1,055 of American iconic horsepower.

The Corvette is the best selling sports car in America because it has great looks, performance, value and functionality.  It can serve as a daily driver, be used for long road trips or be a track day warrior with its 400 HP V8.  Entry cost is reasonable and service bills will not require a second mortgage…unlike comparable European sports cars.  But what happens when you add another 105 HP, bigger tires, less weight and no targa top?  I’ll tell you what happens…splendor!  The new Corvette ZO6 is a monster when you want it to be, but can be as docile as a Honda on daily commutes – and that speaks volumes about the car.

The Ford GT is a totally different animal.  It’s an exotic sports car that just so happens to carry a blue oval on the front instead of a raging bull or prancing horse.  The GT does not make a good daily driver and is not a very good choice for long road trips.  However, for the person looking for the ultimate street car for short trips that will do duty as a track machine, this is the car for you.  The Ford GT is not a rational choice of car, and that is part of the allure.

These two automobiles are so different that a comparison is difficult.  But their heritage, cross-town rivalry and the fact that one of each is sitting in my garage makes the offer too good to pass up.

2006 CHEVROLET CORVETTE ZO6 –

In December of 2004 I read about the upcoming Corvette ZO6.  No details were disclosed, but the Corvette forums were alive with speculation.  Absent knowledge of details such as cost, performance or design I “ponied” (pardon the pun ford owners) up a refundable deposit for one of the first ZO6’s in the Atlanta area.  The deposit secured my place in line for a 2006 model at MSRP.  If it was not as expected I could cancel the order or buy it and sell it for a nice profit on eBay.

Once the details were released I was hooked, and that was in spite of the fact that it was going to be a $65,000 Chevrolet.  The temptation of a small block 427 V8 with 505 HP and weighing 3150 pounds was calling my name.  Yes, my wife called it an “over priced Chevy” from the start, and still does to this day.  However, she has put about half the miles on it and admits it is more fun to drive than her last sports car, a 2004 Porsche 911 Targa.

My car was built in October 2005 and I was fortunate enough to be invited to the factory in Bowling Green, Kentucky to watch it be produced.  My tour guide for the day, Kevin, was great.  He walked me thru step-by-step and even let me be the first to start my ZO6 and drive it off the line.  Those who build the Corvette are proud of their work as well they should be.  The craftsmanship exhibited in the Corvette is unlike any other U.S. production model.

Three days later, the dealer called and let me know my car was ready to be picked up. Frankly, my first impressions of the car were not what I expected.  It drove better than any sports car I had ever owned, had tons of power, great features and was a solid as any Mercedes-Benz.  Was this really a Chevy? 

I sold a 2005 Lotus Elise to buy the Corvette, so for the previous 6 months I had a blast talking to people at gas stations, having people take pictures, and being the center of attention. The Z06 blends into the environment and doesn't capture much attention because it looks like every other Corvette to most people.  So the first few weeks I had to get used to the fact that the C6 Z06 was not for gathering attention from on lookers, instead it was built to put a big fat smile of the drivers face.  If you need a car to fuel your ego or garner attention, this isn't the car for you.  But if you want a great sports car and are secure enough to buy a Chevy, buy a Corvette Z06; you won't be disappointed.

The LS7 engine pulls like a freight train to 7,000 RPM.  You would never know that the engine was a 7 liter motor unless you read the specs.  It acts like a high-revving small displacement V8, smooth and refined, yet pulls like a big block from the good 'ol days. The Z06 has raised the bar by offering supercar performance in a price range that is about the same as a Porsche Cayman.

The engine is not so much as a work of art like a Ferrari engine, but a display in superior engineering.  The LS7 engine is a hand-built 7.0L small block aluminum-block V8.  The LS7 produces 505 HP and 470 lb.-ft. of torque.  The Z06 contains a bunch of race derived components like an eight-quart dry-sump oil system, forged-steel crank, titanium valves and rods, and CNC machined heads.

The interior is so comfortable that sometimes you forget you are driving one of the fastest cars on the planet.  The stereo system comes standard with XM Radio, which is something I've been hooked on for about 3 years now.  I also ordered the Navigation system and found this to be a great tool.  It has heated memory seats, heads-up display, keyless starter, and many other cool features that make this the best all around sports car I have ever owned.

Something worthy of mention are more details about the heads-up display.  In track mode you can see how many G’s you are pulling in corners… and the number is very high… then with the touch of a button one can see the maximum amount of G’s pulled since the car was started.  In street mode the optional Navigation system displays street names and rotates in the heads-up screen so you don’t have to look down for your next turn.  All cars with NAV systems should come with this much safer heads-up display.

In June of 2006 I drove it 850 miles each way to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for a Cobra event.  After spending two days behind the wheel at Mid-Ohio I really understand what the ZO6 is all about.  This is the best street car I have ever driven on the track – and that includes seat time in a wide range of sports cars and exotics.  The handling is incredible and allows the driver to feel comfortable while building speeds in the turns after just a few laps.  The brakes stop – and stop very quickly - with no fade.  Ample engine power is evident by the fact that in third gear I could stay on the tail of the higher horsepower Cobras.  On the back straight I followed a nice ERA with a 427 side-oilier who had no less than 650 HP.  While he was grabbing gears all the way down the straight I left mine in third gear and stayed right on his tail all the way and could have easily passed him.

If the truth be known, I was somewhat intimidated by the idea of two days of track time in my C6 ZO6.  But after the first couple of laps I was in the zone!  There were a few times the rear end would step out a bit, but I could stay in the throttle and power slide through the corner or ease up on the throttle and let the tires do more work.  It takes a little faith in your driving abilities and in the car, but works well.  A couple of times I even tapped the brakes while going in too hot and was surprised that I came out the other side pointed in the right direction.  If that had been done in one of my previous Acura NSX’s, I would have been looking into the eyes of the driver behind me – and the NSX is a very forgiving track car as well. 

If you buy a C6 Z06, get it to the track.  You will fall in love with the Z06 again and again with each passing lap.

After driving over 1,700 miles in six days I can say without reservation that the C6 ZO6 is a great road trip choice.  The stereo system is wonderful, the seats comfortable and I averaged 27+ MPG.  An added plus is that the Corvette has an abundance of luggage space, unlike many other exotics.

Now, on a negative note – One thing that the ZO6 does not do well is autocross.  Before the Ohio Cobra Club event I took the ZO6 to a local SCCA autocross.  I'm no pro, but this was not my first autocross. Try as I might, I could not get the C6Z to be fast enough to be very competitive, at least not on the Goodyear run-flat street tires.  The gearing is not engineered for autocrossing.  First gear will go over 60 MPH, the limit of most courses, but is difficult to control.  Leaving it in first creates pretty clouds of white smoke, lots of engine noise, but results in slow lap times.  If used in second gear, it did not allow the engine to perform in the power band, so the 505 horses were not put to full use.  I gave it another try in Ohio at the Cobra autocross and again, I couldn't keep up with the FFR Spec Racer of Jim Schenck.  The Z06 is not going to dominate the SCCA SS class like the old Z06 did for many years; but maybe this will change once DOT race tires are available. Elise drivers don't have to fear the C6 Z06; yet.

As intimated earlier, one of the best features of the new ZO6 is its build quality.  The level of interior pieces and quality of the engine and drive train are very good.  This Corvette is far better built than the C5 which was miles ahead of the previous C4’s.  The C5/C4’s are great cars considering their time period, but the C6 is light years ahead.  It disturbs me when magazine reviews say that the interior pieces look cheap.  Granted, GM could have spent another $10,000-$20,000 on better seats and more leather, but then the car wouldn't be priced as low as it is.

As for marketing the Corvette Z06, Chevrolet should have returned to their roots and installed "427" badges on the side instead of the Z06 "505 HP" badges.  Because let's face it, many Z06's won't have 505 HP for long, but they will most likely always be 427 cu. in. I realize that the badge wouldn't sell any more Z06's, but that would have been the cool thing to do.  And isn't this car all about being "cool"?

So to sum up my impressions – Overall the new Corvette ZO6 is the best bargain in the high performance sports car market today.  Give GM credit for using the Corvette base as a way of bringing a world-class supercar to the market at a price well below a Porsche 911, let alone a Ferrari V8.  If it’s looks could be more in keeping with it’s performance and more distinguishable from the standard Corvette, this car could command over $100,000 per copy.  It is a far better car than most sports cars currently in production…at any price.

2006 FORD GT –

The FORD GT is a recent addition to the family.  It was purchased from one of our TGB scooter dealers.  My current plan is to use the GT in a business promotion by offering our TGB Dealers the chance to win a motor-heads dream vacation behind the wheel of a Ford GT for a long weekend, then spending two days behind the wheel of a Factory Five Challenge Racer at Mid-Ohio in 2007 during the largest Cobra gathering of the year; The London (Ohio) Cobra Show.

The Ford dealer where it was purchased is located in Minnesota.  While I could have shipped the car from there to Georgia, why pass up the opportunity for a road trip in a $166,945 exotic sports car?  As this was my first experience with the FORD GT I was both apprehensive and excited.  The first thing that strikes you when driving the GT is the view… or lack thereof.  Having owned an assortment of rear or mid-engine cars, including NSX’s, Ferrari’s, Porsche’s and a Lotus I am accustomed to the inherent sight limitations.  The GT is more restrictive than those.  A very low profile of only forty four inches combined with large pillars and a supercharger right behind your head make for an unusual feeling.  After a few miles and many smiles you do acclimate to the view, although arguably the one in the rear is more attractive than the one in front.

This was going to be a long road trip, as in 1,100 miles and I settled in.  The seats have one purpose and that is to keep your butt planted as you go through corners.  Works great for that, but lacking in comfort for the long haul.  They are rock hard and fail to approach the comfort level of the Corvette.  Once ensconced in the cabin that can be overlooked – for the first few hundred miles. The steering wheel is small and quick and reminds me of the Lotus Elise but with much more power and bulk.  A little movement in the steering results in big changes in direction.  I love it!

Since the GT was delivered with only five miles I was careful to “be gentle”.  Even doing that I could feel the power to be as good or better than the ZO6, and that speaks volumes.  When the supercharger spins up the rush of power firmly pushes you into the very unforgiving seats.  The GT lacks traction and stability controls and with this much power on command that can easily spell trouble.  If you can’t tell by the aggressive styling you can tell by the throttle that the GT is a street legal race car.

On the road the FORD GT commands more looks than Jessica Simpson in hot pants.  Untold number of picture phone shots were taken, both at rest and in motion.  Every fuel stop an adventure, and due to the 21 highway miles per gallon there were ample occasions for photos and conversations.  It appears the public knows about the GT and recognize it as the American supercar that it is.

The dash and gauges are works of art with form and function going hand-in-hand.  Detail work in the leather stitching on the seats, dash and doors are of the highest workmanship with influence from Ford’s sister companies Aston Martin and Jaguar most evident.  Perhaps the only better view of the instrument panel is the view at night.  The lighting and ambiance give it a somewhat futuristic look that is beauty to behold.  Ergonomics are good with the exception of the radio.  While the sound quality is fine, it is difficult to get to the buttons to change stations and I missed having XM radio or the ability to play MP3’s on CD as in the ZO6.  I guess Ford expects you to be content with the super sound of the exhaust note and they may be on to something there.

Since my trip was in the middle of summer I was worried about the effectiveness of the air conditioner.  Far too many exotic mid-engine cars lack sufficient air-conditioning systems, but I can now assure you now that the Ford GT is the best of any exotic I have experienced.  You can freeze meat in the GT… albeit rather small bits due to the available room.

On the open road the FORD GT is a cruiser which is to say steering is solid and definite.   Speed comes so easy that 90 MPH feels like 60 in the Corvette.  The ZO6 has little movements in the steering wheel from bumps, but not so in the GT.

The GT's engine is a 5.4L DOHC supercharged modular V8 engine (all-aluminum & hand-built) with an Eaton 2.3L Lysholm, screw-type supercharger w/intercooler, producing 550 horsepower.  Fuel injection-multi-port w/twin bore throttle body and dry sump oil system are included.

I have yet to take the GT on the track but have a feeling it will do very well.   A higher skill level will be required with the GT to realize it’s full potential.  The brakes are comparable to the ZO6 and both are excellent.  The Corvette ZO6 uses 6-piston front and 4-piston rears made by PBR.  These are very effective but suffer from excessive dust and requires the use of expensive little pads.  The FORD GT uses Brembo’s sans logo. (Why no logo?)  They too are capable of rapid stopping from speed and I look forward to seeing how well they perform on the track.  With most mid-engine cars I assume that it will out brake a ZO6 in a straight line and may even exit the corners with more traction.  The benefits of the mid-engine design comes with a small price; concentration is a must because you have to worry about trail throttle over-steer if you brake too late.  Missing a braking point will not be as forgiving as with the ZO6.  As indicated, in steering the edge goes to the GT.

Due to the door design, parking the GT can be a mission.  Be sure to pick a spot where no one can park to the left of you otherwise you can not re-enter.  This would be a real problem if used as a daily driver.  It also requires an extra wide garage space. 

While ground clearance is relatively good on both cars, be careful of the GT’s rear diffuser.  From experience I can attest to the fact it hangs low enough that curbs are a problem when backing.

As for my marketing complaints about the Ford GT, I really think they should have spent the dollars to secure the rights to the name "GT40" or went with "GT44".  The original GT40's were just 40" tall, hence the name. They lost the rights to GT40 somewhere along the line so they decided to simply call the new car, "GT".  The problem is, when I tell people I have a new Ford GT, many people think I'm talking about a Mustang GT.  That's just not cool.  Again, it's all about being "cool" in these cars; right?

To sum it up, the FORD GT is one of the best sports cars ever manufactured.  The quality is better than any production Ford built to date and is equal to or exceeds other exotics costing more.  The engine too is more powerful than others, although it would be nice if it sounded like my F355.  It could be the result of US EPA regulations or just the nature of American exhaust in general.  While the GT has a nice guttural growl, it lacks the note emitted by the Ferrari – a Ferrari with a much smaller engine and without the boost of a supercharger.  There are options available and I want to see what other GT owners have tried.  Feedback from them or exhaust manufacturers will be appreciated as I do love a great sounding sports car.  Then too, from a practical point of view I will take performance and reliability over exhaust sound any day.  One final exhaust “note” – pun intended – is that I did install a Corsa quad exhaust on the Z06 to enhance the sound.  There is a little drone at high speeds, but that can be changed by alternating the speed.  Additional trunk sound proofing may be in order.

SO WHICH CAR IS BETTER?

Both automobiles have too much power for the average driver, but those with an appreciation of quality and performance will be enamored.  While there is a 45 horsepower difference - 505 for the ZO6 vs. 550 for the GT – it is not that noticeable.  The GT weights at least 221 pounds more than the Z06 and I suspect it may even be as much as 300 more pounds. Ford doesn't publish the weight of the GT, but the range reported by others is from 3,350 to 3,485; with the Vette coming in at a light-weight 3,130 pounds.

With similar high power-to-weight ratios they both pull strong in any gear and will break the rear tires loose in 1^st or 2^nd gear without working up a sweat.  Since the Corvette comes standard with traction and stability control it is the safer choice for the average driver.  Being safe is relative though because even with the electronic help you can still lose the Vette through carelessness or stupidity.  The GT gives you a very confident feeling until approaching the limit.  Then beware as the rear end will step out, the tires will smoke and you are reminded that 550 horses have been released.

The Corvette Z06 has a very large cargo area so it can be used for weekend trips or grocery shopping; while the GT would have to stay behind with its meaningless 1 cu.-ft. of cargo space.  Besides the space, the ride and creature comforts make the Z06 a better choice for long hauls and daily commutes.

If price is no object and you throw practicality to the wind then the Ford GT is the choice for any true sports car aficionado.  If on the other hand you desire a true sports car with creature comforts and available to serve as a daily driver and all for a most reasonable cost then, the ZO6 is the only option. 

There is no clear winner here as both are great cars destined to be automobile icons.  In 30-40 years you will see each of these fine automobiles crossing the auction block as “classics” commanding high bids from happy bidders.  No modern car should ever be purchased as an investment because the production volume is so high, but of the $170,000 sports cars on the market, the Ford GT offers the best chance to become a "big dollar" car in the future.  The Lamborghini Gallardo is a beautiful and exotic sports car, but lacks the soul of the Ford GT.  And even the wonderful Ferrari 430's wouldn't hold a candle to the Ford GT in 30 years due to the lower production volume of the Ford and because the Ferrari lacks the "exotic looks" of the Ford GT.

The Ford GT is an exotic supercar.  The Corvette Z06 is a sports car with the heart of a race car.  It would have really been cool if 3 years ago Ford had committed the dollars to go sports car racing with the GT instead of supporting the Aston Martin program in AMLS and the 24 Heures du Mans (24 hours of Le Mans).  The Corvette Racing Team has won five of the last six 24 Heures du Mans.  Since Ford did not race the new GT, I can still dream.  What a great sight that would have been to see the Ford GT return to its roots while giving the bowtie guys something to worry about. That would have been sweet.

When people talk about sports cars they often talk about heritage.  This is something I hear all of the time from my Ferrari friends.  The truth is, the production Corvette Z06 is very close relative to the C6.R (Corvette Racer).  The Corvette has been manufactured continuously since 1953, 10 years before Lamborghini ever started producing cars and just a few years after El Commendatore built the first "Ferrari".  Lotus was just a year old when the first Corvette rolled off the line.  Only the enduring Porsche 911 comes close to the number of continuous years of production of a sports car model and it's 10 years shy of the Corvette.  So if its heritage you're looking for, the Corvette comes with heaps of it.

The Ford GT gets its heritage from the Ford GT40's that were raced in the 1960's.  The new GT looks much like the original GT40, but it's 10-20% larger and boasts a small block V8 with a supercharger instead of a small black 289 V8 or big block 427 V8.  The story of why Ford went sports car racing in the early 60's has been told many times.  Henry Ford II had wanted a Ford at Le Mans since the early 1960s.

Initially, Ford attempted to buy Ferrari.  A deal had been all but agreed on when Enzo Ferrari called the merger off in 1963, after an agreement with Fiat that gave some financial backing to Ferrari, while preserving Ferrari's independence.  Ford had been manipulated to raise the bids with Fiat, and an angry Henry Ford II decided to produce his own car instead. His obvious goal was to knock off the Ferrari's at Le Mans.  While many people glamorize the story of how the Ford GT40's beat the Ferrari's, the real story is not so simple.  It took Ford several years to finally win at Le Mans and they may have spent more money in the development of the GT40 than any race car in history.

The Ford GT comes with this inherited racing pedigree, but it should be noted that Ford, like Chevrolet have been racing in many different venues throughout the world for many years.  Both companies have been involved in professional and amateur sports car racing, AMLS, Le Mans, World Challenge, NASCAR, CART (Champ Car), IRL, INDY, F1, F2, F3, Can Am, NHRA, SCCA, Trans Am, Grand Am, WRC, and many more.  It would be very hard to add up the totals, but I would bet that it would either be Ford or Chevrolet who has won more professional races than any other manufacturer in history. (Sorry guys, but you have to include all racing... just how many NASCAR races have been won between these two companies?)

Both of these cars offer great pedigree, style and substance.  In the end, I suspect the Ford GT will appeal to the same people as the Corvette Z06; just in a higher tax bracket.  Below is an admittedly subjective comparison.  It will be interesting to see if others agree with my assessments.

- Bill

Special thanks to Mike Shaw, my father-in-law, for editing the article.

Corvette Z06 and Ford GT Specs
Road Test Summaries
Gallery: Corvette Z06 and Ford GT

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Subjective Summary:

Specifications:

How do they stack up?