What is the Corvette C7's competition?

"RightFootDown" (rightfootdown) 09/20/2013 at 11:37 • Filed to: Corvette, C7, Competitor

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With a base price starting at $51k what else is available in dealer showrooms that comes remotely close to the Corvette C7? What other cars should somebody consider if the C7 was on my, errrr their, radar? If we're going to compare we need to lay out some requirements of those competitors:

Backseat, if any, must be unusable by the typical adult

Power to weight ratio must be close

Price range must be +/- $5k of any optioned Stingray ($45-$65k)

Okay, that's enough for rules. GO.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > RightFootDown 09/20/2013 at 11:39

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Porsche Cayman S

The man in the iron mask > RightFootDown 09/20/2013 at 11:41

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thats before turn 11 COTA right? thats the farthest corner from the tower.

Anon > RightFootDown 09/20/2013 at 11:43

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A lotus evora?

For Sweden > RightFootDown 09/20/2013 at 11:43

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Shelby GT500

Party-vi > RightFootDown 09/20/2013 at 11:44

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New or used? Because There's a Renntech-tuned SL55 AMG near me for about half the asking price of a new 'Vette.

RightFootDown > Party-vi 09/20/2013 at 11:47

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New.

dropthatclutch > RightFootDown 09/20/2013 at 11:47

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GT500 and ZL1 are about the only ones that fit your description and are sold in the USA. Assuming their back seats fit your requirements.

CobraJoe > RightFootDown 09/20/2013 at 11:48

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The 370Z Nismo Coupe starts at $43,000

350hp, 2 seats, and expensive enough to consider the stingray as an alternative.

AbigGRNboot > RightFootDown 09/20/2013 at 11:49

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RightFootDown > CobraJoe 09/20/2013 at 11:49

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This and the aforementioned Cayman S were on my list.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > RightFootDown 09/20/2013 at 11:52

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How much does an R35 GT-R cost these days? Same sort of bargain blistering performance proposition.

Party-vi > RightFootDown 09/20/2013 at 11:55

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BMW M3

Mercedes Benz C63 AMG Coupe

Audi RS5 (a stretch but a base model is close to a loaded Stingray)

RightFootDown > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 09/20/2013 at 11:57

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$99k+

CobraJoe > RightFootDown 09/20/2013 at 11:58

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I have a feeling that between those two, the Cayman S would be the one that ended up in my garage.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > RightFootDown 09/20/2013 at 12:02

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Ouch. I thought they were cheaper than that. Did they start off cheaper and then rise?

I suppose the Corvette doesn't have a competitor in the new car stakes. Not in the US at least. Elsewhere, the import duties and various other niggling things will push it up closer to the rest of the sports car nobility.

6cyl > RightFootDown 09/20/2013 at 12:03

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SLK55 AMG / 5.5L v8 / 415hp / price is a little high at $68k /

Bakkster, touring car driver > RightFootDown 09/20/2013 at 12:11

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Consider that the car could equally well be a 'homologation special', built just as much to get improvements (namely in aerodynamics and chassis weight/stiffness) into the racing version as to provide particular benefit to roadgoing customers.

6cyl > RightFootDown 09/20/2013 at 12:12

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BMW z4 35i / $55k / 300hp twin turbo inline 6 / an ecu flash would put power at or above corvette power

Goshen, formerly Darkcode > For Sweden 09/20/2013 at 12:42

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"Backseat, if any, must be unusable by the typical adult"

Close though.

Goshen, formerly Darkcode > 6cyl 09/20/2013 at 12:42

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Indeed, it might be the closer car. It'd still be smoked by the Corvette.

Goshen, formerly Darkcode > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 09/20/2013 at 12:43

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Wouldn't call it exactly the same sort of proposition, one is far more iconic than the other.

For Sweden > Goshen, formerly Darkcode 09/20/2013 at 12:44

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Just because it's usable by you doesn't mean it's usable for the typical adult, half-pint.

Jayhawk Jake > RightFootDown 09/20/2013 at 12:45

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Boxster/Cayman S? I don't know the power to weight.

The ZL1 should also fit the bill:

If I was shopping for a Corvette, I'd probably just be comparing it to a Cayman, and I suspect the Corvette would win out for me.

For Sweden > 6cyl 09/20/2013 at 12:45

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A greater than 50% horsepower gain with an ECU flash? Without the engine exploding in a few thousand miles? You crazy.

Goshen, formerly Darkcode > For Sweden 09/20/2013 at 12:49

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Correction: now that I check the measurements, the back seat is tight. There go my hopes of defending the grand tourerness of the GT500...

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Goshen, formerly Darkcode 09/20/2013 at 13:18

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Each is as iconic to their respective crowds. The Corvette is an American icon, especially to those who were young when the Corvette was young.

Speaking to the GT5 generation, or anyone who grew up with the R32, they'd say the Skyline was more iconic. If you spoke to a lot of high horsepower tuners, the R35 GT-R would ring more bells with them than the Corvette too.

RightFootDown > Jayhawk Jake 09/20/2013 at 14:40

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Speaking of Camaros, I do love the new Z28!

Jayhawk Jake > RightFootDown 09/20/2013 at 15:32

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Is there pricing on that? It might be another option compared to the Corvette.

And by that token, the 2014 ZL1 will probably look very similar to it. I saw a 2014 SS last week at the dealer, I love the small changes to the design. It's still very much a Camaro, but the front fascia is quite a bit more agressive and the new tail lights look fantastic.

The changes are hard to notice in pictures, but in person it looks amazing. The way the headlights sit behind the bumper is brilliant, coupled with the really narrow grille.

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > Party-vi 09/23/2013 at 22:36

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Base price of the RS5 I reviewed in January was $69k, which I guess sounds about right for a loaded Vette

http://www.examiner.com/review/audi-rs…

HugePanic > Anon 09/24/2013 at 07:17

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i totally agree

Party-vi > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom 09/24/2013 at 08:54

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And now there's the question of what you'd want more - a loaded Vette or base RS? My wallet says the Vette because it's a simple vehicle to work on but I really really like the RS5.

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > Party-vi 09/24/2013 at 09:09

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That is a tough choice because I think both cars are great, even if it's an apples/oranges comparison. I won't get to review the Vette until next spring, but all the mags are saying the Z51 coupe is THE one to buy, so that'd prob be the one I'd go with.

mr. idk > RightFootDown 09/30/2013 at 16:47

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NONE . Thats why it has been so succesful and iconic. If you think about it, the base corvette has never reaaaaaally had a true competitor in its price range that was better than it.

mr. idk > CobraJoe 09/30/2013 at 16:50

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boss 302 money for a 350z? LOL. plus, in that price range a used cayman seems more desirable

mr. idk > CobraJoe 09/30/2013 at 16:50

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boss 302 money for a 350z? LOL. plus, in that price range a used cayman seems more desirable

anothermiatafanboy > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 11/14/2013 at 13:25

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They definitely started off cheaper. I believe they started around 80k and have steadily risen from there. Performance has steadily risen too, though. One of the only cars to make improvements year in year out.