MT Track Comparison: 2016 Viper ACR vs. 2015 Corvette Z06

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by Irace86

If I had that type of money I would keep the 40k difference in price and have a hoot in the z06. If I wanted to best a buddy in a Viper I'm sure I can get a front splitter too, and a giant wing, rear diffuser and front fins for less than 40K, and with 50 extra foot pounds of torque, I'm sure I could win.

Even though the Viper has less weight, it wasn't faster in a quarter mile (it did trap a higher speed), it wasn't faster zero to 60 or faster through the figure 8. The Viper did best it in stopping, but the wing could help the Vette.

At the end of the day, the Vette is a sports car that can be taken to the track. The Viper just doesn't seem in place driving the wife to dinner and a movie. If I wanted to buy a track monster that I could legally drive to the track, I would buy an Atom.

Tires are probably all you need to gain the advantage you're looking for.

[jawn]

I respect the Viper, but I'd still rather own the Corvette.

[Irace86]

Originally Posted by Sideways&Smiling

You could say the same about plenty of other cars cheaper than the z06...

I'm no fan boy of the Vette. In fact I hated the C5; it looked like a giant wedge, and because that was the Vette I gree up with the car has never grown on me. But the fact is that the Z06 has been an amazing value for what you get. Find a car that looks as good, has all the comforts it does, but can handle a quarter mile and track days as good for a similar price, and Ill have to reconsider my position. Closest car I can think of is the GTR in terms of best bang for the buck.

Originally Posted by strat61caster

Tires are probably all you need to gain the advantage you're looking for.

Thats true if we are talking race tires but then that wouldnt be street legal and apparently thats the point of this comparison, right? Drive to the track...

[ohmai18]

What about overheating? Just because you put aero on the z06 does not mean we solved the heat issue.

[Irace86]

Originally Posted by ohmai18

What about overheating? Just because you put aero on the z06 does not mean we solved the heat issue.

Aero would solve heating. Both have a ram air scoop but the Viper has loovers/vents on the hood and fenders, not to mention the larger grill and exterior opening, which might be for oil coolers and/or brake cooling. This is more GM wanting something less aggressive looking or just a style choice.

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by Irace86

Thats true if we are talking race tires but then that wouldnt be street legal and apparently thats the point of this comparison, right? Drive to the track...

Oh, I thought we were benchracing with that "extra $40k" you'd save by buying the Chevy.

In any case, I wouldn't mind driving a Z06 on slicks from my house to Laguna Seca, but wouldn't bother and just pick up a tire trailer to drag along, still a lot cheaper than trying to shade tree mechanic an effective aero package.

[Irace86]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

Oh, I thought we were benchracing with that "extra $40k" you'd save by buying the Chevy.

In any case, I wouldn't mind driving a Z06 on slicks from my house to Laguna Seca, but wouldn't bother and just pick up a tire trailer to drag along, still a lot cheaper than trying to shade tree mechanic an effective aero package.

Ya man. You gotta follow the rules when benchracing.

[WolfpackS2k]

Originally Posted by Irace86

If I had that type of money I would keep the 40k difference in price and have a hoot in the z06. If I wanted to best a buddy in a Viper I'm sure I can get a front splitter too, and a giant wing, rear diffuser and front fins for less than 40K, and with 50 extra foot pounds of torque, I'm sure I could win.



Even though the Viper has less weight, it wasn't faster in a quarter mile (it did trap a higher speed), it wasn't faster zero to 60 or faster through the figure 8. The Viper did best it in stopping, but the wing could help the Vette.



At the end of the day, the Vette is a sports car that can be taken to the track. The Viper just doesn't seem in place driving the wife to dinner and a movie. If I wanted to buy a track monster that I could legally drive to the track, I would buy an Atom.

Or you could just buy a base Viper. Same engine yanno...


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[Irace86]

Originally Posted by WolfpackS2k

Or you could just buy a base Viper. Same engine yanno...


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Ya the Viper TA and Z06 clocked 1:33 times at Laguna Seca and look much closer in styling. Definitely the preferable cars to compare over the aero happy ACR. Still a decent difference in price.

Again, I wonder how much affect did the wing, diffuser, front splitter, hood louvers and bumper wings have on dropping the ACR times. Five seconds difference is a lot, so was it all just aero grip that took five seconds off the TA time or was it something else?

[LSxJunkie]

I respect the product that FCA has built. It's a hell of a performer and I'm glad to see anyone build such a dedicated machine.

However, I'm still a Corvette guy and I would still have the Z06. I want a car I can drive cross country with my wife AND set massive lap times with. But, to be honest, I'd buy the Z06, buy GM's secondary radiator kit, swap the factory rad out for a SuperCool or a DeWitts...


and then go buy a cheap C5 FRC to HPDE, because I don't want to stuff my 100k pride and joy into SAFER barrier.