uwec86

First trip in the C7 Vette (Z51, 3LT, Mag Ride, Auto, Duel Exh., triple black)

The wife and I just took our first trip in the new C7 and it was AWESOME! I had a 2013 GS that GM replaced because I had issues, so that’s what I’m comparing my experience with.

The trip was on limited interstate but good four lane highways in FL. We drove from Vero Beach to Naples – 180 miles one way in Touring Mode.

1. Mileage: From my door step we got 25.9 mpg. with an avg speed of 61mph I would say that the C7 got 3 to 5 mpg better than the C6 on the same roads. Touring Mode all the way. Very cool to see when the V4 kicked in…can’t feel it but the screen shows it.

2. Ride: Fantastic in Touring Mode! With Mag. Ride you can really feel the difference when you switch to Track on the fly…amazing. Feels like a Cadillac on the highway.

3. Seats: Way better than the 13GS on long rides. The 13 had a much shorter bottom that caught my legs in the wrong place. My wife loved that passenger seat way more than the 13. It was nice to have the cool air shooting up our a$$ too!

4. Fans: Had lots of folks taking pics out their windows of my new ride and giving us “thumbs up” the whole way.

5. Storage: The trunk is 15 cubic ft. vs. 22 in the 13 but there was still lots of room for stuff. I love the new hiding place behind the infotainment screen…perfect spot for my 38. I do miss the second well in the back that was in the old 13.

6. Visibility: The 13 was much better out the back but I’ve always had my mirrors adjusted the best way to cover blind spots so it wasn’t much of an issue.

7. Duel Exhaust: WOW…it’s sounds fantastic and way cool that GM has given us a way to control it.

8. Nav: Way better than the 13 GS but still has issues (listed below). The screen is nice and clear and it’s great how the info. is passed to the DIC and the Hud. I have my iPhone 5s connected via Bluetooth and the voice commands are able to pull out existing address pretty easily and I have 2,900 contact (no, I’m not that popular…work stuff). I have the OnStar (Remote Link) app on the phone and it’s an easier way to have an address sent to the Nav because you can just cut and paste it after searching for something on the web. I like the info window and how it works but I’d modify it a bit to be more helpful (see pic below) You can tap on the arrival time (7:32 in the pic) and it will switch to hours to arrival and hit it again to see total miles left in the trip. I would post the totals miles left below the miles to the next turn (71 miles in pic).

9. Break Dust: Way less than the 13 GS and the black wheels are easier to clean because of the new design.

10. Issue 1 – AC: There were a few issues along the way. I had the AC in Auto Mode but our feet got hot after about 30 or 40 minutes even though the overall cabin temp was fine. It was uncomfortable. I changed the mode to Manual adjusting the flow to top an d bottom which seemed to fix the problem. I believe it is a software issue so I hope GM works on this with the next software upgrade. I’d like to hear if anyone else is having the same issue.

11. Issue 2 – Check Engine Light: I made a post on this issue: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c7-g...and-p26c8.html It may have been bad gas…the car…not something I ate because it has not happened more than twice.

12. Issue 3 – Favorites: I made a post on this one too: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c7-g...tes-sucks.html Favorites is a joke but maybe GM can fix it with a software upgrade. Swiping to bring them up does not work 80% of the time and will get you killed so don’t bother. The Radio FAV’s are reasonable to use with the steering wheels buttons but don’t try to swipe and bring them up. The Favorites will store radio stations and contacts but the contacts are not controlled by the steering wheel buttons. I would use voice commands to call your existing contacts and use the Favorites for only radio stations.

13. Issue 4 – Saving of NAV locations: This is a real pain in the a$$ and the UI (user interface) needs a lot of work.

14. Issue 5 – NAV alternate routes: This no option to see alternate routes like EVERY OTHER NAV system on the planet!!!! You can control things in setting like avoiding toll roads and a few other things but who the hell want to change those global setting all the time? This needs to be fixed!!! We all know that NAV systems don’t always pick the “right” route and having other options would make correcting the AI (artificial intelligence) of the system easier.

Overall I’d give the C7 high marks over the 13 GS I was driving and I look forward to more software updates from GM.

astrotx

Interesting and honest write-up--thank you!

KenHorse

What kind of route was it? Mostly highway or otherwise?

'cause, quite honestly, 25 MPG ain't all that impressive (especially considering AFM) - hell, I easily did that in my A6, widebody C6

KayJay

Agree with KenHorse - averaged 28+ mpg at 70 mph in my 2010 C6 from Florida to NJ last year.

uwec86

The MPG was was a mix of 65mph highway and 15% city. The highway had some small towns to go through as well. I had some stretches of 29mpg on the highway. Like it said, 3 to 5 mpg better than my 13 GS with the same guy at the wheel. Best I ever got with the 13 was 23 HW only. Usually got 21.

KenHorse

I still say, all things considered, 25 -26 mixed MPG - with AFM even - doesn't impress me in the slightest. As I said, I EASILY did that in my A6 widebody (fatter tires, less aerodynamic body) all the time. In fact, I would do 21 to 22 around town alone.....

Ah well.. I should have my M7 C7 by the end of January and will be able to check it out myself

uwec86

My only point...significantly better than my experience with 13 GS. I look forward to hearing your numbers.

KenHorse

Gotcha

(we're a tough crowd!)

uwec86

I wasn't offended...it's all good (says the 50yr old white guy trying to sound hip)

z51vett

Okay on the gas mileage I have a 2012 3lz Z06 trip mileage from ga to fla 26 miles to gal. at 80 mph and 75 mph couple bathroom breaks one gas stop. Around town about 20 unless I start nailing it then all bets are off. No 4/8 operation or variable valve timing or any of those systems. Will give kudds to my 2013 auto Camaro over my 2011 what ever GM did for 2013 saw my average fuel go to about 20 around town and 25 on highway. My new SS is seeing about 17 1/2 miles to gallon that's 4 door ls3 from down under.
z51vett
Doug

uwec86

I guess my car computer must be way off. I knew I should have purchased a Volt.

KenHorse

That actually brings up a very good point.

Did you check the car's calculation against your own (miles traveled versus gallons burned)?

peter pan

Better mileage than our C6 gets

uwec86

I did not...do I use math for that...it's been so long?

KenHorse

Ha!

Miles traveled divided by gallons of fuel used

Vetteman Jack

Thanks for the detailed review. Hope you get the problems you mentioned taken care of soon.

sccaracer46

I have a non-Z51, 7 speed manual and yesterday on a ninety mile trip to my daughter's place in Lakeland I averaged 37.2 in Eco mode. Most of the trip was on two lane highway (Fl 33) and observing 60 mph speed limits with light traffic. We came back via I-4, Toll 409, Florida Turnpike and FL 19. Most of that was driven at 70 mph and we averaged 33.7 I have 3800 miles on the car. (These numbers are the highest 25 mile segment recorded.....just to be clear!)

I had previously recorded a 25 mile segment on I-95 with the cruise set at 60 mph of 41.5! I usually record high 30's hwy & low 20's city.
I know I could do better in the city, but I enjoy the beautiful music the exhaust makes and tend to run in "Sport" mode and somewhat aggressive! Totally pleased!!!

Arthur Chandleer

Thanks for the write-up -- positive and exciting!
Amazing to think that the Stingray is a competitive beast, a real beauty, and a great economizer.
Lots of guys (and women) wish their significant others would be so versatile :<)

uwec86

Using the best 25...best 50 for me was 29.8 so I'm not sure that's a good comparison but OK.

Goaty

I would expect 35-40mpg highway. Something is wrong. My '13 gets 28 highway.