The Chevy Corvette Z06 was once a hot commodity. Just two years ago, buyers were clamoring for build slots and were happy to pay markups for the opportunity. Now, though, it seems Z06s are beginning to pile up on dealer lots, with many available for MSRP. Some even have steep discounts. So if you’ve always wanted a new track-ready Corvette, now’s your best chance.
First brought to our attention by Carscoops, Chevrolet currently has 1,702 Z06s sitting on dealer lots across the country, according to the carmaker’s online inventory tracker tool. Of those, 1,001 are coupes, and the other 700 are convertibles.
Interestingly, the Z06 is the most populous version of the Corvette on dealer lots right now. There are only 1,092 base Stingrays and 873 E-Rays currently sitting in Chevy’s inventory. So if you see a C8 on a dealer lot, it’s mathematically likely to be a Z06, rather than any other trim.
As Corvette Blogger points out, there are several reasons for the buildup of Z06 inventory. Markups from dealers likely kept buyers from swooping in right away, with the hopes that prices would go down. Then there’s the mid-cycle refresh the C8 just received.
All of the cars currently in inventory are 2024 or 2025 models, meaning they haven’t received the updated interior or new color choices. All of these cars still have the polarizing “button wall,” which could be turning off buyers.
It’s also possible buyers could be waiting for the ZR1 and the ZR1X. Whereas the 670-horsepower Z06 was previously the top dog in the Corvette world, it’s now overshadowed by the much more powerful twin-turbo model, which makes 1,064 hp (or 1,250 hp in X form).
Photo by: General Motors
What Do Z06 Prices Look Like Right Now?
New Z06s are largely hovering at or below MSRP, according to Chevy’s inventory tool. The cheapest example, a Riptide Blue 1LZ coupe, is listed for $107,464—$12,000 off MSRP. In all, there are 10 Z06s with asking prices under $110,000. A stark contrast to when the car first debuted, when some dealers were asking up to $100,000 on top of MSRP.
If you want the sought-after Z07 performance package, which adds things like stickier tires, better brakes, and more aero, you’ll have to pay a bit more. But not that much more. The cheapest Z07-equipped Z06 is currently listed for $125,790, again $12,000 below MSRP. There are eight Z07 cars under $140,000 for sale right now across the country.
Whether you get the Z07 package or not, the Z06 represents an incredible value here, considering its closest competitor, the Porsche 911 GT3, carries an MSRP of $224,495—and that’s before any dealer markups. Even before discounts, the amount of performance per dollar is astonishing.
Admittedly, though, that’s been the Corvette’s MO for decades now. And while the stats have gone up, the game hasn’t changed.
Read the full article here