[pics] C8 Corvette - what do you think?

[Bodhi]

Just another chevy.....I think the Ferrari would be more reliable. And in the spirit of ruffling feathers of the bow tie guys here....
How much lipstick can chevy put on a pig?

[mjw930]

I bought a 2014 Z51 after having owned a C3 (1977) and a C4 (1996). I was sucked in by the essentially complete re-Engineering of the platform and the impressive specs, I was underwhelmed. To be fair, my passion is Porsche, I’ve owned 10 and had sold my Cayenne Turbo a few years before and our Boxster S was getting a bit long in tooth so I pivoted to the C7. While it was a very good car, undeniably the best Corvette they had produced up to that time I just never fell in love with it. I sold it in late 2015 and bought a Boxster GTS, I was in love again.

In 2016 my wife bought a new Camaro SS and quite honestly, the Camaro was a better all around sports car. It had the power and handling of the C7 without the inherent torsional rigidity issues and horrendous body panel fit and finish issue. Sure, it’s ultimate performance numbers (on a track) were lower but I routinely embarrassed C7’s on track days and in the mountains being a hooligan. The performance is so close it comes down to the driver in all but the most demanding situations.

All along we kept the GTS and commented we had the sledgehammer (Camaro) and the scalpel (Porsche).

Fast forward a couple years and after 3 trips to the dealership to unsuccessfully correct a terrible shudder in the 8 Speed slush box in the Camaro my wife traded it on a lightly used Macan S, she LOVES “Mike” (the Mecan). You know, Mike and the MECANics.....

My first take on the C8, it’s very interesting. If the driving dynamics are close to what Tadge and others have described it just might make me think about cutting loose the GTS but that will take A LOT to do, I absolutely love the Flat 6, normally aspirated, mid engine Boxster with the sublime Porsche PDK dual clutch gearbox. What I don’t know if I can stomach are the less than spectacular fit and finish issues, horrible paint and borderline numb feel every GM product has inherited over the last decade. Time will tell.

I also need to take into account the “matched pair” garage we have now

[skipe]

I have faith that GM/Chevrolet will be able to turn it into a piece of crap. They have a lot of practice.

[mjw930]

i have faith that gm/chevrolet will be able to turn it into a piece of crap. They have a lot of practice.

lol

[JPEROG]

I agree with Mark that if you want a "drive-able" true sports car with fit, finish, and handling, then its tough to beat a new a S turbo, 911R, GT3RS, or GT2RS. The refinement and power it unreal in any of these cars. However, you could have a fleet of corvettes for the same money.

These pictures are from the hanger of a good friend. He is serious about his cars and has a bunch of them scattered across the U.S. Great guy, racer, mentor, and he lets me take what ever I want on occasion (he has no trailer queens) even his vintage race cars get run around the track a couple times a year with friends drawing straws for their seat.



Joe

[nitro_rat]

That 356 on the lift would be cool if somebody turned the torsion bars up a little. Somebody's been hanging around the volkswagen kiddies too long...

[mjw930]

I agree with Mark that if you want a "drive-able" true sports car with fit, finish, and handling, then its tough to beat a new a S turbo, 911R, GT3RS, or GT2RS. The refinement and power it unreal in any of these cars. However, you could have a fleet of corvettes for the same money.

Joe

You don't need to take it to that level of expense. There are a number of sub $100K options that provide a better complete package IMHO than the C7, especially if you aren't afraid to shop the used market. Unless, of course, you are obsessed with bench racing.

What I'm really keen to discover is whether the C8 will close the quality gap and have the driving precision it's competition does. To date they have gotten close but haven't really converted a lot of people outside their target demographic (go to any Corvette club event and you'll know what I mean.......).

You will know they have made it when a collector such as what Joe displayed has one sitting next to those beauties. I'm not holding my breath.

[JPEROG]

That 356 on the lift would be cool if somebody turned the torsion bars up a little. Somebody's been hanging around the volkswagen kiddies too long...

That 356 is an "Emory Special"-very trick piece with a billet block and all custom 200 hp 4 cyl. The car was featured on Jay Leno's garage-I am sure you can google it. This guy has several other early speedsters in his fleet.

Joe

[Forkin' Crazy]

That 356 is an "Emory Special"-very trick piece with a billet block and all custom 200 hp 4 cyl. The car was featured on Jay Leno's garage-I am sure you can google it. This guy has several other early speedsters in his fleet.

Joe

That is what I was thinking. It was something set up for the track. Those aren't your normal 356 wheels.

Anyway, my airpumper sits pretty low and is all stock. I was tossing around the idea of getting a RS or RSR clone.

[Just Tool'in]

That is an incredible collection and display Joe!! Have you ever been to Hendricks private garage in Concord? It's pretty insane!

I agree with Mark that if you want a "drive-able" true sports car with fit, finish, and handling, then its tough to beat a new a S turbo, 911R, GT3RS, or GT2RS. The refinement and power it unreal in any of these cars. However, you could have a fleet of corvettes for the same money.

These pictures are from the hanger of a good friend. He is serious about his cars and has a bunch of them scattered across the U.S. Great guy, racer, mentor, and he lets me take what ever I want on occasion (he has no trailer queens) even his vintage race cars get run around the track a couple times a year with friends drawing straws for their seat.



Joe

[Just Tool'in]

I had a C6 for 10 years, and when they made the Z06 a convert, I decided to move up. Its a fun car but they do have their issues. Cooling is the big one, and mine supposedly was the year they fixed that! Not in the middle of summer! This was the day I sold the C6. It was a great fun car. Had headers, intake and a tune done on it. It woke it up a little!

[JPEROG]

The new vette will be a lot of bang for the buck but it won't be what others are. My last Z06 was an 05' that had a Lingenfelter supercharger, headers, heads, trans. kit and their air intake and hood on it. The car was loud, fast, and cool but no comparison to driving a new GT2 with total refinement and 700hp on tap. But its what I could afford and most of the others are still way out of my reach.

Joe

[Just Tool'in]

Never drove a porche or a GT2 for that matter, sounds like I shouldnt either!! After having german road cars, I am sure they are killer!

[JPEROG]

Never drove a porche or a GT2 for that matter, sounds like I shouldnt either!! After having german road cars, I am sure they are killer!

I am lucky to have Dennis as a good friend. Doug Wright also has a new GT3 so I get more then my fair share of exposure to them but if I ever spend that kind of money on a toy, it will float and carry 3 of my friends.

Steve, you have roads in N.C. that would be incredible to travel in a new GT car. Give me a call the next time you are down and we can get you in one. I have never seen Hendricks personal toy box but I did run into him with his 32 skater 20 years ago or so. That guy is an incredible success story and has fought thru the some of the worst personal happenings that a human could ever face. I have a lot of respect for him.

Joe

[JPEROG]

Here is some of his cars that I know you will appreciate "so far out of my league that I don't even like to move them around when he ask me to". The 1st one is a 1970 917 LeMans, 2nd is a fully restored 935, 3rd is a 74 IROC car that Fittapaldi put on the pole and was owned by Pablo Escabar as one of his personal vintage race cars, 4th is a GT40, 5th is a Spyder. We take a few of them to the local cars and coffee once a month if he is town. These cars alone have a combined current market value of around 35M!!!

Joe

That is what I was thinking. It was something set up for the track. Those aren't your normal 356 wheels.

Anyway, my airpumper sits pretty low and is all stock. I was tossing around the idea of getting a RS or RSR clone.