An idea was detailed in the editorial of the most recent issues of Corvette Fever to re-direct the tooling of the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky and make them an entry level Corvette to draw in younger buyers. Sort of like Porche did with the Boxter and BMW Z3. I guess Lambo also has a less expensive entry level car.

This was brought up in another thread. I personally think it would be a great idea. First time I looked over a Saturn Sky, I started thinking, "the heck with a C5, I want one of those!" The corvette will be history if the General doesn't come up with a way to fluff up sales to younger buyers. Used to be back in the 60's - 70's younger guys bought Corvettes. I don't know that I've ever seen anyone drive a Corvette that didn't have silver hair. What do you think?

Mark G

 

Guys in the 60s and 70s didnt buy Corvettes because they were cheaper... they bought them because they were way cooler back then.

I think its a terrible idea. Making cheap Corvettes so kids can afford them hurts their status, not helps it. More dumbing down.

 

There is precedence. Opal GT! "The poor mans Vette"!

 

Bad idea. This isn't the first time the General has thought about making a cheap Corvette. When the C5 hardtop was introduced, there was a plan for it to become the platform for a "cheap" Vette with a 6 cylinder engine and fabric seats. They even came so close as to send dealers interior fabric samples for their showrooms. Luckily this idea was scrapped and the car eventually became the Z06.

 

Like me? I was able to buy my '76 new when I was 18. List price was $8998. Sounds cheap right? But not when you look at the average list price of a new car in 1976......

Which was around $4300.............

Corvettes have been expensive from day one, and they're not going anywhere. A cheap Vette?...........

 

Bad Idea. It's bad enough that they made that stupid Cadilac version.

 

I have no problem making the Sky or the Solstice more "vettelike", put in a V8 engine, (actually a 300 hp V6 would be ok in that small car) add more vette styling cues, but do NOT call it a Corvette... Maybe call it Stingray , or Chevette, or something suggestive of corvette, but definitely not corvette.


Of course, here in C-3 land, with your topic title, I was expecting something like: Should I buy a beat up 72 project or a decent condition 81 as my "entry level" corvette?

 

This is a picture of my 2009 Pontiac Solstice GXP.I owned a 2007 Solstice (Non Turbo) before I traded for this 2009 GXP. This Sols has a GMPP Performance Package added and gives her 290 BHP. Talk about FUN!

Hubby has owned two Vettes before we met and had wanted an older Vette to "Play" with so we now have the best of both worlds.

I am a member of both the Solstice Forum and Kappa Performance Forum. My user name is GXP Fetish, note the license plate on my Sols, FETISH.

Although I could have bought a C5 Hubby and I bought a C3 "73 Vette.

 

My Dad had a green 73 Opal GT. That was a fun little car. Came time for an engine rebuild, and had it re-done putting out something like 200+ hp, dual side draft webers, headers, cam etc.... Thing was a rocket! Only problem was the webers, could never get them tuned right and were great as long as the reves were above 3500 rpm. HE isn't poor, and I loved it's looks because it was the C-3's little brother.
Glenn

 

Until they stopped making the Sky and Solstice the Kappa platform was sold in Europe as the Opel GT.

People back in 60's 70 actuall did call the Opel GT the "mini Vette"

 

And the Camaro

 

i say no to an entry level vette. part of the magic of the vette is to save up to be able to buy one. yes they are expensive but when you have it you have the big reward.

 

I agree... Porsche is a company, with many models. If you want a cheaper performance car from the company that is Chevrolet, buy a Camaro.

 

Mark G,

A couple of thoughts before you get my .02:

1. My hair is NOT silver. If Paul McCartney can color his hair, why can't I? Besides, I am just trying to keep up with my young wife.

2. Did you think your idea would be well received here on the C3 Forum? The C3 Forum is made up of both traditionalists who wish to preserve Corvettes as they were originally intended, and those who wish to customize their cars. What we all agree on is that the C3 will be remembered as the last great car that one can tear down and totally rebuild by themselves.

As a Corvette Fever subscriber, I saw Editor Drew Hardin's editorial in the recent (Sept. 10) isssue. I am in total agreement with both of you in that I see this as a great marketing idea for Chevrolet. In fact, I have stated this in Chevy dealerships for more than 2 years now. They simply must do something to attract younger buyers!!

A $25-30k Corvette LT on the Sky or Solstice platform would do nothing to cheapen the C6 or the Corvette brand. As you said, look at Porsche & BMW. It would provide a path toward the purchase of a C6 for 20 somethings. It could even be a 2nd car for 30 something families with kids.

I am a member of the Bel Air Corvette Club, (Bel Air, MD) the 7th or 8th largest NCCC Corvette Club in the USA, with some 212 members. More than 75% of us are 50+ years of age. (To quote Jerry Seinfeld, "Not that there is anything wrong with that.") Chevrolet and GM need to build cars and vehicles that younger people want.

My 2nd idea is to make the Pontiac G8 GXP into the Impala SS. Offered for only a year or so, this car was a bona fide BMW M5 fighter at half the cost ($40 vs 80k). Here you had (Pontiac's are now past tense) an affordable four door sedan that really kicked a$$ extremely cost effectively, vs. Cadillac's CTS V, which is, what, $60k plus.

But, alas, these are GM's problems, not mine. Isn't it interesting, though, how passionate we get about these cars?

Rickman

 

GM already has too many entry level cars. The Camaro is an entry level Corvette, as you become more sucessful in "the game of life" you can afford more expensive toys, hence the Corvette.

Corvette was GM's finest engineering effort, we aren't looking for an upgrade to "entry level" when we make the descion to buy a Vette.

Bringing "entry level" to the Corvette family will bring unwanted attention from insurance companies when"entry level" buyers fail to properly care for their investments and cause insurance losses.

I wonder are you a Democrat by any chance? maybe after enough of this thinking of "spread the wealth" for all, we will all end up waiting years in line to purchase a rehased Fiats like the USSR did.

I've worked DAMNED HARD in my life to be able to own Corvettes, it's bad enough that GM sold them "no money down" for several years.

Corvette is a prize for hard work and success and should never be entry level. Make a decontented Camaro for entry level if GM wants more customers.

 

Is that you eating the big bag of popcorn?

 

Steve,

You have said before I already have one .

 

 

LOL! NO that isn't me eating the big bag of popcorn but Hubby is holding the Coke cup and just walked behind the Fetish...LOL
I'm taking the picture....

 

I had a new Trans Am before my first "Vette as I couldn't afford one yet, you appreciate it more if you gradually step up.

Making a "cheap" entry level 'Vette may cause the demise of the traditional 'Vette as some will buy it just want to say they have one - even if it's a cheap knock off, while ignoring the history of the car and lessoning the demand.