RE: Chevrolet Corvette C7 Stingray: Spotted

RE: Chevrolet Corvette C7 Stingray: Spotted

Author
Discussion

bakerstreet

4,767 posts

166 months

Wednesday 20th March 2019
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Big fan of the current Corvette. Can't help but feel they won't be able to cut it in the mid engine world though. Also, will the american market tolerate such a drastic change?

Turbobanana

6,310 posts

202 months

Wednesday 20th March 2019
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Headline said:
there's no school like the old school...
Now I'm worried.

My newest car is 7 years old. The oldest is 28. If a 5 year old car is considered "old school" mine are positively Jurassic. Unless it's a sly way of poking fun at pushrod engines and leaf springs.

BlackPrince

1,271 posts

170 months

Wednesday 20th March 2019
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macky17 said:
Agreed, I owned one too.

I think it's ironic that the very thing which once made US cars a laughing stock is now their unique strength: they are old school. In this day and age of dual clutch boxes, wall to wall turbo charging and technology seemingly designed to isolate you from the experience of driving, a newish car with a huge, naturally aspirated engine, manual box and an analogue feel is a wonderful thing. I think I may buy a grand sport c7 later this year as there is nothing else for sale around £70k I'd rather have as a toy. Even a gt4 is too sanitised for me.
I live in N America and have driven the Vette, Mustang (the last few generations), Challenger and Camaro, and my pick would be the Mustang GT350. Far far more precise than the Vette and with a sweeter sounding engine

macky17

Original Poster:

2,212 posts

190 months

Wednesday 20th March 2019
quotequote all
BlackPrince said:
macky17 said:
Agreed, I owned one too.

I think it's ironic that the very thing which once made US cars a laughing stock is now their unique strength: they are old school. In this day and age of dual clutch boxes, wall to wall turbo charging and technology seemingly designed to isolate you from the experience of driving, a newish car with a huge, naturally aspirated engine, manual box and an analogue feel is a wonderful thing. I think I may buy a grand sport c7 later this year as there is nothing else for sale around £70k I'd rather have as a toy. Even a gt4 is too sanitised for me.
I live in N America and have driven the Vette, Mustang (the last few generations), Challenger and Camaro, and my pick would be the Mustang GT350. Far far more precise than the Vette and with a sweeter sounding engine
I believe you but we don’t get the gt350 over here (at sane prices). Besides, have you driven the grand sport or just the regular stingray? Big difference according to Motor Trend and everyone else.

bakerstreet

4,767 posts

166 months

Wednesday 20th March 2019
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Bencolem said:
It’s a shame really - they’re great cars but the LHD kills it in the UK and the stench of chest wig kills it in the US.
How does it kill it in the US? Show me the stats how its being killed?

jayemm89

4,046 posts

131 months

Wednesday 20th March 2019
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I love the C7. Wonderful car. Driven a few of them.

Unfortunately for me LHD is a complete non-starter on the roads I enjoy driving. The width is a bit of a problem only when combined with this - as good as we may be driving "wrong side", you will always start to gravitate towards your normal driving stance in the road and it'll eventually end badly

ReaperCushions

6,061 posts

185 months

Wednesday 20th March 2019
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bakerstreet said:
Bencolem said:
It’s a shame really - they’re great cars but the LHD kills it in the UK and the stench of chest wig kills it in the US.
How does it kill it in the US? Show me the stats how its being killed?
Exactly... what rubbish. It looks to me like its cyclical with the following two factors in play:

1) Is the current model rubbish or good

2) When is the next model due out.

I live in the US and on my 20-minute commute each way, I must see 10+ of them. 3 of which are people at my work.

Ever popular over here.







BlackPrince

1,271 posts

170 months

Wednesday 20th March 2019
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macky17 said:
I believe you but we don’t get the gt350 over here (at sane prices). Besides, have you driven the grand sport or just the regular stingray? Big difference according to Motor Trend and everyone else.
It was a Z06, which is why I was surprised that the GT350 felt more precise. Perhaps the ZR1 is a lot better, but it costs $x0000 more.


irocfan

40,582 posts

191 months

Wednesday 20th March 2019
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jayemm89 said:
....as good as we may be driving "wrong side", you will always start to gravitate towards your normal driving stance in the road and it'll eventually end badly...
totally disagree with this

dandare

957 posts

255 months

Thursday 21st March 2019
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irocfan said:
jayemm89 said:
....as good as we may be driving "wrong side", you will always start to gravitate towards your normal driving stance in the road and it'll eventually end badly...
totally disagree with this
+1

croyde

22,987 posts

231 months

Thursday 21st March 2019
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dandare said:
irocfan said:
jayemm89 said:
....as good as we may be driving "wrong side", you will always start to gravitate towards your normal driving stance in the road and it'll eventually end badly...
totally disagree with this
+1
Had no problem hustling my LHD Mercury Grand Marquis through the Scottish Highlands as well as my cross London commute.

I'm sure it was far longer and wider than a Corvette.

Only 220bhp though smile

macky17

Original Poster:

2,212 posts

190 months

Thursday 21st March 2019
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BlackPrince said:
macky17 said:
I believe you but we don’t get the gt350 over here (at sane prices). Besides, have you driven the grand sport or just the regular stingray? Big difference according to Motor Trend and everyone else.
It was a Z06, which is why I was surprised that the GT350 felt more precise. Perhaps the ZR1 is a lot better, but it costs $x0000 more.
I bet the Z was a handful! Very, very fast aren’t they? I believe the grandsport is much better tied down than the z06 as well. Anyway, whether the GS or the GT350 is better, it supports my theory about US cars: this is the time to enjoy them before the latest trends and ‘improvements’ spoil these as well.

LHD in the uk takes some getting used to it’s true. My c6 z06 felt large on B roads and I always had to hold back slightly. You do adjust however and there’s plenty of scope to get stuck in and have fun. I believe the c7 is a more wieldy thing. Besides, no one (not me anyway) is suggesting these cars are daily driver material in the uk. They are excellent weekend toys and the LHD only adds to the theatre imo.

Edited by macky17 on Thursday 21st March 08:03

ZX10R NIN

27,654 posts

126 months

Thursday 21st March 2019
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macky17 said:
I bet the Z was a handful! Very, very fast aren’t they? I believe the grandsport is much better tied down than the z06 as well. Anyway, whether the GS or the GT350 is better, it supports my theory about US cars: this is the time to enjoy them before the latest trends and ‘improvements’ spoil these as well.

LHD in the uk takes some getting used to it’s true. My c6 z06 felt large on B roads and I always had to hold back slightly. You do adjust however and there’s plenty of scope to get stuck in and have fun. I believe the c7 is a more wieldy thing. Besides, no one (not me anyway) is suggesting these cars are daily driver material in the uk. They are excellent weekend toys and the LHD only adds to the theatre imo.

Edited by macky17 on Thursday 21st March 08:03
The Grand Sport uses the same suspension setup as the Z06 but has the N/A engine, the Z06 handles well but the engine starts to dominate proceedings whereas the GS is a more evenly matched, if you think the GT350 is tied down you should drive the R it really is a step on again.


AdeTuono

7,265 posts

228 months

Thursday 21st March 2019
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croyde said:
dandare said:
irocfan said:
jayemm89 said:
....as good as we may be driving "wrong side", you will always start to gravitate towards your normal driving stance in the road and it'll eventually end badly...
totally disagree with this
+1
Had no problem hustling my LHD Mercury Grand Marquis through the Scottish Highlands as well as my cross London commute.

I'm sure it was far longer and wider than a Corvette.

Only 220bhp though smile
In over 30 years of driving LHD cars in the UK, not once has it 'ended badly'. I must be a driving God! (I'm not...)

Fishy Dave

1,027 posts

246 months

Thursday 21st March 2019
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macky17 said:
Besides, no one (not me anyway) is suggesting these cars are daily driver material in the uk.
I drive mine to work on A and B roads most days, I'm sure others do too. smile Then again, I drove my Caterham to work through four seasons for almost seven years. smile

dandare

957 posts

255 months

Friday 22nd March 2019
quotequote all
AdeTuono said:
croyde said:
dandare said:
irocfan said:
jayemm89 said:
....as good as we may be driving "wrong side", you will always start to gravitate towards your normal driving stance in the road and it'll eventually end badly...
totally disagree with this
+1
Had no problem hustling my LHD Mercury Grand Marquis through the Scottish Highlands as well as my cross London commute.

I'm sure it was far longer and wider than a Corvette.

Only 220bhp though smile
In over 30 years of driving LHD cars in the UK, not once has it 'ended badly'. I must be a driving God! (I'm not...)
Over 20 years driving RHD on the Continent, and also no problems. I find knowing the difference between left and right the key.

anonymous-user

55 months

Friday 22nd March 2019
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I drove the Z06 in and around Vegas, including the Lake Mead/Valley of Fire national parks. Compared to my F80 M3 Comp it felt more user friendly (despite having another 200bhp) and a much more fun steer. Not sure where the lack of sharpness comment comes from- the Corvette was not as stiffly setup as the M3, but it lacked nothing in sharpness to it.

unsprung

5,467 posts

125 months

Friday 22nd March 2019
quotequote all
janesmith1950 said:
I drove the Z06 in and around Vegas, including the Lake Mead/Valley of Fire national parks. Compared to my F80 M3 Comp it felt more user friendly (despite having another 200bhp) and a much more fun steer. Not sure where the lack of sharpness comment comes from- the Corvette was not as stiffly setup as the M3, but it lacked nothing in sharpness to it.
how did you find the driving with the targa top stowed?


anonymous-user

55 months

Friday 22nd March 2019
quotequote all
Didn't bother taking it off. Was too busy burning the gas!