MotorTrend Letters to the Editor

[Greenie]

Why is he an idiot? He has an opinion and you have an opinion. We dont always agree with one another.

 

[Greenie]

An idiot? We all have varying opinions from time to time. We cannot always agree. Thats good!

 

[Chris Kennedy]

Well, I finally saw the new C6 at our local auto show last night, and, I am sorry, but I and a friend I was with were really disappointed. They had both a coupe and convertible. Generally, we felt that the car looked awkwardly chopped-off at the rear when viewing it from the side, the rear end still looked WAY too big and high, and the front was a bland Viper-like re-do. Also, I think there is too much of a gap between the tops of the tires and the fenders. This makes the car look like it sits too high, and sort of "tippy" on its tires. Also, folks, the interior is really bland---this was Lutz' supposed strong point, but this interior looks really out of place in a Corvette. But, all was not a loss, as I did like the way the rear glass was done, though. Of course, this is only my opinion, but I think the real disturbing part was that there were no crowds milling about the car (several ZO6s were more popular)---Corvettes are big here in Texas, but this new one wasn't attracting people and that is not a good sign. It was the same with the GTO--no real interest in the car, power aside. The cars that were getting the most attention were the new Ford GT and the new Mustang GT. People seemed to really like the Mustang a great deal, especially given the looks, power and the affordable price. The Mustang GT really "hunches" nicely over its tires, and this gives the car a well-planted and aggressive look. If I replace my '81 Corvette, it will be with a C5 that is several years old, in the hope that the C6 won't be around too long until they do a totally redesigned C7!

 

[Edmond]

Sometimes it makes me think there is some media bias regarding the Corvette. If it isn't a Toyota, BMW or some other foreign car, then it isn't good enough, according to these car magazines. The Toyota Camary for example, makes me wonder why that after thought of an undersized exhaust pipe hanging down hasn't been torn off by now, and left on the highway for our Vette to run over. Everyone take notice next time you see a newer Camary, how that thing is hanging. :eek

Not only on the newer Camry's, my 94' Camry's exhaust pipe hangs down like that too! I thought there was something wrong with it at first.

 

[TODD L GRIFFITH]

Chris, are these not the same complaints you had before seeing the new C6 in "real life?" So your opinion has not changed regarding the C6. The rest of us will have to wait until 9/04 before we can get an actual look. I like what I see so far, but that may change for me after getting MY real life experience.

 

[JBsC5]

Well, I finally saw the new C6 at our local auto show last night, and, I am sorry, but I and a friend I was with were really disappointed. They had both a coupe and convertible. Generally, we felt that the car looked awkwardly chopped-off at the rear when viewing it from the side, the rear end still looked WAY too big and high, and the front was a bland Viper-like re-do. Also, I think there is too much of a gap between the tops of the tires and the fenders. This makes the car look like it sits too high, and sort of "tippy" on its tires. Also, folks, the interior is really bland---this was Lutz' supposed strong point, but this interior looks really out of place in a Corvette. But, all was not a loss, as I did like the way the rear glass was done, though. Of course, this is only my opinion, but I think the real disturbing part was that there were no crowds milling about the car (several ZO6s were more popular)---Corvettes are big here in Texas, but this new one wasn't attracting people and that is not a good sign. It was the same with the GTO--no real interest in the car, power aside. The cars that were getting the most attention were the new Ford GT and the new Mustang GT. People seemed to really like the Mustang a great deal, especially given the looks, power and the affordable price. The Mustang GT really "hunches" nicely over its tires, and this gives the car a well-planted and aggressive look. If I replace my '81 Corvette, it will be with a C5 that is several years old, in the hope that the C6 won't be around too long until they do a totally redesigned C7!

Wow..quite an interesting and honest review. I hope sometime this week to go to the NY auto show and view the car myself. I was planning on going with C4C5 specialist today and check it out..but I nailed with one hell of a flu bug this past week..

Feeling better so hopefully Sunday? I hope to come away from the show a bit more impressed with the car they you ..

I hear the C6 Z06 to be released on the show circuit this coming January is quite a bit different in its looks as well as performance so that might be where many enthusiasts as well as your Texan Breathern might be more pleased..

Lets put it this way..the base C6 coupe as stated by GM itself is faster than the all powerful ZR1 King of the Hill. Not a bad place to start. IMHO..

No matter what thats pretty dam impressive for 44 grand..

Thanks again for the review...good bad or indifferent..

the opinions are much appreciated.

 

[Evolution1980]

Only with the C3, they were right!

Joke, really!!!! well, sorta No offense meant for those loyal to C3. That is just my opinion

OK...no real offense taken because, as it always has been: Year for year, look what your other options were in 1980. A 1980 mustang? ...any other cars you wish to compare in '80 will likely elicit the same response! :L

Year for year

The General did have a slew of good cars in 68-69. There were a few that were (almost) as cool as the vette. But then you just toss into the fray an L88 and all of a sudden, the rest of the landscape becomes gray again!

 

[Kotzenjunge]

Well, the idea of having a turbocharged four cylinder engine in a Cobra is pretty weird, so a 1980 Mustang would be pretty phat for novelty value.

 

[Chris Kennedy]

Well, in reply to the two previous messages, somewhere up above, both gentlemen are entirely correct. First, many of my concerns expressed before seeing the C6 in "real life" were confirmed when I had a chance to really take a look up-close and walk around it, look inside etc. I wish that weren't the case and the car looked better in the flesh, but I thought it actually looked worse. Also, it IS the best high performance value for the money---there is no questioning that. Styling is, of course, a personal matter, yet I think we can all remember the thrill of looking at a car that makes you go "WOW" and imagining yourself owning and driving it to all sorts of adventures---one of the first for me was my uncle's '64 C2 convertible, and the C3 Mako shark look was the second. It's a feeling that I have never lost, and I wish I could feel it for the C6. My opinion aside, something that was clear was that the car had very few people hanging around it (no more than 2 or 3 at the same time, and my friend and I went back several times to check), while about 50 or more were milling around the Ford GT and Mustang GT at all times. The fact that so many people were milling around two performance vehicles that cost both a lot more and a lot less than the Corvette, and so few were hanging around the Corvette, should be a matter of concern for GM, as it indicates to me that regardless of price there is something about the car which is not working.

 

[bluecoupe]

Throughout my lifetime I have seen many generations and models of the Corvette introduced. I liked the looks of the C1s but not the performance until the later C1s. I liked the looks and performance of the C2s. I liked the looks of the C3s but not the performance of the later C3s (I've owned two of these). I liked the performance of the C4s but not the looks until the later C4s. I liked the C5s looks and performance (I currently own one). I don't like the looks of the C6 but like the performance numbers. Hopefully as it matures they will improve the looks to my liking.

I have my own tastes when it comes to Corvettes but I've never completely disliked any of them. Anyone that threatens to replace his Corvette with a Mustang is NOT a Corvette Guy. Real Corvette guys (this includes male and female) respect all Corvettes even if they are not to their own taste.

 

[94C4]

I agree with Buster1. Who cares what others think. I think the new C6 is going to be a great car. I think GM did a nice job on the styling too. It's a great replacement for the C5. I guess that beauty is in the eye of the beholder though. After all, some people actually buy Pontiac Aztecs.

 

[Seahorse51]

Euro Vette

I think the new C^ is a great looking ride with one exception. Without the normal Vette headlights, the front view looks like any Mazda or Nissan or anything European. Just my .02 cents worth.

 

[cavettefan]

I have to agree with Seahorse51 (front end of the C6). It just looks like the designers were rushed and couldn't get a design that worked with the rest of the car. Now the C5 - there is a great improvement (all around) over the C4.

 

[ROCKETBLOCK]

I agree with Buster1. Who cares what others think. I think the new C6 is going to be a great car. I think GM did a nice job on the styling too. It's a great replacement for the C5. I guess that beauty is in the eye of the beholder though. After all, some people actually buy Pontiac Aztecs.

We all care what others think.

 

[Greenie]

In my humble opinion, the interior of the C6 was not thought through well enough. I remember when the GM brass "bragged" that it would be a takeoff of the new GTO, another car that has "missed the boat"! Driving Corvettes as I have since 1977, Ive been waiting fore a true "sports car interior". Again, in my opinion, Corvette has missed it again and that is sad.

 

[Kotzenjunge]

Mustang lovers are really Corvette junkies that haven't come out of the closet yet

Soooo... Corvette junkies are homosexuals?

 

[bluecoupe]

Not that there's anything wrong with that...

 

[JBsC5]

People said the same thing when the C5 came out.

People said the same thing when the C4 came out.

People said the same thing when the C3 came out.


Those same people probably bought or leased one of those cars later.

:L Your most definitely right! Most people in love with thier existing car can't deal with evolution or revolutionary changes..

Takes time to many to deal with the fact something different or "maybe" something better exists...

I hope to take my 8 year old son with me into manhattan for a few hours and check out the car for myself..

The way I look at it..is the cars basically a refined C5....and GM is coining the term C6 for added hype...

From the photos...I doubt the average consumer who was not a Corvette fanatic would "barely " notice its not the same car? :L

Just my opinion...at least till I see the car in person today...

 

[TODD L GRIFFITH]

Have a nice time JB! Give us a full report when you return.

TG

 

[Kotzenjunge]

Not that there's anything wrong with that...

No, of course not.