With all the recent discussion lately regarding the C6 seat comfort, stereo sound, gas milage, handling and suspension I figured I'd give my evaluation of the car's performance over this past weekend.

Myself and 12 other Vettes headed up to Booth Bay, Maine. This was our "LAST HURRAH WEEKEND" and we would end up covering over 500+ miles of driving on highways and twisty secondary roads along the Maine coastline.

The weather was sunny with temps in the low 50's during the day and going down in the 30's at night.

The car performed excellent. I can honestly tell you that I was not uncomfortable from the long ride. The seat is very comfortable. The handling was very responsive on both highway and twistys. Suspension (Z-51) was stiff but not bone jarring. We even used the heated seats at night and in the mornings. They not only warm your butt, they also warm your lower back.
The Vararam gave a great throtle response on the highways when you needed that extra boost but gas milage did not suffer. I averaged 25.5 mpg on the trip. I know the car can do better but I pushed it pretty hard and I wasn't in 6th gear too often.
For those long boring stretches on the Maine Turnpike, the Bose was a welcome distraction. CD's sound great on this system, IMHO.

Not all was perfect however. Not sure if was due to the much cooler weather but my transparent roof was poping quite a bit.
I will address that this weekend by tightening up the rear latch.

Oh, and did I mention luggage space. Wow, I can't believe what you can fit in this car. How many sports cars can you say that with?

In closing I just want to say what a lucky man I am to be able to drive such an outstanding sports car.

To all of you who find fault with this incredible machine..............lighten up.

Steve

 

I couldn't agree with you more...these are fantastic machines. Unlimited power on demand and all done in the comfort of a nicely appointed interior.

A great car.

 

I agree. I wouldn't trade my C6 for any other car. It is an amazing car.

 

I feel like mine "does it all"! Speed, Economy, Handling, Styling and room for 2 golf bags!!
If the top is popping, protect the surrounding area and spray the rollers with white lithium grease, (use the can with the little red straw) . It worked GREAT for me.

 

It would be a good car at twice the price, it's a GREAT car for what we actually pay.
There is a thread about stopping the top squeaks and pops. I used the E-clips and it worked for several months, a thin coating of grease in the little "dip" of the plate on the W/S frame seems to help make it permanent. Might need a touch of grease once or twice per year. I can live with that...

 

I agree with the post. In fact, my back has been bothering me a lot lately - especially when I get up in the morning. Last Saturday I left the house at about 9:00 in the morning and ran about 160 miles of back roads, meeting some friends for lunch. I can honestly say that sitting in the Corvette made my back pain go away.

 

We had a couple of vintage Vettes with us. A 1967 327 Roadster and a 1978 L88 coupe, both in pristine condition. The rest of us were driving C5's and C6's.
They really had to be creative to store all their gear and they were pretty stiff in the lower back when we arrived.

That said, I still would't mind owning the 67, I just wouldn't want to drive it long distance.

 

I gotta agree with you.

I just drove from Nashua NH to Daytona in a 09 coupe. Z51, 2LT. Seats were fine, no fatigue or aches from them. Car was flawless!! Money well spent.

 

Nice writeup, but you do realize that your from the same (very small, but nice) state as that not-lamented and gone, person, right?

I KNOW the C6 is comfortable, but allow me to disagree with you re the '67's comfort since my '66 327 roadster was probably very little different. It was, in fact, quite comfortable to drive for distances. I would routinely take it out on good days for 3, 4, 5 hour drives WITH ORIGINAL SEATS. It did have new OEM shocks, brakes, etc., but nothing out of the ordinary other than newer, thin/skinny steel radial tires. Granted, if the '67 in your group was on bias ply tires, the driver was fatigued from fighting the steering wheel --not the seats!

 

You are probably correct, since I was not driving it I can't say for sure if it was the seats. More likely the lack of power steering.

 

Here is one for you. I am on my 9th Vette, an 08 Z51 6 speed vert. I have had 9 Vettes (2 C4's, 3 C5's and 4 C6's). I have also had 2 Ferraris, an 02 360 Spider and an 07 F430 Spider. I like the C6 better then the Ferraris and also think they are a much better built car.

 

Very nice write up and I have yet to use my seat warmers

 

I have a 09 that rocks. It is the best car I have ever owned out of many. Chevy and GM deserves a thumbs up for this car.

 

My wife and I took a trip through California, Nevada, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana about 3 weeks ago. We covered 2600 miles. My wife said she liked the corvette better than her Lexus. We have the F55 suspension and the ride was very smooth. BTW we are both in our 60s.

 

While your group went North to Maine our Club went South to Cape Cod, we had 8 vettes. Since the weather report was for colder temps I left the big block 67 home and we took our new 08 vert, we are very happy with the comfort of the new car, the heated seats are amazing, well...after driving the midyear ..any option is amazing to us, hahaha. I love the gas mileage, the comfort, the stereo that I can hear and enjoy, the performance is amazing, and even in the convertible it has storage for luggage that will surprise you. I will have to say the wife loves the seats and ride of the midyear more..go figure? In any event, to those who complain about all this nickel and dime stuff..come on and get over it. Show me another car for the price that when you combine all the options and power and GAS mileage can come close to a corvette....buzzzz times up...you cant can you...so..to those who whine....hush up

 

or it could be that he had sidepipes. if the car did have them, the fatigue from the noise is real. (ask midyear above)

as to lack of power steering, believe it or not, that was one easy car to steer at anything over 1 mph. the steering wheels were huge to make up for the loss/lack of mechanical advantage without power steering.

however, on the twisty roads you may have taken, it could be he was "sawing away" all day on that huge wheel. not something most of us are used to in our daily drivers any more. still, they sure are nice to look at, as are the straight-axle C1s.

 

I hit it once by accident! whoopeee!

 

I think next year we may head to the Cape. Where did you stay, did you like it?

 

I had mine repaired (latches replaced) under the TSB. I have had no popping since. I am confident that they have solved the problem.

 

Let me tell you, when we came out of the resturant Friday night, the first words out of my wife was; "when we get to the car turn the heated seats on I'm freezing."
With the temps hitting the 30's at night and early morning those heated seats felt pretty good.