Corvette C7

RMR · 01-24-2014, 02:26 PM

Just came across this and thought I'd post. I admit I've never been a Corvette fan. I've always thought of them as a great bargain but nothing I'd really try and own. I know a few of you on here are owners and fans but I've never had an itch to buy one. Growing up my dad has owned a 1978 C3 and a 1982 C3. I never drive those ones but I've have driven a few C4 and C5 Corvettes and felt like they drove, bounced around and shifted like trucks.

Anyway, the new C7 really is tempting for the price. The style has grown on me and the reviews/arguments are making me a fan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmfK...ature=youtu.be

John V · 01-24-2014, 02:58 PM

The thing I wonder about is whether I could really live with it. I ended up not being able to live with my C5. My buddy loved his C6 Z51 and his C6 Z06 initially, but grew tired of the compromises. To succeed the C7 needs to address the things that have made Corvettes tiresome in the past - sub-par interiors, poor steering feel, untrustworthy handling, creaks and rattles, rough shifting.

I'll be interested to see how these hold up in the long term. I can definitely see myself trying another Corvette.

bren · 01-24-2014, 03:11 PM

Driving with my wife yesterday she said "hey, wow, look at that Ferrari!"

It was a new red C7.

robg · 01-24-2014, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bren

Driving with my wife yesterday she said "hey, wow, look at that Ferrari!"

It was a new red C7.

Ha- my wife has done that w/ the C6 a few times...

RMR · 01-24-2014, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bren

Driving with my wife yesterday she said "hey, wow, look at that Ferrari!"

It was a new red C7.

It's definitely got the Ferrari lines. The design has grown on me though. At first I was not a fan at all.

ZBB · 01-24-2014, 06:45 PM

I sat in a C7 convertible and rode in a coupe on a ride-and-drive event during Barrett Jackson.

I was blown away. The interior is excellent -- everything felt top notch.

SCA · 01-24-2014, 08:57 PM

I like the C7, the previous Corvette issues appear to have been resolved. It certainly is a sharp car, yet it is still 'merican'

I have seen several C7s around town and they all have had the black wheels.

The last one I saw was @ our local Costco & I ended up speaking with the owners for sometime. While speaking to them I learned that the wife was a former multiple BMW, yet she was over the subpar service @ the local center & left the marque (like many do locally). Anyways... They had recently picked the car up from the Corvette factory in Kentucky & had just over 500 miles on the car. The husband formerly owned a C5 vert that he purchased new & sold with 30K miles to purchase the C7.

RMR · 01-24-2014, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John V

The thing I wonder about is whether I could really live with it. I ended up not being able to live with my C5. My buddy loved his C6 Z51 and his C6 Z06 initially, but grew tired of the compromises. To succeed the C7 needs to address the things that have made Corvettes tiresome in the past - sub-par interiors, poor steering feel, untrustworthy handling, creaks and rattles, rough shifting.

I'll be interested to see how these hold up in the long term. I can definitely see myself trying another Corvette.

I agree. Seems the Corvette has always looked great on paper but living with it was tough. Even as a weekend car. The C7's interior still looks a bit odd to me.

The question that arises for me (and in the video) is if this C7 is shopped on price and "similar" performance, would it be a better long term, all around real world sports car than a similar priced Cayman S?

John V · 01-25-2014, 07:45 AM

That is exactly the question I struggle to answer and unfortunately it's impossible to answer with a quick test drive, or even an extended test drive. Even though my Boxster was dated by the time I bought it, it was one of the best cars I've ever had when driven normally because it was always very engaging. My Corvette was fantastic when I was flogging it but just commuting to work was annoying after a period of time.

The annoyance with the Boxster (even in 250hp "S" trim) was that it was slow and geared tall. I know Ed believes you can't ever use a 400hp car on the street but it's nice to feel a huge wall of power every now and then. Even with the current Boxster / Cayman edging towards 350hp, I suspect they never really feel fast at least compared to a Vette.

I very rarely took the Corvette home via back roads. There was so little feel and the suspension / chassis setup was so unpredictable that I never felt comfortable pushing it at all. Now, that could be because the limits were really high, which gets back to the argument about it being more fun to drive a slow car quickly than it is to drive a fast car slowly. But I do think it was more about chassis feel. I read a review recently that suggested they had fixed that lack of feel in the C7 so it makes me interested.

If I can convince myself to buy a car in a year or two I bet a used Stingray will be in the running. If I can convince my wife, who really wants another Boxster...

FC · 01-25-2014, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John V

The annoyance with the Boxster (even in 250hp "S" trim) was that it was slow and geared tall. I know Ed believes you can't ever use a 400hp car on the street but it's nice to feel a huge wall of power every now and then. Even with the current Boxster / Cayman edging towards 350hp, I suspect they never really feel fast at least compared to a Vette.

I dunno. To me, the ZHP was a bit underpowered but my 987S was just right. Sure, I would take a pinch more torque and hp, but it was fast enough.

I suspect the C7 approaches my 997TT in terms of power, which is absurd speed, but ultimately mostly wasted.

01-24-2014, 02:26 PM	#1
RMR Crotchety Join Date: Apr 2005 Carmudgeonly Ride: 2020 Honda Civic Hatch Sport Location: Chicago Posts: 941	Corvette C7 Just came across this and thought I'd post. I admit I've never been a Corvette fan. I've always thought of them as a great bargain but nothing I'd really try and own. I know a few of you on here are owners and fans but I've never had an itch to buy one. Growing up my dad has owned a 1978 C3 and a 1982 C3. I never drive those ones but I've have driven a few C4 and C5 Corvettes and felt like they drove, bounced around and shifted like trucks. Anyway, the new C7 really is tempting for the price. The style has grown on me and the reviews/arguments are making me a fan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmfK...ature=youtu.be __________________ '20 Honda Civic Hatchback Sport 1.5T '18 Acura TLX A-Spec SH-AWD

01-24-2014, 06:45 PM	#6
ZBB Relic Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: A very fast golf cart Location: The Valley of the Sun Posts: 12,821	I sat in a C7 convertible and rode in a coupe on a ride-and-drive event during Barrett Jackson. I was blown away. The interior is excellent -- everything felt top notch. __________________ ZBB

01-24-2014, 08:57 PM	#7
SCA Jaded Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 9,050	I like the C7, the previous Corvette issues appear to have been resolved. It certainly is a sharp car, yet it is still 'merican' I have seen several C7s around town and they all have had the black wheels. The last one I saw was @ our local Costco & I ended up speaking with the owners for sometime. While speaking to them I learned that the wife was a former multiple BMW, yet she was over the subpar service @ the local center & left the marque (like many do locally). Anyways... They had recently picked the car up from the Corvette factory in Kentucky & had just over 500 miles on the car. The husband formerly owned a C5 vert that he purchased new & sold with 30K miles to purchase the C7. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by SCA; 01-25-2014 at 06:29 AM.

01-24-2014, 02:58 PM	#2
John V No more BMWs Join Date: Apr 2005 Carmudgeonly Ride: Ram, MS3, CX-5, RX-8 Location: Glenwood, MD Posts: 14,753	The thing I wonder about is whether I could really live with it. I ended up not being able to live with my C5. My buddy loved his C6 Z51 and his C6 Z06 initially, but grew tired of the compromises. To succeed the C7 needs to address the things that have made Corvettes tiresome in the past - sub-par interiors, poor steering feel, untrustworthy handling, creaks and rattles, rough shifting. I'll be interested to see how these hold up in the long term. I can definitely see myself trying another Corvette.

01-24-2014, 03:11 PM	#3
bren lawn boy Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: e46m3, f25x3,C5 Z06, C4 Vette, 06 CTD Ram, and a trailer Location: Maryland Posts: 14,029	Driving with my wife yesterday she said "hey, wow, look at that Ferrari!" It was a new red C7.

01-25-2014, 07:45 AM	#9
John V No more BMWs Join Date: Apr 2005 Carmudgeonly Ride: Ram, MS3, CX-5, RX-8 Location: Glenwood, MD Posts: 14,753	That is exactly the question I struggle to answer and unfortunately it's impossible to answer with a quick test drive, or even an extended test drive. Even though my Boxster was dated by the time I bought it, it was one of the best cars I've ever had when driven normally because it was always very engaging. My Corvette was fantastic when I was flogging it but just commuting to work was annoying after a period of time. The annoyance with the Boxster (even in 250hp "S" trim) was that it was slow and geared tall. I know Ed believes you can't ever use a 400hp car on the street but it's nice to feel a huge wall of power every now and then. Even with the current Boxster / Cayman edging towards 350hp, I suspect they never really feel fast at least compared to a Vette. I very rarely took the Corvette home via back roads. There was so little feel and the suspension / chassis setup was so unpredictable that I never felt comfortable pushing it at all. Now, that could be because the limits were really high, which gets back to the argument about it being more fun to drive a slow car quickly than it is to drive a fast car slowly. But I do think it was more about chassis feel. I read a review recently that suggested they had fixed that lack of feel in the C7 so it makes me interested. If I can convince myself to buy a car in a year or two I bet a used Stingray will be in the running. If I can convince my wife, who really wants another Boxster...