C8 Corvette Reveal

John V · 07-19-2019, 07:52 AM

Did anyone stay up to watch it? These reveals are usually a major disappointment with a lot of fanfare but very few details, so I skipped it. But I did look at some images of the car this morning and read some of the writeups. I was prepared to be underwhelmed but yikes, it looks really good and the specs are impressive. I really, really like the proportions of it. 495HP, base price $60k. Gone are the leaf springs, replaced with coil-over shocks (hooray!). Two trunks, like a Boxster. 8-speed DSG, no manual offered. Just for perspective, the current Boxster (non-S) starts at $60,500.

I have to admit, I'm intrigued. I can't say I'd buy the first model year as historically Chevy has not done well with first-year Corvettes, but the car is super appealing.

I'm reserving judgment on the interior because it looks a little claustrophic.

Josh (PA) · 07-19-2019, 08:00 AM

wow, everything speculated a price north of $100k. I saw the interior leak last night and was really turned off, but I could get over it for $60k. I still think the lack of a manual is a deal breaker for a car like this, though.

edit: they kept the targa top too. That is impressive.
more pics here:
https://media.chevrolet.com/media/us...Corvette.html#

JST · 07-19-2019, 08:17 AM

It does look good and the specs are impressive. I desperately dislike the steering wheel and the goofy row of buttons, and something about the wheels looks cheap—they have offsets that scream “FWD,” for whatever reason.

Those are minor complaints. The bigger one is the lack of a stick. But it’s hard to complain about what Chevy is trying to do here.

Josh (PA) · 07-19-2019, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JST

It does look good and the specs are impressive. I desperately dislike the steering wheel and the goofy row of buttons, and something about the wheels looks cheap—they have offsets that scream “FWD,” for whatever reason.

Those are minor complaints. The bigger one is the lack of a stick. But it’s hard to complain about what Chevy is trying to do here.

I don't see how the Supra/Z4 / new M4 or any other non manual sports car can compete at all. The only reason I'd consider a boxster over this is so I can still row my own gears in a fun car. I'm really amazed at what they did and where they priced it.

JST · 07-19-2019, 08:37 AM

Agreed on all of that.

I mean this will be closer to 80 when you later in options you’ll want, but even at that price it makes all the cars you mention redundant.

Except for the manual Boxster/Cayman,

John V · 07-19-2019, 08:53 AM

Josh I'm with you on the interior. I'm hoping it feels less claustrophobic than it looks.

I'm not sure I care about the lack of a stick so much.

Theo · 07-19-2019, 09:54 AM

What is not to like. Cheap fast and not ugly. One thing is I think the rear spoiler needs to go. It ruins the look and looks dam cheap.

Edit: Wait a year and the manual will come I bet.

*clyde* · 07-19-2019, 10:25 AM

I'm mixed. As a car, what it's offering at the price point (with as-yet unproven expectations about performance) is jaw dropping and makes one question why the fuck everything else is so expensive.

I'm not wild about calling it a "Corvette" and I wonder if there enough people that will also have trouble with buying one because it's...not...a Corvette (although it's not like I would have bought a new C8 anyway). I also wonder if the switch to mid-engine and the expected performance will draw enough buyers that otherwise would have bought more expensive exotics that they'll cover for the buyers that don't buy.

At this point, I don't think the lack of a manual transmission will ever be a deal killer for me in new cars. It's done. It's now "a crappy shifting-or-similar" transmission will be the deal killer. There simply aren't enough choices left and the best automatics (and auto-equivalents) don't kill the driving experience--they just don't enhance it.

I dislike the interior's looks in the pics. Maybe real life will be better? Just this year, I started getting okay with the C7's exterior looks. It took me a few years to get comfortable with the C6 looks, too. And I'm jsut now getting to be okay with the lack of pop up headlights on Corvettes. That's all I have to say about the looks of the C8's exterior.

Josh (PA) · 07-19-2019, 10:25 AM

[quote=Theo;550558
Edit: Wait a year and the manual will come I bet.[/QUOTE]

I hope so, but I'd be a little surprised.

*clyde* · 07-19-2019, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John V

Did anyone stay up to watch it?

I fell asleep just as the car was rolling out.

07-19-2019, 07:52 AM	#1
John V No more BMWs Join Date: Apr 2005 Carmudgeonly Ride: Ram, MS3, CX-5, RX-8 Location: Glenwood, MD Posts: 14,753	C8 Corvette Reveal Did anyone stay up to watch it? These reveals are usually a major disappointment with a lot of fanfare but very few details, so I skipped it. But I did look at some images of the car this morning and read some of the writeups. I was prepared to be underwhelmed but yikes, it looks really good and the specs are impressive. I really, really like the proportions of it. 495HP, base price $60k. Gone are the leaf springs, replaced with coil-over shocks (hooray!). Two trunks, like a Boxster. 8-speed DSG, no manual offered. Just for perspective, the current Boxster (non-S) starts at $60,500. I have to admit, I'm intrigued. I can't say I'd buy the first model year as historically Chevy has not done well with first-year Corvettes, but the car is super appealing. I'm reserving judgment on the interior because it looks a little claustrophic.

07-19-2019, 08:00 AM	#2
Josh (PA) Hello. Join Date: Mar 2004 Carmudgeonly Ride: '09 X3, '11 328xiT, '11 135i C, '17 c2, '19 X5 Location: Downingtown, PA Posts: 5,529	wow, everything speculated a price north of $100k. I saw the interior leak last night and was really turned off, but I could get over it for $60k. I still think the lack of a manual is a deal breaker for a car like this, though. edit: they kept the targa top too. That is impressive. more pics here: https://media.chevrolet.com/media/us...Corvette.html# Attached Thumbnails __________________ Josh (PA) - '19 X5 '17 991.2 C2 Cab '11 135i Convertible '11 328xiT '09 X3

07-19-2019, 09:54 AM	#7
Theo Crazy Old Man Join Date: Dec 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: M2C Stick Posts: 6,021	What is not to like. Cheap fast and not ugly. One thing is I think the rear spoiler needs to go. It ruins the look and looks dam cheap. Edit: Wait a year and the manual will come I bet. __________________ Searching

07-19-2019, 10:25 AM	#8
clyde Chief title editor Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 26,599	I'm mixed. As a car, what it's offering at the price point (with as-yet unproven expectations about performance) is jaw dropping and makes one question why the fuck everything else is so expensive. I'm not wild about calling it a "Corvette" and I wonder if there enough people that will also have trouble with buying one because it's...not...a Corvette (although it's not like I would have bought a new C8 anyway). I also wonder if the switch to mid-engine and the expected performance will draw enough buyers that otherwise would have bought more expensive exotics that they'll cover for the buyers that don't buy. At this point, I don't think the lack of a manual transmission will ever be a deal killer for me in new cars. It's done. It's now "a crappy shifting-or-similar" transmission will be the deal killer. There simply aren't enough choices left and the best automatics (and auto-equivalents) don't kill the driving experience--they just don't enhance it. I dislike the interior's looks in the pics. Maybe real life will be better? Just this year, I started getting okay with the C7's exterior looks. It took me a few years to get comfortable with the C6 looks, too. And I'm jsut now getting to be okay with the lack of pop up headlights on Corvettes. That's all I have to say about the looks of the C8's exterior. __________________ OH NOES!!!!!1 MY CAR HAS T3H UND3R5T33R5555!!!!!!1oneone!!!!11 Team WTF?! What are you gonna do?

07-19-2019, 10:25 AM	#9
Josh (PA) Hello. Join Date: Mar 2004 Carmudgeonly Ride: '09 X3, '11 328xiT, '11 135i C, '17 c2, '19 X5 Location: Downingtown, PA Posts: 5,529	[quote=Theo;550558 Edit: Wait a year and the manual will come I bet.[/QUOTE] I hope so, but I'd be a little surprised. __________________ Josh (PA) - '19 X5 '17 991.2 C2 Cab '11 135i Convertible '11 328xiT '09 X3

07-19-2019, 08:17 AM	#3
JST 195 Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 24,607	It does look good and the specs are impressive. I desperately dislike the steering wheel and the goofy row of buttons, and something about the wheels looks cheap—they have offsets that scream “FWD,” for whatever reason. Those are minor complaints. The bigger one is the lack of a stick. But it’s hard to complain about what Chevy is trying to do here.

07-19-2019, 08:37 AM	#5
JST 195 Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 24,607	Agreed on all of that. I mean this will be closer to 80 when you later in options you’ll want, but even at that price it makes all the cars you mention redundant. Except for the manual Boxster/Cayman,

07-19-2019, 08:53 AM	#6
John V No more BMWs Join Date: Apr 2005 Carmudgeonly Ride: Ram, MS3, CX-5, RX-8 Location: Glenwood, MD Posts: 14,753	Josh I'm with you on the interior. I'm hoping it feels less claustrophobic than it looks. I'm not sure I care about the lack of a stick so much.