2004 Corvette Z06 Races Honda S2000, Should've Stayed Put

Drag racing videos between regular cars are all the hype these days, but I find most of them incredibly dull. I've said it before and won't shy away from repeating it. But seeing two cars head-to-head around the racetrack is a different story. It's even better if they're seemingly worlds apart, as with today's video. I have seen challenges like this one at Chuckwalla Raceway several times before.

And they're pretty fun to watch. This venue is slightly further away from Los Angeles than Willow Springs International Raceway, but it has a similar vibe with the mountains in the background. It's also a little longer at 2.68 miles (4.31 km), with a total of 17 corners plus changes in elevation. Thinking of the previous battles fought here, you can try to predict the outcome of today's race.

A 2022 Toyota GR Supra set a fast lap of two minutes and eight seconds. Its opponent was the modern Acura NSX, which completed the lap in just under two minutes. Driving a 2JZ-powered 240SX with 600-hp on tap, someone went even five seconds faster than that. But an LS7-swapped Corvette Z06 obliterated the Nissan by three seconds: that's Lingenfelter power for you! Today's Z06 is nowhere nearly as impressive as that one.

This 2004 C5 model is running a much more conservative setup, mostly focused on handling-improving modifications. I looked at the auction history for these cars, and last year you could still pick one up for less than $30K. The more expensive ones sold for between $40K to $50K, and you'd have to add the price of the upgrades to the equation. Meanwhile, a stock Honda S2000 is at least 300 lbs lighter than a C5 Z06.

But it also has a smaller engine, with less horsepower and torque to work with. There's nothing too crazy about the mod list on the Z06's Japanese opponent for the day. And you can't help but wonder if driver skills and less weight can make up for the lower horsepower levels. The price range for the S2000 is similar, going from $27K up to $40K these days.

I still remember when I almost bought one for less than $10K a few years ago. Given the choice, I have no idea which one of the two cars I would opt for. But seeing that I already have a Japanese vehicle in my garage, I'd probably go for the V8. My advice to you is: don't make any bets here, as you may be surprised by the outcome.