When you have more than $100,000 large to spend on an automobile, things get a little difficult. That's because there are so many options. You can go for luxury, space, speed, convertibles or a track car.
Let's say you want a bit of style and don't mind some flair, but what you really care about is speed and a pure driving experience. These days just about every car with some sporting credentials has several different settings for the car's driving dynamics and some would say you need a master's degree to configure the vehicle through their complex navigation systems.
If you want to keep things simple, most would agree that the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 would fit the bill -- plus you have some money to throw in the bank if you don't tick too many option boxes. That was until Chevrolet went one step further and created the ZR1.
2011 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Photo Gallery
This is what $110,750* gets you: over 600 horsepower, over 600 pound-feet of torque, Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes, a six-speed manual transmission, magnetic suspension, plenty of exposed carbon fiber, and the most powerful and fastest car ever produced by General Motors.
*Includes $950 Destination Freight Charge
Essentially, this is the alpha 'Vette.
Although there is a tremendous amount of power and plenty of street cred to boost your ego to the moon, I already notice one problem. Aside from the carbon fiber trimmings and glass engine cover, which doesn't show the motor at all, it all is pretty much a standard Corvette. That isn't necessarily a bad thing if you dig a little showmanship and bling'ed-out chrome wheels. But if you don't want to show up to a black-tie party wearing a cowboy-style belt buckle, the ZR1 may not be the best pick.
While it may not capture much attention, except from teenage boys, there is a flipside to this: it is relatively stealthy. Sure, a standard Corvette is not a slouch by any means but the ZR1 looks like a "regular" Corvette that a custom shop got a hold of.
The same can be said of the interior. Even when equipped with the full-leather interior, it is a disappointment. I hope that Chevrolet is planning to blow us all away when it introduces the C7 or whatever is in the pipeline. Granted, its guts are not a surprise as I have driven my fair share of these vehicles and it's always the same stuff that shows up. Every year that passes I cross my fingers for an update of some sort to no avail.
Though if you're willing to spend north of the 100 thou mark, something tells me that you probably already adore this car. You know that the interior is the pits but that likely doesn't matter to you because the only reasonable reason to buy a ZR1 is its driving experience.
In the performance realm, just about every manufacturer has gone super high tech and forgot what driving is all about. Don't get me wrong, it's cool that a vehicle's traction control system can correct an unskilled driver's faux pas but that takes away half the fun out of driving.
And that is precisely what the Corvette caters to, driving.
No dual-clutch transmission here, your own foot is good enough. Considering the clutch's take up is relatively long, a CTS-V has a more precise clutch, the ZR1 remains a very easy car to drive around town. The only adjustment is for the suspension and it's pretty simple -- off or on, which means stiff or stiffer.
The steering feels just as a regular 'Vette's would. Direct and with some weight in it, it has just enough roadfeel to provide driver's with a sense of what's going on underneath those front tires.
Then there is the power that comes in great, big ol' heapings. It's like when you go to your mother's house and ask for a little bit of mashed potatoes. Instead of getting a spoonful you wind up with a half pound on your plate.
As much as you try to refuse it, you know you're going to get the itch and plant your foot through the floorboards -- or in the case of the mom situation, eat it all.
Here's the thing though, that's just about all I can think about with the ZR1.
Having driven high-performance cars like the Lexus LFA, Nissan GT-R, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, Porsche Turbo and Turbo S, I've been wondering if I'd like the ZR1 as much, if not better. There's no question it is an outrageously fun vehicle with an unfathomable amount of power, but that's all it is: power, power, power.
Unless you want something to burst Europhiles egos at the track with, the Grand Sport delivers just about the same satisfaction on the road. Sure you'll miss out on the ZR1's standard magnetic suspension, carbon ceramic discs and carbon fiber bits but it is a road car, after all.
There's no question the ZR1 is the most insane Corvette yet, however, it doesn't make me feel like I am in something special. I just feel like I am in...well...a 'Vette.
That's not necessarily a bad thing because the Corvette is an American icon that's easily one of the most fun times on the road. But the lesson that can be learned here is that power isn't everything, particularly with a road car.
Pros: Power/performance of the most elite supercars, easy to drive, simple to use, subtle compared to exotics, "pure" driving experience
Cons: As seen in all Corvettes the interior needs a lot of work, Z06 now has Ultimate Performance and Carbon packages that essentially transform it into a ZR1, lacking a truly special feeling
2011 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Photo Gallery
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