Corvette C7

[Slash]

Even still. I prefer mid 1970's Camaro's over the other years.

 

[Joey D]

All of that depends on what GM wants to do with the new Corvette. If they're going to make it lighter, and put in an equally-strong, but smaller displacement engine, they're catering to an entirely different market. I'm personally seeing GM wanting to make this a global car that sets itself up as a benchmark, much like the Porsche 911. They'll do a ZR1 successor, but I don't know if it'll be anywhere near as crazy.

America's running out of fat, middle-aged, bald men to buy Corvettes though, so GM really needs to start thinking about capturing more of the sports car market. If they can build something that puts the 911 or GT-R to shame and doesn't feel cheap, they'll have a winner, otherwise it'll still just be something fat, middle-aged, bald guys buying them. The Corvette is more than capable of being the world's benchmark, I just hope GM doesn't sacrifice tradition for performance.

 

[Exorcet]

Maybe I'm fatter, middle ager, and bald manner than I realize, but I think the Corvette is a good alternative to the GT-R and 911 already. It's the lightest, only one with RWD, the GT-R doesn't have a manual, and the 911 can't get near it for the same price. The interior isn't that bad, though I guess 911 people want something different. I myself would want a Corvette that's a bit more basic instead of loaded with stuff. I already don't like PTM or launch control. If GM wants a semi luxury sports car, maybe they should do it through Cadillac again.

 

[Ddrizle]

The spy shots and renders seem to show an even lower slung roofline for the C7. The one aspect I dislike about the new Camaro, for me, is it's poor visibility due to it's low roofline. During a test drive, i felt like I was being swallowed by the car despite adjustments made. Hopefully this new Vette doesn't give that same swallowed up feeling to drivers.

I've yet to experience the C6 and I'm sure many do not share my experience with the Camaro, but I'm not much of a fan of low slung rooflines.

 

[Joey D]

Maybe I'm fatter, middle ager, and bald manner than I realize, but I think the Corvette is a good alternative to the GT-R and 911 already. It's the lightest, only one with RWD, the GT-R doesn't have a manual, and the 911 can't get near it for the same price. The interior isn't that bad, though I guess 911 people want something different. I myself would want a Corvette that's a bit more basic instead of loaded with stuff. I already don't like PTM or launch control. If GM wants a semi luxury sports car, maybe they should do it through Cadillac again.

It is a good alternative, I'm not denying that nor am I even disagreeing. It is just people like you and I don't buy Corvettes, and if we do, we aren't likely to buy them new. Fat, middle-aged, bald guys buy new Corvettes, at least in America. If GM wants to continue selling the car, they need to expand their market and attract a wider variety of people to buy the car.

 

[xNEVER-ONEx]

It is a good alternative, I'm not denying that nor am I even disagreeing. It is just people like you and I don't buy Corvettes, and if we do, we aren't likely to buy them new. Fat, middle-aged, bald guys buy new Corvettes, at least in America. If GM wants to continue selling the car, they need to expand their market and attract a wider variety of people to buy the car.

Isn't the cost of ownership way cheaper than comparables anyways for a Corvette?

 

[Joey D]

Isn't the cost of ownership way cheaper than comparables anyways for a Corvette?

I'm guessing most people who are looking to buy a brand new, premium sports car, do not really take into account the cost of ownership. If they did they probably wouldn't be buy a new car to begin with.

But I would suspect you're right, the Corvette is probably significantly less expensive when it comes to cost of ownership just because the dealer network is huge, the car is made domestically, and it uses quite a few off the shelf parts from the GM bin.

 

[xNEVER-ONEx]

I'm guessing most people who are looking to buy a brand new, premium sports car, do not really take into account the cost of ownership. If they did they probably wouldn't be buy a new car to begin with.

But I would suspect you're right, the Corvette is probably significantly less expensive when it comes to cost of ownership just because the dealer network is huge, the car is made domestically, and it uses quite a few off the shelf parts from the GM bin.

Well unless your going for the top of the line ZR1, the Corvette will likely cost significantly less than a Porsche or a GTR, possibly 75 cents to the dollar relative to the other cars. If true, thats a lot of money.

 

[Joey D]

Well unless your going for the top of the line ZR1, the Corvette will likely cost significantly less than a Porsche or a GTR, possibly 75 cents to the dollar relative to the other cars. If true, thats a lot of money.

It's actually probably cheaper to own a Corvette vs. GTR/911 than $.75 on the $1. That's not my point, in fact I agree with you that the Corvette is probably significantly cheaper to own.

I'm looking at the car from the perspective of the buyer who is in the market for a brand new, premium, sports car. Chances are they aren't all that concerned with the cost of ownership of the vehicle. Sure there's always cases where someone would be, but I'm willing to bet a majority of the buyers aren't. If you can pony up the $60k+ for your sports car, you're probably not all that worried about expensive oil changes or wear items.

People in the market for a sports car that is reasonable to own typically end up with something used, or something way cheaper like a Miata.

 

[Shoe67]

Adding to joey's post, I feel like people when looking for sports cars in america would consider the modern muscle (camaro, mustang, challenger) to be sports cars and the corvette, viper, and ford gt to be more like super cars...

 

[xNEVER-ONEx]

It's actually probably cheaper to own a Corvette vs. GTR/911 than $.75 on the $1. That's not my point, in fact I agree with you that the Corvette is probably significantly cheaper to own.

I'm looking at the car from the perspective of the buyer who is in the market for a brand new, premium, sports car. Chances are they aren't all that concerned with the cost of ownership of the vehicle. Sure there's always cases where someone would be, but I'm willing to bet a majority of the buyers aren't. If you can pony up the $60k+ for your sports car, you're probably not all that worried about expensive oil changes or wear items.

People in the market for a sports car that is reasonable to own typically end up with something used, or something way cheaper like a Miata.

If your a multi millionaire, than your point is valid, but if still have a budget to spend on a new sports car, than an extra $25k may be a deal breaker for you.

 

[Joey D]

If your a multi millionaire, than your point is valid, but if still have a budget to spend on a new sports car, than an extra $25k may be a deal breaker for you.

If you have a budget for a sports car why would you buy a new one? And who spends $60k on a sports car if you're on a budget anyways?

 

[xNEVER-ONEx]

If you have a budget for a sports car why would you buy a new one? And who spends $60k on a sports car if you're on a budget anyways?

More people than you think. If I make 200 grand a year (and single), I might look into owning a 60 grand corvette, but a 100 grand GTR or Porsche might be out of the question.

 

[Tornado]

I don't think things have changed much. Maybe the Ford GT and Viper, but the Corvette is pretty much in the same spot it has been since the C4. The Mustang, Camaro and Challenger (especially the latter two) seem to be bought more as the modern equivalents to personal luxury coupes more than sports cars.

If you have a budget for a sports car why would you buy a new one? And who spends $60k on a sports car if you're on a budget anyways?

If there was no practical difference between dropping a hundred grand on a sports car or 60 grand, Porsche wouldn't build the Boxster or Cayman because they would barely sell any.

 

[Exorcet]

I'm guessing most people who are looking to buy a brand new, premium sports car, do not really take into account the cost of ownership. If they did they probably wouldn't be buy a new car to begin with.

I'm not quite sure I can agree there Income/wealth is a continuous thing. There are people at every point in the continuum, although how many there are between certain boundaries may not be obvious.

The difference between $70,000 and $100,000 is pretty big, and it doesn't get smaller if the more expensive car costs more to maintain. Depending on how much money you have and what your long term goals are, I don't see any reason to count the price difference as trivial. And then, it might not even be price that drives the decision, as I said before the Corvette has its own selling points.

Toronado pretty much said it above.

 

[Slash]

Adding to joey's post, I feel like people when looking for sports cars in america would consider the modern muscle (camaro, mustang, challenger) to be sports cars and the corvette, viper, and ford gt to be more like super cars...

Almost everyone I know personally considers 'Vettes a muscle car.

 

[locoman88]

Almost everyone I know personally considers 'Vettes a muscle car.

Yup, I mean it has the basic engine for it, or type that is. V8, not V10's.

 

[McLaren]

More people than you think. If I make 200 grand a year (and single), I might look into owning a 60 grand corvette, but a 100 grand GTR or Porsche might be out of the question.

Uh, not even close.

If you can make $200,000 a year, financing a $100K GT-R/Porsche is well beyond achievable. That's around $25,000 a year on a 5-year deal.

 

[Tornado]

That wasn't his point.

 

[McLaren]

That wasn't his point.

Then what was the point? Because making $200K a year does not put owning a $100,000 car out the question in any way.

 

[Tornado]

He never said that it was financially impossible to buy a $100,000 car if you make 200 large a year. He said that it was fallacious to treat a 60,000 car as if the price difference between it and a 100,000 car was meaningless if you make 200 large a year (and he just picked a number out of a hat, I think), in response to Joey claiming that people who buy new Corvettes aren't operating on budgets (so presumably might as well spend 50% more money on something else). If the people who bought Corvettes were willing to spend 25-40 grand more on Corvettes as if it was nothing, that's what GM would charge for them.

 

[boomee]

Almost everyone I know personally considers 'Vettes a muscle car.

doesent mean there right lotta unimformed people in the world jus saying. and Im only talking about C5 and up. C4 is questionable but C3 down I consider those muscle cars

 

[dudeguy]

I was hoping more along the lines of this.

the Rossi Sixtysix

 

[Joey D]

He never said that it was financially impossible to buy a $100,000 car if you make 200 large a year. He said that it was fallacious to treat a 60,000 car as if the price difference between it and a 100,000 car was meaningless if you make 200 large a year (and he just picked a number out of a hat, I think), in response to Joey claiming that people who buy new Corvettes aren't operating on budgets (so presumably might as well spend 50% more money on something else). If the people who bought Corvettes were willing to spend 25-40 grand more on Corvettes as if it was nothing, that's what GM would charge for them.

My point was if you're buying a $60k sports car you're probably not too concerned with the cost of ownership.

And if you're buying a new Corvette, or any new sports car for that matter, you're not on a budget. People on budgets by used Toyota Corollas.

I'm really amazed to see how my original point was so distorted it became something completely different. So for the sake of getting back on track instead of arguing for the sake of arguing about something stupid: I think GM needs to do more to attract a wider variety of buyers to the Corvette since it's already a capable sports car that can compete on a world stage.

 

[Exorcet]

Your point wasn't distorted. There isn't some magic income number where money does not become an issue (except an infinite income). You can be on a budget no matter how rich you are if what you're trying to buy is expensive enough. Being able to afford or being willing to spend money on a Corvette does not mean you can afford/spend money on a private airliner, a Veyron, or a 911 Turbo. Even with in the same car, Corvette Grand Sport =/= Z06 =/= ZR1.

 

[Joey D]

Your point wasn't distorted. There isn't some magic income number where money does not become an issue (except an infinite income). You can be on a budget no matter how rich you are if what you're trying to buy is expensive enough. Being able to afford or being willing to spend money on a Corvette does not mean you can afford/spend money on a private airliner, a Veyron, or a 911 Turbo. Even with in the same car, Corvette Grand Sport =/= Z06 =/= ZR1.

Yes it was, considering my original point had nothing to do with the price of the car but rather the market that bought it. I stated GM needed to attract a more diverse buyer group to the car by making the Corvette modern instead of becoming retro and selling out to tradition. I also stated I believed the Corvette could already compete with the leading performance cars currently and with modernization it could easily best them.

If you guys want to live in some fantasy world were people but expensive, luxury goods when they're on a budget, have at it. I'd really like to actually discuss what GM should be doing to make sure their car is better than the competition, mainly the 911 and GTR, and show the world it isn't just a car bought mainly by middle aged, American men.

 

[ND4SPD]

If you guys want to live in some fantasy world were people but expensive, luxury goods when they're on a budget, have at it. I'd really like to actually discuss what GM should be doing to make sure their car is better than the competition, mainly the 911 and GTR, and show the world it isn't just a car bought mainly by middle aged, American men.

I'm trying to break that middle aged bald man stereotype by being a 22yo C6 owner.... Although, every other Vette I come across does happen to be driven by middle aged men.....

The spy shots and renders seem to show an even lower slung roofline for the C7. The one aspect I dislike about the new Camaro, for me, is it's poor visibility due to it's low roofline. During a test drive, i felt like I was being swallowed by the car despite adjustments made. Hopefully this new Vette doesn't give that same swallowed up feeling to drivers.

I've yet to experience the C6 and I'm sure many do not share my experience with the Camaro, but I'm not much of a fan of low slung rooflines.

The C6 has way better outside visibility than the Camaro. The Camaro is just downright ridiculous to be inside in IMO. You feel like a small child inside of it with it's ridiculously high belt line and tiny windows. The C6 on the other hand feels just right.

 

[boomee]

I was hoping more along the lines of this.

I love the Rossi awsome vehicles

 

[McLaren]

I'm trying to break that middle aged bald man stereotype by being a 22yo C6 owner.... Although, every other Vette I come across does happen to be driven by middle aged men.....

Because you bought into the used market. No offense, but that's such a vast market that allows for buyers of any category & is perfect for the enthusiasts to grab their affordable dream cars.

I'm pretty sure Joey is referring to new cars where GM controls how the Corvette is marketed towards potential buyers.

 

[Kent]

Yes it was, considering my original point had nothing to do with the price of the car but rather the market that bought it. I stated GM needed to attract a more diverse buyer group to the car by making the Corvette modern instead of becoming retro and selling out to tradition. I also stated I believed the Corvette could already compete with the leading performance cars currently and with modernization it could easily best them.

If you guys want to live in some fantasy world were people but expensive, luxury goods when they're on a budget, have at it. I'd really like to actually discuss what GM should be doing to make sure their car is better than the competition, mainly the 911 and GTR, and show the world it isn't just a car bought mainly by middle aged, American men.

The only problem there is that you're talking about two different things. Targeting the market and beating the 911/GTR are miles apart. The market, no matter what demographic, is going to be (generally) buying a standard vette, most likely an automatic transmission. Beating the GTR on the other hand... Not exactly what the average Vette buyer is thinking when they throw down the payments.