How practical is your C3?
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 56
Likes: 3
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6,397
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From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,239
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From: Palatine, Peoples Republic of Illinois
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I think most people use the luggage rack for the T-tops and put the luggage inside the car. Personally, if it's just me I can pack enough for a month. If I bring the wife - maybe overnight!
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,363
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From: Bowtie, Pennsyltucky
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15,'21
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
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From: Orange Park Florida
Bought my '72 vert in '95, stock as a stove L48 engine with L98 induction Muncie, 336 rear, and stock diameter tires....on C4 rims....
got 24 mpg on I 95 back and forth.... and about 18 around town in Maryland, outside DC.....
because of the higher speeds and much longer distances, .....I have switched to overdrive automatic, same gear ratio....
same tires, but have gone to a roller engine, with DPFI induction and headers......
but my driving habits are MUCH different....a mile to the food store one way.....type stuff....so the MPG really sux.....but saying that....I burn maybe ten gallons in a month and really could care less!!!!
age nearly 70 here, retarred and so could care less....
snore.....
got 24 mpg on I 95 back and forth.... and about 18 around town in Maryland, outside DC.....
because of the higher speeds and much longer distances, .....I have switched to overdrive automatic, same gear ratio....
same tires, but have gone to a roller engine, with DPFI induction and headers......
but my driving habits are MUCH different....a mile to the food store one way.....type stuff....so the MPG really sux.....but saying that....I burn maybe ten gallons in a month and really could care less!!!!
age nearly 70 here, retarred and so could care less....
snore.....
Navigator
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
The practical C3
My C3 is very practical, if I hold it to the reasons I bought it. I bought it to have a fun car for the wife and I to drive around on my off days when the weather is nice. As far as fuel economy goes, comfort on long trips, and carrying anything other than a passenger, a Prius is much more practical.
BTW, at 70mph on the highway I get about 12mpg.
BTW, at 70mph on the highway I get about 12mpg.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 417
Likes: 11
From: Brigham City Utah
Mine was supposed to be practical when I bought it.
Then after I figured out what I bought.....Replacing 40 years of disrepair I ended up with this. New everything, shocks, springs, bushings, sway bars, tank straps and felt.
Recently dropped a new 375 HP 350 into it.....Headers didn't work as they only had 4 inch of ground clearance. New Short tube headers, new reduced gear starter.
Practical.....Hell, I drove it maybe 25 miles before it was coming a part.
Next is a new interior and then paint......Oh well, it is mine and I may live long enough to have a few people say "Oh my....look at that Corvette.
So for now I have this very practical car
Gets a whooping 12 MPG in town
Or I have Practical and Tactical with my Covert Subdued H3 Hummer.
There is nothing about a Corvette that has ever been Practical.....Sex was what the Corvette was all about from the start. It worked for a long time and I am sure it is still working today.
Bad part is us guys what own them now may be paying more attention to the Corvette in the Garage.
Karsten
Then after I figured out what I bought.....Replacing 40 years of disrepair I ended up with this. New everything, shocks, springs, bushings, sway bars, tank straps and felt.
Recently dropped a new 375 HP 350 into it.....Headers didn't work as they only had 4 inch of ground clearance. New Short tube headers, new reduced gear starter.
Practical.....Hell, I drove it maybe 25 miles before it was coming a part.
Next is a new interior and then paint......Oh well, it is mine and I may live long enough to have a few people say "Oh my....look at that Corvette.
So for now I have this very practical car
Gets a whooping 12 MPG in town
Or I have Practical and Tactical with my Covert Subdued H3 Hummer.
There is nothing about a Corvette that has ever been Practical.....Sex was what the Corvette was all about from the start. It worked for a long time and I am sure it is still working today.
Bad part is us guys what own them now may be paying more attention to the Corvette in the Garage.
Karsten
Last edited by Karsten; Mar 25, 2014 at 11:04 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,096
Likes: 15
I'd like to know how is everyone getting such great gas mileage? I have a 82 with OD and a 2.81 that is supposed to get in the 20s. I average 14 and maybe 15 at best. I think practicality is a need and my car is a want so it mostly sits.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,520
Likes: 11
From: Hinckley OH
A couple years ago, I decided that I would get to drive mine a lot more so I started using it to get groceries, trips to Home Depot for smaller things etc. It uses more gas than the car but I think it's worth it. So yes, it's practical.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 158
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From: Maui Hawaii
That's about right. I'm looking at my '82 factory window sticker right now and the EPA Fuel Economy Rating is Estimated MPG: 15. AND from our experience on not only Vettes but most other vehicles, we know how ambitious those claims are/were. I have the same Vette as you and that's what I average but my situation is mostly street driving here where I live.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 121
Likes: 0
From: East Greenbush NY
Go buy those "vacuum-out-the-air" bags at WalMart for your change of clothing and other sundry items. Lay all those flat bags in the back like a jigsaw puzzle to form a nice padded layer to lay the T-tops on (strapped in of course). 2 backpacks for you and the Wife with your toiletries can go on top of the T-tops. Should be enough room back there to fit everything in for the weekend. For the trip back home, the dirty laundry can be placed in kitchen rubbish can bags, tied and stuffed between the t-top side edges and the storage walls.
Just make sure that what you place on the T-tops are packed (as in backpacks) so that you can quickly toss them on the passenger floor & seat to get them out of your way to retrieve the T-tops in case it starts to rain.
Have fun on your weekend trip ... after all you'll be cruising in your Vette.
Just make sure that what you place on the T-tops are packed (as in backpacks) so that you can quickly toss them on the passenger floor & seat to get them out of your way to retrieve the T-tops in case it starts to rain.
Have fun on your weekend trip ... after all you'll be cruising in your Vette.
It will be a couple months before we take a trip. It will probably be May. It's still pretty snowy in Upstate NY.
Yep. Some suggestions (worth whatcha pay for 'em):
-Don't use 'luggage' - instead, pack your things in pliable carry bags which can be stuffed in the space remaining above/around T-Tops.
- Pray for rain so you won't have to pack T-tops in the first place
-Convince wife she doesn't need [fill in various blanks], then pack the remainder in a bag no larger than a purse.
-Buy no memorabilia you can't stuff in your pockets on the return trip.
):-Don't use 'luggage' - instead, pack your things in pliable carry bags which can be stuffed in the space remaining above/around T-Tops.
- Pray for rain so you won't have to pack T-tops in the first place
-Convince wife she doesn't need [fill in various blanks], then pack the remainder in a bag no larger than a purse.
-Buy no memorabilia you can't stuff in your pockets on the return trip.
The second seat is reserved for my hot chick!
Anyone have any pictures of their cars loaded up on a road trip?
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
maybe jack and the beanstalk is doing their calculating
There is NO WAY adding an OD gets one another 10 mpg
Hell with a double OD I might crack double digits on the hwy and could care less. When its empty fill er back up.
There is NO WAY adding an OD gets one another 10 mpg
Hell with a double OD I might crack double digits on the hwy and could care less. When its empty fill er back up.