New 2014 Stingray

Can't wait to see the wide body versions. It would be interesting if they call the more powerful version the Mako Shark, like the concept. Perhaps make it below the new Z06 performance wise, but above it in style. Paint it flat black, have a Caravaggio interior as standard, bump the HP to 545, smooth out the ride, and sell for $85,000.
GM wouldn't be able to make enough.

 

The dealer where I ordered my 2014 vette told me a few years, He told me they do not tell the dealers anything.

His estimate was 2-3 years for the Z06 and about that for the ZR1 if they even make one again.

I really miss my 2009 ZR1 vette. They are world class cars in every way.

BEST

Lee

 

Lee:

Here's a great review of your new blue Vette.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vq5HkukfCEY]C7 Corvette - Yes, it Really is That Good - YouTube[/ame]

 

He sure loves the car. I cannot wait to get mine and see first hand how good it is.

Thank you Mayor for posting

Best

Lee

 

It has cylinder deactivation? Isn't that EXTREMELY long 7th gear enough for fuel economy? My C5 used to get 30+ mpg on the highway.

I'll admit the looks turn me off, and was just looking around because of my 20+ years of Corvette ownership, but that would be the final straw for me.

 

You've made me extremely happy!

The C7 was not designed for people with 20 years of Corvette ownership. It's reaching a new generation who aren't married to the past --- so it can grow -- which it is.

It's more proof that Chevy has hit the nail on the head. It's time for a new car and a rebirth. Its time for new fans to take to the brand.

Team Corvette has done something remarkable here. A car with more the torque than previous super version, more HP than ever offered in a base model, faster than any previous base model, more comfortable than any earlier model, stops better than any previous model -- and delivers gas mileage 6 mpg more than any other 380 HP + sports car so that it can avoid the gas guzzlers tax.

Who cares if it's a 4 cylinder car when going 80 mph down the freeway?

Well, those that do aren't for this car anyway. Chevy has broken the mold and made a world class sports car. And --- it ain't ever going back.

 

And re the cylinder deactivation, if you get the manual trans, the car defaults on start-up with cylinder deactivation disabled.

The manual car defaults to tour mode on start up. If the driver wants cylincer deact for highway cruising he must toggle the center console switch to eco mode.

So if you don't want it, you don't have to select it. If you do want it, it's easy to call up.

 

Sounds well ngineered. My dealer has told me my 2014 vette will not be at the dealership untill late Sept or Dec. It sounds like it will be worth the wait. I bought the base base model.

While I was there I bought the 427 2013 Vette convertible. I have been driving it today and I love the car.

best

Lee

 

The 427 vert is a cool vette. One year only, and may. . .just may, be one that is regarded as quite special down the road.

Congrats on the 427 and the upcoming 7.

 

Glad you're happy......It almost has to be better than your short 458 spider experience

But what is this "more torque than previous super version" Both the C6 Z06 and ZR1 have more torque....the ZR1 exceeds it by 150 ft-lbs.

Corvette has ALWAYS been a world class sportscar, no surprise there.

We will see how much of a cluster the cylinder deactivation turns out to be from a reliability standpoint.

And its the wrong kind of car for that nonsense....put it in trucks and SUVs instead.

 

Alot of us loyal Corvette guys waited decades to get another 427 convertible (I had a '69). I'm not sure you'll want the new one after a few months with this. That and the ZR1 are the only modern Corvettes that appeal to me.

 

FWIW, both myself & my father have been longtime Corvette fans, & we both love the C7 so far!

 

Really? Since when?

 

1953

 

Mmmmm..... don't think so.

7 Generations of Corvette Driven - R&T First Drives - Road & Track

http://coolridesonline.net/news-blog/news-entertainment/a-look-back-at-the-worst-corvettes-ever-made/

http://www.edmunds.com/car-reviews/features/top-10-worst-corvettes-of-all-time.html

 

You have quite an odd perspective about this Bob. You are really excited abou the new car, which is fine, but seem to have a disregard or maybe even a hatred for the heritage of the car.

The Corvette has a wonderful 60 years of great cars and interesting personalities that shaped the brand. I would much rather have a C2 big block convertibe than most Ferraris. How about a sweet '56? What a game changing car.

When I migrated to my first Porsche 8 years ago, I took time to look at the history of the company, it was a great education. Has Porsche made a few clunkers? Damn right. Same with a Mondial, 400i, Urracco, late 70s Corvettes, etc.

 

Heritage? Sometimes the Vette's been more like an embarrassment. 60 years of existence doesn't mean 60 years of great cars. The same can be said of every marque, including Ferrari. Ask me what I think of Maserati someday. When it made crappy cars, it made really crappy cars. Yet, I own one today. I don't need to respect them all. I'd be foolish to do so.

The C7 is a ground up design that finally represents what a good daily driver sports car should be like. Instead of celebrating the future, too many want to remain in it's past.

Well, what's past is past. The C7 will finally bring the Corvette up to world standards without excuses. That's a good thing because the way it was going was a dead end. The lounge chair Lazy Boy seats are gone, the big ol' parts bin steering wheel is history, the car has a modern high quality interior with real leather/aluminum/CF, the suspension and edif intergration world class, the manual transmission/clutch/flywheel upgraded for better feel, the aerodynamics derived directly from their racing program, the brakes stop better than almost any car ever tested by Edmunds, and the electronic infotainment system better than anything in it's class.

And all for about 50 to 70 grand depending on model and equipment.

If I give GM any credit at all, it's that someone actually stood up and said this car needed to be built and built correctly. GM will not make much money on it but they got the check and used the money well. For example, on the seats, they went to the same seat engineering company in Italy that designs the seats for Ferrari to not just "improve" the seats but completely rethink it.

And in their redesign of the complete car from top to bottom, they didn't mind ruffling some old guard purists to move the car to the next generation of owners and what they expect today.

IMO: Screw heritage when you can make something better that the public wants today.

 

Lee: your blue car is running around Germany:

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZgBQxSrUdI[/ame]

 

In those days the American cars were reliable and fast but could not turn a corner. I traveled alot internationally in those days and my European freinds would just enjoy teasing me on how bad American cars handled. The first vettes 53-55 were horrible and even drove bad for their day. I own a 54 vette FYI.

American motors were all made using a sand cast mold technology. This makes a weak and heavy engine. Most of our engines use a push rod design as opposed to overhead cams. Low reving engines with no varible calve lift or timing. I was not a fan of American cars except for transportation, they are very reliable with poor gas mileage.

Yhis is all changing, with the new vette as the mayor says and even my new shelby mustang, although it has an ancient live axle. They are now beginning to handle very good and getting better. The 2014 Mustang is reported to have an independant suspension. Some may say 60 years to late, okay I would say that

The Ford Gt is a good car and modern even by most European standards. The 2013 vette I just bought feels refined amd drives very good, the new vette I expect to be up there with the Europeans. This is a good thing. If they make the outside dimensions small enough they may be able to sell them overseas.

Best to all and great posts

Lee

 

There is over 14,000 deposits on the new Vette. My guess is that many of the early buyers will be in a position to flip the car if they want.

 

Citing that hack piece by someone with an extremely limited experience with vintage Corvettes doesn't really support your viewpoint.

The Corvette has certainly had a number of models over the years that made no apologies to their European counterparts. The 57 fuelie was a very good sportscar(on road and track), the C2 had a number of versions that left most if not all of their euro competition behind in performance without sacrificing style or quality. There were C3s that were absolutely earth shattering in speed with wild looks to boot, the C4 was touted by most of the scribes as world class as it was the world's best handling sportscar when introduced with sport seats as grippy as any, the C5 Z06 is still a good performer even by today's standards even if its interior wasn't a stand out and the C6 special versions are still the car to beat on track days, are reliable and comfortable for daily use-world class? Certainly.
There were some disappointments to be sure(sub 200hp Cali versions of the C3,etc), but the Corvette heritage is certainly one to be proud of.

 

I must respectfully disagree Lee. Sitting in my garage now are a 67 911S, a 68 Ferrari GTC and a 67 Corvette. I recently sold a 60s Cobra and a 68 XKE. I've also owned a 67 Lamborghini 400GT. The Corvette holds its own against all of those cars. Weak engine? No sir. The Corvette solid lifter small block will happily rev past 6500, makes very good power and enjoys legendary reliability. The appearance inside and out(of the Corvette) is just as impressive as its European garage mates. There are no penalties in cornering nor braking either and I'd bet I can cover an interesting road just as quickly in the Corvette as the others(the Cobra being the outlier as its hardly a street car in the traditional sense). The Porsche would probably be best on a very twisty canyon road, the Corvette fastest on many others. The Ferrari has the longest legs(in part due to the 5 speed) and the best sound. The doors on the Porsche and Ferrari close with more of a thunk than the Vette-more due to the material than a lack of quality. IMO, the C2 was a world class sportscar in every sense of the word.
I've also owned a few C3 Corvettes as well as a Daytona, 73 RS Porsche, etc. I believe I have a sense for how the Corvette compared in that period as well. The C3 was very well equipped with good steering, handling and braking(when optioned correctly-part of the fun, IMO). The L88s and the hot small blocks were also great performers. The 427 Corvette had the measure of my Daytona up to 150 or so, that's for sure and when equipped with comparable rubber would turn lap times as good or better. Lamborghini Muira's, while incredible cars, didn't have a chance against a Corvette on the track or twisty roads. Neither did Maserati's or Jaguars.
Again, I'd call it world class. When we hit the 80s, there wasn't much that was what I'd call great and the Corvettes of the period were more boulevard cruisers than world class sportscars. The 90s brought us the ZR1 and great handling and braking, but a let down in interior quality. The later models had the performance and reliability if not the high end interiors. The series of Corvette engines over the years, IMO, were competitive in every regard. The so-called pushrod disadvantage doesn't really exist in the real world as the Chevy V8s produce great power, are reliable, don't weigh much and are compact for their displacement.

 

Steve remind me never to debate with you A great post. I agree it is a heritage to be proud of.

Two things I would like to mention.

The early fuel imjection was mechanical and it was inovative but not very reliable. They had a habit of just not starting. Today it is almost imposible to get the canister for these systems, so most people are converting to carbs. I kind of like three duces.

Although vettes have always been fast and handled okay to good it was not untill 2008 untill they became world class in handling. I had a 2009 ZR1 vette and I loved that car.
I like it better than my 458 Ferrari.

I agree with you on style and quality, my European friends think American cars are :vulgar" looking, The guy that said that was driving an Aston Marton a DB4 I think and it was gorgous. I think it is what you get familiar with or just like.

I think the XKE and the mid year Gorvettes are the best looking cars of recent old car history. The XKE Jaquars are beginning to look dated and my 65 Vette does not at least in my opinion and it still runs strong and reliably.

The best
Lee

 

I think there's a huge difference in meaning of what "heritage" is. Some think "round tail lights" mean heritage. To me, that's not heritage. That's styling... and it's just being closed minded if you knock the car for "abandoning the heritage" of the past. You may not like the looks, but because of ignoring the car's heritage is a real the reason?

The same goes with technical upgrades the C7 has over past models. Oh no.... cylinder deactivation. Oh no, active rev matching. Oh no, electric power steering. Oh no, no more wrap around rear window. The horror!

Not accepting this is not "respecting heritage". It's being locked into the past.

The C7 has REAL heritage. It's powerful V8 pushrod has tons of torque mounted upfront in a two seat car designed to be a daily driver, a track car, and a long distance cruiser -- at a price that a lot of people can afford.

That's heritage, not round tail lights and the rest. Those improvements just make it modern yet still relate in an overall picture to the important aspects of the past.

 

mayor you make some very good points. I think most people like new technology if it works well and makes the experience better. A case in point is cylinder deactivation. It was tried two decades ago and failed horribly. The newer systems which are partly electrical should work better.

I sincerely hope the new 2014 vette is not push rods. Ferrari can max out at 9500 rpms because of no rods at least in part. Most american car are stucks at 5500 max rev +/-.

My 2013 Mustang does not have rods, more power with better gas mileage. I think red line is 7200.

i agree American cars have alot of torque. This is how they get the hp. To get gas mileage and the power they must go up in revs. This will happen with time even if it is not with this model. The US gov is forcing a 34 mpg fleet average on cars sold in this country.

Best
Lee