I’m not buying one

Kinja'd!!! "John Norris (AngryDrifter)" (angrydrifter)
10/24/2020 at 12:54 • Filed to: None

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So I’ve thought about this a bit now that we are approaching year two of production.

1. I can afford one. Wifey would protest a bit, but I could get past that.

2. I’ve been patient. They teased me as a youth with rear engine concept cars. They failed to follow through; until now.

3. No manual, no purchase. Not me. I want to work the pedal. If I were to buy one, it would be for fun, not because I need one. If I am going to pay $66,490 for a fun car (above, as built on the Chevrolet build page), I want the car with all the fun. I don’t want the fastest, I want the funnest.

4. I don’t care how ‘good’ the snappy auto is.

5. I don’t care that it isn’t cost effective for them to work the manual into the rear engine trans axle. It’s a Corvette, the rocketship chariot of the GM fleet. They need to invest, or perhaps get a transmission company to step in and take credit for saving the day.

6. I don’t care that it doesn’t fit in their interior design, they need to fix that.

7. I am entitled to it. Perhaps not really. I don’t have any reason or justification, but I certainly feel I am entitled to it. Maybe on patience alone. Always been a Chevrolet fan. Other than the late 70’s through the 80’s, they did a lot of things right for performance. That’s it – my loyalty! I am entitled to it!

8. Chevrolet you have your assignment. Get to work.


DISCUSSION (23)


Kinja'd!!! SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > John Norris (AngryDrifter)
10/24/2020 at 13:04

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My money says they’ll get around to it once they get past Z06 and Z0ra. The product is selling very, very well... but they’ll do a purist edition someday.

They’ve watched how Porsche milks money out of Special Editions.  The cream will follow.


Kinja'd!!! Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > John Norris (AngryDrifter)
10/24/2020 at 13:05

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What about a manual C7?


Kinja'd!!! PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120 > John Norris (AngryDrifter)
10/24/2020 at 13:08

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You make a compelling argument. I’m on board  and by the time they get around to it, I may consider a 2 seater.


Kinja'd!!! gin-san - shitpost specialist > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
10/24/2020 at 13:16

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That’s a good question; the C8 is cool but I think the C7 still looks better and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the FR layout.


Kinja'd!!! Forrest > John Norris (AngryDrifter)
10/24/2020 at 13:24

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Makes sense to me. The only 2-pedal cars I really like are electric cars that have a single-ratio transmission. But, if there is shifting to be done, I want to do it myself.


Kinja'd!!! SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > gin-san - shitpost specialist
10/24/2020 at 13:26

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The C7 is the epitome of “great Corvette”... and a good buy.

It’s sorta like the C8 is a whole new game in my book.  Not bad by any means, very good in fact, but not “the same”.


Kinja'd!!! gin-san - shitpost specialist > John Norris (AngryDrifter)
10/24/2020 at 13:26

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You’re probably going to have to wait until some sort of limited edition comes out. I’m not sure what % of Corvette sales are manual, but they probably don’t want to engineer all that so that a dozen people buy the manual version this year.

You’re also gonna have a hard time finding fun going forward since you’re the minority of enthusiasts who: a) have money; b) are willing to buy new; and c) want a manual. Unfortunately, a lot of vocal online enthusiasts only fit c) without a) and b).


Kinja'd!!! For Sweden > John Norris (AngryDrifter)
10/24/2020 at 13:29

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At least wait to drive the grand sport  m odel


Kinja'd!!! Jb boin > John Norris (AngryDrifter)
10/24/2020 at 13:34

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Kinja'd!!! I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > John Norris (AngryDrifter)
10/24/2020 at 13:45

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If a car doesn’t have manually controlled spark advance I am not interested in driving it, as far as I’m concerned the REAL car was dead when they got rid of the hand crank starter


Kinja'd!!! way2blu does a rev update > John Norris (AngryDrifter)
10/24/2020 at 13:49

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My MR2 is also mid-engined, blue, fun to drive, and daily drivable.

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But it has something no C8 has, and that’s a stick shift. I don’t plan to upgrade any time soon.


Kinja'd!!! I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > gin-san - shitpost specialist
10/24/2020 at 13:50

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At launch, manual take rate was about 50%. Towards the end, down towards 20%. There’s definitely a business case for a three pedal C8, but there’s really not that many manual cars with more than 500hp. Most buyers aren’t skilled enough drivers to handle a manual car with that much power- look at how many wrecked Hellcats there are.


Kinja'd!!! wafflesnfalafel > For Sweden
10/24/2020 at 13:53

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didn’t that get axed in exchange for the hybrid?


Kinja'd!!! ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > John Norris (AngryDrifter)
10/24/2020 at 14:54

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C7 GS?


Kinja'd!!! John Norris (AngryDrifter) > gin-san - shitpost specialist
10/24/2020 at 14:57

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I hope you’re right. I’ll strive to continue to be patient.

I’m fine with the “Lone Star”, or “Bullit t”, or “King Ranch”, or “Rumble Bee”, or “70th Anniversary ” edition. Whatever it takes.


Kinja'd!!! John Norris (AngryDrifter) > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
10/24/2020 at 14:58

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Most buyers aren’t skilled enough drivers to handle a manual car with that much power- look at how many wrecked Hellcats there are. 

Good point. Even better. I want one even more now.


Kinja'd!!! John Norris (AngryDrifter) > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
10/24/2020 at 15:05

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I suppose if I have to settle. But I have bought new and used Front Engine, Rear Drive, Manual Cars. I love them all. A slightly used C-7 would be better than anything I have, or have had. But a new C-8 with a manual would just be the icing on the cake. I w ould daily it for a few years and then track it for a few years.

If it survived that I’d probably retire from beating on cars, due to my age. As my wife points out, at some point I am going to be too ol d for this. Bu t as for right now Chevrolet needs to get to work.


Kinja'd!!! John Norris (AngryDrifter) > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
10/24/2020 at 15:07

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I hope you are right.  They’ve done a few of their own:

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a15372287/something-special-highlighting-the-history-of-limited-edition-corvettes/


Kinja'd!!! John Norris (AngryDrifter) > Jb boin
10/24/2020 at 15:34

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A bit more expensive and blah, a V6.

Plenty of HP though , and good for them for keeping the manual available.


Kinja'd!!! John Norris (AngryDrifter) > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
10/24/2020 at 15:39

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Kinja'd!!! I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > John Norris (AngryDrifter)
10/24/2020 at 17:12

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Personally, if there were a halo car that had been rumored and teased for decades, then I could finally afford it one day, I’d at least sit in one, maybe even drive one, before entirely discounting it because I have a preconceived notion about one facet of the vehicle...

I’ve been a manual elitist for my entire driving life, but when I buy a real car, it’ll likely be a DCT, not three pedal.


Kinja'd!!! notsomethingstructural > John Norris (AngryDrifter)
10/24/2020 at 18:36

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Save up for another year and get a later  viper


Kinja'd!!! HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Jb boin
10/24/2020 at 23:13

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Oh this is a good point. My mind always goes to the Cayman.