Z06 vs GT350

[MCarsFan]

Has anyone driven both? What do you think? With the markups I am seeing for the GT350 and the crazy discounts Z06 has right now, they are about 5-10k apart plus you dont need to wait months for the Z06.

I drove Z06 and I really liked it, unfortunately I only saw a GT350 once and I dont think I will get to drive or sit in one. Although if there is a forum member around NJ/NY area, I would love to sit in your car.

I understand Z06 will be significantly faster and better all around car, but what I care is the visceral feeling and the overall connection to the car. I want to know if GT350 is louder and has a better engine note and how much worse it handles compared to the vette because it has a weight, tire, and downforce disadvantage.

Thanks.

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[braco427]

Has anyone driven both? What do you think? With the markups I am seeing for the GT350 and the crazy discounts Z06 has right now, they are about 5-10k apart plus you dont need to wait months for the Z06.

I drove Z06 and I really liked it, unfortunately I only saw a GT350 once and I dont think I will get to drive or sit in one. Although if there is a forum member around NJ/NY area, I would love to sit in your car.

I understand Z06 will be significantly faster and better all around car, but what I care is the visceral feeling and the overall connection to the car. I want to know if GT350 is louder and has a better engine note and how much worse it handles compared to the vette because it has a weight, tire, and downforce disadvantage.

Thanks.

There is a member here who has both. Hopefully he will chime in. I am curious of his opinion on the matter too.

 

[Rogue]

I'm not sure the Z06 is a "better" all around car - especially for track duty. I drove a Stingray Z51 and yes it was fantastic but no way I would take one over a GT350.

The new Stringray Grandsport is looking like the Corvette to purchase if you do go that route.

 

[superman07]

for the love of god don't get a base or tech pack if your going to track it, but then the Z06 has had cooling issues too especially with the auto. Not sure if they have them all worked out.

 

[Rogue]

for the love of god don't get a base or tech pack if your going to track it, but then the Z06 has had cooling issues too especially with the auto. Not sure if they have them all worked out.

There was a Z07 at my track day - he was complaining to me that he paid GM over 100,000 dollars and that he can't even get 3 laps - "happens everytime" throws codes and goes limp. He left NOLA in a fit after lunch time to go straight to the dealer and dump the car on their service department. The rest of us finished our track day with zero issues. (2 GT350 Track Pack and a 2014 Z28).

I even drove over 218 high speed miles immediately after the track day was over - no hiccups.

 

[MCarsFan]

Guys,

I studied both of these cars very well, I know what they are on paper and their issues. I know about track pack in gt350 and I know the issues Z06 has. I will track the car 2-3 times a year until I get more advanced.

What I care more is the way each car sound, overall connection and enjoyment, handling, steering response, brakes, etc. i know z06 ran VIR faster than Porsche spyder 918, I know z06 traps 8-9 mph higher in 1/4 mile. But part of me just cannot let go of the fact that z06 is just another american pushrod with 6500 rpm redline. The other part of me says regardless how amazing this vodoo engine is no car is worth sticker let alone over sticker. Paying $70,000 for a mustang is just insane.

 

[Donkey]

Guys,

I studied both of these cars very well, I know what they are on paper and their issues. I know about track pack in gt350 and I know the issues Z06 has. I will track the car 2-3 times a year until I get more advanced.

What I care more is the way each car sound, overall connection and enjoyment, handling, steering response, brakes, etc. i know z06 ran VIR faster than Porsche spyder 918, I know z06 traps 8-9 mph higher in 1/4 mile. But part of me just cannot let go of the fact that z06 is just another american pushrod with 6500 rpm redline. The other part of me says regardless how amazing this vodoo engine is no car is worth sticker let alone over sticker. Paying $70,000 for a mustang is just insane.

MSRP deals are definitely out there, ordered a 2016 today. Gave up a 2017 msrp allocation to my friend.

 

[garagelogic]

Guys,

I studied both of these cars very well, I know what they are on paper and their issues. I know about track pack in gt350 and I know the issues Z06 has. I will track the car 2-3 times a year until I get more advanced.

What I care more is the way each car sound, overall connection and enjoyment, handling, steering response, brakes, etc. i know z06 ran VIR faster than Porsche spyder 918, I know z06 traps 8-9 mph higher in 1/4 mile. But part of me just cannot let go of the fact that z06 is just another american pushrod with 6500 rpm redline. The other part of me says regardless how amazing this vodoo engine is no car is worth sticker let alone over sticker. Paying $70,000 for a mustang is just insane.

Nobody else can ever tell you anything that is not tainted by their own opinions, therefore, the only person who can determine which car is for you, is YOU!

 

[ohtobbad]

You can read bossing' thread
He owns both, has tracked both.
Gives great feed back

 

[Stuntman]

^agreed. Just depends on what YOU want. Having tracked both, they both sound great and handle better than 99% of the owners out there, but if tracking and becoming a better driver with troublefree laps is important to you, then go with a 350 Track Pack or R. If tracking is secondary to street/daily driving, both have magnaride, active exhausts, are too fast for the street, so decide if you want a supercharged vette or a unique FPC Mustang.

 

[MCarsFan]

When I drove the vette, it didnt sound very loud to me for some reason. Is gt350 louder? My M5 has eisenmann race exhaust and my car (I know how funny this sounds) was louder than z06. Salesman did not believe me first and was suprises after listening my car.

If I could buy R at sticker or even 5k over, we wouldnt be having this discussion but I m afraid I cannot get one for 2 years.

 

[MCarsFan]

^agreed. Just depends on what YOU want. Having tracked both, they both sound great and handle better than 99% of the owners out there, but if tracking and becoming a better driver with troublefree laps is important to you, then go with a 350 Track Pack or R. If tracking is secondary to street/daily driving, both have magnaride, active exhausts, are too fast for the street, so decide if you want a supercharged vette or a unique FPC Mustang.

I agree with you but which is a better car? And why is corvette better if I want to track less and street drive more? Isnt gt350 better street car simply because its more practical? I could seat 4 people in it and it has a bigger trunk. Corvette is a useless car for practicality purposes.

 

[krt22]

THey are both far from practical, only kids and miniature adults can fit in the back seat if you are taller than 5'10". The Z06 actually prob gets better fuel mileage as well, but you are correct the mustang trunk is pretty generous.

"Better" is really a relative term, the GT350 was the better car for me, pricing aside. Id be more inclined to cross shop the new C7 Grand Sport, but have a feeling the GT350 would still win out based on motor sound and dynamic alone

The Z06 has a beast of a motor (track reliability aside), there isnt much you can do fully utilize all that power, on the street or even at the track unless you are a very advanced driver.

 

[MCarsFan]

Define "better". The Z06 is prone to overheating, although Manuals seem to be more stout on track than the autos, and there seems to be a freak handul of autos that don't overheat in a lap or two. The vette would be "better" on the street because it has more, low end torque and grunt due to the supercharger, but the 350 sounds really good zinging to 8,250rpm. The small rear seats don't make the 350 very much more practical than the Z06. It all depends...

Let's ignore overheating for a second for 2 reasons. a) I am novice when it comes to tracking and I am probably a few years away from being able to overheat a corvette and b) I wont go for auto.

Better :

* Sound
* Steering
* Road connection
* Feeling connected to the car
* Seating position
* Braking
* Grip
* Ability to enjoy the car in country backroad driving
* Practicality

I understand GT350 sounds very different and I guess everyone agrees it sounds better, but my worry is it having a muscle car root (I am not calling it a muscle car), it is rather large, seating position may not be ideal, and it may feel rather "bloated" (relatively speaking). Corvette is the size of a 911 which is as small as you really want to get in that car segment.

 

[Bossing]

My ears were ringing... must be a sensitive topic.

This one will be full of opinions by different parties.... fair game as everyone is entitled to theirs. I have both and owned the Z06 since 12/4/14 and prior to the Z I had the C7 Z51 Stingray since Oct 2013.

I actually posted this same feedback in the Camaro6 forum so I'll just repost here. But just to add I have a manual Z06 with 13 track events to date of which 10 with zero issues but lately I have a malfunctioning boost sensor and poor intake air performance that's throwing a DTC or two. GM is addresing it favorably for me and yes they know I track it hard & fast. They even gave me a data logger in order to try to get to the root cause. And before anyone says the 350 is bulletproof... keep in mind it's too early in the game to claim. IMO a near-bulletproof car are the Porsche GT3 variants.

This is what I posted in C6 so just duplicating it here..... my opinion and I like both cars alot.

(Originally posted by Stingray.... this is me over there):
Yeah it sounds great! My Z06 is clearly faster/quicker but this GT350 sounds absolutely insane and exotic-like... and honestly it's a bit more fun to drive since it's more raw. It puts the power down well and the turn-in is really good. It feels lighter than it is... I'm amazed but on that note it's still not GT3/GT4 like in terms of balance or even C7-like.. it's close though. I haven't driven the new SS or 1LE yet but I did own a Z51 Stingray and currently the Z06 so I'll compare it to that. I also owned a 5th gen Camaro SS (45th anniv L99) since new but it's unfair to even bring that into the picture. That's like Curry vs. a normal Joe on the court...

First big difference is it's still a tall heavy car but as a whole I give the GT350 an A- grade performance-wise which I'll explain later... and then a B+ grade for the rest that's not power-related due to the lack of features/amenities when compared to what GM gives you because in terms of technology, the C7 and 6th gen Camaros are almost similar now. The best feature is the PDR hands down especially once you analyze your track metrics via Cosworth Toolbox and then also the PTM modes and better DIC/Infotainment features. The Shelby lacks that but what's a cool and useful feature is the configurable head-up display shift lights. Love it... better than GM's shift lights in the HUD.

And the new Recaros are great... I wish I could put them in my C7. One thing I really like in the GT350 is I can toggle-on the MagRide setting to Normal while in other high-performance driving modes (such as Sport, Track, or Drag) but in the C7 you cannot do that. If you want to be in Normal damping, you have to be in the non-Sport or non-Track modes in the C7. In the GT350's MagRide configurable options, you can change nearly any of the modes à la carte. It may be minor to some but IMO that's better versatility when you're not on the track. I can be in Sport driving mode but Normal damping... no can do on the C7.

The only drawback powerwise on the GT350 albeit minor is you have to keep it in the sweet rpm spot (basically 4k or higher) for you to see powerful pull. The LT1/LT4 torque has the advantage here but the Voodoo revs to the moon so the top end is very strong. Two different engine characters anyway. That's why for me I graded it as an A- because I have been so used to the LT4 torque. The bigger limiting factor at least for my skill level is I need stickier tires! The stock MPSS grips well but I can't push it faster or harder into and out of corners like I can with my Z06 which has Cup 2's. Tires with more grip will transform the balance to R-like and delete the slight understeer the GT350 has. That's my next step... very light wheels with either R-comps or scrubs.

As for braking, absolutely zero complaints. The best non-CCB brakes period. Yes, even just as good or better than the Z06's. It's very strong when needed and it's consistent and also has a direct linear modulation... so it's accurate and spot on all the time. No fade, no nothing... no mush, no gray area.

E-diff on the C7 is better in terms of taking over to keep you "on the race line" but the Torsen in the Shelby is still pretty good. You just have to hone your skills on turn-ins and exits and both diffs puts power down well anyway. That's probably why I enjoy it more because it is more raw and requires more skill to step up in increments. Basically it's easier to go from 7/10ths to 8/10ths in the C7 than it is in the Shelby. For example at Sebring as well as other tracks, I have to drive the GT350 more different than how I drive the C7 lap per lap. I actually am getting to like it because it's forcing me to develop raw hpde skills more. The e-diff and PTM is akin to Cliff Notes if I can use that analogy.

Basically the C7 can make any driver look fast since the transparent tech greatly helps, but the GT350 requires you to really harness and put into play your skills on the track... I guess this is also why so many Porsche GT3 guys like it as well. Every track venue I have been to... every experienced Porsche track rat wants one or has one on order already. Go to Rennlist and you'll see...

Anyway I hope this helps... they did a good job with this GT350. I'm sure the new 1LE as well as future ZL1 or Z/28 that may/will come out is going to even the playing field or step it up so to speak but so far I'm happy with the GT350 Track Pack. I'd love to have an R but the ADM's are crazy... I'll keep trying though. And I do wish I can track a 1LE for kicks and feedback... it's a closer apples-to-apples comparison instead of comparing with my Z06. I lap the Z06 at least 3 secs faster at PBIR but that's a given considering 2 totally different cars.​

YMMV. Carry on.... :cheers:

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