2004 collector's: nothing big

[sothpaw]

I was on the phone with a GM rep. for the New York auto show.

She quoted me the changes for 2004. They are cosmetic, like
the carbon fiber hood the Z06 will get, which we already know
about. Different colors, badges, etc.

No LS6 in the coupe or vert, or spruced up LS6.

 

[Piet]

Sad... just very sad....

 

[LongTimer]

The C4 got a send off with the Grand Sport. Looks like they want the C5 to just slip off into the sunset quietly.

 

[Tuna]

The Grand Sport and the LT4 power made up for the loss of the ZR1. That's all.

The 96 Collectors edition was an appearance package also and you could get it and every other Corvette with the LT4 motor.

 

[CFour]

Yea but could they have had a tad bit more imagination? Like the 50th car was a ripoff of the 40th car the 04 collector is a ripoff of the 96 GS. It would seem to me GM thinks Corvette buyers are stupid and have short term memories. I think GM feels that they can glue a badge here and there and take some leather out of a Cadillac (shale) mark it up 5 grand and Wooo Hooo! look at our hot new model! Sorry GM some of us do have eyes and a memory. It really looks to me that Cadillac is getting the lions share of the "sports car" attention these days at GM and Corvette is going to be tossed to the side in hopes there are still 30K buyers out there that think its still a "real" Chevrolet Corvette and not see what it really has been turned into, a Chevy baged sported-up Cadillac. A Corvette is not just about styling as GM seems to think. I feel C6 is going to be the begining of the end for Corvette. 2004 will be the last year for a true Y platform car and its really sad indeed. 2005 will sadly welcome in the era of the Coupe-Corville!

 

[SlowRide]

I feel C6 is going to be the begining of the end for Corvette. 2004 will be the last year for a true Y platform car and its really sad indeed. 2005 will sadly welcome in the era of the Coupe-Corville!

I don't agree. The Corvette public are a group of diehard and loyal people. You either love the car or you don't. I seriously doubt the Vette is in trouble. I do agree that the 50th and the latest 2004 options lack imagination. Maybe the reason was there was so much emphasis on the C6 development. GM has begun their "Road to Redemption" pitch. They say that they want to listen to their customers. Let's see what takes place in the next few years. Yes Cadillac is making some strides (the V-16 shown lately is testament to the development outlook at Caddy). But don't count out a 50 year old namesake with tons of history out yet.

The only thing that will kill the Corvette is if they do not sell. It all boils down to money.

Nick

 

[CFour]

I have owned 16 brand new Corvettes and one used one, a total of 17 cars over the years. I consider myself a true Corvetter and the above as true. You may be fooled but I am not!

 

[SlowRide]

I have owned 16 brand new Corvettes and one used one, a total of 17 cars over the years. I consider myself a true Corvetter and the above as true. You may be fooled but I am not!

If I am a fool than so be it. But I stand by what I said just as you have. Time will tell.

 

[LongTimer]

The Grand Sport and the LT4 power made up for the loss of the ZR1. That's all.

The 96 Collectors edition was an appearance package also and you could get it and every other Corvette with the LT4 motor.

I disagree. There was no compelling need to replace the ZR1 in the lame duck year of 1996. If the ZR1 had sold in sufficient volume they would have carried it over for one more year. The LT4 was intended as an inticement to sellout what everyone knew was the last Year of the C4.

Yet the only inticement for the final C5 year is a 10lb lighter CF hood with some paint and an interior held over from the now-not-exclusive 50th An. Ed.

Sad.

Tuna, the 50th is a very looking car, I just think it was cheated by not getting some more special power.

 

[CFour]

If I am a fool than so be it. But I stand by what I said just as you have. Time will tell.

A Fool and being fooled are 2 different things. Please don't mis quote my words.

 

[SlowRide]

A Fool and being fooled are 2 different things. Please don't mis quote my words.

I'll not get drawn into a ****ing match. My apologies if I offended. I merely disagreed with your statement. You have your opinion, I have mine. Debate can sometimes be a good thing.

Peace.....out.

 

[LongTimer]

A Corvette is not just about styling as GM seems to think. I feel C6 is going to be the begining of the end for Corvette. 2004 will be the last year for a true Y platform car and its really sad indeed. 2005 will sadly welcome in the era of the Coupe-Corville!

I agree with only part of Cfour's evaluation. Corvette deserved a more special 50th An. Ed. ... and the C5 deserved a more special commemorative edition. Anyone who disagrees, has their expectations set too low for a Corvette enthusiast - IMHO.

However, Cfour and I part at forecasting the doom of Corvette. There should be an awareness in all of us on this site that platform sharing can be dangerous for Corvette if the focus is lost when designing the common components. If the vette and XLR were to begin to look as close as the "F" bodies did, share drivetrains, or suspension settings, or just became too related in the future, Cfour would have a valid point. This could happen if the bean counters muddy the focus.

But right now we are discussing some very,very high tech power plants in the pipeline that are clearly Chevy / Corvette based and are destined NOT to make it into the XLR (Cad working on their SC Northstar and would not want OHV in XLR). So, always with a wary eye, I see a bright, light weight, high HP future for Corvette. IMO

 

[ROCKETBLOCK]

I enjoyed the C-1 I had. I enjoyed the C-2 I had, I enjoyed the C-3's I had, I enjoyed the C-4 I had and I am enjoying the C-5 I currently have. I'm sure I will enjoy the C-6. Long live the Corvette. :cool

 

[msiska]

I'm sure I will enjoy the C-6. Long live the Corvette. :cool

 

[Dragonslayer]

You are correct. It is a question of money, and it will always be a question of money. As long as there are people willing to pay $10,000.00 over list for a 50th anniversary edition or $5000.00. extra for a carbon fiber hood and badges, GM is happy and will keep making them. Just think they were able to go the full series length from 97 to 2004 with taking out the passenger side key lock, putting cheap chrome pipe extensions on the exhaust nad giving us the thrill of HUD and telescopic wheel. Yes i agree that the Z06 was a great enhancment to the line, but it is a performance issue. If i take my first corvette a 85 and put it next to my second corvette a 96, they are only the same car in name. If you put a 97 up against a 2004, they are 95% the same. GM has been able to squeeze a hell of a lot of profit out of the C5 without having to make too many changes. Hopefully I am wrong, and I will be the first to admit it if it happens, but based on this profit margin scenerio, the C6 may end up being simply the evolution that the C5 should have been. A little more horsepower, change the interior a little, put on bigger tires and tweek the overall appearance. It will never be the major improvement that the C5 was over the C4. I love my corvette and the ones I owned before. I will always love the corvette no matter what it becomes. But after rerading "ALL CORVETTES ARE RED", and seeing the introduction of the XLR before the C6, it looks like money talks and bull____ walks. Hey GM. Prove me wrong. Esspecially when you get people payiong up to $10,000.00 over list when the first C6 comes out. The age of the $60,000.00 corvette are at hand. There you have my 2+2 cents. Maybe that's the next design for the corvette, a melting of camaro and corvette for the masses. Only kidding!!!!!!!!!!!!


:eyerole :eyerole :eek

 

[Edmond]

Dragonslayer,

You are totally right. Just look at the evolution that the C4 went through: Cross fire, L98, LT1, LT5, LT5. Those are just the motors, then there is the adjustable suspension, the bigger wheels they went to, different carpet dying techniques, 4+3 to a 6 speed, etc...

It seems like the C5 is stagnant and with the exception of the Z06, they're pretty much the same with very minor improvements.

 

[invinceablevett]

c6

dragonslayer,I agree with most of your post BUT you should remeber that car companies are out to make money first,and,with less effort possible.It took some time for me to learn to appreciate the true value of the c5 mainly because I enjoyed the look and feel of my c4 so much.The thing that I like the most is the luggage space compared to my c4.That is why I started shopping around for a c5.I sopped around alot and saw some I liked but I decided to wait for the 50 th anni.I couldn't bring myself to shelling out the extra money for the 50th ann. because I felt like I was being had(badges and "special colors" ain't my thing).What I might do is purchase a c5" lookalike" with some extra horses(convertible of caurse), refined rearend(toned down just a tad)with some round lights and a few suttle changes here and there.I'm hoping the c6 comes close,if not,I will buy a used c5.You have to admit the c5 is the best vette yet,but,they could have given us this refinement for the 50th anni.They would have sold tons judging by what I hear in my area.I think they missed the boat and it shows!!There are still plenty of new 50th anni cars at the dealers here in Montreal Canada.As for the Z06 I love the car and it proves that GM can play with the big boys (performance/price ratio.)One thing I find odd is that there are way too many z06's for sale also compared to 2 years ago......I'm hoping GM feels the pressure from NISSAN(350z) and FORD(mustang).This will make them deliver......horsepower for the convertible please.

 

[IWonAVette]

The C6 was originally scheduled to debut in the '04 MY. But, was delayed at least a year. Hence, no real effort (creativity?) was put into the end of the C5 run this year. I think that the C5 MY '04 will be a short run. Its all about the C6 hitting the showroom early next year and having a longer than normal model year run. I think GM does not want to repeat the short run of the '97.

Bottom Line: If you are thinking of buying a new Vette you should wait for the C6 which will be readily available and a major performer.



Save the WAVE!!

 

[Tuna]

The C6 was originally scheduled to debut in the '04 MY. But, was delayed at least a year. Hence, no real effort (creativity?) was put into the end of the C5 run this year. I think that the C5 MY '04 will be a short run. Its all about the C6 hitting the showroom early next year and having a longer than normal model year run. I think GM does not want to repeat the short run of the '97.

I have to agree with this.

Sells will determine the life of the Corvette and every other car out there. Vanity will allow dealers to get $10,000 over list so that some one will be the first on their block to own a C6, 50th, CE, etc. I got my dealers phase I 50th and didn't pay a dime extra for it. Otherwise, I wouldn't own a 50th right now.

On to other things now.
Later,
Tuna

 

[LongTimer]

I think that the C5 MY '04 will be a short run. Its all about the C6 hitting the showroom early next year and having a longer than normal model year run. I think GM does not want to repeat the short run of the '97.

YEP! That's what I've been saying since the announcement that the C6 will be unveiled at the Jan show.