So Much for That: 2014 Corvette

[David70]

I'm impressed with it. Not a perfect look but the specs are impressive. Aluminum chassis, carbon fiber, relatively light weight, 0-60 in 4 seconds, 450 hp, 26 mpg on the hwy, about the same price as our cars cost about 5 years ago but with reasonably priced parts and labor.

I would never buy it new but would consider a used one. If your main interest is performance/$$ it seems like a good buy.

[kennyfrc]

Originally Posted by SD Z4MR

Please define "TRUE SPORTS CAR" and give examples other than the 'Vette. I don't see how a Z4 M R/C is any less of a "TRUE SPORTS CAR" than any 'Vette.

"TRUE SPORTS CAR"

1/4 Mile under 12.8 MPH and over 110MPH

60-0 Braking at or under 105FT

Skidpad at or over .95G

Power to weight ratio 7.8LB/HP or better

Ring lap time under 8 minutes

[RADRACR]

I like it. But like others have said, in a few years they're going to be very common. Something our Z4Ms will never be. Then I'm thinking... spend another $10-15K on brakes, suspension, and FI, and we've got one of the fastest cars at track day anyway.

[SD ///M4]

Originally Posted by kennyfrc

"TRUE SPORTS CAR"

1/4 Mile under 12.8 MPH and over 110MPH

60-0 Braking at or under 105FT

Skidpad at or over .95G

Power to weight ratio 7.8LB/HP or better

Ring lap time under 8 minutes

Ok, that's YOUR definition. Google "sports car" and see how the rest of the world defines, and has defined, "sports car". An awful lot of classic sports cars, those that actually defined sports cars long before you were born, wouldn't make your list, which makes it pretty short-sighted, IMHO. The 'Vette is still a lot like an old Detroit muscle car with a plastic body. Pushrod V8, leaf springs, I could go on...

[ZStig]

definition: sports car as by me, to try to be lax enough to include the entry level mazda miata

1. your family complains that its too small and uncomfortable
2. RWD or AWD
3. 2 seats, maybe with 2 vestigial rear seats if must be
4. 2 doors
5. Outperforms MOST cars in EITHER straight line acceleration, and/or in handling
6. Suspension compromises comfort for body roll
7. Anything BUT an auto transmission is available

[GamblerHydra]

Disagree with the audience here . I think the new Stingray is a hit . A True American sport car !

[Walkurie]

Originally Posted by Finnegan

^ +1.


The car has to connect with me from both the performance and emotion/looks standpoint in order for me to buy it. Performance does matter a lot to me, but if I find something visually unappealing, or just plain ugly, well, I can't get past that. If I want to total track monster only, I'd buy an Ariel Atom or a Radical. For mixed street and track use I need something that hits both visual and performance requirements.

Finnegan's statement sums it up. One has to connect. If the Z4M had not saved me, I would still be connected to something like these.

http://www.morgan-motor.co.uk/

[jrainlay]

Originally Posted by David70

I would never buy it new but would consider a used one. If your main interest is performance/$$ it seems like a good buy.

I agree. The only car I ever had that I didn't lose $$$ on was a used Vette I owned for five years!

[RichardTS]

Originally Posted by kennyfrc

"TRUE SPORTS CAR"

1/4 Mile under 12.8 MPH and over 110MPH

60-0 Braking at or under 105FT

Skidpad at or over .95G

Power to weight ratio 7.8LB/HP or better

Ring lap time under 8 minutes

Actually, there was a time when "true sports cars" were generally underpowered. These cars required finesse to drive and were desired because of their cornering ability on small tight roads rather than straight line performance. 1/4 mile time was not even a consideration but how fast you could get through a road like the "tail of the dragon" was very important.

In a nutshell it used to be all about what you could do with very little power. There are roads in England where an M Roadster or M Coupe would feel cumbersome and an Austin Healey Sprite would feel light as a feather. On some of these same English roads an 67 hp Sprite might just wipe the BMW's all over the road and a vette wouldn't even be in the ball park. These are roads on which 40 mph can scare the pants off of you.

Just my two cents...

[David70]

Originally Posted by kennyfrc

"TRUE SPORTS CAR"

1/4 Mile under 12.8 MPH and over 110MPH

60-0 Braking at or under 105FT

Skidpad at or over .95G

Power to weight ratio 7.8LB/HP or better

Ring lap time under 8 minutes

Based on this I don't think there are any old sports cars. Per the above, at what point in time did Ferrari and Porsche start making sports cars?

[Tonybest]

^^^

I agree

[gtMc]

Pretty clear that this comes down to ones definition of a 'Sports Car', and what draws someone in to love a car. Like anything, there are different tools for different jobs, and different 'Sports Cars' for different roads/needs. Some sports cars are the swiss army knives, capable of fulfilling widely diverse needs in one package. Others are made for more targeted use only (contrast an Atom versus a Shelby Mustang 500). And on top of that, throw in the varying tastes in style that we all have.

I love RichardTS's point above, and I learned that same thing at my very first HPDE. Respect to those who drive the underpowered car fast because of true drivers skill, not loads of HP. I like that the M doesn't have a gazillion HP, but thats just me.

I had the chance to drive a 2011 Corvette GS on Mulholland drive in CA not too long ago. It was a ton of fun! But I still prefer my M over that vette. Its just the right car that offers me the most complete package for my personal taste and wants.

I hope this car sells well for GM. Its nice to see us American car companies getting back on track (no pun)... But I dont think it will appeal to the crowd they had hoped.

[strokeoluck]

I drove a few C5 and C6 Vettes before deciding on the Z. It definitely has brute power, and I do like the Z06 (or Grand Sport) styling. But it's all about raw power, and it seems to show it's wear quickly - in the shakes, rattles and rolls it exhibits. My Dad has a C5 with ~60k miles and it feels like it's got 250k miles. And why they recycled the Camaro tail lights makes no sense to me. You just KNOW there's a designer somewhere out there reading the critique of those tail lights saying "See...I TOLD you guys we shouldn't have done that!" :-)

[GuidoK]

Originally Posted by ZStig

2. RWD or AWD

Megane RS trophy did the nordschleife in 8.07:97.
That's faster than a BMW M6 (the previous) or a Boxster S.
(It's FWD for all those who don't know the car.)

I like the new corvette, and I also liked the c6. But you hardly ever see them over here; they're really expensive due to the high CO2 emissions. Just like camaro's, mustangs etc. (for exemple: a corvette GS convertable (2012 model) costs about 185.000USD over here and a zr1 is probably about 300k USD)

[ZStig]

Originally Posted by GuidoK

Megane RS trophy did the nordschleife in 8.07:97.
That's faster than a BMW M6 (the previous) or a Boxster S.
(It's FWD for all those who don't know the car.)

I like the new corvette, and I also liked the c6. But you hardly ever see them over here; they're really expensive due to the high CO2 emissions. Just like camaro's, mustangs etc. (for exemple: a corvette GS convertable (2012 model) costs about 185.000USD over here and a zr1 is probably about 300k USD)

sorry, I don't consider hot hatches sports cars, no matter how fast. They're highly modified econoboxes, and are great for every day use

[mgwatson48]

How fast do our cars (both roadster AND coupe) go around the ring? I've never been able to track down the official times...

[rkstar9]

I think It's a Hit! and yes it looks like a stingray

[marinb]

Originally Posted by mgwatson48

How fast do our cars (both roadster AND coupe) go around the ring? I've never been able to track down the official times...

M Coupe - 8:12
M Roadster - 8:15

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...eife_lap_times

[marinb]

I dig the new corvette, maybe not in red... but it's got much more of a fastback look than before, which I like.

My only issue with it is that the rear end looks like it was ripped off the Camero.

[SD ///M4]

Originally Posted by marinb

M Coupe - 8:12
M Roadster - 8:15

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...eife_lap_times

Just for reference, since I remember reading this when I was researching the Z4 M around the time I bought mine, when the Z4 M was introduced, BMW issued a press release mentioning that it was faster than the E46 M3 at the Nurburgring:

E46 M3: 8:22

[GuidoK]

Originally Posted by ZStig

They're highly modified econoboxes, and are great for every day use

so is an M3
(souped up 316i with bigger engine, modified drivetrain and suspension )

[Sephiroth]

You guys are crazy! They addressed almost every single issue with the C6 (which i owned previously) especially the seats! Im impressed that the corvette guys weren't afraid to get rid of the round lights. Have you seen the photoshops with the round lights? It looks horrible! They made the right move.

The car makes more power, is more efficient, has better interior, more tech (launch control, cf hood and roof, brembos, drive modes, 7spd with defeatable throttle blipping, color heads up display, better tires, etc.) They did a tremendous job on paper. I bet the base 1LT will cost 50k.