C7 Z06 or Gen5 Viper

[Donato]

I made the mistake of not doing the research before I purchased my BMW M5 V10 and it was a costly one. Although it was an engineering masterpiece for its time, it too suffers from mystery spinning rod bearings and astronomical maintenance cost that I wish I would have known before my purchase.

So this time around I’m considering the C7 Z06 or a Gen 4-5 Viper and have evolved in to a research junky. I’ve read a ton of content on the respective Forums, a multitude of online magazine reviews, and hours of YouTube videos. There is a lot of garbage out there to sort through but I came across this series of videos just today and was really impressed with the development and engineering behind the Gen5 by SRT so I thought I’d share with others who may be in this same predicament.










They really don’t answer the question on “What to buy?” but I found them inspirational toward the Viper. I'm still going to take some time before I make a decision but keep going back and forth between the two.

I still don’t know, the Gen5 seems to have its fair share of mystery engine problems and the crux of the C7 Z06 is overheating. Supposedly there was a fix for the 2017 Z but on the Corvette form a member was just reporting 270+ oil temps while tracking and it’s winter time now, what happens in the summer? I don’t think the problem has been fixed but the end result of overheating only prolonged.

Both cars are truly incredible machines and I don’t think you can go “right” either way without issue, but in my mind I think I would have a hard time answering “Corvette” if someone asked me what I drive. Maybe it’s worth the $20k upgrade just so I could say “Callaway”.

Yes I know, I have issues too, well anyway enjoy the videos.

[texasram]

C7 = daily driver, viper = race car for street

[Boosted Motorsports]

Well this is a Viper forum. So winner by popular demand here is....Welll...VIPER!

[BJG32]

Your going to get a pretty biased opinion here if you are looking for one!

If you keep the viper stock and extend the warranty, then it's a no brainer on which one to go with.

[Martin]

I was looking at a C7.R at one point, and for basically the same price as the ACR-E, it looked like a really nice car. I just couldn't defect from the Viper platform, though - the C7.R is an awesome car, but it just didn't have that Viper uniqueness.

[donk_316]

Do you want a car that someone has to look at the badge on the fender to see if it is the "faster" version?

Or do you want a car that someone sees and knows exactly what it is.

[texasram]

Do you want a car that someone has to look at the badge on the fender to see if it is the "faster" version?

Or do you want a car that someone sees and knows exactly what it is.

/\ /\ me like

[Space Truckin]

C7.R is an awesome car, but it just didn't have that Viper uniqueness.

^^^THIS^^^

[darbgnik]

The Corvette has always been a better choice for a daily driver. I'm sure most here could go on about why they feel the Viper is the better car, and I suppose I could mention why I like mine too.

Thing is, you mentioned the overheating problem on the C7Z06 while on track, which makes me think you might actually track the car you buy. Despite the "mysterious" engine issues of the Gen 5 Viper, I would take it over a C7Z, as I bought it primarily as a track car, and I would honestly much rather deal with a possible catastrophic engine failure, than an almost guaranteed limp mode every session, every day. I know there have been C7Z's that don't overheat on track, but there are many that do. We even have a couple in our track group that go limp, even up here in Canada.

At least with the Viper, it will run flawlessly, till it doesn't. And the fix is a new engine if it does go. Did anyone actually figure out the solution to the C7Z overheating yet?

If you've been watching videos, did you see this one, showing how the new Viper is made? Pretty cool video if you ask me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8GRWeK4sFE

[ViperPete]

^^^^ DNA of a Supercar. Absolutely amazing video.

Get the Viper. I have never personally been attracted to a single Corvette. There have always been other cars id rather have.

[ansman]

I don't have a c7z06 I have a c6z06 and I am about to order the ACR. IMHO - vett is a great car for the price but it's more mass produced than the viper so it loses the uniqueness. I rode in my friends viper and I like the rawness of the car like someone said a race call.

That is why I am keeping my z06 and also getting the ACR.

[98RedGTS]

You need to ask yourself some questions.

- Are you looking for a DD? If yes, then Corvette
- Are you looking for more a track car? - If yes, then Viper
- Do you prefer to blend in? If yes, then Corvette, heck I saw 4 (1 a Z06) on the way to work during my 15 min commute. In the 9 months I've owned my Gen 2 I've only seen one other Viper on the road total.

Both cars have their mechanically challenges and both cars are great for what they were built for. You just have to figure out which market you are in and go that route. If possible try and drive both.

[edc]

I'm wondering if the 2017 Z06 will still overheat since they changed the blower lid and intercooler bricks.

[Voice of Reason]

The C7.R is a sticker package on an otherwise decent Z06. Chevy should be ashamed of themselves for wasting the moniker on such a worthless package.

[WANTED]

i have owned both, 6 vipers / 4 corvettes. my advice buy both. BTW best buy would be a 2002 rt/10 graphite, haha.

[Bill Pemberton]

Corvette = 30,000 made a year
Viper = 30,000+ made over 25 years

Simple answer, " Do you want to be ordinary or extraordinary !"

[sharmut]

Another consideration, LT4 is DI (direct-injected) and subject to carbon buildups. You'll have to deal with the maintenance, involves pulling intake manifold, cleaning valve stems. On my Audi RS4, it was 15k-20k mile interval, didn't mind, except each time a shop performed the cleaning, do you really know if the tech did not drop any pieces down the cylinder chamber.

[Donato]

Yes I figured this site would lean toward Viper, I’ve seen DNA of a Supercar and the National Geographic Dodge Viper Mega Factories. I must have watched the Head2Head C7 Z07 vs. Viper ACR at least 10 times. I’ve also seen the Corvette robots in action on How Dream Cars are Made.

I’ve been researching whatever I could find for over a month now and thought I’d seen just about everything but I just came across the SRT Series of videos today by accident. I hadn’t seen them so I figured others may have not either which was my primary reason for posting.

The wife thinks I’m nuts and going through mid-life crisis, she didn’t say that when I had my M5 but that was a 4 door sedan. She would always bitch that I drive too fast with her and the kids in the car. I’d say no, I’m driving the speed limit, but I guess it was all about how quickly I got there.

This wouldn’t be my DD as I already have a Lexus for that purpose so more or less a garage queen that would see some light track use.

Do you want a car that someone has to look at the badge on the fender to see if it is the "faster" version?

Or do you want a car that someone sees and knows exactly what it is.

I resemble the second statement and I appreciate the hand-built uniqueness of the Viper, but keep going back to the performance aspects of the A8 C7 Z06 with the Z07 package. It just amazes me how much performance and technology you can get for… the members on the Corvette form are now talking deals 30%+ off MSRP for a 2015, 20%+ off for a 16. I’ve seen used 15s with 4k miles in the high $60s.

However I just can’t mentally get past that Corvette “Stigma: a set of negative and often unfair beliefs that a society or group of people have about something. - Webster”. There a guy at work who drove a Corvette and like a flash I have this guy pegged as to what the Corvette Stigma implies, and still do to this day even though he sold the Corvette years ago. Now if he told me he drove a Viper, I’d have a completely different perspective.

The whole Callaway statement was just me trying to rationalize the purchase of a Callaway A8 C7 Z06 with the Z07 package but in my mind no matter how great I can make the Corvette I just can’t get passed the stigma the notion it’s still just another Plastic Fantastic Corvette like a million others and a million more to come.

Yeah I know I probably have some issues and if you drive a Corvette no offence, just take it with a grain of salt, because by next week I’ll probably have myself convinced I want a “Callaway” again, but seriously to be fair to myself I know I’m a Viper type guy.

[VENOM V]

it's not clear whether you'd like to track it, but if you think you ever will, absolutely do not consider the A8 ZO6. The manual is bad, but the A8 is horrible. My best friend sold his A8 ZO6, it overheated on the third lap in very cool weather at every track we went to. He is an SCCA competition licensed driver (as am I), former Porsche Cup racer. The C7 ZO6 is the first track car he's ever owned that he was never able to get comfortable with at the limit. He currently has a new GT3 and is 4 to 6 seconds behind my ACR depending on the track. The ACR is the real deal. I tracked my ACR with a guy in a stick ZO6 at Laguna, he puked all of his coolant out on a 50 degree day.

On the street the ZO6 is a sweet machine but squirrelly at the limit. Plus, go look at the finish of one before you buy. Why it has more orange peel than my Ram or Fusion at twice the price is beyond me. My Vipers on the other hand have paint quality that is as nice as a Ferrari. No exaggeration.

[uberpube]

Do you have a tribal tattoo? If so get the vette.

[Vegaskid]

I had a 15 Z06 (manual) and now have a 16 ACR..

I can tell you the Z06 is an amazing car. It's more comfortable, quieter, gets better mileage, and I could even argue the quality is much higher than the Viper. It has more power than you know what to do with on the street and I think it looks great.

IMO the Viper ACR is a completely different animal all together. It's loud, stiff, shit mileage, and has plenty of documented mechanical problems.

Having said that, the Viper is much more an overall enjoyable experience to drive to me than the Z06 was. As many have said, it's a race car with some blinkers. I personally love the stiff ride and loud exhaust. The car looks fantastic, sounds amazing, and the performance from an NA V10 is hard to describe unless you personally experience it. I also try to drive it as much as I can, including stop and go traffic.

As others have said, Z06 is much better suited for daily driving, but you won't get the looks and stares that you do in the Viper.

Lastly, I will say that owning a Viper is quite an experience in itself. The Viper community appears to be a very tight knit group where everybody is willing to help each other out. Not just people saying they would help, but actually helping. Seems like the "vibe" from the Viper owners I've met and talked to is one of passion for the brand and automobiles in general. I just joined this group a few weeks ago and have had nothing but warm welcomes and genuine well wishes. You'll meet some great folks that own Vette's, but you really have to be passionate about your cars if you own a Viper. There has to be something to be said for a car that can bring people together like that.

[Boba Fett]

Have Snoman chime in. He's a heavy tracker who now tracks his ACR-E, and came out of a C7Z.

[ek1]

I made the mistake of not doing the research before I purchased my BMW M5 V10 and it was a costly one. Although it was an engineering masterpiece for its time, it too suffers from mystery spinning rod bearings and astronomical maintenance cost that I wish I would have known before my purchase.

So this time around I’m considering the C7 Z06 or a Gen 4-5 Viper and have evolved in to a research junky. I’ve read a ton of content on the respective Forums, a multitude of online magazine reviews, and hours of YouTube videos. There is a lot of garbage out there to sort through but I came across this series of videos just today and was really impressed with the development and engineering behind the Gen5 by SRT so I thought I’d share with others who may be in this same predicament.

They really don’t answer the question on “What to buy?” but I found them inspirational toward the Viper. I'm still going to take some time before I make a decision but keep going back and forth between the two.

I still don’t know, the Gen5 seems to have its fair share of mystery engine problems and the crux of the C7 Z06 is overheating. Supposedly there was a fix for the 2017 Z but on the Corvette form a member was just reporting 270+ oil temps while tracking and it’s winter time now, what happens in the summer? I don’t think the problem has been fixed but the end result of overheating only prolonged.

Both cars are truly incredible machines and I don’t think you can go “right” either way without issue, but in my mind I think I would have a hard time answering “Corvette” if someone asked me what I drive. Maybe it’s worth the $20k upgrade just so I could say “Callaway”.

Yes I know, I have issues too, well anyway enjoy the videos.

I think your research is missing the most important thing - a test drive. Go do it and buy the car you like more.

I almost bought a C7 Z06 and was already negotiating with a dealer when I started seeing a steady stream of reports of cars overheating after a few hot laps. I gave it a few more months to see what GM did about it (diddly squat), Dodge announced the Gen 5 ACR and the rest was history.

[zee]

Valet at Javier's in Newport Beach(where there is no shortage of supercars) clearly chose my viper to be in front over my buddies z06



Lol - in all seriousness though, I've driven my buddies z06 a lot and it's a great car. If you want a weekend warrior or track car, go viper. If you want a DD or for date nights, go z06. One thing I really do admire about the z06 is having the option of an open air cockpit. Really miss that here in so cal cruising the beach.

[Vipes]

Do you have a tribal tattoo? If so get the vette.