Anyone here owned a Corvette C6 ? (and tracked it?)
 

Don't read this wrong. I'm a dyed-in-the-wool german car kinda guy. I own nothing but european cars. Each time I strayed, I regretted it...

But... Having recently sold a 996 (impressive power and handling), and having had a chance to drive a friend's "used" $30K Corvette C6, I must say I am pretty impressed by the tupperware wonder... And it did not even have the magnetic suspension doodad !

$30K buys you over 400 HP, gobs of torque, an incredible 30 mpg on the freeway, and some toys like keyless ignition and a Head up Display. Also a so-so interior, but not as bad as say, a mustang's. REviews have all said the car is much better than previous generations....

So I am curious...(no defection plans, just curious) Couldn't you in theory pick up such a car, upgrade the suspension and brakes for a few thousands, put light sports seats in it, and have a beast of a track car that gives 996s/997s of the same era(ish) a run for their money for $20K less ?

Not trolling I swear, I am wondering if anyone out there went that route before returning to Porsche ;-)

Yes! although at sebring you will cook the brakes on the stock c6. You will have lots of fun getting there.

Oh, and the stock C6 has a dead center steering a mile wide. Makes going into 17 a little less than reassuring.

i watched "beyond ZO6"(on its c/fiber rear wingus chingus) wailing down firebird east track and then get eaten alive in the twisties by the p-cars. and then once again on the straights wailing..........I MEAN WAILING, like bob marley and the wailers hauling buns and then repeat the p-cars ate him in the twisties over and over and over. this was a barely street legal carbon fibered MOFO full race winged god d!+*%m-it version.

I spent a day at Mosport with a bone stock C6. Awful. You'll never see top speed if the turn at the end of the straight requires anything less than 120mph entry speed, because the brakes can't handle it. The steering is light but overly responsive and jittery. No grip with the stock tires, whatever POS they are.

HOWEVER...

The choice for track-prepping is the C6, because you replace so much, that there's no point in buying the Z06 (which incidentally is a MUCH better car on the track, stock). My dad's looking at prepping a vette and everyone he's spoken to so far advises starting with the C6 and going from there.

i love the smell of burnt brakes, napalm,race fuel,jet "A", early in the morning!

The driver probably sucked.

They rock. Z06s are really amazing.

I have one, and I find that the cars abilities far surpass mine. Actually the car is so competent that it makes it uneventful until you are at some serious speed.

My 911 is a blast at 30mph....

Got a ride at Willow Springs a while back in a Z06. A good ride and a fast lap, but seemed like a limo compared to my '71 S. Now that I have the '88 Carrera, I'm somewhere in between.

Make no mistake, the C6 vette is a very capable track car -- and, you can't beat it for the money. My father has one and I've done about 1000 miles in it. Things don't get exciting unless you're doing well over legal speeds. While I respect the numbers it puts up and it's abilities, it just seems to lack soul.

Cool, thanks, good range of opinions...

I think that if you were to spend $5K in brake and suspension upgrades, you probably could have a pretty cool track car out of one. Not in my future right now, but I'll keep the door open...

Lack of soul ? I heard that said about the 996 too and I loved mine, so I'll have to drive one in anger to judge... Those modern cars are just so competent that it takes Hurley Haywood to use them at 100%. I too prefer driving my old cars on track, but now and then, a modern car is fun too because you don't need to drive your mirrors ;-) As much as we're on track to learn and improve, a good kick in the butt and a few horsepower passes don't hurt either from time to time...

Wouldn't the Z06 still be the choice since it has an all aluminum frame vs. steel for the regular c6?

In two years I think I'll get a 08 Zo6 as my next track /D.D. toy.

Both are aluminum.

The driver definitely sucked!

All I've learned from this thread is that landshark owners wish they had bought Corvettes, and are jealous of 911s.

OK, makes sense ;)

Z-06 'vettes are great cars if you like Corvettes, but why not a used 996 coupe for ~$20k w/ some miles on it and then upgrade? Turbo brakes are $1k on eBay used when they come up, race seats about the same, roll bar ditto, full H&R suspension $2k new, gut some weight out and put light exhaust and wheels on, etc...

Or do the same on a 993 or earlier 911. Just whatever floats your boat. The only 'vettes that give me wood are 1962-1967.

My only knock against 911's is the way they look in the rear view mirror.

I had tivo'ed the ferrari and Corvette edition of Ultimate factories. On that show they showed the two different frames and said that the Zo6 was aluminum vs. steel for the standard corvette. I just assumed since it was on tv it must be true. :D

Properly sorted 928 race chassis - $12,500

Fresh track motor with oiling mods - $10k

New set of R compounds - $900

Passing GT3's and C6's at Road Atlanta ; PRICELE$$