RE: Corvette C5: PH Carpool
Discussion
300bhp/ton said:
chungasarnies said:
kambites said:
A 25mpg average and 37mpg on a long, slowish motorway run sounds believable to me?
Off to the classifieds for me then...I barely get 35 at 80 on a run in my 2.0t!For instance I've got a 2.0 Turbo Impreza with 215hp and a 5.7 LS1 V8 with 360hp. For the same usage the V8 is 1-3mpg better than the Impreza as well as making over half as much hp again.
Great article Shifty. Beat me by 2 years - my first Vette at 24.
Hello Gixer!
Just take it that on most fuel injected Vettes the fuel economy is impressive for the size. But for those who are still petrol heads, the noise is great, you feel like you're piloting a proper big cube engine about and can marvel that amazingly, even though the suspension includes the words "leaf springs" these things corner pretty well.
Hello Gixer!
Just take it that on most fuel injected Vettes the fuel economy is impressive for the size. But for those who are still petrol heads, the noise is great, you feel like you're piloting a proper big cube engine about and can marvel that amazingly, even though the suspension includes the words "leaf springs" these things corner pretty well.
300bhp/ton said:
For some people they will never get used to LHD or never give themselves the chance to get used to it.
If you go in wanting to hate LHD, then you'll find a reason not to like it.
Personally I'd say you need to give yourself a good weekends worth of driving with plenty of seat time to really assess it.
Potential issues:
-Turning left at a T-junction. If you angle the car to the left at the line, then in a RHD you simply look through the side window. With LHD you can end up looking into the rear 3/4 view with a blind spot.
Trick is to pull up to the junction almost as if you are going to turn right, so that you are at 90 degrees to the white line in front of you. You'll now be able to look out through the windscreen and side window easily.
-Over taking. It's true that on some roads, some of the time you won't be able to see past the car in front as well.
However I've found in most cases where this is true, it's a place where I wouldn't be looking to overtake in a RHD car anyhow. LHD does allow you to see down the left hand side better than RHD and can give advantages at times. Or you simply hang back an extra car length or so, so that you can see past the car in front and just use the extra grunt available to get you past safely.
-Ticket machines. If you frequent parking or toll roads were there is a machine/booth on the right hand side, then yes it can be a pain.
However if you don't, then not a problem and you can always lean across or get out and walk around if needs be. So really depends how often you are going to be faced with this.
-Drive-thru's. Similar story as with ticket machines, but an even easier solution.
Either only go with a passenger, or simply get out and use the counter instead.
-Controls. Some might find using their right hand difficult to shift with. But all you need is a little patients and practice. And if you've even driven a farm tractor or other heavy plant machinery, then it likely won't be a problem. Oh and don't grab the door handle instead of the shifter
-Reversing/parallel parking.
This isn't an issue, but I find I'm still more comfy looking over my left shoulder than my right one. It's actually easier to parallel park as you can always open the door and lean out.
Good tips there. Something I found handy for the car park ticket was one of those litter picker grab handles. No need to have friends then.If you go in wanting to hate LHD, then you'll find a reason not to like it.
Personally I'd say you need to give yourself a good weekends worth of driving with plenty of seat time to really assess it.
Potential issues:
-Turning left at a T-junction. If you angle the car to the left at the line, then in a RHD you simply look through the side window. With LHD you can end up looking into the rear 3/4 view with a blind spot.
Trick is to pull up to the junction almost as if you are going to turn right, so that you are at 90 degrees to the white line in front of you. You'll now be able to look out through the windscreen and side window easily.
-Over taking. It's true that on some roads, some of the time you won't be able to see past the car in front as well.
However I've found in most cases where this is true, it's a place where I wouldn't be looking to overtake in a RHD car anyhow. LHD does allow you to see down the left hand side better than RHD and can give advantages at times. Or you simply hang back an extra car length or so, so that you can see past the car in front and just use the extra grunt available to get you past safely.
-Ticket machines. If you frequent parking or toll roads were there is a machine/booth on the right hand side, then yes it can be a pain.
However if you don't, then not a problem and you can always lean across or get out and walk around if needs be. So really depends how often you are going to be faced with this.
-Drive-thru's. Similar story as with ticket machines, but an even easier solution.
Either only go with a passenger, or simply get out and use the counter instead.
-Controls. Some might find using their right hand difficult to shift with. But all you need is a little patients and practice. And if you've even driven a farm tractor or other heavy plant machinery, then it likely won't be a problem. Oh and don't grab the door handle instead of the shifter
-Reversing/parallel parking.
This isn't an issue, but I find I'm still more comfy looking over my left shoulder than my right one. It's actually easier to parallel park as you can always open the door and lean out.
Also, aside from remembering to not hit your door with your left hand when going to change gear... never return to your car after paying for petrol, get in the offside door as usual and find the steering wheel missing and a glovebox in it's place, then causing you to have to root around in said glovebox, pulling out a random item with a look of "aha! There's that thing" and then getting back out and go round to the drivers side. Don't do that. What kind of idiot would?
On the photos, never really understood why people take them with everything open? Reminds me of a clown car that's just crashed and everything pings off in comedy style.
With a RHD car, you use the centre line a s your guide and most people sit out in the road allowing a LHD car to get a good look up the inside.
With a LHD car, you use the kerb as your reference and will surprise yourself how soon you're slicingt he kerb apex within an inch. Also bear in mind that with LHD, you actually have a better view of left hand curves when looking up the outside.
I switch from one to the other, without issue, jsut like when I hire cars abroad and "switch" into LHD, drive on the right mode.
With a LHD car, you use the kerb as your reference and will surprise yourself how soon you're slicingt he kerb apex within an inch. Also bear in mind that with LHD, you actually have a better view of left hand curves when looking up the outside.
I switch from one to the other, without issue, jsut like when I hire cars abroad and "switch" into LHD, drive on the right mode.
Why is my piece of &£&! Audi A6 2.0TDI worst than this, I literally have no idea why buffoons would go to an Audi dealership and willingly buy Audi's with their own money. I just think they're idiots, company spent more on this to buy the damn car.
Oh well, frees me up to buy what I want and now off to the classifieds (for the wife!). Thanks
.
Oh well, frees me up to buy what I want and now off to the classifieds (for the wife!). Thanks
.On the subject of LHD cars, although I had been driving a few years before I bought my own car, my very first purchase aged 22 was a 5.2 litre V8 Chrysler Charger 770. Up to that point the biggest car I had ever driven was my Dads 1.6 Mk3 Cortina!
This was over 30 years ago but I do remember there were absolutely no issues with driving LHD at all and I have been in the posession of a V8 yank of some sort ever since. Just hang back before overtaking and wait until you can see far enough ahead. But you should be driving like that anyway even in a RHD car!!
Having anything between 250 to 450 HP at your rear wheels does help to overtake cars "smartly" though. ;-)
My Current V8 is a 2002 C5 Corvette. On long moterway runs at 70mph (ish) I get about 30mpg. Being used to a 7.2 Challenger I owned for over 20 years it seems strange driving down to London from the North East without having to fill up on the way down and even just about (but not quite) having enough fuel left for the return leg. I only average about 17mpg around town though which was about the same as the 2.0 Jeep Cherokees I have owned in the past.
The Corvette I have owned for a few years now and although it drives "boring" compared to a muscle car, I am at that sort of age where I really can't be bothered doing regular repairs and having breakdowns on the way to Santa Pod or back. The Corvette is very fast and very VERY reliable. 13.4 quarter mile times even from this base engine is not to be sniffed at.
I did get into the wrong side of my RHD Alfa Romeo last year and had to pretend to be looking for something in the glove box. But in my defense I was distracted by a young lady with a nice smile. :-)
This was over 30 years ago but I do remember there were absolutely no issues with driving LHD at all and I have been in the posession of a V8 yank of some sort ever since. Just hang back before overtaking and wait until you can see far enough ahead. But you should be driving like that anyway even in a RHD car!!
Having anything between 250 to 450 HP at your rear wheels does help to overtake cars "smartly" though. ;-)
My Current V8 is a 2002 C5 Corvette. On long moterway runs at 70mph (ish) I get about 30mpg. Being used to a 7.2 Challenger I owned for over 20 years it seems strange driving down to London from the North East without having to fill up on the way down and even just about (but not quite) having enough fuel left for the return leg. I only average about 17mpg around town though which was about the same as the 2.0 Jeep Cherokees I have owned in the past.
The Corvette I have owned for a few years now and although it drives "boring" compared to a muscle car, I am at that sort of age where I really can't be bothered doing regular repairs and having breakdowns on the way to Santa Pod or back. The Corvette is very fast and very VERY reliable. 13.4 quarter mile times even from this base engine is not to be sniffed at.
I did get into the wrong side of my RHD Alfa Romeo last year and had to pretend to be looking for something in the glove box. But in my defense I was distracted by a young lady with a nice smile. :-)
Edited by roppa440 on Tuesday 18th February 12:02
On the suject of PUSHRODS.
If the engine had overhead cams you couldn't get the profile of the car this low. The engine would be taller than the distance from the floor to the bonnet (hood).
Nothing wrong with pushrods anyway. OHCs are just a way to squeeze any power at all from tiny little engines. :-)
On the subject of LEAF SPRINGS.
The composite transverse leaf springs on a Corvette bare no relation at all to the steel leaf sprung live axles on old cars. Totally different mode of operation.
On a Corvette the spring is solid mounted to the chassis along it's centre section and the ends are free to move up and down independantly with the wheels.
This vastly reduces the unsprung weight of the suspension.
It works very well which is why they stick with it.
If the engine had overhead cams you couldn't get the profile of the car this low. The engine would be taller than the distance from the floor to the bonnet (hood).
Nothing wrong with pushrods anyway. OHCs are just a way to squeeze any power at all from tiny little engines. :-)
On the subject of LEAF SPRINGS.
The composite transverse leaf springs on a Corvette bare no relation at all to the steel leaf sprung live axles on old cars. Totally different mode of operation.
On a Corvette the spring is solid mounted to the chassis along it's centre section and the ends are free to move up and down independantly with the wheels.
This vastly reduces the unsprung weight of the suspension.
It works very well which is why they stick with it.
roppa440 said:
On the suject of PUSHRODS.
If the engine had overhead cams you couldn't get the profile of the car this low. The engine would be taller than the distance from the floor to the bonnet (hood).
Nothing wrong with pushrods anyway. OHCs are just a way to squeeze any power at all from tiny little engines. :-)
On the subject of LEAF SPRINGS.
The composite transverse leaf springs on a Corvette bare no relation at all to the steel leaf sprung live axles on old cars. Totally different mode of operation.
On a Corvette the spring is solid mounted to the chassis along it's centre section and the ends are free to move up and down independantly with the wheels.
This vastly reduces the unsprung weight of the suspension.
It works very well which is why they stick with it.
You mean bear...If the engine had overhead cams you couldn't get the profile of the car this low. The engine would be taller than the distance from the floor to the bonnet (hood).
Nothing wrong with pushrods anyway. OHCs are just a way to squeeze any power at all from tiny little engines. :-)
On the subject of LEAF SPRINGS.
The composite transverse leaf springs on a Corvette bare no relation at all to the steel leaf sprung live axles on old cars. Totally different mode of operation.
On a Corvette the spring is solid mounted to the chassis along it's centre section and the ends are free to move up and down independantly with the wheels.
This vastly reduces the unsprung weight of the suspension.
It works very well which is why they stick with it.
The leaf springs also contribute to a low profile and large trunk (boot) as there are no coil towers to accommodate.
Windymiller said:
Lazygraduate said:
What's it like - honestly - with LHD? That really would put me off, although I've never even driven a LHD car!
This thing I have no experience of whatsoever really puts me off.Ah, stupid-person logic
I guess you're different.
Let me know how you found it.
full respect to the OP - 22 and in one of those. To quote a youthful phrase "I'm well jel" (I'm going to lie down now as I feel quite unwell being so uncouth) - that being said though full respect to the chap. The only reason I'm not tooling around in one right now is that SWMBO found the seating a little uncomfortable... no need to feel sorry for me though as I'm playing with a 2005 Mustang which is averaging low 20s over the last 4000 miles
True PH style - brilliant CarPool.
I thought I had done well many years ago when I had a V8 at the age of 20, but it was a P6 Rover 3500S. I mainly bought that because I couldn't get insurance for a 3 litre Capri (it probably helped that I worked for the insurance company so knew who to persuade)!
Have never had a V8 since but I am also off to the classifieds - a 2 litre turbo-diesel isn't quite the same!
I thought I had done well many years ago when I had a V8 at the age of 20, but it was a P6 Rover 3500S. I mainly bought that because I couldn't get insurance for a 3 litre Capri (it probably helped that I worked for the insurance company so knew who to persuade)!
Have never had a V8 since but I am also off to the classifieds - a 2 litre turbo-diesel isn't quite the same!
I'd like to think that Calum was convinced that a Corvette C5 Manual Coupe was the car for him after he sat in mine at the National Museum of Flight in 2013. Great cars, loads of power and economical if driven within the speed limits. Bought mine from a Scot seven years ago, hasn't caused me any problems at all, it's an amazing car.
Jesus H Christ!! whats PH turning into??...like someone said, it's starting to sound like a forum for the green party!!
f
k MPG!!...Do you like it?? yes, Does it look damn good??Yes, does it make a great sound??yes! Is it another eurobox clone??No...Well done Calum! Great to see another PH'er with a mind of his own, who doesn't listen to the doomsayers,and has bought a car that really does have kerb appeal.
Great to hear it..
Anyone who's thinking about a Corvette for UK should have a look at the excellent Corvette Club UK. Membership is a bargain at £35. There are loads of local meetings, national meetings and an excellent club website. Also a regular full colour magazine filled with technical tips, owner experiences and great pictures.
http://www.corvetteclub.org.uk/forum.php
To join: membership@corvetteclub.org.uk
http://www.corvetteclub.org.uk/forum.php
To join: membership@corvetteclub.org.uk
synXero said:
It certainly does sound good. Hasn't stopped me getting in touch with the mighty AAS for a cat-back system with X-pipe though...
A fellow in a (surprisingly nice) Brabus Smart Roadster had a go at me yesterday. Fizzy little car but didn't have the puff!
Are you including back boxes or going for the straight through Nascar option?A fellow in a (surprisingly nice) Brabus Smart Roadster had a go at me yesterday. Fizzy little car but didn't have the puff!
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