Autoblog: Corvette ZR1 laps the 'Ring in 7:26.4

[starfox07]

lolspringz rule the world.

I have a feeling the Viper ACR would be even faster (it was 6 SECONDS faster around buttonwillow than a Z06, and those laptimes are in the mid 1 minute range) although it is far less of a street car. It is going to take one hell of a car to beat the ZR1 on the street.

[watisdis]

Originally Posted by Labcoatguy

Except it doesn't bite your head off when you're....done with it. Both are found suspended on leaves though.

Funny guy. I'd +rep you but it sez I gotta spread it 'round.

[fbc]

Nice - I was expecting a very quick time when they got around to it.

So to save everyone some time, should we just get a mod to copy-and-paste the posts from every other 'vette / GT-R thread in here?

[TomCat]

Originally Posted by the Interceptor

Strange, how noone here states that the car surely had more power than stock, of course used special slick tires and how they cheated in many many other ways.

/GT-R irony

GM wouldn't ever deny that the car has more power then advertised. They like underrating engines and would just tell you it was hand built, so it's a fluke that it makes more power.

Also, GM is American and America is sue happy. When they announced the CTS-V's Ring time, they made sure to state it was on standard tires and listed all the non-production equipment inside of the car. They don't want to get sued for falsely advertising their poster child super car. It would be humiliating to the company if they did.

That said, it is a pretty good time.

[Necx0]

Another thread and I'll say it again, who gives a fuck?? It could break Bellof's record and I would still rather have a 911.

Deciding how good a road car is based on Nurburgring lap time is moronic at best.

Don't take this as a knock against the Vette. Seems like a fabulous car, especially if it is good dynamically (ride, ease of use etc.). Its a knock against the new production car "benchmark".

[TomCat]

Originally Posted by Necx0

Another thread and I'll say it again, who gives a fuck??

It's just an interesting fact, is all. You can say the same thing about the Power Lap board on TopGear.

[Nocturnal]

Originally Posted by the Interceptor

Strange, how noone here states that the car surely had more power than stock, of course used special slick tires and how they cheated in many many other ways.

/GT-R irony

That is largely due to the fact that the Corvette is American, much like the nationality of the 99% of people who dislike the GTR. It has nothing to do with the fact that because its a Corvette its more believable, and everything to do with the fact that the American market is fickle at best.

Still a very impressive car mind. Im just looking forward to the reaction to the V-specs official time...

''oooohhh noes, thats bridge to gantry!!11'' ''theyre cheAters11!!!''

[carbon dioxide]

Originally Posted by TomCat

It's just an interesting fact, is all. You can say the same thing about the Power Lap board on TopGear.

I think Necx0 meant it's not necessarily the most important character of a super car. On this thread (the little I've read it but rarely been bothered enough to post) everyone starts yelling basically the fastest is the best.

I'm sure I wouldn't be able to spot the difference in terms of speed if some professionals only drove a 3 sec faster lap with the ZR1 on a 20km long track . If I drove there the variance in my lap times would propably be more than that with any car .


If I where to buy this sort of a car I would test drive both the ZR1 and GT-R. And if that 3 sec 'Ring difference means the Vette has a horrible ride or it's unbearable to drive in my mind it's useless. I'm not saying it's any of those things because I haven't tested it. I'm saying you guys are making that 3 sec FAR too bigger deal because in real world it doesn't mean a shit .

[the Interceptor]

Originally Posted by Nocturnal

That is largely due to the fact that the Corvette is American, much like the nationality of the 99% of people who dislike the GTR. It has nothing to do with the fact that because its a Corvette its more believable, and everything to do with the fact that the American market is fickle at best.

Still a very impressive car mind. Im just looking forward to the reaction to the V-specs official time...

''oooohhh noes, thats bridge to gantry!!11'' ''theyre cheAters11!!!''

And that's my very point. I like the Corvette, I really do. I even would buy one (not this one, more like a standard C6, but still). And the time the ZR-1 did on the ring sure is impressive, especially as they say there's more in it. But the thing is this:

I absolutely truly entirely fackin hate it, when people start questioning a figure like the GT-R ring time just because they don't like the car, so they don't want it to be good. Then, you start endless chains of discussion, trying to prove that everything was alright, and that they can't base their claims on false assumptions and fragmentary "facts". And you know what discussions on the internet are like.

And then, when you have finally convinced them (or one side just gave up), the next guy comes along and starts it all over.

[Avalange]

Impressive time, but let John Heinricy sit behind the wheel on a day without headwind on the Döttinger Höhe (main straight) and the time will be sub 7.25.

Will be interesting to see what the V-Spec, NSX and LF-A will do.

[TomCat]

Um, turning this into a matter of nationality probably isn't the best idea.

If you want to question the ZR-1's lap time, or the Z06's lap time (which has happened many times before), then you're welcome to. No one is stopping you. But the GT-R had a few things going against it. Poor power-to-weight ratio, for one, and there was also a quote from one of the Nissan management stating that they were running cut slicks on the Nurburgring. That quote was later discredited because of the language barrier and the cut slicks were only used during testing, not the timed lap. And recent dyno tests of the GT-R show it's making A LOT more power then advertised. It had nothing to do with "not liking the car".

So if you have anything substantial to put against the Corvettes, please post it.

[Quadrax]

Originally Posted by TomCat

So if you have anything substantial to put against the Corvettes, please post it.

Ok. It lacks the frugality of small diesel hatchback. Oh and something about accouterments and haptics.

Yes, that'll do nicely.

[the Interceptor]

Originally Posted by TomCat

But the GT-R had a few things going against it. Poor power-to-weight ratio, for one, and there was also a quote from one of the Nissan management stating that they were running cut slicks on the Nurburgring. That quote was later discredited because of the language barrier and the cut slicks were only used during testing, not the timed lap. And recent dyno tests of the GT-R show it's making A LOT more power then advertised. It had nothing to do with "not liking the car".

Every review of the GT-R states that the car is incedibly easy to drive at the limit and gives you a lot of confidence to go there at the same time. So it would be logical that the laptime it can archieve on the Ring would be better than you would expect from such a car if you only take the figures into account, as a lot of a low laptime is down to good grip as well as the courage to use it, both disciplines where the GT-R shines. But I never heard that argument, I only heard that it is impossible because of <random argument X>.

Many people didn't even consider it would be able to do the claimed times, and if that doesn't come out of general dislike for the car and/or the brand, I must ask the question why they would say such things.

Originally Posted by TomCat

So if you have anything substantial to put against the Corvettes, please post it.

Like I said, I like the Vette, and I have no doubt that the ZR-1 actually archieved the 7:26 lap. And even more importantly, I'd also believe it if I wouldn't like the car.

[TopGearDog]

I dont care much about lap times, i just know i would feel happier saying i own a Corvette then a Nissan.

[Redliner]

Originally Posted by TopGearDog

I dont care much about lap times, i just know i would feel happier saying i own a Corvette then a Nissan.

That's a little biased. Why detach the Corvette from the whole Chevrolet lineup and say the GT-R is a Nissan like it's a bad thing?

[Lupin_IV]

Originally Posted by Redliner

That's a little biased. Why detach the Corvette from the whole Chevrolet lineup and say the GT-R is a Nissan like it's a bad thing?

In some parts of the world, the Corvette is detached from the Chevrolet lineup.
Beside that, if you tell someone who knows very little about cars that you own a Nissan GT-R, they'll give a blank stare.

[TopGearDog]

Originally Posted by Redliner

That's a little biased. Why detach the Corvette from the whole Chevrolet lineup and say the GT-R is a Nissan like it's a bad thing?

For one thing, Chevrolet are rebadged Daewoo cars here and people hate them, but Corvette is an established musclecar name here and for some reason dont associate it with Chevrolet. But most people here think of Nissan as a Micra, Almera or a Patrol and have never heard of a GT-R or a Skyline. (Not that Nissan are bad cars.)

The way i thought it was, if you are telling someone you have a close to 500bhp supercar and tell them you have a Nissan, you'd have to go into explaining what a GT-R is. If you say it's a Corvette, they go "Ahhh".

But it was more meant as a joke then anything serious. I think the GT-R is cool and wouldnt mind having one, but if it was my money, i'd get the Corvette.

Didnt mean to offend anyone.

[uberjeff]

Originally Posted by Avalange

Impressive time, but let John Heinricy sit behind the wheel on a day without headwind on the Döttinger Höhe (main straight) and the time will be sub 7.25.

Will be interesting to see what the V-Spec, NSX and LF-A will do.

Considering the fondness I have for her Transit lap, I'd love to see what Sabine could get out of it. She could probably do 7:25 in her sleep.

[Labcoatguy]

Originally Posted by TopGearDog

For one thing, Chevrolet are rebadged Daewoo cars here and people hate them, but Corvette is an established musclecar name here and for some reason dont associate it with Chevrolet. But most people here think of Nissan as a Micra, Almera or a Patrol and have never heard of a GT-R or a Skyline. (Not that Nissan are bad cars.)

The way i thought it was, if you are telling someone you have a close to 500bhp supercar and tell them you have a Nissan, you'd have to go into explaining what a GT-R is. If you say it's a Corvette, they go "Ahhh".

But it was more meant as a joke then anything serious. I think the GT-R is cool and wouldnt mind having one, but if it was my money, i'd get the Corvette.

Didnt mean to offend anyone.

Hmm, how big were Gran Tourismo or The Fast and the Furious in Iceland? The fame of the GT-R was based on those two franchises, F&F to a lesser extent, but wherever they went, the legend of the GT-R followed. I'm not trying to offend here, but the fame of a car in Iceland is hardly representative of the rest of the car-loving world