I agree it's not the greatest, but to go that far? No, not really. Especially if you get the 2 or 3LZ.
What about it do you not like? I mean yes, it is not the greatest, but all I see are "The interior sucks". Yet noone can tell you why. The seats used to be the biggest gripe, but any factory seat short of the Viper's or a few other cars sucks in a car that pulls 1G on street tires.
Why don't you define how the 'vette's interior sucks?
Oh, they also corrected the crap sterio issue. That was an issue I do agree! They re-did it for '12.
GM has finally "gotten the memo" and is fixing it.
As for "$30K for an engine", yes, that's pretty close to what the driveline in my car retails for. Crate engine is about $15K, Transmission is another $5K, and the clutch, half-shafts, driveshaft, torque-tube, etc. rack up another 10K I am quite sure, especially if you include all the coolers for the diff, trans, oil, etc.
The suspension is about $800 per leaf, which is $1600, plus the massive Brembo's, plus...well, lets put it this way, if you built a Z06 from parts on another car, it would sure as heck weigh more than the 3100 and change mine does, and it would easily cost more. It also wouldn't come with a 5/100 driveline warranty.
The 'vette is a very well-made car, and for '12 it got a lot better. It had a PPH of only 62 when I watched them build mine. I don't think Nissan even publishes their PPH #'s or will release them. I am curious what the 370Z is sitting at. Part of the appeal with the corvette is that YOU can go and watch them build it. That way you know the quality of the work being done. There is no question in your mind. YOU WATCHED IT HAPPEN. I am glad I went and did this. You can run off at the mouth about how well made a car is, but you don't have a clue unless you watched it happen, you're just talking about some number you read or some CR review. I watched my car be built from half a dozen feet away, and closer at times. I know it was made well
GM is the only company that allows this that I am aware of besides VW in one of their factories overseas. I'm proud of the low PPH the 'vette has, but am even more proud that I watched the process myself. A number is just a number, but being a part of something means a lot more.
GM claims Audi is their target goal for interior quality in the new C7. When GM makes a promise/statement on the corvette, I have NEVER seen them disappoint. If they step out and make the claim, they usually back it up.
That being said, I am quite happy with the current Z06's interior, with the '12 only making it better. I am not a huge NAV junkie, so that doesn't bother me. The OEM NAV IS! crap, though, I will give you that one without a single word of argument. Other than that, Interior is nice.
I think it's just popular to bash American car's interiors.
I remember when the 350Z was out how everyone on the forum was dogging on my WS6 saying the 350Z had a much nicer interior. Well, I went out and took a ride in a 350Z and am here to say that NO, it was NOT nicer than my WS6. My WS6 had way less plastic, way fewer rattles, and looked a helluva lot nicer.
The current '12 car with 3LZ option is equivalent to the Touring 370Z in every way but the NAV system imo.