ZR1 vs M3 DCT

[icemang17]

Well just like the title says....I had an opportunity to spend some quality time with a friends new ZR1 Corvette..... Quick summary....VERY IMPRESSIVE....

the interior build quality is much better than the Z06, but still not on par with the M3....

Ride was not bad....firm, but not too harsh...quite similar to the M3...those magnetic shocks do work

Handling....very impressive....we were at a trackday so I got to experience what its like at racetrack speeds.....the suspension is FAR better than the Z06....much more composed with minimal body roll and far better rebound damping, which is something I found lacking in the Z06's...which also causes the Z06 to be overly twitchy and the ZR1 is nicely controlled....similar to the M3 in this regard....but since you sit so much lower in the car you get less of a sensation of dive & roll than the M3...

Brakes: strong with zero fade....no issues

power: borderline silly.....any gear, any RPM, it just doesn't matter....mash the pedal (slowly to preserve tires) and your GONE.....

I think chevy did an excellent job on this one.... Clearly the best vette ever....then add in a 100k mile powertrain warranty.....on 638hp....wow...

So for roughly the same $$$ as a new M3 plus a stroker & some other mods....which would I pick....that would be a tough decision....very tough...

[Dr.G]

zr1 is a beast ... thats a whole different performance level

[Nawaaz]

Yeah, I hate to say this but the ZR1 will always have the advantage, even if the M3 has all the mods you mentioned.

It mostly comes down to the power/weight ratio, and the ZR1 masters that.

[m34jlp]

Originally Posted by icemang17

Well just like the title says....I had an opportunity to spend some quality time with a friends new ZR1 Corvette..... Quick summary....VERY IMPRESSIVE....

the interior build quality is much better than the Z06, but still not on par with the M3....

Ride was not bad....firm, but not too harsh...quite similar to the M3...those magnetic shocks do work

Handling....very impressive....we were at a trackday so I got to experience what its like at racetrack speeds.....the suspension is FAR better than the Z06....much more composed with minimal body roll and far better rebound damping, which is something I found lacking in the Z06's...which also causes the Z06 to be overly twitchy and the ZR1 is nicely controlled....similar to the M3 in this regard....but since you sit so much lower in the car you get less of a sensation of dive & roll than the M3...

Brakes: strong with zero fade....no issues

power: borderline silly.....any gear, any RPM, it just doesn't matter....mash the pedal (slowly to preserve tires) and your GONE.....

I think chevy did an excellent job on this one.... Clearly the best vette ever....then add in a 100k mile powertrain warranty.....on 638hp....wow...

So for roughly the same $$$ as a new M3 plus a stroker & some other mods....which would I pick....that would be a tough decision....very tough...

i love my car, but this would be a very easy decision for me...and i have never liked vettes

[NFDoms2k1]

That would be a Stroker, F/I, BBK, top of the line coil-overs and full Ericcson kit to equal the price of a ZR1! Now if you could get a F/I bored engine to work, that would make the decision a bit easier.

Of course you can probably destroy our car with a Civic and 40k of crap...but its still a Honda (respect due to the NSX of course)

[TOOMANYCARS]

I'd buy the ZR1 for its performance, even if it only comes with 1 seat and no accessories.

[attila]

Nice review! I am seriously considering the ZR-1 or the new Porsche GT3 RS. The only thing I dont like in the ZR-1 are the seats. (and I am not fun of the dash layout either)

[footie]

How would a GTR with the P800 tune compare in both price and performance? I'm guessing the GTR would be only slightly quicker in acceleration if at all but would be way quicker on the track.

[Nawaaz]

Originally Posted by attila

Nice review! I am seriously considering the ZR-1 or the new Porsche GT3 RS. The only thing I dont like in the ZR-1 are the seats. (and I am not fun of the dash layout either)

Get the GT3 RS.

[SUB-ZERO]

GT3 RS or GTR

[991GT3]

The ZR1 is in a completely different league. You might as well compare an M3 to a 599 or GT2.
I'm not a vette fan but I'd easily take it over an M3 (and I really like M3s).

[anthony @ eas]

Originally Posted by attila

I am seriously considering the ZR-1 or the new Porsche GT3 RS.

I wish I had to make decisions like that...

[KonigsTiger]

Hmmm, I suppose my 5% is obvious since I already own an RS46 M3 with all (and more) of the niceties you mention. However, the reason I did this is simply because I love the M3 looks and feel and wanted to get it as close as possible to say GT3 territory. However, if performance is what you seek, the the ZR1 will undoubtedly outperform the M3.

[Nawaaz]

^ Same here. I wanted to get the closest thing to a GT3, and the M3 was the best choice for me.

[Vic55]

ZR1 is an amazing bang for the buck car that is compared to Ferraris, Lambos, and other exotics... I still had a tough time considering it vs. having an M3 and a GT-R... I chose the latter as I wanted a daily driver and a project car along with my 997TT and the old lady's IS-F.

[Jaypod]

Originally Posted by BMW-M-Mexico

Hmmm, I suppose my 5% is obvious since I already own an RS46 M3 with all (and more) of the niceties you mention. However, the reason I did this is simply because I love the M3 looks and feel and wanted to get it as close as possible to say GT3 territory. However, if performance is what you seek, the the ZR1 will undoubtedly outperform the M3.

Originally Posted by Nawaaz

^ Same here. I wanted to get the closest thing to a GT3, and the M3 was the best choice for me.

Sorry guys - I really dont know how you can say an M3 is even remotely like a GT3 - maybe with the stroker and completely gutted and track prepared but otherwise

[KonigsTiger]

Originally Posted by Jaypod

Sorry guys - I really dont know how you can say an M3 is even remotely like a GT3 - maybe with the stroker and completely gutted and track prepared but otherwise

That is precisely what I meant, M3 + 530bhp stroker + light weight fly wheel/race clutch + BBK + light weight 19" wheels with Corsas + titanium exhaust + sway bars and springs/coil overs + B pillar and boot lid bars to increase rigidity + +/- 200 pounds of lost weight + some other goodies equates to "a la GT3". Of course not a "normal" M3.

[Jaypod]

Originally Posted by BMW-M-Mexico

That is precisely what I meant, M3 + 530bhp stroker + light weight fly wheel/race clutch + BBK + light weight 19" wheels with Corsas + titanium exhaust + sway bars and springs/coil overs + B pillar and boot lid bars to increase rigidity + 200 pounds of losing weight + some other goodies equates to "a la GT3". Of course not a "normal" M3.

Well in that case - carry on then!!

Dont get me wrong - I love my M3 but GT3 it is not!

[KonigsTiger]

Originally Posted by Jaypod

Well in that case - carry on then!!

Dont get me wrong - I love my M3 but GT3 it is not!

No, no, I didn´t at all interpret you statement as out of place. I am in full agreement that the M3 is no GT3.

[stylinexpat]

Originally Posted by attila

Nice review! I am seriously considering the ZR-1 or the new Porsche GT3 RS. The only thing I dont like in the ZR-1 are the seats. (and I am not fun of the dash layout either)

Buy 2 nice Recaro seats and your set.

[TheKosherStogie]

GT3RS or GT3 over almost any car....screw a zr1...amazing, fast, grip and so on...just not a gt3....the feeling i got when i drove that car was unexplainable...the feeling when i drove a Z06 ( I KNOW NOT A ZR1) was shit...except for the straight line speed

[330CIZHP]

Originally Posted by sammyrusso

GT3RS or GT3 over almost any car....screw a zr1...amazing, fast, grip and so on...just not a gt3....the feeling i got when i drove that car was unexplainable...the feeling when i drove a Z06 ( I KNOW NOT A ZR1) was shit...except for the straight line speed

Walter Rohrl recently claimed the new 997.2 450 HP and 2900 lbs GT3 RS runs around Nurburgring substantially faster than the GT-R. Though he declined to give some official numbers. I think he only said "under 7:35".

997.2 GT3 and GT3 RS FTW!!!!!