box

I just built this beauty over at the Chevy site. Good grief, my trade is more than the price of this!

$81,230



I am too much of a "Porsche *****" to get one, but I certainly will drive one!

HooosierDaddy

PJ Cayenne

I must confess to being interested in the C8 (not turning in my Porsche card yet), it is a compelling product. But here is the thing, the 911 is more than 0-60 and blind speed. It's not even about the sexiest look, as the 911, while very nice, is not the prom beauty queen compared to other sports cars. I see the 911 as a well crafted, precision piece of equipment that is exceedingly well engineered. Every switch, every panel, every thing that moves on the 911 feels so well made with the "last forever" feel. And that's just sitting still. When it starts to move, it's a whole other world of joy. Unless GM addresses workmanship, durability, quality of materials and thoughtfulness of design, it will make anyone who defects from a 911 to a C8 will be a pretty miserable owner if GM doesn't step it up big time. Most of us who buy a 911 don't miss the money we spent once we own them. Will the C8 give us the same feeling?

Noah Fect

One of the things you'll learn about Porsche as you grow more conversant with their modern cars is that they really, really, really need competition.

I don't envision owning a C8 myself -- it's not my kind of ride -- but I'm certainly rooting for it to succeed. In the best of all possible worlds, Porsche would begin a new project by purchasing a Corvette and taking it apart with a screwdriver, just like GM does with a Porsche every time they start work on a new Corvette.

box

I like how you have worded it and I am totally in agreement. As an engineer, I have always loved Porsche because it is so perfectly engineered. I love Vette's simply because I am an American and it is the ultimate here. I really want to drive this new Vette, in fact, I have to. Given that I can find one on a lot (all the dealers are just taking orders), I think that when I show up with my 911 and tell them that it is my trade they'll let me have a test drive. I frankly do not think I will be blown away other than amazed at how much US automotive engineering has learned from German. I drove an AMG for four years, even drove them at COTA, and at the end of the day there is nothing like a 911 (if there is I haven't driven it).

I have called M-B the GM of Germany, but Porsche is in a class by itself. There is no substitute.

Bemo

I had the pleasure, and quite the task, to attempt and keep up with a 991.2 GT3T the other day. No other car but a GT variant can pluck the GTS keys out of my wallet.
I'd love the vette to succeed and get challenged by other automakers with even better products so that, as enthusiasts, we can all win by having better and more performance-oriented choices in the future!

RobertR1

MT review is live: https://www.motortrend.com/cars/chev...t-test-review/

Summary: Fast. A bit heavy. Good "PDK."Handling at the limit is touchy.

95spiderman

interesting review. thanks for posting link
my read between the lines is that its better on the street than the track. no surprise there as its the base model and there will be models made for the track. its just like the 911 targa, better on street than track while they offer gt cars for track.
its a winner

Petza914

I finally got to see the Coupe and Convertible in person this past weekend at Road Atlanta. Both are pretty good looking cars, and I especially like the Convertible with the character and safety humps behind the occupants heads. The rear view is still a disaster on both cars though - too much Camaro, too many cut lines, holes, wings, diffusers - it's like they went to Nopi and bought one of everything.

Based on the MT test though, they definitely have a winner for the masses, which is really who buys Corvettes.

Without a stick shift, with the excessive understeer designed into the chassis dynamics, and the poor braking feel from the brake-by-wire system, it's not for me, but looks and sounds like they will have great success with it. I'm sure I'll rent on on an upcoming business trip and have a bunch of fun with it, then give it back and be happier with what's already in the garage, just like I have done with the prior Corvette generations.

Good for GM and for a US company to pull this off at the price point they have.

Caustic

Here is the Road and Track review:

https://www.roadandtrack.com/new-car...st-drive-test/

Overall good, but critical in analysis.

I like the fact the base Vette hit its marks, even as these were tested as pre-production models, but brake feel (which I was concerned about) and built in understeer is disappointing. I think I have a more wait and see attitude for the Z06 and GS instead of looking at a base vette. I'm sure the platform will continue to improve dramatically.

Caustic

Car and Driver Track test C8 Z51 vs C7 Z51:

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a2...ette-c8-vs-c7/

Spoiler, the C8 won.

"But such close lap times don’t remotely convey how much easier it is to go fast in the C8. It cuts more cleanly into turns, and its rear tires are more planted exiting them; the C7’s tail is nervous and twitchy by comparison. Indeed, the C8 feels as approachable on the track as it does on the road. That’s a rare combination, one worthy of respect. The C8 has ours."

box

Initial reviews are in. They did good. Such a beautiful automobile and nice to know it has the chops to match.

ZDan

Hopefully the built-in understeer is with factory-spec alignment with near-zero front camber. With a lot more front camber I'd expect neutral handling. Wonder how adjustable it is from factory....

95spiderman

pretty sure z51 option allows for front suspension adjustments

993Guy

Interesting. Have to wonder how the C8 Z51 will do against a C7 GS. If it's slower, kind of a miss IMO