Please GM, Fix the Corvette

[Rob]

I'm kind of curious what everyone's opinion is on this:

-Rob
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Please GM, Fix the Corvette

By The Mechanic | October 12, 2009
Edmunds Inside Line

This semi-regular column is written (in his own blood) by an automotive sage and noted malcontent, known as The Mechanic. Mercilessly beaten as a child with rolled-up back issues of old car magazines, our free-spoken hero developed a unique "for your own good" take on cars and the auto industry, along with an unfortunate habit of setting himself ablaze. Later, after a distinguished career as an automotive journalist and magazine editor, he cast off the reins of his musty oppressors, carved out his superego with a plastic spork and became The Mechanic.

Before I begin, let me say that the following is not an attack on the people who buy Corvettes. They are good, clean, patriotic car lovers, and I think they should all be applauded for buying American.

I mean it from the bottom of my heart. Every barrel-chested baldy (sorry, retirees) and stripper (sorry, Bambi) who bought a Corvette recently deserves our respect and admiration for spending their hard-earned cash on America's sports car. God bless them all. I hope they enjoy their cars.

This column is not about them. It's about the Corvette itself, which sucks.

Full Story: Straightline

 

[6 Shooter]

OK gold chains aside: I've only bought used Vettes, ...

... and my next "new one" will probably be used also! :cool​

​

​

L8TR - D​

 

[koolaid117]

I would love to see the Corvette become more affordable with some updated styling and some upgrades on the interior. I would rather spend the 50k on a Corvette rather than anything else in the same price range. I don't care what people think of it or me. I would proudly drive it anywhere.

I would agree about the youth not aspiring for the Corvette (even after it eats their rice). Those throwaway cars are inexpensive and have tons of bolt-ons. Most will never have the performance of the Corvette, but the owners are satisfied cheaper.

I bought my Corvette for the rumble of the engine. The only time I listen to the radio is when my wife is with me. I much prefer the melody of the V8.

 

[njlouc]

All cars have problems. All journalists have to say something to get attention.
I dont know what we can do about journalists, but I have always thought that most cars are too complex due to the "extras" the basics are usually very durable.
OK GM - do what you can while you are still in business.
IMHO even the reliability leaders are having a tough time these days while GM is actually is looking better ... go figure. :W

 

[KANE]

The corvette is dead...

Atleast, that is what the author seemed to be saying. :eyerole




The only thing I'm not wild about is the cost. I still like the idea of a stripped down Vette. If memory serves me right... the C5 FRC was going to fulfill this at one time.

Anyway, thank God for depreciation- that makes all cars affordable at some point!

 

[Smmmokin']

Atleast, that is what the author seemed to be saying. :eyerole




The only thing I'm not wild about is the cost. I still like the idea of a stripped down Vette. If memory serves me right... the C5 FRC was going to fulfill this at one time.

Anyway, thank God for depreciation- that makes all cars affordable at some point!

The reason Mustang buyers say there are far more Mustangs on the road than Vettes is exactly for that reason. They have so many versions and each buyer thinks he's bought the hottest one available. The Vette does offer some choices in power and price. The difference between the Vette and Pony is there are no six cylinder Vettes!

In conclusion: I don't think there is another car in her class that you can buy for less $$$$--and still remain happy about your purchase.

 

[njlouc]

Im old enough to remember all those Consumers Reports articles about how terrible the 60's Vettes were. Where are they today?
I bet those writers would gladly have one.
Has the boy been in a porsche/Infinity/BMW etc showroom lately??
They are not cheap, and if you think Vette repairs are expensive try those.
Just park a Vette next to a Boxter and the eyes will find the Vette first!!
IMHO I think that the mega priced cars are not worth it , but these guys always compare list prices. You can get a $50k Vette lots cheaper(new) a Boxter etc. not so.
When you hit the used market you really find the deals.
But we need all those cars if only to better compare to our own.
..........yes they are jealous.

 

[njlouc]

When the C5 FRC came out I thought that this would be the way to go.... a stripper Vette that you could get really cheap and put you own features on - NOT so.
I wound up to be literally pennies cheaper and violated the whole idea. Since the price was so close to the fully featured coupe, and since it looked so great - but didnt sell well, GM decided to make that the "race car".
The idea of a "cheap Vette" never works.
I think that what we see here is one of the reasons GM failed. Poor advertising. I never see a Vette ad except in car mags. read by corvette owners. the general public has no clue about the Vettes at all. you used to see these great ads on TV and it created a desire to own, as well as a respect for the marque. But i suppose you will say that with hundreds of TV stations (mostly cable) where do you start?? how about if you try one at a time??

 

[warren s]

This is an idiotic article on so many levels.
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com

Sure it performs incredibly well, but the Corvette as a relevant performance car has lost its way. Instead of being the everyman, all-American supercar it once was, the Vette has become too expensive, too extreme and too cheesy.

<o></o>
What exactly is a relevant performance car? That’s in itself is a stupid reference. As for being to extreme, what does that mean? Is it to fast? And as for being too expensive, that another stupid comment – Do a search of dealer prices, New C6s go for 41k at a very large dealer in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com

<st1lace w:st="on">New Jersey</st1lace></st1:State> that has LOTS in stock, Is that too much for a performance car that runs low 12s in the quarter, goes almost 200mph and pulls close to 1g ?

<o></o>
Chevy has blown it by allowing the Corvette's price and performance to get out of hand. And it continues to wrap the Vette in a dated package that is driving <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">America</st1lace></st1:country-region>'s young car enthusiasts elsewhere. Do you realize that the base price of a new 2010 Corvette is $48,940? That's 50 grand for the cheapest Vette Chevy will sell you. The days of a kid graduating from college, getting a good job, saving up and buying a new Vette are long gone.

<o></o>
Even at 50 grand it’s a world beater and kids getting out of collage don’t save up for anything. It’s a few grand down and payments – just like we have been doing for better or worse for the last 30 years. As for it being dated, get real – Look at the Porsche 911, that has got to be one the most unattractive – VW beetle on steroids looking cars on the road, but it’s the rave of the automotive society.

<o></o>
And it might be too late to save it. From where I sit, the Corvette has already been displaced as the attainable dream car for <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">America</st1lace></st1:country-region>'s youth: displaced by the Infiniti G35 Coupe and the BMW M3 (E46). These two cars (and now their succeeding models, the G37 Coupe and the BMW M3 (E92)) are what the kids desire and aspire to. They've become "the Corvette" for the next generation of enthusiasts that have not yet hit the big four-o.

<o></o>
Today’s youth also thinks the Scion Xb and the Nissan Cube are really cool cars, and Chevy still sells every Vette it makes. I would like to see that survey of how those cars replaced the Corvette.

<o></o>
Sure they're slower than a C6, but they represent a far more modern and upscale interpretation of the everyday performance car. They represent what today's car lover wants: speed, style, quality and a nameplate that says he's successful and he knows what's cool. The Corvette just goes fast

<o></o>
I guess Vette lovers just want pure performance and don’t need to or care about what others think.

<o></o>
I could go on and on , the writer seems like such a total dou--e.<o></o>
<o></o>
<o></o>

 

[Smmmokin']

The advertising thing is a very good point!!!

It seems GM advertises the brands/models that are selling very well.

A case in point was the XLR then the XLR-V, yes, they were over-priced, but when I'm out in my "V" anyone that has any comment the first is: "what is that?" or "who makes that?" It's a very beautiful car and performs very well, but what good is that if no one has ever heard of it? A great car left to die on the vine.

Advertising is king!! Has anyone anywhere not heard of McDonalds? You can barely watch a TV show without having to sit through a MickyD commercial!

 

[Dad]

A case in point was the XLR then the XLR-V, yes, they were over-priced, but when I'm out in my "V" anyone that has any comment the first is: "what is that?" or "who makes that?" It's a very beautiful car and performs very well, but what good is that if no one has ever heard of it? A great car left to die on the vine.

Who cares if someone don't know what you're driving? When I buy a car it is for me, not someone else to know what it is.

The only time I think about another car someone is driving is whether or not it will stop when I have the rightaway.

Then again at this age I wonder if I'm going to stop when they have the rightaway.

GM can do better and they may have to for Barry to be happy.

 

[KANE]

Who cares if someone don't know what you're driving? When I buy a car it is for me, not someone else to know what it is.

The only time I think about another car someone is driving is whether or not it will stop when I have the rightaway...

 

[catbert]

It has some points, but crabbing that it's too fast is more than a little dumb. The gold chain thing was true - in the 70s. The aging demographic points out the need for a bare bones vette, and that's where GM is missing the boat.




Saving the wave while LT4man heals

 

[Key West Jack]

If every one thought like me it would be a very boring world and I would not be able to afford the things I love to do.

 

[Mike G]

The american vette

I AM FKKG AMAZED AT THIS MOST LUDICROUS RANT!!!!!
Warren S has it right, and:

Tell me everyone here, what do we all remember from the '70's and 80's? Oh the only thing the Vette has, and I quote, is "V8 bombast" and little else, sloppy handling, crappy interior, fair brakes - and:

Can't keep up with Euro cars, "the Porsche just glided away down the canyon while the Vette driver struggled with handling", never attain the performance of a Ferrari - and:

The greatest American performance car is a Cobra, a Saleen, a Ford GT, a Viper - so:

Chevy builds the C5 and C6, and what do we have now?

10 ALMS championships
8 LeMans victories
A NORDSCHLEIFE LAP TIME of 7min26sec ( yeah, it's me again ) which blows away everything except an F-16...

The STANDARD-PRODUCTION Corvette has supreme world-humbling performance, a decent interior and a reasonable price ( for a street-legal racecar ) and this imbicile is now going to attempt a derogatory attack? This is obviously either written in complete ignorance of the current condition of the Vette or just car-dude bait, indicating a need for attention or just activity on his part.

Vette people, press on proudly no matter what and don't hesitate to wear a little gold underneath your RACE SUIT!

Mike G -
Vette enthusiast since 1968.

 

[Smmmokin']

A case in point was the XLR then the XLR-V, yes, they were over-priced, but when I'm out in my "V" anyone that has any comment the first is: "what is that?" or "who makes that?" It's a very beautiful car and performs very well, but what good is that if no one has ever heard of it? A great car left to die on the vine.

Who cares if someone don't know what you're driving? When I buy a car it is for me, not someone else to know what it is.

The only time I think about another car someone is driving is whether or not it will stop when I have the rightaway.

Then again at this age I wonder if I'm going to stop when they have the rightaway.

GM can do better and they may have to for Barry to be happy.

I think you may have missed my point!

Read my lips:
My post was to inform GM (hopefully someone from the advertising dept.) that a car should not be produced that is tucked away and eventually becomes a black sheep where they ask themselves, "That car was great! Why did it fail?"

My post had absolutely nothing to do with your personal choice of wheels. If a company produces a product and expect to sell the product they must advertise or their time in producing the product is wasted.

 

[Victory Red C6]

If this guy is such an expert on what the Corvette should be and shouldn't be why isn't he working in the automotive industry vs. critizing and making recommendations. Because he doesn't have a clue. It is easy for anyone to tell someone what they should be doing or shouldn't be doing, but to actually do it themselves is another story. Yes, I think we would all love it if te Corvette was $20,000 cheaper, but then that would put it into the hands of everyone and take away from the feeling to own a Corvette and knowing that there isn't one sittting on every street corner. If there was one sitting on every street corner the Corvette wouldn't turn the heads that it does today, it would get the recognition that it does today. I'm thinking the writer of the article is someone that wants a Corvette, but it is out of his reach, so the only option he has is to criticize it.

 

[Mike G]

American Vette, Pt II

From Autoweek site today:

2010 Porsche 911 Turbo: The daily driver of supercars

How good is the handling? According to Achleitner, the new 911 Turbo will lap the Nürburgring in 7 minutes, 39 seconds on standard Bridgestone Potenza tires--some 10 seconds less than the time quoted for its predecessor.<o></o>
Still, there is a disclaimer in all this: "We don't want to get ourselves into a race for Nürburgring lap-time supremacy," Achleitner says. "The times we quote are not really representative because they are set on different days and in differing weather conditions."<o></o>

....uh, yeah.

That would be 13 seconds SLOWER than the $105K ZR-1, and one, count it, ONE second faster than the Z-06. Are we taking bets on the cost of this new turbo 911? My guess: $200,000.

Keep attacking the Vette. You're losing your a$$, but keep trying......

 

[Rob]

Here's my view on this article:

I basically don't agree with much of it...especially his stupid comparison to the BMW E46 M3.

Don't get me wrong. I love BMWs and have a 2004 330xi that I love...although 1st and 2nd gear in that manual transmission is completely useless! :eyerole

I have always loved and respected the M3 - especially the new one. However...a Corvette - it is not! I do think the build quality and level of refinement is much higher in the M3, but for all intents and purposes, they are apples and oranges - especially when you start comparing price....and that goes for the E46 M3 back when they were selling new pre-2005.

I love the C6 design - much more so than the C5. I love the lines, and sharp edges and yes, I even like the exposed headlights. However, I do feel that GM needs to become a little more daring with the design.

Case in point - I like what they did with the 2006 Z06 to distinquish it from the base model C6. I like what they did with the ZR1, but I still feel the ZR1 should have been just a little bit more radical in design in order to make it a little more unique from the other models. If you see a ZR1 coming towards you on a highway, you're initial impression is that it's a Z06 because of the NACA duct in the front. It's not until you get just a little closer that you realize it could be a ZR1 because there's a little bulge in the hood.

Slightly redesigned headlights and a unique front grill would have helped.

As for the new Grand Sport, I'm not going to lie....I'm disappointed. To me, it's nothing more than a hardly distinguishable appearance package. It's less unique than the 1996 Grand Sport which I loved.

The Corvette platform needs to have better flexibility in order to offer more choices. Don't get me wrong - GM has come a LONG way in offering more choices to the Corvette customer, but they need to take just a wee bit further.

After reading the reviews in Car and Driver, Motor Trend and Road and Track - all of the journalists agree that the interior is still sub-par and the seats - horrible.

I take a look at similar sports cars on the market and some of them have incredible seats!

If you can offer different color interiors with seats that have colored inserts, you can offer better seats.

The early Z06s and ZR1s, historically have been cars for the track. For the money the customer is paying for the new ones - especially the ZR1 - they should either come standard with upgraded, light weight, seats or be offered as an option.

On the ZR1 - how about an upgraded interior package option with Alcantara surfaces? An Alcantara steering wheel, alcantara seat inserts, etc?

The C6 is an awesome car for the money - but unfortunately, there are brand new Mazdas and Hyundais out on the market right now, for less money with amazing interior quality. The Corvette needs to come up to par and I seriously hope that attention is paid in this area while C7 development is taking place.

 

[Rob]

Well...here's a bit of irony:

2010 Corvette Grand Sport vs 2010 BMW M3 Comparison Test Drive: Can The Newest Vette Dethrone The Mighty M3?

By Larry Webster
Published on: October 14, 2009
Popular Mechanics

Ann Arbor, Mich —This unlikely duel pits what is arguably the world's best sports sedan, the BMW M3, against a dedicated sports car—the Corvette Grand Sport. But despite having to haul around a rear seat, this BMW is a solid matchup against the Vette. Under those hoods, both cars have V8s with over 400 horsepower. In each machine, rear-wheel drive puts the power down to the ground. And more to the point, these two overtly sporting machines cost about the same—$55,720 for the Vette, $59,975 for the M3. This pair occupies a performance-car sweet spot, because they offer near supercar speed for far less than exotic-car prices. Since the new Grand Sport has considerably upped the Corvette's game, let's see if it can unseat the Bavarian powerhouse.

Full Review: 2010 Corvette Grand Sport vs 2010 BMW M3 Comparison Test Drive: Can The Newest Vette Dethrone The Mighty M3? - Popular Mechanics