More C6 Press bias against LHD...get a life!
Discussion
I'm no fan of the C6, so let's start from there.
CAR's front page proclaims the Sagaris DESTROYS the Corvette. I'll grant you that 0-60 in 3.7 is very quick although GM have achieved 3.9 with the C5 Z06 and something like 8 seconds to 100 is lightning fast (assuming this isn't another TVR ringer) but a quick skim of the test itself (I'm too mean to buy it) suggests that the C6 comes in for some praise and the "destruction" isn't quite the crushing steamrollering you might have anticipated and even in Euro guise, it's £5k cheaper. What is the key factor that makes the Sagaris the winner? It's RHD.
Don't get me wrong, I love the Sagaris and it's the first TVR I would aspire to own if it ever proved reliable.
Onto Auto Express' "Special Issue" pitting the C6 against Tuscan, 911 and LS2 powered Monaro VXR where it is rated...er, 4th would you believe? Let's analyse that shall we. 911 is the usual flawless sports car as you'd expect for that money so it's a natural winner in this company. The VXR comes er, second? Let's see what they say. Relaxing to drive yet clutch and gearlever are "like pieces of gym equipment" taking "real effort", the V8 is too muted yet in the C6 "sounds fantastic", heavy, inconsitent brakes, corners well but responses are sluggish, feels ponderous, spongy suspension, competent cruiser, getting comfortable is difficult. Verdict "oodles of charm. Come on...second?
What of the 4th placed C6 - up cl;ose it's not that big at all, obvious appeal, gearchange not slick but more precise than Monaro, relatively light, in the real world the C6 is faster than the 911, brakes not that good, handles very well, planted and stable, good driving position, appealing driver's car. Ah yes, the usual "it's LHD" caveat.
Do these people know anything. There it is - LHD will deter buyers and hit residuals. Yes, I've seen all those C5's plummeting in value by as much as £100 a year in some cases.
An aside on the Tuscan whose incredible sop to practicality is making the twin engine fans the only visible part of the engine, it has no ABS and is described as "a massive Achilles heel".
So it's the usual bias that seems to relegate the C6 to 4th. Total tosh and remember, I don't like this car.
CAR's front page proclaims the Sagaris DESTROYS the Corvette. I'll grant you that 0-60 in 3.7 is very quick although GM have achieved 3.9 with the C5 Z06 and something like 8 seconds to 100 is lightning fast (assuming this isn't another TVR ringer) but a quick skim of the test itself (I'm too mean to buy it) suggests that the C6 comes in for some praise and the "destruction" isn't quite the crushing steamrollering you might have anticipated and even in Euro guise, it's £5k cheaper. What is the key factor that makes the Sagaris the winner? It's RHD.
Don't get me wrong, I love the Sagaris and it's the first TVR I would aspire to own if it ever proved reliable.
Onto Auto Express' "Special Issue" pitting the C6 against Tuscan, 911 and LS2 powered Monaro VXR where it is rated...er, 4th would you believe? Let's analyse that shall we. 911 is the usual flawless sports car as you'd expect for that money so it's a natural winner in this company. The VXR comes er, second? Let's see what they say. Relaxing to drive yet clutch and gearlever are "like pieces of gym equipment" taking "real effort", the V8 is too muted yet in the C6 "sounds fantastic", heavy, inconsitent brakes, corners well but responses are sluggish, feels ponderous, spongy suspension, competent cruiser, getting comfortable is difficult. Verdict "oodles of charm. Come on...second?
What of the 4th placed C6 - up cl;ose it's not that big at all, obvious appeal, gearchange not slick but more precise than Monaro, relatively light, in the real world the C6 is faster than the 911, brakes not that good, handles very well, planted and stable, good driving position, appealing driver's car. Ah yes, the usual "it's LHD" caveat.
Do these people know anything. There it is - LHD will deter buyers and hit residuals. Yes, I've seen all those C5's plummeting in value by as much as £100 a year in some cases.
An aside on the Tuscan whose incredible sop to practicality is making the twin engine fans the only visible part of the engine, it has no ABS and is described as "a massive Achilles heel".
So it's the usual bias that seems to relegate the C6 to 4th. Total tosh and remember, I don't like this car.
I just can't understand all this LHD stuff. I prefer LHD to RHD. It makes undertaking all the numpty lane hoggers much safer/easier. The only draw back of LHD for me was the M25 Dartford crossing tolls but now I have a Dart tag so thats not even a problem.
Have all of you also noticed how as soon as another car is tested thats quicker than a vette, they always forget to mention the quicker Z06?????
Have all of you also noticed how as soon as another car is tested thats quicker than a vette, they always forget to mention the quicker Z06?????
The British motoring press, as usual, show their complete inability to pass fair comment on anything.
What we have here, again, is the BASE Corvette against anything but base opposition. What about the pracitility of the Corvette? What's the warranty and servicing like for the others? What about getting parts in 15 years time for those cars??
Anyway, given the general hogwash the press trump out (usually reserved to "the awesome handling of this 165bhp monster (talking about a Fiesta etc.)" and the like) I basically just ignore all that crap.
The real world - where everyday people are viewing the tail-lights of our 'vettes - is where it counts. People being surprised by 'vettes out-cornering them, is where it counts. When the 'vette is out and about and the others are in for a service - or being fixed! - is where it counts.
And above all, this is an icon, both socially and automotively, so there
What we have here, again, is the BASE Corvette against anything but base opposition. What about the pracitility of the Corvette? What's the warranty and servicing like for the others? What about getting parts in 15 years time for those cars??
Anyway, given the general hogwash the press trump out (usually reserved to "the awesome handling of this 165bhp monster (talking about a Fiesta etc.)" and the like) I basically just ignore all that crap.
The real world - where everyday people are viewing the tail-lights of our 'vettes - is where it counts. People being surprised by 'vettes out-cornering them, is where it counts. When the 'vette is out and about and the others are in for a service - or being fixed! - is where it counts.
And above all, this is an icon, both socially and automotively, so there
Yep i now prefer a LHD. Overtaking is a little different but you get used to making the space, which if anything is safer than right being up someones ass. Also tolls are crap, but hey you get out hold the queue and just take you time and people have to look at you in your cool car. So it all has a plus point. Other than that, no blind spot i feel either!
LHD is only a big negative for people who've never tried it. I think that if you can get into both RHD and LHD cars on a daily basis, your spatial awareness improves considerably and ultimately it makes you a better driver becuase after a while, it makes no difference whatsoever - except for those days where you've just paid for your petrol and you casually ...spring into the passenger's seat and have to pretend you're looking for something in the glovebox and then get out and get in the driver's side. LOL
Don't lie, you've all done it...
Don't lie, you've all done it...
I can see where Gazboy is coming from when he says "this LHD thing is a big negative for a lot of people". Buyers won't spend £20/30k on a car just to try it. You need to drive it for a while in a variety of situations before you can decide if LHD is good for you. There are occasions when I find it a total pain but I don't care, as the pleasure of driving my Corvette far outweighs the disadvantages and (as said before) LHD keeps its uniqueness in tact.
You also get a beter look at those young female drivers as you pass them (or draw along side them) on the Motorway. As Wayne says "Don't lie, you've all done it..."
You also get a beter look at those young female drivers as you pass them (or draw along side them) on the Motorway. As Wayne says "Don't lie, you've all done it..."
I didn't choose my cars on the basis of a press report or TV review. Certainly I buy the magazines that write pieces on the Corvette, but nothing they could say would add or detract from the pleasure I get from looking at and driving my C3 or Z16.
Journalists have a space to fill and editors have a magazine to sell. Hence the over dramatic headlines and generally disappointing, under-researched reviews.
The US magazines are almost as bad in panning the European competition!!
As far as the lhd/rhd bias is concerned, I think the
typical motoring journo is probably too lazy to be objective about the real strengths and weaknesses in the reviewed vehicles because it's simple to make cheap jibe about US manufacturers being too arrogent to make rhd cars - and therefore they devalue the car accordingly.
I would hate the idea of the Vette being made in rhd just so they can be driven by "anyone". If you can't get on with lhd either persevere, if you love the Vettes enough, or give up and buy something like a TVR "destroyer". At least then you'll find something useful to use your right hand for when you get bored......
Journalists have a space to fill and editors have a magazine to sell. Hence the over dramatic headlines and generally disappointing, under-researched reviews.
The US magazines are almost as bad in panning the European competition!!
As far as the lhd/rhd bias is concerned, I think the
typical motoring journo is probably too lazy to be objective about the real strengths and weaknesses in the reviewed vehicles because it's simple to make cheap jibe about US manufacturers being too arrogent to make rhd cars - and therefore they devalue the car accordingly.
I would hate the idea of the Vette being made in rhd just so they can be driven by "anyone". If you can't get on with lhd either persevere, if you love the Vettes enough, or give up and buy something like a TVR "destroyer". At least then you'll find something useful to use your right hand for when you get bored......
I have no problem switching from left to right and back again, although I was brought up driving farm tractors and implements hanging out from the left or right or both and then reversing all sorts of trailers, I guess the left hand drive cars are just for the more experienced drivers
Sam
Sam
LHD is not a problem, whatsoever, in a Corvette.
I've just came back from (another - it's great to live in the North!) a great drive along the A684 to Hawes, a road and spot favoured by bikers.
I overtook 2 Subaru imprezas, numerous other cars, and just basically kept on going. Some bikes were behind me, but onto an open stretch without cars, and the bikes were absolutely no problem at all - they couldn't keep up around the bends, and exiting at a higher speed the grunt of the ZR1 was more enough to overcome them.
The moral of the story is this: forget what you read in the press, the Corvette is a fantastically quick, real-life car. LHD ain't an issue. If you don't like it, try and get used to it - it does take a little while to fully explore the issues involved, and even then to be able to take advantage of LHD!
But in all - if LHD is the only issue - then get past it. Leaving that hurdle, you're left with a great-looking, great-sounding icon of a car that can be serviced at home, doesn't break, and cost peanuts to insure. Oh, and doesn't cost too much and won't lose you much on depreciation, if anything... Oh, and mpg isn't a big issue (and even less so considering depreciation on other vehicles!!)
Forget the waffle about the suspension too: get a Z51 packaged 'vette, and this thing can be flung in and out of the corners like it's glued to the road.
Sorry for the length of this post, but honestly, honestly, honestly, we have to convert more of the flock over to the true Gospel
I've just came back from (another - it's great to live in the North!) a great drive along the A684 to Hawes, a road and spot favoured by bikers.
I overtook 2 Subaru imprezas, numerous other cars, and just basically kept on going. Some bikes were behind me, but onto an open stretch without cars, and the bikes were absolutely no problem at all - they couldn't keep up around the bends, and exiting at a higher speed the grunt of the ZR1 was more enough to overcome them.
The moral of the story is this: forget what you read in the press, the Corvette is a fantastically quick, real-life car. LHD ain't an issue. If you don't like it, try and get used to it - it does take a little while to fully explore the issues involved, and even then to be able to take advantage of LHD!
But in all - if LHD is the only issue - then get past it. Leaving that hurdle, you're left with a great-looking, great-sounding icon of a car that can be serviced at home, doesn't break, and cost peanuts to insure. Oh, and doesn't cost too much and won't lose you much on depreciation, if anything... Oh, and mpg isn't a big issue (and even less so considering depreciation on other vehicles!!)
Forget the waffle about the suspension too: get a Z51 packaged 'vette, and this thing can be flung in and out of the corners like it's glued to the road.
Sorry for the length of this post, but honestly, honestly, honestly, we have to convert more of the flock over to the true Gospel
It's a very good question this one because when they designed the Corvette, they designed it specifically to be capable of being converted to RHD. The Cadillac CTS-V, for example, can't be converted as the LS6 takes up too much space.
My guess is that no matter how good GM make the Corvette, the fact remains that no-one in Europe really needs it because there are hundreds of choices for anyone requiring a fast, good handling car. In America, it fights it's corner on home turf and can use the cost of the imports against them. Secondly, as one of the best-selling sports cars in the world and production coming from one dedicated facility, they don't need the extra sales and probably haven't got the capacity for an explosion in demand.
Finally, I think LHD is part and parcel of the Corvette. The problem is a UK-only one as the rest of Europe is LHD anyway and I think only the German market is targeted to any great degree because of Europena laws. Even the German laws are crushingly hard on cars with big engines so they used to sell far more V6 Camaros there than V8's. France and Switzerland are no-hopers really and that just leaves the UK.
I think it's fair to say that the UK Press hardly encourage GM into a belief that there will be a huge demand for Corvettes. Look how many cars TVR and Morgan actually sell and the cost of converting to RHD would put the Corvette into £50k plus territory.
The Corvette is a strange car, an American icon with the American firmly underlined. I think most Corvette owners WANT a LHD car and would find the package diluted by a RHD car. Would a RHD affect the residuals of LHD cars? I doubt it as these are the cars that tend to be more cosseted and I think RHD buyers would pile the miles on. Look at the mileages of used Corvettes and compare them to used Porsches.
I think LHD is one of the Corvette ingredients. Like taking the interior out of a TVR, like taking the old-fashioned styling off a Morgan, it wouldn't be the same. I just don't honestly think GM would sell many more Corvettes if they paid to make it RHD because that type of car doesn't sell in volume here, whereas in America it does. It would only make sense to convert to RHD if it was a car that sold in the same price bracket as the 350Z or RX8.
What it boils down to is that GM doesn't need the UK, it doesn't need it's European sales either but it DOES need the credibility of Nurburgring development, of 1:26 Top Gear lap times and exposing the Corvette to European competition so they can get the feedback to keep making it better.
My guess is that no matter how good GM make the Corvette, the fact remains that no-one in Europe really needs it because there are hundreds of choices for anyone requiring a fast, good handling car. In America, it fights it's corner on home turf and can use the cost of the imports against them. Secondly, as one of the best-selling sports cars in the world and production coming from one dedicated facility, they don't need the extra sales and probably haven't got the capacity for an explosion in demand.
Finally, I think LHD is part and parcel of the Corvette. The problem is a UK-only one as the rest of Europe is LHD anyway and I think only the German market is targeted to any great degree because of Europena laws. Even the German laws are crushingly hard on cars with big engines so they used to sell far more V6 Camaros there than V8's. France and Switzerland are no-hopers really and that just leaves the UK.
I think it's fair to say that the UK Press hardly encourage GM into a belief that there will be a huge demand for Corvettes. Look how many cars TVR and Morgan actually sell and the cost of converting to RHD would put the Corvette into £50k plus territory.
The Corvette is a strange car, an American icon with the American firmly underlined. I think most Corvette owners WANT a LHD car and would find the package diluted by a RHD car. Would a RHD affect the residuals of LHD cars? I doubt it as these are the cars that tend to be more cosseted and I think RHD buyers would pile the miles on. Look at the mileages of used Corvettes and compare them to used Porsches.
I think LHD is one of the Corvette ingredients. Like taking the interior out of a TVR, like taking the old-fashioned styling off a Morgan, it wouldn't be the same. I just don't honestly think GM would sell many more Corvettes if they paid to make it RHD because that type of car doesn't sell in volume here, whereas in America it does. It would only make sense to convert to RHD if it was a car that sold in the same price bracket as the 350Z or RX8.
What it boils down to is that GM doesn't need the UK, it doesn't need it's European sales either but it DOES need the credibility of Nurburgring development, of 1:26 Top Gear lap times and exposing the Corvette to European competition so they can get the feedback to keep making it better.
50% of the world? It's a nice statistic isn't it? Shame it includes most 3rd world countries like India who, last I heard, had never heard of anything much more exotic than a Toyota, let alone a Corvette. In reality, the sparsely populated antipodean countries, the heavily populated Japan and the UK were the principal markets. Bear in mind, it's not simply a case of converting to RHD and be damned, the car has to be developed for the type approval regs of all those countries as well.If there were such a big market, I'm sure they would have done it.
The Corvette isn't a best seller in Germany and it wouldn't be a best seller anywhere but the US - it's a niche sportscar and unlike TVR, it requires a large cash injection to develop a RHD car and pass all the crash tests.
As a matter of information, GM DID produce at least one RHD C4 for appraisal and it was tested by a magazine back in 1992. Sure, they loved it but even in 1992, the cost was £50000.
The Corvette isn't a best seller in Germany and it wouldn't be a best seller anywhere but the US - it's a niche sportscar and unlike TVR, it requires a large cash injection to develop a RHD car and pass all the crash tests.
As a matter of information, GM DID produce at least one RHD C4 for appraisal and it was tested by a magazine back in 1992. Sure, they loved it but even in 1992, the cost was £50000.
I think Lu51er makes all the points absolutely spot on.
In any case, and the point I was trying to make, is that with the horsepower you have available with a 'vette, the handicap of LHD really isn't an issue. I suppose GM know that too, so why bother converting the Corvette?
Getting used to left-hand drive really doesn't take that long: change your Supra and get a 'vette!
See the LHD as an initiation rite
In any case, and the point I was trying to make, is that with the horsepower you have available with a 'vette, the handicap of LHD really isn't an issue. I suppose GM know that too, so why bother converting the Corvette?
Getting used to left-hand drive really doesn't take that long: change your Supra
and get a 'vette! See the LHD as an initiation rite
I bought my C5 purely on its looks and uniqueness in the UK. Whether is was LHD or RHD didnt really mean anything on this. If it was produced in RHD then fine, have a RHD, but they don't - so if you really want the car then you have to make do. Put it this way, I wont be buying a ford focus LHD anytime soon!
And as Richard says above "You also get a beter look at those young female drivers as you pass them ". The Peugeot 206's Cabriolets are just so easy to spot, and 9/10 are beautiful young ladies... Keep a look out!
And as Richard says above "You also get a beter look at those young female drivers as you pass them ". The Peugeot 206's Cabriolets are just so easy to spot, and 9/10 are beautiful young ladies... Keep a look out!
I should add one thing to this debate which is there is a widely held perception that GM do bog all to cater to the European market. I have a "Euro" Z28 and if you look at the option codes, you will see there at least 20-30 items that are Euro-specific. Things like EU type-approved glass on all windows, mirrors, number plate apertures, RHD headlamps, rear indicators and fog lamps, side repeaters, the list goes on and on so how they ever made a profit on the Z28 with so many EU-specific changes is beyond me. I suspect the same is true of the Corvette although the profit margin is likely to be greater due to the nature of the beast.
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