2006 Corvette – Vette-net

While the 2006 Corvette base coupe and convertible were virtually unchanged from the previous model year, the C6’s sophomore year promised to propel the emerging supercar to even higher levels of power and performance. The introduction of the C6 in 2005 had surpassed the expectations of even the most discriminating critics and propelled the Corvette beyond any that had come before it.

Pricing: $44,600.00 (Coupe), $52,335.00 (Convertible), $65,800.00 (Z06)

Engine options: 346 C.I. (6.0L) LS2 Engine (Coupe & Convertible), 427 C.I. (7.0L) LS7 Engine (Z06)

Transmission: 6 Speed Manual Transmission, 6 Speed Paddle Shift Automatic Transmission

Top speed: 200mph

Units Produced: 34,021

Available Colors: Arctic White, LeMans Blue, Black, Velocity Yellow, Machine Silver, Sunset Orange, Victory Red, Monterey Red

Higlights of the year:

Known to sports car enthusiasts as the C6 (for sixth generation), the current-generation Corvette was all-new for model year 2005. It’s much better than the C5 it replaced, which was a solid sports car in its own right. What makes the C6 better is everything: performance, refinement, ease of operation. It’s more comfortable and easier to drive, not only on the road, but also on a race track. It quickly infuses the driver with confidence. It feels like it has more grip than the C5, and it does. It’s more agile than before yet more stable. Its new brakes are excellent and, yes, it’s faster. If you believe the best time to buy a car is in its second year of production, then the 2006 Corvette is the one to buy.

The standard Corvette coupes and convertibles were powered by Chevy’s 6.0-liter LS2 V8. This engine sounds great and intoxicates with its acceleration. New for 2006 is an optional six-speed Paddle Shift automatic transmission. With either the manual or automatic, the coupe was awesome, and the convertible is really wonderful. Drop the top on a nice day, turn on the stereo and you’ll likely have what psychologists call a peak experience. It was a wonderful feeling and at those moments the Corvette more than justified its price.

The headline for the 2006 model year was a new, ultra-high performance Z06 model. The Corvette Z06 was a true supercar for a price that’s merely expensive, as opposed to insanely expensive. This ultra-high-performance coupe features a new 7.0-liter LS7 V8, high-tech, weight trimming chassis features and upgraded brakes. If any $66,000 car could be called a bargain, this was the one. The Z06 Corvette accelerated faster, had better grip and stopped shorter than European sports cars that cost twice as much at that time.

Naturally, the Z06 came with a more-robust price-tag than the coupe or convertible models, but it also provided drivers an experience behind the wheel that was on par with many of the premier sports cars from around the world. The 2006 Z06 Corvette had a base price of $65,800.00 (excluding any available options) compared to the Corvette coupe’s base price of $44,600, a price difference of over $20,000.00. Yet, despite the dramatic price increase, the Z06 accounted for 6,272 units (nearly 20% of all Corvette sales) in 2006. By comparison, 16,598 coupes and 11,151 convertibles were sold that same year.

Photos of the 2006 Corvette: