Originally posted by sjs:
I disagree. Put both in the hands of a good driver, even one experienced with mid engine cars, and the Z06 stomps the NSX. Heck, even the first C5 beat it handily in head to head track tests.
Still, I'll keep my NSX. But the Z06 would make a nice beater!
First of all, I think its fun comparing cars in many different ways. I’ve also autocrossed a Corvette and had been very successful with that car for many years. However, it has never ceased to amaze me over two years of owning the NSX how well the NSX performs with so little power. I have become a believer of the basic design principal of “small and light”. It not only performs well, but it is a joy to drive in any situation. The Corvette always felt big and heavy, almost scary coming into a turn after a straightaway. However, the statement that “even the first C5 beat it handily in head to head track tests” needs some clarification.
In the July 98 Road & Track, there was an article entitled “The Best All-Around Sports Car”. In that test they used an “Indy 500” special edition Corvette C5 Convertible versus a 98 NSX Coupe. In every measure of acceleration and lap times, the NSX beat the Corvette.
In the July 99 Motor Trend, there was an article entitled “Top-Speed Shootout”. In that test they used a Corvette C5 Hardtop versus a 99 NSX Zanardi Coupe. In the Top Speed test, the Corvette was 10 MPH faster then the NSX, 0-60 the NSX was faster at 4.7 versus the Corvette’s 4.8, in the ¼ mile the NSX came out on top again at 13.1 sec/ 109 mph versus the Corvette’s 13.3 sec/ 108 mph, in one mile acceleration the Corvette nosed out the NSX with 33.7 sec/155 mph versus the NSX’s 34.1 sec/ 150 mph, in lateral g’s the NSX won with .99 versus the Corvette’s 90, in 0-100-0 the NSX won again with 15.5 sec versus the Corvette’s 16.3 sec, in the 600 ft slalom the NSX won with a speed of 70.5 versus the Corvette’s 68.1 mph, and in braking 60-0 they tied at 116 ft.
In the August 99 Car and Driver Road Test Annual, there was an article entitled “0-150-0”. In that test they used a C5 Corvette versus an NSX Coupe. The NSX won with35.9 seconds versus the Corvette’s 37.8 seconds. They also compared 0-60, 0-100, 0-150, and ¼ mile. In every comparison, the NSX won.
In the April 00 Road & Track, there was an article entitled “The Best Handling Cars in America”. In that test Mario Andretti drove the cars and compared Skid Pad, Slalom, and Track Segment Times. They used a Corvette C5 versus an NSX Zanardi Coupe. In every test the NSX came out on top.
While the Z06 has some performance advantage, it appears that objective comparisons don’t support the statement that “even the first C5 beat it handily in head to head track tests”.
