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I would wait until they fix their initial bugs. It's a GM after all. I bought a C7 Z51 manual when they first came out because it seemed like such a good car for so little money. My wife asked "So what did they leave out?" A lot it turns out, it failed every single time I took it to the track, overheated and had to have the exhaust valve actuators replaced every single track day. After 5 times under warranty, I got a buyback offer, ad I sold it and got my AMG GTS, which never overheats on track. My buddy's C7 Z06 overheated as well on track, driven close to 10/10ths. We had to add GM auxiliary cooler and change brakes to AP Racing, and he bailed and sold it. On my Z51 I had bought Z06 rotors and calipers due to the Z51 rotors having completely worn down on the street from the Hawk racing pads after less than 700 miles, but I never installed them as I kept waiting for them to fix the AFM actuator issue. If you like the message "Engine Overheating. Idle Engine" while barreling down the straight, go at it. GM has never fixed the issue I had on track with my Z51 as people are still posting in the thread I started 4 years later with the same failures. My Z51 had a transmission and differential cooler pair, and on track I got my manual's temperature to somewhere over 300 degrees, but didn't know how hot because it pinned the gauge. It all depends how fast you drive the car on track. When GM via my dealer offered me a buyback, I countered saying I would trade it for a Z06 and the list price difference. They said they did not want to sell me one because they knew some were having issues on track and that I would likely also be one of those. That did it for me and GM's "most track worthy car ever".
My AMG GT-S never comes close to overheating any system on track, well except the brakes maybe.
If it's just for the street, the new C8 is likely OK. Maybe they have learned their lesson from all the overheating and limp mode complaints. Time will tell.
I always was a corvette owner before moving up to gts an gt3 . The corvette is a great entry level sports car , best value. However the prices tank very early on , expect to loose 50 % of value after buying new an reselling. The gts is a whole nother level.
Last edited by Tinknocker; 08-01-2019 at 10:10 PM.
Even though I see 16 and 17 GT cars for a lot less, beware. A lot of those cars are problematic, but they represent a value that no new base corvette can approach.
Nah, not really interested. But, its nice that they went mid engine. Kinda shakes the entry level sportscar market. Really nice how they did the reveal right there and didn't drag out the drama unlike the Supra.
What I am really curious about is how many buyers they will steal from the used/new Cayman market (ofc the Cayman market has been shrinking, so this may not actually be interesting tbh). What might be more interesting is how many millions more they will sell than the Supra lol
I feel like I need to clarify. I am not suggesting you dump your GTx for a C8. I have no intention of getting rid of my GTS and as I have said in several threads, GTS is the best driver car I have ever had.
I am a car guy and brand agnostic, for me the C8 is an additional toy to have, experience & enjoy.
I feel like I need to clarify. I am not suggesting you dump your GTx for a C8. I have no intention of getting rid of my GTS and as I have said in several threads, GTS is the best driver car I have ever had.
I am a car guy and brand agnostic, for me the C8 is an additional toy to have, experience & enjoy.
For me personally, I don't have the extra space, or time, for more than 1 coupe, so any new car I look at is seen through the lens of either or, and will always get benchmarked against my current vehicles.
Nah, not really interested. But, its nice that they went mid engine. Kinda shakes the entry level sportscar market. Really nice how they did the reveal right there and didn't drag out the drama unlike the Supra.
What I am really curious about is how many buyers they will steal from the used/new Cayman market (ofc the Cayman market has been shrinking, so this may not actually be interesting tbh). What might be more interesting is how many millions more they will sell than the Supra lol
The thread on RL regarding the C8 Vette is now close to or over 2,000 posts, and many of them are stating things like ‘I had a deposit on a new Cayman, but now I’m thinking of pulling it and waiting to see what the Z51 version of the C8 has to offer’. So it’s getting tons of traction. It remains to be seen how the car will perform on a road course driven by someone with a lot of experience and used to driving rapidly.
I suspect, but hope not, that there will be a number of issues given that it’s 1: a new model, and 2: a brand new ME design. Further, I will most definitely not buy the first year Z06/7 version again as keeping the drivetrain cool enough to perform well in high ambient conditions will no doubt be a challenge for GM. Oh, and hope that AP Racing bring out a BBK ASAP.
The thread on RL regarding the C8 Vette is now close to or over 2,000 posts, and many of them are stating things like ‘I had a deposit on a new Cayman, but now I’m thinking of pulling it and waiting to see what the Z51 version of the C8 has to offer’. So it’s getting tons of traction. It remains to be seen how the car will perform on a road course driven by someone with a lot of experience and used to driving rapidly.
I suspect, but hope not, that there will be a number of issues given that it’s 1: a new model, and 2: a brand new ME design. Further, I will most definitely not buy the first year Z06/7 version again as keeping the drivetrain cool enough to perform well in high ambient conditions will no doubt be a challenge for GM. Oh, and hope that AP Racing bring out a BBK ASAP.
Bish
Bish, it is the same on the Lambo forum, C8 thread is 17 pages long just in the Gallardo section.
I agree, there will be issues with the 1st year models, but I think GM deserves some credit for what they offer in the Vette. 3 years ago, my 2016 Z06/Z07 had some cool technologies like multi-color configurable Head Up Display, Cosworth Performance Data Recorder, dual front curb/park cameras, touch screen display, full function Apple & Andriod Car Play, etc, etc. I wish some of these tech were available in our GT or other high end sport/exotic cars. And now with the C8, they have taken that even further, it's packed full of cool tech. Here is a YouTube video on the infotainment system: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXNx...ature=youtu.be
C8 is a game changer, I think other sport/exotic car manufacturer will be forced to adapt some of these tech eventually. The back up camera on my Cali T is a joke! Dark and you can barley see anything. The audio system is a joke as well.
Corvette C8 997S, Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve BMW 750 S560 Coupe
I have known I Kerbeck guys (largest vette dealers) for years (they also own the local Lamborghini, Bentley, Rolls & others), and have bought a bunch of cars from them. I have never ever been told I cannot test drive a car, not even an Enzo or a Carrera GT (the only car I ever stalled). I intend to take the C8 apart so I don't really care about warranty, it is another project car for me.
I actually like the C8 for the most part (not a huge fan of the tail lights). I'm gonna wait til they announce the Z06 and see how they do in customer hands but I could see myself in one in ~3 years. I'll be pushing 40 so it'll be appropriate.
Corvette C8 997S, Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve BMW 750 S560 Coupe
I just put something similar up on Ferrarichat, if you have past experience with corvettes (especially the C6/C7) the higher powered cars were not the best cars. Without extensive modifications the power could easily overwhelm the chassis, and unless you are a very good driver you could end up wrapped around a tree. The C6 Z06 was one of the scariest cars I ever owned in stock form, and I had the skills to turn pro when I was younger. I am hopeful the C8 addresses the problems of driver feedback since the C6/C7 gave you almost zero warning when they were going to break loose. Pushing 40 in a few years, I have wrenches older than you.
18 AMG GTC and 22 F150 Limited. Past owner 16 Maybach, 17 Brabus Smartcar, 06 Ford E150, and 22 G70
Carnut thats something I did not cover. I was going to buy a 18 z06 with the z07 package. I drove it and dam it scared me. Just way to much power for the car. I now have a GTC and though it has 100 less hp it has never scared me. It has ALWAYS been poised no matter what I do with it ESPECIALLY when I do autocross with it.
I just put something similar up on Ferrarichat, if you have past experience with corvettes (especially the C6/C7) the higher powered cars were not the best cars. Without extensive modifications the power could easily overwhelm the chassis, and unless you are a very good driver you could end up wrapped around a tree. The C6 Z06 was one of the scariest cars I ever owned in stock form, and I had the skills to turn pro when I was younger. I am hopeful the C8 addresses the problems of driver feedback since the C6/C7 gave you almost zero warning when they were going to break loose. Pushing 40 in a few years, I have wrenches older than you.
My experience with C7 was completely different than yours. I had a 2016 Z06 with Z07 package. Back then I also had a 2015 Aventador. I took both cars to COTA to attend Corsa Vita 2-day track event. At no time I felt the Z06 was out of control or unstable. As a matter of fact at the end of the long straight right before turn 12 when braking hard, I felt more planted in Z06 than the Lambo. My lap time was half a second to a second faster in the Z06. I had no modification on either car.
To be fair, Z06 had Cup2 tires and Aventador is heavy and not necessarily a track car, however, it is 4-wheel drive with 700 HP. And yes Z06 with the automatic 8-speed tranny had overheating issues when tracked in temperatures above 90 but not with the manual gearbox and GM fixed that with the ZR1. I have tracked my friend’s ZR1 and it is one of the best cars I have tracked on MSR, my local track.
As others have mentioned, there is no exclusivity with Vettes, you’ll see one at almost every stop light and if for some reason I was ever forced to have only one car, it wouldn’t be a Vette, it would be my GTS
The C7 Corvette, especially the Z06/7 version was one of the best handling/balanced cars I’ve ever owned. The issue with Corvettes is that they routinely come from the factory with an absolute crap alignment. It is ridiculous that a car with the characteristics of the Z06/7 should be released to the public in such a sorry state. It’s of course fine for driving to/from C&C as so many are, but start using the car’s power and without having a decent alignment you’ll literally be chasing your tail. But get a performance street/track alignment and have the all important rear caster set correctly and the car is a fantastic and safe handling car even when rapidly rolling into the throttle.
Never owned vettes but have respect for Z06/7 when ever I see them. They are well thought out designs, obviously no car is 100% perfect magical unicorn.
Corvette C8 997S, Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve BMW 750 S560 Coupe
I'm glad someone mentioned tires, I am always amazed at how little people see to care about the things that actually keep your car on the road. Yes I am old, I learned to drive on a 3 on a tree, traction controls and power brakes did not even exist back then. I either remove reaction control completely from my keeper cars, or I find a way to disable it on cars I am not going to keep. My S class, Range Rover, and my dogs transports Jeep Grand Cherokee are the only cars I have with working traction control. My RR have Nokian winter tires, and only gets driven in the snow, I also have a 991 C4S (with Alpin winter tires it has never seen the spring or summer). I thought the best C7 was the grandsport it was the best balanced car from the factory. I have not driven a C7 Z06 on a track (I built the first RWD Gallardo in 2004 that car was crap in AWD), and only recently have I even accepted that AWD sports cars should exist, and they are not always the end all be all that manufacturers want you to believe they are. I have been at this car stuff a really long time, and sometimes I get calls to help diagnose problems from dealer service departments, when their technology cannot give them answers. They tell me I have probably forgotten what I have forgotten about cars, they are probably right. I am about to start another project, I am getting another 4C and I am pulling the crap 4cy out and going to put in a new engine, suspension, and a few others things. I need something to do until the C8 arrives.
I'm glad someone mentioned tires, I am always amazed at how little people see to care about the things that actually keep your car on the road. Yes I am old, I learned to drive on a 3 on a tree, traction controls and power brakes did not even exist back then. I either remove reaction control completely from my keeper cars, or I find a way to disable it on cars I am not going to keep. My S class, Range Rover, and my dogs transports Jeep Grand Cherokee are the only cars I have with working traction control. My RR have Nokian winter tires, and only gets driven in the snow, I also have a 991 C4S (with Alpin winter tires it has never seen the spring or summer). I thought the best C7 was the grandsport it was the best balanced car from the factory. I have not driven a C7 Z06 on a track (I built the first RWD Gallardo in 2004 that car was crap in AWD), and only recently have I even accepted that AWD sports cars should exist, and they are not always the end all be all that manufacturers want you to believe they are. I have been at this car stuff a really long time, and sometimes I get calls to help diagnose problems from dealer service departments, when their technology cannot give them answers. They tell me I have probably forgotten what I have forgotten about cars, they are probably right. I am about to start another project, I am getting another 4C and I am pulling the crap 4cy out and going to put in a new engine, suspension, and a few others things. I need something to do until the C8 arrives.
All that and you still choose to grace us lesser folk with your knowledge and presence, you're truly a charitable person. We can only hope to one day grow into the bastion of never ending knowledge and humility that you have become.
Corvette C8 997S, Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve BMW 750 S560 Coupe
I am also autistic so I do not understand humor nor can I recognize insults, so if you are attempting either it is wasted on me. Yes I probably know more than most people, but I try and learn new things every day.