Quote:
Originally Posted by sambar
Is the handling on the Vette better than the Z? I was also considering a used C06 Vette instead of a Z, but thought the Z looks much better.
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With the regular C6 I feel the Z has better handling in all areas except one, long high speed corners. For example, typical fwy bend at greater than 120mph, the Vette will have the advantage of staying planted. Now compared to the Grand Sport Vette or a Z51 package I feel the Vette is better than the Z, even Nismo. The one advantage the Z has is that on a very tight course, like auto-x, the Z is shorter overall and has a shorter nose which makes it easier to not hit cones. Both my NISMO and GS Vette have almost no body roll. They corner very flat. Where the Vette is better is the suspension is far more livable for daily driving vs. the NISMO. Thats not to say I complained at all driving my Z to work every day, but girls didn't like it much for longer drives. The Vette retains the aggressive cornering capability while being far more livable on a commute. As for feel, I think thats a bit more subjective. I would hands down take the Z over a run of the mil C6 vette, but would hands down take a GS vette over the Z. With the Grand sport you get equivalent handling in the tight, better handling at higher speeds, and far more power.
Compared to a C6 Z06, it trumps the Z. All the good stuff I just mentioned about a GS vette except you get an LS7 with 505hp. Then again, it's a lot of power to control at the limit on a auto-x or road course. Z06 is for those who really know how to drive or just want to say they have a Z06 but not track it.
I quickly touch on grip. That was the biggest disappointment I had with the Z. My 09 touring/sport and my 2010 NISMO had very little traction out the hole. With TCS on the car wants to bog and cut your fun. With it off on the streets you can easily run into trouble quick, as we've all seen dozens of posts regarding this. Nissan should have tuned the TCS a lot better. Don't get me wrong, on a auto-x course or road course the TCS off the car is very grippy and stable. But just having fun on the streets, it's easy for the car to get away from you. Even when I changed to Michelin PSS on my NISMO, it was better, but the car could still easily get sideways hitting second gear. With the Vette leaving the nannys on the car allows for plenty of fun while intervening just enough to keep you safe. You can make a U-turn and let the back end get a little sideways coming out. With the Z, you'd get half way through and TCS would kick in bogging the hell out of it, then suddenly turn off lurching you forward. In fact any other RWD car I've driven has a better TCS than the Z.
Anyway, thats my take on it. Love the Z but Nissan has failed to update it over it's self life. It's stale and compared to other cars in its segment it's way behind. For me moving to a Vette was logical and the next step. I hope Japan wakes up and starts making exciting cars again cause right now they don't have much to compete with. For now I'll stick with my 300zx and 280z for my fix.