2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06: Bang for the buck… redefined

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-VNeWe_GaY[/youtube]
Remember when the rest of the world used to make fun of the Corvette? It wasn’t completely warranted, yet there were some criticisms that both stuck and stung. Those days were officially pushed into the past when the new C7 Corvette arrived.
The 2015 Corvette Z06, however, takes those old notions, douses them in high-octane fuel, and sets them ablaze. That’s because it just might be the best bang for the buck performance machine on the planet.
Hell it might be one of the best performance machines on the planet *period*
[DisclaimerChevrolet threw us the keys to the Z06 and let us borrow it for a weekend. Fuel was used to generate noise, tire smoke, and a burning desire to own a new Z06.]

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  1. PotbellyJoe★★★★★ Avatar
    PotbellyJoe★★★★★

    I think we should build a Glucker Index of performance to $s. Instead of just HP to $ ratio which ignores that HP is only one angle of the equation. I propose we do:
    Square Root of ((HP*TQ)/((Weight/100)^2)*300-ft Skidpad g)/(Log10(Price))
    For example. The 2016 BRZ would get a 2.82 on this calculation, the 2001 Mazda Miata when new got a 2.58, and the new Ford Mustang GT gets a 5.02 (EcoBoost 4.06)
    This Z06 gets a 9.01
    For more plebeian cars The Chevy Impala I-4 gets a 2.24 while a Charger R/T gets a 3.82.
    An Ariel Atom (Base 300-hp one) gets a 8.30
    Meanwhile a Bugatti Veyron earns a 10.39 and the 1991 McLaren F1 (Thanks in part to a dismal .86 of the skidpad) gets a 8.05
    Help me refine this if needed. I didn’t want to penalize price too heavily as prices get astronomically more expensive for supercars.
    We can call it “the Gip.”

    1. Monkey10is Avatar
      Monkey10is

      Don’t we also add points for turbos, an odd number of cylinders, vent windows and more than one ashtray?
      “How Gip is Your Car?”

      1. PotbellyJoe★★★★★ Avatar
        PotbellyJoe★★★★★

        Except GIP Index is an advanced analytic, not an arbitrary assignment of points for weirdness. The how jalop index was fun, but has little practical application.

        1. Monkey10is Avatar
          Monkey10is

          I THOUGHT it was an advanced analytic — until the McLaren F1 scored lower than the Veyron; then I began to wonder if you were just making these numbers up…

          1. PotbellyJoe★★★★★ Avatar
            PotbellyJoe★★★★★

            I massaged the formula in many ways, but the absurd horsepower and torque of the 1200 HP Veyron overcame the F1 every time.

          2. Monkey10is Avatar
            Monkey10is

            I’ve just re-run the numbers using MY scoring system and it seems you may be right: However many points the F1 gets for three seats (!!!) the Veyron gets more for four turbos (!!!!).
            /sulks
            …now if only the McLaren had a tape-stripe sticker package, bench seat and some ashtrays. Then we would see who is the winner.

          3. PotbellyJoe★★★★★ Avatar
            PotbellyJoe★★★★★

            If you simply divide the price by 10,000 instead of using a logarithmic approach, the F1 will be ahead of the Veyron, however due to the obscene price, the BRZ gets a higher GIP.
            That’s like choosing Youkilis over Pujols.

          4. Vairship Avatar
            Vairship

            Plus they’d have to release the shooting brake version of the F1…

          5. Monkey10is Avatar
            Monkey10is

            …or the pickup.

    2. Jeff Glucker Avatar
      Jeff Glucker

      I’ll need this data for each car I review going forward…

      1. PotbellyJoe★★★★★ Avatar
        PotbellyJoe★★★★★

        Good thing I saved the Excel file.

  2. Greg Kachadurian Avatar
    Greg Kachadurian

    I’m curious… if it’s a manual, why are there still paddles on the steering wheel? Are they for controlling the rev match? If so that’s a really weird place for them. Must be weird to shift manually with your right hand while using a paddle for the rev match – you’d think it would just automatically do it when you throw it into another gear.
    Great video as always.

    1. E34Less Avatar
      E34Less

      Yep, they control rev matching. But not like that. One turns the system on, the other turns it off. GM did it so they wouldn’t have to design/manufacture/crash test two different steering wheels.

  3. Clawbrant Avatar
    Clawbrant

    ” it just might be the best bang for the buck performance machine on the planet.”
    Ahem.
    $12,699

    1. PotbellyJoe★★★★★ Avatar
      PotbellyJoe★★★★★

      According to the GIP, the ZX-14R is in the High-12s/Low-13s. Destroying even the Veyron.

      1. gerberbaby Avatar

        Huh? for those of us a bit more mathematically challenged, is the higher or lower score better? I mean the Veyron and F1 provide a lot of bang, but at too many of the buck. The low Miata score suggests, it’s closer to a Chevy spark for instance.

    2. Monkey10is Avatar
      Monkey10is

      Wait! You get two identical bikes for $12,699?