C6 - ferrari ripoff!

[czar_trancz]

what a ripoff! it's no wonder GM sports cars never sell. who ever it is calling the shots over there doesn't have there head screwed on right. did it ever dawn on anyone why the camaro and trans am are no longer made? it's because GM doesn't think ahead. those cars evolved too fast, thus encrouching on the corvettes territory(performance wise). in the meantime the corvette evolves more on the visual side(body,interior...) than on the mechanical. so what does GM do with the other 2? not much. let's face it, today's consumer is armed with so much information via the internet,radio,tv and so forth. did GM really think they could fool people by doing a few exterior modifications(headlights,tailights,special paint schemes,badges....) and pass them off as new models? which brings me to my first comment of the new corvette being a ripoff. let's be honest with ourselves and tell me that the first thought that came into your mind when you saw the new corvette commercial wasn't the Ferrari Modena 360! the headlights, the tailights, the over all shape and to further prove a point, those rims. come on GM, couldn't you have come up with something more original? corvettes have always had a style of their own, there was no mistaking them. believe me when i tell you the first time you see one on the road you are going to take a second look and make sure it's not a Ferrari. funny thing though, it will probably sell better than the current model. why not buy a car that looks and performs as well as a Ferrari and get it for $100,000 less. for the same reason you don't buy fake Gucci bags, fake Rolexes, and those honda/kawasaki wannabe Harleys. cause even though they hold your belongings, tell time and ride/sound like the others, it's just not the real thing. nobody really wants to ride around in a Ferrari clone. oh by the way i will admit that i am a FORD guy. however, that doesn't mean i'm biased. as a fan of american muscle cars even i know that 2 years ago we saw what were 2 good cars (camaros and trans ams) come to an end. it's a shame, these cars were such a a big part of american automobile history and an even bigger influence on american culture. to see them go the way they did, which in my opinion was a lack of vision on GM's part that these 3 cars would eventually clash. the new corvette, while it looks great, i think is losing or may just have lost it's identity. when you think of america's sports car, even myself being a FORD supporter don't think of mustangs,cobras or gt40's. it's the corvette that comes to mind. it always has been and it always should be. GM needs to get their act together (ie...front wheel drive gto?!) and get some vision. ultimately the consumer has the last say so. they did in the case of the camaros and trans ams. if GM isn't careful we could lose another great car, try getting over that.

 

[Last Ride]

Relax, man! And the GTO is rear wheel drive....

 

[Gorgon]

As mentioned before, GTO is rear wheel drive. Trans Am and Camaro died because this influence on American culture didn't sell. Today's American culture is more into tuning four cylinder cars than American muscle V8's.

As to the C6, the headlights are the only resemblence to the 360 that I see. I see influences of Corvettes past incorporated into a modern design. The only thing the rear has in common is four round tail lights, which Corvette has had for more than forty years. The wheels look to be beefy versions of the polished aluminum wheel on the C5. The only similarity to Ferrari is that they have 5 spokes. I guess there are only so many ways to design five spokes in a wheel.

 

[RedRagTop]

Easy, guys. Rob, those GTO stats are stunning. Sounds FAST...
OK, I'm not yet warmed up to the C6. Guess I have to eyeball one in person. Truth is, I wasn't nuts about the C5 at first but I've thawed now.
Still like the C4 shape best then the early C3 or midyears although those early 60's C2's were dynamite...
D'OH! Me likey them all apparently...

 

[Rob]

in the meantime the corvette evolves more on the visual side(body,interior...) than on the mechanical.

That is incorrect. Let's take a look at the evolution of the C4 Corvette. Other than front bumper, rear bumper and side gill updates, that body style didn't change in 13 years of production. Yet, the car started out with the old Crossfire Injection system carried over from the '82 model year. In '85 we saw the introduction of the tuned-port injected L98 engine. In 1990, we saw the arrival of the 32 valve, DOHC LT5 engine that powered the legendary ZR-1. In 1992, the second generation LT1 small block engine was released and in 1996, we saw the LT4 debut for one year only. Not to mention, we saw the introduction of ABS brakes and ASR (Anti-Slip Regulation) in the C4.

There were more significant mechanical "evolutions" in the C4 generation than there were on the "visual side".

As for the C5, NOTHING was visually updated on that model during its course of production, other than the release of the FRC (Fixed Roof Coupe) in 1999. However we did see the release of numerous chassis/suspension upgrades as well as the release of the LS6/Z06 model....Magnetic Selective Ride Control....etc.

So yet again, we saw more significant mechanical evolutions in the C5 than we did on the "visual side".

did GM really think they could fool people by doing a few exterior modifications(headlights,tailights,special paint schemes,badges....) and pass them off as new models?

You need to get your facts straight. 85% of the C6 is brand new. Visually, it looks similar to the C5, but that is in the skin only. Underneath, it's all new. So again, your argument of "in the meantime the corvette evolves more on the visual side(body,interior...) than on the mechanical" is invalid.

which brings me to my first comment of the new corvette being a ripoff. let's be honest with ourselves and tell me that the first thought that came into your mind when you saw the new corvette commercial wasn't the Ferrari Modena 360! the headlights, the tailights, the over all shape and to further prove a point, those rims. come on GM, couldn't you have come up with something more original?

Ok, I'll be honest. NO.

GM needs to get their act together (ie...front wheel drive gto?!) and get some vision.

You come in here spouting off about the C6, yet, you don't have your facts straight. The GTO is front engine - REAR WHEEL DRIVE.

I suggest that before you start criticizing the C6 Corvette, GM, or any other automotive manufacturer, you may want to get your facts straight first.

2004 Pontiac GTO

General Information

Price: $32,500
Miles Per Gallon: 18/27 mpg
Curb Weight: 3770 lbs
Layout: Front-Engine/RWD
Transmission: 6-Speed Manual
Engine
Type: V8
Displacement: 5665 cc
Horsepower: 350 bhp @ 5200 rpm
Torque: 365 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm
Redline: 6000 rpm

Performance

0-60 mph: 5.3 sec
0-100 mph: 12.9 sec
Quarter Mile: 13.8 sec @ 103.8 mph
Skidpad: .81g
Top Speed: 160 mph
Braking, 60-0 mph: 132 ft
Slalom Speed: 63.4 mph

 

[82RL]

Another reason for the death of the camaro,Trans Am etc, was insurance. You mention one of the above to your insurance agent, unless it was a six cylinder. and they go nuts.

 

[DkBG]

We looked at both the C-6 Corvette and the Ferrari's yesterday at the Detroit Auto show . They don't look alike at all . We also looked at the Viper that some other people are saying Corvette ripped off . They don't look at all alike . Not even the front ends . Cliff

 

[DRTH VTR]

I am tired of hearing that the C6 looks like some other car. The reason that we see some similarities in these cars is that the designs on these high end cars works well. The design is for functionality, ability to manufacture, aerodynamics, etc. Should GM design for less function? Lower aerodynamics? What is being suggested here? If I have to choose between a design that is functional and something that is designed to be different just for the sake of being different, I choose function.

End of rant.

 

[jazzlove]

Pulling a Huge Vacuum......

Lets be honest with ourselves and tell me that the first thought that came into your mind....

There's an old saying that goes something like...... "Its better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool, than to open it and remove all doubt......"

Huh? Lets see..... The first thought that came into my mind when I saw the C6.......???....hmmm.... "God what an awesomely beautiful car! The creases in the fenders harken back to the 63 Stingray. I can't wait to drive one! It did NOT remind me of any Ferrari, or a Viper. I remember thinking to my self that after all the hype I'd been reading on various vette forums leading up to the release of the C6 pictures and video that I might not like the car. In the end all that hype was right where it belonged, on the stable floor ....... To me, the car was immediately recognizable as a corvette, and a stunningly beautiful rendition at that. Dave Hill and the rest of the Corvette team deserve kudos for a magnificent performance.

BTW, a FORD guy.....??? The fabled mustang is their claim to sports car fame, and it was a truly beautiful, hot lookin' car in the 1960s. But then it changed. Since the early 1980s that car has been, and in my opinion with its latest release, still is, the frumpist looking sports car made in the world....

Shine on dude...................:cool

 

[slashnick]

Direct comparison.

 

[hotmtrsports]

slashnick:

What a great comparison.

Cars are looking somewhat (I said somewhat) similar to achieve today's aerodynamics.

I still see quite a bit of diffference between them.

Excellent!

Chuck

(I think the thread starter hit and run on us)

 

[veteluvr74]

One can even make the argument that the viper stole from the vettes past design. The way the back end flows on the viper can be construed from past and current vette designs!!!

 

[atmmac]

As far as camaro and firebird goes. insurance is one of the main reason i think th at they were scrapped. I pay through the roof to insure my corvette (being a 17 yr old kid.)


-Andy

 

[sj20343]

I love the C6. So much in fact, that I am no longer agonizing on what to purchase, a ZR1 or a Z06?. I was originally hoping that the prices would drop on the aforementioned models with the arrival of the C6. I now know, that I will be test driving a C6, before making any serious commitments. While I buy my cars for collectability, the C6 is just too amazing not to consider.

While there are some very slight European influences, the Corvette has never, and will never be confused with any other sports car in the market. I think the shots on the prior posts speak for themselves. Lastly, if you are seriously ignoring Corvette engineering over the past couple of years, while yearning for the Camaro and Trans-Am, you seriously need to question your automotive knowledge.

While everyone is welcome to their opinion's on this forum, all we ask is that you have educated opinion's, and that you also use spell check and punctuation correctly.

 

[kmonday]

Great comparison, I have been a Vette lover as long as I can remember. But I must say, I see a big resemblance to the Ferrari, with the headlights only! When you compare the C6 with the Viper, I see nothing. Once you look at the side shots all together, there is no doubt which one is the C6. I really think we are just not used to seeing the exposed headlights. You have to admit that hidden headlights out. Can't think of too many cars now that still have them. Even the most exotic cars don't have them anymore. You can't be surprised that many car makers have similar looks with HID lights. I love the C6 and can't wait for a chance to get one. Plus in my mind, you can't even compare the Mustang with the Vette. Camero, Trans Am maybe but never the Vette.

 

[bluecoupe]

I wonder if they all use the same CAD software?

 

[Ken]

Excellent comparison pictures Matt, thank you!

 

[Vettelt193]

Everyone has to admit that the front end of the viper and corvette look strikingly similar. This doesn't mean I am going to mistake one car for the other, just that the styling is a bit copied.... just like the C5 was.

 

[DRTH VTR]

Everyone has to admit that the front end of the viper and corvette look strikingly similar. This doesn't mean I am going to mistake one car for the other, just that the styling is a bit copied.... just like the C5 was.

I think that much of that is dictated by function. The headlights can only go in one place on the front of the car. Their shape is dictated by the shape of the hood and fenders. The body shape is dictated by aerodynamics, etc. Certainly there is room for some variation in appearance, but 'form follows function' much of the time. I think a person could say that the front of the 'vette looks like a Miata or an RX8 or any number of other cars. But the design follows certain functional considerations.
Just my $0.02

 

[DkBG]

Direct comparison.

Thanks for posting that comparison , Slashnick . But , what the pic's don't really show about the Viper and Corvette headlights is the depth of the fixtures . The Vipers are very shallow while the Vettes extend much deeper back into the hood toward the windshield . If you see them in person , you'll see that they are completely different . Cliff