fixed!

 

If you(the majority) can afford to buy a $50-70K vehicle, whether Corvette or not, then you should not have a problem paying a little more for a better interior, warranty, etc.

 

Only 2 things I would change is upgrade the stereo a bit, and be more aggressive with the styling.

AWD- No way. Save that for the Euros. Corvette is known as a rear wheel drive car. Don't need the extra weight. I think they have probably already researched this, and found that most drivers wouldn't like the idea, especially the extra cost.

Interior looks cheap only to those that can't find anything to complain about the car. ie haters.

Dealers, yes only select Chevrolet dealers should be able to sell Corvette. Too many BS Chev dealers with 1 or 2 allocations are selling this car. It is cheapened when it is included in ads with Cobalt.

No squeaks at 4k miles. Car has been solid as a rock.

 

A little more for this and just a little bit more for that adds up very quickly and before you know it, the bang for the buck that the Corvette currently offers is suddenly lost.

 

You got that right.

 

No AWD.....not Corvette pedigree.

 

yeah, keep that AWD shet in those VW's and as far away from my Corvette as possible.

 

Interesting:

Mine would be

Be more conservative with styling
No AWD
Better sounding exhaust
A few more horses
and then leave it alone!

 

Just so you know Tom Wallace is no longer the C6 Chief Engineer. As of July 1 the C6 Chief Engineer is Tadge Juechter. Tom Wallace is now the Vehicle Line Executive (VLE) for C6, Solstice, Sky and XLR.

 

Sorry, but I've got to disagree with you on this one. I love my Corvette as much as the next person (I'm definitely not a hater), but that huge piece of silver (dark gray on 06s & 07s) plastic console trim cheapens the entire interior IMO. The other things that some have complained about (low-quality leather, cloth seat backs, lack of power recliners) aren't big things to me but they could probably be remedied without adding much cost to the car. As far as I'm concerned, though, replace the silver plastic console trim with a piece of dark gray brushed aluminum and the interior would have a much higher-quality feel.

 

They do have the aftermarket 07 option for a carbon fiber look. Looks cool. Someone else posted a pic of a red replacement interior console to replace the grey, that I think you are talking about. That also looks cool. There are options to change the looks of your interior. For me it's just fine.

 

Wish list:

A. 450 horsepower, 450 lb-ft of torque.

B. W--i--d--e--r rear tires. (see A. above)

 

I guess I see the next Corvette in terms of engineering trade-offs. Whatever the C7 will be, it will have to fit into the fleet that GM envisions. Fuel economy will be a major factor as a result. It's clearly a major selling point for GM to point to their over-all passenger car economy (which includes the Corvette) with pride. As they should.

So my first dictum would be Colin Chapman's: Add lightness.

Then for over-all efficiency offer a seven speed sequential-manual gearbox as the standard transmission with an optional six speed (or seven) manual. I'm totally sold on SMG-style transmissions. Humans can't shift as fast or match speeds as accurately as these beasties. Do the research and know where the paddles should go to use it most efficiently.

Spend most of the engineering time on getting the details right before adding the gadget stuff.

That said, I love the idea of a car that "knows" its driver so let it expand so the engine management system and transmission retains each driver's habits and preferences.

AWD seems like a nice idea - but it adds weight, complexity and is this a technology that GM knows how to produce? Introduce this in a Caddy and when you really know it - then adapt it to the Corvette if it fits.

GM has a long tradition of making great push-rod V8's. I doubt if their bag of tricks has been run dry. I'll be fascinated to see how they progress. It's American engineering at its best - competing against the world on a big stage with a fabulous machine that only cars a factor of two or more expensive can compete with.

Oh, a trade off: I'd give up top speed (do I REALLY need a car that can go 190? I don't think so.) But a car that is absolutely responsive in the speed ranges where we do drive is the most important thing to me. The top speed should be a by-product of the decisions that are made down in the lower speed ranges as, I suspect, it is now.

I suspect that the close-ratios to make autocross a ton of fun would push gas mileage down too much - but it's fun to imagine a nimble (so light) machine with tons of traction, great acceleration and braking, with supportive seats to keep you firmly in place while pushing the 1G point - ON THE BASE CAR.

Really USE the F55 suspension, making it standard and smarter and tuneable by third-parties, and its setup "learned" by the car and saved for each driver. I like the idea of buying set of suspension settings and think of the things we'd get to argue about then!

Your mileage may vary!

 

To be on the record, I gotta c6, will probably go for a C7 if I havent moved on..

but surely i would love to get a lot of stuff fixed in this car...people who think its good enough for them have very little stds..

the car is good enough for speed and looks..besides that..it need huge huuuuuuuge improvements and i can see why people with money go and by more expensive cars which could be equally quick or slightly slower..

My List is:
1. Get over this plastic obsession american cars have come so nicely acustomed to. [No option here, no plastic means no plastic]

2. Nicer paint quality [Could be a option]

3. More color options

4. Aggressive styling [Could be an option for Z51]

5. Aggressive exhaust [could be on option on Z51]

6. Nicer audio

7. More HP [Well thats a given, probably upto 475ish]

8. Option for no RunCraps

9. Nicer interiors as std.

10. Upgraded interiors as an option

11. More color choices in interior.

12. OHHH NO SQUEEKS AND RATTLES AND ROOFS FLYING OFF PLEASE, ENGG IT A LITTLE BETTER [Dont care if because of this little weight goes up, add padding, or whatever is required, anyone who says theirs doesnt moan, I dont believe you, I have driven more than enough C6s around town to tell u , they all do, ppl who cant hear them, either pay no attention to little things or are just plain need hearing aid, no offense but thats how i think]

13. No one seem to be saying anything about the shifter, whats up with that, this car is worse than a 5 grand kia with its shifting, just plain hate it..I have driven much much cheaper cars with crisper shifting, I have to be driving this car like i stole it for the shifter to become tolerable...

14. Option for carbon fiber, real aluminum, carbon fiber seats..etc

15. Much better designed dash, please take a look at the honda civic, its a cheap car and its got a higher level of creativity there as appose to c6. I would say something like the Infiniti, Lexus or Acura.

I know its a little long and will probably make this car as much as a Z06 is worth or even more, but then thats the price for a nice car...thats y porsche's and ferraris are what they are worth..

But i still do love my car..if anyone was wondering..but that doesnt stop me from putting down the down sides of the things i love..

 

Well said!

 

AWD

 

Call mine the 'anti-KillerRyd' list if you like, since I'll be using his to contrast what is important to me in my next sports car.

My List is:
1. Get over this obsession about plastic in american cars. If it is functional, reliable, and will last, use whatever gets the job done. [No option here, not worrying about plastic means use whatever works, including plastic]

2. Don't worry about nicer paint quality - what is there now is good enough, if it will take more money to get show quality paint. [Ridiculous to think that quality of paint would ever be an "option"]

3. Don't worry about more color options. It's a sports car, not a jar of jelly beans.

4. Don't sweat trying to artifically creat "Aggressive styling" - make it aerodynamic, functional and tasteful. No need for scoops, spoilers and other bling unless it is there for a functional purpose. [Could completely kill option for Z51, since it is just $1,500 of ego stroking for the weak.]

5. Aggressive exhaust sound without purpose is for the weak. Make it flow correctly for max effeciency and power, and it will sound like whatever it needs to sound like. [loud pipes could be on option on "Z51" if you make the "Z51" the same as the old "Z28 became in the early 80's - just a gaudy overpriced tape-n-stripe package for the taste and performance impaired]

6. Don't bother with spending my money on Nicer audio. A radio will suffice, and if I need more, it is cheaper for me to buy what I need anyway than buy it watered down and made proprietary through GM. Give me an 'open source' dual DIN opening, I'll take care of the rest, and so will the aftermarket.

7. Don't worry about More HP unles sit makes the car quicker, faster, or handle significantly better. [Well thats a given, probably upto 475ish, even though traction capability may not keep pace, so it will be wasted except for bragging rights]

8. Don't listen to people who think you can somehow roll back the federal mandate to use runflats. The idea is sound, saves weight, keeps safety up, is a good use of technolgy in a day when people don't even check their air pressure regularly. Just refine it - better traction, better 'feel', but more range without air at low speed.

9. Don't poop out and spend money and weight on Nicer interiors as std. - certainly can refine from what we have today, but added more leather, more gadgets, more weight, more 'plush' is for people who want a Caddie.

10. Do like Porsche, and if you make upgraded interiors as an option, squeeze those sorry stuck up SOBs by making em pay for every piecve they will brag about at country club. I recall the Porsche 928 had options in interior trim which, if all were selected, would equal the base price of car, and yet, some people ordered them that way for bragging rights. I am not making this up. Rather than gouge every guy who wants a decent sports car, gouge the people who have more money than sense!

11. Make every interior black. That is the right color for a sports car interior anyway, and these types who need champagne gold can go to Liberace's House of Interiors and order up whatever six-tone abomination they care for, in order to look different than the neighbors.

12. OHHH Don't engineer in new stuff just to prove you can, use tried and trued technology like the fiberglass roof, and clear PC versions.[Dont let the weight go up, though! Certainly don't add padding, or whatever becasue someone claims theirs moans, I dont believe you, I have driven my C6 and it is quiet as a mouse with the clear PC roof on. Now, thats how I think]

13. No one seem to be saying anything about the shifter becasue if you know how to drive, it works fine.

14. No needed Option for carbon fiber, real aluminum, carbon fiber seats..etc that the Bling Patrol ought to go buy from some import shop, for their econobox. As above, if carbon fiber is called for becaue it is the best material for the job, so be it, but clear coating CF panels in the interior for aesthetics is just... well, stupid. See earlier comment about plastics (which is a huge field. If only I had listened to the Graduate....)

15. The dash is designed well. Don't worry about honda civic creativity. I would say if something like the Infiniti, Lexus or Acura appeals to someone, they ought to shop for that car. I'll paste in a picture of what I think an instrument panel ought to look like.

I know its a little long and will probably make this car cheaper to build than a current C6, but a h*ll of a lot better sports car, but then thats the price for a nice sports car...don't make it a platform for posuers. Thats y porsche's and ferraris are selling for what they are - selling the ambiance of a true sports car from days gone by to a generation devoted to creature comforts and ego...

But i still do love my car..if anyone was wondering..but that doesnt stop me from putting down the down sides of the things i love..

[with appologies to Killr Ryd for stealing his thunder to illustrate different strokes for different folks!]

 

and, . . .

Glad you are feeling better and changing avatars on schedule, TrackNoob.



.

 

Schweeeet!!!!!

You may have to be contracted to ghostwrite/edit my autobio when I get to it



(BTW - changed my avitar to what a sports car used to look like. They don't have to look like that anymore of course, but the spirit is what is important, to me...)

 

Here are my thoughts:

1. Give us a rear wheel with less negative offset. We like having a nice deep dished wheel back there. How come BMW can get this right, but Corvettes look like they are rolling on four front wheels?

2. Please beef up the weak aluminum rear differential case. These shouldn't be breaking at stock power levels with merely wheelhop.

3. Rear gear ratio options would be nice. 3.42, 3.73, 4.10

4. put the clutch or torque converter in the rear of the car, in front of the transmission. Make it easier to service.

5. route the hydraulic clutch lines as far away from heat sources as possible. No more cooking hydraulic fluid!

6. a rear window that you can see out of clearly. No blurry glass.

7. insulate the tranny tunnel better.

8. more color choices. I miss spiral gray, and something like hugger orange.