Not impressed by C6
Discussion
V8 ETE said:
Saw one in a car showroom in Florida, looked small insignificant, nice headlamps the only slight improvement, build quality a bit better.
Keep your C5,s thats my advice, the car just did not look that special, very very disappointing.
Look doesn't seem ruthless or aggressive to me either. I guess we gotta wait for some aftermarket bodykits, preferably like the ones I posted before (I hope they get put into production).
Here's a genuine 186 mph car available for a reasonable price in Europe and an out and out steal in the US. I will never cease to be amazed at how many people, who supposedly are car enthusiasts, will judge a car based solely on its looks. I won't defend the Corvette's looks, nor will I criticize them, as that is an extremely subjective quality. Suffice it to say that it looks like a Corvette. That said, how about, oh, I don't know, driving the car before criticizing it so harshly. Those who did seem to be impressed, including several British magazines who are known for telling it like it is and pulling no punches. I think that the C6 a great step in the right direction for the Corvette. It just shows how close to right they got it with the C5 and still were able to make it that much better.
Miguel said:
Here's a genuine 186 mph car available for a reasonable price in Europe and an out and out steal in the US. I will never cease to be amazed at how many people, who supposedly are car enthusiasts, will judge a car based solely on its looks. I won't defend the Corvette's looks, nor will I criticize them, as that is an extremely subjective quality. Suffice it to say that it looks like a Corvette. That said, how about, oh, I don't know, driving the car before criticizing it so harshly. Those who did seem to be impressed, including several British magazines who are known for telling it like it is and pulling no punches. I think that the C6 a great step in the right direction for the Corvette. It just shows how close to right they got it with the C5 and still were able to make it that much better.
I looked at your profile and read:
If I could have just one car that would serve all my automotive needs, it would have to be a TVR, but what model? I'd want a Griffith 500, a Tamora, or a Cerbera 4.5, but preferably all three.
I have owned 7 TVR'S, and they were poorly built unreliable, fun to drive which is why i suffered them for so long, but overall they are cr_p, which is why i bought a C5 which is a great car in all respects.
I stand by what i have said about the C6, and many Corvette enthusiasts your side of the pond would agree.
If you think the C6 is so great why are you dreaming about TVR, get a Vette it will cause you a lot less heartache and money.
Also i do not solely buy a car for looks, i enjoy the performance, but what is the point in having a performance car that looks like a piece of crap, I challenge any real enthusiast to say performance is more important than appearance, looks are equally important it is a fine balance between both.
Also have you seen a C6 in the flesh?
>> Edited by V8 ETE on Friday 8th October 08:49
>> Edited by V8 ETE on Friday 8th October 08:50
I have seen the C6 at Le Mans and at Goodwood at it just doesn't do it for me, having said that I thought the arse ofthe C5 was way too lardy when I first saw it and yet I now own one!
The C6 will hopefully appeal to the people GM are aiming it at which is those people that might be considering buying a Porsche 911. The existing Corvette community in the US will support the car as there is a huge amount of brand loyalty whereas this doesn't exist elsewhere.
I would not consider a C6 for at least 2 years as the Z06 C6 is the only version I would be interested in and that will not be available until Sept 2005. Given that the C5 Z06 increased 20hp from 2001 to 2002 I would not consider one until the 2nd year of production.
You only have to look at the price of a 1997 C5 as opposed to the later ones to see where the prices of the C6 2004 will be in a few years time.
The C6 will hopefully appeal to the people GM are aiming it at which is those people that might be considering buying a Porsche 911. The existing Corvette community in the US will support the car as there is a huge amount of brand loyalty whereas this doesn't exist elsewhere.
I would not consider a C6 for at least 2 years as the Z06 C6 is the only version I would be interested in and that will not be available until Sept 2005. Given that the C5 Z06 increased 20hp from 2001 to 2002 I would not consider one until the 2nd year of production.
You only have to look at the price of a 1997 C5 as opposed to the later ones to see where the prices of the C6 2004 will be in a few years time.
V8 ETE said:
I challenge any real enthusiast to say performance is more important than appearance, looks are equally important it is a fine balance between both.
Either the definition of enthusiast is going to be really tight here, or I'm going to have to say "Bolloks" to this statement. It's too Clarkson for me
A lot has been said about the C6 and it's true to say that when the Corvette evolved from C4 to C5, there were equal numbers of supporters and critics, the latter condemning it for looking a little too Japanese. However, what was evident at the time of the C4 demise, which had been around for way too long over it's 13 year run, was that it desperately needed replacing and yet, when I bought my first C4, there was no doubting that it had an immediate "Wow" factor which was far more evident in the flesh than in the pictures. Much of it's impact was to do with scale.
Now the C5 was perhaps beaten to the punch by the Mazda RX7 which had a C5 front end and a Trans Am rear and even to this day, I fins myself amazed by the similarity of models from totaly different manufacturers that share commoin looks - the new Astra and Megane for example.
I think because the C4 was around for so long, it ingrained what we expected in a Corvette so the elliptical lamps of the C5 seemed a little radical, the apparent lack of bonnet opening space seemed a retrograde step and the ass seemed a little big and yet, there was no doubt this was a Vette. The performance was top notch, the streamlined shape was something you couldn't fail to admire and overall, even those who weren't sure to begin with soon hailed it as a stunning triumph, a Corvette for the 21st Century and it soon became a hot item on the desirable list. Apart from the RX7, which I'm sure was a mere chance occurence, the Vette was a Vette and wasn't trying to be anything but a Vette and again, in the fllesh, scale was everything. Wide, low and wow. I wanted one straight away from the beginning of production to last day of production.
I looked forward to the C6 in the same way I looked forward to the E-Type being replaced by the XJS and I felt as big a letdown when I saw the production item. It made me buy a C5 even though I never really understood why people bought "the old model" when there was a newer one available. This is a sports car and the reason people buy sports cars is for the looks as well as the performance. You can get the same or better handling out of an Evo, you can get similar performance from a BMW.
Now you remember the BMW because the 5 series is a very good analogy here. People saw it and threw their hands up in disgust and despair and the Press said we'd get used to it. It still stinks. The C6 isn't as bad as that. It is indeed still a Corvette but as a Brit, I can see the Italian wannabe in the front end which sadly looks more like an NSX to me and can see a big Elise at the back end and I don't want an Elise.
So my initial impression at launch was that I didn't like it and getting on for a year down the line, I still don't like it. It really grates when on US forums, everybody is so placatory. I see so many people telling me that it will grow on me, give it a chance but I know what I don't like and this is it.
Being a US institution, it's true the car has a huge following and it will be defended until kingdom come but I've just seen the new Ferrari F430 and it's great. I've seen the Gallardo and while it's not my idea of a true supercar design, it is original. When I look at the C6, it doesn't matter if it was the greatest sports car in the whole universe, it's not a looker in any sense. Having said that, it wouldn't take a lot to make it into a looker. the front lights are shockingly naive compared to the classic 360 and the new 430 - penned by a schoolboy. The area under the front bumper line needs redesigning. The rear brake light needs surgical removal. The windscreen is too upright, the wings aren't high enough or creased enough....in my opinion.
I'm glad there are those who like it. I'm glad there are those who'll buy it and I'm particularly glad there are those who will defend it but I don't want one and if the C6 Z06 has 600bhp and still looks like that, I won't want one of those either. Many people see this as being a huge insult to the Corvette legend because hey, we're all Vette guys. That's true but I for one feel short-changed and as an afficionado of all Vettes, this is the single landmark disappointment in the style department in 50 years but it won't put me off a C7 as long as they make a bit more of an effort.
Now the C5 was perhaps beaten to the punch by the Mazda RX7 which had a C5 front end and a Trans Am rear and even to this day, I fins myself amazed by the similarity of models from totaly different manufacturers that share commoin looks - the new Astra and Megane for example.
I think because the C4 was around for so long, it ingrained what we expected in a Corvette so the elliptical lamps of the C5 seemed a little radical, the apparent lack of bonnet opening space seemed a retrograde step and the ass seemed a little big and yet, there was no doubt this was a Vette. The performance was top notch, the streamlined shape was something you couldn't fail to admire and overall, even those who weren't sure to begin with soon hailed it as a stunning triumph, a Corvette for the 21st Century and it soon became a hot item on the desirable list. Apart from the RX7, which I'm sure was a mere chance occurence, the Vette was a Vette and wasn't trying to be anything but a Vette and again, in the fllesh, scale was everything. Wide, low and wow. I wanted one straight away from the beginning of production to last day of production.
I looked forward to the C6 in the same way I looked forward to the E-Type being replaced by the XJS and I felt as big a letdown when I saw the production item. It made me buy a C5 even though I never really understood why people bought "the old model" when there was a newer one available. This is a sports car and the reason people buy sports cars is for the looks as well as the performance. You can get the same or better handling out of an Evo, you can get similar performance from a BMW.
Now you remember the BMW because the 5 series is a very good analogy here. People saw it and threw their hands up in disgust and despair and the Press said we'd get used to it. It still stinks. The C6 isn't as bad as that. It is indeed still a Corvette but as a Brit, I can see the Italian wannabe in the front end which sadly looks more like an NSX to me and can see a big Elise at the back end and I don't want an Elise.
So my initial impression at launch was that I didn't like it and getting on for a year down the line, I still don't like it. It really grates when on US forums, everybody is so placatory. I see so many people telling me that it will grow on me, give it a chance but I know what I don't like and this is it.
Being a US institution, it's true the car has a huge following and it will be defended until kingdom come but I've just seen the new Ferrari F430 and it's great. I've seen the Gallardo and while it's not my idea of a true supercar design, it is original. When I look at the C6, it doesn't matter if it was the greatest sports car in the whole universe, it's not a looker in any sense. Having said that, it wouldn't take a lot to make it into a looker. the front lights are shockingly naive compared to the classic 360 and the new 430 - penned by a schoolboy. The area under the front bumper line needs redesigning. The rear brake light needs surgical removal. The windscreen is too upright, the wings aren't high enough or creased enough....in my opinion.
I'm glad there are those who like it. I'm glad there are those who'll buy it and I'm particularly glad there are those who will defend it but I don't want one and if the C6 Z06 has 600bhp and still looks like that, I won't want one of those either. Many people see this as being a huge insult to the Corvette legend because hey, we're all Vette guys. That's true but I for one feel short-changed and as an afficionado of all Vettes, this is the single landmark disappointment in the style department in 50 years but it won't put me off a C7 as long as they make a bit more of an effort.
LuS1fer said:
The elliptical lamps of the C5 seemed a little radical and the ass seemed a little big and yet, there was no doubt this was a Vette. The performance was top notch, the streamlined shape was something you couldn't fail to admire and overall even those who weren't sure to begin with soon hailed it as a stunning triumph, a Corvette for the 21st century.
I like distinctive cars - no super-saloons in my garage! Had the C5 coming up on 6 years now and at the moment see no reason to consider a change. Always open minded though.
V8 ETE said:
...
Also i do not solely buy a car for looks, i enjoy the performance, but what is the point in having a performance car that looks like a piece of crap, I challenge any real enthusiast to say performance is more important than appearance, looks are equally important it is a fine balance between both.
>> Edited by V8 ETE on Friday 8th October 08:50
Couldn't agree more. Who an earth wants to have a wotsit Evo etc. Why do people cream over Ferraris and some of their cars in the past have not had stunning performance. Talking about bollox I bought my '73 because it looks the dogs and sure does not have the dynamic capability to match any modern day GTI apart from at the traffic lights. The C5 is of course a different kettle of fish, great performance, stunning if you consider the price and cost of ownership, awesome cabin, everyone of my 50K miles has been a comfort pleasure let alone a dynamic one. And I expect if its 0-60 was 10 seconds it would not be sitting in my drive. I was not drooling over the C5 when I first saw it, the front just lets it down, but the overall look grew on me to the point where I wanted it and the acid test is yes the blondes do turn their heads and smile. I expect dynamically the C6 is great and better than the C5 but like many I currently remain ambiguous about its looks until I have seen one in the flesh. Which is a great shame compared with the Ford GT which dropped my jaw when I saw it in the mags, as did the new Ferrari 430(probably got the number wrong)
V8 ETE said:
I looked at your profile and read:
If I could have just one car that would serve all my automotive needs, it would have to be a TVR, but what model? I'd want a Griffith 500, a Tamora, or a Cerbera 4.5, but preferably all three.
I have owned 7 TVR'S, and they were poorly built unreliable, fun to drive which is why i suffered them for so long, but overall they are cr_p, which is why i bought a C5 which is a great car in all respects.
True, I did say that, though now I would probably add the Noble, as well. It's all in theory, as no TVR has been available here in the U.S. since the late 1980's.
V8 ETE said:
I stand by what i have said about the C6, and many Corvette enthusiasts your side of the pond would agree.
I'm sure many would agree, just as I'm sure that many would not. That said, most car "enthusiasts" on my side of the pond are more poseurs than true enthusiasts.
V8 ETE said:
If you think the C6 is so great why are you dreaming about TVR, get a Vette it will cause you a lot less heartache and money.
In part because dreams don't come with heavy repair bills or leave you stranded on the road.
Also, like I said, TVR's here are strictly a fantasy, as they simply are not available. I didn't say that the Corvette is great. I will never say that about a car until I have driven it and really loved it. I simply said that considering what it offers and what reputable magazines said of how it drives, that I thought it was silly to blast it just for its looks. V8 ETE said:
Also i do not solely buy a car for looks, i enjoy the performance, but what is the point in having a performance car that looks like a piece of crap, I challenge any real enthusiast to say performance is more important than appearance, looks are equally important it is a fine balance between both.
I am one such enthusiast. If I really like the way a car drives, I want it. If not, I won't. Looks aren't that important to me in a car. I'm not saying that it isn't nice when a car that drives great looks great too. After all, a little pimp factor is always welcome,
but it's not essential to me. That's not why I like cars. V8 ETE said:
Also have you seen a C6 in the flesh?
I liked what I saw in pictures in magazines, especially the convertible, but the coupe, as well. Just the other day, I finally saw a coupe on the street, and I did like the way it looked. Again, if I were to drive one and liked it, I still wouldn't care if I wasn't crazy about the styling. After all, I don't think that the Noble or the Cerbera are so good looking (I think that the C6 is better looking than both), but if they drive like I think they will, their looks wouldn't bother me, though the Cerbera's reliability would.
I got back from Florida last weekend and took time to see the C6. First one I saw was on the road and looked like it had been reversed into a wall taking off a few inches the lardy arse 
I went to the Chevy dealers and had a good look round and as much as I didn't want to like the C6, I do (apart from the headlights).
It's just more modern, with a stylish interior rather than all black. Sat Nav and keyless entry/starting etc. And at $54,000 plus dealer $10,000 (negotiable) premium looks good for the performance package.
Bill Heard had 2 although one sold, and Rogers Corvette Center had 2 for sale. Both of these dealers also have a 2004 C5 Z06 for sale. Bill Heards is selling a Le Mans Commemorative for around $44,589 but speak to Dan 'Sparky' Sparks for more discount. It's the last car on this link www.tampachevy.com/Theme/TH1/default.asp?page=newspecials
Mark
I went to the Chevy dealers and had a good look round and as much as I didn't want to like the C6, I do (apart from the headlights).
It's just more modern, with a stylish interior rather than all black. Sat Nav and keyless entry/starting etc. And at $54,000 plus dealer $10,000 (negotiable) premium looks good for the performance package.
Bill Heard had 2 although one sold, and Rogers Corvette Center had 2 for sale. Both of these dealers also have a 2004 C5 Z06 for sale. Bill Heards is selling a Le Mans Commemorative for around $44,589 but speak to Dan 'Sparky' Sparks for more discount. It's the last car on this link www.tampachevy.com/Theme/TH1/default.asp?page=newspecials
Mark
Guys, this seems to be a very emotive subject and several people seem to be losing sight of reality. The C5 and the C6 are fantastic mass produced cars. Every car nut in the UK would love to have cars of this quality/price available in our mass produced market. Whether you prefer the C5 or the C6 is just personal preference and issues like this happen with every brand (look at the controversy about the new BMW 5 & 7 series). I have seen the C6 and I think it will grow on people. As for the comparison with TVR's. There is no comparison! The TVR is a hand built specialist car. That is it's attraction and of course it can also be it's curse. I have been lucky and my TVR experience has been all good. However, I have recently had to change to a car that can handle 18k+ miles per year which I accept has to be a mass produced car. If something like a RH drive vette was available that is what I would have purchased. The nearest I could find was an RX8!
By the way I have a fantastic X-plate Chimaera for sale, contact me if you are interested.
By the way I have a fantastic X-plate Chimaera for sale, contact me if you are interested.
There are plenty of TVR touches about Vettes. Leaking diff seals, bent gearbox selectors, duff clutches, electrical glitches...so any TVR owner shouldn't be put off owning a Vette by rumours of it's invincibile reliability. LOL.
People also need to bear in mind that the Vette is indeed a steal in the US but it isn't here by the time you've added 10% import duty and 17.5% VAT and SVA costs and you also have to contrast the purchase price with the price of a 2004 Z06 with carbon fibre bonnet as standard.
People also need to bear in mind that the Vette is indeed a steal in the US but it isn't here by the time you've added 10% import duty and 17.5% VAT and SVA costs and you also have to contrast the purchase price with the price of a 2004 Z06 with carbon fibre bonnet as standard.
We've just seen a C6 at a dealer in Orlando and as much as I didn't want to like it, I do! The lights are much better looking than in photos, the only negative comment I'd make is it does look a little small for a vette! I have a C4 and a C5 and did not like the C5 when first seen (a Fairway Green one at the vette nationals in 97, horrible colour) As far as buying a car for 18k miles a year our pace car does around 25k, no problems, and as for 'would buy if rhd' why?? If you like the vette its lhd and hopefully will always be. It really does not cause any grief over here and I'd now hate to drive rhd in the UK!
Camaro SS said:
We've just seen a C6 at a dealer in Orlando and as much as I didn't want to like it, I do! The lights are much better looking than in photos, the only negative comment I'd make is it does look a little small for a vette! I have a C4 and a C5 and did not like the C5 when first seen (a Fairway Green one at the vette nationals in 97, horrible colour) As far as buying a car for 18k miles a year our pace car does around 25k, no problems, and as for 'would buy if rhd' why?? If you like the vette its lhd and hopefully will always be. It really does not cause any grief over here and I'd now hate to drive rhd in the UK!
Thats how I felt. I hated it in the photos and called it an MX5 etc until looking over one at the factory back in May. It looks good and the shorter body makes it look wider. I have never been a fan of the C5 as I just dont like the big back end and that too has been sorted on the C6. The spy pics of the new C6 ZO6 look even better with the fatter tyres on the car making it look better right away.
I remember people moaning about the C5 when it came out - I think it's an English thing - We just hate change.
As for LHD, I cannot understand people that dont want LHD in the UK. I like LHD over RHD. Overtaking is just as easy as you have the performance and LHD makes it much easier to undertake all those brain dead numpties on the motorway.
With Cadillac's proposed re-launch in the UK I see they're going to sell three models in RHD. The XLR stays LHD with expected sales of 100 cars in the first year. I reckon it'll be a good trick if they can shift 100. Fiat Barchetta's a nice little LHD runabout at a giveaway price on official sale in UK but they can't give 'em away.
>> Edited by 5USA on Sunday 31st October 14:31
>> Edited by 5USA on Sunday 31st October 14:31
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