Drove c C7 Corvette

Hmmm....Top 10 Ring times and there are no ferraris but the vettes are there.

Fastest Nurburgring lap times 2016 | Auto Express

 

Ah, ok, my 95 Berlinetta ran 12.6 @ 114 first time down the track. I'm betting that could be improved with more runs and the willingness to sacrifice the clutch.

C5 would not hang and C5Z isn't going to "smash" that time, it's close enough to come down to the driver and they would probably be dead even from a roll.

Again, I like the vettes and I'm not trying to say the F355 is the fastest car in the world but it certainly holds it's own and should get the credit it deserves.

 

All I am saying is performance-wise the vettes of "x" year are certainly on par with the Ferrari of the same year. The vettes you can drive all day with working A/C and cup holders and cruise control for long trips. Opps you can't make long trips in a Ferrari if you want to make it to your destination. I'm a Ferrari guy (6 times so far) just like everyone else but vette is a formidable street and track weapon. And once you get to the aftermarket it is a pleasure to just buy goodies for your vette instead of have to fabricate stuff for your Ferrari. Look at amateur racing for the vette you can buy whatever your brain imagines. For the Ferrari you have to invent everything yourself.

 

Might want to ask Robb Williamson about this or Pete as both these guys bought their cars out of state and drove them very far distances home without issues.

 

Or the guy who drove my 550 in the snow from cali to Toronto. Yes it happens but we can all admit that it is much more likely your chevy will make it across country than your Ferrari without issues. We stooges exist because these cars are so lame mechanically. There are so many silly Ferrari issues. You are making money on one sticky stuff. Can you imagine 30 years of sticky parts and Ferrari is still making them? Even Vette interiors have improved over 30 years and the C4 noises and rattles are a thing of the past with the next model run. Since the 355 sypder Ferrari still can't make a decent top in the California! I get wanting to date supermodels. But we all know it is not all wine and roses.

 

Carl, I've got news for you - GM is using a lot of soft touch

But, I really doubt anyone is going to send us parts from those cars to refinish as they won't be worth the investment.

My 2008 Maserati GT is starting to get tacky now. I plan to refinish the parts in fall but the car won't be worth much by then so I doubt we will see to many owners of those cars pony up the cash for refinishing....

Hot woman come with baggage and so do hot cars

 

The vette is a very fast car for the money, probably the fastest. However it doesn't have the feel of a Ferrari, even a c7 doesn't feel as connected and nimble as a 20 year older 355 even if it's objectively faster in every respect. That's where they're behind, not in outright speed. Then again, nobody buys a Ferrari because of the bang for the buck, or if they do they're not making a good decision. The vette is objectively a better car, but subjectively worse (imo). As I'm not actually racing anyone competitively, I don't see the point in getting one just because it's faster. I'll get the car that's more fun. I don't dare drive my 355 anywhere near 10/10 on the street, let alone an even faster and more powerful car. So that leaves the track, and the 355 just feels better when pushed hard, more connected. Not as fast on the stopwatch but a much better time behind the wheel. Fwiw, it is as fast, if not faster, on an autox course. None of the stock vettes were close to my time last time out at an autox, though there were no C7's.

 

+1

 

I can't believe no one has mentioned leaf springs! I've never read a vette thread on any non-vette forum that didn't bring up leaf springs.

 

Wait. It has freakin' leaf springs. Leaf springs? Like the ones on my Toyota Tundra? Really?

 

LOL. I was going to mention it earlier but was afraid of a mass flame....

The rear (at least in my 95) has one spring that goes across from side to side like a big bow. Stupid design and I was going to replace mine but then sold the car (buyer knew it needed replacement)

 

Watson- Not quite. They are transverse and composite

 

Single composite transverse one front and rear. Low weight and low center of gravity. Also very easy to adjust ride height. Great design they've used for years now.

 

Forgot about it being in front too

 

Yes super easy to work with. We hold many multiple class track records with leaf sprung vettes. Those converted to coil overs are even faster but usually also have more power and wings. Last iteration of 2012 SCCA T1, leaf sprung vettes held the track records at several tracks and running high 1:27's at WSIR! There is a reason GM still uses leafs. You can make them work quite well.

 

But. But. But. Leaf springs?

Fast or not, God I had no idea. My vette friends...errrr...acquaintances will never hear the end of this!

 

Haha.

A work friend picked up a nice C7 convertible just shy of 2 years ago, when just coming out. Very nicely finished car, I was impressed, with my last reference point being C5. I'm not sure it would be my pick with for the garage spot, but I can certainly see why some pull the trigger.

I would take a nice C2 coupe, however.

 

In scca T2 they are trying to slow the C5s down for the rest of the class. We have to run narrow tires, 3450lbs min weight, and 55mm intake restrictor! We are still fast 160mph top speeds at daytona on Leaf springs. Leafs on vettes are no differnent than 911s engine behind rear axle. Engineering is a good thing.

 

Egad, they are not leaf springs. They are monoleaf springs. In fact, I doubt you can even use the term "leaf", since they are effectively flat pre-stressed composite material. They are compact, light and effective, however, they have their limitations. You can swap to coil overs for better suspension tuning. Still, what's to condemn? Just because it's a non-conventional sports cars design doesn't make it bad. As mentioned above, the rear engined Porsche 911 is a bad sports car design feature, but with enough engineering, you can make it work.

 

The only advantage that coil springs have on the Corvette: availability in a wide range of spring rates.

Coil springs have greater mass (especially when you consider the mass of the larger sway bar required when you remove the leaf), higher center of gravity and will eventually sag.

The leaf arrangement on the Corvette is at the bottom of the chassis, serves as a light weight spring and a sway bar that will not sag.

Very well engineered suspension that responds well to a good alignment.

 

I am sure the monoleaf technology is getting better all the time. My last Corvette, a '91 Z07 with 6-speed manual (try to find one of those!) did okay with it, but the autocross guys all upgraded to coil overs. If the design was so great, F1 would be using it. As it is, monoleaf is a cool and efficient way of keeping it compact, but has its limits.

 

This is your mind on corvettes
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Oh Man! I can't unsee that!

 

Take my eyes! Ahhhh........