New Scuderia Killer??????????????

Will I read the humongous post above? No.

 

Vettes (and Vipers) rarely do well on the internet. Wouldn't mind having one, tho.

 

Something tells me the Vette's strong point won't be and isn't intended to be great in terms of NVH. If you want something with Mercedes useability then get ready to have a slower car and 300k added to the price. The ZR1 will stop, go, and turn faster than anything else out there you can buy at a local dealer. For what it's intended for, nothing else really matters.

I have F1 design experience in computational aerodynamics. I've definitely written my share of software. I am not a fabricator so I don't have CNC experience, but I am quite familiar with composite manufacture.



That is not an ugly car (not that you called it one, but others did).

 

That's not 100% true. The 400 series Ferrari's are regarded by most (even many hardcore Ferrari lovers) as pigs, and the Mondial was not really iconic. By comparision, the 63-67 corvette was voted Coolest Car in the 100 Coolest Cars Ever article a few years ago by Automobile Magazine and it was highly regarded in it's day for the engineering and value it offered. GM certainly had a rough patch, but there have been a few memorable cars since then, and some will eventually become collector cars.

It's not really an apples to apples comparision to face a 430 to a Vette. The 430 is a supreme car, technically cutting edge, well appointed, and likely better built than it's predecessors. It is also twice the price of the new ZR1, or 4 times the cost of a "normal" 430 HP Vette. The Corvette is a huge "bang for the buck" car. There are other cars in the price range that might compete in some areas (Ariel Atom, Superperformance Coupe, Noble, etc.), but the Corvette offers creature comforts, and daily driver ease the others do not, with a full warranty. As others have mentioned here, the new Vette (all versions including the ZR-1 are now available with a stitched leather interior, including the dash. It will likely still not be of the same quality as Ferrari's, but it does show, like GM has done in the past, they do listen to the public and the press to improve the car, and it's still a huge bargain. It's not in the same class as the 430. That's for the Gallardo, and the GT2. The Corvette should not be compared to these cars, because either the Corvette looks Chintzy when just comparing the cars on a cost-no-object basis, or it makes the other's look like their owners are getting raped in the ass when comparing nothing but the performance numbers vs. price.

I personally am not a huge fan of the ZR-1 in some areas (I hate the optional chrome wheels and some of the cladding does look like it's aftermarket). That said, I respect the value it offers (like the GT-R) and expect it to be popular with that group of buyers who like American Muscle and think any car that costs $200K is a huge waste of money. I see the value in both the Ferrari and Corvette, but I do not see them as true peers for the same pool of buyers.

 

I have to jump into this discussion since I am a C6 Vette owner (my 8th Vette) and also own a 360 Spider and in a week or so a new 430 Spider.
The next time I hear someone mention the lack of quality compared to German cars or anything else I will puke. Quality does not only mean what kind of leather a car has, but rather how reliable the car is and how much it cost to maintain. The later year Vettes are made so well that almost nothing comes close. The small block Chevy V8 is bullerproof, and there is rarely a problem with a Vette. Oil changes are under $100.00 and can be done while I wait. The Vette is so easy and inexpensive to modify. And one can drive a Vette into the ground and they just don't break down. That is Quality. Do I compare the Vette to the Ferrari...never...it is not compiring apples to apples. Which is more fun to drive and what do I prefer to drive...of course the Ferrari. But I find the interior of my Vette jsut fine. It is comfortable, useable, great nav and radio, heads up display, and nothing falls off. I have owned every brand of German car and let me tell you, as far as reliability goes, the Vette beats them all. I just test drove a new Porsche 997 Turbo 6 speed sports chrono, and the car had ZERO soul. And if the Porsche and the Vette were the same price, I would take the Vette hands down. I owned a Porsche...it lived in the shop. What was that word.......quality?

 

For $100K they should have better replaced the whole interior, just look at the interior on a Porsche Boxster or at a equally priced BMW. The interior in the Corvette is still an insult even $50K.

 

its certainly fast......oh, and its certainly crap !

 

I have a 430 and my buddy has a Z06. We go the track regularly together and have great dog fights out there. The cars are very much the same in performance. I dont really prefer the front engine set up
and the 430 sound track is much better imo. But, for 75k he's having as much fun as I am for 230k. The vette's performance capabilities are way stealth compared to the Ferrari. Yes the Ferrari is
a piece to look at and care for, but thats not everyones cup of tea. I love the car but dont love the attention everywhere i go with it. I'm sure GM could play that game if they want to, but the vette is Americas car.
So many of you guys are so full of yourselves its pathetic. You would never talk that way at the track face to face with a Z06 or ZR1 owner. Its all mutual respect. Any real car expert praises the hell out of the Z06. Its a drivers car.
Not a rich pompous a** car.
This site has a lot more idiots than it used to. I dont get it. or like it!

 

Is the Vette really such a bargin at $100k? Probably. What about at $200k, is it still such a bargin at $200k? $200k is either 360CS or F430 money! Thats the rub with this car for non US guys, we'd pay twice what you pay. At $100k its a lot of car for the money, just a shame about the detailing. Then again this car was never ever intended to compete with the Audi R8 or Ferrari F430, completely different segments of the market. Its impressive therefore that its performance punches so high for the cash (well in the US anyway).

Vette owners really shouldn't be so surprised to see Ferrari owners reactions when suggesting its a 430 Scuderia Killer. With the 430 Scuderia your buying a whole lot more than outright muscle and thats exactly what you get with a Vette, its not a product thats been honed to perfection. Its a car that does however do exactly what it says on the tin. Power, power and more power, a hell of a lot of bang for your bucks.

When you begin to have more bucks to spend your less interested in even more bang (you already have enough of a good thing) and now you want the rest of the car, the aftersales, the servicing, the support, everything needs to be upto your highest expectations. You've already got other cars to do the everyday grind so the Ferrari needs to be very special. What you get with the Ferrari is a car that feels special on every single occasion, whether your driving quickly, slowely or just out for a cruise. Everything, the chassis, engine, brakes, interior, styling, refinement, everything has a quality feel to it. If your just looking for a fast thrill, the Vette hits that spot perfectly, want something more sophisticated and refined you need to dig a little deeper and that costs more.

 

+1 and then some!! I've had Vettes all my life. My 360 spider (soon to be 430) was the dream. We're all very lucky here. You guys need to drive the Z06. It is an amazing car...period! Unfortunately Chevy dealers will do the same thing that has plagued Ferrari guys for years. They're gonna take a 100K car and mark it up 40K. Supply and demand.....

 

Precisely why I said, "virtually all"......not ALL

Again, precisely why I said "Vette between 10 and 40 years old," not ALL........40 years ago was.........1967!

 

Great to hear that Chevy has the small block sorted out after 52 years!

 

wow what a bunch of snobs. i happen to own both a 360cs and a new zo6, and will be getting the 430s and the new zr1. would i give up my fcars for the vettes, no way. however lets give chevy credit for making a great car for less than 1/3 the price. im sure if they charged 300k they would get the interior right, but for 75 - 100k they have alot of the same components as ferrari, ie carbon ceramics, dry sump, carbon fiber, titanium engine components. lets just be thankfull that there are so many great choices out there and chevy has just given us another one.

 

Not a snob, just saying that the 430 Scuderia and ZR1 (they should have at least picked another name since the C4 ZR-1 was rattling, squeaking POS) will not compete in the marketplace. No prospective Ferrari 430 Scuderia buyer will choose the Corvette ZR-1......not a one. This ZR-1 is a product of the same recurring GM marketing fantasy which produced the Cadillac Allanté disaster which was supposed to take market share from the Mercedes SL.

 

Poor sales results aside, they were actually on the right track with that one, as evidenced by the soon thereafter arrivals and successes of Infiniti, Lexus and Acura....

 

funny that we got people here who are knocking the interior of the vette and saying that it's a rattling POS etc. Don't tell me everybody's CS or F40 for that matter has carpeted interior, leather/cloth race seats that do not wear at the bolsters, suspension that do not squeak, etc. If your only criteria for judging the car is the badge on the hood and interior, you are truly missing out on some great cars and you don't deserve to be on a car enthusiast board whether it be ferrari, lamborghini or Chevy.

carry on...

 

Agreed, there was an opportunity. The Cadillac Allanté failure was due in part to American automotive marketing "checking the feature boxes" and hoping it will sell. Oh yeah, then there was the issue of it was an under powered pig. My company has a division which designs/builds/sells leading edge automotive electronics into 45 automotive platforms in Europe, Japan and Korea. Our leading customers are BMW and Mercedes. The United States OEMs will be the final adopters of our technology only after the bean counters see that they are getting their butts kicked by the Koreans. I truly feel for the passionate engineers and platform managers at GM, Ford and Chrysler, but they simply were born in the wrong country to work on great automobiles.

 

Boy do we have some narrow minded people on this forum I guess they were all born driving only Ferraris must be great to be that priviledged some of us actual worked our way up to our cars and heaven forbid drove lesser mortal makes of car all manufacturesers have had cars that were not a sucess including Ferrari in case you did not notice driving a Ferrari does not actually alter your DNA

 

I see your point on the "virtually all" part, but if 40 years ago was 1967, that is certainly among the most collectible of all corvettes, and there are some that have come out since that time that either are collectible or are gaining status towards that designation. That's quite something for a car that they made in volumes close to 10 times what Ferrari puts out and is only wearing a lowly bowtie. My main point was that the Ferrari and Vette are not really in the same niche, and the Vette guys can certainly make some points that the Ferrari guys would not appreciate, but have some basis in fact. I really like both cars, even though I tend to like the older Vettes vs. newer Ferraris.

 

well i will be getting the 430s and the new zr1, so why choose ill take both. so much for your no prospective 430s buyer will choose a zr1.

 

Hey, you guys are tough on the general. I have a Z06 and I honestly don't have problems beating Ferrari's. I have outrun a few on the street and at the track. I didn't think they were all that fast. I make more torque at idle than some of these cars WOT. Am I missing something performance wise?

 

+1000 excellent post, sanguru and Ronnie exactly well stated as well.

 

100% agree kinda what I was trying to say

 

I have great respect for the performance of the Z06 and the future ZR-1. But, in 2018 both with be used-up GM cars languishing on used car lots while the 430 Scuderia will be still be an iconic Ferrari cherished by an enthusiast owner. Live for the moment fellows, as those who ignore history are condemned to repeat it.....what is more desirable, collectible and enjoyable today, a 1997 Ferrari F355 or a 1997 Vette? If you choose the Vette, you're in LUCK as there are are about 100 on Autotrader.com with many under $15K!