The sky is blue, water is wet, and yep, the Z06 is a hoot when you're leaning on it. Whether that means enjoying that bellowing, guttural exhaust while blasting up a few gears, giving it a hearty rev-matching blip while you grab a lower cog or taking advantage of a nearly deserted, increasing-radius on-ramp, it's all the same -- almost too much fun.
But ya know, the Z06 makes a fine day tripper ride too. Taking on L.A.'s "no-budget-for-road-maintenance", bombed-out streets (have you driven over La Cienega lately?!), this low-slung, performance-focused super 'vette doesn't beat you up but rather provides a surprisingly supple ride over the bumps and ruts. And once liberated from that crap, there's not much better on a warm SoCal day than a trip up and down the PCH, kicked back cruising in a Z06 with the windows down and a Beach Boys CD fittingly accompanied by the titanium exhaust's background track.
John DiPietro, Automotive Editor @ 58,600 miles.
maxedoutmax says:
04:44 PM, 04/11/11
I don't see how you can say this car "doesn't beat you up". I have a 2002 C5 coupe with the Z06 suspension and its REALLY really stiff. Well perhaps you guys don't have the car lowered and that's why its softer. But I have to say that hitting potholes has caused passengers to grab the O-poop handle and scream out loud.
vettefan2 says:
05:14 PM, 04/11/11
Sounds like you're lowered too far and smacking the bump stops on occasion maxedoutmax. I wouldn't call it supple compared to some luxury sedan but the ride on my stock ride-height '02 Z06 is certainly fine for daily driving.
cah11705 says:
06:08 PM, 04/11/11
I would miss the T-top way too much in that weather and situation
maxedoutmax says:
10:51 PM, 04/11/11
@vettefan 2. No, I am not even all the way down on the stock bolts and uncut bushings. There are guys that run 1" lower than me. IMO the vette has a rough ride with the Z06 suspension and bigger sways.
The F55/45 vettes ride a lot softer but ppl also complain that they handle like shit.
rod_stewart says:
05:33 AM, 04/12/11
^Why does everyone say "ppl" on the Internet, does it really save you that much time out of your busy schedule? Really that much harder to type it out? What do you have against vowels?
-Rod
stingray454 says:
08:41 AM, 04/12/11
@maxedoutmax
Are you running runflat tires? I've rode in both base C5's and C5 Z06s, and I found the ride to be harder on the base C5s. The difference was almost entirely due to the runflat tires, and absence of such on the Z06. Although the Z06's non-run flat tires have more grip and are larger, they actually have more sidewall flex than the runflats do, and they give a much more compliant ride.
thenewblack says:
12:37 PM, 04/12/11
@maxedoutmax
I own two lowered cars and the ride quality on each no longer resembles the original ride quality. I would never think to use my lowered cars as a judgement of a stock suspensions ride. I suggest you do the same.
csubowtie says:
03:59 PM, 04/12/11
How about a comparo, Z06 to LT 911?