GM/Chevy doesn't do very much to distinguish (visually) between a regular vette and a performance vette (ie stock C4 vs. ZR1, stock C5/C6 vs. Z06)?

 

Is this a question, or are you telling us?...You're sentences are in statement form, but then there are question marks.

 

I think its because the quantity is so low that they could not recover their engineering cost and not enjoy quantity pricing on the different parts.

 

I dunno...I think plenty is done to distinguish the two...to the trained eye. Many people don't know the difference between a C4 Corvette and a Ferrari, so it's unrealistic to expect them to recognize the difference between a "basic" C4 and a ZR1.

For me, I look at a few things:

- If I see another C4 across from me at a light that appears to be a '96 (i.e., painted slats between driving lights and turn signal indicators, correct "gills"), I'll listen carefully as it takes off from the redlight. If it's a manual, it's an LT4.
- ZR1s, IMO, stick out like a sore thumb. I was talking to a few guys back in AZ at a gathering about a solo ZR1 that was there...I mentioned how much wider it looked. They honestly had *no* idea - and these are fellow Vette owners! Granted, they were C5/C3 owners, but they still had no idea that a ZR1 was 3" wider in the rear. To me, OTOH, it's really obvious. Another dead-ringer are the deep-set lugs on the 11" rear tires...
- As for the C5s/C6s, the visual "cues" that it's a performance model are far easier to distinguish - again, if you know Vettes. For the most part (around here, anyway), any FRC I see is a Z06. Anything with rear brake ducts is a Z06. Anything with Z06 wheels is, well, a Z06... Of course, there are the occasional verts with wagon wheels and brake ducts -- NOT a Z06! Not even the right year!

In all honesty, though... I'm not sure if GM really cares if "laypeople" recognize it as a performance model. If they wanted that, I'm sure stock Corvettes would have bigger, nastier, and throatier exhuasts (stock vs. stock) than a Mustang GT, but they don't. They're really quite subdued...

I guess that's what I've always loved about Corvettes - although they do look Awesome in my book, they're not all about show. They're about GO.

 

Because the General is cheap, lazy, and unimaginative. Look at their anniversary vettes for example. Look at the CE.

 

I agree with what you say. And, as I do have a stock 93 LT1, and having the corvette dream all my life, it's really quite easy for me (as well as countless other members on the forum) to distinguish between the 'regular' and 'peformance' vettes.

And there's absolutely no way i could afford a ZR1 or Z06 right now.... so I have to admire the performance vettes that other people are driving. .. but i just wish whenever i saw one on the road at a distance, that it would just scream out "I'm coming your way!"

Either way..... I love the vette.

 

Start with the title an then move into the discussion.

 

I see it this way, if it's going to be that much different, then it should be a different car.

People who know, can spot a ZR1 from a mile away. I had a C4 following me one day, don't know where he came from, but I knew right off it was a Z.

To the untrained eye, it's tough.

The ZR1 was a lot more distinctive than a normal C4 than the Z06 was to a regular C5.

The new Z06 is more disticntive than the C5 Z06.

Remember, ZR1 and Z06 are simply RPO's.

Take a look at the '63 Z06 or the '70 ZR1, it'd be pretty hard just by looking to know they weren't normal cars.

Besides the damn cars cost enough in the first place, why make them cost even more(although the ZR1 was almost double the price) by making them so much different.

 

I know it's cool and less arrogant to be all about performance and not about show. But I also remember seeing granny's 68 6 cyl 3-speed camaro sitting next to a 68 SS 396 camaro. The appearance package (stripes, badging, ss hood and fiberglass rear spoiler) couldn't have costed the general that much, and you know it made the SS owner just drool with pride....I see both sides of this arguement.

 

GM does two things: it introduces performance options, and then several years later all the Vettes borrow some of the visuals from that earlier performance car. The rounded rear facia being borrowed from the ZR1 was a perfect example. You can call it cheap if you want, but it is smart marketing. They want to expand their market, and they want every buyer to think his (or her) Vette has an aggressive perfomance image, even if it is not the "hot' setup. And let's face it, even the tame Vette is still pretty hot when compared to most cars on the road.

 

The differences are slight, but I think that to those of us that really care, we know what they are and what to look for. I don't think it's necessary to do more.

I agree with Perfusion. I don't believe the average driver can tell the difference between a C4 and a Ferrari.

 

Last night my wife asks me after seeing a commercial on TVLand "What year model Vette did Tom Selleck drive in Magnum PI" HAHAHA NOW THAT'S FUNNY , I DON'T CARE WHO YOU ARE !!!!!

I've got the Greenwood skirts and wing on my 95 LT1... I always get asked what it is... I LOVE THE LOOK OF THE ZR1 AND MY PERSONAL FAVORITE THE B2K CALLOWAY ROCKS!!!!!!!