Ah, the Corvette. You either love it or you hate it -- as I saw first-hand in the comments following this blog entry. Up until I did this test drive, I was a lot closer to the "hate" camp. But I don't see how it's possible to drive a 2008 Corvette for a week and not fall in... well, maybe not love, but at the very least in deep like. Is it flawed? Oh, you betcha. But it's still a hell of a lot of fun. Get the details in my 2008 Chevrolet Corvette test drive and review. -- Aaron Gold
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On merits alone it is hard to compete with the Corvette. Some cars handle better. Some accelerate quicker. Some stop shorter. But taken as a package, it is nearly impossible to beat. Plus at the price they ask for it, it’s user-friendly interior and decent gas mileage, you can possibly justify using this near-supercar as a daily driver. Maybe the same could be said of the Cayman but that’s about it in this class. Since the Corvette has the performance without the snob appeal, maybe it should be dubbed “the people’s sportscar”!
Hoo boy, is this one ever gonna be lively… Of course, there are the haters like the eurosnobs that will state that it doesn’t have pedigreed lineage like an Italian or German, the tree hugger that will tout the end of the world caused by the domestic gas guzzling V8, the boy racers who turn their noses up because it doesn’t have multiple cams and a 3 foot wing, and of course, don’t forget the people who’ll claim “I wouldn’t drive it if they gave it to me, I’d rather have my Camry!”. Yeah, right, we ALLLLLL believe you. Love it or hate it, the Corvette is dollar for dollar the best ubercar in the world hands down, with the ZO6 distancing itself from the pack even further. Are the faster offerings out there? Oh, you betcha, but the current model is so competent at meeting so many different individual tastes and needs it’s impossible to deny it’s value and appeal. I mean, Granny can drive it from church in leather air conditioned comfort to the local dragstrip and crack off 12’s and then go autocrossing without breaking a sweat. And don’t forget there’s a Chevy dealer for service in almost every town. How many Ferrari dealers can you find in Frog Holler, Ga.? I rest my case. Of course, I wouldn’t drive it if they gave it to me, I’d rather have my AMC Pacer….. BWAAAHAAAHAAA.
Oops, well Mike beat me to it…
Sorry Sean. Didn’t mean to steal your thunder.
Aaron 2 questions: First, is it possible that the shake you felt was due to the roof style you chose and second, have you felt it in other higher-end Corvette models? I’m just curious because I’ve never heard that criticism before.
Mike, the shuddering under braking — which also happened under hard acceleration; don’t know if it was tire hop, as I would think the traction control system would arrest that — happened with the roof on or off. On my curvy road driving, where I could feel a bit of flex, I always had the roof off, though I can’t imagine a thin panel like that could provide much stability — I would think it would have to flex a bit, otherwise it would shatter. Anyway, yes, the lack of a hard roof could make the car flex a bit.
I haven’t yet driven the Z06, so I can’t comment on whether the higher-end Corvette has the same problem. I will most likely test a Z06 later this year, provided I can get my hands on one.
That Corvette was one hell of a ride. Thinking about it still makes me smile.
Corvettes are awsome, they’re my dream car and mustangs.
Aaron, you can feel a bit of a difference with the roof on or off. The roof panel is loaded in shear and the roof frame stabilizes it. It is strong in shear.
Try driving one with the F55 suspension on the same road. It’s more civilized and better controlled on less than perfect surfaces than the Z51 is. Z51 is aimed more at various track activities but with some control and comfort sacrifice on rough (normal California) roads.
Compare the length, width and weight with a Porsche 911 and you will see that most of what you observed about Corvette size was an illusion.
The Corvette is a lot like me. A little crude but powerful and capable of kicking a lot of Euro butt.
I have always played around with European cars. Porsches and Ferraris. And I had never ever considered a Corvette. But two days ago I went to my Chevy dealer in Torrance and test drive the LS3. I loved it. Now I know why some ppl rave on about brute American cars. I am considering getting one soon and can’t quite explain the cold feet… I love the Porsche Cayman S too which is the same price as a loaded LS3 Coupe.