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I was at CMP and had a chance to hotlap in the Z06 for about 20 minutes on Sunday afternoon. The power was, as you can imagine, incredible. I found the brakes to be very good, considering they are stock pads and have been beaten on all weekend long before I got to the car. With proper race pads they would be downright mind-numbing, I'm sure.

The car they brought was a very early production version without the full brake cooling ducts as I understand it. Later production models have full ductwork including the extensions that bring cold air right to the hub/rotor center area. That alone would make a big difference.

The tires are sticky enough for run flats, but I would like to drive it again with R-comps.

The suspension was mostly compliant. Felt a little stiffer than a stock C5 Z06 to me, but it's been over a year since my Z06 was sold, so I may be remembering incorrectly. I didn't push it as much as I would if I owned the car, mostly because it was not my car and I can't really afford to fork over a $70K check if something were to happen to it.

For the money, I highly doubt there is any other car on the planet that you can literally bolt race pads and sticky tires on to and be as competitive and fast as this new Z06. Not to mention it looks simply sexual. I have a lust thing going now...

The issues with turning the safety systems off and the tire pressure sensors will be important in the months to come. I suspect a good portion of people buying the car do really plan to track them and if so, these things need to be addressed. I'm sure GM will figure it out somehow.

In the mean time, can anyone lend me a C6 Z06 to bring to Rockingham?

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Brian

2010 K1300GT
2001 E39 M5
2003 540iT Sport

Motor Trend in so many words said it was not really a street car and not a good choice as a daily driver. pure race car. envious? yeah probably. do i have the skills required? NO.

the 360 @ Sanford was fun, but not a habit i want to get into.

Rod had no complaints driving his back from Houston...

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Jim Pastorius
2008 Silverado VortecMax
1992 Camaro CMC#92
2002 BMW R1150R

2009 3rd Place CMC Mid-Atlantic Championship
2009 CMC Hyperfest Winner

the ride was probably overshadowed by the massive grin on his face. i am sure i would have had such a grin if it were me.

Chebby evidently hasn't sent MT a big enough check for advertising to get a positive review.

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Has no responsibility whatsoever.

No fan of MT at all, but frankly that probably was the right thing to say to MT readers. I can only imagine the suger daddies that are shopping for the best Corvette that they can buy for their trophy wife/girlfriend. I can see them now going back to the dealership to complain about how brutal the car probably is. Same thing for cars like the Elise. These cars are not for 99% of the population.

But like most everyone else here.... If given one free as a daily driver, I wouldn't hesitate in a second.

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Richard Casto
1972 Porsche 914
2013 Honda Fit Sport
2015 Honda Fit EX
http://motorsport.zyyz.com
Money can't buy happiness, but somehow it's more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than a Kia.

Yeah not a car for the trophy wife/gf or anyone as a daily driver. The die hards will daily drive them. A good number daily drive their C5 Z06. They do ride harsh and the seats are not the most comfortable. That is not what the car was built for. But it will act sedate if you want to baby it around and get good gas mileage! But when you get it on track, oh boy... it took me a week to wipe that stupid grin of my face

It also wouldn't be the first Vette to get returned with the complaint that it rode too harsh. GM got dinged in 84 with the 1st C4. The base coupe rode very harsh. And the ones who ordered the Z51 suspension option all needed their fillings redone... Been there done that. I thought the car was fun but lacked power. For the 85 model they changed the springs and shocks quite a bit due to all the complaints.

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http://www.greywinds.com

This is something the motorcycle companies have been doing on their factory race bikes for a few years. And as you can imagine, the increased force on each pad makes for truly AMAZING braking performance. I can only imagine the Z06 will be just as impressive.

Can't wait for Adam to get one!!!!!!! Though I think it should be in YELLOW! Or maybe black, since that's what Darth Vader would drive!

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Todd Breakey
STS 42 - 1992 Sunburst Miata
Dammit!
"You souldn't play leap frog with a porcupine. You might get hurt." - Eliza

Lord Vader has his ride...

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Jim Pastorius
2008 Silverado VortecMax
1992 Camaro CMC#92
2002 BMW R1150R

2009 3rd Place CMC Mid-Atlantic Championship
2009 CMC Hyperfest Winner

damn, and i have a 2 yr subscription. i have mixed feelings but not real impressed with some of the write ups on new models. suggestions? Car & Driver?

Don't know how others feel, but I have been a fan of the weekly magazine Autoweek. You don't get the larger articles that you would get in a general purpose monthly auto magazine (C&D, R&T, MT, etc.) But the info is much more up-to-date and they have weekly race coverage. Other than that, my monthly magazines have much more of a narrower target audience. That would be Grass Roots Motorsports and Excellence (a good Porsche marque magazine).

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Richard Casto
1972 Porsche 914
2013 Honda Fit Sport
2015 Honda Fit EX
http://motorsport.zyyz.com
Money can't buy happiness, but somehow it's more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than a Kia.

Of the "big 3" car mags (MT, C&D, R&T), I have Car & Driver. They have good articles (funny, good writing), excellent testing, a sharp sense of humor, and don't appear to be afraid to say what they think. I had Road & Track also about 10 years ago, and while they're also very good, at that time I thought they were a little more "upscale", reviewing fancier cars and reminiscing about the good old days in their Hillman Minxes and such, which didn't fit my lifestyle as well. They have likely changed since then, but I still like C&D.

I also get Grassroots Motorsports, which is very good in its "cars and motorsports for the other 99% of us" focus.

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Carl Fisher

Be Cool to the Pizza Dude:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/stor ... Id=4651531

If you do sign up for a free issue of GRM, please select AutocrossForum.com as the person that referred you to them. We (Todd and I) get credit for referrals, which helps out the autocrossforum.com website quite a bit.

BTW, I like Autoweek and GRM the best. GRM started as a dedicated autocrossing magazine, so they do focus on the sport we participate in more than any other magazine (including SportsCar, the SCCA mag)

adamb

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Adam Breakey
Founder - www.autocrossforum.com
SS 75 Red(isfasterthanyellow) Z06

I hadn't seen that ad. That is great!!!!

I agree with the Autoweek endorsement. It is the only traditional car mag I subscribe to. Others are GRM and SportsCar. But I have to have a talk with my mail man. My Autoweek used to arrive on Friday, but now I don't get it until Tuesday!!!! I think he is taking it home with him for the weekend!!!!!

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Todd Breakey
STS 42 - 1992 Sunburst Miata
Dammit!
"You souldn't play leap frog with a porcupine. You might get hurt." - Eliza

MT seems to not be the only car magazine with negative things to say about the new Z06. C&D's comparo with the Viper this month didn't exacty paint the best picture either. Anytime the Viper is consider the more easy to control and confidence inspiring car that is saying something. Now, of course the vette still won the comparo and destroyed the Viper on the road course, but I don't remember reading comments about the C5 Z06 being scary and twitchy at the limit. Sounds like they may have some more suspension dialing in to do with the car.