Does anyone feel like I do about having the ability to buy a somewhat strip down new Corvette such as?
No Air-conditioning
No Power Windows
No Power locks
No power seats
No traction control
No anti locks brake system
No auto mirror/seat/radio adjustment
No Key fob


My first Corvette was a pre-owned 1964 Vert auto that did not have any of these and I loved it. I bought the car for the sports car performance, not to be like a then Cadillac or Lincoln. I love my C5 but would have like it better without all the stuff that I do not use.

Comments?

 

Guess you will have to buy a old one, one thing I remember about the old days is the car was a oven, not much fun to drive. Back then we didn't want anything to rob HP but today's cars are faster with creature comforts and get 4 times better gas mileage. I have all kinds of friends with old muscle cars, they don't want to go far or fast (mileage) and hate driving them on a hot day. My C 5 gives me all that power with the pleasure of driving it anywhere any time !!!!

 

from what I understand the 2015 Z 28 was about as stripped as you could get !!!!

 

I haven't adjusted my seat, steering wheel or mirrors since I bought my car. Don't need traction control or ABS either. I do like the A/C and power windows.

 

good post, I could do with a lot less crap..the new power 7 vert top sounds like a nightmare 3 times cycling and it overheats..yuck

 

The only necessary options for me are a manually controlled air conditioner, a rear defogger and a tilt steering wheel.
Bring back manual windows and a manual tilt/telescopic steering wheel like I had in my '74 and some nice manually adjustable seats with high quality leather. My Black '99 Coupe is fully loaded, every available option and the F45 suspension. I don't use anything but the a/c, tilt wheel and the FM radio. I prefer listening to my exhaust flowing through the long tube headers and out the Magnaflows while rowing through the gears. My Silver '98 Convertible was a base car with no options and I was fine with that.

 

OP, great topic.

I'd like to see a pure car without some of the options and weight. I'll bet you could shave some weight.

 

I gotta be honest, I do love my AC and power windows and the other comforts that come with my C5, and I do love C5's. However I still have a real addiction to C2's. Grew up with them in SoCal through the 60's. For the most part everything was manual back then, maybe with the exception of luxury cars. I never minded manual anything back then but I guess I've gotten a little softer along with getting longer in the tooth, gotten spoiled over the years I guess. Still, I'd sell my soul for a minty all original '67 big block 4spd coupe, all manual will do! Best wishes to all!

 

My first corvette (60) carried none of those power options... and I was perfectly happy, but, that was 40+ years ago....

 

Actually, I have no desire to have a completely stripped down Corvette. I enjoy having some of the convenience feature such as power windows, locks, etc. as well as some of the safety items like traction control. The C5 as is has plenty of performance while still retaining all those features you have listed.

 

I just saw a article on the new cars that manual windows are few and far away ????

 

A/C is as important as an engine

 

When my AC went out last summer I was ready to hang out the "For Sale" sign! If I had to give up the AC, I might as well go back to riding motorcycle and smelling like it!

I have no use for any of the Memory Functions since I am the only one who drives my C5.

 

Most street performance cars nowadays have the ability to perform their functions to the optimum without a lot of compromises. Look at cars like the Nissan GT-R or Porsche 911. There really isn't any need to have stripped versions of those cars - unless they're dedicated track weapons - because even with rear seats, electronics, HVAC, etc, they're still exceptionally competent. Pretty much gone are the days of overly stripped down cars from the factory, and while there is often talks among enthusiasts that it would be nice if some makes sold stripped cars (some still do, like GM's COPO program) ultimately pushing a car or two to the side for special order isn't logical and stripped cars produced in mass numbers would never sell.

The good thing about the Corvette - at least with the current C7 - is it's actually very easy to build a rather unique Corvette. It's not necessarily a stripped down car, but ordering a base Stingray and adding specific items can ultimately create a very unique build. Honestly it's still good that buyers can do this, as many makers have gotten away from really specialized builds.

 

At this point, it costs more to offer manual windows than it's worth. You need different door panels, regulators, the crank handle itself, etc. Plus you have to take on all of the infrastructure requirements offering them entails (procurement, storage of parts, training for assemblers, etc. etc.). Auto manufacturers have figured out years ago that the expense of offering manual windows isn't worth the additional sales they'd get by reducing the price of a car by a few hundred dollars (likely negligible).

 

There aren't many left.

 

My car is as base as it gets minus the Z51 package. I was bitching about this topic more with trucks. I don't mind leather in my Corvette, but give me a vinyl bench seat in my truck with rubber floor mat so I can hose it out. Now it seems they come with leather and wood trim.

The AC didn't work in my car when I bought it, I haven't bothered to try and fix it, my windows work just fine.



<edit> Ferrari announced yesterday that they no longer offer manual transmissions. I remember when Mercedes quit including a dip stick for your oil because they don't want owners checking the oil themselves.

 

I like options on my car. Most of my cars are fully loaded.

 

My first sports car was a 91 Camaro RS (305 V8) that I still have to this day. My .02 having had a car w/out many of these features for 16 yrs, and a car with them for 4 months:

No Air-conditioning - Camaro doesn't have it. I hate driving it on a hot day sweating my *** off. Vette obvs has it. Top is usually off on a warm day, but I like the option of a cold breeze and wouldn't trade it for anything.

No Power Windows - Camaro doesn't have them. Not impossible to overcome, but it does suck trying to reach over, or having to walk around to roll up/down my passenger window due to the issue noted above. Vette has them, and i'm fond of them. Why doesn't Chevy put in an "auto up" like Chrysler has in my jeep? Only auto down is archaic.

No Power locks - Camaro has them. Wife is usually w/me in the car. This one i could do without because i open the door for her, and she never unlocks the door for me anyways. Vette has them. Could care less either way.

No power seats - Camaro doesn't have them. Seat never moves. Doesn't bother me. Vette has them. I do like the memory to let my fat *** out of the car, however the seat is maxed back anyways due to my height. Could take it or leave it.

No traction control - Camaro doesn't have it. That's what a good suspension and fat tires are for. Vette has it. Usually it's on because i'm too lazy to turn it off.

No anti locks brake system - Camaro has it. Vette has it. I like to drive my car. I personally hate ABS.

No auto mirror/seat/radio adjustment - Unsure what this is - memory? Camaro doesn't have it. I'm the only one that drives it, so it's pointless. Vette has it. I'm the only one that drives it, so it's pointeless. EXCEPT that I love that the telescoping wheel gets out of my way so i can get in and out easier. Being 6'2" 245 ..it's a pain getting in and out of these cars.

No Key fob - Camaro has it aftermarket. Battery in it died and has been absent for ..hell, i dont even know. More than 5 y rs. Don't care. Vette has it. Only reason i like it is due to the memory feature. Unlock from fob 1 moving the wheel and seat for me is nice. Past that - don't care.

Again, just my .02. YMMV

 

A COPO C5 would be cool