I like chrome wheels, but that's generally where it stops.

 

I'm glad that there are others here who view these types of things rationally.

The pictures of the engine bays and underhood chrome work are incredible. They show how dedicated and devoted Corvette people can be and they are done to satisfy personal tastes.

For me, I like a more contemporary look (CF or Aluminum) in small doses and I prefer to have the beauty of the cars lines speak for themselves.

I have had so many P-cars and Vettes. I feel very fortunate that I have been able to experience these amazing machines, as should all of us.

Faster, better, nicer, upgraded, etc... are all subjective (except faster) and most of us only dream to be able to acquire enough skill to push these cars to their performance limits in a safe manner. Most of us will never get there, so heated arguments over 0.2 sec to 60 MPH and unending criticism and hypothesis over why and how this is possible doesn't serve any interests or appreciation for how great all of these cars are.

 

Sorry about your 09 buyback...I wish you better luck with your new Corvette. That being said I seriously disagree with your comment "...The threads should really stop" (referring to performance and other comparisons). Suggesting people censor their opinions and comments is just wrong. The free exchange of information and opinions should be encouraged. If you don't like reading a particular thread don't read it...move on.

I agree that less than 1% of Corvette owners will ever drive their car to the limit (and I don't mean just a 1/4 mile straight line blast down a drag strip). I'm not knocking drag racing but IMO the true measure of an automobile's performance (and a driver's skill) encompasses the elements encountered on a road course. I also don't give credence to the 'mid-life crisis/gold chain' stereotype of Corvette owners and I certainly wouldn't equate this to chrome wheels. I also prefer the more subdued 'bling' of polished rims but whether one likes chrome or polished wheels IMO has nothing to do with the 'mid-life crisis/gold chain' stereotype.

I'm no expert on the Grand Sport but I disagree with your comment "...The GS is really about aesthetics (Wide Body, Big Tires, Brakes, etc...)." In as much as the vast majority of Corvette owners will never fully utilize their car's performance the GS may be more about aesthetics, however, IMO (and the Z51 option notwithstanding) the GS is the first 'special edition' or 'special option' C6 that has some meaningful performance improvements. IMO special edition Vettes like the Ron Fellows edition were laughable....there were no real performance enhancements. The Ron Fellows edition Z06 wouldn't perform any better than a non-Ron Fellows edition Z06.

I personally disagree that the wide body, big tires and brakes are about aesthetics. While these items may be considered aesthetic improvements by many people (and I agree most people do the wide body conversion for appearances), I feel form follows function and consider these items from a performance enhancing viewpoint. Whether you prefer chrome wheels or polished; whether you like the GS emblem or not; whether you appreciate the Grand Sport for its aesthetics, its enhanced performance attributes or a combination thereof; or whether you want to discuss a .2 second faster time down a drag strip....it's all good. We should never say "These threads should really stop." Many people really do care.

 

I had the polished rims no matter what I tried they looked cloudy - so I went with Chrome rims with the Montery Red - brings out the color - but do agree some may overdo it - but again looks good but I may not want it all the time

Like the different color vettes - some colors I think are a waste on a Corvette but others like it

 

Not sure about the badge, but I've never understood the whole chrome wheels on Vettes trend. To me, it just scream 70's/80's and looks a little tacky. I know some people like them, but I don't think they belong on a modern sports car from the factory. I know they are shiny and easy to take care of, but I'll take a nice set of painted wheels any day.

When I was shopping for a C6, it seemed that a large number of the cars out there had the chrome or polished wheels. It was a real turn-off to me, but I eventually found the right car with competition gray wheels. I think GM should offer modern-style painted forged wheel option for the Vette. Or maybe something in-between like the forged 19" wheels I had on my M3? Part painted, part polished and cleared (I think) but very nice and modern looking without being too much.

http://www.reveuro.com/inventory/101...-m3-bmw-59.JPG

 

It never ceases to amaze me that people think their personal opinion is what GM should do. Plenty of options are offered. You want painted you can get it. You want chrome you can get it. You want Comp Gray you can get it. Clearly different people have different opinions about what looks good.

Fortunately, GM does give us the opportunity to have the car in many different flavors. After market vendors broaden that even more. I hope GM continues to offer chrome as long as I live. Yep, I even like the chrome GS badge.

 

I'm just sayin', how many other $50K+ sports cars do you see with chrome wheels? I think other manufacturers have realized they are outdated and have moved on. Maybe the blame is on the dealers for ordering so many of the "dealer stock" cars with those wheels. It is an easy way to add $$$ to the window sticker, and it adds the bling factor. This makes GM thinks they are a top seller, when I think a lot of people get them by default. I could be totally wrong here, just calling it as I see it working in the industry. It could also be the "older" average 'Vette buyer still digs chrome. Maybe GM is onto something, I don't know.

I've worked for a very successful German auto manufacturer for close to 10 years now, and I guess I just follow the cutting-edge mentality that comes with it. I love modern style and technology and apply it to any car I own or build. Chrome really isn't part of that, but to each their own, I suppose.

Andy

 

Maybe I'm just old school, (or just old ) but I like chrome (and stainless), in moderation, of course.



Not a big fan of the carbon fiber craze, it just looks kinda cheap to me. Ditto with fake wood grain in an otherwise plastic interior. Just doesn't work for me.

 

Chrome is as American as apple pie!

 

Chrome won't get you home................................ but, it might get you laid.

 

my brother just bought the new 300Z.The satin silver finish on the wheels is spectacular!!!

 

Chrome when properly placed as a design element is fine.
The contrast of black tires and chrome on many styles of wheels is pleasing to the eye and there are other maintenance considerations as well.

As a design element on a fender detail, surrounded by paint and fins, the chrome badge is an eyesore. It does not fit the elements around it, has too much contrast with nearly every color (maybe not light silver) and compliments nothing. It's merely a chrome sign pasted on the side of an otherwise nice fender.
There are many more subtle ways to indicate on the bodywork or back bumper that the car is a GS, and GM chose a really tacky one. Personally, I would have integrated a GS engraving to the right and bottom of the Corvette logo on the rear bumper.
Given the wide body, wheels' sizes (lets' not talk about the wheel styling) and the fins, it was really not necessary for GM to shout GS on the side of the car in chrome. A quiet statement would have been much more design coherent. Sometimes less is more......

 

By "GM buyback) do you mean trade-in?

 

I agree with the OP for the most part. I think too much chrome on the outside of the car is tacky. I was a firm believer in "NO CHROME WHEELS" on a sports car but after taking a long hard look at a Z06 at my local dealership (it has chrome spiders on it), I think that some, very open, designed wheels in chrome are not too bad.

 

By "buyback" I mean that they are buying the vehicle back for all the money and fees I paid minus a .35 cent per mile useage charge.

Basically lemon law.

I actually like the black chrome spiders on dark colored Vettes, but I still prefer painted.

 

I like my 08 chrome wheels on machine silver. I get lots of positive comments about them and the car. I am a fan of chrome but you don't want to overdo it -- with any material for that matter.

 

I had chrome rims on my C6. I liked them and I like the painted rims on my Z06. You're wrong about the GS being about primarily looks, it's a track package taking the place of the Z51. But it does look great.

 

no...he MAKES chrome hats!

 

I usually like chrome wheels on a C-6. the GS badge would look better if there wasn't so much of it. If the car doesn't have chrome wheels the GS badge would be the brightest spot on the car and looks a little out of place. If it was toned down a bit it wouldn'tt be so obnoxious.

 

You won't see chrome wheels on a $200k+ Ferrari, Lambo, etc. Or even a less expensive Porsche. What you will see are exceptionally polished/whatever wheels, far superior in looks than the base, or "supposedly" polished Corvette wheels. So I somewhat agree with the OP.

If GM came up with a quality polished wheel, I'd be happy. And I know they can do it. The ones on my C5 were great. The one's on my C6 SUCK! Milky, etc.

Having said that, I also agree with many posters who identify chrome being an American thing. That's why I think a good looking set of chrome wheels on a Corvette looks great!

Chrome anywhere else? Okay... I'm getting used to the GS thing, but other than that...