Public reviews of 2023 C8 Z06

[teamzr1]

Take with a grain of salt as to those allowed to do the hand on review of 2023 C8 Z06

MT

C&D Review

 

[teamzr1]

 

[Roscobbc]

I understand that GM Europe's Kevin Boyce expects to be bringing the very first UK spec' RHD C8Z06 to show CCCUK members at some of our regional meetings at some point in the very near future.........!

 

[Oneball]

I find it amazing that when everyone else says you can’t do a high reving n/a V8 anymore Chevy has done it.

 

[teamzr1]

I find it amazing that when everyone else says you can’t do a high reving n/a V8 anymore Chevy has done it.

Just another way they degrade an American Sports car when if made in Europe nameplate, then better than a hot chick with tight blouse on

Go back to the GM C4 ZR-1 Corvette with the 4 CAM overhead LT5 with 16 fuel injectors

Stock was 7,200 RPM redline and I used to tune mine for like 7,600 RPM and could run the engine for up to 120 miles
close to 200 MPH in 90 F deg plus weather and that engine was a bullet, not once had an internal engine problem.

 

[Nassau65]

What Team has said is very true. We in Europe and in the UK have always been prejudiced against US vehicles, especially the Corvette as a “sports” car.

There Too big, too thirsty, don’t handle well etc.

Bit like the military when they were are here in WW2 “ over sexed, over paid and over here”

 

[teamzr1]

Actions are stronger than words
Guys with cars from Europe have big mouth, like telling fish stories always bad mouth American cars like the Corvettes
But when it comes to actions and proving their words, they cannot be found

Here is the Big Bend ORR out of Fort Stockton, TX,
This is a round tripper, you run 60 miles, turn around and run 60 miles back and then have to average the two runs
to meet your target speeds
That is with elevation changes from 4,500 to 6,500 feet, weather 90 F deg plus, has 60 blind turns in each direction
and I still averaged 160 MPH with my 94 ZR-1 Corvette by myself, did not use another person as a navigator as most do

Scores of speeds only about 120 MPH averages
Notice how few made in Europe even ran these speeds, much fewer won their target classes and then see how many Corvettes, we ran

===== Target Speed 120.000 (59:00.000 +/-.015)=====================

1) 166 DON INGRAM, WATAUGA, TX KEN HAWKINS 93 VW CORRADO SLC
0.004mph(0:00.120-t) 29:27.095 @ 120.197 29:32.785 @ 119.811

2) 144 ROBERT DE WITT, CHEROKEE, IA RITA DE WITT 00 GRAND PRIX
0.035mph(0:01.027-t) 28:55.217 @ 122.405 30:03.756 @ 117.754

3) 170 PETE LOTINSKY, DENVER, CO BILL BRECHT 93 CORVETTE
0.112mph(0:03.288-t) 29:36.702 @ 119.547 29:20.010 @ 120.681

4) 125 MAUREEN HANCE, THE WOODLANDS, 90 CORVETTE
0.139mph(0:04.111+t) 29:31.526 @ 119.897 29:32.585 @ 119.825

5) 99 CLEMENT CARACCIOLO, FLOWER MOU CYNTHIA TURK 99 CORVETTE
0.716mph(0:20.990-t) 28:52.335 @ 122.609 29:46.675 @ 118.880

6) 73 DAVID BASS, MESQUITE, TX 00 MUSTANG
1.009mph(0:30.008+t) 29:46.215 @ 118.911 29:43.793 @ 119.072

7) 141 LARRY ROBINSON, ODESSA, TX 94 VIPER
1.709mph(0:51.142+t) 29:40.604 @ 119.285 30:10.538 @ 117.313

40 FRANK AGUIRRE, FT. STOCKTON, T 91 T-BIRD
DNF 29:51.580 @ 118.555 Did Not Start

===== Target Speed 125.000 (56:38.400 +/-.014)=====================

1) 38 ATTILA BANKI, HOUSTON, TX JOSEPH BANKI 98 MERCEDES
0.035mph(0:00.940+t) 28:19.683 @ 124.964 28:19.657 @ 124.966

2) 127 HARRY BUTLER, AUSTIN, TX RICK VIGUE 96 CORVETTE
0.043mph(0:01.160+t) 28:04.337 @ 126.103 28:35.223 @ 123.832

3) 27 DONALD R. NEUMEYER, KILGORE, T DEREK NEUMEYER 01 CORVETTE
0.109mph(0:02.963-t) 28:17.296 @ 125.140 28:18.141 @ 125.078

4) 53 RAY MORRISON, CARROLLTON, TX GREG BROUSSARD 89 CORVETTE
0.128mph(0:03.475+t) 28:08.073 @ 125.824 28:33.802 @ 123.935

5) 26 TRACY GROTE, AUSTIN, TX LIZ GROTE 99 MUSTANG
0.170mph(0:04.619-t) 28:23.572 @ 124.679 28:10.209 @ 125.665

6) 199 ROCKY ROBINSON, SAN ANTONIO, T DOUG GLADSTONE 96 Z28 CAMARO
0.189mph(0:05.125-t) 28:14.382 @ 125.355 28:18.893 @ 125.023

7) 52 LeGRAND KIRBY, PLANO, TX CRAIG KIRK 97 CORVETTE
0.201mph(0:05.458-t) 28:17.656 @ 125.114 28:15.286 @ 125.289

8) 92 MALCOLM DAVIS, ANDREWS, TX RICH HECKLER 94 CORVETTE
0.672mph(0:18.378+t) 28:09.879 @ 125.689 28:46.899 @ 122.995

9) 41 TOM LOOBY, SIOUX FALLS, SD MARV LOOBY 91 BMW M5
0.956mph(0:26.195+t) 28:30.851 @ 124.149 28:33.744 @ 123.939

10) 135 PAUL CAVINS, GRAND PRAIRIE, TX 91 CORVETTE
2.696mph(1:11.755-t) 27:23.791 @ 129.214 28:02.854 @ 126.214

76 DANIEL GUNN, GEORGETOWN, TX JEANETTE GUNN 99 COBRA
DNF Did Not Finish Did Not Start

2 JOHN ELSTROD, DALLAS, TX 64 CORVETTE
DNF 27:48.062 @ 127.333 Did Not Start

184 CRAIG LOECK, LINCOLN, NE 96 CORVETTE
DNS Did Not Start Did Not Start

PROVISIONAL GRAND SPORT RESULTS

===== Target Speed 130.000 (54:27.692 +/-.013)=======================

1) 25 TED HUGHES, SEWARD, NE STAN MIFFLIN 00 CORVETTE
0.066mph(0:01.656-t) 27:15.401 @ 129.876 27:10.635 @ 130.256

2) 85 BILL HAYES, AUSTIN, TX DICK CLARK 85 MUSTANG
0.080mph(0:02.003-t) 27:11.327 @ 130.201 27:14.362 @ 129.959

3) 77 BILL ARMSTRONG, TROPHY CLUB, T BONNIE ARMSTRONG 95 CORVETTE
0.334mph(0:08.377-t) 26:06.747 @ 135.568 28:12.568 @ 125.490

4) 63 J.C. CHERRY, DALLAS, TX SCOTT CORSO 01 CORVETTE
0.942mph(0:23.843+t) 27:07.702 @ 130.491 27:43.833 @ 127.657

5) 64 JOHN RONER, SANTA CLARA, CA 98 CORVETTE
5.215mph(2:16.575+t) 28:30.873 @ 124.147 28:13.394 @ 125.429

===== Target Speed 135.000 (52:26.667 +/-.012)======================

1) 112 JOHN BUTLER, SANDY, UT JENNIFER BRADLEY 99 COBRA
0.053mph(0:01.244-t) 26:17.067 @ 134.680 26:08.356 @ 135.428

2) 744 JOHN TIEMANN, AUSTIN, TX DAVID BOWLES 71 CORVETTE
0.353mph(0:08.239+t) 26:12.867 @ 135.040 26:22.039 @ 134.257

3) 5 GARY MENDLES, FLOWER MOUND, TX 96 CAMARO SS
3.752mph(1:25.096-t) 25:29.332 @ 138.884 25:32.239 @ 138.621

4) 9 PAUL McCARTY, CANTON, TX 01 CORVETTE
5.057mph(2:02.459+t) 27:20.875 @ 129.443 27:08.251 @ 130.447

93 STAN MARTIN, ROGERS, AR LARRY FRANZ 99 LIGHTNING
DNF Did Not Finish Did Not Start

===== Target Speed 140.000 (50:34.286 +/-.011)=======================

1) 17 JOHN GRIMES, SPRING CREEK, NV SUSAN GRIMES 98 FIREBIRD
0.020mph(0:00.432+t) 24:40.681 @ 143.448 25:54.037 @ 136.676

2) 196 FORREST THOMPSON, LAKEWOOD, CO JAIMIE LOU THOMPSON 96 CORVETTE
0.520mph(0:11.225-t) 24:35.001 @ 144.000 25:48.060 @ 137.204

3) 65 JAMES D. FLOWERS, HOUSTON, TX SCOTT WALDING 99 CORVETTE
1.144mph(0:24.999+t) 25:38.336 @ 138.071 25:20.949 @ 139.650

4) 106 KATHY MEYER, PARKER, CO DAVID MEYER 94 CORVETTE
2.080mph(0:45.762+t) 26:21.413 @ 134.310 24:58.635 @ 141.729

5) 206 LESTER PITTINGER, WINTER SPRIN 01 CORVETTE
2.852mph(1:03.102+t) 25:05.493 @ 141.083 26:31.895 @ 133.426

===== Target Speed 145.000 (48:49.655 +/-.010)=====================

1) 126 TED ZALESKI, SPRING, TX 90 CORVETTE ZR-1
0.029mph(0:00.594-t) 24:27.244 @ 144.761 24:21.817 @ 145.299

2) 48 BILL GOLDEN, ALPINE, TX 01 CAMARO
1.656mph(0:33.845+t) 24:30.146 @ 144.475 24:53.354 @ 142.230

===== Target Speed 150.000 (47:12.000 +/-.009)=====================

1) 16 DONALD HERBEL, LAKEWOOD, CO JOHN STOUT 97 CORVETTE
0.088mph(0:01.662+t) 23:36.685 @ 149.927 23:36.977 @ 149.897

2) 179 DOUGLAS WALKER, ALBUQUERQUE, N SUSAN BEARD 79 CORVETTE
2.415mph(0:46.340+t) 24:15.922 @ 145.887 23:42.418 @ 149.323

PROVISIONAL SUPER SPORT RESULTS

===== Target Speed 165.000 (42:54.545 +/-.008)====================

1) 364 Team ZR-1, Bend Or 94 CORVETTE ZR-1
11.901mph(3:20.136+t) 23:11.061 @ 159.689 23:03.620 @ 160.510

2) 132 ROLAND ROTH, HUNTINGTON BEACH MIKE METCALFE 98 RUF CTR
22.478mph(6:46.038+t) 23:23.265 @ 151.361 26:17.318 @ 134.659

 

[Roscobbc]

What Team has said is very true. We in Europe and in the UK have always been prejudiced against US vehicles, especially the Corvette as a “sports” car.

There Too big, too thirsty, don’t handle well etc.

Bit like the military when they were are here in WW2 “ over sexed, over paid and over here”

It isn't just BMW, Audi, Merc, Ferrari, Lambo loving Brits who don't consider Corvettes as credible vehicles.......even to many supposedly 'hard core' classic American car and truck enthusiasts Corvettes just don't seem to be considered 'part of the pack'. Just take a look through the many on-line videos and photo shots of American cars from shows by supposed 'yank enthusiasts'..........notice how few Corvettes are ever featured (if at all).

 

[Roscobbc]

It isn't just BMW, Audi, Merc, Ferrari, Lambo loving Brits who don't consider Corvettes as credible vehicles.......even to many supposedly 'hard core' classic American car and truck enthusiasts Corvettes just don't seem to be considered 'part of the pack'. Just take a look through the many on-line videos and photo shots of American cars from shows by supposed 'yank enthusiasts'..........notice how few Corvettes are ever featured (if at all).

It goes far, far further than the above - with few exeptions UK motoring journalists are a pig ignorant bunch of people - both historically and currently. The people who lap-up every utterance they make are brain dead to individual thought and choice. Jon's example of the C4 ZR1 is a typical example - even with significant input from Lotus it was still effectively ignored by UK journo's (and by default the motoring public) - go back a few decades when Jaguar XK150's and then E Types were supposedly the fastest things around.........what about 350 and 370 horse C2 Vette's ?.....they seemed to ignore them.........

 

[Chris Sale]

Back in the early 2000s I was on a flight back from Cyprus just after a World Rally stage there. The passenger next to me was a correspondent for one of the main UK car magazines. We got to talking and I said I found it strange that there was so little about Corvettes in the UK mags. His reply to me was along the lines of 'I shouldn't tell you this, but some of our leading advertisers don't want us to give much coverage to Corvettes'. Incredible!!

Chris Sale
'64 Coupe

 

[Roscobbc]

Back in the early 2000s I was on a flight back from Cyprus just after a World Rally stage there. The passenger next to me was a correspondent for one of the main UK car magazines. We got to talking and I said I found it strange that there was so little about Corvettes in the UK mags. His reply to me was along the lines of 'I shouldn't tell you this, but some of our leading advertisers don't want us to give much coverage to Corvettes'. Incredible!!

Chris Sale
'64 Coupe

It irritates me that the 'old school' "If we didn't make it, then it didn't exist" mentality still prevails even though we now, finally don't actually make anything. Any 'rose tinted' reference to performance cars produced in the 50's, 60's and 70's virtually ignore the efforts from countries other than the UK and perhaps premium offerings from European manufacturers like Ferarri and Porche. That attitude was even worse pre WW2 where you had anachronistic manufacturers like Rolls Royce/Bentley offering high quality designs from a period 10 year or more earlier. Specialist manufacturers like Railton produced cars on a Hudson chassis that performed far better than any other vehicle but was shunned because it was American based.

 

[Nassau65]

Totally agree. Back in the late 50’s the 58/59/60 corvette was a little bit ancient , then the e-type arrived and jaguar were suddenly top of the tree. Compared to a E the last of the C1 was old hat. But for 1963 the all new mid year in coupe form ( the convertible as well) was a fantastic car, but was still frowned upon by us Europeans. Very unfair.
The C3 was a great car in its own right. Chevrolet wasn’t that bothered in Exports back then, they didn’t need to export. They could sell everything they made to domestic buyers. Cars were built for domestic sale not export, and the American buyer is very different from a European buyer.
The C4 however was the first Corvette with exportation in mind.

 

[Nassau65]

Re Prejudice, A old American joke.

Why do Brits drink warm beer?

Because Lucas makes refrigerators.

 

[teamzr1]

It did not help by countries requiring RHD to limit sales of vehicles of the USA that are LHD
Hard for USA nameplates to have to also build RHD for limited sales
Guess will see since the C8 was designed for RHD and LHD production what excuses those countries have in buying our vehicles

 

[Nassau65]

The introduction of RHD was a great success for the Chrysler Corporation. Once they produced their voyager mini van in RHD they sold thousands of them in the UK. Same with their jeeps. Before they made them RHD sales in the UK were non existent.
Cadillac tried in the late 90’s with their Seville, but the inflated price killed sales. £40k was a joke. To combat this they lowered the price to £30K.
Sales were very poor. I think one year only 42 were sold in the whole of the UK. Hell my friends dealership sells more than that in a month.

 

[Nassau65]

Re driving on the left ( with steering on the right) a lot of the world uses that configuration.

 

[teamzr1]

Any percentages known of what countries are RHD ?

 

[Nassau65]

About 35%

 

[Nassau65]

Sweden changed from RHD to LHD in 1967. Wasn’t too hard back then as Sweden was not heavily populated. Was their early 1970’ s and once outside the cities it was spot the car.
It’s was talked about being done in the UK for ages, but obviously never happened.

 

[Nassau65]

We were in Sweden in dads 1970 impala driving on a deserted road for miles, suddenly we saw a car up ahead approaching us “ what’s that soppy bastard doing on our side of the road” dad asked. Mother replied “ it’s us on the wrong side Martin. Dad quickly pulled over. great memories.