YouTuber Ben Hardy checks out the C8 Corvette 3LT and says it might be the one to get over the much more expensive Z06.

It’s safe to say the 2023 C8 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 has taken the sports car market by storm. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll undoubtedly have seen journalists and news outlets throw universal praise at Chevrolet’s motorsport-derived flat-plane crank LT6 V8 and the car’s immense ability to eat up every corner on a racetrack.

Delve a little deeper, however, and the ownership experience, potential reliability issues, and crazy dealer markups have meant that the Z06 isn’t quite the all-conquering world-beater journalists might have you believe.

With that in mind, YouTuber Ben Hardy checks out the base 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 3LT with the Z51 performance pack and believes this is C8 Corvette to go for right now over Z06, especially when you consider it is about $20,000 cheaper.

What Is The Z51 And 3LT On The C8 Corvette?

The Corvette nomenclature can get a little confusing at times – with acronyms and model designations that can confuse even a die-hard Porsche 911 veteran.

Essentially, the Z51 performance pack bumps the power from Chevy’s 6.2-liter small block LT2 V8 by 5 hp and 5 lb-ft to 495 hp and 470 lb-ft, respectively. The Z51 pack also includes an electronic limited-slip differential, bigger Brembo brakes, upgraded cooling, and adjustable performance suspension.

This C8 also comes with stickier Michelin rubber, running staggered 245-19” at the front and 305-20” at the rear. The 3LT terminology simply means third-trim level and adds leather to the center console, instrument panel and door trim, while also adding GT2 seats in Napa leather.

This C8 also has the optional color-coordinated decals – with the side blades, front hood stripes and rear wing centerpiece all finished in luminous yellow. This motif continues with the engine valve cover, brake calipers, and interior sтιтching and accents also finished in luminous yellow.

Driving Impressions Of The C8 Chevrolet Corvette 3LT With Z51 Package

Taking the car onto the road, Ben is very surprised at how comfortable the C8 Stingray is. He does say the lack of weight over the front axle compared to other American performance cars like the Ford Shelby GT500 does mean the front is prone to moving around, though.

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While the upgraded seats also lack upper back support. Ben still says the C8 is still more comfortable compared to other similar sports or supercars.

Doing a few pulls, Ben is very impressed with the 6.2-liter V8’s power delivery and noise – and even more so with the 8-speed DCT transmission. This DCT is also found in the Maserati MC20 and Ben says the shift response is instant and seamless.

Ben is also very impressed with how the C8 Stingray handles, simply saying it’s on rails. Comparing the C8 to his own Ford Mustang GT350, he says that the C8 feels far more like a normal road car, but it still has an amazing dual personality with the muscle car powertrain and exotic styling and handling.

Compared to the base price of $105,300 for the Z06, the base Stingray model configured this way makes a lot of sense according to Ben.