New Corvette

[R. G. Amos]

I am a Porsche 911 enthusiast and have driven 911's for about 31 years and currently own three. I need to replace a 12-yr old Acura that I have driven for a little over 12-years as a daily driver. So I thought I would go to a local Chevy dealer and check out the 2015 Corvette.

The dealer had two 2015 C-7's on the floor but they were both already sold. I was really interested in the Z-06 so I inquired about these. Base price is 78K$ but there is an additional 10K$ charge for the privilege of ordering one. The dealer has eleven allocated and has already taken orders for six.

I did a little checking since I have not looked at Corvettes in quite a while. I did when I was in the university buy a new L-89 Corvette but was not really impressed with it. The new Corvette uses pushrods to activate the valves (one lower camshaft) and has all of two valves per cylinder. While the new engines aparently do incorporate direct injection, how can Chevy produce such a low-tech, antiquated engine?

 

[zonker5]

After your Porsche experience I think you will find the Corvette to be a loser.

My personal choice of transport is Mercedes-Benz, add the AMG goodies if you need more go.

 

[Mydogmax]

My personal choice of transport is Mercedes-Benz, add the AMG goodies if you need more go.

+1 on the Benz. Love the looks of the vette but if you want a rocket ship get the C63 AMG Benz.
I've been a MB fan for the past 15 years. Like Beemers too.

 

[LostintheOzone]

LT-4 engine has 600 HP and a lot more low end torque than any of the Euro cars. Not as sophisticated as a Ferrari or Porsche but a lot less expensive with more power. I would buy a Corvette just because of the performance.

The only way to know is to drive one.

 

[4barrel]

Don't knock the Corvette. Just dig a little deeper.

 

[-db-]

If 650 horsepower/650 lb. ft. of torque, 0-60 in under 3 seconds, 10-second quarter miles and owning Nürburgring faster than cars costing 5 times as much (or more) is low-tech and antiquated, gimme that old-tech antiquated stuff every time.

 

[Onomea]

2015 Dodge Challenger SRT/Hellcat? 700+ HP with European handling:

Hellcat Unleashed: The 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT! - World's Fastest Car Show Ep 4.7 - YouTube

 

[txcoyote]

Yeah, you should pass on the Z06 Vette. Horrid old technology. Only 2.95 seconds 0-60 mph, 10.95 1/4 mile - all with 8 speed auto that shifts faster that the dual clutch euro trans. 1.2g turns for auto cross. 26mpg on highway. Yeah. It's a real dog. Just faster than the $130k turboZR-1 that proceeded it in the C6 era. You won't recognize it vs your old L-89.

Porsche vs Vette - two different cars. Had em both. They are different. Stick with your bias if you can't handle change.

 

[LostintheOzone]

Don't knock the Corvette. Just dig a little deeper.

Foul. That one isn't stock.

 

[The Big D]

Oh, dear!

The base Corvette engine is a 6.2L (378 cid), 460 HP engine that clocks 3.7 seconds for 0-60. That's with the 8-speed automatic tranny. Gobs of torque, too.

Not bad for an 'antiquated' motor. One that also gets 29mpg on the highway.

Be safe.

 

[ladder13]

I'll take one of those 78G low tech 650 hp, 650 ft lb vettes as well. That Chevy small block, yep 427 small block, is sure antiquated.
ZO6's can be had at sticker from many volume dealers including Kerbeck and McMulkin.

 

[ben_g1]

Where are you gonna use 600-700+ plus HP unless your doing track days.

On the old "fun-o-meter" I'll take my old air-cooled, no power steering, no power brakes, 235 hp $25,000. fun machine

 

[Nevada Ed]

I got the little lady a Benz but she keeps getting them totaled.....

Every time the insurance covers the wreck I loose 15% !!

The last wreck with the 280 4-matic ( Reno snow) the air bad did not even deploy........ and the F250 ford PU rear end totaled that Benz.

Benz are nice but they fold up like tin foil...........

 

[R. G. Amos]

You are missing my point. It was not my intent to criticize the car/engine. It just surprises me that the engine depends so much on displacement for HP/torque. Although the supercharger does increase cylinder pressure for help in developing HP/Torque. I was expecting something a little more sophisticated for what is essentially a 100K$ car.

 

[James&theGiant1911]

Chevrolet is the equivalent of China made cars as they come. Just for fun go to you tube and type in the Chevrolet vs Ford Truck load comparisons and watch their truck frames bend like accordions. Chevrolet is a joke and makes joke cars and trucks. Ford and Dodge are the only ones making quality American cars these days. While Chevrolet has some great looking vehicles it is you can not judge a book by its cover kind of thing.

 

[Art Doc]

I have a pick up truck...with a 4 cylinder engine. I can't even afford to look at photos of the cars being described here.

Fastest car I ever owned was a 1969 Dodge Charger with the 426 Hemi.

Car I miss the most is a 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T with a 440 and 4 speed. My heart aches for that car everyday.

Car for which I will always have a soft spot in my heart is a 1969 Oldsmobile 442.

I miss being young.

Fantasy car is a 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona.

Car I regret not buying (tie). A 1960 Corvette with a 327 and 4 Speed offered to me for $1,800 and a 1957 Chrysler Imperial with a 392 Hemi. It was white with a red leather interior. Four bucket seats. God, it was beautiful. Had 25,000 miles and the guy wanted $75 for it.

Car I was saving up to buy before wife announced she wants a new house is a 1969 350/4 speed Corvette. Maybe I can get a house with a 4 speed trans as a compromise?

 

[Geno44]

The 1960 Corvette would have been a 283 if it had the original engine in it. The 327 did not come out until 1962.

 

[LostintheOzone]

Chevrolet is the equivalent of China made cars as they come. Just for fun go to you tube and type in the Chevrolet vs Ford Truck load comparisons and watch their truck frames bend like accordions. Chevrolet is a joke and makes joke cars and trucks. Ford and Dodge are the only ones making quality American cars these days. While Chevrolet has some great looking vehicles it is you can not judge a book by its cover kind of thing.

Chevy is junk, pure junk. I don't know how they sell those things.

 

[Mike McLellan]

Don't rule out the Yugo.

 

[LVSteve]

The new Corvette uses pushrods to activate the valves (one lower camshaft) and has all of two valves per cylinder. While the new engines aparently do incorporate direct injection, how can Chevy produce such a low-tech, antiquated engine?

A few reasons.

1) The OHV motor allows a lower, sleeker car. Pile multiple cams on top and you kill the car's styling.

2) The 2-valve pushrod motor inherently has less friction. All those cams and valves take energy to move, and corporate gas mileage (CAFE) is a big deal.

3) It's cheaper.

4) Despite the apparently simple valvetrain, Chevy can still incorporate a cylinder deactivation system so that the car runs as a V4 on the highway, saving gas. I gather this is a much simpler system than found on an OHC motor.

5) Chevy know their market. Most Americans want a bigger capacity, slower revving motor, not the high specific output engines found in European and Japanese speed demons. The simpler valvetrain is plenty for that type of engine.