Will C7 Kill Corvette?
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2010
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From: Hillsborough NC
NC Events Coordinator
Where did you cut and paste this from? It originally said 60s and 70s and then you edited it to 70s and 80s. I had to laugh because you said these people are getting married and don't care. Your original post would have people waiting until their 50s to get married. If that happened, there certainly wouldn't need to be any more corvettes as there wouldn't be a next generation at all.
Your cut and paste couldn't be more incorrect. I was born in the 80s and I live and breath cars, just like many of my friends. Car people are car people, no matter what generation they come from.
Your cut and paste couldn't be more incorrect. I was born in the 80s and I live and breath cars, just like many of my friends. Car people are car people, no matter what generation they come from.
As for average age of marriage, nothing I wrote suggested that people were waiting to 50 to get married; it's clearly a fact they are marrying later:
Source: PBS: "The First Measured Century"
I don't need a chart about the increase in the cost of homes or college tuition. That is also going to bite into Gen X's disposable income. Fewer people, marrying later, kids still around later, more expensive homes and college tuition, all add up to fewer buyers of impractical cars like Corvettes.
Yes, there are car people in every age, but there are fewer of them than ever. I'm a teacher and have watched kids' attitude towards cars change over the years. There are very, very few of them who are gearheads like my buddies and I were in the '60s and '70s. Maybe one kid in 100 could tell you what a camshaft does or explain how a four-cycle engine works. Some kids like Corvettes and Porsches, but they like Lambos and Ferraris more. Cars are less about performance than status.
As others are pointing out, the other thing mitigating against the Corvette is its increasing cost.
Last edited by jcsperson; Dec 26, 2013 at 12:55 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 10,789
Likes: 894
From: Northern Illinois
Oldtimer
Remember the Road Runner? I think that kind of thinking would work for a new generation Vette. A basic Vette, the LS1 is a proven powerplant, 350 to 400 hp, good handling, PS, PB, a decent stereo, fewer electronics and make it user friendly for repairs and maintenance. A car for the enthusiast. I could get by without power locks, HUD, hidden headlights, power antenna and power windows. I do need a removable top or convert though. I think they could squeeze out 30 mpg out of an LS motor.
Seems to me the new Vettes are overkill. I can afford one but would never but one. I would rather wait for the 70% depreciation.
Seems to me the new Vettes are overkill. I can afford one but would never but one. I would rather wait for the 70% depreciation.
I've said for years that I'd love to see things like delete air conditioning, power windows, radio, back seat packages, etc., etc. offered on new performance cars. Personally, I'd go for it in a heartbeat.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 4,260
Likes: 429
From: Houston TX
Yes, there are car people in every age, but there are fewer of them than ever. I'm a teacher and have watched kids' attitude towards cars change over the years. There are very, very few of them who are gearheads like my buddies and I were in the '60s and '70s. Maybe one kid in 100 could tell you what a camshaft does or explain how a four-cycle engine works. Some kids like Corvettes and Porsches, but they like Lambos and Ferraris more. Cars are less about performance than status.
As others are pointing out, the other thing mitigating against the Corvette is its increasing cost.
The corvette has increased, but so has everything else in life. I would love a C7 but I'll have to wait until prices come down on used examples before making that plunge. To be quite honest, there are other cars I'd much rather have if I could spend C7 money right now.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
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From: Wisconsin
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Phoenix Arizona
I seem to recall learning how a four-cycle engine worked in science class at a young age. Do they not teach this anymore? Perhaps it is regional, but the city I live in has an extremely large population of "car people". There are also kids here that don't even care to get their drivers license, but those are the same ones that only care about updating their twitter accounts.
The corvette has increased, but so has everything else in life. I would love a C7 but I'll have to wait until prices come down on used examples before making that plunge. To be quite honest, there are other cars I'd much rather have if I could spend C7 money right now.
The corvette has increased, but so has everything else in life. I would love a C7 but I'll have to wait until prices come down on used examples before making that plunge. To be quite honest, there are other cars I'd much rather have if I could spend C7 money right now.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 4,260
Likes: 429
From: Houston TX
It exists. The new Z28 doesn't have air conditioning standard, boss mustang has an available back seat delete and some Porsches even come with cages in them. Unfortunately, none of these vehicles are cheap.
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Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 10,789
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From: Northern Illinois
Oldtimer
I think the new Z28 is going to sticker at around $60,000 - $65,000. It does intrigue me, but not for that kind of money. The Boss is a little cheaper. Unfortunately, I could own some other very nice cars for that price.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 4,260
Likes: 429
From: Houston TX
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 4,260
Likes: 429
From: Houston TX
I feel the same. That's why I have several old cars instead of one brand new one. $65k on a car is insane when a nice house is roughly twice of that in my area.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 10,789
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From: Northern Illinois
Oldtimer
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
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From: Wisconsin
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 22,719
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From: Hillsborough NC
NC Events Coordinator
I seem to recall learning how a four-cycle engine worked in science class at a young age. Do they not teach this anymore? Perhaps it is regional, but the city I live in has an extremely large population of "car people". There are also kids here that don't even care to get their drivers license, but those are the same ones that only care about updating their twitter accounts.
Science is about global warming, the wetlands, ecology, pollution, diseases, etc. That's what kids study today.
I live in the heart of NASCAR country. There is some drag racing around here and VIR is 45 minutes up the road. I have a nice circle track 10 minutes from me. There are dirt tracks too. There is definitely a segment of the population who are into cars and bikes.
The big issue is how sustainable all that is when young kids aren't all that interested in performance cars and definitely not in motorsports. When I was at VIR for the ALMS race in October, the crowd definitely had an older look. I'm 58 and was probably on the younger side of the people in my immediate area.
Code:
NASCAR INDYCAR NHRA MOTOCROSS 18-29 17.8% 16.5% 20.3% 27.6% 30-44 29.7% 26.6% 30.6% 36.4% 45-64 36.8% 39.0% 38.1% 28.7%
The corvette has increased, but so has everything else in life. I would love a C7 but I'll have to wait until prices come down on used examples before making that plunge. To be quite honest, there are other cars I'd much rather have if I could spend C7 money right now.