WOW! The C6 Vette!

[blackmercedes]

Wow! Has anyone seen the specs on the BASE C6? It can run with a C5 Z-06! And the new interior. MUCH nicer! Very impressive car. According to C&D, it will punish pretty much everything except the most exotic of the exotic.

I have been considering selling some stuff and buying a used C5 Z-06, but WHY? The new C6 is AWESOME. It's less than 2/3 the price of a 911 and can suck it's lights out. The new interior (at least in pics) looks 10X better, and on the level of the pricey hot-rod set.

Damn, what's up at GM? How can they make stuff like this, and still sell those junky entry and mid-level cars? They should put the C6 team in charge of the ENTIRE COMPANY. Hello?

[Kuan]

I always thought that even the C5 car was a real good value. I haven't seen the new 'vette yet, from your enthusiastic writeup I assume it stands head and shoulders above the "old" 'vette. Are you really gonna buy a new NEW car John? Gotta love that smell...



SMELL OF BURNING RUBBER!

[blackmercedes]

Originally Posted by Kuan

Are you really gonna buy a new NEW car John? Gotta love that smell...



SMELL OF BURNING RUBBER!

Well, we'll see. It's going to be pretty tough in January when my contract is up and the money is in the bank. I will be VERY tempted! The new C6 actually has a price drop for the base car, and there is no longer a premium for the six speed manny-tranny. A base (no options!) car would be a very nice car as most of the options are for gizmos only. And without the price premium for the Z-06, the new C6 is the mightiest bang-for-the-buck around.

400 ponies and mid 12's at the base price? Damn!

Yes indeed BM the Z-06 is one fassssst cookie, the only problem I have with them is there are too many here in the motor capital due to excellent deals for GM employees and family. The one thing that is most understated about the Vette line up is how simple they are to drive, unlike 911's or other exotics.


My money is on you investing the new found $$$ on one you won't be able to resist.

I've been raving about GM quality and engineering for the last four years we've had 2 suburbans, 1 Avalanche and a Trail Blazer and couldn't be happier.

[Honus]

Originally Posted by blackmercedes

Wow! Has anyone seen the specs on the BASE ...Damn, what's up at GM? How can they make stuff like this, and still sell those junky entry and mid-level cars? They should put the C6 team in charge of the ENTIRE COMPANY. Hello?

That is exactly what I was saying earlier today. It is a mystery to me.

I never was much of a Vette fan, but I have come around in the last few years. Great cars.

[super SEC]

The new C6 is the best Corvette ever! I'm not a Vette guy but I can appreciate the value this car offers. Slap a Lingenfelter twin turbo kit on that 6.1 L engine and for less than $100,000 you can have a car that will run with the super bikes!

[gerryvz]

C'mon, the pattern is utterly predictable.

Every time they come out with a new generation of Vette it gets rave reviews by the car mags. First round of articles raves about how fast, sexy looking, high-tech, etc. the car is. They always talk about how they've finally solved the perennial quality, build, rattle problems. They always say that THIS Vette finally puts GM "up there" with the Porsches, Lamborghinis, Lotuses of the world.

The comparisons to the "old" generation Vettes abound. Sure it's better -- 6-10 years in car technology advancement is a long time. But the competition isn't standing still either....

After a while people start to realize that it's .... just another Vette. Faster than snot, great engine, better handling, awesome bang for the buck.

But poor design & ergonomics, interior materials, build quality, rattles galore, maintenance headaches, expensive to repair, high depreciation.

You have to ask yourself... Does the Corvette truly run with the big boys? Does it carry the same prestige as the big boys? Why does the Corvette's appeal continue to be primarily middle-age (40s-60s), midlife-crisis white American males, particularly of the gold-chain-wearing variety?

If the Corvette is so world-class, why isn't there strong demand for them overseas? Well, I did see ONE C5er in Germany on the road, but that was one in 3 weeks of driving. And it was highly likely a GI driving, not a German.

I like Corvettes for what they are, but I hate the fact that they always try to portray an image of being something that they are not. Basically a Corvette is just a super-Camaro -- something for today's 20-something 4.6-L Mustang driver to aspire to (no more Camaros...).

Cheers,
Gerry

I must concur. Yep, they packaged a nice batch of specs. However, GM's old habits have been long proven to die hard, and all I can say is wait. We'll find out soon enough where the bean counters got into the mix, and started cutting those quality corners.

[elau]

I agree also. Most magazines are pretty much lean toward GM when it comes to Vette. It is the only sport cars on this side of the Atlantic that has a reputation and history. Viper is too new to make a foot print and the Ford GT is just now coming back. So is the new Cobra.

Fast, maybe. But with a fiber glass body as oppose to other exotics, it is somewhat of a cheat. Myself is not much of a Vette fan, I will take a Porsche or Ferrari over a Vette in any given day.

Plus the Vette crowd generally is a different bred, more like over grown red necks.

You know I agree with everything said here, good and bad, but I do think the vette's image is changing. A lot of younger people on the way up are driving them around here. Yes, this is just Kansas City, but in Johnson County there's tons of money, and lots of 911's, Ferraris, Lotus', Maseratis, etc. Younger folks with money are starting to buy different things, like some started buying Cadillac Northstars in the 90s instead of BMW's, etc., to be different and so on. I've struggled with the Vette's image problems myself, and I've also driven two and can say that they scared the $hit out of me. I actually like the new vette, personally. I could see buying one on the future. But I can also see buying an older 911, which is more my style regardless of speed. The vette is silly fast, but image can be important, too. For me, it will depend on where that image goes. They do look much better now, though.

[sfloriII]

Great looking car!

Here's a picture and a link:

New Corvette Pictures

[blackmercedes]

996 Porsche? I saw a 1999 911 for quite a bit less than the price of the new C6 Corvette. That's a ton of car for the money! Heck, a 98-99 911 can be had for not much more than a new C-Class! In fact, checking out used Porsches I have found that the 996's (NON Turbo...) are less than a 79-85 911 Turbo.

With nearly $70,000 in depreciation already gone, how much more could you lose on a '99 911?

I'd love a Ferrari, but the only Prancing Horse model close to the price of a 99-00 911 is a REALLY old 308. Too rich for me. Also, service costs are so staggering, long term ownership is just not an option. A Porsche would be more than enough in that dept already...

[wbain5280]

Nice car except the front looks like a cartoon shark, IMHO. (also, no pun intended.)

In a few years, I might get a C5 just for fun.

[Kuan]

Originally Posted by Diesel Power

I must concur. Yep, they packaged a nice batch of specs. However, GM's old habits have been long proven to die hard, and all I can say is wait. We'll find out soon enough where the bean counters got into the mix, and started cutting those quality corners.

You can say that for just about every marque these days... like MB.