Drove a 2006 Corvette convertible this weekend..
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 817
Likes: 0
From: Minnesota
Drove a 2006 Corvette convertible this weekend.. Our dealership got a really early 2006 Corvette, and i was lucky enough to drive it for about 10 miles.
Sticker price $59,xxx.
The car is the new Montery Maroon Metallic ($750) black top (power), and ebony leather int, w/ HUD, XM.
The paddle shift kicks ***! Its so smooth/exact. When you hit the button to shift up, it goes swiftly, as well as downsifting. It is suprisingly smooth even down-shifting!
It does have the 6 gears, but you could just leave the gear selector in D and not paddle shift(manual). I dont know how the paddle shift works for high rpm shifts, as the car only had 5 miles on it. I didnt want to risk messing the car up. The paddle shift is something else, I have never expirenced it before. I really am amazed at how smooth/easy it is $1,250 option though!
I was curious if it had any limiters on it as far as being over-geared or under geared. Yes, it allows up to 4th gear from 10 mph and up, so its pretty forgiving.
One thing i was not too impressed with was the exhaust tone.. Where is it??? Def, need new/more sound. The LS2 does sound mean!
The convertible top was extremely quiet as well! No noise to talk about.
I could go on and on about how cool the new C6 is, but you are all familiar with them, and dont want to hear my ramblings.. I am in love though!
Sticker price $59,xxx.
The car is the new Montery Maroon Metallic ($750) black top (power), and ebony leather int, w/ HUD, XM.
The paddle shift kicks ***! Its so smooth/exact. When you hit the button to shift up, it goes swiftly, as well as downsifting. It is suprisingly smooth even down-shifting!
It does have the 6 gears, but you could just leave the gear selector in D and not paddle shift(manual). I dont know how the paddle shift works for high rpm shifts, as the car only had 5 miles on it. I didnt want to risk messing the car up. The paddle shift is something else, I have never expirenced it before. I really am amazed at how smooth/easy it is $1,250 option though!
I was curious if it had any limiters on it as far as being over-geared or under geared. Yes, it allows up to 4th gear from 10 mph and up, so its pretty forgiving.
One thing i was not too impressed with was the exhaust tone.. Where is it??? Def, need new/more sound. The LS2 does sound mean!
The convertible top was extremely quiet as well! No noise to talk about.
I could go on and on about how cool the new C6 is, but you are all familiar with them, and dont want to hear my ramblings.. I am in love though!
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 533
Likes: 0
From: Tinley Park, IL
I drove a few C6's, one was an auto and another was a 6 speed. It was nice and all but I would take an older Z06 in a heartbeat. I drove 2 Z06's(one was a 2001 and another was a 2004) and nothing compared to those... Granted the C6 and Z06 have alot of the same things but I could not justify spending 60K+ on a Corvette.
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 817
Likes: 0
From: Minnesota
I have tested out 1 Z06 i believe it was an 04, it was yellow. I agree. I really love the new styling/features of the C6, but the C5 Z06 still felt like it meant more business. Although testing each C5 Z06 vs the regular C6 is very close (performance-wise) where it basically would throw the win flag at the better driver. I dont know if the little more "racey" feel Is worth the out-of-date styling (C5) This is my opinion only, the C5 may look better than the C6 to some, but to me, the appropriate facelift was givin to the C6's, i prefer them over the C5, but i cannot decide of the extra $ justifies it. There are a TON of changes between the 2. At first glance there doesnt seem to be much, but after going throuh Corvette sales training, yes, there are alot. The C6 is a solid value.
I found that the new six speed auto trans was very slow shifting ( it took forever to get to the next gear) and not very performance oriented..it was a sneeky way to charge $1250 for the auto trans that was a no charge option last year ..and a no cost standard equipment on the eight years of the C5...the real reason that GM decided to use that trans was to get back a couple miles per gallon fuel econmy with auto trans Corvette..all rear end ratios for auto trans cars are now 2.56 to 1 replacing the old 2.72 and the performance axle ration of 3.15 to 1... 
Last edited by slt200mph; Oct 11, 2005 at 09:18 AM.
Trending Topics
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine
Verdad Gallardo
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin
Verdad Gallardo
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Originally Posted by pdd
paddle shifting sounds cool
It is not a sequential transmission..it is just an automatic with a different way to shift it if the driver wants too..a maketing gimmick to trick people into paying $1250 for the transmission..a novelity item and not produced in a very good manner either..
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 533
Likes: 0
From: Tinley Park, IL
Originally Posted by slt200mph
It is not a sequential transmission..it is just an automatic with a different way to shift it if the driver wants too..a maketing gimmick to trick people into paying $1250 for the transmission..a novelity item and not produced in a very good manner either..
