(photo by Kurt Niebuhr)
Like all of our Long Term Road Test vehicles, our resident Senior, the 2002 Chevy Corvette Z06 hit the test track as a sort of "welcome" party.
You've no doubt seen the results of our Corvettemageddon face-off: C5 Z06, C6 Grand Sport and C6 Z06 Carbon (droooool). For now, we're going to focus not on the yellow monster that tugs at my heartstrings, but on our 2002 Z06.
Follow the jump for complete Track Tested results, comments and video!
Vehicle: 2002 Chevy Corvette Z06
Odometer: 46,174
Date: 05/04/10
Driver: Chris Walton
Specifications:
Drive Type: Rear-wheel drive
Transmission Type: Six-speed manual
Engine Type: V8
Displacement (cc/cu-in): 5,665cc (346 cu-in)
Redline (rpm): 6,500
Horsepower (hp @ rpm): 405 @ 6,000
Torque (lb-ft @ rpm): 400 @ 4,800
Brake Type (front): 12.6-inch Ventilated disc
Brake Type (rear): 11.8-inch ventilated disc
Steering System: Speed-proportional power steering
Suspension Type (front): Independent double wishbones, leaf spring, monotube dampers, stabilizer bar
Suspension Type (rear): Independent double wishbones, leaf spring, monotube dampers, stabilizer bar
Tire Size (front): P265/40ZR17 91Y
Tire Size (rear): P295/35ZR18 91Y
Tire Brand: Goodyear
Tire Model: Eagle F1 Supercar
Tire Type: Summer
Wheel Size: 17-by-9.5 inches front; 18-by-10.5 inches rear
Wheel Material (front/rear): Cast-spun Alloy
As Tested Curb Weight (lb): 3,116
Test Results:
0-30 (sec): 2.2
0-45 (sec): 3.2
0-60 (sec): 4.5
0-75 (sec): 6.2
1/4 Mile (sec @ mph): 12.5 @ 116.1
0-60 with 1-ft Rollout (sec): 4.2
30-0 (ft): 29
60-0 (ft): 120
Slalom (mph): 68.8 TC off; 68.6 TC on
Skid Pad Lateral Acceleration (g): 0.92 TC ON; 0.91 TC off
Db @ Idle: 56.8
Db @ Full Throttle: 90.3
Db @ 70 mph Cruise: 77.1
Acceleration Comments: As usual, launching a Corvette isn't particularly difficult UNLESS its rear tires are beat (nearly to the wear bars). As such, the launch requires more finesse to achieve the optimal wheelspin/chatter without boiling the rubber. Shifter feels not just heavy, but also binding and as if it needs some sort of lube thrown down the shift boot and into its guts. The transmission gates are unmistakable with definitive slots/stops. Linear power all the way up to 6,500-rpm fuel cut-off where you'll find a hard rev limiter. The car made a faint pinging/detonating sound on the first run that thankfully went away subsequently. Also, this thing is damned loud -- and I mean that in a good way.
Braking Comments: Very firm pedal (hard, in fact) that doesn't impart much information to the driver. Very little dive, zero squirm and the brakes like a little heat in them and the shortest stop arrived on the sixth run. I did, however, experience a squishy, slightly fading pedal on the quarter-mile passes that came directly after.
Handling Comments: Skid pad: Steering loads up quite a lot, and with ESP off, the car is neutral up to the point when it begins drifting wide of the circle with slight understeer. With ESP on, it keeps the car spot-on the painted line with both throttle closing and brake application. Slalom: The first run with ESP off and in 3rd gear resulted in a tank-slapper at the exit. The remaining ESP-off runs were in 4th gear to subdue twitchiness. Good turn-in and neutral until the exit where the rear steps out a bunch. The tires are obviously tired because there's more time to be had in this car, but not with the worn/hard tires as they are. They feel like they're one burnout contest away from the dumpster.
v8vroom says:
06:17 PM, 06/24/10
90db! Yeah baby!
kevm14 says:
07:19 PM, 06/24/10
The braking will improve a lot. I think these were doing under 110 feet 8 years ago, and tires have only gotten better. It might pull a 105 foot stop. And the lateral Gs will approach or possibly touch 1G. Finally, the slalom and overall predictability of the car will improve. The naysayers on staff might come to like it, even.
vtirocz says:
08:24 PM, 06/24/10
Impressive results! Will IL re-run the track test with the new tires?
Makes me want to start searching for a used Z06. This kind of performance and a 19city/28hwy EPA rating (with the pre-'07 rating system). Too bad GM didn't make a version of the Z06 based on the Targa top platform.
kdiggz says:
07:02 AM, 06/25/10
Are you guys really that cheap that you couldn't throw some nice tires on there before-hand? Taking a vette to the track to get performance numbers with bald tires is like wiping before you poo. Makes no sense...
c5z06er says:
07:50 AM, 06/25/10
Please please please re-test this car with some new rubber. Give it a fighting chance!
bimmerjay says:
08:59 AM, 06/25/10
Holy moly that's loud.... 90 db!! The performance numbers are soft, it would be interesting to see how much of a difference new rubber would make.
nofreee says:
09:06 AM, 06/25/10
The car sounds fantastic at WOT with the stock exhaust. The lack of sound deadening material in the car really lets the exhaust sing into the cabin. However, when just cruising around under 2500rpm, the car is very composed and fairly quiet, almost too much so. It could use a little more burble and growling under light acceleration, but that is absolutely fixed once you put your foot down.
Whenever I open up a gear or two, heads turn. It is a fantastic noise problem to have.
desmolicious says:
05:43 PM, 06/25/10
"Tank slapper" is a motorcycle term , where a moment of instability results in the handlebars gyrating lock to lock in rapid succession 'slapping' the gas tank. If it has ever happened to you, you'll never forget it. I won't...
But, exactly what does that mean in a car? Are you saying it is fishtailing?
stingray454 says:
05:45 AM, 06/27/10
I'm not certain, but I believe it means the car was in a complete spin, where the front and rear of the car swapped directions.