Costa Mesa, CA – Recently I read an article that discussed, in a humorous way, why some cars are sought after by the younger crowd but most often are driven by the, well, more experienced in years crowd.  Cost of the vehicle was one reason, if not the biggest.   Case in point is the subject of this week’s column… the Chevrolet Corvette.  Not just any ole plain, run of the mill Corvette but a 2008 Z06.  That “O” in Z06 has got to stand for “Oh Yeah”, or “OMG”, or “oh damn…this thing is fast”. 
                With the recent launch of the ZR1 the Z06 is no longer the king of the hill in Corvette- land, but a price tag in the area of $25K less will undoubtedly keep the Z06 on the shopping list of enthusiasts.  Especially when compared to other “supercars” or “exotics” from Italy and Germany that can, and do, cost upwards of times 2 and more for the same basic performance.
                The Victory Red (which should actually be named... “hey officer”) Exterior Color had me trying to remember all the words to Prince’s song “Little Red Corvette” every time I walked up to the car, but perform this car does in many different ways, some of which you might be pleasantly surprised with.  Mash the go pedal and you’re saying Ba-Bye to anything and everything behind you.  With 505 horses and 470 lb-ft of torque on tap from the 7.0-liter V8 engine, it doesn’t take much to reach a velocity which will land you in traffic school if you’re not careful, but the 6 pot front and 4 pot rear binders bring you to a halt very quickly and confidently.  Plodding around town is no problem either.  Slide the 6-speed manual into 4^th gear and go about your business, no bucking for a lower gear or more revs.  There is so much torque available down low that should you want to pass the behemoth SUV chugging along in oblivious bliss with the driver yakking away on a cell phone and the kids screaming for more fries, simply tap the go pedal and it’s done without shifting or even thinking about shifting.  The song out the pipes in the back is nothing short of masterful …there is nothing quite like an American small block V8 rumbling along.  The sound at idle is pleasing and burbles a little waiting at the stop light, mash the go pedal and be prepared for a roar that is sure to please.
                 This car is an exceptionally easy to live with daily driver as well.  The seats, perforated leather, are very comfortable and easy to adjust to your liking,

dual zone climate control to keep the 2 of you happy, Satellite Radio, Bose Audio with CD player and 7 speakers, the OnStar system, Keyless Entry with Start Button, leather wrapped Steering Wheel, Xenon Headlights, and oddly enough, room for luggage, golf bags, groceries, whatever, in the hatch.  All the goodies you would expect for roughly $80,000 out the door.  This particular car listed at $76,920.
                I drove this car out to Willow Springs Raceway to visit our friend Danny McKeever, who owns Fast Lane Driving School, based at the track.  Some 270 miles round-trip on a bright and sunny typically warm Southern California Day and enjoyed every minute of the drive.  I arrived as comfortable as I was when I left and returned home no worse.  This car was a really comfortable cruiser, something that really surprised me.  You sit low, as you would expect, but the view out the front enables you to see everything in front of you and place the nose of the car exactly where you want it, the view out the back is very good with minimal blind-spots but as always check your side view mirrors when changing lanes, especially to the left.  This car is bigger that it appears and once you slide into it you soon realize you have a lot of car around you.
                EPA Fuel rating is 15 City and 24 Highway which isn’t far off some of the sporty, high horse power, high revving V6’s out there that don’t offer the baritone exhaust note you get with the Z06.  In comparison the 2008 Nissan 350Z I reviewed for you a few weeks ago is rated at 18 City and 25 Highway.  I averaged 20.2 MPG over 364 miles, and I have to admit that I enjoyed the “go” pedal as often as possible, in short bursts of course!
                Only one complaint really – the location of the audio controls on the steering wheel – they are on the right side of the wheel forcing you to use your right hand to change stations, volume, Etc. this is also the hand you use to shift the 6-speed with – those controls should be on the left side of the Steering Wheel.
                All in all I really enjoyed this car… Mid-life crisis be damned!  If I could plunk down the roughly $80K I would be at the dealer right now but mine would be black.  Eat your heart out youngsters!

Column and photos provided by Rich Branch, EVP of Race Central