aussiesmg wrote:mtn wrote: 100% supercar performance at 50% supercar price and 100% more reliable/less likely to nickel and dime you? Okay, I'll live with the lousy interior.+1
+2
aussiesmg wrote:mtn wrote: 100% supercar performance at 50% supercar price and 100% more reliable/less likely to nickel and dime you? Okay, I'll live with the lousy interior.+1
+2
I think gm suffers from focus groups. By sheer size of the company things start being designed by committee. The corvette survives this pretty well having not turned into a crossover suv thing. It stays separate enough to exist, but not separate enough to get away from their own marketing people.
Hard to beat the performance per dollar, but misses the mark of being something truly special.
My '99 C5 is outside.
The "perceived quality" of the interior may be low, but its actual quality is pretty good. All of the plastics are original, unfaded, and working. No cracks in the dash, no seized and broken vents, no busted buttons or knobs.
The seats were unmitigated garbage from day 1. They were a serious safety hazard when new and were designed & built shoddily enough that I just replaced them with Sparcos. My best guess at the designer's excuse would be that he was trying to slip a 29" wide driver into a space 28" wide and then figure out how to put reclining and power controls in there somehow. It just wasn't anywhere near strong enough and the recliner mechanism finally went.
I have never made a larger single performance improvement to a car. If you don't like the Corvette interior and can't get along with the seats, replace them.
carguy123 wrote: Cut it down to 3/4 or 7/8 size, GET RID OF THAT HORRENDOUS BUTT, and give it some interior class and it'd be a winner vs a whiner.
You do realize that when the C6 was introduced, the same model year Porsche 911 was actually longer.
I like the Z06, but the Grandsport is a bit over-the-top for my likings. It's almost like the guys formerly from Pontiac got their hands on it and were like "hey, let's but some big fish gills here, and some vents there, and some body kit here"....
Granted its interior isn't up to par with other "supercars" out there, but the vette costs half as much and puts up comparable or better performance than many of the high(er) dollar cars out there.
For the $40k saved vs. something euro, I can have the interior redone to be nicer, lol.
one thing I am scared of is GM seeing the Panamera and saying "hey, let's do that with the vette, it would be awesome!"
And it would not be awesome. It would be even stupider than the Panamera.
What's a Cadillac ATS-V if not a four-door Corvette?
irish44j wrote: I like the Z06, but the Grandsport is a bit over-the-top for my likings. It's almost like the guys formerly from Pontiac got their hands on it and were like "hey, let's but some big fish gills here, and some vents there, and some body kit here"....
You realize that the only body part on the GS different from a base C6 is slightly different fender vents (built into the fenders, not stick-ons) and the ZR1 rear spoiler (functional), right?
NOHOME wrote: From a purely objective standpoint, the Vette represents the performance bargain of the last century. From a more subjective marketing standpoint, the car is saddled with the image of being a billboard announcing the arrival of an old fart with a dead-dick. This illustrates what is wrong with GM in general; the cars are OK, yet GM is seen as an old peoples car company and they seem oblivious to the repercussions of having this image. Do Ferrari and Lambos have the same issue or is there a way to avoid/remedy this image?
Ferraris and Lambos don't have the same image problem. When I think Ferrari/Lambo I think one of two things:
if it's a younger guy driving, I think "drug dealer," "wall street trader," or "trust-fund baby." I hate all three of those, so I hate any younger guy driving a Ferrari or Lambo, especially if he's cruising through the town center at 10mph to show it off, as most of those owners around here do.
if it's an older guy driving, I think "this guy could rock a Corvette, BUT he has tons of cash so wants to show it off. Also, he doesn't have a dead-dick, he just has a small dick." Vettes are what Joe worker can save his pennies for and buy when the kids are out of college. Ferrari/Lambo is equally midlife crisis, but with a ton of douchieness attached.
at the 40-second mark: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=660phS0vY0c
Javelin wrote:irish44j wrote: I like the Z06, but the Grandsport is a bit over-the-top for my likings. It's almost like the guys formerly from Pontiac got their hands on it and were like "hey, let's but some big fish gills here, and some vents there, and some body kit here"....You realize that the only body part on the GS different from a base C6 is slightly different fender vents (built into the fenders, not stick-ons) and the ZR1 rear spoiler (functional), right?
I didn't say they weren't functional, or that they were "stick-ons." I just said it looks over the top, in my opinion. I thought there were a couple other differences as well, but I guess not. I don't pay that much attention to details on cars I can't afford. But whenever I see a GS, I just think "too much"....just my opinion.
chaparral wrote: What's a Cadillac ATS-V if not a four-door Corvette?
No idea. I had to look it up. Looks ugly, whatever it is.
I meant more like taking a car that looks like a corvette, but stretching it for 4 doors....more or less how the Panamera looks vs. a regular 911.
The Caddies have alot of common drivetrain, but they don't look anything like a Corvette.
It's a car that can outrun cars 5 times it's price, all while being more reliable and less snooty. Sounds pretty grassroots to me (even if the ZR1 is $100K).
Every time I see someone complain about the Vette's interior, I imagine them humping one of the HVAC vents whining "B-b-but they're plasticy and not supportive."
Does it have to be soft touch plastic?
Do you really touch the dashboard that much?
For the other $50,000 I'm sure you could easily afford a whale penis interior that would shame an Italian exotic.
I like the looks of the C6 Grand Sport a lot in person. But I've never been able to get comfortable in any Corvette (the driving position is terrible for small folks) so the performance potential is pretty much lost on me. I have the same problem with old F-Bodies and Mustangs. I'd love to park a big American V8 in my garage, but I'm still waiting for one I enjoy driving.
Those complaining about the dash, here ya go.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/CHEVROLET-CORVETTE-WOOD-DASHBOARD-INTERIOR-TRIM-DASH-KIT-DK487-/170707985467?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Model%3ACorvette&vxp=mtr&hash=item27befd243b#ht_3101wt_1143
lol, that's even worse.
The Corvette has a fantastic engine, fantastic suspension, parts are relatively cheap, anyone can work on it, and it gets amazing mileage when you consider the power.
Somehow a plastic interior trumps all that, huh?
Jeremy Clarkson always repeats this same nonsense criticism..."Well, the Corvette just outran the Ferrari around our test track, and costs $150,000 less, but it's American and plastic, so it's rubbish."
I'll answer with a false hypothetical. If someone was giving them away, I'd take the 'Vette 'cause I'm sure I could sell it for more. But if I had to drive it every day, I'd take the new 86.
irish44j wrote: I meant more like taking a car that looks like a corvette, but stretching it for 4 doors....more or less how the Panamera looks vs. a regular 911.
Hideous vs. beautiful?
Panamera vs a "regular 911"?! Let's be clear. A Panamera is not any kind of 911. A "regular 911" is awesome. A Panamera is an abomination that shouldn't exist.
fast_eddie_72 wrote:irish44j wrote: I meant more like taking a car that looks like a corvette, but stretching it for 4 doors....more or less how the Panamera looks vs. a regular 911.Hideous vs. beautiful? Panamera vs a "regular 911"?! Let's be clear. A Panamera is not any kind of 911. A "regular 911" is awesome. A Panamera is an abomination that shouldn't exist.
actually I'm in full agreement. I know it's not a stretched 911, but its exterior style was made to resemble one (or perhaps more a 968, lol). In any case, the Panamera looks like a "porsche" and can't be mistaken for anything else. Granted, a hideous abomination of Porsche style. And I basically love the way almost all porsches have looked for 30 years, aside from the panamera and certain Cayennes....
The ATS-V may be a 4-door corvette under the skin, but it doesn't physically look anything like a corvette. That's what I meant.
Alan Cesar wrote: It's cramped, uncomfortable, has crap visibility, and nothing about it made me happy driving it on the street—this coming from the guy who dailies a Miata. But it's the 50th anniversary package that particularly annoys me. All that alcantara inside next to some incredibly cheap plastic panels and switchgear. If you're gonna charge five grand for what is basically just an appearance package, it should be considerably nicer. Even some fake carbon fiber appliques over the flat black stuff would've made it more palatable. And the flat, narrow seat drove me nuts. I don't doubt its performance cred, but man, I hated every minute inside that car.
Hilarious. I went back and read this post and even this crazy weird anti plastic disease has infected magazine employees, so called car guys...and to make it even worse, when you go further and start advocating for fake carbon fiber you know you've jumped the shark and become a poser.
NOHOME wrote: From a purely objective standpoint, the Vette represents the performance bargain of the last century. From a more subjective marketing standpoint, the car is saddled with the image of being a billboard announcing the arrival of an old fart with a dead-dick. This illustrates what is wrong with GM in general; the cars are OK, yet GM is seen as an old peoples car company and they seem oblivious to the repercussions of having this image. Do Ferrari and Lambos have the same issue or is there a way to avoid/remedy this image?
My god, I'm amazed at the crybabies on this board, the corvette makes a zillion horsepower, is ten times better then anything out there for the money and most definitely 20 times faster then anything your driving but your complaint is, a self-fulfilling prophecy regarding "image"? Good grief. What more would it take for the car to have a better image in your view? Jennifer Lopez video? Some god awlful rap music in a commercial from some low life rapper "singer"? Sure GM gets it wrong, please feel free to refer to my post the other day about their brakes falling off, but when I read silly commentaries from crybabies that lament "cramped interiors" blah blah I just have to wonder what your take is on the original ford cobras, or muscle cars of yesteryear, or any other high performance vehicle for that matter.... what a bunch of candie-asses.
aussiesmg wrote: Those complaining about the dash, here ya go. http://www.ebay.com/itm/CHEVROLET-CORVETTE-WOOD-DASHBOARD-INTERIOR-TRIM-DASH-KIT-DK487-/170707985467?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Model%3ACorvette&vxp=mtr&hash=item27befd243b#ht_3101wt_1143
I want this for the mx6.
Will wrote: The Corvette has a fantastic engine, fantastic suspension, parts are relatively cheap, anyone can work on it, and it gets amazing mileage when you consider the power. Somehow a plastic interior trumps all that, huh? Jeremy Clarkson always repeats this same nonsense criticism..."Well, the Corvette just outran the Ferrari around our test track, and costs $150,000 less, but it's American and plastic, so it's rubbish."
It is still a $70k car with the interior quality of a kia rio. I don't particularly care - by the time it has depreciated tothe part where I buy it - it gets a roll cage, one sparco and a whole lot less comfortable but if I was rolling out 70k for a new one - I wouldn't. I'd buy a Cayman. Or a 997. Or an M3. A pile of cars that people will say are slower or something ... but my $10k E30 is faster than all of them. Speed without comfort is CHEAP. $70k is cheaper than some fast and nicely appointed cars - but it ain't CHEAP at all. Gimme a damn nice interior or gimme it stripped for a whole lot less.
**(actually, it really isn't all that bad - it is just cheap feeling for a high end sports car in the market it wants to be in - in an Impala it would be spiffy)
plance1 wrote:Alan Cesar wrote: It's cramped, uncomfortable, has crap visibility, and nothing about it made me happy driving it on the street—this coming from the guy who dailies a Miata. But it's the 50th anniversary package that particularly annoys me. All that alcantara inside next to some incredibly cheap plastic panels and switchgear. If you're gonna charge five grand for what is basically just an appearance package, it should be considerably nicer. Even some fake carbon fiber appliques over the flat black stuff would've made it more palatable. And the flat, narrow seat drove me nuts. I don't doubt its performance cred, but man, I hated every minute inside that car.Hilarious. I went back and read this post and even this crazy weird anti plastic disease has infected magazine employees, so called car guys...and to make it even worse, when you go further and start advocating for fake carbon fiber you know you've jumped the shark and become a poser.
Considering how much stuff GRM does with Subarus (rallycross, autocross, tire tests, etc etc etc), I think he's not going to like it there. Because Subies have way more plastic than a vette! My sub-$30k 2009 wrx is nothing but hard plastic inside. I don't mind, personally. But it could throw someone with anti-hard-plastic disease into seizures.
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