As the title indicates, I recently sold my Comp Orange Terminator and purchased a new 07 Z06. I still can't believe I own a Chevy after nothing but Fords (although I still have 2 Fords in the garage) and several Mustangs. I wish I could have kept the Cobra, but the the cost of a Z06 was too much to have 2 weekend cars. I guess my interest was aroused by CobraBob's description of driving his son-in-law's Z06 and the comparisons he made to his Cobra. As many correctly point out when the subject of Z06 vs. Terminator comparisons come up, they are two different types of cars.
First, of course is cost; the Z06 is twice the list price of the Terminator and it is not close to being twice as good. My Cobra actually handled rough surfaces, particularly mid-corner bumps, better than the Z06, which will occasionally hop to the side because of the stiff sidewalls of the runflat Goodyears. Clearly, a better shock will cure that, but the point is, the IRS in the Cobra does what it is supposed to do--improve handling. That said, the Z06 does corner and brake much better and the lower center of gravity and 525 lbs. less weight just cannot be ignored. The Z06 is also blindingly fast and much easier to launch than my Cobra. As CobraBob pointed out, it is a different sensation of speed; the Z06 is smoother, but pulls like train, just like the Terminator. I will also admit that the Z06's capabilities exceed my skills as a driver and I have some work to do in that area.
As others have repeatedly pointed out, it is easy and cheap to add a 100+ rwhp to the Cobra. Getting an extra 50 rwhp out of the Z06 runs into the thousands--big advantage to the Cobra. Fortunately, I don't feel the need to add power to the Z06, probably just an intake and exhaust, but that is still $2K for 20rwhp!!!
Posters on the Corvette forums complain about the C6 and Z06 just like the Cobra owners complain about various aspects of their rides. The moral of this long story is, I suppose, that I welcomed the opportunity to own a Z06 and I have no regrets, but the change has not diminished my respect for what the Terminator does at half the cost. I justify the cost of the Z06 because I am more interested in road handling than straight line acceleration, and the fact that the Z06 runs with F430s, Lambos, Ford GTs and Porsche GT3s at a fraction of their cost.
Long live the Terminator! I'll own one again, I'm sure.
First, of course is cost; the Z06 is twice the list price of the Terminator and it is not close to being twice as good. My Cobra actually handled rough surfaces, particularly mid-corner bumps, better than the Z06, which will occasionally hop to the side because of the stiff sidewalls of the runflat Goodyears. Clearly, a better shock will cure that, but the point is, the IRS in the Cobra does what it is supposed to do--improve handling. That said, the Z06 does corner and brake much better and the lower center of gravity and 525 lbs. less weight just cannot be ignored. The Z06 is also blindingly fast and much easier to launch than my Cobra. As CobraBob pointed out, it is a different sensation of speed; the Z06 is smoother, but pulls like train, just like the Terminator. I will also admit that the Z06's capabilities exceed my skills as a driver and I have some work to do in that area.
As others have repeatedly pointed out, it is easy and cheap to add a 100+ rwhp to the Cobra. Getting an extra 50 rwhp out of the Z06 runs into the thousands--big advantage to the Cobra. Fortunately, I don't feel the need to add power to the Z06, probably just an intake and exhaust, but that is still $2K for 20rwhp!!!
Posters on the Corvette forums complain about the C6 and Z06 just like the Cobra owners complain about various aspects of their rides. The moral of this long story is, I suppose, that I welcomed the opportunity to own a Z06 and I have no regrets, but the change has not diminished my respect for what the Terminator does at half the cost. I justify the cost of the Z06 because I am more interested in road handling than straight line acceleration, and the fact that the Z06 runs with F430s, Lambos, Ford GTs and Porsche GT3s at a fraction of their cost.
Long live the Terminator! I'll own one again, I'm sure.
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