Any time I post a review of a Corvette, I can count on a slew of comments comparing America's sports car to a pile of excrement, with the excrement coming out on top. Folks, it just isn't true -- and the new-for-2010 Corvette Grand Sport is the latest proof. Okay, granted, no one sitting in the 'Vette's plastic cockpit is going to confuse it with a $150,000 Mercedes SL63 AMG, or even an $82,000 Nissan GT-R. But is the Corvette really an inferior car? It costs fifty grand (56k for the Grand Sport), it goes like stink, it makes great noises, and flooring the accelerator will put a smile on the face of the most die-hard 'Vette detractor. But what about handling, you say? Well, that's where the Grand Sport comes in. Get the details in my 2010 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport test drive. -- Aaron Gold
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Photo © Aaron Gold
I’ve always been one to appreciate the value of a Corvette, and never really found much to fault them over, particularly the C6. It’s a car that constantly increases its fun/dollar ratio, even if the interior treatments and ergonomics don’t seem to fit the bill (the same can be said for the Camaro). My favorite of the line has to be the ZO6, which fills the gap nicely between a base model and a ZR1.
But my only complaint about the ‘Vette is the one that may cause me to never own one…every time I see one on the road, the driver has a nice full tuft of gray hair* (if he has any hair left at all). Not the best stigma to be associated with. Head to a Corvette rally, and see how true it is.
Of course one time I asked an owner at one of these rallies about the “Ol’ Gray Hair” cliche. His response: “The day before I bought it, I had brown hair. Then I drove it.”
*Test drive reviewers excepted
I remain utterly dumbfounded by Chevy’s refusal to upgrade the interior on the Corvette. Over time, they’ve addressed most of the car’s shortcomings, but not this one. Weird.
Aaron, you have struck the nail on the head when writing about this car. American car makers always “compromise” (Putting it politely) when building and selling cars to the American Public. Looks Great, runs Great, handles great, but interior is cheap and uncomfortable. If the Interior is lush, car handles great, but is under powered. The examples go on and on. Why can’t amercian car makers just buid a car that is well made, powerful, good looking, well handling and excellent interior ? I think it really comes down to the almighty dollar, and “over head costs” This is why I buy European vehicles There are compromises, but I can buy the car and not hate it a year later.
LOL…I am one of those old Grey beards without much hair on top of my head.. PLUS I also receive a social security check …
That said I have 5 (yes 5) Corvettes parked in the garage because I still appreciate driving as well as sex…the day I lose interest in either then you can bury me .. My garage has never been without one Corvette since 1962 when I purchased a 57 while in college…
The interior of the Vette is fine with me…I just do not give a darn… in fact it is overly plush for my needs or wants…Its a car to be driven not to tour in…Heck only 2 of my Corvettes have radios that are even connected.. I prefer the music coming out of the exhaust pipes because that is much better then any song ..period… and I also have this thing about rowing my own gears …
I just enjoy these cars…
Bob G
Agent Mike, What do you think of the CTS-V? I ask because every review that I’ve read says that those exact compromises weren’t made with the car. In fact, some reviewers say that it is probably one of the best mass market cars ever built regardless of maker.
Aaron, as I have mentioned before, I have owned a number of exotic cars, and nine of them have been Corvettes. And I might add, for those sour-grape comments from readers, starting when I was 20 yrs. old. A far cry from the grey-haired set! As were several of my friends who also owned Vettes.
Also, I would like to mention that I never lost a single dollar on any of them, including any and every dollar spent upgrading or making repairs. They are one of the best resale vehicles you can buy, if you know anything about vehicles at all, and know what yor’re buying. There’s very few cars you can honestly make that statement about!
There’s not a finer “true” sports-car that can be acquired for the price paid! I like the people that say, “well how does it compare to a Ferrari, or a Lambo?”. I’ll tell you, you’d have to throw all common sense out the window to try to tell me that there’s actually a $120,000 to a $280,000 spread, depending on which model, between a Ferrari or a Lamborghini and a Corvette.
It’s simple, most of the folks that put down a Corvette have probably never driven one, let alone owned one. There’s not a better built sports car for the money anywhere, and it’s AMERICAN MADE!
Keep up the good work, your articles are excellent.
Ron from California
There’s not a better built sports car for the money anywhere, and it’s AMERICAN MADE! Ron–no truer words have ever been spoken. Well how do Vettes compare to Lambos or Ferraris? Well go look up the real numbers! Are the others better? Well in some things Yes. Are they better “enough” to be worth a min. of $100k more than the Vette. Of course not. First off, at a rating of 15/26 MPG A vette can be a reasonable and justifyable daily driver. Try driving your Lambo to the shop and back everyday. No I do not own a Vette. #1-I dont have the extra money to spend (If I did-Id have a vette in a heartbeat) #2-I have a bad back and my T/A is very hard for me to get in/out of. A Vette is even harder. #3 Im a truck guy. For $50k I can have a 1 ton diesel. That would give me about the MPG as a Vette, and I could haul/tow things and make money. Resale is very high on diesels too.****However, my dream car is still a Vette, if I could just reasonably afford one. They are the best bang for your buck.
Mike in Minn. I test drove a CTS -V here at my southern Ca Dealership. I like it, I mean alot, but the interior was just to “GMCish” for my taste. Funny enough when Top Gear Test drove the car, Loved the speed, handling, looks, power, but when compared to European sedans in the same price range it is left wanting when comparing interiors. When you scrape your nails down the side of the door panels of a CTS V it should not come away with the same sound as a Honda Civic.
Simply put the Vette today in any of its versions:
“This is a fantastic car at an unbelievable price!”
I wish my wife would let me have one again! It is the greatest sports car/muscle car value anywhere. (along with the GT-R)
Nice car, Nice package, Nice engine, Poor handling but okay its a Corvette. Pity the interior is so crap. One of the reasons I would never buy one. If GM can bring it upto BMW or Audi standard I would seriously consider one. Until then I limit myself to Audi
I have to laugh every time I read a comment from someone knocking Corvettes because of their interior. It’s been my experience the comments are from those who are driving Accords, Camrys and the like. They complain about all of the “plastic” and because of it they’d rather pilot a BMW, Audi or even worse a Ferrari.
The facts are that none of those cars can compare to the Corvette when it comes down to the cost of ownership. This is especially true when it comes to maintenance. Ever thought about what it costs for service on a BMW or a Ferrari? Does anyone care to compare service costs on their Ferrari, Lamborgini, etc. etc. versus any Corvette?
Yes you don’t get the “plush” interior but, what you do get is the performance and reliability for a lot less cash out the door.
‘Poor handling’?? Please explain the logic of your statement descibing ‘poor handling’ Y-bodies… Perhaps you should review some of the latest reports comparing even earlier Z51’s to foreign ‘uber’ offerings, much less the latest Z06 and ZR1’s versus just about anything out there short of race prepped vehicles. Do tell!!
Good job Aaron! Corvette is really the car that you could say, there is no substitute.
When I was stationed in Germany a GI had a mid 70s` Vette parked outside the front gate of Hahn airbase. There were 7 German men standing around it staring at it drooling.
We know the 70s` Corvette was terrible in horse power among other things.
Just saying we think the foreign cars are better and those German men must have thought the Vette was great too.
Todays Corvette will run with a Porsche if not better.
Got to love the Corvette, because it pisses off those who try to do better. If Joe Blow does not respect the Corvette you can bet the guys in Italy building Ferraris do. Even though they would not admit to it.
No one wants to love the American sports cars. The corvette is spit in the eye of those who don`t
Whofan…I want to love the Vette and I do!
@ sean. ever driven a decent porsche (any recent 911), BMW or audi (even my a5 convertible)? Don’t think so. The road handling is by far better than any of the Corvettes I have driven in the past. (latest was a new 2009 Rental in Vegas) I have not driven the 2010 Grand Sport so I do not know that one. But I guess it is about the same except even more power
But as always with Corvette; Brute Power and poor corner handling. The 2009 had the same. And still the crappy interior. Yes Corvette is an Icon and I still regret ever selling off my 63 Stingray and yes you get enormous power for little dollar but the building quality and the road handling of the audi’s I drive is so much better than the Corvette’s that I have driven so far that I will not buy one.
I may be biased but I drive quite a lot of different cars (a lot of rentals and always premiums, so no b-class Hertz Cars….) and so far the cars I really like are the Germans especially my Audi’s, with BMW as a good second. Sorry for that although I am an American the Germans just drive better, are build better and look better (the last argument is personal taste of course) like it or not. I do respect the sentiment about the Corvette but as an English friend of me put it; “The Corvette is just not my cup of tea”. So all the Corvette Fans I respect you. The Corvette is as I said an American Icon. Except for me it is not the choice of my likings next to that the facts speaks for themselves. So please respect me for liking the German Engineered Cars which are by far the best available on the market.
Umm, Peter, let’s see just how deficient my driving experience is… I guess my dad’s race prepped 914-6 that could out handle ANY production vehicle ever made (no, it wasn’t a real one, but it went like one) wouldn’t count. Neither would his ‘81 grey market 323 or 2002tii (granted, they aren’t current vehicles, but I think I have an idea what good handling is)… I have driven a Viper enough to be relatively comfortable with it (a demo for a month: big mistake by my general manager!), and a couple of M3’s and my buddy’s late 70’s 911. Granted, a 911 handles in a graceful balanced manner (up to a point!) versus the Viper’s loutish behavior, but the Viper will win every time. I’m pretty sure if you put your Audi on a twisty-turny with a Z06 you would be extremely disappointed, much less with a ZR1 (let’s all repeat, “1.2g’s”). And yet in the same post you crawdad and say ‘please respect me for liking German Engineered Cars’ when you in fact are not reciprocating the same(?). I didn’t slander your likes, I merely asked you to validate your statement about ‘poor handling’ Y-bodies, which you still haven’t done (naming only personal preferences so far, which I have no problem with). I am not a Vette owner, but it’s tiring to hear the snobbish cookie cutter remarks made for no other reason than the fact that someone did something similar a totally different way or for much less, or for no other reason than it being domestic. You’ve gotta give the Vette respect for what it does, just as you ask for the same for your European models. Every model has shortcomings, regardless of the manufacturer.
I’m a little confused about Peter’s opine too. If you’re referring to how it FEELS to drive the Audi, then perhaps I’d grant you that. But if you are referring to Handling as in how well it will go around corners at the limit, then you are simply mistaken. There is no Audi this side of the R8 that will keep pace with a Corvette, and no that does not mean it simply wins in the straight stretches. It will be faster in the lane change, and pull more Gs on the skidpad. Car and Driver does a comparison of Vettes every other week or so (I kid but it is often) and they always include test sheets showing lane change speed and skidpad Gs. I can’t recall ever seeing an Audi top the Vette in one.
Ross…100% dead on target. Feel vs. Numbers. The Germans own that awesome feel, but the Vette owns those cold, unerring numbers. However, having owned one Vette and driven many newer ones, the Vette’s handling still feels awfully darn good!!!
Ross and Sean thanks for the comments. I think we will never agree on this topic. Yes the Corvette is really a nice car but it is in my opinion just brute power and it is build poorly (just look at the interior, it speaks for it self). And in my opion it handles not as good as my Audi’s. The time that I believe Car and Driver are long behind me as they are so biased to everything what is american or their biggest advertiser… But okay you like the “Vette” fine, good for you! I like the “Germans” we will never agree, thats why we live in this great country where you can say what you like. e.g. If you look at the German Car Magazine AUTO MOTOR SPORT you will see that the germans beat every part of the corvette on the Nurnbergring in their “test”. So the truth will be somewhere in the middle. I guess. Leaves it to personal taste. That is something thank GOD is different by everybody. So have fun with your Corvette’s as I will have with my Audi;s. Appreciate your comments!