by "Groagun" (groagun)
Published 11/13/2017 at 12:55
by "Groagun" (groagun)
Published 11/13/2017 at 12:55
No Tags
STARS: 4
So yeah,,, the 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1. Looks cool, doesn’t it kids?
Whoa,,,, 755 HORSE POWER,,, 715 FOOT POUNDS OF TORQUE!!! A FIRE BREATHING, and spitting, V8 WITH FORCED INDUCTION!!! HOLY SHIT!!!
I need to calm down here, cool my jets. This is so impressive though. The little Corvette, America’s sports car: all grown up and playing with the big boys on the block now.
When you think of the block, where exactly do you think of? There are endless great roads in America but two in particular come to my mind. Both are historic and at least one is still relevant today.
California Highway 1, PCH Pacific Coast Highway. Even without the vistas the road is awesome. Long, winding and sweeping curves and turns: a few long straights to stretch the engines muscle. PCH may be the premier road in America.
It comes with great history as well, as does my other choice:
Woodward Ave in Detroit MI. I have a real soft spot for Detroit. It has nothing to do with the old big3 but rather, the people left behind and decimated by the old big3.
The people of Detroit is what makes Detroit special: and I mean those who live in Detroit proper and it’s ‘suburbs’. Flint is one such place, Pontiac another and don’t leave out Warren.
Detroit has been used and abused for a century now and it’s been left stripped and naked to the elements. The one thing left of value and worth, the thing that makes the city so vibrant and alive, the thing that makes saving and investing in Detroit a smart bet? The citizens and people of Detroit!
I’ve been in out of Detroit so many times now, particularly for the NIAS and other industry events, even in God awful winter, that at times it feels like a sister city to my own and a second home.
It’s funny to hear politicians talk about the ‘Heartland’ of America being somewhere in the middle of the country: BULLSHIT! Not to take away anything from those who live in the middle but America can and should be proud and willing to recognize that Detroit is the blue collar, sweat equity, boots on the ground and ethical center of America.
Perfect? No, but well worthy of greater recognition and the rest of you should be ashamed that Detroit has fallen to where it is today. You cannot live anywhere in America and point fingers at those only in Detroit. Nationally, you and the rest have a part to play.
Back to the Corvette ZR1
Still looks awesome, don’t it?
Here is my question though: where and when are you going to use this thing?
Have you driven on the roads in America lately? Where and when are you going to find a place with no traffic, the space to unleash that 755HP and where the cops aren’t going to get you, but not even bother with you?
Maybe track days only for this car then? That’s not how it’s being sold or marketed though. And it’s not what your thinking either.
We do need, yes I choose my words carefully here, NEED sports cars, even the ridiculous ones like this stupid ZR1.
I would advise to you and all my car enthusiast brothers/sisters that we have reached the pinnacle of ridiculous in this new golden age of the car: the personal car as we know it.
I’m trying to think of a place and time in my own life, in my physical surroundings and daily/weekly drives where I could really use this cars full potential.
There are small stretches, mostly straights, where at certain times of the day, mostly in the middle of the night, where I could let this thing rip. 30 seconds at a time, that would be it.
I’m not just picking on Chevrolet or the ZR1, this new arms race is out of control now and mostly meaningless to %95 of us. having spent some time in the racing world, I also know that %99 of us don’t have the skill to pilot such a machine: leave your ego at the door.
Both PCH and Woodward Ave represent two distinct flavors of American car culture. Opposite ends of the country and some may argue opposite ends of the car enthusiasts passion. One either road, where and when can you use the ZR1 to it’s full potential?
I want to and do dream of machines like this, I’m no different than you. I’ve just come to the realization that most of this is stupid and I wont be able to own, let alone even drive one of these hyper machines on the road.
More and more I’m starting to understand why ‘Jalops’ keep banging on about how the Miata is always the answer. I knew I wasn’t wrong lusting after the base Lotus Elise.
"Dave the car guy , still here" (a3dave)
11/13/2017 at 13:01, STARS: 2
Guessing the mid-engine will hit in 2020 since its already been leaked to be coming in the future.
"diplodicus" (diplodicus)
11/13/2017 at 13:03, STARS: 2
Flint is not a suburb of Detroit.
"For Sweden" (rallybeetle)
11/13/2017 at 13:05, STARS: 5
All of Michigan is a suburb of Detroit.
Kalamazoo is a suburb of Detroit.
"Groagun" (groagun)
11/13/2017 at 13:11, STARS: 0
That’s why ‘suburbs’ is in quotes.
"sony1492" (sony1492)
11/13/2017 at 13:12, STARS: 0
I don’t think it’s that the cars are too fast, it may be that the drivers just don’t want to drive them to their full potential.
Almost any sports car that gets into the 3k bracket has a strong chance of being hooned. It’s still the same car(though thoroughly beat), it’s the drivers that changed.
"diplodicus" (diplodicus)
11/13/2017 at 13:12, STARS: 0
Lies.
"BeaterGT" (beatergt)
11/13/2017 at 13:17, STARS: 1
This very well could be the last crazy Corvette before it goes mid-engined. And it still has a 7 speed, I absolutely love it. It reminds me of the same madness in the latest Camaro Z/28 or ZL1 1LE.
"Shift24" (the-nope)
11/13/2017 at 13:22, STARS: 0
Where are you going to use a 488, 720s, ZL1 1LE, Hellcat, Demon, Aventador, Ford GT, Mustang GT500, LaFerrari, 918, P1, any 911 over 400hp, and so on and on?
The point with these cars are not about whats safe or fun on public streets, its pushing the limits of what you can build with what you got. To prove it in a 1/4 mile or at the ‘Ring. Normal roads have become too congested for spirited driving at that level. Its not exactly fair to compare the two.
If you want to do spirited get a Miata, the boosted-pony cars, S2k, a Hot hatch, v6 Camaro, or a M235i. Anything with less than 300hp is more than enough for today’s driving. You start to get in trouble with much more than that.
The main problem you’re trying to call out is that companies are focused on the high end because they know the rich who follow brands like Vette, 911, or Ferrari will pay for the next greatest thing. The everyday Joe ether doesnt care, needs to spend the money else where, or like most of us buy used because its seen as more unique than buying new. Building a sports cost more money to build because its normally a one off. Manufacturers see it now as too risky and could hurt stock prices
"Milky" (jordanmielke)
11/13/2017 at 13:22, STARS: 2
Just for fun:
"For Sweden" (rallybeetle)
11/13/2017 at 13:24, STARS: 4
Toledo is a suburb of Detroit.
"diplodicus" (diplodicus)
11/13/2017 at 13:28, STARS: 0
That’s closer to truth than the Kzoo claim.
"Corkscrew'd" (corkscrewd)
11/13/2017 at 13:31, STARS: 1
Driven Route 1 plenty of times. I can attest, it’s a beautiful highway as long as you’re not stuck behind an RV!
But if you’re in the Bay Area then there’s plenty of other roads that the new ZR-1 would be at home on. Route 152 to Gilroy aka Hecker Pass, Route 9 toward Felton, Skyline Boulevard which straddles the mountains between the coast and Silicon Valley, and Route 84 LA Honda Drive are all excellent roads, and great ways to avoid Bay Area traffic!
"For Sweden" (rallybeetle)
11/13/2017 at 13:36, STARS: 1
South Bend is a suburb of Detroit
"diplodicus" (diplodicus)
11/13/2017 at 13:39, STARS: 1
Sweden is just eastern Norway.
"Saracen" (manualdoucheelitist)
11/13/2017 at 13:40, STARS: 0
I love driving on PCH, but the ZR1 is hugely overkill for that road. It would be far more enjoyable in a sporty but more relaxed ride, and with a convertible or targa top.
Not that it matters much, PCH is closed at Big Sur until the damage from two landslides earlier this year are repaired.
"For Sweden" (rallybeetle)
11/13/2017 at 13:40, STARS: 0
Oslo is a suburb of Detroit
"RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire" (ricerocketeer2)
11/13/2017 at 13:50, STARS: 0
I’d argue that a even base Corvette is way too much car.
"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
11/13/2017 at 13:53, STARS: 0
My car has roughly 340 fewer horsepower than a Corvette ZR1 and it also is more power than can be used on most roads.
Yes it’s stupid. Stupid is fun.
"themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles" (themanwithsauce)
11/13/2017 at 14:26, STARS: 0
I keep meaning to take a map of Michigan and label the eastern half of the lower peninsula - “ Detroit” and label the western half “Near Detroit”. Of course, the UP is still “Da U-P”. Oh, and Flint would just be labeled “Eternal Tire Fire”.
"themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles" (themanwithsauce)
11/13/2017 at 14:31, STARS: 0
Yeah....no. Detroit suburbs are some of the wealthiest places in the country.
Flint is basically every possible bad outcome of every decisions anyone in that city makes...Except for the Flint Crepe Company. That place is fan-fucking-tastic.
But still, Flint is about 70 miles north of Detroit. And there was a time when Pontiac was a standalone city with its own culture and history rather than just being a suburb. Though nowadays, I don’t diagree with calling it a suburb since we call the nearby towns suburbs of Detroit. Just......do it proper history. The real drag racing on woodward took place nearer to Pontiac/Birmingham than Detroit.
"diplodicus" (diplodicus)
11/13/2017 at 14:39, STARS: 0
I think it should be based on foods. Anywhere with mutliple Detroit coney options is metro detroit. Flint has it’s own Coney. The lower west side has craft beer. The upper west side has cherries. The UP has pasties. Well there are pasties in the LP but apparently the yoopers think ketchup is bettery than gravy for pasties and I think thats fucked. Frankenmuth has turkey legs.
"themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles" (themanwithsauce)
11/13/2017 at 15:05, STARS: 1
The three main rules of the AUto industry
1) On a long enough timeline, everything gets an LS
2) Every car at its core is a Fiat 500 or a VW Golf
3) Every city is a suburb of Detroit
"Jayhawk Jake" (jayhawkjake)
11/13/2017 at 15:05, STARS: 1
I generally don’t like the whole idea behind “do you really NEED x?” or “when can you use X to its full potential?”.
Who. Cares. Even a Miata you’re going to struggle to truly hit the limits on the road. You’ll probably find yours before you find the cars. According to google my daily driver’s top speed is 164 mph. When am I ever going to be able to hit 120 on the road, let alone 164? Why does it matter that I won’t?
Cars like the ZR1 are as useful as a work of art. Do you really need a painting on your wall, or is a plain white surface good enough? The ZR1 is a modern engineering marvel, and some people will buy one and appreciate it even if it’s below the limit.
I also don’t really get why so many auto enthusiasts are defeatist. “I’ll never get to own or drive one” why? Maybe not today, but who knows where you’ll be in the future. Maybe you’ll start a business, find success in your work, or maybe even the cars will depreciate to a point where you might just find yourself in one later.
"RT" (rt-p)
11/13/2017 at 15:51, STARS: 1
This post reminds me a lot of Clarkson’s verdict on the C6 Z06.
Sums up modern top-of-the-range Corvettes really: Fast, but best left to the track.
"RX" (rx-8)
11/13/2017 at 16:37, STARS: 1
Q: Where and when are you going to use this thing?
A: Parking lot of a cruise night or cars and coffee, where you will sit in a folding chair and drop d*ck swinging stats about the car.
"Decay buys too many beaters" (decay)
11/13/2017 at 16:44, STARS: 1
It’s simple, they (high powered supercars) exist for bragging rights. I have a more fun in my NA Miata than I do in my turbocharged FR-S and more fun on my supermoto than my street triple. There really is something to being able to wring a car out on the road
"My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword)
11/13/2017 at 17:16, STARS: 1
On the flip side, The kind of power I want is becoming much more affordable, so I am ok with old farts buying these.
"Groagun" (groagun)
11/13/2017 at 18:55, STARS: 0
HAHAHAHA!!
"Groagun" (groagun)
11/13/2017 at 19:04, STARS: 0
Agreed Jake, and I wont say that there isn’t an element of “do you really need X?” in this post.
I don’t know where I’ll be in the future, I was sure to let everyone know that I do love these but am getting tired, fatigued may be a better word, of these 700-800-1000+ HP machines that simply do not belong on the public roads.
I’m not sure where the energy and research should go or towards what but it seems and feels wasted on projects/cars like this.
"Groagun" (groagun)
11/13/2017 at 19:06, STARS: 0
HAHA!
"briannutter1" (briannutter1)
11/14/2017 at 04:21, STARS: 0
America has more tracks and track days for the common man to attend than anywhere on earth. 550 at the wheels Can get boring. Just head to “Mexico” where another 10 horsepower per week willl barely nudge someone’s eye open.
"Jayhawk Jake" (jayhawkjake)
11/14/2017 at 08:25, STARS: 0
How do you feel about the space program?
The amount of energy spent on these projects doesn’t seem that crazy. Pushing the limits of power also requires efforts to make that power reliably, to transfer that power to the ground, and improve the driving experience with new technology. All of this trickles down to “pedestrian” cars over time, so it’s not “wasted”.
There’s also an intrinsic value in “pie in the sky” projects because they can serve to motivate and inspire future designers, engineers, developers, etc. As a similar example, I recently spoke with a member of the advisory board at the aerospace program where I earned my bachelor’s degree. He said that the program is looking to hire more educators with a focus on space sciences and spacecraft engineering because the growth of SpaceX and Orbital Sciences and Blue Origin in the last few years has driven significantly greater interest in the space part of aerospace than the department has seen for a number of years. These things have an impact, and I like to think it’s a positive one.
"Groagun" (groagun)
11/17/2017 at 04:32, STARS: 0
Jake I agree. You and I are completely alike here: my problem with this particular car is that I don’t see it as that big, or any sort of technological advancement. Put simply, it’s nothing new.
The work you do and the engineers at NASA and other space agencies is ground breaking and ventures into the unknown.
The ZR1, the Chiron, that stupid new Hennesy while feats unto themselves, don’t push the envelope and in the context of daily use on public roads, has ventured into the flights of vanity and wasted effort
You do yourself and all of aerospace engineering, to align and compare yourself to the ‘chasing your own tales’ pursuits of the current crop of hyper road car makers, a real dis-service.
You and they are better and way more important to mankind than that. The work you and they do while labeled useless or fanciful at times by people with other agendas is actually work that benefited and will benefit all if not most of all mankind.