Chevrolet Corvette

Nice car - I chose to go with another sports car over the C5 (2000) but there were a few unique factors that led to the decision.
The C6 looks really good inside and out. One of my problems with Corvettes of the past was the boring/ugly interior but with the C6 GM has really improved this!

W

Had a write-me-up red 1988 convertible with the infamous "4+3" tranny.

The good:

Ride: Was harsh, but with the right tires it would stick to the road like a tick on a dog. I've heard a shitload of complaints about the maneuverability of the vette and most of them came from guys that left the stock Goodyears on the car. Sucked doesn't begin to explain how shitty they were. Got myself a set of Pirelli's, could out maneuver a swallow.

Engine: Pretty solid, at least on mine and I'd beat it like a rented mule. Wasn't nearly as powerful as I expected, though it had enough balls to outrun most cars. Slappin rubber on the stock Goodyear's was a given, even in second.

Profile: Low to the ground, so much so that if you poked a hole in the seat, your nuts would scrape the ground. Wide stance and big ass tires gave it a mean-as-hell look.

Visability: With the top down, superb and if you drive a vette convertible, the top is always down.

Sound: Replaced the stock mufflers with a set of KBD (I think) from Eckler's. Sound would scare the shit out of a lion. Music to my ears. Couldn't hear shit over the exhaust. Excellent for when the ex was in a pissy mood.

Interior: Nice layout, at least as far as I was concerned. Granted, the seating area had the square footage of the inside of a mini fridge, but with a short-throw shifter, low seats and no rear space, you felt like you were a part of the car. Had the digital speedo, which I preferred. Bose sound system was pretty good.

Pop-up headlights: Probably screwed up the aerodynamics when driving at speed, but looked cool nonetheless. Was in the minority on this one.

Chick factor: I was married at the time, so I never benefitted from this. But, the opportunities were many. Never buy a vette if you're married.

The bad:

Tranny: The aforementioned 4+3. So good an idea, it lasted only four years. Overdrive in 2nd, 3rd, 4th. Small button on top of the shifter engaged the overdrive. Had a dash light that let you know when it was engaged. Friggin' worthless. If you couldn't tell whether or not you were in 4th or 7th gear, you belonged on a bus. Blew the tranny coming out of a mall in Reston, VA...IN FIRST GEAR! Shattered the case.

Visibility: If you were dumb enough to drive this car with the top up, you were next in line for a Darwin Award. I've got two. Small plastic window which was prone to scratches and weathering. Turned opaque seemingly overnight. Had to replace the top since the window wasn't removable. Top covered the back half of the cockpit, so your only visibility was either straight ahead or to the side. Side mirrors sucked. A friggin' death trap.

Winter driving: As most vette owners will tell you, driving a vette in areas prone to snow is a recipe for disaster. The top being up was bad enough, but those big tires I raved about earlier were a huge detriment also. Instead of cutting through the snow, you sat on top of it. Result: no traction. I managed to pull this off driving from Nashua, NH to Westboro, MA and back for one hellish winter circa 93-94. Never again.

Color: Most cops will deny that the color has anything to do with whom they pull over. Bullshit! Luckily, I soon learn two tricks. Find a rabbit and follow far enough behind so that he'll see him first and never, ever drive fast between traffic flows. I disregarded the last point once. Was driving from Westboro to Somerville, in between flows, doing 85 on the Mass Pike. Was my last day at NEES and heading back to VA with a quick stop off at my mom's. Knew full well that what could happen, but I thought I had enough time to catch up to the flow and find a rabbit. Wrong! Came over the crest of a hill, held my breath, and boom. Thank you officer. Have a nice day. Never did pay that ticket, never got caught for it either.

Fit and Finish: Mediocre at best. Some 88s had a problem with the paint peeling off, misaligned doors, rattles everywhere. Ddidn't help that the suspension was hard. Paint was fine on mine, but the other issues were a problem.

Brakes: Managed to warp four sets of front rotors in five years. Well, maybe that was my fault...

All in all, I genuinely loved that car, even with its faults. I'd do it all over again, though sans wife.

Oh my God my favorite car ever. One in silver, red and maybe blue. I love them.

corvettes are hot

I've had a 59,68,71 and 81 Vette. All were great cars that had their own faults, but they were all great cars. I drive bigger cars now (Audi's and such), but I'll get another when it's time to get another two-seater.

BAD ASS..

Only the older models...

Over rated

LOVE

hot

if it's red,i am ready!!

2

Also very cool. =]

I think they are nice cars but...too many times, men buy them to attract the opposite sex. In my experience, the men who bought them were making up for certain inadequacies.

corvette stingray

yea sweet

Love the 50's and 60's Corvettes!

This is a great rig. I have never owned own and I never will. I like to look at them and drive them once in a while.

I'm a sucker for muscle cars, I admit. But as far as Corvettes are concerned the 1967 Corvette Stingray L88 with the single four-barrel Holley carburetor was tops! The car displaced about 560 horsepower at about 6000 rpm! Combine this engine with a fairly light frame (as muscle cars go), this Corvette typified the muscle car era, but it is a standard for which American sports cars are often judged today!

I have respect for the appeal of these cars...they have power, but I am too short to drive something so low with that much hood.

As a lover of chevy, I love the corvette, especially stingrays and the newer ones, the Z06 with the LS7 motor (0-60=3.7 sec.; 1/4 mile=11.7 sec.;15/24 gas mileage; top speed of 198). The best V8 engine in the world. The 2008 Corvettes are going to be hardcore with the LS9. The corvette is the small and athletic brother of my favorite the car, the Impala, which is going to get good in 2009.

Still Chevrolet's "bread and butter" car.   An AWESOME combo of power and luxury!

Listen, all you bozos with your silly, childish brand loyalties grow the F up!  Every car has it's good and bad points no matter who manufactures it. I've had Chevy Camaros, Corvettes, Ford Mustangs, Nissan Zs, and Pontiacs.  All where good in some ways and not so good in other ways. As far as Vettes go, there is no other American car that can really match it's history and mystique. It's performance is usually top shelf, with the exception of the mid 1950s models, as well as the '75 and '84 models.  My biggest gripe is that Chevy has been pushing the car to a more high end market lately, and I'm sorry, but 50+Grand for ANY car is rediculous.

I have a 1988 C-4 that just turned over 200,000 miles, it still doesn't use oil and the only thing out there that will out perform it is another vette. Still tops out at about 160 mph, 0-80 in about 10 seconds, rain/wet roads, wind has little affect. About 25 mpg at 75mph. The only complaint I have is the low g rear break away, there's some video of a police chopper being out run buy a C-4 untill he braked hard and broke the back end loose at over a 150mph, he lived.

It's a CHEVY for chrissakes! ALL Chevy's are JUNK, and prone to frequent breakdown compared to other marques.

Something breaks every time I started it! Unimpressive performance and handling.

I thought I heard some poor underinformed muscle car dummy whining about the Corvette lagging behind in technology because they still use a pushrod V8. When changing to the LS-1 engine GM did extensive research with all valve train configurations, and found they could fit the most HORSEPOWER in the smallest SPACE using the push rod setup. What are the three main items on the bottom line in engine design? Power, Reliability, and Fuel Economy. Show me a car with the performance numbers of the 2006 Corvette that still gets about 30 mpg highway (Motor Trend) overhead cams, multiple valves, or not. If you can ride in a 2006 Z06 Vette and you are able to remove the smile from your face by 2007, then you go ahead and complain about "lagging behind in technology."

America Sports car Legend. Enough said.

I know it goes against the philosophy of the 'pricipled' liberals on this site to lust after gas-guzzling speedwh%res like the Corvette, but once you've had your head snapped back by the rush of torque generated by six liters of pushrod-powered insanity, you will realize how futile resistance is...

No serious gear head would even consider a vette plastic cars are for plastic people mage mine a Ford GT

It's really the only GM car worth buying since the discontinuation of the Firebird and Camaro in 2002. These are so unique that every time I spot one, it makes my day!!!

awesome

Ilike the car but the RIDE and RATTLES kill all my enjoyment.

not who doesn't like this car..... MMMMMMMMEEEEEEEEEE

I never really cared for corvettes untill i bought my 1977. It was a basket case when I brought it home but it's one heck of a project car. Parts are readily available and the thing is a dream to work on. Sure it's small and it seems I have to work on somthing every time i take it out for a drive but isn't that what I bought it for? Most of you guys import so called sports cars would run on the exhaust fumes my machine puts out. I may be nearing old age at 46, but I'm not fat or balding! One things for sure you drive this car and people will ask you questions about it. Much like a blond, you can't really appreciate one till you have it!

Mostly about a look.

I was considering an Infiniti G35 Sport Coupe, but the 2004 Vette is a better value hands-down, especially now that GM is discounting what is left of the C5's as the C6 is coming out soon. The C5 is better-looking than the C6 inside and out. The C5 is an absolute steal- great performance, styling, reliability, gas mileage, HUD display, cargo room with the hatch on the Coupe model, great-looking wheels, removable roof! Awesome! The only American car worth considering by far!

As a kid, this car was always king. For me a Vette isn't a Vette unless it's a 1975 to 1977 with the crazy curves. Sweet!!

This is a beautiful car as well.

This car is great in all ways

its slow for the power it makes.. give that power to evo sti, eclipse.. youll see what im talking about.. automotosports.com 330whp evo running 11.85 with clutch intercooler, intake exhuast and boost controller..

my rating is actually between 4 and 5 because if you get an older one it will cost you a small fortune to maintain it, but it will be a blast to drive. i have two right now, an 89 and a 71 which i just purchased. both are convertibles and one of the negative aspects of them is there is no extra space. this is not a problem with the coupes though, and from what i have heard the newer ones actually have a trunk.

the truth ... Hello americans , livig in belguim were roads are full of japs and everyone owned one when young because they could not afford the better car hear hear: some japanese cars are indeed verry reliable , a vette might need a bit more maintanance but look at a supra , honda , sabaru older than 10 years ! what do you see ? yes an old car because they lack personality charisma presence , now look at a corvette or a jag or a ferrari older than 10 years and the lines are still breath taking .Each and every corvette had that extra demension that what makes them still awesome even after decades. A sportscar you buy with your heart if you can afford it , yes I drive a vette and I could afford a rari , why ? Because you have to follow your heart and the feelling the car gives you, and if a Supra gives you the feeling by all means go for your dream , singed love on first sight the vette.

I bought a 2001 Z06 in April 2000. My first 'vette. The best car buying decision I have ever made. This car corners like it's on rails w/ 1G lateral acceleration (1G!). 0-60 in 4.0 seconds flat ... the car doesn't even seem like it's trying until you hit 140 and then it just keeps pullin' and pullin' with plenty more tach to give. Truly exhilerating!! I had to fly to Kentucky to find one (the '01 models flew off the shelf), which allowed me to visit the factory, the NCM and then drive it 800 miles back home ... sweet! BTW Todd, I'm 35, black and well ... not limp ...

The only true american sports car. Cant beat the 63' split window or the 67' stingray

A great car indeed. The Vette has always been the car to outclass the Mustang, it's a damn shame they stopped making the Camaro z28 and ss those are spanking the Mustang also, it's just the Vette did it with even more class. You People who say, the company who made the chevette, keyword made, not make anymore. But Ford still make the Ford Focus and Ford Taures, and what was that other great car they made the Ford Fiesta, lol..... Every car company make a few Pieces, but just about every Ford is a piece so you might just wanna keep you mouth shut.

Ever notice that the only ones driving Corvettes are 60-year old, limp-dicked, white dudes?

there is nothing like a "vette"....MC_96

The real American sportscar, my favorite- 1977

A very overrated sports car and mixed baggage. It's somewhat of an engineering disaster: Big on the outside and small on the inside. The car is way too long from the windshield to the headlights. Performance wise, it does have all the bells and whistles: 1.0 g cornering abilities, awesome acceleration and a great top speed. The exterior styling is also unique and not too bad. The interior design is amateur looking (stupid looking dashboard and gauge design and placement) and uses cheap materials. Reliability (with the exception of the past several years) has always been pretty bad -like most GM cars Corvettes, also, break down a lot. There's not much quality or refinement of the parts, but the engine is stellar, at least. Corvettes are an acquired taste. It is, also, truly an all-American car with true American feel. And though I'm a staunch supporter of the U.S.A., I'll take a European or even Japanese car -sports car or not- over about any American one any day. Way better design and refinement, much higher quality. At least you do get the 'bang for the buck' in the Corvette and it's a hell of a value.