New 2014 Stingray

building the C7

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTe2wnfsALo&feature=share&list=UU3ugkOGLI_ga1QDVWc9t3gA]2014 Chevy Corvette Stingray - Production - YouTube[/ame]

 

I was behind a black dealer-plate 'vette yesterday afternoon on the freeway. The black hides the lines, but the car was still incredibly dramatic. This thing is a winner for sure.

 

Something interesting about the differences between F car owners and Vette owners.

The aftermarket IMMEDIATELY begins complete tear down of the cars as soon as a few come off the assembly lines to anxious owners out there looking for mods.

Here's an example of one. The car just started production and several are already tearing apart the motors looking for improvement. Same for body, exhaust, brakes, etc.

2014 LT1 Engine Pics Photos by TexasSpeed2010 | Photobucket

Ferrari owners would find this horrifying. Take a brand new motor apart and rebuild it "better"? Ruin the warranty? Take it away from originality? Are you nuts?

Strange isn't it....

 

Isn't it similar though to the way there is a higher prevalence of F-cars sitting in garages as opposed to being driven? Don't get me wrong, I'm Tifosi, I love the Ferrari legacy and brand and all that comes with it.

The Vette has more of a broader market appeal and as such are probably more "dynamically utilized". The 911 is the same, both have similar annual production runs, I think 45k 911s were sold in 2012, with the predictions for the new Vette at 50k units annually. Lot's of after market bits and pieces from carbon door sills to turbos and many specialist shops employing thousands of people making a living eeking out more HP from these cars stock forms. I was at a well known north east Porsche dealer lot about a year ago seriously considering a purchase, and the dealer was telling me where to get after market clear signal lights and the tuning shop he uses that turbo'd his own Porsche.

I think there is a similar "aftermarket" for the Ferraris, just not as prevalent and certainly when it comes to engine modification much more exclusive. I know someone personally who bought a 355 new in the late 90s and proceeded to rip it apart upon delivery for engine and chassis modifications because they used it strictly as a track car. It exists, you're just not going to see 3 shops doing this type of work on the same street while driving through your local industrial neighborhood.

Plus for those folks who getting into an F-car is maybe a reach or the culmination of a dream, they aren't going to risk an engine rebuild which can cost almost as much as most other cars cost.

 

that green looks really good. I thought that was the best color for late C4s, especially convertibles.
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IIRC they called it Polo Green. To me the car looks better in darker colors. I am looking forward to seeing one in silver, though.

The same dealership is expecting delivery of a yellow one anytime now.

Like others have said, it's even better looking in person.

 

yes, polo green!

I saw a yellow C7 the other day and liked it, nice tie in with the racing team. still not crazy about the roofline or tail lights, but overall better in person than in pics.

 

FINALLY saw one (actually 2) last night. Someone said they were at the Barrett Jackson auction so I ran over last night.

Here's my impressions:

It's a very attractive car, but I don't think a "classic" design. It's a bit too fussy in some of the details. Overall though, it's very nice looking with an amazing coke bottle sculpt to the lower body (you can't appreciate it in photos).

The car looks a little bigger than my Maserati Spyder it's replacing. It sure looks wider. It's wider than the C6 by an inch.

The interior's are VASTLY improved over the C6. I have to say -- the quality of the materials looks first rate. It's not "Italian" design though. You can still see parts bin nobs and switches and the overall dash has no common theme to it. But, the overall look and appeal is very good for an American car.

One thing I do not like is that they spray paint all the black plastic pieces (and there are a lot of them) with a shiny clear coat with metal flake. It looks really cheap to me and not very serious. I can't imagine an F car doing this. I think I'll have to repaint these on my car. Its a bit "pimp-y" and overdone for something that looks pretty sophisticated.

Now --- the taillights. Ok, I'm not a big fan. It's not that they look like "a Camaro". In fact, I think they don't. They are just over done, fussy looking, and seem foreign to the design of the rest of the car. I'm not saying they should have gone round. But I think they should have taken it down a notch.

One other sort of downer. The rear spoiler. It's pretty much glued on and you can tell. I don't see Ferrari or Lamborghini doing it this way. It looks like something from the aftermarket. I'm sure it's a cost savings but it does look "stuck on" instead of integrated, even if its in the body color. It's also attached not to the rear hatch but the body. To lift anything and put it in the rear cargo area means you have to lift it to almost shoulder level. I can see a lot of these getting scratched lifting luggage and groceries in them.

Paint quality looked really good. But, these are pre-production display cars so let's see what the real cars look like. The two colors I saw, Metallic Blue an bright red, each looked very good and in character with the car.

I was lucky enough that someone actually started one while I was there. This car sounds terrific. I swear the motor has a bit of an Italian flair to it. Even at idle it seems like you can hear the valve train ticking --- but I'm sure it's the fuel injectors making these noises. The exhaust sounded wonderful -- not too "muscle car-y". It seemed in character with the design.

I think they have a hit on their hands. The looks will certainly turn heads, the interior looks like a place you want to spend time in, from what I've read the performance is there, and the cost of it for what you get is nothing short of amazing.

Bring on my Convertible!

 

Take it to Caravaggio for the interior:

Caravaggiocorvettes.com

Way better than factory, Hubbell has it on his Vette. I've seen a few and compared to the showroom floor versions, it looks a 1,000 times better!

 

Two today at the C&C at Kohl's Fair Lakes. Rear is Camaro-ish but as they were parked next to the current car it simply appeared evolutionary. I was stunned that the slotted rotors were not directional! Functional or not, how could GM let that slip by.

 

Saw a metallic blue one testing at The Ring this week, even better looking in person! Sounded fantastic as well!

 

I passed that truckload of new '14 Stingrays on the Atlantic City Expressway on my way home from work! I think it was about 7-10 days ago. I am so excited to see that car in the flesh (on the ground and uncovered).

 

Two showed up to our local cars and coffee and it didn't really move me... I guess I'll have to get behind the wheel to appreciate what's up.

 

Today at our dealership they had a 2014 Vette on the showroom. It had a sold sticker on the car.

I was not impressed. It is not an ugly car but still to much old Vette in the design. I was hoping for a radical departure from the past.

I ordered a 2014 now I am not so sure. I was concerned an still am about the low hp at 460.

Hopefully as one poster said it will drive or sound great.

Lee

 

BOO-HOO-hoo I bought one of 80 chances for $80 on a beautiful grey 2014 this weekend's Chip Miller Benefit. If I had won I didn't have garage space so I can justify the ticket without telling the Boss.

 

Are you missing a zero on one of those 80s? 80 x 80 = $6,400 whereas 800 x 80 = $64,000. I assume they needed ticket sales to exceed the cost/value of the prize unless it was donated to the group?

Sorry to hear you missed out on a conversation with Bruce Springsteen.

 

They said just 80 tickets were being sold and the basket held 80. It looked like a good deal and the winner was just 5 ft. from where I was standing.
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The winner IS
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Do I see anybody under 60 there in the picture?
I liked the story about the 79 year old Florida lady who bought the red 2014 Corvette s/n 511. Traded a 2012 Corvette...
CH

 

The New Corvette?s Oldster Problem | The Exchange - Yahoo Finance

 

This "controversy" of "round vs square" lights is SOOOOOOOOO overblown.

In a year there will be aftermarket kits to turn older C6 round tail lights into square. Once people get used to something they'll accept it. It's the same with the side strakes on Testarossa's. At first, people hated them. Now many like them and miss them.

 

Went with my dad to the Jaguar / Chevy dealership.

He is on the fence about a Jaguar F-Type S, or a white 2014 z51 Vette.

I've gotta say, the Jag seems to be much less than what you'd think in person. I don't know, there was something about the Vette that when I saw it for the first time in person it was.

"Woah.... I get it now".

With the Jag, it was more like "It's..... pretty?"

I've gotta say, for a V6, that F-Type sounds mean. Wish I could have heard the Vette.
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i have not driven the 2014 Vette yet, but I have driven a F Jag convertible. I drove the 8 cylinder 595hp version. I was impressed by the looks and the driving plus the power. But as you said no one knows untill they get a chance to drive the 2014 Vette.
On Utube you can hear the Vette. In my view it has a good sound.

Lee

 

I was at Barrett Jackson on Friday and saw them too, and sat in one. Beautiful car. I think they have changed it enough (compared with the C5 - C6 change) to make it really different while still being a Vette. You certainly can't please everyone, but this one is going to do well.

Rick

 

I've already seen a kit that changes the look of the C6's rear window to make it resemble the C7!