I have decided what Corvette I want

"Jayhawk Jake" (jayhawkjake)
04/11/2015 at 17:58 • Filed to: None

Just test drove a C6 Grand Sport. I'm convinced what I want now

A C6 Grand Sport with a manual. Any color other than red, yellow, or silver. Preferably white, black, or metallic grey.

I didn't realize until today that the GS package IS the Z51 pack from 2010 on. Since I want the Z51 package anyways I might as well get the GS, mostly because it looks fantastic.

I want the GS over the Z06 because of dat targa. It's just too awesome to take the top off. We drove with the targa off, it's great. Not even very loud. I'm pretty sure the exhaust was stock and it sounded amazing.

It was basically perfect...except it was an auto. I was considering the auto until today. Honestly it wasn't the transmission I had a problem with, it was the paddles.

WHY?!!?? In case you can't tell from the picture, to shift up you push in on the little tabs sticking up. To shift down you pull on the paddle.

I HATED that. My brain says pull on the right to shift up, pull on the left to shift down. Why is it not this way?! I kept trying to shift up by pulling on the right, which does nothing. It's because of this I'm getting a manual. Okay, it's also because manuals are better.

So that's it then. I'm not going to settle for anything less. It might take longer than I'd previously hoped but I'm convinced this is the Vette I want.

DISCUSSION (46)

TheHondaBro > Jayhawk Jake
04/11/2015 at 18:05

Kinja'd!!!

Looks like someone got mad and slashed it with an axe.

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > Jayhawk Jake
04/11/2015 at 18:12

we could be steering wheel buddies since that's a cobalt wheel :p

ly2v8-Brian > Jayhawk Jake
04/11/2015 at 18:13

do it.

Jayhawk Jake > TheHondaBro
04/11/2015 at 18:20

That detail looks fantastic in person. The whole car is gorgeous.

And it has 325 rears. Three-twenty-five. SO MUCH MEAT

TheHondaBro > Jayhawk Jake
04/11/2015 at 18:24

I'm honestly not a big fan of C6's. I'm more of a C5 guy.

That being said, hope you get one at some point!

Tuned-Port-Injected-Rage > Jayhawk Jake
04/11/2015 at 18:26

A GS is an awesome choice. Basically the love child of a ZO6 and a standard 'Vette. Best of both worlds, in other words.

Sam > Jayhawk Jake
04/11/2015 at 18:30

We have a 2011 ZR1 at the Jaguar dealership, if you're interested.

Here.

Baeromez > Jayhawk Jake
04/11/2015 at 18:31

"I want the GS over the Z06 because of dat targa."

But... LS7. Seriously I saw a Z06 on autotrader for $25k yesterday. LS7, it's seven liters. SEVEN!

Jayhawk Jake > Baeromez
04/11/2015 at 18:39

$25k? Must have been high mileage or broken

Jayhawk Jake > Sam
04/11/2015 at 18:39

If only I had money

dr861 > TheHondaBro
04/11/2015 at 18:40

Why C5 over C6? My dad actually owns a c5 and I think they're great (except for ALL of the materials of course), but just wanted to know why.

Jayhawk Jake > ly2v8-Brian
04/11/2015 at 18:40

Someday...within the next few years for sure

TheHondaBro > dr861
04/11/2015 at 18:43

The C5 costs less, and it looks a lot more muscular than the C6.

jkm7680 > Jayhawk Jake
04/11/2015 at 18:43

You must do it! Corvette owners are the greatest people out there. Except C7 owners, most of them are Douches.

dr861 > TheHondaBro
04/11/2015 at 18:46

Maybe... maybe not. What I can agree with is that I enjoy the exhaust note of the 5.7 liter instead of the 6.2... until I heard the C7 in person.

Sam > Jayhawk Jake
04/11/2015 at 18:54

You could rob a bank or something. I heard that has an incredibly high success rate.

Jayhawk Jake > jkm7680
04/11/2015 at 18:55

I haven't met many C7 owners. I've been around plenty of corvette owners, it's a crowd I'm excited to join someday.

Hopefully I can acquire mine sometime next year, if not by then certainly in 2 years.

ly2v8-Brian > Jayhawk Jake
04/11/2015 at 19:00

Hope so

jkm7680 > Jayhawk Jake
04/11/2015 at 19:11

They are the absolute best people out there. One of my favorite groups to be around, IMO much better than the crowd I'm used to. Everybody waves to each other, other owners will love to talk and there's tons of clubs to join. C7 owners are kinda cocky and have a superiority complex where they think that they're far above other owners. But all owners wave to each other, no matter what the generation. Except C7 owners.

gergey - Wishes vette was Datsun > dr861
04/11/2015 at 19:15

Pop up headlights

whoarder is tellurium > Jayhawk Jake
04/11/2015 at 19:44

I just love how hard the LS V8 pulls...its simply amazing.

A few years ago, I hooned a C6 with completely bald tires in an autocross at a GM "Rev-it-up" event. At that moment, I too became addicted to the Vette.

I still want one... bad. I'd be totally happy with a Z51 C6.

Jayhawk Jake > whoarder is tellurium
04/11/2015 at 19:58

Id be okay with a Z51 C6 so long as it's an 06 or newer. But I might as well wait for the one I want.

And yes, the power is intoxicating

philsphan09 > Jayhawk Jake
04/11/2015 at 20:25

Looove the grand sports. I heard they cost a little to maintain for some reason though. I was doing research into buying one.

Dsscats > Jayhawk Jake
04/11/2015 at 20:26

Why not a 427? It's basically a Z06 convertible.

Jayhawk Jake > Dsscats
04/11/2015 at 20:27

I prefer the Coupe

Baeromez > Jayhawk Jake
04/11/2015 at 21:03

See for yourself.

Jayhawk Jake > Baeromez
04/11/2015 at 22:02

Not a Z06

Baeromez > Jayhawk Jake
04/11/2015 at 22:04

Myth busted.

trmoore09 > Sam
04/11/2015 at 22:46

Will you take my soul as partial payment? That's all I've got for you....

dr861 > gergey - Wishes vette was Datsun
04/12/2015 at 00:05

Now THAT's a reason.

wafflesnfalafel > Jayhawk Jake
04/12/2015 at 00:30

completely agree - it's the one vette I can see myself buying. Sure, the z06 has a 427, but it's pricey and that motor is a little sketchy. Zr1 is awesome, but you pay for awesome. The Grand Sport has more than enough power and all the looks and handling. I really like it in that pearl blue/grey color, but very nice in either white or black as well. And it's got real vette taillights.

Axial > Jayhawk Jake
04/12/2015 at 00:37

Why not red, yellow, or silver? If it's because they are common, you should know that there is no one color of Corvette that seems to be more common than the rest in the wild (production numbers will tell you otherwise, but it's not what you see). It sure ain't white, black, or grey if an uncommon color is what you are after.

Also, the GS is actually a Z06...but with its internal frame made out of steel instead of aluminum and with an LS3 instead of an LS7. It's got the wide-body looks without the extra go-fast parts if you don't want 'em.

Axial > wafflesnfalafel
04/12/2015 at 00:41

Real 'Vette tail lights are square:

Kinja'd!!!

Or, rather, squircles.

Axial > jkm7680
04/12/2015 at 00:45

Depends on where the C7 owner is coming from. I've met more than a few who are just as nice as the rest, but they also owned previous generations. It's the new blood just now dipping their toes into Corvette that tend to be full of themselves. The C7, being so much better than all previous generations and winning all that acclaim, seems to have attracted a great deal of new interest. Good for Chevrolet, bad for the Corvette "culture." I fear the wave and the friendliness will wane with the Baby Boomers.

Kailand09 > Jayhawk Jake
04/12/2015 at 01:32

definitely one of my favorite looking vettes. Those gills just really do it for me.

They are over priced though, in my opinion.

Though I still can't argue against someone who buys a grand sport over a z06. I really love the gs

Jayhawk Jake > Axial
04/12/2015 at 06:11

I just am not a big fan of red, yellow, or silver. Purely personal preference, has nothing to do with commonality.

I love the way it looks, and since it's a Z06 with a targa it's exactly what I want. 430hp is more than enough and it's not like it's difficult to get more power out of the LS3 if I decide I want it

Jayhawk Jake > Kailand09
04/12/2015 at 06:13

Price does concern me a bit, and would probably be the biggest factor in settling for an older Z51

Kailand09 > Jayhawk Jake
04/12/2015 at 14:28

definitely. Pull what Farrah did on his c5 on a c6 and you'd really have a ride for less than a z51

Jayhawk Jake > Kailand09
04/12/2015 at 14:57

That would be my alternate option. Base C6 upgraded.

Jayhawk Jake > TheHondaBro
04/12/2015 at 14:59

I'd agree that a base C5 looks more muscular than a base C6, but the GS/Z06/ZR1 trims are way more aggressive

Jayhawk Jake > dr861
04/12/2015 at 15:00

The LS3 with the dual mode exhaust sounds fantastic IMO

Jayhawk Jake > Axial
04/12/2015 at 15:01

Hopefully the new owners will see more of the traditional owners and adopt the brand mentality over time

Jayhawk Jake > philsphan09
04/12/2015 at 15:03

What sort of things did you see that made them costly to maintain? Other than the fact that tires are like $1000....

Axial > Jayhawk Jake
04/12/2015 at 15:41

I do, too, but I'm not holding my breath. The older generations grew up with GM at the top of the automaker food-chain, a time when their cars were considered desirable. Corvette means something to them. Today, you buy a Corvette because you can't afford a Porsche, BMW, Mercedes, etc. That's how it's seen. The budget sports car. So it would not surprise me at all if many of these new-to-Corvette people bought in because they simply couldn't afford the P-car.I do hope they start to see the car in a better light, though.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Jayhawk Jake
04/13/2015 at 14:37

Kinja'd!!!

I dig the wheel design on these, but are they all chrome?

Jayhawk Jake > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
04/13/2015 at 15:08

I believe there was an option for one that wasn't.

I would get them powdercoated...