Corvette ZR1 Takes on Z06 in Battle of Tough Choices

Is a little extra power and an extra degree of prominence worth thirty grand? Well, that all depends on your Corvette preferences.

If there’s one thing we know about the C7 Corvette, it’s that buyers have plenty of excellent choices. The all-new Corvette ZR1 has taken over as the top performance choice, receiving universal praise from everyone lucky enough to drive it. But upgrading to a ZR1 over the already excellent Z06 obviously comes at a cost. A significant cost, in fact, of roughly $30-$40k. So the question most ‘Vette fans are now asking themselves is, is that extra 95 hp, 65 lb-ft of torque, and suspension/aero wizardry really worth it?

Well, that’s exactly the question Corvettes 918 set out to answer in this rather informative video. And instead of just talking shop or comparing numbers, they got their hands on both a Corvette ZR1 and Z06, simultaneously. Right off the bat, there’s one glaring advantage that the Z06 holds over the ZR1, at least in this case – the presence of a manual transmission. Which might be a bit of a disadvantage in terms of sheer acceleration, but it’s certainly more fun to drive.

So what does a guy who’s owned both a Corvette ZR1 and Z06 think? Well, he’s got reasons why you’d want to upgrade as well as reasons why you wouldn’t. “The Z06 is ultimately the best value of power and performance in the market,” he notes, regardless of brand. And since the power gap is easy to rectify, “if it’s all about horsepower for you, keep your Z06. Once it’s out of warranty, go ahead and modify it.” And if you’re close to paying it off or it’s paid off, the C8 is right around the corner.

So why would anybody want a Corvette ZR1 over a Z06? Well, it’s the king of the hill. The cream of the crop. “This is something that’s very rare. You don’t see them very often,” our host notes. “When you go somewhere and you see one of these drive up, everybody’s head turns.” And the bottom line is, “is this the dream Corvette for you?” If the answer to that is yes, then silly things like financials go out the window!

Join the LS1tech forums today!

Brett Foote

Brett Foote has been covering the automotive industry for over five years and is a longtime contributor to Internet Brands’ Auto Group sites, including Chevrolet Forum, Rennlist, and Ford Truck Enthusiasts, among other popular sites.

He has been an automotive enthusiast since the day he came into this world and rode home from the hospital in a first-gen Mustang, and he's been wrenching on them nearly as long.

In addition to his expertise writing about cars, trucks, motorcycles, and every other type of automobile, Brett had spent several years running parts for local auto dealerships.

You can follow along with his builds and various automotive shenanigans on Instagram: @bfoote.