After Break-In, C8 Z06 Owner Admits the Stingray Would’ve Been Enough, but Says the LT6 “Scratches The Itch Perfectly”

There is a particular moment in performance-car ownership when anticipation gives way to understanding. It usually arrives not at delivery, not during the first photo stop, but several hundred miles later, when restraint is lifted, and the machine is finally allowed to be itself. For one 2024 Corvette C8 Z06 owner, that moment came shortly after crossing the 1,000-mile mark. What followed was not a tale of specs or bragging rights, but a thoughtful reflection on how Chevrolet’s most exotic Corvette yet reveals its character only once the leash comes off.

During break-in, the Z06 can feel almost restrained by its own potential. Keeping the flat-plane-crank LT6 below 4,000 rpm turns a 670-horsepower supercar into something paradoxical: immensely capable, yet slightly under-stimulating on public roads. The owner described loving the sound and presence of the car early on, while also feeling an unexpected sense of boredom. That sensation vanished the moment the break-in ended. Freed to rev, the engine transformed the experience, waking up above 3,000 rpm and delivering the kind of mechanical urgency that defines great performance engines.

“After today's drive, I have finally crossed the 1,000-mile mark on my 2024 C8 Z06. Last time I provided an update, it was at 360 miles after my drive on Skyline Drive ( as pictured above). That was before break-in, and my impressions were love the car, love the sound, but feeling a bit bored due to the high capabilities of the car and trying to keep it below 4000 RPM for break-in purposes.

Now that I am above break-in, that boredom has gone away. The car is a weekend toy car. There is no Point A and Point B that I am driving to( groceries, restaurant, etc). When I drive it, it's all about the portion between Point A and B. I guess going to the gas station to feed her thirst is the only Point A and Point B thing this car sees. I am very much in love with this car at the 4-month ownership mark. Though in August, I have only managed to drive her twice due to a busy schedule and poor weather( yes, yes, I avoid driving her in the rain). I have been averaging 13 MPG and 190 miles per tank. But it's been 13 MPG of pure fun. Also helps that I only need to fill her up once a month, so it doesn't hurt the wallet too badly. 

Posted before my routine is start her up in mymode with the exhaust full open to hear the glorious cold start of the LT6, drive in this mode until oil temp hits 120 F, then switch to sport mode until oil temp stabilizes. Then I go into Z mode, which I have set mostly everything to track except for suspension and a few other settings. This way, I am hearing the engine between 3,000 RPM and 5,000 RPM most of the time, and man, does it sound glorious. The route I take her on has a high speed limit, so I am able to have fun without being stupid. The only drawback is that it isn't a very curvy road, so I am not getting the enjoyment of tossing it around the corners. But for the curves that are on the road I take it on, the car is just so planted. The boredom feeling I had when I drove it on Skyline Drive is gone since I can feel free to rev it out, and the engine just comes alive above 3000 RPM.

When I am in the mood or Z mode, auto is keeping the RPM's higher than I want it to; manual mode is an absolute gem. It just makes the car more engaging when getting on the gas a bit. Quick response and smooth, but firm shifts with a nice crackle from the exhaust. Though I am still getting used to being in the right gear for what I want to do. Most of the time, I am getting it right, but sometimes in either too high or too low a gear. Like today, thought I needed one more downshift to go (legally) pass a slower-moving car, but it revved higher than I wanted, and the current gear was actually fine to do the pass.

Two more months in the driving season are left, and this car has been everything that I wanted. This car will never see the track, so its strengths will be wasted on me. The Stingray would have been more than enough car for my needs. But I wanted a different driving experience from the traditional Small Block V8. Don't get me wrong, I loved the grunt that the Small Block provides when I had a 2017 Camaro SS with the LT1 V8, but I just wanted something different. The Z06 scratches that itch perfectly, and I just love revving it out, but it isn't disappointing when driving lower in the RPM range.

So far, the only issue needing addressing is getting the car in for the TSB related to the service front-end lift message that pops up for 1 sec and goes away, and needing the brake cooling ducts installed( except for the rear lower) that were missed on the PDI. I have just been procrastinating taking it to the dealer, though I am sure those can be done with me waiting vs leaving it there. I'm the mistrusting type, and I really don't want anyone else driving the car. But I will get it in eventually.

Next thing to do is get the stuff needed to do the oil change myself before she goes into hibernation for the winter in November.”

This Z06 is not a commuter, nor does it pretend to be one. It is a weekend car in the purest sense, driven for the experience rather than the destination. Trips are chosen for road quality and speed limits, not errands. Fuel economy settles around 13 mpg, with roughly 190 miles per tank, figures presented not apologetically but proudly. As the owner notes, it is 13 mpg of pure fun, softened by the fact that the car only needs fuel about once a month.

The driving ritual itself reads like a quiet celebration of mechanical sympathy. Cold starts are enjoyed with the exhaust fully open, oil temperatures are monitored patiently, and drive modes are layered deliberately from MyMode to Sport and finally Z mode. Most settings are biased toward track aggression, save for suspension choices better suited to real roads. The reward is an engine that sings between 3,000 and 5,000 rpm, delivering immediacy, sound, and response without demanding recklessness.

The dual-clutch transmission plays a significant role in that engagement. In automatic mode, it can sometimes hold gears longer than desired, but manual control transforms the experience. Shifts are quick and decisive, accompanied by sharp exhaust crackles that heighten the sense of involvement. Like any serious performance car, it requires learning. Choosing the right gear becomes part of the dialogue between driver and machine, and occasional misjudgments only reinforce how alive the car feels.

Notably, this Z06 will never see a racetrack, a fact the owner acknowledges without regret. By any rational measure, a Stingray would have been more than sufficient. But rationality has never been the point. The appeal lies in the LT6 itself, a departure from the traditional small-block V8s that have defined Corvette for generations. Compared to the owner’s previous LT1-powered Camaro SS, the Z06 trades low-end brute force for a high-revving, almost exotic personality that rewards revs without feeling hollow at lower speeds.

Ownership has been largely drama-free. The only issues mentioned are minor and procedural: a brief front-end lift message covered by a technical service bulletin and brake cooling ducts missed during pre-delivery inspection. Even here, the hesitation to visit the dealer stems not from dissatisfaction but from protectiveness. This is a car the owner prefers to handle personally, including oil changes performed before the Z06 enters winter hibernation, safely tucked away once temperatures and road conditions turn unfriendly.

Taken as a whole, the story is not about perfection but fulfillment. After four months and just over 1,300 miles, the Z06 has delivered exactly what was hoped for: a distinctive driving experience, emotional engagement, and a sense of permanence. Described plainly as a “forever car,” it represents something increasingly rare in the modern performance landscape. Not just speed or technology, but a deep, lasting connection between driver and machine that grows stronger the more it is understood, respected, and finally unleashed.

Image Sources: Chevrolet Media Center

Noah Washington is an automotive journalist based in Atlanta, Georgia. He enjoys covering the latest news in the automotive industry and conducting reviews on the latest cars. He has been in the automotive industry since 15 years old and has been featured in prominent automotive news sites. You can reach him on X and LinkedIn for tips and to follow his automotive coverage.