i just couldn't help comparing the new Corvette (on the cover of my just arrived Car & Driver) to the FD...


the new 2005 C6 "slimmer" Corvette weighs in at 3224... that's 435 pounds heftier than the 1993 2789 pound FD.

most of the weight sits on the 245/40 front tires.

stock front weight:

corvette: 1731
FD: 1394

that's 337 pounds in exactly the wrong spot if you want to go around corners.

the other 98 pounds sits in the rear.


aerodynamics is always important since the remaining hp not utilized by drag is available for acceleration. and drag goes up with the CUBE of the speed.

corvette: 21.9 sq ft frontal area drag coeff .28 =s 6.132
FD: 19.3 sq ft frontal area drag coefficient .29 =s 5.59

the 9.7% advantage is greater than you might expect as the hp required rises at a cubed rate w mph.


ideal track to wheelbase relationship 65%

corvette: 57%
FD: 60%

better switchback/driveability: fd

length times width indicates the corvette is 8.6% larger. dividing the weight into the area ( L x W) we find the FD weighs 5.9% less per unit of L x W. so the FD is both smaller and lighter per unit of size. good engineering.

the comparison turns toward the C6 at the dragstrip... assuming factory numbers the FD has a power to weight ratio of 10.93 and the C6 8.06. what would it take rear wheel power to run w the C6 at the dragstrip? assuming 15% driveline loss..... 294 rwhp.

so the way i see it speaking strictly performance-wise... the stock FD should run pretty well w the stock C6 on a road course (especially after a few C6 front tire-grinding laps) as a result of the 337 pounds. perhaps on a long topspeed course like Brainerd the C6's power to weight advantage might prevail even inspite of inferior areodynamics and weight bias...

at the dragstrip... well you all know what you need to make 294 plus rwhp.

of course there's no law that says that the C6 can't do a bit of tweaking also

with the intro of the 2005 C6, GM is closing the gap here and there between the Corvette and the 1993 FD.

way to go GM.

howard coleman

 

I just don't like the new headlights :-P

 

You for one should know better than to "paper" race...

 

lol...it seems that it is going to take GM 2 decades to equal the FD

 

Just wait until the Z06 replacement comes out. Under 3k#, upwards of 500HP. And save the analysis until AFTER a real race.

 

I can already hear Jimlab's keyboard clicking away...

 

Except, I thought the real reason the newer Vettes dethroned the FDs in SCCA was the "active traction" system or whatever they call it, so that when cornering, if slipping starts in any wheel, opposite reactions automatically occur. Rising Tire gets less braking, Deepest tire gets more. Or something like that

 

I wouldn't say that. Head out to the SCCA events or a track and see what a 2003 Z06 can do. In stock form, the FD can't touch it.

 

C6 is not a chump car. stock it is a great car, so you would need a moderately well modified RX7 to compete. definately not a stock RX7.

 

I think with the introduction of C5 Z06(not the upcoming C6), the stock FD performance was surpassed pretty much in every category. As much as I like FD's, it has no chance against a C5 Z06 stock vs. stock on the street/drag strip/road course. Your analysis concentrates on the advantage of FD over the vette, but how about the other way around, such as torque? I think that's where the V8's have the biggest advantage over turbo rotaries. Just my two pennies.

 

i wasn't knocking the corvette, rather just looking at it objectively in relation to a car that was introduced more than 10 years ago. hey, it has a helluva relative power to weight ratio. so did the Hemicuda. car magazines need something to hype and it is the trick of the week. when they get the car down to 2789 i will take another look.

as to the z06... ok 500 flywheel hp.... 425 rear wheel. admittably off the showroom floor. as to the FD... at 2789 we would need 367 rear wheel to run w it on the drag strip and less on road courses.

howard coleman

 

It appears that the new C6 will be very close in performance to the old Z06. Stock for stock, the old Z06 had more power, AND more traction than the FD.

Hopefully, if and when Mazda comes out with a new RX7, it will better the new Vettes. Until then, just add a few bolt on's if you want to keep up

 

Compare the 3rd gen vette to the 3rd gen rx7.

I like the C5 exterior and C6 interior.

 

Yea, my thoughts exactly.

If the C5 ZO6 already outhandles the FD, is there much of a debate over the possibility of the C6? Only if they take one huge step backwards in ingenuity....

I think if the Rx7 came with bigger/wider/better stock tires it could have helped the stock vs. stock numbers in a large way...

 

And those that shun the C6 lights should really try and see the car in person before you're sold on that issue,...given it looks much better in person.

 

My wife has her eye on the C6. I'll be able to give a first person opinion later this year if in fact she decides on getting one. She wants to go test drive one when they come out in a few months. We had a 2000 C5 convertible before I got my FD last year......

 

you guys.... Maybe I didnt take Howard seriously enough, but I think he was musing about how well the RX7 was made, and how in many ways, it is superior, even after 10 years. I didn't take it as a knock on the corvette. We all know what a great car it is, and yes, I for one would like to own it too.
But, how many things 10 years old, are as good. Remember your walkmans? VCRs? HUge TVs with flat screen like technology? Your Commodore 64? or was it the IBM 286? Compare them to your iPODS, DVD players, G5, or whatever it is...

 

ZR1! That should do it!

 

Amen.

FD's handling, looks, aerodynamics, and power has allowed it to maintain eye contact with current cars and even some of the exotics costing many times more.

Vettes are an awesome bang for the buck.

They better be since they had a head start on the RX7 by a couple generations and decades.

 

I hope the new Rx-7 is up to snuff for the times (if it even comes out, that is). Cars these days come packing too much right out the factory.

 

There is one other difference, the Vet has a much smoother/quieter ride. There something to be said about being civilized.

 

vettes are more geared for a wider audience and driving conditions/styles than a FD.

 

If I ever sell my 7, I will get a Vette. It's just a great car. A girl friend of mine has one, and it is a blast to drive. Hers isn't even a Z06.
Great power, handling, reliability, and great looks.

 

I'm not really impressed with the looks of the C5 or even the C6 vettes. With that said however the next incarnation of the Z06 will probably be my next sports car.

Matthew Walsh

 

I don't understand why you would buy it if you are not impressed with the looks. The new Z06 will certainly be nearly identical with the C6.