With the Corvette C7 relegated now to the history books, the question has been popping up: “Is a C7 Z06 a good used performance car?”
A simple question on the surface, there are many points of discussion that arise. It’s also a question that Raiti’s Rides on YouTube decided to ask, and hopefully answer.
So what, really, do you get with a Corvette C7 Z06?
That really depends on what you can find on the used market, but all of the C7 Z06’s share the LT4 supercharged V8 with 650 HP and 650 lbs-ft of torque. In case you were wondering, that is what is known as “a lot.”
You also get the wider body style over the C7 Stingray, with wide tires hidden within the bulged wheel wells to increase the road contact patches. Also, you get functional brake cooling ducts on the front, on either side of the massive radiator opening, which passes air through an up through a fully functional hood exhaust. This both pulls out hot air, and acts to increase airflow over the car, pushing it down into the road.
The brake cooling scoops on the sills in front of the rear wheel are fully functional as well, and exhaust air around and through the wheel well to the hidden exhausts that sit beside the rear tail lights.
Depending on what you can find, you might also get a Z06 with the full Z07 aero pack, like the one in the video, which is added value as it was a fairly pricey option.
Also, depending on what you can find, you’ll get either an 8 speed automatic that is, despite appearances, not bad at all. If you’d rather row your own, the 7 speed manual was also a pretty popular option.
But what about competitors?
In range of power and speed that the C7 Z06 can achieve, competitors such as the Porsche 911 Turbo, Ford Shelby GT500, and the like.
The kicker of it is, of all of them, the Corvette C7 Z06 is probably going to be the budget option, as you can find many a Z06 in the $55,000 to $65,000 range. To give you an idea, a similar year Porsche 911 Turbo will start at about $130,000. And a 2015 Ford Shelby GT500, because of the rarity of them, start about $20,000 over the C7 Z06.
With optics like that, as well as a comfortable, powerful, fast performance car with killer looks and a long pedigree, the C7 Z06 does indeed look like the best used performance car you can buy.
