385HP Corvette Z06 vs 400HP RT/10

[MannyC]

OK guys, I just got back from test driving a 95 RT/10 for the 2nd time-- the first and only Viper I have driven so far. My lady was with me this time to give me the 'OK' to purchase it (let the flaming begin), as she wanted to see why I was so excited about this car.

So anyway, she and I go out for a spin in it and I open her up from a rolling start in 1st gear. The car has Kuhmos on the rear, so so the fact that the tires didn't break loose wasn't a shock to me at the time. I whip through the the first two gears and then let off somewhere in 3rd as we were going pretty fast. I was looking for cops more than looking at the speedo, so wasn't sure how fast I was going.

My lady looks over at me and tells me what I was thinking to myself, "This isn't as fast as your Corvette." In fact, I start thinking that my car would certainly break loose in a rolling 1st gear with Kuhmos or most other race tires (I'm all over the [******] place with the stock supercar F1 tires.)

So my question is this... this 1995 RT/10 has the basic mods done to exhaust and intake, and I am told it should be somewhere around the 430 HP range, maybe a bit more. He also had the gears changed to to 3:55 for quicker acceleration. My Z06 is the 2001 model, so it has 385HP and has just an intake mod which bring it to about 400 hp.

Is this normal that my Z06 with less HP feels that much faster than the RT/10? Again, I have not driven another RT/10 yet, so I can't say that this one was any slower or faster than normal. All I (and my girl) know is that in a race, I *think* I would spank it, and I have the slowest stock Z06 you can buy, with less HP than that viper has with the upgraded gears.

I would still get the car, just because of the looks, which is what I am getting it for anyway. I plan on getting a Gen2 later this year after I figure out my financial priorities and what I want to do with the Z06 and RT/10, if anything.

I would appreciate any feedback from those who have driven both cars or owned both cars and know.

 

[monnieh]

The torque is what should make the difference. Vipers feel different accelerating than Vettes. Push vs Pull kind a deal.

I've driven an 01 Z06 and they are fast. But the GenII's that I have driven are faster

 

[MES]

In fact, I start thinking that my car would certainly break loose in a rolling 1st gear with Kuhmos or most other race tires (I'm all over the [******] place with the stock supercar F1 tires.)

Your car certainly would NOT brake the Kumhos loose. They hold my 600+ rwhp without a squeak in 1st. These Kumhos are not your typical performance tire they have a tread wear of 50 and are a comp tire not a true street radial it's made for road racing - autox.

I'm sure your going to get many of replies (both ways) but the Gen I and your Z06 are very close in performance if you were to actually test them.

Gen I with headers, exhaust & intake will make 400-410 rwhp (stock they are typically 350-365 rwhp) your Z06 is 330-340 rwhp stock. If you want to see more dyno numbers copy & past my website below I list over 75 Vipers with mods. Also it's best to use rwhp as both of these cars were underrated by the factory.

 

[Backdoc7]

Interesting... I drove a 03 ZO6 my friend purchased a month or so ago. It had about 1500 miles on it at the time. I got on it from 1st through 3rd. It felt fast, but i remember telling myself that my car felt stronger and quicker. I have a stock rear-end. I'm sure my friend and I will go through the gears soon, but... your observation is exactly the opposite of mine.. like I said, interesting. My 95 has a Aarow rebuild and basic exhaust mods. No headers though. Looks and uniqueness, there isn't even a question, but, I'm sure they are close in performance. I'm pretty sure from 60-140 the Gen 1 would win. I would think that 95 with 3:55's would throw you back in the seat pretty good. Hope you buy it, you won't be sorry. Bill :Flag:

 

[ViperJoe]

WEIGHT

The Z06 is a couple hundred lighter

My Z-06 "felt" faster, but that's the extent of it.
Mine was modded and I would say on any given day depending on the all the factors that come into play, either one could get the win light

 

[ACELLR8]

Superbar,

You are correct the Gen I RT-10s are not signifigantly faster. While I don't own a Z06 I have two friends that both own the 01 Z06 in black.
With the basic exhaust mods (Borlas and 3 " high flow cats) my car made 378 RWHP and 449 RWTQ. I have since removed the cats and put in straight pipes and it is at 392 RWHP and 456 RWTQ. As mentioned earlier given the weight differances the cars are pretty even. On 3 differant occassions I have gone to the track with my buddy and his best quarter mile time was a 12.6 at 112 and mine with the mods mentioned was a 12.5 at 116. Now we both were running street tires. My buddy probably would beat me 1 out of every 3 races because I had a horrible launch to his good launch, if he got ahead of me the cars were so close there was no catching him.
I have driven and rode in my buddies Z06 and they do feel pretty even except for the torque and throttle response.
Lastly, I will definitely say one thing when we get together and park them side by side, by standers usually walk right by the Z06 and go straight to gawk at the viper.

 

[1TONY1]

If your z06 is all over the place. It will certainly seem faster. Same effect on a narrow road. Might be a good race. My suggestion: Sounds like the owner is a racer having Kumhos etc. Ask him if he will race the z06 from a little roll....you may be surprised

 

[BlueGTS]

When you say it has Kumho’s are you referring to the road race Kumho’s or street Kumho’s? If they are the R-Compound Kumho’s your Vette with 200 more HP could not break those tires loose. Once you warm those suckers up they stick like glue!

As for the speed difference it is so close you really cannot tell by the seat of the pants. If you are rating the Gen 1 strictly on speed you can find many cars, especially modified ones that are much faster for cheaper.

 

[Magicboy2]

Maybe you were expecting the RT/10 to be faster, and therefore even though it was actually about the same, it felt slower.

 

[GONABITE]

I did a lot of side by side drag racing witha ZO6 and my car at the time 460 rwhp and the ZO6 (stock 02) would get me every time for the frist 330 ' the transmission in the ZO6 is set up with highers gears, the weight is a tremendous difference as well, and lets not forget aerodynamics. You can take a vette with 515 rwhp and turn out the same E.T. as a 575 rwhp viper. Pound for pound and hp for hp the vette is faster.

 

[MichaelP]

Well you have all sorts of answers. Perhaps if there is a Viper owner from the board in your area they could test drive that Viper, just to get an idea if everything is ok with it speed wise.

I like the idea of having the owner race you in your ZO6 then you will know for sure.

 

[PETSN8K]

At the time I bought my '99 GTS I owned a '01 ZO6. I remember the first time I drove the GTS I thought my Z was just as fast if not faster. After I got home, I changed the filters and fluids in the GTS and had my brother-in-law race me in my ZO6. Needless to say, after I hit third the race was over! I was shocked.

I currently have a '95 R/T and felt it was noticeably weaker than my GTS. I raced a friend's ZO6 ( '01 model) from a roll and was suprised to find they are quite even. I was actually expecting to lose. For the record, the Z only had intake mods and the R/T had smooth tubes and filters.

 

[HOGDEALER]

My 02' GTS is by far faster than my 01' C5

 

[Moundir]

For the record my 00 vette was 4mph faster at the track than my GTS

 

[Nexus-6]

Nice new pic Hog!

 

[MannyC]

Well, I just bought a different RT/10 from a forum member, than the one I test drove. It will be delivered next week. I'll still have the Z06, so I will have my race buddy take one of the cars and we'll have a shootout and see what happens I shall report back. My old love, or my new love?

 

[99 R/T 10]

SO what did ya get? Remember, the 96 R/T had 415HP vs. 92-95's 400! Unique too

 

[REDSLED]

I believe Superbar is the gentleman who purchased my RT/10. I can't believe that I already have seller's remorse. But the car needs to be driven and enjoyed and I'm sure Superbar will take care of that. I took the car to get smogged today and the guys at the dealership were all out looking and asking questions about the car. After 9 years the good ol Gen 1 still has it.

 

[99 R/T 10]

Hey Congrats to both Superbar abd REDSLED!

 

[MannyC]

Yep, it is I. Redsled is about one of the nicest guys I have met, too. Took plenty of time in the day to answer everything. Heck, even took me out and showed me what the newer gen 2's can do!

Interestingly enough, I will get to see the car for 1 day and then I won't see it for nearly 2 weeks while I am on vacation. 'Tis OK though... I will have my other love with me on vacation, and she is a lot more comfortable to slip into than the viper.. D'oh! I didn't just say that!

 

[treynor]

> The Z06 is a couple hundred lighter.

Try 400 lbs lighter than a gen-I. Those Zs are featherweights. Also, the older Viper could be considerably off its prime if it hasn't had the usual plugs / wires / filters / fluids tuneup.

Stock for stock, I'd expect a Z06 to edge out a well-tuned Gen-I, but it'd be close.

 

[dansauto]

trynor-not sure about that, See Ed's post above. I think they are pretty equal and will will come down to driver skill. Note that Gen 1's seem to get stonger with a little more miles on them. I drove a stock 2003 Zo6 last week and it did not seem to pull as fast as my car. Maybe it did, but it was so much more "civilized" and quiet it did not seem to.