I test drove today a SLK 350, a Benz E550 sedan (had the V8) and a Porsche Boxster S - I drove a base 06 C6 coupe and a 06 z-51 a couple of days ago. My thoughts:

1) I have never been in a car with the power of the vette, even the MB V8 which was really powerful as well at 368 horses and equivalent torque wasn't quite there, and you don't hear the motor on the benz the way you do on the Vette. Nice interior - comfy seats - certainly an excellent choice if you had to have a sedan this would be the way to go - I think this is one of those cars that could surprise you if you thought you could easily blow it off the road. It actually rode rougher than the Z-51 I test drove... but at this point in my life I don't want a sedan.

2) The Boxster was cramped in the cockpit and I was not all that impressed with the midline 6 - I guess I am a V8 guy and that's all there is to it - but I will say that the steering feel on that car was the best I have ever driven - wonderous handling. Top down, fun car, top up, kinda ugly. I think the Cayman has the car beat in the looks department but even this car is very cramped inside. Plus by the time you get the features you get in the Vette it gets expensive - same for the SLK.

3) The SLK 350 is just flat underpowered - I think that it would seem really sporty if you were used to driving something with 4 or fewer cylinders, but coming off my V8 Trans-Am the whine of the V6 in the car just doesn't do it for me - it lacks that AUTHORITA that a V8 has when passing some slowpoke tooling around in the left lane being a left lane vigilante. Having said that I think the vario hardtop is about one of the coolest damn things ever. This car I think would be perfect for my wife, but not for me - now the SLK 55 amg on the other hand maybe - but the SLK class in general is a bit smallish and still strikes me as a woman's car much like the audi TT quattro. That being said the integrated ipod connector that allows the ipod to be run off the steering wheel was fantastic.

I really loved the way the vette rode and love how it looks from the outside - I agree that the interior is not as nice as it could be (but I think the seats in the vette were more comfy than on the the Boxster or the SLK) but I don't think that the interiors on those cars were light years ahead of the C6 - to get that you need to be in the cars selling for 90+ thousand - go get an SL 500. The Bose is ok, the Nav is not - and if I want I can always go aftermarket with the stereo to get ipod connectivity- but I thought it sounded fine on the test drive - I thought the HUD was cool as hell, and you really get a lot with the vette for the price, that you have to add on to the others, not to mention that there is something special about the vette that the others cars lack, there is something kind of sterile about them. I think at this point if I went with another car I would always wonder whenever I saw a C6.

Of course the buying experience and the service experience with the local MB dealer (we have a benz ML 350) was superior and the difference between the MB/Porsche dealership and the Chevy dealerships are HUGE - I mean, come on, would it kill the Chevy dealers to wear a shirt with a collar and heaven forbid a tie and try to project a professional image? But in the end I won't be dealing with them much (I hope).

So now that I have all the data I need, I can make an informed decision - in the final analysis I will have to go with the Vette - so now to find the best deal and place my order. I am stoked!

 

Z51?

 

Nice write up.
Corvettes should be sold at Cadillac dealerships.

GM really needs to up-grade the "quality" of service Corvette owners receive.
Porsche's look like Frogs to me & sound like Volkswagons on steroids.

The C6 Corvette has the sound of power, the way a High Performance street ride should sound.

I do think MB, BMW & Lexus are putting out very good product with progressive designs.

I am sure all 4 have a better service experience then Chevrolet...Unfortunately.

Buying a Corvette at a Cadillac dealership & having it serviced there would increase a confidence level & repeat business.

 

Yes, I will order with Z-51 - I doubt that I'll ever track it, but I don't see the point in the F55 system and don't want to replace those shocks, and I preferred the stiffer feel of the Z-51, though on the highway I could not tell the difference between the Z-51 and the base - but I like the looks of the rotors. BTW, have you seen the 7 spoke chromes that GM has as an accessory - really nice looking wheel.

 

Good luck with yer buying experience... best advice is to try a forum dealer and/or your local fleet/internet dept.

You are correct on the professional image but keep in mind the image a chebby dealer and a MB dealer are trying to make is vastly different... last thing chevy wants is to project an image of exclusivity and high costs hence I suspect the lack of ties, etc.... I could care less if they wore wife beaters so long as they had a clue on how to service vettes (which most dont) - you will learn patience with the dealer service dept. - I recommend you ask fellow forum members in your area were they are taking theirs (it will save you some grief trust me)

cant help but take a cheap shot at MB dealers: Dont think because the MB wear ties their technician doesnt take 100 mile joy rides on SL55 AMG's!! and then act as if it didnt happen....most gamble owners wont notice... it was funny to see mgr. squirm when owner DID notice and refused delivery of his car until the 100 miles were explained.... got a nice 7 yr extended warranty out of it .... I suspect it was the mgr that took the car to begin with....

 

hum... one more word of advice: STAY AWAY FROM Z51 vs F55 comparisons!!! less the next words you want to hear are: INCOMING,.,,,

:-)

 

True that my friend, true that!
But at least I didn't mention badges!

 

yes, maybe we can work up a group purchase on some badges...