RonnieC6Z

Triple black Z51 convertible, 7 speed manual, 3LT, MRC, competition seats w/ suede inserts, yellow stitching and calipers, carbon badge package,carbon dash.

This is my 11th Vette. (2 C4's, 3 C5's, 5 C6's, all manual convertibles except for a C5 & C6 Z06). I have also owned Porsche's, Ferrari's, a Viper (worst car ever made) and so many others. So how does the C7 compare? In a word, so far it is the best, most satisfying car of them all.
The C7 is light years ahead of the C6 in every way. The interior is as nice as anything that I have owned. Inside and out the fit & finish is right up there with Porsche. Yes, there is a small, and I mean small amount of orange peel, but not enough to complain about. The technology associated with the C7 is amazing. I find the ergonomics a pure pleasure. This is a fun car!

Driving the car on the freeways and through the canyons of So Cal is a kick. Since it is my daily driver (no track) and my only car, I decided against a Z06 for several reasons. 1. I can't use 650 HP on the street. 2. I like the cleaner looks of the Sting Ray as opposed to the Z06. The Z51 has great acceleration, handling, braking, and those competition seats are really fabulous.

Comparing the C7 Z51 to everything else is really unfair...not to Corvette but to everything else. For example, the car that I traded in for my C7 was a 2013 Porsche Boxster S. Back in 2013, that car stickered for about $84K. My C7 stickered for $81,615.00. The C7 is by far the better value because it gives so much more for less. A new Porsche 911 (991) S Cabrolet equipped as is my C7 stickers for about $138K. Now I have been to the Corvette factory twice, and this past summer I visited the Porsche factory in Stuttgart. Let me tell you, there is not much of a difference in how Chevy & Porsche builds their cars. The paint job and leather quality of Porsche is a tad better, but not for the difference in MSRP.

My 2 Ferrari's (350 Spider and F430 spider) were really no big deal, other than how they sounded. They were not particularly well built cars and were a pain to service. And yes, unlike most Ferrari drivers, they were my daily driver and I drove them rain or shine. Neither melted! But for $280K, a car should not melt!

Don't get me wrong...I love Porsche's, Ferrari's, Lambo's, and most other brands. However, there is a reason Jeremy Clarkson (formerly of top Gear) picked the C7 Z51 as his car of the year for the 2014 model year. Chevy hit it out of the park with the C7.

Complaints? Well, the owners manual could have been much more professionally written. However, I have read it twice and know how to do everything with one exception: Programming the seat to move back and the steering wheel to move up upon exit is easy. However, to program the seat and wheel to move back to proper driving position when starting the car is baffling. I did see the video with the red haired girl who said to turn the 2 functions off and then program the memory button by hitting the button and set at the same time and then the same procedure with the exit button and the set button, but that does not work. The set button has to be pushed first, then the memory or exit button until 2 beeps are heard. Then under settings on the center screen the two functions need to be turned on. However, once the clutch is engaged (M7) and the car is started, the seat moves forward and then back again. I have tried everything! Oh well.

In closing, there is not a car on the planet that has as much to offer for so little money. There are many great cars, but how many great cars are both truly fun and affordable? Not many.

dvilin

Good review and observations. You certainly have significant seat time in the two most mentioned supercars which makes your review very compelling.

DaveFerrari458

Congrats Ronnie!!

Could you share some interior pics? Love to see close up pics of the yellow stitching.

Rooster OG

Nice review, thanks for sharing your experiences with the other rides you've had. Makes me happy I picked the C7 as my first sports car to own. Congrats!

Red C8 of Jax

I agree with you the C-7 is an amazing car and for the money, there is really no comparison. I have the A8 and this tranny really rocks. I see why the auto is faster than the M7. Nice review and you do have alot of seat time in various corvettes and other cars.

Vetteman Jack

Sounds like you are really enjoying your C7. Thanks for the review.

Karlba

to me the C7 was the first "complete package" vette. lots of good things about previous versions but the current one really doesn't need to make excuses in any dept.

vettesmith02

Thanks for your review!!!

05XLRtoC7_San Diego

Interesting review!

Out of curiosity, what was so bad about owning the Viper? I had been cross-shopping those, but got a C7 instead

Does the C7 feel as quick as your F430?

Dif

I have an A8 but ran into the same thing and also saw the Red head video.
I think there's a Default Automatic Factory setting for the Exit seat Position that can't be changed, at least not by me anyway.
What I've done is shut off the 2 functions and then program the seats the way I want for Driving and Exit.
Then I do Not turn the Functions back on.
I found that way the Exit memory works fine automatically.
The Driving position though, does Not work automatically, but does work just by pressing and holding the button when you're ready to make the seat go to Driving position.
I actually like it better that way and, I could be wrong, but I'm guessing it might be the way it's supposed to work.
Just my thoughts and experience for what it's worth

RonnieC6Z

My viper was a new 2005 SRT10. Very uncomfortable, a pig to drive, the interior was so hot that the AC had to be on always, top up or down, and the car literally fell apart. Parts just fell off. I was at the dealer almost weekly. I have owned 3 Chrysler products and they were all junk.

My F430 Spider had F1 paddle shifters. My C7 is a 7 speed manual. The Vette seems quicker.

DaveFerrari458

Can we see some interior pics with the yellow stitching?

jbondfl

this is the second thread I've seen about the seat memory. Just a thought... in the previous gens the seat went to the Driving Position based on the fob that was used to unlock the doors. I know you dont HAVE to use the fob,,,, but what if you did, while approaching the car, unlock the door with the fob. would the seat respond properly?

RonnieC6Z

I have no idea. I never use the fob for anything. It stays in my pocket.

mikez06

As someone who has owned a 2005 SRT10 and belonged to the Viper Club, I'd say your unlucky experience is NOT typical. Sorry to hear it.