I picked up a C8 2 weeks ago. Here are my assessments of C8 and how it compares to my other cars: 2018 Avent S, 2018 AMG GTS & 2017 Cali T.

Transmission: C8 DCT is a huge improvement over my 2016 Z06 A8. It’s very smooth, quick and crisp in up shifts. It's a little abrupt from 3rd to 2nd and 2nd to 1st gears. C8 has wheel mounted paddles, I prefer Italian style column mounted paddles, you always know where to find them. GTS 1st, C8 2nd, Cali T 3rd & Avent. 4th.

Exterior Style: I like C8 from A pillar forward, from A pillar backward, it has not grown on me. The intake vents on quarter panel/door don’t flow and It doesn’t do the overall design any favor. Avent 1st, Cali T 2nd, GTS 3rd, C8 4th.

Interior: C8 interior is beautiful, well designed with quality material and good workmanship. It is as good as European cars. Gone the smell of plastic and epoxy, instead it’s subtle smell of leather and newness. GT2 seats are awesome, comfortable and good looking. Avent 1st, C8 2nd, GTS 3rd & Cali T 4th.

Handling & Road Compliance: I didn’t get the Mag ride because you have to order Z51 package to be able to get it and I didn’t care for the rear spoiler on Z51, however, I am so impressed with it’s ride quality. It's just a pleasure to drive it! I have not notice much of body roll either. I did some spirited driving on the back roads and C8 feels like it’s is on rails!. C8 1st, GTS, 2nd, Avent 3rd, Cali T 4th.

Technology: IMHO, C8 tech is more advanced than the Europeans. I love the camera/mirror, a must have for mid engine cars as visibility is so poor with tiny rear window. I really like the PDR. I used My old Z06 PDR extensively on the track to improve my driving skills. HUD is multi color and configurable. It doesn’t have adaptive cruise control or automatic emergency braking. C8 1st, GTS 2nd, Avent & Cali T 3rd.

Exhaust Notes: I have the NPP option, but it’s a bit too quiet for my taste. Avent & GTS 1st, C8 & Cali T 2nd.

Exclusivity: Right now and for the rest of this year, C8 is exclusive, but in a year, 30,000 of them will be out there. Avent 1st, Cali T 2nd, AMG 3rd, C8 4th.

Here are a few pics:

 

Great review, got to drive my friends and have similar opinions. Now the question is for you, which car do you leave outside 1, 2, 3, or 4

 

That's a great color for the C8. Aesthetically, the exterior bits and pieces seem to flow and integrate a little nicer. Congrats and thanks for the detailed review.

 

looks good in person.. always been a vette fan.. have had three..have one now actually (only because I like owning one 3 pedal car in my fleet hence why I'll probably never own a C8)

Not sure how much I like the rear end but rest is nice .. would like to drive

 

I like it, except the rear could have been better designed, not to look like a Camaro.

 

I suspect and hope that the Z06 version will improve the looks, especially the rear 1/3rd of the car, as well as up the handling and power limits.

 

Agreed!! Very soon there’s going to be more new Corvettes on the road than Camaro's.

 

Looks great and its a very impressive vehicle for what is and price point. So the most important question...what mods do you have planned for it?

 

Thanks! When I ordered the C8, I got a BendPak lift, so all 5 cars will have roof over their heads :-)

Thanks! I would like to get the ground effects, but it's on back order. An after market exhaust would be nice too, but nothing is available yet.

 

Thanks for posting!!!

I glossed over this real fast but I dont think i saw anything in regards to speed and quickness in relation to others you have. Can you touch on the straight line zero to 60 and 60 to 130 thoughts or ranges in that spectrum?

 

 

Thanks! I think C8 is very quick, yet so smooth. I haven’t pushed it hard trying to stay below 4,500 rpm for the 1st 500 miles. I have a feeling what it may lack in HP, it makes up for in handling and cornering. According to MT magazine, it does 0-60 in 2.8, that’s quicker than my Lambo!

Once I put in the break-in miles, I will take it to MSR and compare it's PDR data to my old Z06 data and report back.

 

There are aftermarket exhausts available.Go to you tube street speed 717 he has one on his new C8.

 

I'm curious to hear your impressions after the break-in period. From what I've seen the 1/4 mile times seem a bit lackluster compared to the 0-60 times the cars are putting down.

 

I want to like this car. I really do. But the rear is atrocious. Way too many lines and patterns that don’t flow. Way too much like a Camaro. Interior though is gorgeous. Loved your rankings!

 

I won’t say the quarter mile times are lacklustre - they’re very good for the power to weight ratio. It’s just that the C8 has really good launch control and traction, allowing it to launch much better than say our AMGs that love to burn rubber and wag their tail below 70 mph. With modern power levels and transmissions, 0-60 mph is all about traction, not power. The trap speeds match the power to weight ratios. It’s similar to how Teslas are able to pull amazing 0-60 mph times while their quarter mile trap speeds are only average for their class.

 

Not of fan of the overall design. I think the design team nailed the C7, and they almost nailed the C8, but the side air intake is awkward and the rear section is very Camaro-esque. But for $65k I guess beggars can’t being choosy. Anyway I think it will sell very well and I’m sure I will see 10-15 of them lined up at many car events this summer assuming Covid-19 dies down. The wheels designs also aren’t that attractive, I assume they will bring better looking wheels out with the Z06 and Grand Sport models.

 

Just looked up the C8 weight and was surprised to see that it is 200lbs heavier than the C7. For some reason I was, mistakenly, thinking it was lighter than the C7, and was expecting times closer to the Huracan, especially with the 0-60 times.


Agreed completely. Too much going on, very little proportional flow for me. I've seen 1 or 2 that were specced in such a way that I thought they looked OK, but otherwise I'm hoping the Z06 looks much better.

 

 

I have little trouble launching my car. I might be in the minority but my GTC just goes. I will say though that tires make a difference though. I just put on a set of 4s and I’m excited to see how they stack up against the SC2 as a daily in dry weather conditions only of course

 

Where in Canada are you? Does your GTC slip if you floor it in second gear?

I bought my GTS last November, and didn’t get to drive it very much before winter came. My memory from November was that it mostly was able to grip in second gear. I took it our for a drive yesterday, hoping the 12 degree Celsius temperature, sun, and dry roads would suffice, but I still had disappointing traction. 2nd gear would break loose at 2/3 throttle, and even in third gear flooring it would bring up the traction control light and the rear would get squirrelly. I have somewhat worn out Pilot Super Sport tires on it currently. Maybe a fresh set of PS4S would do better.

 

[QUOTE=wizee;8018137]Where in Canada are you? Does your GTC slip if you floor it in second gear?

I bought my GTS last November, and didn’t get to drive it very much before winter came. My memory from November was that it mostly was able to grip in second gear. I took it our for a drive yesterday, hoping the 12 degree Celsius temperature, sun, and dry roads would suffice, but I still had disappointing traction. 2nd gear would break loose at 2/3 throttle, and even in third gear flooring it would bring up the traction control light and the rear would get squirrelly. I have somewhat worn out Pilot Super Sport tires on it currently. Maybe a fresh set of PS4S would do better.[/QUOTE

You will get traction control issues with summer tires on cold pavement regardless of tires... I went for a drive today and after cruising for about 30-40 min at highway speeds my tire temps only went up 1 PSI from cold... If you are looking for the best price on the 4S PM me and I’ll send along the contact as they were the best price installed in the city..

 

[QUOTE=DriveAMG;8018138]edit....deleted

 

[QUOTE=doulehr;8018580]The pressure increases with heat. The model year 2020’s display heat and pressure just like the GT63 and E63 etc... I have tracked an E63 and while I have seen the heat, all I’ve ever cared about is pressure. I know of a place here in Toronto that has offered to replace my cluster and upgrade everything but the price was ridiculous and likely would void my warranty lol

 

I really preferred my 4s on my Gt350r for dd over the sc2 and am curious your thoughts on this car as my sc2 will wear out in short order after 2 more track days.