The C6 ZR1: Is 638 horsepower too much?

"Jayhawk Jake" (jayhawkjake)
10/16/2014 at 20:47 • Filed to: CORVETTE, OPPOREVIEW

As I mentioned earlier, I drove a C6 ZR1 today. It was the most incredible car I've ever experienced, the most American I've ever felt. But I think it may be too powerful. I'll explain why.

Pictured: I drove this. Pictures taken from Carmax. I was too excited I didn't take any of my own, not that they'd be much better

First, some thoughts: this car has presence . It looks mean with vents all over the place, enormous carbon fiber skirts, and absolutely monstrous brakes. The car sits incredibly low with just about perfect stance straight from the factory. There's no mistaking the ZR1 for anything else between the plexiglass engine window displaying the supercharged LS9 like a lion at a zoo and the carbon fiber roof panel. Even if you aren't a car person one glance tells you this is not your basic everyday Corvette, this is a supercar.

I think these brakes are bigger than my car's wheels.

Open the door and a massive ZR1 logo welcomes you past the doorsill. Sit down and you feel like you're in a Corvette. It's a little bit nicer in here than a base C6, but I couldn't tell if the leather wrapped everything was actually leather or just fake plastic styled to look like leather. The steering wheel is still comically cheap, taken straight from standard C6's, which means it's part binned from the Cobalt. Carbon fiber trim reminds you you're in a sports car, but it also reminds you that carbon fiber is just plastic.

Leather. Fake leather everywhere

As comically cheap as the interior is, it actually is a nice place to be on the road. The seats are reasonably comfortable, the super wide cabin is very comfortable to spread out in even with a passenger. With magical magnetic ride control and low cruising RPM (600 lb ft of torque will do that), the car doesn't stray far from its grand tourer capabilities. I could easily drive this thing hundreds of miles and never complain.

For such an exciting car, this is a boring steering wheel. Thankfully GM's steering wheel game is on point right now

From the drivers seat the hood spreads far and wide. The HUD is cool as always, and the slight peak of the clear engine window reminds you that you are in a very special car. I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched by everyone around me sitting in this white phallus of American excess before disappearing down the road under 638 hp of raw General Motors fury.

LS9....*drooooool*.....

About that power, all 638 hp and 600 lb-ft of most powerful corvette (so far) fury. There are no words to describe it. The car is unreal, unfathomable, unuseable. Wait, what was that last one?

Put your foot down in first and all you get is wheel spin. Shift up to second and before you've opened the baffles on the exhaust you're using those massive carbon ceramics to keep from burying the $70,000 'vette into a Mazda Tribute's rear axle (you're way too low to hit the bumper).

FYI the tack is on the left

I don't think I ever had my foot reach the floor. On a highway on ramp I hit 90 in 4th before passing 5000 rpm. The power is beyond comprehension. There's insane amounts of power everywhere . I passed someone in 6th gear and the car launched back like a Mustang GT does in 2nd. Gear selection is a joke, if the car is moving it's moving at the speed of light. The speedometer moves as fast as the tachometer. 50 feels slow, 90 feels normal, and I can't imagine 150 would have taken long at all to reach. I can't even describe how the power felt let alone imagine a scenario where I could use it on the street.

That's where the ZR1 starts to fall apart. Don't get me wrong, it's an amazing automobile. If it wasn't for the upcoming C6 Z06 I'd say it's America's crowning automotive achievement. It is an absolute beast. But on the street I'd rather have a standard C6.

It's the 'slow car fast' scenario. When I drove a C6 Convertible a few months ago, I could go hard and not get in too much trouble. It was still mind blowingly fast, it still handled extremely well, it still pulled like a train, but I was closer to the limit. I could let the revs climb towards the redline and not look for a cop over my shoulder. I could floor it and open up the pipes and stay at a legal pace.

I couldn't do any of that in the ZR1, it's just too powerful. I hate to say it, but day to day I'd rather have a standard C6 or a Z06. The standard C6 is a great daily driver and I've seen them run very well at autocross. A Z06 would be a fantastic track day car while still maintaining some modicum of useability. The ZR1 is just a monster.

The ZR1 feels special. It feels like a car that should only be driven occasionally, savoring every moment like a fine wine. I'm sure it's great on a track, but out on the streets it's too much. It's too fast, it's too powerful, it's too awesome. It's too good for the street, but it's the best damn car I've ever driven.

DISCUSSION (19)

PS9 > Jayhawk Jake
10/16/2014 at 21:52

Q: Is 638HP Too much?

Kinja'd!!!

A: No, actually it's not enough.

Kailand09 > Jayhawk Jake
10/16/2014 at 21:52

Kinja'd!!!

Vicente Esteve > Jayhawk Jake
10/16/2014 at 21:53

It takes courage to admit something like that, and I agree.

Jayhawk Jake > PS9
10/16/2014 at 21:55

That's going to have the same issue as the ZR1.

Although the ZR1 might have a better power to weight...

Jayhawk Jake > Vicente Esteve
10/16/2014 at 21:56

Eh, I'm not saying it's too much in general, just for the street. On a track it would be fine.

Vicente Esteve > Jayhawk Jake
10/16/2014 at 21:58

Yeah, but still, it was such an amazing opportunity and to end up feeling that way.

Also, I have a question, was that CORVETTE lettering on the dashboard an option or a ZR1 thing? I haven't seen it before.

StingrayJake > Jayhawk Jake
10/16/2014 at 22:00

Well-written, Jake.

PS9 > Jayhawk Jake
10/16/2014 at 22:03

That's going to have the same issue as the-

WHAT? I'M SORRY, I CAN'T HEAR YOU. CAN YOU SPEAK UP A BIT?

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > Jayhawk Jake
10/16/2014 at 22:18

A 2013 6 speed Z51 would be the way to go for me if I had lots of money to spend on a weekend Corvette. Magnetic ride control, LS3, 0-60 in 3.9, and decent seats. White is definitely the color for a C6. The ZR1 is just so awesome, though. Cooler than the C7Z in my opinion—it was just so impressive when it came out and still is today...

BrianNutter > Jayhawk Jake
10/16/2014 at 22:31

You will get bored of the power in a month. We now have 7.7 second 1/4 mile 2000hp street legal cars driven by random rich people. You cam get used to wheelspin in fifth.

Jayhawk Jake > Vicente Esteve
10/16/2014 at 22:31

I think it's on all Corvettes? I know it's on C5s.

I didn't leave not liking he car. It was an amazing experience. I wish I didn't have a salesman with me, then I could have opened it up more.

I now know what it feels like to drive a bunch of different power level cars. Wring it out everywhere and not get in trouble in mine, fast Porsche's and muscle cars, really fast corvettes, and now batshit crazy ridiculously fast corvette.

Jayhawk Jake > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7
10/16/2014 at 22:33

This was a manual. I was trying to say what you said here but never did: this is a perfect weekend corvette for someone that has a daily corvette.

The cheapness of the C6 will push away people that don't get Corvettes. This is the ultimate corvette for corvette lovers, and one of the most incredible power to dollar values you can buy.