Automotive News, Media & Press - Edmunds Full-Test & Video - Nissan GT-R
TriShield
05-08-2008, 01:33 AM
No Country for Old Porsches
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Pretty flowers. Mean car. Meet the 2009 Nissan GT-R. Neutral in the extreme, the R35 GT-R wants to follow a proper line, and its AWD system adjusts accordingly.
By Erin Riches, Senior Editor
Date posted: 05-06-2008
Twin-turbo 480-hp V6 - 11.7-second quarter-mile at 116.8 mph (second to '07 911 Turbo) - 74.0-mph slalom speed (second to '08 Viper) - Stops from 60 mph in 98 feet (new IL record)
For a few seconds, you give in to the spectacle of driving a 2009 Nissan GT-R. This car attracts its own entourage and then takes you along for the ride. It's not just the Skyline mystique, either. It's the fact that even in production sheet metal, the R35 GT-R looks like a one-off concept stolen from a Southern California design studio. It has as many hard contours as a Porsche 911 has soft curves. You have the key fob, and still you ogle it.
Soon, though, you point the GT-R down an on-ramp and plant the throttle. The effortless brutality with which the 2009 Nissan GT-R gathers speed is what you'll describe to your friends — once everyone's tired of talking about the styling, that is.
What you won't tell them is that you suspect your supercar might be a sociopath. It doesn't flow around corners like your E46 BMW M3 did, nor does it transmit feedback through the steering wheel for the sheer pleasure of it.
Instead, the 2009 Nissan GT-R bends asphalt to its will. When it talks to you about tire grip, you get the feeling it's only bothering because you're part of its great plan to break free of the Earth's orbit. Should it ever achieve this, you imagine that its conversation will cease and it will simply expel you into the airless void. Until then, though, you have the conn.
Old Friends
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The Nissan GT-R gets the drop on everything on a road course. Other cars might be more fun, but none can fend off its speed. The GT-R makes an average driver feel like a superhero from Day One, a feeling you get from a 911 only after lengthy acclimatization.
We already know something of the 2009 Nissan GT-R's character. We've lapped Japan's Sendai Highland Circuit in a production Japanese-spec model, tested a second JDM-spec GT-R with full instrumentation on an airstrip outside Tokyo, and strapped the first R35 GT-R to reach American shores to a dynamometer. Then we lived out your ultimate automotive fantasy by driving a U.S.-spec GT-R from L.A. to Reno, with stops at a dry lake, a drag strip and Utah's Miller Motorsports Park during a 2,000-mile adventure.
So there's a sense of familiarity as we slide into this full-production, U.S.-spec Nissan GT-R. The suede seating surface grabs hold of our jeans and cinches us down into the proper driving position. These seats with their prominent bolsters haven't gotten any wider over the months, so if you're much past 200 pounds, it might be time to go back on Atkins. And although it's assembled with care, the R35 hasn't gotten any more opulent, either. If you want leather or wood, you're better off loading up the options on a base-model Porsche 911.
At nearly $76,000, our test car is the most expensive Skyline GT-R you can buy, thanks to its $3,000 Super Silver paint, which is applied in seven coats, baked five times and then polished by a real human being at Nissan's assembly plant in Tochigi, Japan. It's also a Premium model, which means it has heated seats, Bose speakers and side airbags, not to mention 255/40ZRF20 front and 285/35ZRF20 rear Bridgestone Potenza RE070A run-flat summer tires (in lieu of the Dunlop summer run-flats on the base model, which are not quite as sticky).
My Finger Is on the Button
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Maybe it's not a pretty face, but if you're sick of looking at the 911, this is as far away as you can get. Lots of tumblehome, but the Skyline GT-R is so chiseled, it looks tough anyway.
We reach for the red ignition button and find the initial startup tumult worthy of the twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V6, rated (at last) by the factory at 480 horsepower at 6,800 rpm and 430 pound-feet of torque from 3,200 to 5,200 rpm. But the engine settles into a low-frequency dirge that's nowhere near loud enough. There's no choice, so we shut the V6 off and start it a couple more times just to hear the engine come to life until our friend in the passenger seat (who owns an Evolution IX) is ready to kill us.
We drive slowly at first, letting everything warm up, and notice that the Nissan GT-R's six-speed, dual-clutch transmission is smoother than most automated manual gearboxes. It's one of the few that actually feels normal in automatic mode.
That's not to say it's completely without side effects. You can't really creep at low speeds amid all the automated clutching and declutching, so forget about multiple tries at parallel parking.
Also, the transmission tends to bang off upshifts like it just don't care, even when you're going easy. Car-guy friends comment on the positive shift quality, but the uninitiated ask, "What's that thud coming from the back of the car?"
The Whole Point
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We let some engineers from an aftermarket tuner take a peek, and the narrow-angle 3.8-liter V6 delights them. "There's so much room to work under here," one says. It's not luxurious in here, but the metal is real and everything's set up perfectly for driving.
Before you can answer, you're deep into throttle, looking at triple digits on the auxiliary digital speedo, and then hauling down for the stop sign 500 feet ahead. Your passenger breaks into a light sweat. Only a few seconds have gone by.
You never feel turbo lag or even a power peak. You never even hear an exhaust note, just a lot of intake whoosh instead. And though you take the trouble to work the shift paddles, it all happens so quickly that you struggle to remember it later.
On a warm, sunny day at our Southern California testing facility, our Super Silver Nissan GT-R finds a little more traction than the Solid Red JDM-spec car we tested on the bumpy airstrip in Japan. With launch control engaged, it hits 60 mph in 3.5 seconds (or 3.2 seconds with one foot of rollout like on an NHRA drag strip), while the Japanese GT-R needed 3.6 seconds (or 3.3 seconds with rollout).
Our U.S.-spec R35 loses its edge over the JDM GT-R by the quarter-mile mark, though. It runs an 11.7-second quarter-mile at 116.8 mph, while the Japanese car goes through in 11.6 seconds at 120.9 mph. Note that these latest numbers reflect our transition to reporting NHRA-style trap speed, which is the average of a car's speed over the last 66 feet of the quarter-mile. (The idea behind the switch in our testing protocol is that you can take your car to any drag strip and directly compare your time slip with our numbers; look for a feature story in the next couple of weeks on how we do our instrumented testing.)
Even if you look at the U.S.-spec GT-R's instantaneous quarter-mile speed of 117.7 mph, there's no denying it's slower than the JDM GT-R. The reason is, it's making fewer horsepower while running on our inferior 91-octane gasoline. The red GT-R benefited from the 94-to-95-octane fuel that's readily available in Japan.
So on this day, the 2009 Nissan GT-R does not beat the Porsche 911 Turbo, which recorded an 11.6-second quarter-mile at 118.5 mph during an '07 test. But it's still faster than every other production car on the planet.
Other Records Will Be Broken
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It's just a keyless start button, but that dab of red paint makes all the difference. Then your eyes rest here for a second, and you now expect this car to change your life.
The R35 GT-R stops shorter than any other car, too. Think about a 60-mph-to-0 braking distance in the double-digits.
Really. Ninety-eight feet. On the eighth run. That's a new Inside Line record, a title previously held by the 2008 BMW M3, which stops in 100 feet.
And yet the GT-R is not a lightweight car. Our Super Silver GT-R Premium weighs in at 3,900 pounds. Its 15-inch rotors are steel, not lightweight carbon ceramic. At the test track, everyone's asking, "What happened to the laws of physics?"
Even in normal traffic, you can tell these brakes are something special. The bite is immediate and powerful, yet response never feels too aggressive.
TriShield
05-08-2008, 01:35 AM
And Still Others Threatened
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The shift paddles are mounted on the steering column, so they don't turn with the wheel. The large analog tachometer is dead ahead. If you find the analog speedo hard to follow, you can bring up a digital readout in the trip computer.
As you turn onto your favorite back road, the Nissan GT-R shrinks around you, leaving you just enough air to breathe. You're cornering faster than you usually do, even through the tight stuff that shouldn't be suitable for a car of such girth.
You feel the seriousness with which the R35 GT-R approaches the mission. It doesn't roll. It doesn't fumble over midcorner bumps. And its steering, which is quick and loaded with feel, is also quite heavy. Hope you like it heavy.
We also hope you like cars with four driven wheels, because the GT-R's ATTESA E-TS all-wheel-drive system exerts huge authority over this car's cornering behavior.
Sometimes the 2009 Nissan GT-R acts like it's a rear-wheel-drive car, but more often, the AWD system is moving power between the wheels (up to an even split of 50 percent front/50 percent rear) to keep the R35 on the proper line. The system even determines a target yaw rate based on steering input and makes adjustments in the torque split using actual real-time data from the car's yaw and lateral-g sensors.
There's similar technology featured by the Mitsubishi Evo X, but the GT-R's execution feels very different, and not just because it's built from rear-drive platform architecture and aimed at a more elite crowd. It doesn't really give its driver a chance to make mistakes. It finds the fastest way through a corner no matter what.
Of course there's a flip side to this sophistication. The GT-R doesn't play. If you revel in the way a 911 can be tossed into a corner, or the way a Corvette Z06 loves a powerslide, or the way a CLK63 Black Series abuses corners of all persuasions, the R35 GT-R can seem cold, perhaps even too narrowly focused on the efficient physics of performance.
Then you watch the GT-R go through the slalom at 74 mph (1 mph faster than the JDM-spec car thanks to better surface conditions) and wonder how you could think such a thing. This is only 0.2 mph slower than the '08 Dodge Viper and that car wears ridiculously huge 345/30ZR19 rear meats.
Only on the skid pad do the 2009 Nissan GT-R's considerable mass and slight stubbornness become liabilities — and only if the goal is 1.0g. The GT-R pulls 0.96g, just the same as the 2,000-pound Lotus Exige S.
Best Car Ever?
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The standard hard-drive-based navigation system provides numerous viewing options for the auxiliary gauges. These switches allow you to tailor transmission behavior, damping firmness and stability control intervention. All must be set to "R" to enable launch control.
Depending on your drive to work, you might have some words for Nissan about the GT-R's ride quality. There's a center-stack switch for adjusting the Bilstein adaptive dampers, and after bludgeoning our first expansion joint, we waste no time selecting "Comf." But comf never comes. We can't detect any change in the damping at all.
Maybe this means we're not hard-core enough to drive a 2009 Nissan GT-R. Or maybe it means a grand-touring suspension package will turn up in a few years. But there's an easier solution if you want in on the R35 Skyline GT-R experience. Don't take the freeway to work. Use the back roads instead.
You'll drive them faster than you ever have before. Maybe you'll never know exactly what the GT-R is up to behind the scenes, but when you can out-accelerate, out-handle and out-brake anything short of a Formula 1 car, do you really care?
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But don't bother climbing in back if you're over 5 feet 8. Note the six-piston Brembo caliper behind this attractive wheel; all-season tires are a no-cost option.
MSRP of Test Vehicle: $75,925
What Works: Brutal acceleration at your command; dual-clutch gearbox is sharp yet smooth; handles and stops like a car half its weight; excellent driving position.
What Needs Work: Ride quality can be brutal; exhaust note is too quiet.
Bottom Line: The GT-R delivers a rare combination of speed, agility and technological sophistication. It's a bit of a cold fish, but for $76K, we'll deal.
TriShield
05-08-2008, 01:35 AM
Second Opinion
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Just one of the multiple screens at your disposal. Additional readouts include engine water temperature, transmission oil temperature, transmission oil pressure and front/rear torque split. We're not sure how useful these would be when you're driving hard, but it's nice to know they're available if you need them.
Inside Line Editor in Chief Scott Oldham says:
The 2009 Nissan GT-R isn't for me.
There I said it. I've come clean. The holy grail of new performance cars, the great Nissan GT-R, isn't my thing. Man, what a load off my chest.
Now, before you threaten my kids, let me explain.
Fact is, I've now driven three different GT-Rs a total of 2,200 miles, which probably means I have more miles in a GT-R than any other American. And I have no hesitation calling it the best performance car you can buy at any price. Sure the steering is unnecessarily heavy, the ride is ridiculously harsh and the engine is just too damn quiet, but this is an amazing machine. Pure speed. If going fast is your goal, the Nissan GT-R is the car to have.
Trouble is, there are several cars on the market for the same money that also go way too fast, but offer more luxury, more prestige and more fun. They are, in no particular order: the Mercedes-Benz C63, the BMW M3, the Porsche 911 and a well-used but well-preserved Ferrari F355.
Although none of those cars can really run with the almighty GT-R, each is capable of sub-5-second 0-to-60-mph times, 12-second quarter-mile runs and enough G-load to cause a redout. They're also more luxurious, more livable and far more impressive to members of the opposite sex, most of whom would see the GT-R and wonder why you put that big ugly wing on your 300ZX.
Then there's the hooligan factor. Sometimes having a fast car isn't only about speed. Sometimes it's about fun. And the GT-R, with its very sophisticated all-wheel-drive system, gets a big fat zero in this category. Powerslides and burnouts aren't really in the GT-R's vocabulary. Sure, it's fun to use its launch mode and leave the world behind, but most of the time I'd rather shave a little life off my rear tires.
Don't get your pocket protector in a bunch. I know burnouts and powerslides are slow. But there are times when I prefer blazing the tires through a couple of gears or a good old-fashioned powerslide to all-out speed. Such recklessness always makes me smile. And nobody is timing me in the real world; rarely do I try to shave a tenth of a second on my way to Costco.
Which brings me back to the GT-R. It's a serious performance machine. Maybe a little too serious. I prefer cars with a lighter side. Cars with a second dimension. Cars with a little less to prove. Even if they are slower around the Nürburging, they're usually more fun.
Performance
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Nothing to complain about with this setup. There's a shift light positioned right near the "7" on the tachometer. Six-piston Brembo calipers are used up front, while the rear binders make do with only four-piston calipers. All four corners get 15-inch vented and drilled rotors. Nissan says this is one of the most powerful production brake systems in the world.
0 - 30 (sec): 1.5
0 - 45 (sec): 2.4
0 - 60 (sec): 3.5
0 - 75 (sec): 5.1
1/4 Mile (sec @ mph): 11.7 @ 117.7
0-60 with 1-ft Rollout (sec): 3.2
30 - 0 (ft): 25
60 - 0 (ft): 98
Braking Rating (Excellent, Good, Average, Poor or Very Poor): Excellent
Slalom (mph): 74.0
Skid Pad Lateral acceleration (g): 0.96
Handling Rating (Excellent, Good, Average, Poor or Very Poor): Excellent
Db @ Idle: 52.2
Db @ Full Throttle: 84.8
Db @ 70 mph Cruise: 77.6
Edmunds Observed (mpg): 19.1
Acceleration Comments: What can I say that hasn't already been said? The GT-R hardly feels like a car -- it's more like a loud bullet train leaving the station with all the electric motors on "MAX!" Best run needed a little pedalin' to quell wheelspin and grabbing next gear prior to redline.
Handling Comments: Slalom: Strikingly quick and nimble for its size. Very, very easy to manage at the limit. Not so easy to place -- difficult to tell where the corners of the bodywork and the tires are. Skid pad: Can feel the mass here. Not terribly receptive to throttle adjustments. Starts to feel its size.
Braking Comments: A new Edmunds record-short stop (on the 8th run)! Distances were obviously coming down, but slowly, so I did a 100-mph-to-0 stop and suddenly dropped a couple more feet. Zero dive, no drama, and it didn't care if it was bumpy, dusty or smooth.
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Spoolin
05-08-2008, 01:52 AM
WOW...probably the best most unbiased article I've seen so far. Those editors did a great job highlighting the everyday faults of the GTR! Sweet car nonetheless, something anyone would love to drive but own...??
Nice find TriShield!
ChaseSS
05-08-2008, 02:02 AM
this car sucks... it has only one cup holder for the back seats, I mean come on!!!
Dr Tran
05-08-2008, 02:02 AM
It looks like it's definitely one insane car (no I'm not a fan of anything about it) but this part just doesn't make any sense to me:bang::
So on this day, the 2009 Nissan GT-R does not beat the Porsche 911 Turbo, which recorded an 11.6-second quarter-mile at 118.5 mph during an '07 test. But it's still faster than every other production car on the planet.
Spoolin
05-08-2008, 02:12 AM
It looks like it's definitely one insane car (no I'm not a fan of anything about it) but this part just doesn't make any sense to me:bang::
I think they were referring to it's Nuremberg times and at other tracks around the world, not necessarily it's acceleration tests. I was kinda like :confused: at first but that's what I assume they were talking about.
Dr Tran
05-08-2008, 04:17 PM
I think they were referring to it's Nuremberg times and at other tracks around the world, not necessarily it's acceleration tests. I was kinda like :confused: at first but that's what I assume they were talking about.
Oh ok if that the case I can understand it a little better. But in acceleration it is not the fastest by far.:D
Blakbird24
05-08-2008, 05:13 PM
Also, being fastest on the ring does not make a car the fastest on the planet. There are lots of cars, production and otherwise, that have never been run on the ring.
Spoolin
05-08-2008, 05:48 PM
Oh ok if that the case I can understand it a little better. But in acceleration it is not the fastest by far.:D
Yeah the Veyron and the SSC Shelby seem to have the leg up on everyone at the time! But there are quicker cars out there for sure...at that price range though...most likely not.
Also, being fastest on the ring does not make a car the fastest on the planet. There are lots of cars, production and otherwise, that have never been run on the ring.
Which production cars specifically are you referring to? Not trying to argue, just trying to know which ones your talking about.
01ssreda4
05-09-2008, 06:30 PM
i like it.....i wouldn't buy it if i could though.
COD02SS
05-09-2008, 06:31 PM
LOVE it but i'm a riceboy
Hydramatic
05-09-2008, 07:22 PM
Yeah the Veyron and the SSC Shelby seem to have the leg up on everyone at the time! But there are quicker cars out there for sure...at that price range though...most likely not.
Which production cars specifically are you referring to? Not trying to argue, just trying to know which ones your talking about.
Well, there's the Chevy Corvair...
Ford Edsel...
etc...
Spoolin
05-09-2008, 09:02 PM
Well, there's the Chevy Corvair...
Ford Edsel...
etc...
Lol, your actually probably right, though I really don't really know for sure. But as far as what Blackbird said I'm not sure there are many cars that haven't been run around the ring that might give the Carerra GT, GTR, Pagani a run for it's money.
Has the Koenigsegg CCX gone around the Nuremburg?
2002_Z28_Six_Speed
05-13-2008, 01:39 AM
Very well written article! TY for the post.
The GTR is a nice car but they sure put alot of useless crap in it (my opinion).
All these screens, speakers, cruise control, ect. Wow. Accessory overload.
The car feels complex and technical.
LS1LT1
05-13-2008, 02:07 AM
i like it.....i wouldn't buy it if i could though.I like it too...and can afford it, I've even considered getting on one of the dealer lists too because I know some of my friends would simply soil themselves when I pulled up in it and I'd get such a kick out of that. :D
But that's the wrong reason to buy a car....the idea of spending that much more money than an LS3 Corvette for a car that weighs nearly 700 pounds more and gets worse fuel economy (I use premium only in my cars, and having the cash or not, at $3.75/gallon it still hurts) for what might amount to only a slight gain in straight line prowess just makes me rethink it.
Morpheus
05-13-2008, 08:48 AM
Holy shit!!!
60-0 in 98 feet?? Now that's damn impressive.
Morpheus
05-13-2008, 08:55 AM
Very well written article! TY for the post.
The GTR is a nice car but they sure put alot of useless crap in it (my opinion).
All these screens, speakers, cruise control, ect. Wow. Accessory overload.
The car feels complex and technical.
It's got the same accessories as most sports cars. The one big difference I see is the info screen which I think is genius. It's like having a laptop hooked up in your car monitoring all the info but it's on the dash instead of in the passenger seat.
Other than that, it's got a lot of the same features as a loaded auto. C6.
Blakbird24
05-13-2008, 04:25 PM
Other than that, it's got a lot of the same features as a loaded auto. C6.
Except for the one where it drives itself. As far as I know, that's not an option on the C6.
COD02SS
05-13-2008, 06:46 PM
It's got the same accessories as most sports cars. The one big difference I see is the info screen which I think is genius. It's like having a laptop hooked up in your car monitoring all the info but it's on the dash instead of in the passenger seat.
Other than that, it's got a lot of the same features as a loaded auto. C6.
X2. The info display is beautiful but it really can't be compared to a C6. Why? 2+2 compared to a 2 seater as well as interior materials are 100X's better then the vette's.
Blakbird24
05-13-2008, 07:26 PM
X2. The info display is beautiful but it really can't be compared to a C6. Why? 2+2 compared to a 2 seater as well as interior materials are 100X's better then the vette's.
HA!
What materials? Plastic, Leather and Vinyl? I love these kinds of arguments. Now your probably going to try to tell us that Nissan makes a better car than Chevy. Can't wait for that.
LS1LT1
05-13-2008, 10:57 PM
X2. The info display is beautiful but it really can't be compared to a C6. Why? 2+2 compared to a 2 seater as well as interior materials are 100X's better then the vette's.You're right about the 2+2 thing, but interior materials 100Xs better?:huh:
You sure it's not more like 123Xs better or maybe only like 92Xs better? ;)
Some of you people make Corvette interiors out to be like that of a 1976 base model Dodge Monaco or something and that simply ANYTHING with an import nameplate on it must clearly be competition for Rolls Royce.
My C6's interior (and exterior) is amazing, EXTREMELY high quality from top to bottom. Even C5 interiors are not nearly as bad as some people accuse them of being.
Nothing like a little overboard, overblown exaggeration to make a poster look like a total ignoramus. :lol:
LS1LT1
05-13-2008, 11:00 PM
I love these kinds of arguments. Now your probably going to try to tell us that Nissan makes a better car than Chevy. Can't wait for that.Dude, but it's a Japanese car, it's GOT TO BE better. :jest: ;)
Import nutswinging fanboys. :eyes: :swing: :hump:
COD02SS
05-13-2008, 11:03 PM
HA!
What materials? Plastic, Leather and Vinyl? I love these kinds of arguments. Now your probably going to try to tell us that Nissan makes a better car than Chevy. Can't wait for that.
You already said it so why should i have to say it? :lol:
The Manalishi
05-14-2008, 12:17 AM
Where is Chris? A GTR thread and no posts from him. I predicting this will spiral into the usual this car sucks, that car sucks and get locked. Like the thousands of others. The only difference is this one actually started as a pretty informative post.
fail_safe
05-14-2008, 04:06 AM
Where is Chris? A GTR thread and no posts from him. I predicting this will spiral into the usual this car sucks, that car sucks and get locked. Like the thousands of others. The only difference is this one actually started as a pretty informative post.
Im sure he's watching
Spoolin
05-14-2008, 05:46 AM
Well without knocking one car or another or having another penis contest I'm sure we can agree that for $100,000(projected ZR1) that the interior isn't as nice as most other 100K cars? I mean from what I read, the interior is gonna remain the same as the Z06, which is a great interior but not like similarly priced Porsche's, BMW's, MB's, Maserati's, etc...
Great interior but not made with exotic materials or high grade leathers and suedes and such...we can agree to that right? I mean it is the blue collar worker's supercar after all.
Now I'm gonna add that the ZR1 shows promise to be an exceptional car with few equals, I need to throw that disclaimer out there so nobody thinks I'm knocking on the ZR1.
bboyferal
05-14-2008, 11:28 AM
Guys, neither car is gonna have the interior quality they should have, Vette OR GT-R.
To say that Nissan's interior quality is fantastic is just about as stupid as saying the Vette's is. Come on...
Like Spoolin said, these are not damn Porsches... I've been lucky enough to sit in the interior of a few Porsches... Now that's damn quality.
Morpheus
05-14-2008, 11:39 AM
I don't know if the GT-R has a nicer/better quality interior because I haven't sat in one. I have never liked the C6 interior. It's boring and bland if you ask me. I liked the C5 interior better. The C6 seems to use better materials though as it doesn't have the rattles that the C5 does.
All cars use essentially the same materials in their interiors. It's the design and engineering of how those materials fit together, how they feel to the touch and how they look that make the difference.
fail_safe
05-14-2008, 12:49 PM
Guys, neither car is gonna have the interior quality they should have, Vette OR GT-R.
To say that Nissan's interior quality is fantastic is just about as stupid as saying the Vette's is. Come on...
Like Spoolin said, these are not damn Porsches... I've been lucky enough to sit in the interior of a few Porsches... Now that's damn quality.
Nissan has taken the extra steps to insure everything is leather wrapped inside(dashboard, steering wheels, door panels, etc...).
LS1LT1
05-14-2008, 12:54 PM
Well without knocking one car or another or having another penis contest I'm sure we can agree that for $100,000(projected ZR1) that the interior isn't as nice as most other 100K cars? I mean from what I read, the interior is gonna remain the same as the Z06, which is a great interior but not like similarly priced Porsche's, BMW's, MB's, Maserati's, etc...
Great interior but not made with exotic materials or high grade leathers and suedes and such...we can agree to that right? I mean it is the blue collar worker's supercar after all.True. But as you also alluded to briefly, not having an interior that's quite up to the standards of the average $100k car kind of gets somewhat overlooked when your $100k car outperforms $700k - $800k cars ;) (time will tell if that's actually true or not of course).
Besides, the ZR1 is supposed to be getting the Z06's optional/upgraded interior as standard which is quite nice I might add.
LS1LT1
05-14-2008, 12:56 PM
Im sure he's watchingYeah, me too.
'sup Chris :wavey:
Banned much? :lol:
fail_safe
05-14-2008, 12:57 PM
Yeah, me too.
'sup Chris :wavey:
Banned much? :lol:
I know, it sucks :confused:
Morpheus
05-14-2008, 01:10 PM
Besides, the ZR1 is supposed to be getting the Z06's optional/upgraded interior as standard which is quite nice I might add.
No it's not. There are 2 option groups on the ZR1. The premium will include the leather wrappend interior but the base will not. GM has already said that the 2nd option package will add over 400 pounds to the weight of the car so they decided to offer a base package that is lighter and therefore, faster.
2002_Z28_Six_Speed
05-14-2008, 01:14 PM
It's got the same accessories as most sports cars. The one big difference I see is the info screen which I think is genius. It's like having a laptop hooked up in your car monitoring all the info but it's on the dash instead of in the passenger seat.
Other than that, it's got a lot of the same features as a loaded auto. C6.
At least I am not a blind naysayer, right? :D
2000Hawk
05-14-2008, 04:45 PM
No it's not. There are 2 option groups on the ZR1. The premium will include the leather wrappend interior but the base will not. GM has already said that the 2nd option package will add over 400 pounds to the weight of the car so they decided to offer a base package that is lighter and therefore, faster.
Whats that second option, it must be a ton of shit if its going to add 400pounds to the weight of the car.
-Joel
LS1LT1
05-14-2008, 05:00 PM
GM has already said that the 2nd option package will add over 400 pounds to the weight of the carThat's impossible.
We might be talking about two different things here. There is an option package that adds things like extra power adjustments on the seats, Navigation, power telescoping steering wheel etc and then there is the upgraded interior items that I was referring too such as two tone leathers, special stitching, leather dash/door panels etc.
They might include one package when you order the other but regardless of how much you option up a Corvette you are NOT going to be able to add any more than say 130 pounds or so to the car.
The ZR1 does weigh more than the base cars and the Z06. perhaps that's what you'd read?
Morpheus
05-14-2008, 06:21 PM
That's impossible.
We might be talking about two different things here. There is an option package that adds things like extra power adjustments on the seats, Navigation, power telescoping steering wheel etc and then there is the upgraded interior items that I was referring too such as two tone leathers, special stitching, leather dash/door panels etc.
They might include one package when you order the other but regardless of how much you option up a Corvette you are NOT going to be able to add any more than say 130 pounds or so to the car.
The ZR1 does weigh more than the base cars and the Z06. perhaps that's what you'd read?
I'm telling you what the Corvette brand manager has said reguarding the 2 packages but here's the info straight from the ZR1 ordering guide from GM Dealerworld just in case you still think I'm wrong. There are only 2 option packages on the ZR1 and it shows what is included in each. The wrapped interior is included in the 2nd package. How do you know for sure how much that extra leather and options weighs?
http://picsorban.com/upload/zr1order.jpg
http://picsorban.com/upload/zr1order2.jpg
http://picsorban.com/upload/zr1order3.jpg
http://picsorban.com/upload/zr1order4.jpg
Morpheus
05-14-2008, 06:25 PM
Here's the new Z06 wheels too.
http://picsorban.com/upload/newzo6wheel.jpg
http://picsorban.com/upload/newzo6wheel2.jpg
LS1LT1
05-14-2008, 06:44 PM
How do you know for sure how much that extra leather and options weighs?How? Because I'm a HUGE Corvette enthusiast (and owner) who's on the internet and around Corvettes practically all day/every day and I absorb/retain the knowledge/information that I learn about them as if it were my job LOL. ;)
Truth is I don't know for sure the exact weights and yes those options will in fact add at least some weight but let's be reasonable here.
The option packages and their contents are still very similar to those of the base cars and the Z06s and there is no way to add that much weight to any individual Corvette model simply through factory options/option packages.
Will a loaded ZR1 weigh notably more than a base Z06? Yes, of course but they're two different cars.
A loaded/fully optioned ZR1 cannot weigh 400 pounds more than a base/no option one.
2000Hawk
05-14-2008, 06:52 PM
That second wheel looks pretty awesome, can't wait to see a cyber-grey ZR1 with some of those.
-Joel
LS1LT1
05-14-2008, 07:14 PM
That second wheel looks pretty awesome, can't wait to see a cyber-grey ZR1 with some of those.Both of those rims are only coming on the Z06s, the ZR1's rims are different but I agree that that the Competiton Grey wheels on a Cyber Grey Z06 would look awesome. :cool:
In the outside event that I'd get an '09 to replace my current C6 I would likely be getting that color combo. :nod:
Spoolin
05-14-2008, 07:26 PM
True. But as you also alluded to briefly, not having an interior that's quite up to the standards of the average $100k car kind of gets somewhat overlooked when your $100k car outperforms $700k - $800k cars ;) (time will tell if that's actually true or not of course).
Besides, the ZR1 is supposed to be getting the Z06's optional/upgraded interior as standard which is quite nice I might add.
You are right about the performance but I was strictly talking interior, nothing else because I understand if we start debating about which cars are better it'd tear this thread down again.
However you got me thinking that yeah the ZR1 should outperform some of the higher end exotics but what if those $700K - $800K exotics used the same weight saving interior's of the vette? I don't know enough to be able to guess at whether 400 lbs is accurate but I'll tell you what if you were to do that to the Veyron or the Saleen, I'd bet they'd be quicker than that those Fugger's are now which is scary to think. I recall that there's a lot of Ferrari's who's interiors are none exsistant too so let's not think all supercars are posh...the F40 comes to mind when talking about skimming on the interiors.
LrngCrv
05-14-2008, 07:41 PM
There is a reason these guys work for a magazine... they are nothing close to experts on cars. You might as well listen to any random person's biased and uninformed opinion on this car. And this article was full of bias...
Even if you look at the U.S.-spec GT-R's instantaneous quarter-mile speed of 117.7 mph, there's no denying it's slower than the JDM GT-R. The reason is, it's making fewer horsepower while running on our inferior 91-octane gasoline. The red GT-R benefited from the 94-to-95-octane fuel that's readily available in Japan.
WTF... who even let this go to print? Doesn't Japan use RON ratings on their gasoline? It isn't higher octane than the US 91 octane ((RON+MON)/2), the US 91 octane would be the same if not slightly better. The JDM spec GT-R is definately faster because of our "inferior" gasoline... :eyes:
It's a nice car, don't get me wrong, but the bloated advertising makes me sick.
2000Hawk
05-14-2008, 07:41 PM
F40 Interior
http://www.thecartorialist.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/ferrari_f40_interior.jpg
Interior wasn't so fantastic, but when you consider the kind of performance you got at the time the interior was the last thing you cared about. People should consider also that im sure GM could have made the ZR1 interior look amazing, but where would the price tag be at then $120,000, $130,000, etc. Cars like the ZR1, VSpec aren't all about making the car look nice, but being the best performance car for the price. I got no problem with the interior, it comes with a speedo that says 220 and a boost gauge thats enough to keep me happy.
-Joel
Morpheus
05-14-2008, 07:42 PM
How? Because I'm a HUGE Corvette enthusiast (and owner) who's on the internet and around Corvettes practically all day/every day and I absorb/retain the knowledge/information that I learn about them as if it were my job LOL. ;)
Truth is I don't know for sure the exact weights and yes those options will in fact add at least some weight but let's be reasonable here.
The option packages and their contents are still very similar to those of the base cars and the Z06s and there is no way to add that much weight to any individual Corvette model simply through factory options/option packages.
Will a loaded ZR1 weigh notably more than a base Z06? Yes, of course but they're two different cars.
A loaded/fully optioned ZR1 cannot weigh 400 pounds more than a base/no option one.
Believe what you want but when a Corvette engineer says that the base car is the one to get because of a 400 pound weight savings, I tend to believe the ENGINEER more than the ENTHUSIAST.
bboyferal
05-14-2008, 09:24 PM
F40 Interior
http://www.thecartorialist.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/ferrari_f40_interior.jpg
Interior wasn't so fantastic, but when you consider the kind of performance you got at the time the interior was the last thing you cared about. People should consider also that im sure GM could have made the ZR1 interior look amazing, but where would the price tag be at then $120,000, $130,000, etc. Cars like the ZR1, VSpec aren't all about making the car look nice, but being the best performance car for the price. I got no problem with the interior, it comes with a speedo that says 220 and a boost gauge thats enough to keep me happy.
-Joel
LOL... On these cars, don't forget high speed fuel gauges, most of all. :bang:
BTW, the F40 is pure sex... I'm currently saving for it in GT5 Prologue. :D
bboyferal
05-14-2008, 09:27 PM
Believe what you want but when a Corvette engineer says that the base car is the one to get because of a 400 pound weight savings, I tend to believe the ENGINEER more than the ENTHUSIAST.
The king should believe a FOOD TASTER more than the COOK. ;)
2000Hawk
05-14-2008, 10:18 PM
Porsche 997 GT3RS
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1b/Porsche_911_GT3_RS_997_Interior.jpg/800px-Porsche_911_GT3_RS_997_Interior.jpg
Interior of this car isn't anything flashy either, its easy to the eyes and goes straight to business. If your looking for comfort, and a nice flashy interior then something like ZR1 or GTR is not for you.
-Joel
LS1LT1
05-14-2008, 10:51 PM
However you got me thinking that yeah the ZR1 should outperform some of the higher end exotics but what if those $700K - $800K exotics used the same weight saving interior's of the vette? I don't know enough to be able to guess at whether 400 lbs is accurate but I'll tell you what if you were to do that to the Veyron or the Saleen, I'd bet they'd be quicker than that those Fugger's are now which is scary to think. I recall that there's a lot of Ferrari's who's interiors are none exsistant too so let's not think all supercars are posh...the F40 comes to mind when talking about skimming on the interiors.I think I know what you're saying here but I don't think you fully understand about the ZR1's (or even Z06's) interior.
Even a base (for arguement's sake let's call it the lightweight version) is anything but spartan, the car still comes with comfy leather seating, power windows/locks/seat, cruise control, heads up display, multi speaker/high powered audio system, climate control A/C etc. The upgrades merely add a few more extras to make an already luxurious interior (for a sports car) even more so. So the bit about exercising those same weight savings in a Veyron or Saleen S7 doesn't really apply because the ZR1 (nor Corvettes in general) doesn't utilize those weight saving measures that you're referring to. Think of it as a fully equipped heavy interior with an optional one that's slightly heavier. :)
LS1LT1
05-14-2008, 10:56 PM
Believe what you want but when a Corvette engineer says that the base car is the one to get because of a 400 pound weight savings, I tend to believe the ENGINEER more than the ENTHUSIAST.So I just want to clarify, you truly believe in your heart that there will be a base ZR1 that weighs roughly 3300 pounds and that with only using factory available options one will be able to load that very same car up to be roughly 3700 pounds?
And regardless of who said or where you'd read it, you truly believe that this will be the case?
Morpheus
05-14-2008, 10:59 PM
I think I know what you're saying here but I don't think you fully understand about the ZR1's (or even Z06's) interior.
Even a base (for arguement's sake let's call it the lightweight version) is anything but spartan, the car still comes with comfy leather seating, power windows/locks/seat, cruise control, heads up display, multi speaker/high powered audio system, climate control A/C etc. The upgrades merely add a few more extras to make an already luxurious interior (for a sports car) even more so. So the bit about exercising those same weight savings in a Veyron or Saleen S7 doesn't really apply because the ZR1 (nor Corvettes in general) doesn't utilize those weight saving measures that you're referring to. Think of it as a fully equipped heavy interior with an optional one that's slightly heavier. :)
You have lost your mind. How can weight savings in an interior not apply to the ZR1? If you add an option, you're adding weight and therefore slowing the car down. It's that simple.
I think it's funny that you don't think weight savings apply to the ZR1. The engineers sure went to a lot of trouble to shave weight from this car to help offset the added weight of the go fast and stop short goodies. All that carbon fiber isn't a weight reduction?
2000Hawk
05-14-2008, 11:00 PM
Wasn't the F40 built to be light, i believe some of the body panels were glued together. I think it was because Ferrari stated the nuts and bolts would have added more weight to the car.
-Joel
Morpheus
05-14-2008, 11:06 PM
So I just want to clarify, you truly believe in your heart that there will be a base ZR1 that weighs roughly 3300 pounds and that with only using factory available options one will be able to load that very same car up to be roughly 3700 pounds?
And regardless of who said or where you'd read it, you truly believe that this will be the case?
I know that leather is heavy. Mechanical options can be heavy. I don't know for sure that's why I'm not jumping out there and saying that it's impossible like you are. The bottom line is that you don't know that either. You just sound like someone that likes to think that they know it all.
I don't know what else is added to the interior when the leather wrap is added. I'm sure it's not "lightweight" though.
Ask yourself this. Why would they offer a base ZR1 if there was only a minimal weight savings? The car is going to cost over $100k. Do you think that GM said "We better offer a base model so that the car is affordable to the common man." Anyone that can afford this car isn't going to care about another $7,000 in options unless there's a significant weight increase that could hinder performance. GM would just offer this car with no options, all loaded if that was the case.
LS1LT1
05-14-2008, 11:08 PM
You have lost your mind. How can weight savings in an interior not apply to the ZR1? If you add an option, you're adding weight and therefore slowing the car down. It's that simple.
I think it's funny that you don't think weight savings apply to the ZR1. The engineers sure went to a lot of trouble to shave weight from this car to help offset the added weight of the go fast and stop short goodies. All that carbon fiber isn't a weight reduction?No, I haven't lost anything, including this discussion.
The ZR1's interior is not a gutted race car, the car comes with the same exact accoutrements that the base Z06 and even the base LS3 come with.
Of course if you add an option you add weight, and I CLEARLY STATED THAT. My point was that Spoolin was under the impression that the base ZR1 was stripped down (like say a Lotus Elise or the old Club Sport Porsches and BMWs used to be) and it's not. Yes there are luxury options that can be added if one chooses but even the base car is WELL equipped.
And I know the car has numerous weight savings measures that even the already lightweight Z06 doesn't have, they were done to counter the added weight of the supercharger and plumbing. But I was referring to ONLY the interior as that was the SOLE TOPIC of discussion here.
fail_safe
05-14-2008, 11:18 PM
No, I haven't lost anything, including this discussion.
The ZR1's interior is not a gutted race car, the car comes with the same exact accoutrements that the base Z06 and even the base LS3 come with.
Of course if you add an option you add weight, and I CLEARLY STATED THAT. My point was that Spoolin was under the impression that the base ZR1 was stripped down (like say a Lotus Elise or the old Club Sport Porsches and BMWs used to be) and it's not. Yes there are luxury options that can be added if one chooses but even the base car is WELL equipped.
And I know the car has numerous weight savings measures that even the already lightweight Z06 doesn't have, they were done to counter the added weight of the supercharger and plumbing. But I was referring to ONLY the interior as that was the SOLE TOPIC of discussion here.
Im thinking, what can they possibly add to the car in order to make it 400lbs heavier? Leather might add 40-50lbs(25 per seat possilby) , Navi system(another 10-15 not exactly sure whats involved) and thats it.
LS1LT1
05-14-2008, 11:20 PM
You just sound like someone that likes to think that they know it all.Nah I don't know it all or even think that I do, but if you REALLY think that one can add 400 pounds in factory options to any Corvette then apparently I at least know more than you do on this particular subject LOL.
Ask yourself this. Why would they offer a base ZR1 if there was only a minimal weight savings? The car is going to cost over $100k. Do you think that GM said "We better offer a base model so that the car is affordable to the common man." Anyone that can afford this car isn't going to care about another $7,000 in options unless there's a significant weight increase that could hinder performance. GM would just offer this car with no options, all loaded if that was the case.Dude, why do they offer a base anything?
You do know that ALL other Corvettes come as base models with option packages and a series of individual options available as well right?
While the base models are slightly lighter that is NOT necessarily why GM/Chevrolet set it up that way.
In other words, the weight difference between loaded Corvettes and base ones IS a factor to the few racer types out there like myself but it was not a priority to GM as they already went through the R&D to make the car relatively light. Their motivation for these higher cost options was plain old CA$H.
Morpheus
05-14-2008, 11:21 PM
Im thinking, what can they possibly add to the car in order to make it 400lbs heavier? Leather might add 40-50lbs(25 per seat possilby) , Navi system(another 10-15 not exactly sure whats involved) and thats it.
Nav won't add much weight. It's vitually the same as the standard radio. The power pass seat, telescoping steering wheel, side-impact airbags, heated seats and leather wrap will add weight though.
Morpheus
05-14-2008, 11:23 PM
Nah I don't know it all or even think that I do, but if you REALLY think that one can add 400 pounds in factory options to any Corvette then apparently I at least know more than you do on this particular subject LOL.
Dude, why do they offer a base anything?
You do know that ALL other Corvettes come as base models with option packages and a series of individual options available as well right?
While the base models are slightly lighter that is NOT necessarily why GM/Chevrolet set it up that way.
In other words, the weight difference between loaded Corvettes and base ones IS a factor to the few racer types out there like myself but it was not a priority to GM as they already went through the R&D to make the car relatively light. Their motivation for these higher cost options was plain old CA$H.
THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT THAT I JUST MADE!! Why would someone that is shelling out $100k for a car give 2 shits about another $7000? THEY DON'T!!
I've been in the car business for over 8 years. Trust me, when the rich buy cars, they don't want base. They want it all and will pay for it. The ONLY reason they're offering a base ZR1 is because of weight savings.
LS1LT1
05-14-2008, 11:24 PM
Im thinking, what can they possibly add to the car in order to make it 400lbs heavier? Leather might add 40-50lbs(25 per seat possilby) , Navi system(another 10-15 not exactly sure whats involved) and thats it.EXACTLY.
Someone is apparently a bit misinformed about how cars are built.
"Yes I'd like to order my black Corvette with the refrigerator, sink and Brinks vault options please." :jest:
Morpheus
05-14-2008, 11:26 PM
EXACTLY.
Someone is apparently a bit misinformed about how cars are built.
"Yes I'd like to order my black Corvette with the refrigerator, sink and Brinks vault options please." :jest:
I promise you that I know more about how cars are built and the thinking that goes into what GM offers than you will EVER know.
LS1LT1
05-14-2008, 11:26 PM
The power pass seat, telescoping steering wheel, side-impact airbags, heated seats and leather wrap will add weight though.But 400 pounds worth?:huh:
If not then where's all that weight?
You're kind of answering your own questions here.
Morpheus
05-14-2008, 11:28 PM
But 400 pounds worth?:huh:
If not then where's all that weight?
You're kind of answering your own questions here.
I'm done. I will go to parts tommorrow, order all of this shit, weigh it and then get back to you. Talking to you is like arging with a fucking teenager.
LS1LT1
05-14-2008, 11:33 PM
THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT THAT I JUST MADE!! Why would someone that is shelling out $100k for a car give 2 shits about another $7000? THEY DON'T!!
I've been in the car business for over 8 years. Trust me, when the rich buy cars, they don't want base. They want it all and will pay for it. The ONLY reason they're offering a base ZR1 is because of weight savings.You're absolutely right, they don't care. But that's just how GM does things.
They did it with the Z06 as well, that car has a price range of $70k - $78k depending on options, why doesn't it apply there?:huh:
Are you sure that the ZR1 won't be available with a Club Sport (V-Spec? ;)) package at some point the reduces (not adds) weight and that maybe that's what you'd heard about?
LS1LT1
05-14-2008, 11:34 PM
I promise you that I know more about how cars are built and the thinking that goes into what GM offers than you will EVER know.This coming from a guy that thinks you can add 400 pounds in options to a Corvette, a car that's been in production for over 54 years. :lol: :jest:
I'm done. I will go to parts tommorrow, order all of this shit, weigh it and then get back to you. Talking to you is like arging with a fucking teenager.YOU'RE the freakin' stubborn one here, I'm using logic and reasoning in it's PUREST form here.
Think about what you're saying, 400 pounds of options in a 3300 pound car?!
You actually believe this but I'm the fucking teenager?! :lol:
fail_safe
05-14-2008, 11:39 PM
This coming from a guy that thinks you can add 400 pounds in options to a Corvette, a car that's been in production for over 54 years. :lol: :jest:
YOU'RE the freakin' stubborn one here, I'm using logic and reasoning in it's PUREST form here.
Think about what you're saying, 400 pounds of options in a 3300 pound car?!
You actually believe this but I'm the fucking teenager?! :lol:
Well, whats the difference in weight from a regular Z06 from an all out option Z06? What about a standard c6 from a leathered out model?
Morpheus
05-14-2008, 11:41 PM
This coming from a guy that thinks you can add 400 pounds in options to a Corvette, a car that's been in production for over 54 years. :lol: :jest:
YOU'RE the freakin' stubborn one here, I'm using logic and reasoning in it's PUREST form here.
Think about what you're saying, 400 pounds of options in a 3300 pound car?!
You actually believe this but I'm the fucking teenager?! :lol:
Just curious, but what do you do for a living? Since my 8+ years of being on the car business with GM haven't given me any insight into these things, I'd just like to know where you've gotten all of your car knowledge.
And let me say again, that I was repeating what I saw reported that was a quote from one of the Corvette engineering team members and that I have not said that it was false or true. Only that I tend to believe someone from the inside rather than an internet enthusiast.
LS1LT1
05-14-2008, 11:52 PM
Just curious, but what do you do for a living? Since my 8+ years of being on the car business with GM haven't given me any insight into these things, I'd just like to know where you've gotten all of your car knowledge.I do nothing for a living.
I retired a few years back (I do a little day trading though) at age 33, have been an AVID car enthusiast since the late '70s and do almost nothing else but spend my time reading about, racing, hanging with other car people, at tuner shops and race tracks, driving and generally focusing my world ENTIRELY on high performance vehicles of all types.
And let me say again, that I was repeating what I saw reported that was a quote from one of the Corvette engineering team members and that I have not said that it was false or true. Only that I tend to believe someone from the inside rather than an internet enthusiast.Understood. Then maybe we should both make a solid attempt at verifying (or discrediting) that information before we go to war over it. :)
Spoolin
05-14-2008, 11:52 PM
Well I never said or implied that the Corvette line was a stripped down race car but was referring to the fact that Corvette interiors have never been regarded as luxurious or posh or "exciting". Corvette has always been the average man's super car and to allow the car to be affordable to the average blue collar worker they can't compete in the interior as other car brands can. Does that mean it's crap...no. Please don't take this as an attack on the corvette which you seem to do.
To people who own and drive one everyday I'm sure those people become accustomed and comfortable with the corvette interiors and end up loving the simplicity and everyday comfort of it, it isn't sparse by any means but you'd rarely find anyone who drives a high end Audi, MB, BMW, Porsche, etc...sit in a corvette and ever ever consider the corvette to have a nicer or comparative interior.
An advantage of their interiors is weight, exotic woods and leathers and such weigh quite a bit more than the plastic dash of the corvette. The Aston Martin's are a prime example of that. What I was saying is if Aston Martin or Bugatti were to use the same materials as chevy does with their cars and they were able to save even 200 lbs it would be quite different for them performance wise.
Again this isn't a knock on the corvette, please don't take it as so.
2000Hawk
05-14-2008, 11:54 PM
Well, whats the difference in weight from a regular Z06 from an all out option Z06? What about a standard c6 from a leathered out model?
Are you including wheels in the options as well, because i can see the wheels making a big difference in weight depending on the materials used. Then again i don't see what options you can add to the Corvette from GM can add so much weight. Heaviest things probably you stated them the leather and the NAV, but everything else wont add up to the amount of weight people are thinking. I got to see the ZR1 in person at the Corvette Corral in Sebring for the 12 hours, and the inside looked normal to me. I can see maybe on the standard Corvette going from Z51 suspension or regular suspension to the F55 Magnetic Ride Control system. That set-up im sure will add a good bit of weight compared to the other suspensions systems. But i guess we'll have to wait and see what happens when the ZR1 goes public.
-Joel
2000Hawk
05-14-2008, 11:57 PM
Well I never said or implied that the Corvette line was a stripped down race car but was referring to the fact that Corvette interiors have never been regarded as luxurious or posh or "exciting". Corvette has always been the average man's super car and to allow the car to be affordable to the average blue collar worker they can't compete in the interior as other car brands can. Does that mean it's crap...no. Please don't take this as an attack on the corvette which you seem to do.
To people who own and drive one everyday I'm sure those people become accustomed and comfortable with the corvette interiors and end up loving the simplicity and everyday comfort of it, it isn't sparse by any means but you'd rarely find anyone who drives a high end Audi, MB, BMW, Porsche, etc...sit in a corvette and ever ever consider the corvette to have a nicer or comparative interior.
An advantage of their interiors is weight, exotic woods and leathers and such weigh quite a bit more than the plastic dash of the corvette. The Aston Martin's are a prime example of that. What I was saying is if Aston Martin or Bugatti were to use the same materials as chevy does with their cars and they were able to save even 200 lbs it would be quite different for them performance wise.
Again this isn't a knock on the corvette, please don't take it as so.
I understand what your getting at, but also with something like a Bugatti and an Aston Martin your getting performance and absolute luxury on the inside. The ZR1 is the poor mans supercar, if the higher priced super cars were to use the same materials as GM then they wouldn't really be considered so luxurious and their prices wont be so high. Nowadays depending on the car you get what you pay for. If you get yourself a Malibu don't expect it to have the interior of a Mercedes.
-Joel
LS1LT1
05-15-2008, 12:00 AM
Well, whats the difference in weight from a regular Z06 from an all out option Z06? What about a standard c6 from a leathered out model?My friends and I on the Corvette Forum have been trying to figure that out for a few years now LOL.
Too many variables (fuel levels, scale calibrations, vehicles weighed with and without driver etc.) to really pin it down but what we have come close to determining is that a fully loaded (3LT package, Z51 etc.) 'non Z06' C6 weighs roughly 100-120 pounds more than a 'no options' base model C6 with the same transmission choice.
Spoolin
05-15-2008, 12:02 AM
Exactly! :thumb:
I don't know what the exact definition of exotic is but if the Corvette's interior were on par with exotics than I'm sure the corvette might be considered one because the performance of the ZR1 and Z06 certainly put them in the same class.
LS1LT1
05-15-2008, 12:09 AM
Well I never said or implied that the Corvette line was a stripped down race car but was referring to the fact that Corvette interiors have never been regarded as luxurious or posh or "exciting". Corvette has always been the average man's super car and to allow the car to be affordable to the average blue collar worker they can't compete in the interior as other car brands can. Does that mean it's crap...no. Please don't take this as an attack on the corvette which you seem to do.
To people who own and drive one everyday I'm sure those people become accustomed and comfortable with the corvette interiors and end up loving the simplicity and everyday comfort of it, it isn't sparse by any means but you'd rarely find anyone who drives a high end Audi, MB, BMW, Porsche, etc...sit in a corvette and ever ever consider the corvette to have a nicer or comparative interior.
An advantage of their interiors is weight, exotic woods and leathers and such weigh quite a bit more than the plastic dash of the corvette. The Aston Martin's are a prime example of that. What I was saying is if Aston Martin or Bugatti were to use the same materials as chevy does with their cars and they were able to save even 200 lbs it would be quite different for them performance wise.
Again this isn't a knock on the corvette, please don't take it as so.Good points. :nod: But then again the average Porsche or Ferrari (or Lamborghini or Saleen S7) interior, though featuring quality materials of course, isn't laden with heavy weight items such as wood, complicated overweight stereo systems and extra seats in back either, just like a Corvette. Their focus is light weight all the way around but with a nice feel.
It's really the Mercedes, Astons, Bentley's, Jaguars etc that would benefit from those Corvette type weight reducing materials that you speak of. :)
fail_safe
05-15-2008, 12:10 AM
My friends and I on the Corvette Forum have been trying to figure that out for a few years now LOL.
Too many variables (fuel levels, scale calibrations, vehicles weighed with and without driver etc.) to really pin it down but what we have come close to determining is that a fully loaded (2LT package, Z51 etc.) 'non Z06' C6 weighs roughly 100-120 pounds more than a 'no options' base model C6 with the same transmission choice.
Does the ZR1 have an option for side impact bags? Maybe that can add another 50 or so lbs with all the electronics.
The Manalishi
05-15-2008, 12:23 AM
I see my prediction has manifested itself, well except for the lock but that will happen soon enough. IBTL :lock:
LS1LT1
05-15-2008, 12:48 AM
Does the ZR1 have an option for side impact bags? Maybe that can add another 50 or so lbs with all the electronics.I'm pretty sure it does have that option as part of a package just like on the base cars.
Again it does add weight but likely not a full 50 pounds, even for both.
fail_safe
05-15-2008, 12:57 AM
I'm pretty sure it does have that option as part of a package just like on the base cars.
Again it does add weight but likely not a full 50 pounds, even for both.
Maybe its the new dual action carbon carbon split screen navi system:confused:
Morpheus
05-15-2008, 07:37 AM
Does the ZR1 have an option for side impact bags? Maybe that can add another 50 or so lbs with all the electronics.
Side impact airbags are only available with the 3ZR package on the ZR1. To get them, you have to get everything else in that package.