My Day with Thirty Seven Stingray Corvettes.

"Gene Sanchez Leeds" (Gene-Sanchez-Leeds) 09/28/2013 at 11:09 • Filed to: None

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I remember when I first drove a Corvette. It was my dad’s !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! with 350 miles on the clock. The following day was the second day I ever drove stick and it was in my homecoming parade with the queen on the roof and two other girls packed in the passenger seat. It’s a miracle I didn’t wipe out the entire marching band in front of me, or stall sending the brave girl above into the closest bass drum. This morning I had the same excitement I had when I woke up to at the age of 16 to take the GrandSport to pick up the homecoming queen. Today I’m going to drive the new Stingray.

I have a long and somewhat storied history with Corvettes. I remember the day we picked up our !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! from the dealership. It felt faster than I could even imagine. God I miss that car. We let it go when the lease was up and my dad and I went out to the museum to pick up our C6 Z06. I wasn’t particularly excited, as I had not seen one in person yet and wasn’t sold on the looks. Even so I took my bonus and paid the $5k dealer markup and then dad and I spilt the payments. It wasn’t a terrible deal as I got to daily drive this and the Z06 before it. Once we arrived at the museum and I !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , it was simply unbelievable. It didn’t !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! as the C5 but it was a real deal !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . A couple modifications later and it was all setup perfectly.

Unfortunately the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and a few months later a 16-year-old girl went through a red light at 12:37am to go wait on line for the new PlayStation at BestBuy. That was more or less the end of that car. As I’m an unbelievable !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! person/automotive enthusiast and retired auto journalist I’ve driven, or been in, almost every car there is out there. And with that here is my attempt at a somewhat unbiased review of the Corvette Stingray.

I kissed my sleeping queen on the cheek and drove off in my !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! against the sunrise to Monticello Motor Club. My dad was waiting for me just off the highway in his 2011 GrandSport and we drove the last few miles together. This event was not for Corvette people. This was something the General was putting on to attract people who would normally not find themselves dead in a Corvette. The parking lot was full of German luxury cars, Porsches, and a sizeable gathering of GTR’s. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

When we walked down from the lot we were greeted with egg sandwiches and four pit lanes full of Stingrays. These things really do look better in person than in photos or even at car shows. Seeing a car at the show is not like seeing one sitting on asphalt. I walked up and down the rows admiring the various bright colors. Velocity Yellow surprisingly looks good. Torch Red should be called torch orange. Black is somehow a let down. Night Race Blue would look better, and less gray, without the metal flake. Crystal Red is nice, if you’re into that kind of thing, same with Limerock Green. Laguna blue is really pretty, not sexy, not beautiful, but pretty. Cyber Gray, which was top on my list, looked too bland in the group. The Arctic White with red guts and black wheels was hands down the best of the bunch. The only thing that was unanimously terrible was the standard base wheels. It visually does not work with the rest of the car. Don’t get those. On the other hand the split spoke Z51 wheels always worked no matter the paint on the car or finish on the wheels.

Our first test was to loop a small section of track in various performance modes. This was it. Time to get into a Stingray. And with that, let’s talk about the interior. With everything I’ve heard I was expecting a mix of Bentley and Audi. As you might imagine I was let down. I’ve always liked the interiors of Corvettes. They don’t look horrible; they’re extremely functional and ergonomically perfect. Do they have style? No, but who cares I always thought. When the C6 first came out people raved about how its interior is far better than the C5. Same thing happened C4 to C5. This is just more of the same. Don’t get me wrong it is great. It’s a really nice interior. I get that the materials are better this time around, and they do feel it. But it’s not a huge change. It still feels like a Corvette interior, just a lot better. And much like what happened with the C6, people will rave about it, and then start complaining as the model grows in age. One thing that is light years better, finally, is the seat. I’m one of those rare Corvette guys with a size 29 waist. I’m used to crushing the door speaker with my left knee to hold myself from sliding out the window around a turn. These seats are fantastic. The second I got in they felt firm, well made, quality leather, and great bolstering. This was before I found the switch to increase the side bolstering even more. The last time I was in a car that didn’t require knee support it was an actual !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , or, a Porsche. I wasn’t able to play with the infotainment system as our two-way radios were set on auxiliary and we were told not to mess with them. The screen looked good and the backup camera was of acceptable quality. I was told that while it’s currently delayed, the cars would have full Siri integration in the near future to your texting and distractions delight. If you already picked a Stingray up, the software can be upgraded to support it. The digital dash was both bright and extremely crisp. So much so that the analog gauges next to it seemed off, they seemed 8 bit. Makes no sense, I know. From the press photos I saw of the heads up display I was expecting a big upgrade there. It’s of a slightly higher resolution but it’s more or less the same as in the C6, which is fine because it always worked perfectly. I flipped though the different tachometer configurations until I found the only one I needed, the C4/KnightRider/Motec uber track screen. It’s not as futuristic and fancy as the other screens, but it’s the proper choice. While on that setting the shift lights that show up on the bottom of the heads up display have the same effect as being just above the wheel. In the marketing pieces they always say that if it looks like leather, or aluminum, or carbon fiber, it is. Ok, that’s great, but you’re obviously not getting aluminum from the people Audi get their aluminum from. But you know what, that’s ok. I don’t want an Audi. I want a Corvette. And what animals did they skin for the dash and door leather, the Prawns from District 9? It has stitching and looks like leather, but it’s very hard and nothing as nice as the seats. Well done on the Carbon Fiber. It’s silly and expensive but it looks good. Overall the interior is still the same Corvette interior, just a good bit better, for now, before it will be terrible again, and finally upgraded, yet again. Just don’t expect it to feel like a Porsche on the inside. Just for the record I’m not much of a Porsche fan.

And off we go. On the first leg the steering wheel feels like I’m moving around a miniature hula-hoop in the air. I feel nothing. Then again I’m in Eco mode so maybe that will change. The exhaust is quiet. Call me Tommy because I can’t hear anything, feel anything and I must be dumb to not be enjoying this right now. However, even in Eco mode I immediately notice a huge difference in low-end torque. Personally I find my dad’s GrandSport a complete bore to drive around town as you really need to rev it up to get good power out of it. This car has the get up and go, at any speed, and it’s very refreshing. The next lap we put it into tour mode and thank god it starts to come alive. I see where this is going. With the continuing clicks though the knob all the way up to race the car grew louder, the steering and suspension became tighter, the turn-in got shaper, and I became happier. I’ve driven a lot of cars with steering wheel knobs in the past and none of them go through the kind of transformation this thing does. This car in track mode is a far different animal than the car in eco mode. After our first few laps some of the guys who got out said they preferred sport as they felt race was a little too intense. These were Porsche owners complaining that they could feel too much. This is a huge success. The Corvettes of the past would be rather numb around town and the steering would only become sharp once you were above eight tenths. With this car you can get the same feel at five tenths.

Finally it was time to do a few hot [warm] laps on the part of the track with the back straight involved. Having just finished the Ron Fellows !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! [give them your money now] last spring I was set on finding the limits of this car. Sadly I’m still waiting for the opportunity. The driver behind the lead car clearly had never been on a track before, or driven before, so things didn’t get as intense as I was hoping. That doesn’t mean however that I have nothing to report. While the car is heavier than the C6, it doesn’t feel it. The driving dynamics are truly spectacular. The brakes feel as strong as the ones on my C6 Z06 did. Do they fade? I couldn’t tell ya. They slowed the Stingray down in a hurry and with great feedback but I have no idea how many times they will before they get bored with that job. We were told that at the limit this car understeers. Apparently its government mandated that all cars understeer at the limit. Booo. However, with my short time with the car it felt very neutral and even a little oversteer was present during turn in. Hurray. There was no roll, it communicated nicely, and went wherever you pointed it. I too was skeptical when I heard electric steering. Don’t worry it’s very good. Corvette decided to give this car the gift of active rev-matching. As I heal-toe downshift consistently during my morning commute, this news made me a little sad. I felt like it was a small step in the wrong direction. However after driving it on the track, it’s a very welcome addition. The truth is I, and probably you, can’t get perfect heal and toe downshifts consistently on the track. 80% of the time? Sure. 100% of the time? Unlikely. With active rev matching activated it turns you into a track star. The revs come up the right amount, at the right time, every time. The system keeps the car perfectly balanced through the entire turn despite whatever you might try and do to upset it with your right hand and left foot. You can even try and be the man and blip the throttle yourself and it will just put a Band-Aid on the entire situation and you’ll feel like you’ve finally mastered that heal-toe, until you realize the system is on. I wouldn’t use the feature very much but it really is a nice touch.

To review, the car looks killer, the interior is fresh and a huge improvement, the seats are from heaven, it’s got plenty of balls down low and up high, it’s got all the tech goodies for “those people”, it’s a targa top that doesn’t flex, it gets 29 MPG, it does 190mph, a blast to 60 take less than four seconds, and it starts at $51,000. It’s perfect. It’s perfect but it’s not it. There’s something missing from the car. It’s the perfect recipe but the craziness wasn’t baked in. Whatever they put into the ZL1, isn’t in this car. When I get into my dad’s ZL1 I feel the need to say hello to it, ask it how it’s doing, and give it my utmost respect. This car almost feels too easy, even in track mode. It’s got all the right moves and sensations but it doesn’t have that nastiness to it. There’s not that little bit of crazy that the Z06 and ZR1 have. While ripping around the turns and hammering it to well over 100mph, not once did my heart start racing. Also, while it looks good now, the fact is we haven’t seen the wide body. The C6 looked great to, until the wide body showed up. Look at a GrandSport or ZR1 or Z06 and then look at a base C6. The same thing is going to happen with the Stingray. Not to go there but I will. When I had my iPhone 5 sitting unopened in a box on my desk, my iPhone 4 still looked modern and edgy. The second I opened that box and held the 5 in my hand, the 4 looked bulky and dated. The dramatic change happened in all of two minutes. These cars look fantastic, but just don’t park them next to the see you soon hi performance C7’s around the corner. In fact if you have a Stingray, don’t even look at the new ones coming, it will ruin the whole thing for you.

Driving back from the track I couldn’t keep my eyes off my dad’s GrandSport in the rear view mirror. While it does look dated in comparison to the Stingray, it looks a lot sexier and a lot meaner. The Stingray is an unbelievable car at an unbelievable price. If you’re looking for a first real sports car you can’t go wrong. If you’ve got motor-oil coursing through your veins like myself, wait till the Detroit auto-show. The Stingray is so good that I know the Z06/Z07/ZR1 is going to be world beating, yet again. Well done Chevrolet.

Tom McParland > Gene Sanchez Leeds 09/28/2013 at 11:13

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Great read! I'm gonna drop Ballaban a line on Twitter with the hope this gets FP'd

jlmounce > Gene Sanchez Leeds 09/28/2013 at 11:23

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Excellent post. Thanks for sharing!

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Gene Sanchez Leeds 09/28/2013 at 11:26

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That white with red stripes. Do want.

m2m, apex detective > Gene Sanchez Leeds 09/28/2013 at 11:32

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What Maxyenko said ... the white Corvette with the dark red stripes ... that one's very lovely.

Michael Ballaban > Tom McParland 09/28/2013 at 11:32

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Would love to, but if we could get a paragraph break after the first two sentences (because of formatting) that would be great.

dogisbadob > Gene Sanchez Leeds 09/28/2013 at 11:32

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The last Corvette pictures, the white one with red stripes and red interior, is awesome, but the wheels should be white.

Gene Sanchez Leeds > Michael Ballaban 09/28/2013 at 11:42

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I made the first paragraph much smaller. Does it need to be smaller yet? Let me know.

apexdance86 > Gene Sanchez Leeds 09/28/2013 at 11:43

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I thought I would never drool over a vette until I saw that white one. Looks amazing. I'm just glad they didn't have the average stereotypical red going on. Red vettes are not good looking. IMO.

Kailand09 > Gene Sanchez Leeds 09/28/2013 at 11:45

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Really wonderful write up here. Thanks for the read! I generally don't read long posts, but this one I did.

Also, I'm highly jealous.

ptak appreciates old racecars > Gene Sanchez Leeds 09/28/2013 at 11:51

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Is there a larger version of the blurry photo of the 'Vettes lined up in smoke?

Seitz > Gene Sanchez Leeds 09/28/2013 at 11:51

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as in love as I am with the C7, I've got to say, the C6 was the pinnical of design for the Corvette. It was smooth, feminine and muscular. It showed character. the C7 isn't bad looking at all (Love the swooping roof in the back) but it looks like it was designed by science, not by passion.

Doug Nash > Seitz 09/28/2013 at 11:56

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I think the C7 looks too much like a Ferrari, especially in red. Obviously.

That being said, I'm becoming more and more okay with the more function-dictates-form approach. Especially, because it's just such a Gawd-damn amazing performance value!

That being said, the tail is still an unmitigated disaster. I think it's SO busy that it'll look really dated in a few years, and they'll likely have to soften that area up.

Seitz > Doug Nash 09/28/2013 at 12:02

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Yeah, those nice circular taillights have been a tradition for over 50 years, I liked them. I really liked the backend on the C6 because it was so simple that it was almost intimidating. You knew what you were rolling up to with the C6, with the C7 you can't decide if it's a new Impala or Corvette.

AlexioFlexio > Gene Sanchez Leeds 09/28/2013 at 12:02

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I have a deposit on a gt3, and I realize now just how overpriced it is. I've listed after it mostly because of European delivery.. But if I can just let go of that.. Then maybe ill head up to bowling green next summer instead. Great post.. I went from knowing ab the c7 to wanting the c7

Gene Sanchez Leeds > ptak appreciates old racecars 09/28/2013 at 12:11

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Go to http://www.greedaid.com/personal/sting… moke.jpg

Take the gap out of vettesmoke.jpg. It wasn't letting me post it as an actual link.

Tetratron > Seitz 09/28/2013 at 12:17

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No. I'm sorry. There is no possible way you can confuse this:

With this:

That's insane. They look nothing alike. I get griping that it looks different but griping because it looks like the tail-lights of a lesser model when it certainly doesn't is ludicrous.

San Baban > Gene Sanchez Leeds 09/28/2013 at 12:20

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Be honest, is the new vette really as good as people claim it is?

RYANL26 > Gene Sanchez Leeds 09/28/2013 at 12:21

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YOU DRIVE A MINI! HAHA LOSER

Josh McCullough > Gene Sanchez Leeds 09/28/2013 at 12:26

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This is where I get all class-warfare-y and tell you to go fuck yourself. Good article though.

Gene Sanchez Leeds > RYANL26 09/28/2013 at 12:29

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This is awesome.

Gene Sanchez Leeds > San Baban 09/28/2013 at 12:32

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Depends on who you're listening to. I think it's great.

Josh McCullough > Josh McCullough 09/28/2013 at 12:34

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I've changed my mind. Having re-read the article, I fully realize you're nothing but a name-checking, early adopter, 29 inch waisted, split the payments with dad, rich-boy douchebag.

Doug Nash > Seitz 09/28/2013 at 12:35

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I'm not even saying that they had to be round, per se. But I just think they went one-step too far, with the angular Chevy themed tail lights. I LOVE that they resisted adding stupid, angular exhaust tips. In fact, I'm amazed that they didn't, as almost every manufacturer on the face of the Earth has been tripping over themselves to add arbitrary fake angular exhaust tips.

I think the coolest thing which they could have / should have done, would have been to look at what Infiniti had done with their G cars for years. They designed graceful rear lens assemblies, but inside, utilized round LED clusters for the signals. That was the best of both worlds. GM could have still incorporated a consistent angular design to the tail light assemblies, but added the nice round light clusters, to bring in the heritage.

RYANL26 > Gene Sanchez Leeds 09/28/2013 at 12:39

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jk great article

ptak appreciates old racecars > Gene Sanchez Leeds 09/28/2013 at 12:42

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Thanks!

San Baban > Gene Sanchez Leeds 09/28/2013 at 12:55

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You are right, but i trust guys here at Jalopnik, that why i wanted their opinion

But regardless, if i had the money i would buy it for sure !!!!!!!!!!!!

Grunball > Gene Sanchez Leeds 09/28/2013 at 12:57

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Nice writeup. Not getting a C7 anytime soon but I need to find out if the Z51 wheels & brake system will fit my C6. Would be nice upgraded!

20binaFD > Gene Sanchez Leeds 09/28/2013 at 13:01

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Paragraphs my friend. For a "retired auto journalist" your article was very hard to follow. Also I wish people would stop trying to write like Car and Driver journalists.

Gene Sanchez Leeds > 20binaFD 09/28/2013 at 13:13

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I had paragraphs. Kinja ate them. Also, I don't read Car and Driver so if I sound like them, they're copying me.

Gene Sanchez Leeds > Josh McCullough 09/28/2013 at 13:17

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I'm not sure what most of these things mean. However, I'll have you know though that I'm currently a very broke student trying to complete my undergrad degree. And while BMW makes Minis. I don't drive a BMW. I drive a Mini. So if you want to lump Mini drivers in with rich boy douchebags I guess there's no reason you can't. As for my dad he owns a pet store and works seven days a week, 14 hours a day on average. His cars are financed and I literally yell at him whenever he buys a new one because he can't really afford them. You've got me pegged! ;)

quattrofl > Gene Sanchez Leeds 09/28/2013 at 13:18

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The last photo is the first C7 combination that made me say Okaaaaay that's nice.

20binaFD > Gene Sanchez Leeds 09/28/2013 at 13:41

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Well any big car mag has a writing style that's "rich guys reviewing cars for rich guys". It's the knit-picking, jaded complaints that I can't stand.

Seitz > Tetratron 09/28/2013 at 14:05

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damn dude, I meant the Malibu, chill out. Don't tell me you've never confused a Ford Taurus and an RX-7 or a Honda Accord and an NSX. Taillights are confusing at night.

Gene Sanchez Leeds > 20binaFD 09/28/2013 at 14:13

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I do see what you're saying but the thing is this car is being compared much more expensive. People don't care how the Corvette compares to a Charger. They compare how it compares to the Germans and Italians. If this was a review on the new Mini Cooper It would sound a lot different.

Charlie B. Sharenative > Gene Sanchez Leeds 09/28/2013 at 14:43

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I just got back from the Saturday morning session of this event, and I would say your writeup is spot on! The cars look and feel phenomenal. It was like going to an awesome summer camp, I felt like a kid again. While the amount of power was no surprise, I was blown away by the grip. I could only make the tires chirp once with traction control on (didn't think it was wise to try it off just yet), hitting third out of a turn. I could barely keep my head straight from the g-force, but the car didn't seem to mind one bit. I'll probably be chasing that feeling for years.

GMHTP > Gene Sanchez Leeds 09/28/2013 at 14:45

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C'mon guys give em a break. I'm an auto journo also and know that he had access to a car we all want to know more about, so jalop ran it.
While it could have used a copy edit to clear up things like "heal" and toe it was still informative.

Charlie B. Sharenative > San Baban 09/28/2013 at 14:49

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It is, just drove one. My theory is, feature creep competition has been compounding for years to make faster, cheaper, better cars. The Stingray is a big leap forward in that, giving us things that only 10 years ago would be only available in $100k+ cars.

San Baban > Charlie B. Sharenative 09/28/2013 at 14:53

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That is music to my ears bro, i agree with you, i love how cars like the corvette bring power and performance to the masses

Just hope i can afford one someday :)

Charlie B. Sharenative > Gene Sanchez Leeds 09/28/2013 at 15:08

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Thought I would share my photos of the event as well (Saturday morn session)

mytwodads2 > Seitz 09/28/2013 at 15:24

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oh you will know once you roll up to it.

Tetratron > Seitz 09/28/2013 at 15:29

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Nope. Still nothing alike.

Tetratron > Seitz 09/28/2013 at 15:32

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Also those cars you mentioned are easily confuse-able. A vette, even with it's new trapezoidal tail-lights is still quite distinct from most anything else on the road. I get not liking. I understand why some people don't. I just don't see how anyone can possibly confuse it for anything else.

Goatsausage > Gene Sanchez Leeds 09/28/2013 at 15:42

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I get tired of people on with this .. a corvette look like a ferrari business. Ferrari's design have constantly changed over and over. They dont have a 'fixed' evolution of design like Porsche Or Corvette who's design alters in increments from gen to gen. Ferrari designs leaps from one design idea to another. So the notion of corvette copying Ferrari is rediculous, especially since its the ferrari that look like the corvette NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. Its the same backwards train of thought people have about Camaro and Mustang, too dumb to realize the Mustang was created first and the camaro was designed like a mustang to compete against it. Same thing in the Mustang community when it comes to aston martin, again people to young and dumb to realize the original 1977 Vantage was designed to look like a mustang fastback 1968 Not the other way around. people also forget in the 90's Ford owned Aston Martin Lotus LandRover and Jaguar and was instrumental in the revival of each brand who were all on the brink of bankruptcy , Ford was there umbrella who not only saved them but helped in the redesigning of each marque. Its why today Ford has a legitimate reason for utilizing *some* of that design DNA into there own fleet. why not they paid for it. Now its true that Chevy has done its job in lifting design cues from other marques. but lets not forget Design is often directly attributed to Function, so some parts will look like anothers by simply process of thats what it has to be in order to work best. And design that doesnt follow function often look wrong. all this on top of regulations. At the end of the day what i can fathom is why anyone would argue that the car that people could afford looks as good as a Ferrari or Aston Martin. at the end of the day i think these people are nuts!!!. "no— i dont want my mustang to look like a $130grand car!"?????? "bah!!! i think that corvette looks too much like a Ferrari!!" ?????!!!! are you kidding me!!!!!

JamesMrG > Josh McCullough 09/28/2013 at 15:44

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and duechebag of the year goes to.....

how does your crow taste?

20binaFD > Gene Sanchez Leeds 09/28/2013 at 16:22

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I know, and you're right. Sorry for being over critical, must be the fact I'm at work and it's raining and miserable. And the seething jealousy probably has something to do with it as well. People comparing expensive new cars will appreciate your review I'm sure. However for those of us who can only dream of buying a new vette, I like the motorweek style of review. Specs and praise.

By the way, you didn't elaborate on the stingray's new magnetic-whatever suspension. Made the fat ass camaro zl1 an amazing handler, I can only imagine what the corvette is like in it's sportiest mode. Did you get to go through a slalom?

Frobnoid > Josh McCullough 09/28/2013 at 16:44

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WTF are you even doing in this thread? Shouldn't you be out occupying something?

Josh McCullough > Gene Sanchez Leeds 09/28/2013 at 17:32

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Alright Biff, I'll bite.

I plucked out the most egregious bullshit in your review. I realize after I did so that I ended up with most of your article, if that tells you anything.

"I remember when I first drove a Corvette. It was my dad’s 96 GrandSport coupe with 350 miles on the clock. The following day was the second day I ever drove stick and it was in my homecoming parade with the queen on the roof and two other girls packed in the passenger seat."

"This morning I had the same excitement I had when I woke up to at the age of 16 to take the GrandSport to pick up the homecoming queen."

"I have a long and somewhat storied history with Corvettes. I remember the day we picked up our Electron Blue C5 Z06 from the dealership."

"We let it go when the lease was up and my dad and I went out to the museum to pick up our C6 Z06."

"I wasn’t particularly excited, as I had not seen one in person yet and wasn’t sold on the looks. Even so I took my bonus and paid the $5k dealer markup and then dad and I spilt the payments. It wasn’t a terrible deal as I got to daily drive this and the Z06 before it."

"A couple modifications later and it was all setup perfectly."

"I kissed my sleeping queen on the cheek and drove off in my John Cooper Works MINI against the sunrise to Monticello Motor Club. My dad was waiting for me just off the highway in his 2011 GrandSport and we drove the last few miles together."

"With everything I’ve heard I was expecting a mix of Bentley and Audi. As you might imagine I was let down."

"I’m one of those rare Corvette guys with a size 29 waist."

"The screen looked good and the backup camera was of acceptable quality. I was told that while it’s currently delayed, the cars would have full Siri integration in the near future to your texting and distractions delight. If you already picked a Stingray up, the software can be upgraded to support it. The digital dash was both bright and extremely crisp. So much so that the analog gauges next to it seemed off, they seemed 8 bit. Makes no sense, I know."

"I flipped though the different tachometer configurations until I found the only one I needed, the C4/KnightRider/Motec uber track screen. It’s not as futuristic and fancy as the other screens, but it’s the proper choice."

"In the marketing pieces they always say that if it looks like leather, or aluminum, or carbon fiber, it is. Ok, that’s great, but you’re obviously not getting aluminum from the people Audi get their aluminum from. But you know what, that’s ok."

"Overall the interior is still the same Corvette interior, just a good bit better, for now, before it will be terrible again, and finally upgraded, yet again. Just don’t expect it to feel like a Porsche on the inside. Just for the record I’m not much of a Porsche fan."

" Personally I find my dad’s GrandSport a complete bore to drive around town as you really need to rev it up to get good power out of it."

"The truth is I, and probably you, can’t get perfect heal and toe downshifts consistently on the track. 80% of the time? Sure. 100% of the time? Unlikely."

"..and it starts at $51,000."

"When I get into my dad’s ZL1 I feel the need to say hello to it, ask it how it’s doing, and give it my utmost respect."

" Look at a GrandSport or ZR1 or Z06 and then look at a base C6. The same thing is going to happen with the Stingray. Not to go there but I will. When I had my iPhone 5 sitting unopened in a box on my desk, my iPhone 4 still looked modern and edgy. The second I opened that box and held the 5 in my hand, the 4 looked bulky and dated."

"These cars look fantastic, but just don’t park them next to the see you soon hi performance C7’s around the corner. In fact if you have a Stingray, don’t even look at the new ones coming, it will ruin the whole thing for you."

"Driving back from the track I couldn’t keep my eyes off my dad’s GrandSport in the rear view mirror. While it does look dated in comparison to the Stingray, it looks a lot sexier and a lot meaner."

Bro, I don't begrudge you for being a student or for having a dad who has a job. Everyone does. But the whole article reeks of "Look at me" more than any review of a car ought to, outside of any stylistic choices.

Gene Sanchez Leeds > 20binaFD 09/28/2013 at 17:35

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We all have those days my friend. We went through a slalom but not terribly fast. The car didn't roll at all. It was very light in eco and felt great in track mode. :)

Gene Sanchez Leeds > Josh McCullough 09/28/2013 at 17:47

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Wow you spent a lot of time on that. Obviously you're not the kind of guy to get into an internet disagreement with, so I wont. I have to read 200 pages on Buddhism and do a CS problem set tonight so I'll be brief. Some of the things you quoted, I just don't see it. Some I do. But the reason I included that shit was so the reader got the understanding that I was familiar with many cars and therefor could give a reasonable review. Do you want to hear about the new Stingray from the guy who's never driven a sports car before? The intention of talking about me, what I've driven, and my background was so that the reader could know where I was coming from. Instead of just thinking, "ok he likes the Stingray but what does he know". Well since I've driven all the modern Corvettes and several other sports cars, my opinion has weight. This was my intention. My intention was not to sound self important or even special. I'm not special. I, like you, am just a car guy that wishes he had more cash to spend on cars. The difference is I don't have a stick up....

Thanks for playing brah!

Josh McCullough > Gene Sanchez Leeds 09/28/2013 at 17:51

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It was worth it.

Josh McCullough > Frobnoid 09/28/2013 at 18:03

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I, like, LOVE granola. I have to tell ya.

RoadToad > Seitz 09/28/2013 at 18:57

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Just here to say... um nope

Seitz > RoadToad 09/28/2013 at 19:07

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That third one is a Camaro.........

lingenfelter > Seitz 09/28/2013 at 22:52

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I gotta say, the C6 is probably my least favourite of the Vette generations, aside from maybe Gen 1.... which is definitely the odd duck of the lineage despite being, well, first gen.

Seitz > lingenfelter 09/28/2013 at 23:27

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C6 wasn't much of a difference visually from C5. Even some of the technologies were just improvements and updates. But I think it was the simplicity of the styling that I liked the most about it.

C2 is my second favorite, but C6 is just so modern. It can win in a straight line AND corner. that's what I like.

lingenfelter > Seitz 09/29/2013 at 00:04

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I like the C2's over any other generation, earlier C3's being a close second. I find the simplicity of the C6 is just too basic, there's no flair in that design. The C5 has some curviness to it, particularly in the sidebody and hood/bumper.

Oddly enough, while I don't care much for the straight-edge design of the C6 body, I think the previous gens of CTS looked pretty good with angular bodies - although Caddy did a great job with the XLR, despite crap sales volumes - at least it made square bodies a good look again.

lingenfelter > Gene Sanchez Leeds 09/29/2013 at 00:08

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What are the ducts immediately behind the rear edge of the door feeding into or cooling? Rear brakes?

TeamZ > Gene Sanchez Leeds 09/29/2013 at 02:17

1

Sorry, cant take you seriously after you said your Iphone 4 felt outdated sitting next to your Iphone 5. How can something unchanged feel outdated? Not only that but you drive a mini and go halfzies on Vette's with your dad!

When the Z07/6 comes out then and only then, will I take my ass to the dealer and see if I fit, and if I do, then I hope they make it in Black Diamond so I can place my order!

Gene Sanchez Leeds > lingenfelter 09/29/2013 at 09:24

1

On the Z51 I believe they cool the diff on one side and tranny on the other. I'm pretty sure they are useless on the non Z51 models. The rear brakes pull in air from underneath. Pretty sure we'll see the standard looking brake ducts with the wide body models.

Gene Sanchez Leeds > TeamZ 09/29/2013 at 09:37

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I know you love your F150 and don't like small cars but the chief engineer of the Ford GT and SVT daily drives a Miata. He told me this as I hooned a Heritage GT through Detroit one night with him in the passenger seat. I guarantee you that his Miata or my Mini could easily take on at the track whatever you've got in the garage. I used to be like you and thought I knew what the good cars were and what the lame ones were. Then I went and drove them all. A true car guy appreciates all kinds of cars. Maybe you'll be one some day. It's like someone who likes the Yankees or someone who likes Baseball. As for going halfs would it be better if he just paid for it all? Neither one of us could afford it on our own at the time, so we split it. While financially it was dumb, it was a cool and rewarding thing to do with my dad. I'm sorry you and your dad didn't have a better relationship. Enjoy your Black Diamond big guy.

lingenfelter > Gene Sanchez Leeds 09/29/2013 at 09:56

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Interesting. They did look too far to the rear for brake ducting which is what sparked the question.

Thipps > Gene Sanchez Leeds 09/29/2013 at 11:57

2

Still seeing comments on how the C7 looks like a "Ferrari".....Ugg just because its a sports car that transitioned its form language to a more sculpted sophisticated....sexy one does not mean it "looks" like a ferrari. Its unmistakably a corvette and if you get this and a 699 or 612 crossed up we are all revoking your Jalop card.

TheSmokingTire > AlexioFlexio 09/29/2013 at 13:32

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if it makes you feel any better, the GT3 isn't as overpriced as the base Carrera....

mitsustiggy > Gene Sanchez Leeds 09/29/2013 at 14:10

1

I just... Don't like it. I'm sure it's great to drive as you said but ever since I saw the real first picture, it didn't stick to me at all. It looks like a GTR/599/confused camaro with 5 feet hips of black plastic in the back made to look like a real diffuser. Don't get me wrong I do like corvettes, in particular the ZR1 though I find all vette's to be too quiet and sound much too close to a sewing machine, yet can't say much for the new one yet. This car just doesn't attract me at all, I just honestly think it's blatantly ugly. I'd take an SRT viper any day.

Manuél Ferrari > Seitz 09/29/2013 at 19:52

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It's hard for me to pick a winner between the looks of the C6 and C7. IMO the C6 looked good, but was missing something. The exterior design was almost great, but just a little too boring. The C7 went in the other direction and got a little too busy.

I do think Chevy will be able to clean the C7 up a bit if they do a mid-cycle refresh. A refreshed C7 could end up looking great.

Manuél Ferrari > Doug Nash 09/29/2013 at 19:55

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I agree, the tail is just not good. I don't even mind the tail lights that much. But when you combine the odd black plastic tears that fall from the other lights with the exhaust tip configuration the whole rear end just looks terrible. I wish the quad exhaust tips were not stuck together. The slight spacing between the two pairs in the C6 looked better.

Manuél Ferrari > Doug Nash 09/29/2013 at 19:57

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Also right after posting I realized how odd it is that Chevy stuck with round exhaust tips after changing the tail lights to a square setup. Everything probably would have flowed together more nicely if there was two rectangular exhaust tips. Or maybe even one massive one like the Aventador.

Manuél Ferrari > Thipps 09/29/2013 at 20:01

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I agree that it's unfair to say that Chevy was ripping off Ferrari. Even the C6 had some similarities to the front engine Ferraris. It's impossible not to as both use the FMR layout. Any 2-seater with a large engine behind the front axle is going to have a long nose and short rear deck. Form usually follows function and the Vette will therefore always have similarities to the front engine Ferrari GTs, and vice versa.

Joseph Shaul > AlexioFlexio 09/29/2013 at 21:37

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The new Z06 is already in development, and given that it's expected to have twin turbochargers, will be significantly more powerful.

Jon > Gene Sanchez Leeds 09/30/2013 at 09:31

1

Wait a minute...does that include me?!

Maybe 37...

AlexioFlexio > TheSmokingTire 09/30/2013 at 13:16

0

it's a good point... in fact if you look at what you get for the $131k base of the gt3, you realize what a smoking deal it is vs other sports cars on a performance basis and especially vs a regular 911. But then this vette comes along... and all comparisons seem to be reset. This will be my first serious car purchase, and my first new car... I've always bought used, and a drive a bmw 535 wagon at the moment. Want my first true sports car experience to be special... but why spend $131 when $75k will do?

AlexioFlexio > Joseph Shaul 09/30/2013 at 15:49

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not N/A higher cc's? I didn't know..

VRYALT3R3D > Gene Sanchez Leeds 10/01/2013 at 21:52

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I can't believe you left this out in your article.

It is legend!

Charlie B. Sharenative > Gene Sanchez Leeds 10/05/2013 at 09:00

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Gene, was wondering if you got your link to the recorded lap yet. Still waiting on mine, it's killing me!

Gene Sanchez Leeds > Charlie B. Sharenative 10/05/2013 at 09:05

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Not yet! They said a week! lol. Yeah I'm looking forward to combining it with my footage. I'll let you know when I do.

Charlie B. Sharenative > Gene Sanchez Leeds 10/05/2013 at 09:14

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Thanks, good to know. Thought I might have missed something.

Charlie B. Sharenative > Gene Sanchez Leeds 10/05/2013 at 19:21

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Guess they are watching. Just got the link.

Gene Sanchez Leeds > Charlie B. Sharenative 10/05/2013 at 20:26

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Same. I haven't even watched the whole thing yet I've been trying to rip it. No luck. Let me know if you figure out how to get it downloaded.

Charlie B. Sharenative > Gene Sanchez Leeds 10/05/2013 at 21:27

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Get FVD Video Downloader extension if you use chrome. Downloads any flash video that's loaded on a webpage.

Gene Sanchez Leeds > Charlie B. Sharenative 10/06/2013 at 08:48

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I couldn't even get that to work on it. I ended up using Jaksta. It gave me half of the video for free. The rest wasn't worth the purchase price. lol