Chevrolet Corvette Stingray (C7): Spotted

A manual Stingray for the price of an M2 - fancy it?

It happens every year. Each time PH visits Le Mans for the 24 Hours I return with a deep longing for a Corvette. It’s the livery, the stance and - above all else - the noise. The rollicking V8 thunder that physically hurts if you’re close enough and makes a mockery of every other car for aural theatre. Yes, even the Astons sound a little apologetic in the face of the mad, bad Corvette.

The best thing is that, in 2016 and the car’s seventh generation, the Corvette is better than it’s ever been as a road car. This means fewer excuses are needed to justify wanting one, or so I’d like to think. It was even Dan’s car of the year back in 2014. Funnily enough I didn’t get a reply from my dad on confessing my Corvette crush…

Because something of an image problem continues to linger over the Corvette, doesn’t it? Despite the current Stingray’s advanced tech, it will still be seen by many as a bit rudimentary and lacking in finesse. It isn’t any more, but would your resolve be strong enough to stand those people who don’t know better?

Let’s hope so, because there’s a lot to like about the C7 Stingray. Its moment in the limelight may have gone with the arrival of the Z06 (plus rival muscle sports cars like the Mustang GT350), but a light, rear-wheel drive sports car with a V8 and a manual gearbox will always appeal. It’s rare, too.

With the Corvette having been available for a couple of years now, prices have begun to drop. This red coupe will have cost the first owner more than £60K, yet it’s now priced at £46,500. The M2 comparison may not be entirely valid, but in the used market the Corvette of course faces all sorts of competition. This C63 AMG 507 Coupe, for example, is the same money and packs an even more potent 6.2-litre V8. But it has considerably more miles than the Corvette, and there’s no manual option. You could have an Aston V8 for £45K, to continue along the Le Mans theme, but it’s will be much older than the Corvette and the original 4.3 version too.

Yes, the advert for this car isn’t great, but there shouldn’t be too many concerns with a two-year-old car that’s covered 6,000 miles. Get that windscreen sticker off, ignore the naysayers and have some fun!

CHEVROLET CORVETTE STINGRAY Z51 3LT
Engine: 6,162cc, V8
Transmission: 7-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 460@6,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 465@4,600rpm
MPG: 25.2
CO2: N/A
First registered: 2014
Recorded mileage: 6,000miles
Price new: $70,145
Yours for: £46,500