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My thoughts on the C8 Corvette
I know this is a Z forum but I believe we all like nice sports cars so I thought I would open a discussion. I have owned 3 Corvettes in the past including a 2002 Z06. I bought that new for around $53K. C8 base price is set at $59,995 but I looked at the option sheet today. Oh my god you can take this car to well over $80K with the endless options list. At first I was a bit disappointed with the revealed look of the car but then I realized that a mid engine car has to have a shorter hood and totally different body line compared to a front engine car. So its growing on me "except for the tail lights" ... 2nd negative is auto trans only. Again I realize that a duel clutch auto trans shifts very fast but all of my sports cars and hot rods were manual trans. I like to shift my cars. 3rd negative, even with the Z51 option package its only 495 HP. Now that is nothing to sneeze at but compared to Boss Mustangs, 714 HP Challengers and the like its not up to par HP wise. I know they will come out with Z06, ZR's but what will that cost ??? I think GM has lost the purpose of the Corvette. It was always an affordable sports car that a working person could afford with a bit of effort. That being said I would like one but not in the first or even second year. I am sure there will be issues to cure on this new generation Stingray. Your thoughts please !!!
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Thread already started in the Other Vehicles section of the forum. Just sayin.
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Heres a link to the C8 thread. :tiphat: http://www.the370z.com/other-vehicle...ir-people.html |
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That being said I agree about the disappointment in DCT only. I've been a manual only driver for 20 years now, since I was 17, and the thought of giving up a manual is difficult. I did go recently and test drive some other DCT sports cars to see if I could live with it and it doesn't seem horrible. Besides, I've still got my 5-speed 280z in the garage for the days I want to go old school. But I'm going in just 2 hours to the C8 event here in Vegas so once I see it in person I'll decide if I'll put a deposit down or wait. |
Like I posted earlier including a link from a mule test - mid engine dynamics will surprise many who have zero experience with the configuration. DCT is power, speed managed. Manual is the worst most inefficient way to manage power above 400hp. Period.
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All of the best videos on YouTube will start with the words: “Traction Control off for this one”. MR dynamics can be a blessing or a curse, but there’s no doubt that it can be radically different from FR. What do you figure the DCT will give in the way of 0-60 times or the 1/4 mile over 3-pedal? 1/2 second? Of course, where it will really be useful is in helping to keep the headlights pointing forward if you mess up a downshift. |
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So saw it yesterday afternoon. In pictures the car looks beautiful but in person it is that much better. It's bigger than my Z06!!! Wider and what seems longer. As someone who feels the 280z is the perfect size it's hard to not wish sports would stop getting bigger. But I also know if you want a car that will hit near 200mph and pull 1g on a turn that you need wheelbase, engine, tranny, etc to go with it. Anyway, overall it's great. The visable engine sounds good online but in person I was disjointed with how low it was. Meaning you really have to be right up on the car and leaning over it to see it. Low engine placement is good for dynamics but not for visuals. My concern is that looky-lu's will scratch the car trying to see the engine when the car is parked in a parking lot or such. This will be my daily driver after all. Seating position and comfortability was nice. Easier to get in and out of compared to my Z06. Helps that the side skirts don't come out as far so when you swing your feet out you don't have to worry about stepping on them. However you'll want your passenger all the way back otherwise their elbow will be resting on that strip down the center with all the buttons. I liked that there was minimal wheel gap. Likely means I won't have to lower it which is a plus because my Z06 lowered on stock bolts can be a chore going over certain things. Won't need the front end lift on the C8, at least for where I live. Everyone worries about placing the targa top in back with the spoiler in place but the Chevy guy did it from the side very fast and easy, so doesn't appear to be a problem even if you get the high wing. Wheels look better in person but still leave a lot to be desired.
Overall great car. Should be a manual even if it would be slower. However that being said I think I will take the plunge. Already have a local dealer with first run allocations that will give it to me at MSRP. So just need to really double check with myself about giving up the manual as well as pricing out the sale of my Z06. Likely will sell now before the market is saturated, save the money I would otherwise pay on care payments, and use it towards down payment when the C8 comes in. Honestly as much as I love the C8 if the Supra came in manual I'd get that instead simply because it's manual, smaller, cheaper. But honestly there is little to none when it comes to manual 2 door sports cars anymore. The 370z is still a nice car but having had 2 of them already I can't see myself going back for a third time. So likely have to give up fighting up hill and get with the new program of automatics/DCT/PDK/ etc and just get a C8. Leave my manual fix to my 280z. The hard part is going to be not daily driving a sports care for the next 6-9 months while I wait for the C8 to be built and delivered. I purposely left out stuff like materials, tech, etc because I personally don't care. I don't buy sports cars for that reason. The base model 1LT will be more than enough with the Z51 for performance. However if any more specific questions interior or otherwise let me know. Oh, and no he didn't turn it on. He said Chevy wouldn't let him which makes no sense as they have at other locations. |
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