by "RacinBob" (racinbob)
Published 06/29/2017 at 20:34
by "RacinBob" (racinbob)
Published 06/29/2017 at 20:34
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STARS: 1
I was a coop student at GM Saginaw Steering Gear Division plant in ‘78 and ‘79. This is about identical to the plant fleet “gopher” “Vette”. I thought it was a pretty good car at the time. That amuses me......
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"Frank Grimes" (FrankGrimes)
06/29/2017 at 21:14, STARS: 2
I like to fantasize about how good one would be with a 6 speed manual and a turbo ecotec.
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
06/29/2017 at 21:24, STARS: 1
Still crappy, but a lot faster!
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
06/29/2017 at 21:25, STARS: 0
I sat in one of these about a decade ago now, and was amazed by how narrow the foot well was. I’ve got really wide feet, I would’ve had to take my shoes off to be able to hit the gas without also pushing the brake.
"Frank Grimes" (FrankGrimes)
06/29/2017 at 21:30, STARS: 1
what is left to be crappy?
"Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
06/29/2017 at 21:33, STARS: 0
Seeing ‘Chevette’ and ‘steering’ referenced in the same sentence strains credulity, as that car’s steering was mostly wishful thinking.
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
06/29/2017 at 21:43, STARS: 2
The floppy structure and craptastic suspension. I’d say the horrible interior would be left too, but I really don’t care about that. Don’t get me wrong, I like the idea ... a lot!
"WilliamsSW" (williamssw)
06/29/2017 at 21:47, STARS: 2
It’s hard to appreciate how crappy the Chevette is unless you’ve driven one.
But, they weigh approximately nothing, so any powerful engine will make them fast.
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
06/29/2017 at 21:51, STARS: 1
I think just sitting in the drivers seat was enough for me. I didn’t feel like taking my shoes off to go for a drive. Seriously, the foot well is so narrow, and my feet are so wide, I would’ve had to take my shoes off to be able to press the gas without also hitting the brakes at the same time.
"WilliamsSW" (williamssw)
06/29/2017 at 21:58, STARS: 1
We had a bunch of these in drivers ed that we used on a range to practice parking and other low speed stuff mainly. Plus I knew a few people in my late teens that had them. Tinny and slow as hell.
The saving grace was RWD, so you could actually hoon a little on low traction surfaces (=snow).
"Highlander-Datsuns are Forever" (jamesbowland)
06/29/2017 at 22:11, STARS: 2
I pulled up behind one at a stoplight in my 240z. Dude just hammers it when the light went green and took off way too fast for there to be a late 70's 4 banger in there. I also didn’t realize we were racing so it took me a block to catch up and pass him.
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
06/29/2017 at 22:43, STARS: 1
My high school had the same setup, a bunch of Chevettes on the range, for driver’s ed. I remember seeing them when I was 8 or 9 and at the high school for some reason. Those were all gone by the time I was in high school though. They made the range into more parking lot and the only two driver’s ed cars were an ‘87 Caprice wagon, and an early-mid 90's Buick Skylark.
"Die-Trying" (die-trying)
06/29/2017 at 23:17, STARS: 1
the bad seed chevette comes to mind. cadillac 500, with a turbo 400....... ran 11somethings.........
"WilliamsSW" (williamssw)
06/29/2017 at 23:20, STARS: 0
I loved the range because we were all in our own car, without an instructor. So, a Chevette was actually the first car I drove alone in, I guess.
I think we had 83-84 Cutlasses for street practice with the instructor, but I’m not sure. Whatever it was, it was a new GM mid size car that they got from a local dealer.
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
06/29/2017 at 23:25, STARS: 1
The range Chevettes sure looked like great fun, to my 8-year old eyes.
"WilliamsSW" (williamssw)
06/29/2017 at 23:43, STARS: 1
It was! Despite never going over 10 mph, I think there was 1 fender bender, and I know one kid slid into a snow bank that semester.
"Frenchlicker" (frenchlicker)
06/30/2017 at 07:22, STARS: 0
My “hit the lottery dream” is to create a company that takes cars lie this and the Omni’s and redoes them with a modern drive train and updated interiors.