Originally Posted by
Jordan Y.
I found the ZR1 to be somewhat disappointing. All that power and they aren't any faster than a $30000 cheaper Z06. A month or two ago I went looking for some blazing fast stock and bolt-on 1/4 times just out of curiosity, to see what they could do. I knew that the Z06s had hit 10's stock with absolute perfect conditions and drivers, so I figured mid-low 10's for the ZR1. I ended up on a Corvette forum and started reading and it turns out that even with some of those same badass drivers no ZR1 had run faster than a Z06 stock for stock. The Z06s even trapped faster. Never found out exactly why, but I think the car couldn't get the extra power down through the fancy suspension, along with the extra weight. Even the bolt-on cars were struggling in the mid 10's for the most part.
Speed isn't always measured in a straight line. Qjuarter miles times don't mean crap on a roadcourse, which is what the ZR1's primary function is, oh and being civil enough to drive around town in too.
As far as comparing 1/4 mile times and trap speeds with a Z06 here is what Popular Mechanics had to say;
The ZR1 hits 60 mph in 3.70 seconds, 100 mph in 7.80 seconds, 150 mph in 16.61 seconds and it blows through the quarter mile in 11.50 seconds at 127.82 mph. Imagine what it would do with a pair of slicks.
For comparison, the last Z06 we tested hit 60 mph in 4.37 seconds and tore through the quarter-mile in 12.00 seconds flat at 120.90 mph. So with the right driver, the ZR1 has at least a half-second on a Z06 in the quarter-mile.
Link:
2009 Corvette ZR1 Track Test Drive Numbers: Super Vette Lives Up to Hype - Popular Mechanics
So while its only .5 quicker on the strip, the ZR1 is fast enough around a race track to humble million dollar super cars. Something the Z06 is also capable of, just not quite as big of a margin. Is that worth $30k more? For someone that has enough bills to throw around it might be.
Also....since when is turning 10's in the quarter mile "struggling." Any civil street car that can turn 10's with just bolt ons would be considered badass in my book.
Back on topic...I like the GS. Its okay I guess. Certainly better than the "sticker package" on the last GS in '96.