What does it take to beat a GT350 with a C5 Z06?

gimmie11s

I Race Pontiacs
Established Member
Premium Member
Joined
Jun 1, 2004
Messages
18,491
Location
la la land
great vid... always loved the c5z.. mother bought one new off the showroom floor and i always loved that car.
 

BlackStripes

Member
Established Member
Joined
Feb 26, 2003
Messages
427
Location
Fairfax, VA
Very cool video, but to be fair, you can't compare based on straight power to weight ratio, a 9:1 lb to HP ratio 4500 car would get destroyed by a 9:1 lb to HP ratio 2500 lb car on a road course (probably not the same results in the 1/4). Same works with the tires.
If you want to be a little more fair (not that is totally fair since we have other factors like aero/suspension etc etc) I'd apply the tables that NASA have for their time trial of power to weight ratio... just an idea.
 

RSbeast

Active Member
Established Member
Joined
Aug 30, 2010
Messages
891
Location
Ohio
Love the series. Still find it odd that the c5z didn't get run with stock sized pilot SS's. If the GT350 is running it's usual amount of tire, so should the Z.

However I understand trying to match your tire to weight; but it's a bit misleading. Same with how the r888s are undersized slightly in height.

Nevertheless, love the videos
 

phoenix64

Member
Established Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2004
Messages
247
Location
Alabama
great vid... always loved the c5z.. mother bought one new off the showroom floor and i always loved that car.
as usual excellent videos.
Love it thanks for the video.

Thanks! Glad you guys liked it. It's getting nothing but hate on the corvette forums.

Good video, didn't think the Z06 would have such similar acceleration.

Surprised us to, until we realized that the gt350 is 8in taller, and 3in wider than the Z06, so it punches a big hole in the air.

Very cool video, but to be fair, you can't compare based on straight power to weight ratio, a 9:1 lb to HP ratio 4500 car would get destroyed by a 9:1 lb to HP ratio 2500 lb car on a road course (probably not the same results in the 1/4). Same works with the tires.
If you want to be a little more fair (not that is totally fair since we have other factors like aero/suspension etc etc) I'd apply the tables that NASA have for their time trial of power to weight ratio... just an idea.

Interesting, I didn't think of that. When I get back I'll check that out for our next matchup.

Great Vid! I found it very interesting having once owned a C5Z and now lusting for a GT 350!

Definitely get the GT350 if you can afford it. It's one hell of a car.

Love the series. Still find it odd that the c5z didn't get run with stock sized pilot SS's. If the GT350 is running it's usual amount of tire, so should the Z.

However I understand trying to match your tire to weight; but it's a bit misleading. Same with how the r888s are undersized slightly in height.

Nevertheless, love the videos

Glad you enjoyed it. There isn't a pilot super sport in the stock 17/18 sizes for the Z, you have to go down to a 245/275. We thought about 265/295 on 18's, but the front offset/scrub radius would have been wrong, and the front/rear sidewall ratio would have been wrong.
$695 for the 245 MPSS's was one thing, but 2.5K for the right wheels and tires was a bit out of my reach especially since that car is about to sit for over a year.
 

03Sssnake

TK-421
Established Member
Joined
Dec 9, 2002
Messages
40,168
Location
not at my post...
Woah. That is a little disappointing to say the least.

Not really, the C5Z might be old news, but don't forget it was built for track days. Now of course the GT350 was built with the track in mind, but it is easily 600+lbs heavier. I'd still take the 350 any day over my old C5Z, it has better brakes, suspension, seats etc. The C5Z has a close ratio MN12 trans and that along with the weight advantage + LS6 motor, it's going to hold its own at a track like Road Atlanta. I think we'd see a bigger gap on a longer course, like Road America.
 

Kartracer

Active Member
Established Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2007
Messages
400
Location
Phx
Is it weird you are getting some love on a Mustang forum and hate on the corvette forum?
 

MachME

2V Power
Established Member
Joined
Dec 29, 2005
Messages
5,896
Location
Z
For a second there I forgot how terribly built c5s are(fit and finish) and the interior is just pathetic. The seats are a joke too, I would upgrade those if open tracking a lot, no support.

Now the real question, how will the GT350 preform with much less weight?
 

jsd512

Wannabe Ghostbuster
Established Member
Joined
Mar 19, 2008
Messages
9,698
Location
Houston area
Not really, the C5Z might be old news, but don't forget it was built for track days. Now of course the GT350 was built with the track in mind, but it is easily 600+lbs heavier. I'd still take the 350 any day over my old C5Z, it has better brakes, suspension, seats etc. The C5Z has a close ratio MN12 trans and that along with the weight advantage + LS6 motor, it's going to hold its own at a track like Road Atlanta. I think we'd see a bigger gap on a longer course, like Road America.

I forgot about that weight advantage, those C5Zs were feather-weights.
 

RSbeast

Active Member
Established Member
Joined
Aug 30, 2010
Messages
891
Location
Ohio
3080 stock; rip the runflats off a standard c5 and they're damn close.

I think people have forgotten how competent the older rides are when 3600lbs is the new 'light weight'.

Getting a c5 under 3000lbs is cake. Heads/cam the 'ol LS with some sticky tires and buh bye!

Where they need work is seats and brakes. I mean the brakes will work with good compound, but the calipers spread under heavy heat and loading and junk themselves.
 

ferfont1

Member
Established Member
Joined
Sep 14, 2007
Messages
596
Location
n/a
The day has come where the vette guys are bringing in the price argument! lol
 

phoenix64

Member
Established Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2004
Messages
247
Location
Alabama
Is it weird you are getting some love on a Mustang forum and hate on the corvette forum?

I've owned the Z06 4 years now, and I'm still surprised every time I'm reminded that "corvette people" tend not to be car people.

For a second there I forgot how terribly built c5s are(fit and finish) and the interior is just pathetic. The seats are a joke too, I would upgrade those if open tracking a lot, no support.

Now the real question, how will the GT350 preform with much less weight?

I actually like the interior of the C5Z... but I realize most people are offended that a 50k car shares it's radio with a suburban, and after 30k miles mine looks like it has 300k.

The seats are a love/hate relationship. On the road for 15.5 hours in a day I love them. On track they suck. Although a 6-point harness makes up for a lot of the lack of support.
 

oooooh snap

Stable Genius
Established Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2010
Messages
1,880
Location
East
cool video but the price comparison kind of cheapens it. you're comparing the two cars based off their price while one just rolled off the showroom (is it even broken in yet?) and the other is used and already has 2 model updates to lessen it's value.
 

Users who are viewing this thread



Top