judge this because it wasn’t going incredibly hard. However the shift from 3-4 and the rev hang made me really cringe. Something is definitely up.

[@gtrzero2157]

@@yourgrandmasalzheimerpills1143 I really hope they sorted out that dct, it did sound a bit lazy on the upshifts. Cheers

[@gtrzero2157]

I don't think the gearing is too long in the z06. my 570s which runs a similar 1/4 mile also hit 100 in 3rd, I'm pretty sure lambo and r8 hit 100 in 3rd as well. It's pretty common with that kind of power to hit higher speeds in a lower gear. Cheers!!!

[@FlyinGato]

Fair enough, it's just that to me, since it has 8 gears, why not use the first 4 before you hit 100, then 5 and 6 can be used to reach 150, 7 can reach 175 and 8 should "reach" 205.

[@gtrzero2157]

@@FlyinGato yeah I hear ya, I'm looking forward to when the embargo is up so we can actually see what this car can do. Cheers

[@c8z06vitoria]

No it’s not worth the extra money, the C8 stingray is a beast and excellent car, plus the LT2 engine is bulletproof, while the new LT7 we will have to see, plus it basically looks the same especially the interior is exactly the same, yes the Z06 is a beast, but is it worth all the extra, for me it’s not at all

[@saeed5853]

Z06 was warming not even in 1/2 of its potential.. I cannot judge the transmission performance from a sound..

[@FlyinGato]

I'm fairly certain it wasn't in track mode.

[@rjung_ch]

You should make some videos in FL and how you're doing there as well soon, if possible. BTW, I've watch some video on the C8 on the Nürburgring, they were all blown away by it. Out of the box a great car. The C8 Z06 should top it, if it ever ships to Europe some day....

[@FlyinGato]

Yep, once I finish going through all of the footage I have (Type R coilover testing, Type R at NCM for Time Trial Nationals, endurance racing an RX-7, moving vlogs) I'll start filming and releasing videos from my rural town in Florida

[@FlyinGato]

oh and I saw Misha drive the C8 at the Nürburgring, C8 Stingray can definitely hold its own

[@rjung_ch]

@@FlyinGato that's the video I was referring to. Yes, he liked it alot.

[@rawwwwable]

Not for people like me who don’t track

[@FlyinGato]

I think the stingray with the mag ride is SO good if you don't plan to track it.

[@z06ix]

Yes, I thought the shifting from 3 third gear on was not as fast or should be on the Z06?

[@FlyinGato]

On the first lap, Ron Fellows redlined 3rd gear, hit the limiter, and then shifted after, which made the shift sound delayed. The transmission shifts much better when left in Auto mode.

[@robertmontgomery7158]

We’re you going over 100 mph on a public road! If you were shame on you.

[@Greatgoku4]

In track its faster to have fast shifting dual clutches but set to manual than auto. Helps with getting perfect corner entry and exits and best speeds and theres a consistency factor to it...I Hate misinformation so plz know about track driving before you say it's faster to leave it on auto

[@FlyinGato]

What I meant by that comment is that the transmission will shift much faster, in my experience, when left in auto, since it can prepare for the shift. Though, in my experience, leaving the ZL1 1LE gearbox in auto felt better than having me manage the shift points for a 10 speed gearbox. Also, Andy Pilgrim and Andy Pobst both agree that leaving good transmissions, like the PDK, or these dual clutches, in auto mode, will net faster lap times since the car knows when to shift gears better than the driver can discern.

[@Greatgoku4]

@@FlyinGato I guess they aren't that used to driving on the limit shifting manually using fast dual clutches like pdk...it's just standard practice because during hotlaps you can't always keep an eye on speedometer or be consistently accurate every time during corner entry or mid corners to be in the perfect speed when the gear is shifting itself. With manual you can remember which gear each given corner requires for corner entry, transitions and exits. I know it's an extra effort or something you have to focus on but it helps get faster times with more perfect laps. I'm talking when you're that good every hundredths of a second matter This is how you get elite laps. Also your transmission downshifting or upshifting does shift the balance of the car, sometimes it upsets a car mid corner but before corner entry downshifting into right gear props it up for the perfect turn in and maintain that poise.

[@FlyinGato]

you're absolutely spot on there, I find myself upshifting from time to time before a high speed corner so that the car doesn't shift in the middle of that corner, as it can upset the car. Otherwise, though, I leave it in auto and pull the paddle when necessary.

[@geoffdavies2013]

Z06 will eat a standard c8

[@geoffdavies2013]

No comparison

[@loopba]

a video of a video 😅