I think some of you that have maybe read some of my posts know my position on this...but....what do you all think a new vette should have???

more or less electronics....

what retro-vette style....ie..shark, stingray, solid axle???

more traditional engine/tranny/axle positioning???

engine...LS1, Northstar, turbo, s. charged??

GENE

 

A long as it still has styling cues to let people know it is still a Corvette. Like GM continuing to used two tail lights on either side of the bumper. And also I guess whatever it takes to keep up with the competition.

 

The Vette needs to be what the Vette has always been, and that's America's premier sports car. The Vette needs to be a great value and the fastest, best handling car you can buy for the money. If a Ferrari is marginaly faster at three times the cost, who cares?

If it takes more electronics to achieve this, I'm all for it (except for video game gauge panels). I also want the car to be as light as possible. The current car, I think, strikes an excellent balance between weight and amenitites, not to mention chassis integrity. The hydroformed frame rails are a Godsend. Any Corvette needs to be well balanced, with as close to 50/50 weight distribution as possible. And always rear wheel drive. Never front, never AWD. Even though pushrod engines have been the rule, if they can supply a nice OHC multivalve with variable valve timing, I wouldn't be upset. But the engine has to have 8 cylinders. No more, no less. And I want the engine up front. Not in back, and not mid mounted (unless it's riding just behind the front axle-for weight distibution).

I don't mind if the C6's styling is dialed back a bit. As far as picking a favorite generation, I don't know that I can. I like them all. But for the Vette, I prefer hidden headlights, and the quad rear tailights need to stay as well. The gills are also mandatory. And I think Corvettes need some sort of removable roof panel, in addition to a convertible model.

I wouldn't mind seeing an entry level Corvette, with the straight six from the Trailblazer (pumped to 310 hp?) or the Shortstar from the Aurora. Equip it with the basics (6 speed, a few options), leave the crap off, bring it to the scales weighing less than 3000 pounds. Price it in the low thirties to compete with the new Nissan Z. Then again, do this with a new Camaro, and all is forgiven.

I'd really like to see the Corvette's interior quality improved, as I think the current car's (and past cars' interiors are given short shrift when it comes to quality control). The amount and quality of the plastic found in these cars is embarassing, even if the performance more than makes up for the downfall.

My two cents.

 

I agree with joeveto in most cases. I don't think that chevrolet should offer a stripped down version with a six. I think the Corvette has always been upper end and should stay that way. I would also like to stick with a pushrod V8, rather than an OHC variable lift powerplant, however I know that it's going to happen one day or another anyway. All in all I don't envy the people that are responsible for building the C6. It's the biggest and toughest job in the automotive world. Every eye on the planet is going to be watching and if there is one tiny little thing that isn't perfect, because it's a Corvette, everybody will attack the designers like a pack of dogs on a three legged cat. Later

-Justin

 

I'm kind off jumping off subject here, but you mentioned the NorthStar V8. My dad just bought an '02 Caddy DHS with 300-330? HP. Man that sucker runs nice! But then, I see his '68 Olds 442 Vert frame-off show car in the garage and my perspective changes. Gimme the old big blocks! It's nice to have a Dad in his "60-ish" years with the blood still runnin' red!