The Chevrolet Corvette C8 Z06 is, quite rightly, a much revered sports car from Chevrolet. The excitement was through the roof when it was first announced, and it's very much met expectations. However, a myriad of problems including dealer markups and supply issues mean the Chevrolet sports car has almost shot itself in the foot. Which begs the question. Would you be better off with, say, a C6 Z06 instead of the latest Corvette Z06?
There is a good argument to say that this is true. A C6 Z06 is still a very good performing sports car. The used market will have a reasonable number for sale, and not at a ridiculous price. So if you want a Z06 Corvette, perhaps it is better to get your hands on a slightly older one.
Dealer Markups Have Priced People Out Of The C8 Z06
Something that is instantly in the C6 Z06 Corvettes favor is the pricing of the latest Z06. We have documented it several times already. But the C8 Z06 Corvette has suffered dramatically when it comes to dealer markups. These were quite frequent in 2022 and have carried on into 2023. The most dramatic was of course when a dealership tried to sell a C8 Z06 Corvette at nearly $100,000 more than the MSRP. Something that is an appalling practice, little wonder that consumers are not happy.
In Chevrolet and GMs defense, they have tried to put a stop to this practice. General Motors North America President Steve Carlisle wrote a letter in January 2022 to dealerships about this. Long story short, he told them to stop charging so much over MSRP for the Corvette C8 Z06. While it was a sternly written warning, the practice didn’t exactly stop. Meaning that if you want a Z06 Corvette, the C6 Z06 becomes much more attractive. Because for a fraction of the price of the C8 Z06, you can still get a fantastic Z06 Corvette.
The C6 Z06 Still Offers An Incredible Level Of Performance
The highlight of the C6 Z06 is the huge 7.0-liter naturally aspirated OHV V8 engine that is under the hood. With 505 hp, and 470 lb-ft of torque, the C6 Z06 can put in a good turn of speed. The 7,000 rpm redline isn’t as high as the C8 Z06, but it's still good. The top speed of 198 mph and 0-60 mph of 3.7 seconds aren’t exactly slow, so you do get what you pay for. It still holds its own against the 670 hp C8 Z06.
Chevrolet claims that the C8 Z06 has a top speed of 195 mph, which makes the 198 mph of the C6 Z06 very impressive. Being quicker than the latest Z06 is a testament to how good the C6 Z06 Corvette is. Although the C8 Z06 may reach that speed quicker. This is thanks to the very fast 2.6 seconds 0-60 mph time of the C8 Z06. So the C6 Z06 is still a potent car to own. When it comes to buying one too, you aren’t going to have to pay a ridiculous dealer markup to get your hands on one either.
How Much Is A Corvette C6 Z06 Worth In 2023?
The C6 Z06 is much more affordable than the current example of the Z06. Classic.com has great data on the market history for the car, and the average sale number is currently at $48,474. The lowest paid for a C6 Z06 according to Classic.com is $25,300. This was a 2007 Corvette C6 Z06 sold by mecum Auctions in 2020. Conversely, the most one has sold for was in March 2023. This was again at Mecum, and it was a one of six Indy 500 pace car examples from 2006. This sold for a staggering $242,000.
A restomod 2010 Z06 in a split window style sold for $190,000 at Mecum. But the highest a ‘regular’ C6 Z06 has sold for is a 2011 Carbon Edition Corvette C6 Z06. This one sold for $161,700 at a Barrett-Jackson auction. So you can get a C6 Z06 for a good price, but some editions clearly hold exceptional value.
The C6 Z06 Is A Corvette Everyone Should Consider Owning
The much kinder price tag certainly makes the C6 Z06 Corvette an appealing purchase. Here is a Corvette Z06 without the astronomical price tag of the latest version. Yet it still offers an unbelievable level of performance. And with a higher top speed than the current Z06 too. Yes you won’t get some of the fancy tech and mod-cons that you will on the C8 Z06. But for a fraction of the price, and without dealer markups, it's absolutely a price worth paying.
Sources: Chevrolet, Mecum Auctions, Barrett-Jackson, Classic.com