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News: 2007 Corvette Convertible Is Just What Santa Ordered

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2007 Corvette Convertible Is Just What Santa Ordered

By Day Editor, Murphy
Published on 12/16/2006
The Day, Connecticut

Christmas is drawing near, and if all goes well you'll soon be hearing the sound of eight tiny reindeer tiptoeing on your roof.


But really, wouldn't you rather hear eight not so tiny cylinders pounding away in the driveway?

And when those aforementioned cylinders are housed in a 2007 Chevrolet Corvette convertible, your “Naughty” and “To Do” lists suddenly become one and the same. That's because 400 cantankerous horses beat the heck out of eight tiny reindeer every time.

And when it comes to bang for the buck, the Corvette beats the heck out of about everything — foreign and domestic.

With a base price of around 50 grand — actually, the test car had a $52,085 base price and $66,290 bottom line — the current generation of the basic Corvette has an established 0-to-60 mph time of 4.5 seconds, a 0-to-100 clocking of 9.8 seconds and a top end of 186 mph. America's own sports car can run with exotics that cost three times more. If that isn't enough, the 505-horsepower Corvette Z06 blasts from 0 to 60 in 3.7 seconds (in first gear) and keeps accelerating right up to 198 mph.

Re-gifting? Not this year.

And even though a convertible doesn't appear to be the appropriate gift for a New England winter, the test car's automatic power top raised and lowered with the simple touch of a button, allowing you to take advantage of any breaks in the weather. Simply unlatch the top, press a button and the soft top folds up neatly into its storage compartment, leaving those clean sports car lines unblemished. Temperature dropping or clouds on the way? It comes back up just as easily.

The Corvette, which received a complete makeover in 2005 and has been further enhanced both last year and for the current model year, retains the heart of the same rompin', stompin' machine that earned its reputation 50 years ago blasting down Route 66, but now comes with a true sense of sophistication.

Just take a gander at the front end, where the combination of those dramatic fenders, the hood's massive power bulge forms and exposed headlamps produce the kind of look you'd expect to find on a vehicle wearing the Ferrari badge. The exit lines continue on the profile, with those low-profile tires filling the wheel wells and the side air inlets evoking the look of Corvettes from the past. The substantial back end, with its twin quad tail pipe setup, re-affirms the muscular nature of this beast. All-in-all, the Corvette remains one of the most unique shapes on the American landscape. It has no peers.

That does not mean, though, that it has no limitations. With its two seat design and limited storage space, this is not the car the family will take to grandma's for Christmas dinner. Over the river and through the woods would not be considered this car's strong suit. That's not unexpected, though, because the Corvette was never designed to serve as the family chariot.

This is a pure sports car.

And in that arena, it stands above anything made in this country and doesn't have to back down from even the most exotic of imports.

The test car, with its 6.0-liter V8 engine pushing out 400 horsepower and 400 ft.lbs. of torque, started with a roar that settled down to an ill-tempered burbling at idle. Upon starting the vehicle, it immediately becomes obvious that this thoroughbred wants to run.

The transmission choices are a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic with paddle shift. While that automatic did not dampen the engine's enthusiasm, it did give it more a feel of a cruiser than racer. All it took was a simple touch of the gas pedal, and the test car would pin its ears back and fly. For those who want additional control, simply switch the transmission to sport mode and use the pedal shifters on each side of the steering wheel.

They did enhance the experience, but if you are a fan of truly precise shifts and enjoy listening to the sound of the engine during downshifting, I'd heartily recommend getting the model with the manual transmission.

The test car came equipped with optional Magnetic Selective Ride Control that allowed you to adjust the suspension settings to your mood. While that ride was never soft or loose, the touring mode provided the most accommodating ride, ideal for a leisurely jaunt through the countryside. The sport mode tightened things up, giving the already balanced Corvette a racer's sense of agility. This mode, however, is less forgiving than touring, meaning you will feel most bumps and ruts in the road.

The interior provides excellent room for two lucky passengers, with the leather bucket seats holding you firmly and comfortably in place. The layered gauge package is very easy on the eyes, as is the heads-up display that projects a digital view of speedometer and tachometer on the windshield.

Perhaps the neatest part of the interior, though, is located on the back wall between the two seats, where the designers bring in the exterior color scheme. It's a very nice touch.

Even though this car would make an ideal present in itself, don't look to pack a lot of presents into it.

While the coupe version offers a pretty respectable 22 cubic feet of storage space, the convertible is limited to 11 cubic feet with the top up and 7.5 cubic feet with it lowered.

But don't worry.
If you're lucky enough to get one of these bad boys for Christmas, you won't be looking for any other presents, anyway.

http://www.theday.com/re.aspx?re=f6e52af0-5cd5-4d4c-b83c-a39a1da47bec
 
But really, wouldn't you rather hear eight not so tiny cylinders pounding away in the driveway?
Yes, that's why I bought my own C6.
Santa always knew I was more naughty than nice,
so I don't count on the ole boy .:D
 

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