The Corvette of our dreams?

[G B.]

My local paper had a big article this morning about the new '05 Corvette, the C-Whatever. The writer gushed about the hot options for next year: heated seats, dual 20 oz. cup holders, and some sort of magic navigation system. I am not making this up. Judging from the photo with the article, the car's ass is even larger than the current whopper.

I think Ford got it right with the GT and '05 Mustang. How could GM go so wrong?

[Duke W.]

Re: The Corvette of our dreams?

Jerry - The C6 is going to be another grand slam home run. It's smaller than the C5 - a couple of inches narrower and several inches shorter. Amazingly, the overall length is 0.5" shorter than a C2, but the butt is high for good aero performance and load space, and the base coupe curb weight is a svelt 3179 pounds. The base engine is 6.0L with 400 lb-ft of torque at 4400 and 400 HP at 6000, with a rev limit of 6500. Peak torque is the same as the current LS6, but arrives 200 revs earlier, and the LS2 is stronger from off idle to about 4500. Peak HP is five less than LS6, and it rolls off a little more to the redline.

The Z-51 Special Performance Equipment Package now includes engine, transmission, and differential oil coolers, so it should be able to hot lap a track all day without frying the fluids.

A lot of people are jazzed about the new creature comforts - cup holders, nav system, heated seats, etc. That's just something that a lot of people expect nowadays, but Dave Hill and his team have stayed true to the Duntov tradition of offering near exotic car performance at a price that is affordable to many Americans and easy/inexpensive to maintain.

Pricing will be announced this month, production begins July 18, and the mags should have full road tests NLT their September issues.

Hill has promised that the Z06, to be announced at next year's Detroit show, will be more visually distinguishable from the Coupe and Convert. They are keeping a tight lid on specs, but engine displacement will be at least 6.4L, maybe even 7.0L with three-valve heads and the power rating should be at or near 500 and curb weight close to 3000 pounds. The Ford GT is several hundred pounds heavier and has zero luggage/cargo capacity.

The C6 fuel ecomonmy is projected to achieve an EPA rating of 19/28 versus 18/28 for C5. I think the Ford GT gets hit with the gas guzzler tax because it's supercharged 32V V-8 is nowhere near as efficient as Corvette engines. Though the overall architecture is the same as C5, virtually all the parts are redesigned and new. C5 had no major design faults or compromises. C6 takes what was already a superb design and further refines it.

Duke

[G B.]

Then I may take that drivetrain...

and put it in a Jag body. The modern Corvette body, including the SHP cup holders, is just crusher material to me. Well, if I can find a crusher big enough for that butt.

[Clem Z.]

Re: The Corvette of our dreams?

duke i look for GM to start selling the corvette without A/C and power this and power that to get the weight down. w/o the above the weight would be under 3000#. also with the new "special performance engine" plant i look for more engines options thruout the GM car lines.

[Clem Z.]

Re: Then I may take that drivetrain...

everyone talks about the big butt but how do you get the rear tires under the body unless you use bolt on fender flares like the L-88s which looked like a off road 4 wheel drive truck

[Tony Merendino]

Re: Then I may take that drivetrain...

The new Corvette promises to be a car true to its tradition. Technological advances are part of that tradition. Creature comforts are something everyone expects today in a $50+K sports car. Look at that Jag again it is all about creature comforts and less about performance than the Corvette.

I know everyone can't be pleased but the 2005 Corvette looks great to me. I for one am a little tired of modern car builders trying to make everything look retro to try to capture the imagination of us old geezers. Although a new Corvette in a C2 like body would look pretty cool.

Take the new Corvette for what it is the 2005 version of the great American sports car.

[Patrick H.]

Re: The Corvette of our dreams?

The Corvette of my Dreams was built years ago. Of course, it came in multiple versions so I'll have to keep adjusting what lives in my garage. Nothing like driving my 71, 72 or someday others that will come and maybe go. My own "Way Back Machine" if you will. You have to realize that there is a difference, though, between the "Best Vette Yet" (as the magazines love to spout) and the one of our dreams ... especially since the visitors to this site tend to favor the older Corvettes anyway. Two different arguments.

But (and a big one?) the one I'll be driving on long trips will likely soon be a C5. You can't beat the performance with the driving characteristics. It will be my favored one to drive to Bloomington or Carlisle or even just to work every day.

I have to agree that if I ordered a C6, it would be without OnStar, without navigation, without CD changer, without power top, without heated seats, etc. I don't need more add-ons that only add weight and complexity, as well as electronic parts that my dealer will have no clue how to fix. Then again, the dealer has no clue how to fix a carburetor either, so I had to teach myself.

Patrick

[Tony Reilly]

Re: The Corvette of our dreams?

I agree most heartedly- I wouldn't even consider a vette newer than an '89 (last no airbags)because of all the junk in them. Currently studying how to get rid of the auto AC controls-the AC itself is gonna go first thing. Saw my first ad for a zero option '89 the other day-I wonder how many of them there are? I'll buy it if they get the price down. Don't be suprised if GM offers a "base car" someday without all the included options they've added over the years but prices it higher than a "normal" model.

[Patrick H.]

Re: The Corvette of our dreams?

I'll be shocked if GM ever offers a de-contented version of the C6 (i.e. with manual locks, windows, etc).

Why?

It's cheaper and easier to build them with all the options.

Why?

If the majority of your customers want option X, then it's cheaper to design only one version of the option. So, we get automatic AC in all of them rather than choosing from no AC, manual AC and auto AC. In a nutshell it's why the Z06 didn't get manual locks, windows, etc - it cost to much to engineer a manual option on such a low voume car.

GM's preference would be to build them all the SAME. It's why they only have 3 option packages and very few freestanding options. And since they push the option packages it's why I will have a problem finding my no OnStar/Nav/powertop/seatwarmer/etc car someday.

Patrick

[Mark #28455]

I really hate to admit it!

I have owned an original L89 with my brother for twenty years! I bought an original L88 eight years ago, and also own several other Corvettes.

Did you realize that the new ZO6 with the 500 HP engine would EASILY tear my cars apart on the dragstrip or road course with the CD blasting and the AC on max? When the C3's first came out, everyone hated them too! I personally hate the looks of the new Corvette as well (looks like a Toyota), but considering the rabid adrenaline junkie that I am, I will probably be right there ordering a new ZO6 someday soon. Sure, I get all the smiles and waves with the old cars and I won't ever sell them, but you can't argue with 500 honest HP that you can drive to work EVERY DAY - it's like owning the whole amusement park!

[John H.]

Re: The Corvette of our dreams?

That's why the Viper has no options (except exterior color, and only three of those), and has no superfluous electronic geegaws (HUD's, cruise control, navigation systems, power or heated seats, etc.), and no automatic transmission. Different customers, though, and different kind of car; when I ran seminars at the Viper Owners' Invitationals in '98 and '99 on "What do you want or not want on the next-generation Viper?", only five things were demanded by the rabid owner body - a dead-pedal, more power, more torque, less weight, and bigger brakes (all of which we delivered on the new 2003 Viper). They don't want anything on the car that doesn't enhance performance or handling - like I said, different car, different design philosophy, different customers than Corvette.

[Clem Z.]

Re: The Corvette of our dreams?

i will bet that most viper owners own a half a dozen other cars so they have a choice when they go on a long trip but most new corvette owners have 1 maybe 2 cars counting the corvette so if you want to go on a 1000 mile trip it is nice to get there feeling like you never left your recliner at home.

[Patrick H.]

Re: The Corvette of our dreams?

Clem,

Most Viper owners own half a dozen Vipers!

Patrick

andnoI'mnotkidding

[Mike M.]

What's GM paying D-C for that Viper front clip? *NM*

[Clem Z.]

Re: What's GM paying D-C for that Viper front clip

no viper got smart in 03 and got rid of that expensive($11,000)clamshell hood like corvette did in 97