New mid engine Corvette. July 18th.
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Dan
Well-known member
I`m excited to see the final product, but I hope it isn`t priced out of what made it so great in the first place.
BudgetPlan1
Active member
The corporate line so far has been "If you can afford a C7 Grand Sport, you can afford a C8" so likely around $70k to start, give or take.
That said, I wouldn`t touch a C8 for the first few years. They`re still having issues with C7 8-spd auto trans that a variety of service bulletins and `fixes` have failed to address over the last few years. The C8 has been delayed already due to electrical issues and twisting frames on the ultimate `Zora` C8 test mules.
Aside from what will likely be some significant teething issues, I find the thing just plain fugly. Front half up to the back of the doors is ok but from there back 8 think is ridiculous looking. Just IMO though.
Dan
Well-known member
Yeah, $70k is not something I want to pay for a Chevy. I`m still amazed at people paying $60k for pickups too.
BudgetPlan1
Active member
Will say that our 2004, aside from 2 window regulators, gave us ZERO problems in 65k miles, 15 years.
I don`t expect our 2019 to be as trouble-free though. Far more complex in many ways than the 2004.
Dan
Well-known member
My 2011 has been great as well. To me it is the pinnacle of gas powered cars. Light, reliable, no stupid tech (18 speed transmission, direct injection, infotainment system that runs everything in the car, etc). And it`s silly fun to drive.
Coleroad
New member
The C5 is a really reliable car . Really the only issues are the oil pressure switch. Then the first couple of years the crappy brake module.
beyond that the problems that may happen are things that happen across all makes over time. Including plastic window regulator parts that get brittle and break.
beyond that the problems that may happen are things that happen across all makes over time. Including plastic window regulator parts that get brittle and break.
Desertnate
Active member
Don`t forget all the overheating issues that plagued early C7`s in addition to the problems you mention. It took them several model years to fix those problems. All this points to early owners being beta testers for Chevrolet. No thanks.
From the few leaked images and all the shots of the car in camo, I don`t mind the front and the side view. However, if the rear end is that squished Camero look seen in the leaked photos of the blue car is real, Chevy took a significant step backwards in the design of the Vette. I`m hoping that one picture isn`t real or a deception campain by Chevy. I thought the rear view of the C7 is amazing. Add the wide hips of a Gran Sport/Z06/ZR1 (or even the C7.R) and that look gets even better. The new C8 rear end looks terrible, if real. Chevy has really struck out on exterior design lately as was seen with the Camero being re-designed in the front after only one model year.
Desertnate
Active member
I`m not a huge fan of Corvette`s, and not at all of Chevy, but I can defend them on this one. If you think of Chevy`s as a whole, I`d agree. I`ve never driven a Chevy in any trim level I felt was worth the sticker price they were asking and I`d never pay more than $30K for one...if that. The prices of trucks are silly simply because people will pay that amount...right up until the $20K rebates land at the end of the month. However, you can`t think of a Vette as a regular Chevy. It`s really its own brand within GM and Chevrolet. While the interior doesn`t look like what you`d expect from a $70K car, all of the money goes into the performance bits. Building a beast that performs like even a ZR1 Vette is not cheap, and you have to factor in the R&D costs in addition to manufacturing. The very nature of the Vette vs the rest of the Chevy line up (or even GM) means there is very little cost sharing possible with any other vehicle. It isn`t like the frame, suspension, transmission, cooling, braking, or even some versions of the engine (if any?) are used elsewhere. They are all one-off`s developed and made solely in the Vette.
I`m actually surprised they don`t charge more for the lower trim levels. I`d love to see what profit margin is on Vette`s. I`m sure its nothing like a truck or SUV.
Dan
Well-known member
No manual transmission. Deal killer.
bigfish528
New member
Don’t forget the stealership mark ups.
Setec Astronomy
Well-known member
So no comments on this yet? I just took a quick look at the Chevy website, it`s kind of weird seeing the first Corvette in over 50 years or maybe ever that doesn`t have a long hood...although it has all the recent `Vette styling cues, it`s just doesn`t "look" like a `Vette due to the proportions.
Base model`s 60k, it looks NSX`ish to me. I would have never guessed it was a Vette if the video didn`t say. It`s absolutely insane that there`s a mid-engine car with this kind of performance for $60k. I really like the old Stingrays, but I`ve never been a Vette guy *shrug* I`d probably take a Hellcat over this, but it`s a nice looking, very different looking Corvette.
Setec Astronomy
Well-known member
I believe it was Don Sherman on Autoline After Hours who said they would keep making the current `Vette alongside the new one for some time (maybe a long time?) for the "purists". For people who follow GM, to me this is reminiscent of the Buick T-Types of the 80`s or the "Arts and Science" styling Cadillac adopted with the CTS in 2003--an attempt to thread the needle and bring in younger customers without completely losing the older ones. (Yes, there were some other eras that I left out, the "touring sedans" at Cadillac and Olds in the 90`s, and I`m sure plenty other stuff I forgot)
Dan
Well-known member
Funny.... From GJ
Swanicyouth
New member
GM with all their woes needs a mid engine car like a hole in the head. Most of their regular cars just died off due to poor quality and subsequent bad sales. I dunno. I see it as a lack of long term thinking by those in charge. Instead of radically changing the Corvette; refine the one you have and sink whatever extra resources into improving the brand`s quality and reliability.
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Setec Astronomy
Well-known member
Some would argue that is due to the market shifting from cars to SUV`s.
Some would argue it`s exactly long-term thinking by those in charge to shift their vehicle mix. And according to the latest JD Power Initial Quality Survey, Chevy and Buick are above the industry average. https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2019-initial-quality-study-iqs
Swanicyouth
New member
I would agree the majority of vehicles being bought today are crossovers / SUVs / trucks. But, GM isn’t lighting the world on fire there either. I dunno about their trucks, but the crossovers / SUVs are business as usual for the most part. Toyota, Honda, BMW, etc are still making all their cars. So, the market may be tighter, which means bottom feeders fall out.
I don’t think the American consumer puts too much credence in JD Power (I know I don’t); it’s “initial quality” - which doesn’t mean a whole lot. Look at those same vehicles years later. Most people keep their new cars for significantly longer these days - you have to cuz they are getting sucked into 7 & 8 year loans and every bell, whistle, and piece of technology possible in a automobile.
I really hope Chevy has the bugs worked out of this thing; but I don’t know. It’s a nice looking car; but seems to me like such a radical shift is quite a gamble.
I don’t think the American consumer puts too much credence in JD Power (I know I don’t); it’s “initial quality” - which doesn’t mean a whole lot. Look at those same vehicles years later. Most people keep their new cars for significantly longer these days - you have to cuz they are getting sucked into 7 & 8 year loans and every bell, whistle, and piece of technology possible in a automobile.
I really hope Chevy has the bugs worked out of this thing; but I don’t know. It’s a nice looking car; but seems to me like such a radical shift is quite a gamble.
Setec Astronomy
Well-known member
I don`t disagree with you. I`ve had pretty good luck with my GM`s, about the same number of problems as my Honda (neither of them have had many). But I know someone with a GM who just has had a bunch of dumb problems.
Eh...it`s not that radical...haven`t they had a transaxle in that car forever? So they just moved the engine closer, LOL. Most radical thing is cooling, but most of that stuff seems pretty nailed down these days. I remember when the C? came out in `84 and Road & Track had a whole special magazine dedicated to it because of how it advanced the state of the art, technically (or they thought it would sell a lot of magazines). I`m not sure this vehicle is bleeding edge any more than many other new Corvettes, although I haven `t looked into this one at all so I may be speaking out of turn.