Would You Trade Your C8 Corvette Z06 for an E-Ray?

It sounds like a silly question to some, but there are a few valid reasons why one might prefer an E-Ray over a C8 Corvette Z06.

There’s no denying the fact that the C8 Corvette Z06 is a truly amazing machine, a high-revving, sweet-sounding, track weapon of sorts, one that can hang with cars that cost several times more. However, as one might imagine, there are downsides to this seemingly perfect package as well – chiefly among them, a rougher ride and some exhaust drone, the types of things that one would expect form, well, a track-focused car, which the C8 Corvette Z06 is. That’s precisely where the E-Ray fits into the lineup – the first hybrid Corvette is more of a grand touring machine, offering up excellent straight-line performance with competent handling and far more comfort – and that begs the question, at least for one CorvetteForum member – is that enough to make you want to trade your Z06 for one?

“So I’m conflicted with a first world problem. The Z06 is great when driving, it’s really hard over 6k rpm, but around town and driven mundanely, I really don’t like the tone at all,” said member RapidC84B. “The FPC sound isn’t my style. I’m buying another C5Z for a special build and have an E-Ray convertible on order. The E-Ray convertible will be nearly 400 pounds heavier than my Z06 coupe, 3,700 vs 4,100. I don’t commute, and worry the weight is getting excessive for how I like to use cars. Also, I can’t fit in the HTC with a helmet so couldn’t track it.”

“Having two trackable cars is nice if one is down. As for weight, I’d take a new SL63 roadster in a heartbeat and those are 4,300+. I also have another backup spot for a Z06 in 2025 as there are rumors of new colors and a redesigned interior. Should I keep the Z06 and pass on the E-Ray, get the E-Ray and keep the other Z06 spot in my back pocket, or sell the Z06 and buy a Viper?”

Some, as one might imagine, suggest simply waiting for the ZR1, but our original poster notes that it’ll be a bit outside of his price range, most likely. Thus, others suggest going a different route. “From your posts, it seems clear you don’t really love the Z06 as a driver,” said z28lt1. “It’s a lot of money tied up in a car you don’t love. Seems like for you, best bet is to get an E-Ray and a track car, and for sure keep your Z06 spot for the future in case you miss it. You can always track the E-Ray if you really need to in a pinch.”

“Would I trade for an E-Ray? Nope,” added Chevy Chad. “Sounds like you might though. Wouldn’t hurt to try it out I suppose. If you end up not liking the E-Ray, just trade it in for the 2025 Z06. I doubt you would lose money selling your Z06 right now (assuming you purchased for MSRP).”

“As long as I can live with the ride quality, I’m not trading my Z06 for an E-Ray and I got on an E-Ray list in late 2020,” said Ragtop 99. “As to your situation, a few things for you to consider. It’s pretty clear that you’re not 100% happy with the Z06. Why do you want to keep a six figure car that doesn’t provide the joy expected from a toy? The E-Ray can be tracked in an emergency, just be sure to get the summer tires. Would you enjoy tracking an AWD car as a change of pace? If so, then taking the E-Ray one or two times a year to the track may be enjoyable even if the experience isn’t hardcore. Can you afford to own both the Z06 and E-Ray for 3 to 6 months? Then you could have them both and determine which is the better fit.”

There are, as one would imagine, a lot of interesting takes on this topic so far, spanning several pages, in fact. Obviously, asking C8 Corvette Z06 owners if they’d trade their car for an E-Ray is going to elicit a lot of “nos,” but on the flip side, there are some that understand precisely why one might want to do such a thing. Thus, we’re curious to hear what you think – would you trade your Z06 for the hybrid Corvette in the name of comfort, or would you simply stick it out with the more hardcore C8? Head over here and let us (and the OP) know what you think!

Photos: Chevrolet