My only point in initiating this thread was to point out that the new ZO6 is less expensive than the cheapest 911 and faster than the most expensive 911.

Stephan

Yeah, but I bet the Porsche is more profitable. And isn't that what Porsche is all about these days? ;)
-Chris

The thing that is disappointing is this:

One knows dang well that the new Z06 will not go for anywhere close to sticker.......price difference removed. Damn.

I've got a couple of Porsches, and I obviously love them. But, I feel the need for BIG horsepower. I'd like to own a brute, I guess. I'm aware of the shortcomings, but I have 4 other sports to drive when the urge hits - 4 of the best handling cars ever built. My wife likes driving Vipers, so that's in the mix, along with the Z06, Ford GT, and a handful of others. I also have the fitment problem - I'm 6'4". The "winner" will probably be the car with >450 hp that I can actually drive.

Believe me, I thought about the "Gurney bubble" which has been replicated in the Ford GT he received for his birthday... I guess Phil Remington did the work (a bit nicer than a sledge, IMO)

Not sure I agree. The Fiero was first off a commuter car that was to use as many off the shelf parts as possible. It then evolved into a sportier car only to be killed by the MR2 and bad press from early model engine fires. Nothing to do with Corvette concept or evolution.

The prototype/concepts that I'm referring to are below...some of which looked to be very close to production..... (sorry for the hijack)

From http://www.idavette.net/prototyp.htm



1968 Astro II-XP-880
http://www.idavette.net/cars/xp880.jpg




1970 Corvette XP-882
http://www.idavette.net/cars/xp882p.jpg




1976 XP-882 - Aerovette
http://www.idavette.net/cars/76aero.jpg



Cerv III / Indy
http://www.idavette.net/cars/cerv3.gif

That's one story I heard too. But IIRC, Road and Track stated that the Fiero was beginning to compete with the Corvette in performance, and GM simply wouldn't have that, particularly from a car with, as you say, a commuter history to it.

Unless you put a Ferrari body kit on them, and then they are cool. ;)

Rick,

The 1976 XP-882 - Aerovette design looks very similiar to the Delorean DMC-12. Is this something John Delorean worked on before going out on his own? Anybody know.

FYI - Those prototype vettes were also Rotary powered. The XP-882 had a 4 Rotor engine in it. I have a whole page in my RX-7 coffee table book about GM's experiments with the Rotary. The Vega* was supossed to be rotary powered but GM ditched it because of the emission laws of '74. They could not get the engine to burn clean.


I drove a Z-06 during fun runs at an Autocross. I sat in the car thinking about all the things I have read on the internet and in car magazines about how amazing this car is. Nothing short of an American miracle.

I expected way more than the car gave. Yes, it was pretty strong and it turned o.k. but it was not what I was expecting. I found it to feel rather large and cumbersome.

In defense of that Z-06, I had just driven a supercharged Miata with 320RWHP and it was nothing short of amazing. It felt like my RX-7 except smaller and more nimble. It blew me away and made me want to own one right then and there. After that drive the Z-06 was just o.k.


**edit** not Monza, Vega

But did you drive the new one....?

They certainly have a great ad agency these days:
 

He didn't drive a new one--nobody but the press has, outside of GM. Must have been a 2001 or 2002, which were C5-based and were simply an LS6 engine in place of the LS1 in an otherwise-standard C5. the new ZO6 is an entirely new car, made of aluminum and magnesium with carbon fiber front fenters and a totally different engine (LS7).

Stephan

Tack on about 10-15k for actual price from the dealer.......unfortunately.

Yes, I know :)

Dave - do you still have your Lotus? BTW: I took a former Corvette C5 (non-Z06) owner for a ride in my '04 M3 last night. About the time I went sideways in 2nd gear he said ' why would anybody buy a Corvette when they could have this for the same money?'. That said, I love the C6 although I could never see myself buying one for some reason??? -- Curt

BTW: my M3 is for sale. 2004, carbon black, SMG, 28K miles.

A friend recently let me drive her 2001 vette. Some serious torque there...quite a fast car. What I found most strange was the console and thus the stick shift was positioned way too high. And I also found myself wanting to shift at only 3k rpm. The car dam near sounded and felt like it was redlining at only 3k rpm!
My 911 is much more exciting to drive.

Fits into the "arse for every saddle" category ;-)

Now that's funny.

Put stuff like that in the next book...

Stopped by the local dealer yesterday.

Most dealerships are getting 1 maybe (if they are BIG) 2 of the '06 ZO6. Like Craig said dealer markup is going to be BIGGG.

I don't buy cars that cost over MSRP so I won't be driving one.
(I still laugh at the the poor saps who bought PT Cruisers at $5K over msrp locally)

Close to the cost of a 997 I suspect when all is said and done if they are that limited.

Also heard from the sales manager about the "new" limited edition ZO6 already in the works.. only something like 150 being built with 600+hp and similar torque numbers. Only one reason is the word from GM...to own the Ring.

No I did not, but, just like the ones of old a lot of hype is being thrown around about it. So once again it is an engineering miracle.

I will get an opportunity to toss one around eventually. Most people at the autocross love to trade rides with me and I have no problem sharing. I have had to opportunity to drive a lot of interesing cars over the years.

**edit**

I do not like Corvettes. I have had to battle them in the SCCA in AX for years with rules scewed in their favor. In ASP they were permitted to have 250+ more HP than I. In BP where I could match their HP and whoopup on them the SCCA hit me with weight penalties due to an RX-7 kicking butt at the national level. So, yeah, I am not a huge fan of Vettes and root for the M-3's and Turbo Porsches and RX-7's to win in SS every year. Unfortunatly there are usually 50+ Covettes in SS every year so the chances of a lone M-3 or Porsche winning are pretty slim.