Tracking my C6Z vs my 14' Cyborg FiST

[Joszer]

Hey everyone,

I just wanted to share one of my most recent experiences. Last Saturday I had the pleasure of taking out my 2012 C6Z (C6 Z06 with Z07 Package) out to Thunderhill Raceway. I'd like to share with you guys the characteristics of the car, track, handling, power, and overall experience and most importantly WHY THE FIESTA IS MORE FUN TO TRACK.

Before you guys hang me or even ban me from this forum for spewing such sacraligious nonsense, (oh wait I'm not on a Corvette forum ) let me first start off with describing my car to set up a foundation. I have a completely stock 2012 Z06 with a Z07 package. The Z07 package includes 15.5" front and 15" rear Carbon Ceramic Brakes, Magnetic Ride suspention with PTM (performance traction management) and Active Handling (think torque vectoring), Carbon fiber roof, front and rear bumpers, spoiler and splitters. All that tied into a 3100 lb car spitting out 505hp. The only no so cool thing about the car was that I was running Nitto Invo tires which are totally meant for street/touring driving, no performance driving at all.

Let me preface that this is my FIRST TIME EVER tracking a RWD Car. The car felt completely composed on the track. The power, handling, steering feel, and sound were all in complete harmony on the track, not one aspect of the car overpowered the other. The car cornered nice and right, where ever I would point the wheel the car would dive in and go. Even with the crappy tires, the car was pulling 1.2G on Turn 1 and turn 2 at Thunderhill. The power is unreal, step on it in any gear and it pulls. Just for reference my Fiesta was hitting a top speed of about 105-107 whereas my Z06 was hitting top speeds of 135-138 right before turn one. Coming out of the turns the car would lay the power down and just pull without any sense of over or understeer, it felt completely composed in and out of every corner.

Even with all the positives of the car (the power, handling, and sound) I still prefer to drive my Fiesta on a track, and this is why. I can drive my Fiesta at 10/10 intensity 100% of the time and even dial it up to 11/10 in certain cases. The corvette is just WAAAYYY too much car for the average car enthusiast. Even after getting "comfortable" with the car, there was no way I was able to make the corvette perform like it is supposed to. I always saw myself pushing it 8/10 or even 9/10 in certain cases. I did not feel comfortable enough in pushing that car that far, it was just too much.

With the Fiesta, pushing the car harder and harder each time comes Easy, hell it even Eggs you on every lap to push it harder. Pushing the car past the envelope of what it can normally do is what makes the Fiesta such a darn blast to drive. Even though it isn't the most powerful car out on the track, its nimbleness and lightness makes up for it all. I frequently can hang out with cars much more powerful than my FiST; I even have tons of footage keeping up with Tuned Evo's and STI's. That in itself makes the FiST so much more fun to drive, driving a "slow" car fast. It's snappy turn in, tight handling, and ability to throw it into corners without having to brake much is why I prefer it to the Z06.

What struck me as interesting was the brakes on the Corvette. Even with the MASSIVE front and rear brakes, I swear that the brake feel on the Fiesta makes it seem like it can stop so much sooner. Stopping my fiesta from 100 down to 60 feels almost instantaneous, and so hard that it makes your forehead hurt. With the corvette I never had that same feeling. Granted, my Fiesta runs on stickier rubber, the difference in braking was paramount. I prefer the brakes on my Fiesta (Wilwood Kit + Hawk DTC 60 pads) over the Corvette Carbon Ceramic Brembos.

Feel free to ask any questions.

Obligatory Photos and Video

[video=youtube;J8CVLJFVED0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8CVLJFVED0[/video]

 

[MS67]

Great write up and awesome pics and video! I never bothered tracking my past C6Zs for the reasons you mentioned...I figured the car probably wouldn't make it back in one piece

 

[jeff]

Very nice. Your Vette sounds and looks amazing.

 

[twolf]

I recently came across your instagram, both cars are awesome!

 

[MPA]

Did you post this on the Corvette Forum?

I'm a member, but haven't read since I sold my plain C6 last year, and I'm sure some people think you're nuts

 

[RAAMaudio]

DAMN cool review!!!

And DAMN beautiful and well appointed Z06!

I had a C6 that I modded like mad to well beyond the average Z06 and then hardly ever drove it because it was to fast to really drive it all out, the old adage which you posted part of is absolutely true, driving a slow car fast is far more fun than driving a fast car slow. I put 500 miles on the Vette the last year I owned it and I parted out the C5 Z06 race car as worth 3 times as much in parts, I have more fun in slower cars though my FiST is a bit faster than average.

There is one thing about Vettes not mentioned and most do not really know about it as the car is so fast they are not at the limit that often, it has rather vague feedback. If you replace the suspension bushings with urethane with metal inserts, aluminum steering rack bushing, get a real performance alignment, you will be faster as gain considerable feedback, I promise

I had coilovers and very good sway bars as well but you are fine with what you have, my car was a fairly basic convertible I did a wide body on before they made the car that way and had 10.5 and 13" CCW wheels made for it. The custom diff with built LSD and better gearing really woke it up.

Engine and trans mounts help as well, just feel things better, put the power down better as well....

If you go for stickier tires later on I would make sure they have a linear break away, far safer than something that might have a bit more grip but let go suddenly in a car that fast.

As it is you have an amazing car of course

Rick

 

[RAAMaudio]

Thanks for leaving the spin in the video, most would not so do, very cool to leave it

 

[Ryephile]

Gorgeous C6Z. I also agree on the point that being able to exploit a car at 10/10ths with the utmost confidence and without feeling like it's tickling death's funny bone with a thermo-nuclear weapon is definitely a pleasurable experience.

 

[JasonHaven]

Slow car fast

 

[DvC]

i owned a c5z06 and a c6 as well. everything you said is true. most people IRL look at me like i have 2 heads after saying as much. good post

 

[RAAMaudio]

I have spend part of the last few winters in Scottsdale and see all these supercars putting around, on lots for sale, etc...I bet hardly ever get used for what they are since there is no place to do so except on a race track and there is not much of a race track here. I do commend those that track them of course, if they can actually drive that is. A corvette is a working mans supercar(used ones or base models new), the higher end ones a bit different but they are still the best value for the money and have been for a long time now.

I had planned to buy a C7 when they came out but by then I had retired, huge cut in income, and lost interest after getting the ST up and running like it does it is more than fast enough and much easier to drive, park, can haul the dogs in it....I have less money into the car and mods than I put just into mods on the C6 and this car is more fun, more challenging as well, part of the fun

 

[Siestarider]

Anyone who can drive a Corvette to its potential is a pro. Whether paid or not. Props to Josier for driving his where its built to run.

Just back from Sebring 12 hrs, sat in a new C7, inspected cutaway chassis C7 (truly amazing) and watched a C7R come back from 2 laps down to win GTLM. I treasure my annual Corvette T shirt.

Also crawled under the ropes and beneath a Focus RS to inspect undertray, the pics so far do not do the underside (in front at least) justice. But the nice FoMoCo lady advised me the velvet ropes were there for a reason, ran me off before I could understand it enough.

The greatest thing about Fist is normal folks can drive it fast enough to appreciate tracks like Sebring, and then go watch the pros do it in 2/3 of your best time.

 

[Brick]

great review.

This one is tough but I think you nail it. For mere mortals, the c6 z06 will make undies brown if pushed 10/10s around a track. 30 mph doesn't sound much faster... but it REALLY is.

I felt like I could push my former c5 corvette 9/10s and feel pretty comfy, however that's no where close to the beast that a c6 z06 is. Glad you had a blast.

I miss the rear wheel drive, but I still have great fun in the fiesta as well.