Great Video Fred. One more consideration is mounting and unmounting the tires. I’ve seen on forums that some shops won’t touch the CF wheels due to their machines causing potential damage to the CF wheels. Some people in the forum also mention paying $50-$100 per wheel for mounting on current CF wheels.
That is a FANTASTIC point, thanks for mentioning that! I was pretty sure that people would think of other aspects that I didn't, and you're totally right. Wheel shops are probably really wary/worried about messing up a $5-7k wheel, and know that most owners will take pictures before they touch the wheel. The liability alone, not to mention the cost to replace would definitely give them pause (I don't blame them).
The suspension will be set up differently on Z06s ordered with CF wheels to accommodate for the less unsprung weight. My sources also tell me we won't see a Z06 on the street until August. #network_engineers
That's a good point as well. I didn't touch on it much, other than the Z07 package being required, and the ride being "firmer". Thanks for mentioning it! Have a nice day! -Fred
Great video, Fred! There are a number of reasons why I would not go with CF over the standard wheels, namely because I'm not going to spec a Z07 package for my car, so that ends that debate for me. In addition to all of the reasons you presented, one big factor to consider that GM is apparently going to use a forged alloy for the standard wheels. This is something GM did not do for the C7, and as a result I was a victim of two badly cracked rear wheels under careful driving conditions. Hopefully the new forged wheels will cure most of the durability questions a lot of us may be concerned about. In my opinion, the standard rims just look fantastic and for me it's a choice between the titanium satin or machine face finish. I guess once I finally settle on a body color I'll try and match up the best wheel finish that I feel fits my color choice. Great catch on the symmetry issue for the CF wheels! My mild OCD probably would not have allowed me to overcome that obstacle! Again, great job and looking forward to the next vid!
Thanks Lorenzo, that's a really good point about the stock wheels being forged, I didn't realize that. That even furthers the conversation for me, and solidifies my decision. Here's hoping the wheels are nice and strong! Have a nice day, nice to hear from you man! -Fred
WHAT'S UP FRED! I should be working but instead I'm watching Fred...ha ha ha! This was extremely thorough and informative! I had a very similar approach to the wheels in "my needs as a driver". I currently plan to road trip the car seeking out famous routes for driving (Route 66) but also, to find routes like Pikes Peak and the Tail of The Dragon, etc. for some spirited driving opportunities. Further, I do plan on tracking the car once or twice a year and have already started renting/tracking the C8 a few times to help me understand it's capabilities and my limits currently. Also, I do plan to hit the drag strip and do some very spirited driving on the streets as well. So for me, the standard wheels are perfect! In fact Aerolarri Wheels makes an almost identical pair called "Z06" that are completely "Forged" and are very well priced!! They even have the exact same Z06 size and dimensions for replacement options. Fred as always man, I'm looking forward to your next video's...so hurry up already...ha ha ha!
Fred, as always much more informative than most of the Corvette TH-camrs who rely on clickbait and fluff. I appreciate your insight! Firstly, you mention C7 wheels which to the best of my knowledge were cast, whereas the C8 Z06 are forged, therefore stronger. Ditto on going with the forged wheels! Like you I will do track events. When we were modifying our C5R-427 to improve handling, as we progressed, we finally reached a point where the limiting factor was no longer the car but the driver! LOL I love track events, but like most drivers I am an amateur. And like most open-track events, there are also limits on what you can do. Having a car with carbon fiber wheels that reduces a lap time by 1 second in the hands of a professional is IMHO almost meaningless for the average driver. Especially when I consider other cars that will be on the track, cars with a huge variety in performance...they will definitely impact lap times significantly more than ability of the Z06 I am driving. Sully
Thanks Sully, much appreciated! That's a great point about the C8 Z's being forged, something I didn't mention. Totally agree on the driver skill point you made. It can be humbling for sure, but frequently other than new tires and good brakes, the best money you can spend to go faster.....is for taking classes/training or learning from an instructor. I recall last year going to Lime Rock Park for a training class, and after the sessions I was in, we went down to the main track and watched the trackday. There were all kinds of high dollar cars there, and yet there was a fleet of spec miata's helmed by some really skilled drivers, and sure enough they were passing cars with 4x the power. It was one of the most humbling displays of driver skill I've seen. Have a nice day! -Fred
@@FredsFullThrottle Panoz Racing ran the track events at Road Atlanta and at lunch time their various drivers would join us. The driver at our table said the team had nicknamed my car "Corvette on steroids." During our chat it was obvious that he had watched me several times, so I asked how am I doing. He smiled and said "Pretty good for an amateur." They would take people out on the track in their race cars, so I opted in for that. That was a real eye-opener!
Finally, someone talked wheels, thanks. Wheel insurance? Only based on wheel longevity. If they know the wheel will last a long time without any issues, they will offer insurance
Fred, I think you’re spot on! I wish I were the kind of driver who could use all the potential of this car, but I’d be kidding myself. Also, I live on a small lake at the end of a quarter mile gravel road. Tons of potholes. I think carbon fiber wheels wouldn’t last long and I’d end up feeling foolish. Your videos are sensible and thorough. Thanks!
Hi William, Thanks for the kind words! The great part is that even the base car sets such a high performance bar, that the times when we get a chance to open it up a bit will be thrilling and exciting! Have a nice day! -Fred
I was all about the CF until you pointed out the masonic triangles on the CF wheels. I agree the alignment will be different with the lighter wheels. After going to Ron Fellows I am not skilled enough for the CF wheels. Good one Fred.
Hahaha! Joking aside, same as you, it hasn't taken me too many times driving with an instructor to realize how "slow" I actually am, compared to a good track driver. That said, there's nothing wrong with that, and the good news is that as long as we're having fun, and the car is thrilling (which it CERTAINLY will be), that's all that most of us need. Sure there'll be some people who want bragging rights, etc... but ultimately I think most of us would even be thrilled with a base 1LZ with no options. So not opting for a very expensive option saves more money for other fun things. Few of us looking at these cars only have cars for a hobby. I have all kinds of other expensive hobbies, so saving $20k on wheels will free that money up to do other fun things. Have a nice day man! -Fred
@@FredsFullThrottle I'm glad you were decisive. Lots of people say "tell me what you think in the comments" before they decide. The whole masonic symbol is something I thought you would enjoy. Triangles are found in Egypt and your kids play box..check out Road Oydessy. I sent you a link. He was trying to calculate overheating based off of grill guards. You 2 share a passion.
As always, VERY helpful information. Alloy for me. There is nothing like the look of a wheel, just waxed four times, and see a strong reflection on the pavement.
From the video, I kinda like the Satin Graphite depending on car exterior color. I don't think I have seen that color on a photo or video so far. The online visualizer doesn't do it justice. What were your thoughts of that color in person?
Hey Keith, Thanks for reaching out! In person I thought it looked really good. I think (like what you mention) that depending on the color of the car, that would look really good. It's definitely quite a bit lighter than the black wheels, but I like that it's not a gloss finish. I think that satin would take brake dust alright, and still look really good. I feel like day by day I'm back and forth between the machine face, the black, and the satin graphite. Once some cars are in showrooms, seeing different colors with them will help I think. For now, the color is the part I'm struggling a bit with. The visualizer is a double edged sword, and I agree that it doesn't do justice to how it looks in real life....at all. Have a nice day! -Fred
@@vettesweetnos Agreed! In person, the finish had a bit more "presence" than the black paint did too. I think they'd look pretty epic on the HSG metallic cars. I've seen some long distance photos of one in that spec on a car carrier (in one of my earlier videos), but nothing up close yet in good lighting. That said, even photos and my video from the dealer tour didn't really capture the subtle luster of the finish.
I mean in my head it really would be the best of the best drivers, and probably just on the track from a risk perspective, but far be it for me to tell someone else not to get them. I'm just saying I wouldn't do it personally. More power to anyone who has the money and wants them (for whatever reason). I'm thinking that there will be a bunch of people who buy them that run into issues with shops not wanting to touch them to replace tires, or having problems with scuffs. I'll pass on that. Have a nice day Kirk!
@@FredsFullThrottle I agree. If someone that only drives on the street wants CF wheels then more power to them. That's their decision. I just think that sound judgment would be to get Alloy wheels if you're driving on the street the vast majority of the time.
As always, the information you present is a cut above the rest and you raise the bar well above the majority of other TH-camrs! After reading the comments posted by your followers, all I can say for the most part is “ditto”! The Carbon Fiber Wheels look great, but the expense and potential for damage to the wheels at some point, I can’t justify the expense added to the build. As much track time that these cars will see, a person is going to be needing a few sets of tires. (I had a friend take his car to Pocono and he went through a set of tires in just one day.). You go putting these CF Wheels on tire machines, it’s going to be like a roulette wheel! You’re going to win some and lose some I bet! Like someone said, if you can find a shop that will even work on them and the cost associated with the risk of proving the service. If I plan to keep my 2009 C6 and the 2022 C8 HTC, I can’t get a ZO6 with a MSRP much above $100,000. I doubt that I will opt for the ZO7 Package either. I guess what it comes down to in considering the ZO6 as a purchase is the Horsepower. I’m more into the straight line performance vs. a Track Car, so other than the hype of 670 horses, the ZO6 may not be the right fit either. It’s a Track Car, not necessarily a daily driver either? Well, I’m so far down the list, I won’t see a ZO6 for years anyway. Perhaps once I get some seat time in the C8, I may not want the ZO6. It’s not been out on the road yet because of all the stones that are still on the roads, only 4 miles on the clock. Great video! Certainly a Deep Dive into the dilemma facing a lot of buyers. Good Work! Doug
I hear ya, and agree on all the points you made. The tire machines is a great point I didn't really touch on. I'm with you too, that with the money tied to some of these options, it really comes down to what you want to do with the car. "Looking cool" while important, is ultimately something that if you do some soul searching may not be worth $30k+ in options to have the big wing or the dive planes. I too am looking to get some time in a C8 beforehand (may use Turo), to make sure it's what I really want. My one big hangup right now is on the lack of a manual transmission. Overall I'm 95% mentally "in" on the car, but will certainly want to be sure before I plunk down the money. Have a nice day Doug, and as always nice to hear from you! -Fred
@@FredsFullThrottle I just can’t see $20-30,000 for something I think is going to be a significant problem! The people that have a reservation for an allocation in a year, maybe 2 or 3 years might be in a better position to make that expenditure once more data is in on the Carbon Fiber Wheels and if they fail or not. On my C8 build, my wife wanted me to try to stay around $80,000 for the MSRP. Then after talking it over, we both decided a convertible might be nice to have. Well, there goes an additional $7,500 to the build so we’re at $87,500. Shortly thereafter, she gave me Carte Blanche and said, “get whatever you want”! So with another option or two and the freight, it ended up being $90,315. But, I wanted Splash Guards (on constraint at the time the order went in) so I got the ACS “Rock Guards” at $499, which I must say they are a nice product, but I think most of their products are 30 to 40% above the price they should be. Then I had the PPF $6,000 and Ceramic Coating $800 and freight to ship the car via an enclosed trailer to that shop and then to my house for $600. ($7,800 total for that) Plus add to it the pressure washer and other goodies, I have just short of $100,000 in the C8 HTC. Maybe I’ll be happy with the HTC and the ZO6 will be too much car for my driving ability now at age 67. So with my illness, this might be my last Corvette as a practical matter? I just wish I was feeling a lot better to be in more of a position to enjoy it. That said, it might be another reason that the ZO6 might be too hot to handle. I wouldn’t want to hurt anyone by getting into an accident! I know you need garage space and saving $20,000 to $30,000 from the ZO6 build might get you what you need depending of course on your design and features. One thing I would highly recommend is that you have garage doors that are 12’ wide. That gives you ample room to get in and out and wider space between vehicles. As you get older, it’s a lot easier to park the car through a 12 footer vs those 9 foot wide doors. I think that a person will have a great ZO6 without the ZO7 Package and the Carbon Fiber Wheels. I don’t see that many significant options to add otherwise since the ZO6 comes with a lot of Standard Equipment at the base MSRP according to the information from the Corvette Action Center and I wouldn’t need the 3LZ either. Additionally, you never have enough garage space is my motto! I’ve got 30’ by 60’ and a 13’ by 18’ extension, giving me just over 2,000’ and I’d like more! It was originally going to be 40’ by 30’ when we built our house in 1994, but I told the wife we needed more space and now was the time to do it. Glad we did it! So good luck with your savings plan and I hope you get what you need and find a way to keep the Grand Sport since you enjoy running through the gears! Be honest and tell me, I’m not the right person for a ZO6, it’s not a good fit? Right?
For me I think it depends on which color I'd go with, but to some degree will be a bit of a game time decision. My C7 GS has black wheels too, though I do like the new machine face wheels. Have a nice day 7Gear! -Fred
Fred, I haven't read all the comments, so I apologize if someone already brought this up. The visible carbon fiber wheels aren't going to be for everyone, due to their cost and possible durability on the street should the owner use the car as a daily driver. So, they're more ideal for tracking the car on week-ends, but like I said before, there's likely to be a hefty price tag connected to those. The other thing I wanted to bring up it the cracking of the allow wheels on the C7 Z06 and how that impacts this new C8. The C7 Z06 aluminum alloy wheels were actually cast aluminum, which I didn't experience any problem with on my C7 Z06, but again, they're cast aluminum which aren't anywhere near as strong as "Forged." This new C8 Z06 wheel is allegedly Forged in order to negate this issue of cracking. But you know as well as I, there's always going to be someone out there capable of breaking just about anything....
Hi Tom! You (and a few others) bring up a great point about the new wheels being forged instead of cast. I didn't think to mention this, but it's a great point! I'm hoping this puts the "fragility" issue to rest for the alloys. Have a great day! -Fred
Hi Fred, Congrats on another good video! In my dream world, wouldn't it be great if GM could lend you 2 cars with and without the carbon wheels to see if you could report back and tell us potential buyers if there is a real world difference? Instead, we will likely get from the early adopters the typical "5 things I hate" and "I got my car appraised at Carmax" junk. I will keep dreaming...
Haha you hit the nail on the head. Agreed, I do wish there would be some demo cars at dealerships that would let us try the car first, to help with options, but I guess the way I'm seeing it, is that if a skilled racing driver only sees a 1-1.5 sec improvement on a moderate length track, there's no way that I could tell the difference, on public roads, with the salesperson in the car. Agreed though, there'll be a bunch of clickbait type videos that come out from early allocations, which won't *really* tell us anything we didn't already know. Full disclosure, I did do a 5 things I don't like video, as well as a 5 things I like video for the C7 2 years ago, and they're popular, because people click. That said, I feel like I've grown quite a bit since then in how I present information. We'll see when I eventually get time with the car, but I try to minimalize as much of the "sensationalism" of stuff like that, because to some degree it just feels like a race to the bottom. YT is not about the money, or getting 1M subs for me, so I don't really care if I don't get tens of thousands of views on my stuff. I'm growing at the rate I'm growing at, and I feel like gaining a wonderful community of car enthusiasts, which is what I was hoping for. This thumbnail, and the one for my last video, I tried a bit more "edgy" approach, and it seems like it gets more clicks (at least last weeks' did), so to some degree I have to find that right balance. I like including myself on the thumbnail smiling, but apparently that isn't the "best" way to make a thumbnail. YT is a fickle beast. Anyway, have a nice day, and I agree on your points above. Thanks for the kind words as well! -Fred
@@FredsFullThrottle Fred, no worries. I'm not trying to be a youtube snob. When you post your "Why I changed my mind and got the carbon fiber wheels and the 5 things I hate about them" video, I will happily watch and give a thumbs up! 😀
@@havebluevette7485 Haha, no not at all, I didn't mean for it to sound like I was implying that (if it did). I agree with you, I find that people get really wishy washy, trying to make videos they *think* will appeal to people, rather than be genuinely themselves. One thing I can promise is that I will always try to be my authentic self, regardless of if the opinions I have are popular or not. If anything I feel that's more refreshing than the 20th "5 things I like about this car" type videos. I totally got what you were saying :)
Are carbon wheels "better" simply put, yes, but like my gt350, I prefer my forgeline Forged wheels to the carbon wheels that are offered. the forgelines look better and are more resistant to impact type damage, carbons are undeniably better performance being lighter.
Agree on each of those points. Objectively they best pretty much every feature compared to forged/alloy wheels, but when you factor in "real world" roads, looks, cost, warranty, etc... it swings the tide in the other direction. If we all just lived at a race track though, it'd be a much easier choice ;) Have a nice evening man, nice to hear from you! -Fred BTW - GT350 is an awesome car, I almost bought one before I bought my Corvette, but the dealer had a huge markup, and wouldn't budge.
@@FredsFullThrottle Forgeline is an awesome brand. Definitely the best Forged wheels out there so I'm happy. I've driven many cars out there and I have yet to find something as exciting, raw and thrilling as the GT350. The first car that comes to mind that is better in those regards is a manual 991 and 992 GT3. Honorable mentions are E92 M3, S2000, which I also have, and then the Z28/C6 Z06 as well but the gt350 just has something that isn't measurable on paper. I enjoyed driving all those others on the street and track but the gt350 is just something else. Quickly has become an American icon.
Fred great info with video. Wanted to know if I should buy a new C8 stingray at an MSRP dealership in writing before buying the Z06 at a dealership that may charge over MSRP. I am on their list for Z06 that way I could sell c8 not crazy but a little higher price on the market. You recommend to put minimum money down on the C8 so to keep most cash for the Z06? Sorry not so financially savvy.
Hi Davie, First, I'm honored that you're asking my advice on this. I'll caveat all of this by saying I'm not a financial professional, and what follows is just my opinion, so your mileage may vary with my comments. I'll do my best though. Here's what I'd do, or what I'd consider in your shoes. The questions are rhetorical in nature, for you to answer for yourself if that helps. First, do you currently have a fun car to drive in the meantime before your Z06 reservation comes in? For me, having the C7 Grand Sport, in manual, I have the perfect car to "wait out" the new Z06. If you do have a fun car (doesn't matter what it is), I'd suggest thinking about flipping it on your head, and rather than counting the days till you can get the Z, I'd count the days you have left with that fun car. I'm going to be sad to let my C7 go (if/when the time comes), so celebrating what's unique or different about that car, may be a good way to look at it. Next, while I personally don't treat a car as an investment, to your point, the current market is letting people buy cars, and sell them for more than they paid. To a degree, it's a risk, but also at least the last 2 years have shown, the C8 is a pretty safe/solid payout if you do decide to sell. Having that as an option means that at a minimum you're not likely to lose much, or maybe any money, and could indeed come out ahead. That said, the question on if you should do it, (for me) comes down to a few things. First, how far out are you on a Z06 list? Second, how much over MSRP are you gonna have to go for the Z? (See if you can get a figure in writing, at least so you have a specific amount to target). And next, is it worth the effort/hassle. For example, if you were somewhere in the 2 year range, and the markup isn't that high, I'd probably consider just sitting tight, saving like crazy, and probably just ride it out. Yes a year without a fun car will be not as fun, but personally I don't know if all the effort to wait for the C8 is worth it for a shorter timeframe. What if that car gets delayed, and then gets delivered later than expected? Then you might have to turnaround and sell/trade the car quicker than expected. But, if you're retired or have an abundance of time on your hands, maybe that effort isn't a problem. Another factor to consider, is how much you want the Z to wow you. What I mean by that is, the C8 Stingray, is largely a similar experience in many ways. It's fast, the interior is nearly identical, the looks are "close", and it will probably knock your socks off if you haven't owned one before. So if you start in a C8 Stingray, then upgrade to the Z, the jump may not feel quite as "special". Yes it'll sound different, be faster, and have a bunch of intangibles (like the vibration) that make it different, but still, looking objectively, the experience isn't that different. I know long waits are no fun, but for my money, I wouldn't consider a C8 only to replace it soon thereafter with a car that's so similar. Others will disagree, but I want the Z to be as special as possible to me, and would rather have a bit more boring wait in the meantime, to really appreciate the end result. Again, the mental math changes if you already have a fun outlet for the wait (like another fun car, or a motorcycle, etc...) If also f you're 4-5 years out (> #2000) on a list, then that also changes. From a money perspective if you are that far out, you might be able to talk with a financial advisor and get a short term investment that's relatively low risk (or high yield savings, which is what I'm doing) to maximize that saving in the meantime. I think the key is see what your heart says. If you want the C8, and it isn't going to hurt your finances, then maybe go for it, but if you have any lingering doubts, or hesitation then I would instead focus on the Z06, work on saving as much as you can so when the day comes you can pay that extra markup, and then find something to enjoy in the meantime that doesn't take a big chunk of your money. I hope this helps, but that's how I'd approach it. Again, I'm not a financial advisor, so this is just what I'd do, but maybe it gives you some food for thought. Have a nice day, and thanks for reaching out! -Fred PS - If you go back to my videos from 2020, I have 2 videos (back to back) about how I saved for the C7, and how I am saving for the C8 Z06. Those might help inspire you too.
@@FredsFullThrottle thanks so much Fred. What you have written is so valuable. I am on a list 250 of 320 the list keeps shrinking I keep going lower in number which is good. Let's just say without saying who it is the dealership was mentioned on Brink of speed video Mike's content. Was concerned if they will charge above MSRP and if so how much? I could get pushed out price wise or how many allocations they get.
I have a 2022 convertible red Mazda Miata Sport . To get to work with and put milage on instead of the Z06 semi garage queen diva someday. Gonna drive it but low miles to help hold it's value. Do want to drive to California with it some day. My dreams are real gotta have a true vision and faith!
@@youcdtube Those are awesome cars. Last fall I actually went and looked at a Miata RF, but I actually don't fit. I'd have to get a custom low seat mount, my head was hitting the ceiling. If it wasn't for that, there's a high likelihood there would be one in my driveway (in addition to everything else)!. Enjoy man, and congrats on the awesome car!
Lighter wheels should reduce the difference between crank HP and wheel HP. AI search gave a rough estimate that each pound of unsprung weight saved is 0.9-1.3 HP. If willing to spend $21k for a 230 HP TT boost, spending $11k for CF wheels to save roughly 37-53 HP (for 41 pound reduction) isn't as great of a value but it helps.
Another great video Fred. I have a Lamborghini door hinge kit that I had for my stingray c8 but unfortunately sold it before I could install it. I'm asking u or any if your followers for any help in selling them. I know that I'm going to take a loss but it's a well know company on the west coast and it's the bolt on kit. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you
Hi Dave, My best advice would be to go to one of the big corvette forums, and make a post in the "for sale" sections with all the details, pictures of what it looks like on the car (since it sounds like yours wasn't installed), and a way to reach you. Secondarily FB marketplace is pretty good, though this is a specific enough item I think Forums may be your best bet. If it's unopened (not sure), you may even want to see if the company would take it back or buy it back. You'll probably lose money, but that'd be my best suggestion. Good luck with the sale Dave! -Fred
Great video, very in depth and in great detail, answered most of my questions, can't wait for part 2. However almost every other sentences you edited it and in vid it looks weird, (because you edited it) For audio it sounds perfect and that's what you wanted to do I guess, and also to save time for viewers so you edited down to the necessary parts (condensed version ) But the video jerks and all weird in almost every sentences....after awhile it gave me headache. I bet it took you some time to edit it out too! Maybe just talk faster so you don't need to edit so much. Or prepare what you need to say before you record it (pretty sure you already do and invested a lot of work) But yeah the editing happens almost every other seconds or more, it looked kind of off, audio is great but maybe you can try not to edit so much! Anyways awesome video.
Hey Josh, Thanks for reaching out! I totally agree. One of the big challenges I've had on these deep dive type videos is that I have a very hard time memorizing all the technical info, in a cohesive manner. That video was easily 60 minutes of footage and multiple takes for each part, edited down to a sub 20 min video. The bad part there though (as you noted) is that the editing was quite jumpy. Getting the audio to line up was the top priority, but lining up video is a lot harder. I got a fair bit of feedback like yours, and realized something had to change. I'd been following advice online too to minimize "dead air", and had been editing out every pause, "umm" and hesitation, so things kept moving. But I think I took it a bit too far. Starting with my very next video, I started using a teleprompter to help me so I didn't have to memorize everything. It's been a real gamechanger in the truest sense of the word. It's taken a few videos to start getting used to it, but the benefits have been less edits, much smoother flow, and using way less time for second or third (or 10th) takes. Now a video is about 20-30 min of raw footage, cut down to 10-15, instead of 60 cut down to 15. It's a work in progress, and I'm working to get better, but that'll come with time. One big thing is I needed to make sure that my personality and persona come through, even if I'm reading a script I wrote. I think I've got that part down pretty well. The improvement to my workflow has been really great (even in just the 2-3 weeks since I made the change). An average 10-15 min video takes anywhere between 6-10 hours of effort to make. Researching the subject, making the script (which i was previously memorizing in pieces), filming (multiple takes), then editing, audio balancing/tuning, descriptions, timers/milestones, thumbnails, and social media posts. Now the whole process takes about half that right out of the gate. Anyway, sorry to ramble, but I appreciate the feedback. It's kind of a long winded way of saying I am working to get better, and think I've made some meaningful improvements (and will continue to do so). Check out my last 2-3 videos and see if it seems better to you, hopefully they are! Have a nice weekend, and thanks for reaching out! -Fred
@@FredsFullThrottle I knew it, 60 minutes that's a lot of work! Good that you kept trying to improve. I checked out the last video it's way better. Thanks for your hard work and contribution to the corvette community, and thank for constant improvements.
Hi NC, Thanks for reaching out. I'm not quite sure what you're getting at. I have a reservation in with MacMulkin, but I'm 2-3 years out on their list. No one can actually place an order yet, as the order banks aren't open yet (soon though). The Z06 pricing isn't even available yet (just 2023 Stingray). Have a nice day! -Fred
Great content and a lot of information. The thing that bothers me is the editing of your content. It looks and sounds so choppy and distracting. I realize that you try to get as much content into the shortest amount of time. Hopefully you can smooth it out and not have it look so amateurish. You have a great channel and I would love to see it go to the next level.
Hi Anthony, Thanks for reaching out! I appreciate the feedback, and am trying to get better at that. One of the things I'm looking into is a teleprompter to help with long amounts of text that I need to get through. This video was a challenge to be sure. Compared to my normal videos (10-12 min on average), this one was much more info to get through. For months, I've had people asking me about many of the aspects of the carbon fiber wheels, and I knew I needed to be as detailed as I could manage. This ~21 min video actually was cut down from over 60 minutes of footage. There are several sections I cut out. It took over 10 hours to edit this past week, and it was a challenge to edit it together with having enough time to upload it, and have YT render it before it went live. I agree it is choppy, more so than my normal videos. The biggest problem is the huge amount of content to get through quickly, while still making all the relevant points, and having it flow together. While it may seem easy to be more smooth, one of the big challenges when you start recording yourself is keeping a quick pace. Every pause, "um", etc... in a video adds up, and is a moment of "dead air" where users click away. This approach to editing may be somewhat jarring, but I can see in the analytics that on my older videos that I didn't edit out dead air, every time I paused for more than .5 seconds, people click away. If I'm putting as much effort into a video, I want to maximize views, so I get some of the bad with the good. I have a good memory, but not a great one, so memorizing 15 pages of content (how long the script for this was) isn't really possible. I am trying to get better, and apologize it was choppy. If you look at a lot of the top youtubers, you'll see they do these "jump cuts" heavily. Unfortunately the average viewer attention span is razor thin, and literally I can see where people click away each time there is a pause (even under a second). Long story short, I'll keep trying to be better, and I'm glad you enjoy my videos overall. Over time, I'm sure I'll get better (as I have been over the last 2 years). Thanks for the feedback, and have a nice day! -Fred
@@FredsFullThrottle Fred, Thanks for the fast reply. You are a hard working guy, and I only want to help you get better. Keep up the great content and as transitions get smoother, you will be one of the top channels.
Hi Anthony, I made some changes in my filming of my video that comes out today, and everything should feel quite a bit smoother. One big thing is I used an impromptu teleprompter, so it took way less "takes" to film, and I could speak in longer stretches without having to stitch together as much in editing. I have a ways to go, but to me at least this is a step in the right direction. My next purchase is going to be an actual mobile teleprompter (I didn't know such a thing existed), which I can connect to one of my cameras. The text is actually displayed over the lens on the DSLR, so I'd be looking directly at the camera, and the viewer will be unaware. Anyway, hope todays' video is better than the last, and that you notice the improvements I make over time. It'll take some getting used to (for me), as I'm not used to reading while talking, but I'll get there. have a nice day man! -Fred
DON’ t forget probably ALOT of Koenigsegg Carbon Wheels are Very Light Weight is Because they Make there own Carbon Fiber Wheels AND there the only Hollow Carbon Fiber Wheels produced anywhere ( as far as I Know )
That's a great point about the hollow wheels on the Koeniggsegg's, I forgot about that. Yes, to my knowledge they are the only company making them hollow. Thanks for mentioning this!
I think the carbon fiber wheels is not so reliable as titanium wheels, I mean if you make a micro crack on carbon fiber wheels the wheels will slowly start to crumble.
Agreed, though my understanding is that titanium is even more expensive than Carbon Fiber. I saw a set of HRE's, I don't think they were even available for sale, and they were estimated at $50k+.... But yeah, I'm going to take my chances with the forged alloys. Thanks for reaching out! -Fred
Great Video Fred. One more consideration is mounting and unmounting the tires. I’ve seen on forums that some shops won’t touch the CF wheels due to their machines causing potential damage to the CF wheels. Some people in the forum also mention paying $50-$100 per wheel for mounting on current CF wheels.
That is a FANTASTIC point, thanks for mentioning that! I was pretty sure that people would think of other aspects that I didn't, and you're totally right. Wheel shops are probably really wary/worried about messing up a $5-7k wheel, and know that most owners will take pictures before they touch the wheel. The liability alone, not to mention the cost to replace would definitely give them pause (I don't blame them).
Love the shirt!!
Right on man!
The suspension will be set up differently on Z06s ordered with CF wheels to accommodate for the less unsprung weight. My sources also tell me we won't see a Z06 on the street until August. #network_engineers
That's a good point as well. I didn't touch on it much, other than the Z07 package being required, and the ride being "firmer". Thanks for mentioning it!
Have a nice day!
-Fred
Great video, Fred! There are a number of reasons why I would not go with CF over the standard wheels, namely because I'm not going to spec a Z07 package for my car, so that ends that debate for me. In addition to all of the reasons you presented, one big factor to consider that GM is apparently going to use a forged alloy for the standard wheels. This is something GM did not do for the C7, and as a result I was a victim of two badly cracked rear wheels under careful driving conditions. Hopefully the new forged wheels will cure most of the durability questions a lot of us may be concerned about. In my opinion, the standard rims just look fantastic and for me it's a choice between the titanium satin or machine face finish. I guess once I finally settle on a body color I'll try and match up the best wheel finish that I feel fits my color choice. Great catch on the symmetry issue for the CF wheels! My mild OCD probably would not have allowed me to overcome that obstacle! Again, great job and looking forward to the next vid!
Thanks Lorenzo, that's a really good point about the stock wheels being forged, I didn't realize that. That even furthers the conversation for me, and solidifies my decision. Here's hoping the wheels are nice and strong!
Have a nice day, nice to hear from you man!
-Fred
WHAT'S UP FRED!
I should be working but instead I'm watching Fred...ha ha ha! This was extremely thorough and informative! I had a very similar approach to the wheels in "my needs as a driver". I currently plan to road trip the car seeking out famous routes for driving (Route 66) but also, to find routes like Pikes Peak and the Tail of The Dragon, etc. for some spirited driving opportunities.
Further, I do plan on tracking the car once or twice a year and have already started renting/tracking the C8 a few times to help me understand it's capabilities and my limits currently. Also, I do plan to hit the drag strip and do some very spirited driving on the streets as well.
So for me, the standard wheels are perfect! In fact Aerolarri Wheels makes an almost identical pair called "Z06" that are completely "Forged" and are very well priced!! They even have the exact same Z06 size and dimensions for replacement options.
Fred as always man, I'm looking forward to your next video's...so hurry up already...ha ha ha!
Thanks, I appreciate it! That's good to know about the Aerolarri wheels in case the stock wheels have cracking issues (fingers crossed they don't).
Fred, as always much more informative than most of the Corvette TH-camrs who rely on clickbait and fluff. I appreciate your insight!
Firstly, you mention C7 wheels which to the best of my knowledge were cast, whereas the C8 Z06 are forged, therefore stronger.
Ditto on going with the forged wheels! Like you I will do track events. When we were modifying our C5R-427 to improve handling, as we progressed, we finally reached a point where the limiting factor was no longer the car but the driver! LOL I love track events, but like most drivers I am an amateur. And like most open-track events, there are also limits on what you can do. Having a car with carbon fiber wheels that reduces a lap time by 1 second in the hands of a professional is IMHO almost meaningless for the average driver. Especially when I consider other cars that will be on the track, cars with a huge variety in performance...they will definitely impact lap times significantly more than ability of the Z06 I am driving.
Sully
Thanks Sully, much appreciated!
That's a great point about the C8 Z's being forged, something I didn't mention.
Totally agree on the driver skill point you made. It can be humbling for sure, but frequently other than new tires and good brakes, the best money you can spend to go faster.....is for taking classes/training or learning from an instructor.
I recall last year going to Lime Rock Park for a training class, and after the sessions I was in, we went down to the main track and watched the trackday. There were all kinds of high dollar cars there, and yet there was a fleet of spec miata's helmed by some really skilled drivers, and sure enough they were passing cars with 4x the power. It was one of the most humbling displays of driver skill I've seen.
Have a nice day!
-Fred
@@FredsFullThrottle Panoz Racing ran the track events at Road Atlanta and at lunch time their various drivers would join us. The driver at our table said the team had nicknamed my car "Corvette on steroids." During our chat it was obvious that he had watched me several times, so I asked how am I doing. He smiled and said "Pretty good for an amateur." They would take people out on the track in their race cars, so I opted in for that. That was a real eye-opener!
Finally, someone talked wheels, thanks. Wheel insurance? Only based on wheel longevity. If they know the wheel will last a long time without any issues, they will offer insurance
If taken well care of I'm sure Carbon Fiber wheels can last a long time, the emphasis is on IF.
Fred, I think you’re spot on! I wish I were the kind of driver who could use all the potential of this car, but I’d be kidding myself. Also, I live on a small lake at the end of a quarter mile gravel road. Tons of potholes. I think carbon fiber wheels wouldn’t last long and I’d end up feeling foolish. Your videos are sensible and thorough. Thanks!
Hi William,
Thanks for the kind words! The great part is that even the base car sets such a high performance bar, that the times when we get a chance to open it up a bit will be thrilling and exciting!
Have a nice day!
-Fred
Great breakdown of info.......I'd love to see the same type of video on ceramic brakes!
Thanks David, that's one of the videos I have planned so stick around! Have a nice day!
-Fred
I was all about the CF until you pointed out the masonic triangles on the CF wheels. I agree the alignment will be different with the lighter wheels. After going to Ron Fellows I am not skilled enough for the CF wheels. Good one Fred.
Hahaha! Joking aside, same as you, it hasn't taken me too many times driving with an instructor to realize how "slow" I actually am, compared to a good track driver. That said, there's nothing wrong with that, and the good news is that as long as we're having fun, and the car is thrilling (which it CERTAINLY will be), that's all that most of us need. Sure there'll be some people who want bragging rights, etc... but ultimately I think most of us would even be thrilled with a base 1LZ with no options. So not opting for a very expensive option saves more money for other fun things. Few of us looking at these cars only have cars for a hobby. I have all kinds of other expensive hobbies, so saving $20k on wheels will free that money up to do other fun things.
Have a nice day man!
-Fred
@@FredsFullThrottle I'm glad you were decisive. Lots of people say "tell me what you think in the comments" before they decide. The whole masonic symbol is something I thought you would enjoy. Triangles are found in Egypt and your kids play box..check out Road Oydessy. I sent you a link. He was trying to calculate overheating based off of grill guards. You 2 share a passion.
As always, VERY helpful information. Alloy for me. There is nothing like the look of a wheel, just waxed four times, and see a strong reflection on the pavement.
Thanks luvcarsgay!
I'm with you, and don't think anyone who goes alloy will be disappointed! Thanks for the kind words, have a nice weekend!
-Fred
From the video, I kinda like the Satin Graphite depending on car exterior color. I don't think I have seen that color on a photo or video so far. The online visualizer doesn't do it justice. What were your thoughts of that color in person?
Hey Keith,
Thanks for reaching out! In person I thought it looked really good. I think (like what you mention) that depending on the color of the car, that would look really good. It's definitely quite a bit lighter than the black wheels, but I like that it's not a gloss finish. I think that satin would take brake dust alright, and still look really good. I feel like day by day I'm back and forth between the machine face, the black, and the satin graphite. Once some cars are in showrooms, seeing different colors with them will help I think. For now, the color is the part I'm struggling a bit with. The visualizer is a double edged sword, and I agree that it doesn't do justice to how it looks in real life....at all.
Have a nice day!
-Fred
I like that wheel too, a lot of photos show all 4 wheel finishes but I've only found 1 really good photo of them.
@@vettesweetnos Agreed! In person, the finish had a bit more "presence" than the black paint did too. I think they'd look pretty epic on the HSG metallic cars. I've seen some long distance photos of one in that spec on a car carrier (in one of my earlier videos), but nothing up close yet in good lighting. That said, even photos and my video from the dealer tour didn't really capture the subtle luster of the finish.
I think people should only use the CF wheels on the racetrack.
I mean in my head it really would be the best of the best drivers, and probably just on the track from a risk perspective, but far be it for me to tell someone else not to get them. I'm just saying I wouldn't do it personally. More power to anyone who has the money and wants them (for whatever reason). I'm thinking that there will be a bunch of people who buy them that run into issues with shops not wanting to touch them to replace tires, or having problems with scuffs. I'll pass on that.
Have a nice day Kirk!
@@FredsFullThrottle I agree. If someone that only drives on the street wants CF wheels then more power to them. That's their decision. I just think that sound judgment would be to get Alloy wheels if you're driving on the street the vast majority of the time.
As always, the information you present is a cut above the rest and you raise the bar well above the majority of other TH-camrs! After reading the comments posted by your followers, all I can say for the most part is “ditto”!
The Carbon Fiber Wheels look great, but the expense and potential for damage to the wheels at some point, I can’t justify the expense added to the build. As much track time that these cars will see, a person is going to be needing a few sets of tires. (I had a friend take his car to Pocono and he went through a set of tires in just one day.). You go putting these CF Wheels on tire machines, it’s going to be like a roulette wheel! You’re going to win some and lose some I bet! Like someone said, if you can find a shop that will even work on them and the cost associated with the risk of proving the service.
If I plan to keep my 2009 C6 and the 2022 C8 HTC, I can’t get a ZO6 with a MSRP much above $100,000. I doubt that I will opt for the ZO7 Package either. I guess what it comes down to in considering the ZO6 as a purchase is the Horsepower. I’m more into the straight line performance vs. a Track Car, so other than the hype of 670 horses, the ZO6 may not be the right fit either. It’s a Track Car, not necessarily a daily driver either? Well, I’m so far down the list, I won’t see a ZO6 for years anyway.
Perhaps once I get some seat time in the C8, I may not want the ZO6. It’s not been out on the road yet because of all the stones that are still on the roads, only 4 miles on the clock.
Great video! Certainly a Deep Dive into the dilemma facing a lot of buyers. Good Work!
Doug
I hear ya, and agree on all the points you made. The tire machines is a great point I didn't really touch on.
I'm with you too, that with the money tied to some of these options, it really comes down to what you want to do with the car. "Looking cool" while important, is ultimately something that if you do some soul searching may not be worth $30k+ in options to have the big wing or the dive planes.
I too am looking to get some time in a C8 beforehand (may use Turo), to make sure it's what I really want. My one big hangup right now is on the lack of a manual transmission. Overall I'm 95% mentally "in" on the car, but will certainly want to be sure before I plunk down the money.
Have a nice day Doug, and as always nice to hear from you!
-Fred
@@FredsFullThrottle I just can’t see $20-30,000 for something I think is going to be a significant problem!
The people that have a reservation for an allocation in a year, maybe 2 or 3 years might be in a better position to make that expenditure once more data is in on the Carbon Fiber Wheels and if they fail or not.
On my C8 build, my wife wanted me to try to stay around $80,000 for the MSRP.
Then after talking it over, we both decided a convertible might be nice to have. Well, there goes an additional $7,500 to the build so we’re at $87,500. Shortly thereafter, she gave me Carte Blanche and said, “get whatever you want”!
So with another option or two and the freight, it ended up being $90,315. But, I wanted Splash Guards (on constraint at the time the order went in) so I got the ACS “Rock Guards” at $499, which I must say they are a nice product, but I think most of their products are 30 to 40% above the price they should be.
Then I had the PPF $6,000 and Ceramic Coating $800 and freight to ship the car via an enclosed trailer to that shop and then to my house for $600. ($7,800 total for that)
Plus add to it the pressure washer and other goodies, I have just short of $100,000 in the C8 HTC. Maybe I’ll be happy with the HTC and the ZO6 will be too much car for my driving ability now at age 67.
So with my illness, this might be my last Corvette as a practical matter?
I just wish I was feeling a lot better to be in more of a position to enjoy it.
That said, it might be another reason that the ZO6 might be too hot to handle.
I wouldn’t want to hurt anyone by getting into an accident!
I know you need garage space and saving $20,000 to $30,000 from the ZO6 build might get you what you need depending of course on your design and features.
One thing I would highly recommend is that you have garage doors that are 12’ wide. That gives you ample room to get in and out and wider space between vehicles.
As you get older, it’s a lot easier to park the car through a 12 footer vs those 9 foot wide doors.
I think that a person will have a great ZO6 without the ZO7 Package and the Carbon Fiber Wheels. I don’t see that many significant options to add otherwise since the ZO6 comes with a lot of Standard Equipment at the base MSRP according to the information from the Corvette Action Center and I wouldn’t need the 3LZ either.
Additionally, you never have enough garage space is my motto!
I’ve got 30’ by 60’ and a 13’ by 18’ extension, giving me just over 2,000’ and I’d like more! It was originally going to be 40’ by 30’ when we built our house in 1994, but I told the wife we needed more space and now was the time to do it. Glad we did it!
So good luck with your savings plan and I hope you get what you need and find a way to keep the Grand Sport since you enjoy running through the gears!
Be honest and tell me, I’m not the right person for a ZO6, it’s not a good fit? Right?
@@kerry_glock Just sent you an email, figured it was easier to step through. :)
I'd get the standard wheels in black too... but maybe I'm just biased by the black wheels on my Callaway Grand Sport.
For me I think it depends on which color I'd go with, but to some degree will be a bit of a game time decision. My C7 GS has black wheels too, though I do like the new machine face wheels.
Have a nice day 7Gear!
-Fred
Fred, I haven't read all the comments, so I apologize if someone already brought this up. The visible carbon fiber wheels aren't going to be for everyone, due to their cost and possible durability on the street should the owner use the car as a daily driver. So, they're more ideal for tracking the car on week-ends, but like I said before, there's likely to be a hefty price tag connected to those. The other thing I wanted to bring up it the cracking of the allow wheels on the C7 Z06 and how that impacts this new C8. The C7 Z06 aluminum alloy wheels were actually cast aluminum, which I didn't experience any problem with on my C7 Z06, but again, they're cast aluminum which aren't anywhere near as strong as "Forged." This new C8 Z06 wheel is allegedly Forged in order to negate this issue of cracking. But you know as well as I, there's always going to be someone out there capable of breaking just about anything....
Hi Tom! You (and a few others) bring up a great point about the new wheels being forged instead of cast. I didn't think to mention this, but it's a great point! I'm hoping this puts the "fragility" issue to rest for the alloys. Have a great day!
-Fred
L
P
Hi Fred,
Congrats on another good video! In my dream world, wouldn't it be great if GM could lend you 2 cars with and without the carbon wheels to see if you could report back and tell us potential buyers if there is a real world difference? Instead, we will likely get from the early adopters the typical "5 things I hate" and "I got my car appraised at Carmax" junk. I will keep dreaming...
Haha you hit the nail on the head. Agreed, I do wish there would be some demo cars at dealerships that would let us try the car first, to help with options, but I guess the way I'm seeing it, is that if a skilled racing driver only sees a 1-1.5 sec improvement on a moderate length track, there's no way that I could tell the difference, on public roads, with the salesperson in the car.
Agreed though, there'll be a bunch of clickbait type videos that come out from early allocations, which won't *really* tell us anything we didn't already know. Full disclosure, I did do a 5 things I don't like video, as well as a 5 things I like video for the C7 2 years ago, and they're popular, because people click. That said, I feel like I've grown quite a bit since then in how I present information. We'll see when I eventually get time with the car, but I try to minimalize as much of the "sensationalism" of stuff like that, because to some degree it just feels like a race to the bottom. YT is not about the money, or getting 1M subs for me, so I don't really care if I don't get tens of thousands of views on my stuff. I'm growing at the rate I'm growing at, and I feel like gaining a wonderful community of car enthusiasts, which is what I was hoping for.
This thumbnail, and the one for my last video, I tried a bit more "edgy" approach, and it seems like it gets more clicks (at least last weeks' did), so to some degree I have to find that right balance. I like including myself on the thumbnail smiling, but apparently that isn't the "best" way to make a thumbnail. YT is a fickle beast.
Anyway, have a nice day, and I agree on your points above. Thanks for the kind words as well!
-Fred
@@FredsFullThrottle Fred, no worries. I'm not trying to be a youtube snob. When you post your "Why I changed my mind and got the carbon fiber wheels and the 5 things I hate about them" video, I will happily watch and give a thumbs up! 😀
@@havebluevette7485 Haha, no not at all, I didn't mean for it to sound like I was implying that (if it did). I agree with you, I find that people get really wishy washy, trying to make videos they *think* will appeal to people, rather than be genuinely themselves. One thing I can promise is that I will always try to be my authentic self, regardless of if the opinions I have are popular or not. If anything I feel that's more refreshing than the 20th "5 things I like about this car" type videos. I totally got what you were saying :)
Are carbon wheels "better" simply put, yes, but like my gt350, I prefer my forgeline Forged wheels to the carbon wheels that are offered. the forgelines look better and are more resistant to impact type damage, carbons are undeniably better performance being lighter.
Agree on each of those points. Objectively they best pretty much every feature compared to forged/alloy wheels, but when you factor in "real world" roads, looks, cost, warranty, etc... it swings the tide in the other direction. If we all just lived at a race track though, it'd be a much easier choice ;)
Have a nice evening man, nice to hear from you!
-Fred
BTW - GT350 is an awesome car, I almost bought one before I bought my Corvette, but the dealer had a huge markup, and wouldn't budge.
@@FredsFullThrottle Forgeline is an awesome brand. Definitely the best Forged wheels out there so I'm happy. I've driven many cars out there and I have yet to find something as exciting, raw and thrilling as the GT350. The first car that comes to mind that is better in those regards is a manual 991 and 992 GT3. Honorable mentions are E92 M3, S2000, which I also have, and then the Z28/C6 Z06 as well but the gt350 just has something that isn't measurable on paper. I enjoyed driving all those others on the street and track but the gt350 is just something else. Quickly has become an American icon.
@@THEDriverMod_ That's awesome, and honestly couldn't agree more with your list. You've got good taste my friend!
@@FredsFullThrottle if you're ever in the daytona area reach out and we can collab! Let you take em for a spin
Fred great info with video. Wanted to know if I should buy a new C8 stingray at an MSRP dealership in writing before buying the Z06 at a dealership that may charge over MSRP. I am on their list for Z06 that way I could sell c8 not crazy but a little higher price on the market. You recommend to put minimum money down on the C8 so to keep most cash for the Z06? Sorry not so financially savvy.
Hi Davie,
First, I'm honored that you're asking my advice on this. I'll caveat all of this by saying I'm not a financial professional, and what follows is just my opinion, so your mileage may vary with my comments. I'll do my best though.
Here's what I'd do, or what I'd consider in your shoes. The questions are rhetorical in nature, for you to answer for yourself if that helps.
First, do you currently have a fun car to drive in the meantime before your Z06 reservation comes in? For me, having the C7 Grand Sport, in manual, I have the perfect car to "wait out" the new Z06. If you do have a fun car (doesn't matter what it is), I'd suggest thinking about flipping it on your head, and rather than counting the days till you can get the Z, I'd count the days you have left with that fun car. I'm going to be sad to let my C7 go (if/when the time comes), so celebrating what's unique or different about that car, may be a good way to look at it.
Next, while I personally don't treat a car as an investment, to your point, the current market is letting people buy cars, and sell them for more than they paid. To a degree, it's a risk, but also at least the last 2 years have shown, the C8 is a pretty safe/solid payout if you do decide to sell. Having that as an option means that at a minimum you're not likely to lose much, or maybe any money, and could indeed come out ahead.
That said, the question on if you should do it, (for me) comes down to a few things. First, how far out are you on a Z06 list? Second, how much over MSRP are you gonna have to go for the Z? (See if you can get a figure in writing, at least so you have a specific amount to target). And next, is it worth the effort/hassle.
For example, if you were somewhere in the 2 year range, and the markup isn't that high, I'd probably consider just sitting tight, saving like crazy, and probably just ride it out. Yes a year without a fun car will be not as fun, but personally I don't know if all the effort to wait for the C8 is worth it for a shorter timeframe. What if that car gets delayed, and then gets delivered later than expected? Then you might have to turnaround and sell/trade the car quicker than expected. But, if you're retired or have an abundance of time on your hands, maybe that effort isn't a problem.
Another factor to consider, is how much you want the Z to wow you. What I mean by that is, the C8 Stingray, is largely a similar experience in many ways. It's fast, the interior is nearly identical, the looks are "close", and it will probably knock your socks off if you haven't owned one before. So if you start in a C8 Stingray, then upgrade to the Z, the jump may not feel quite as "special". Yes it'll sound different, be faster, and have a bunch of intangibles (like the vibration) that make it different, but still, looking objectively, the experience isn't that different. I know long waits are no fun, but for my money, I wouldn't consider a C8 only to replace it soon thereafter with a car that's so similar. Others will disagree, but I want the Z to be as special as possible to me, and would rather have a bit more boring wait in the meantime, to really appreciate the end result.
Again, the mental math changes if you already have a fun outlet for the wait (like another fun car, or a motorcycle, etc...) If also f you're 4-5 years out (> #2000) on a list, then that also changes.
From a money perspective if you are that far out, you might be able to talk with a financial advisor and get a short term investment that's relatively low risk (or high yield savings, which is what I'm doing) to maximize that saving in the meantime.
I think the key is see what your heart says. If you want the C8, and it isn't going to hurt your finances, then maybe go for it, but if you have any lingering doubts, or hesitation then I would instead focus on the Z06, work on saving as much as you can so when the day comes you can pay that extra markup, and then find something to enjoy in the meantime that doesn't take a big chunk of your money.
I hope this helps, but that's how I'd approach it. Again, I'm not a financial advisor, so this is just what I'd do, but maybe it gives you some food for thought.
Have a nice day, and thanks for reaching out!
-Fred
PS - If you go back to my videos from 2020, I have 2 videos (back to back) about how I saved for the C7, and how I am saving for the C8 Z06. Those might help inspire you too.
@@FredsFullThrottle thanks so much Fred. What you have written is so valuable. I am on a list 250 of 320 the list keeps shrinking I keep going lower in number which is good. Let's just say without saying who it is the dealership was mentioned on Brink of speed video Mike's content. Was concerned if they will charge above MSRP and if so how much? I could get pushed out price wise or how many allocations they get.
I have a 2022 convertible red Mazda Miata Sport . To get to work with and put milage on instead of the Z06 semi garage queen diva someday. Gonna drive it but low miles to help hold it's value. Do want to drive to California with it some day. My dreams are real gotta have a true vision and faith!
@@youcdtube My pleasure man, happy it was helpful!
@@youcdtube Those are awesome cars. Last fall I actually went and looked at a Miata RF, but I actually don't fit. I'd have to get a custom low seat mount, my head was hitting the ceiling. If it wasn't for that, there's a high likelihood there would be one in my driveway (in addition to everything else)!. Enjoy man, and congrats on the awesome car!
I hope the Black ‘Spyder’ wheels Will cost the same as the other finishes, because on the C8 , Black was $995 More than the OE Aluminum Wheel
Same here!
At this time I don’t even care about wheels. We can’t even get the damn car. I’ll take the Z06 without any wheels 😂😂
Good info though!
Hahahaha, you're totally right man! Lol
Lighter wheels should reduce the difference between crank HP and wheel HP. AI search gave a rough estimate that each pound of unsprung weight saved is 0.9-1.3 HP. If willing to spend $21k for a 230 HP TT boost, spending $11k for CF wheels to save roughly 37-53 HP (for 41 pound reduction) isn't as great of a value but it helps.
Another great video Fred. I have a Lamborghini door hinge kit that I had for my stingray c8 but unfortunately sold it before I could install it. I'm asking u or any if your followers for any help in selling them. I know that I'm going to take a loss but it's a well know company on the west coast and it's the bolt on kit. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you
Hi Dave,
My best advice would be to go to one of the big corvette forums, and make a post in the "for sale" sections with all the details, pictures of what it looks like on the car (since it sounds like yours wasn't installed), and a way to reach you.
Secondarily FB marketplace is pretty good, though this is a specific enough item I think Forums may be your best bet.
If it's unopened (not sure), you may even want to see if the company would take it back or buy it back. You'll probably lose money, but that'd be my best suggestion.
Good luck with the sale Dave!
-Fred
@@FredsFullThrottle thank you again Fred for your fast reply I appreciate it as always.
@@davec2020 My pleasure!
I can remember Gm was not backing carbon wheels when they cracked
Great video, very in depth and in great detail, answered most of my questions, can't wait for part 2. However almost every other sentences you edited it and in vid it looks weird, (because you edited it) For audio it sounds perfect and that's what you wanted to do I guess, and also to save time for viewers so you edited down to the necessary parts (condensed version ) But the video jerks and all weird in almost every sentences....after awhile it gave me headache. I bet it took you some time to edit it out too! Maybe just talk faster so you don't need to edit so much. Or prepare what you need to say before you record it (pretty sure you already do and invested a lot of work) But yeah the editing happens almost every other seconds or more, it looked kind of off, audio is great but maybe you can try not to edit so much! Anyways awesome video.
Hey Josh,
Thanks for reaching out! I totally agree. One of the big challenges I've had on these deep dive type videos is that I have a very hard time memorizing all the technical info, in a cohesive manner. That video was easily 60 minutes of footage and multiple takes for each part, edited down to a sub 20 min video. The bad part there though (as you noted) is that the editing was quite jumpy. Getting the audio to line up was the top priority, but lining up video is a lot harder. I got a fair bit of feedback like yours, and realized something had to change. I'd been following advice online too to minimize "dead air", and had been editing out every pause, "umm" and hesitation, so things kept moving. But I think I took it a bit too far. Starting with my very next video, I started using a teleprompter to help me so I didn't have to memorize everything. It's been a real gamechanger in the truest sense of the word. It's taken a few videos to start getting used to it, but the benefits have been less edits, much smoother flow, and using way less time for second or third (or 10th) takes. Now a video is about 20-30 min of raw footage, cut down to 10-15, instead of 60 cut down to 15. It's a work in progress, and I'm working to get better, but that'll come with time. One big thing is I needed to make sure that my personality and persona come through, even if I'm reading a script I wrote. I think I've got that part down pretty well.
The improvement to my workflow has been really great (even in just the 2-3 weeks since I made the change). An average 10-15 min video takes anywhere between 6-10 hours of effort to make. Researching the subject, making the script (which i was previously memorizing in pieces), filming (multiple takes), then editing, audio balancing/tuning, descriptions, timers/milestones, thumbnails, and social media posts. Now the whole process takes about half that right out of the gate.
Anyway, sorry to ramble, but I appreciate the feedback. It's kind of a long winded way of saying I am working to get better, and think I've made some meaningful improvements (and will continue to do so). Check out my last 2-3 videos and see if it seems better to you, hopefully they are!
Have a nice weekend, and thanks for reaching out!
-Fred
@@FredsFullThrottle I knew it, 60 minutes that's a lot of work! Good that you kept trying to improve. I checked out the last video it's way better. Thanks for your hard work and contribution to the corvette community, and thank for constant improvements.
If you haven't already placed an order and actually HAVE allocation I wouldn't be too worried. As these cars are all spoken for.
Hi NC,
Thanks for reaching out. I'm not quite sure what you're getting at. I have a reservation in with MacMulkin, but I'm 2-3 years out on their list. No one can actually place an order yet, as the order banks aren't open yet (soon though). The Z06 pricing isn't even available yet (just 2023 Stingray).
Have a nice day!
-Fred
Great content and a lot of information.
The thing that bothers me is the editing of your content.
It looks and sounds so choppy and distracting.
I realize that you try to get as much content into the shortest amount of time.
Hopefully you can smooth it out and not have it look so amateurish.
You have a great channel and I would love to see it go to the next level.
Hi Anthony,
Thanks for reaching out! I appreciate the feedback, and am trying to get better at that. One of the things I'm looking into is a teleprompter to help with long amounts of text that I need to get through. This video was a challenge to be sure. Compared to my normal videos (10-12 min on average), this one was much more info to get through. For months, I've had people asking me about many of the aspects of the carbon fiber wheels, and I knew I needed to be as detailed as I could manage.
This ~21 min video actually was cut down from over 60 minutes of footage. There are several sections I cut out. It took over 10 hours to edit this past week, and it was a challenge to edit it together with having enough time to upload it, and have YT render it before it went live.
I agree it is choppy, more so than my normal videos. The biggest problem is the huge amount of content to get through quickly, while still making all the relevant points, and having it flow together. While it may seem easy to be more smooth, one of the big challenges when you start recording yourself is keeping a quick pace. Every pause, "um", etc... in a video adds up, and is a moment of "dead air" where users click away. This approach to editing may be somewhat jarring, but I can see in the analytics that on my older videos that I didn't edit out dead air, every time I paused for more than .5 seconds, people click away. If I'm putting as much effort into a video, I want to maximize views, so I get some of the bad with the good. I have a good memory, but not a great one, so memorizing 15 pages of content (how long the script for this was) isn't really possible.
I am trying to get better, and apologize it was choppy. If you look at a lot of the top youtubers, you'll see they do these "jump cuts" heavily. Unfortunately the average viewer attention span is razor thin, and literally I can see where people click away each time there is a pause (even under a second).
Long story short, I'll keep trying to be better, and I'm glad you enjoy my videos overall. Over time, I'm sure I'll get better (as I have been over the last 2 years). Thanks for the feedback, and have a nice day!
-Fred
@@FredsFullThrottle Fred, Thanks for the fast reply. You are a hard working guy, and I only want to help you get better.
Keep up the great content and as transitions get smoother, you will be one of the top channels.
Hi Anthony,
I made some changes in my filming of my video that comes out today, and everything should feel quite a bit smoother. One big thing is I used an impromptu teleprompter, so it took way less "takes" to film, and I could speak in longer stretches without having to stitch together as much in editing. I have a ways to go, but to me at least this is a step in the right direction. My next purchase is going to be an actual mobile teleprompter (I didn't know such a thing existed), which I can connect to one of my cameras. The text is actually displayed over the lens on the DSLR, so I'd be looking directly at the camera, and the viewer will be unaware.
Anyway, hope todays' video is better than the last, and that you notice the improvements I make over time. It'll take some getting used to (for me), as I'm not used to reading while talking, but I'll get there.
have a nice day man!
-Fred
@@FredsFullThrottle Great job!
DON’ t forget probably ALOT of Koenigsegg Carbon Wheels are Very Light Weight is Because they Make there own Carbon Fiber Wheels AND there the only Hollow Carbon Fiber Wheels produced anywhere ( as far as I Know )
That's a great point about the hollow wheels on the Koeniggsegg's, I forgot about that. Yes, to my knowledge they are the only company making them hollow. Thanks for mentioning this!
I think the carbon fiber wheels is not so reliable as titanium wheels, I mean if you make a micro crack on carbon fiber wheels the wheels will slowly start to crumble.
Agreed, though my understanding is that titanium is even more expensive than Carbon Fiber. I saw a set of HRE's, I don't think they were even available for sale, and they were estimated at $50k+....
But yeah, I'm going to take my chances with the forged alloys.
Thanks for reaching out!
-Fred