Anyone driven a C8?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 352
Likes: 255
From: McKinney, Texas
Anyone driven a C8?
A friend bought a 2021 C8 the other day to replace his C7 Z06. We went out and hit he backroads today and he was nice enough to let me behind the wheel for about 20 minutes while he drove mine.
I am someone who loves a manual transmission, but it doesn't stop me from appreciating the DCT. GM got the programming right too--it's simply amazing. I certainly missed having a manual while driving, but I can also appreciate that the DCT does a much better job than I ever could. I didn't experience the understeer that professional drivers bitch about, but I wasn't going to risk putting it in a ditch to find out. The GT2 seats are way too tight for me and the seat bottom is too short. There is one thing for sure though--handling is confidence inspiring. There's no doubt that the car would make me a much better driver on the track. I loved the car and will own one in a few years.
Getting back in my GS after driving the C8 made me realize that there is a certain charm to not having the driving aids and rowing my own gears. Unfortunately, charm don't win in a race. I love my wide-body C6, but I lust after the C8.
Anyone else want to share their thoughts if you've driven one?
I am someone who loves a manual transmission, but it doesn't stop me from appreciating the DCT. GM got the programming right too--it's simply amazing. I certainly missed having a manual while driving, but I can also appreciate that the DCT does a much better job than I ever could. I didn't experience the understeer that professional drivers bitch about, but I wasn't going to risk putting it in a ditch to find out. The GT2 seats are way too tight for me and the seat bottom is too short. There is one thing for sure though--handling is confidence inspiring. There's no doubt that the car would make me a much better driver on the track. I loved the car and will own one in a few years.
Getting back in my GS after driving the C8 made me realize that there is a certain charm to not having the driving aids and rowing my own gears. Unfortunately, charm don't win in a race. I love my wide-body C6, but I lust after the C8.
Anyone else want to share their thoughts if you've driven one?
Last edited by HobbesTiger; Aug 1, 2021 at 05:25 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 174,312
Likes: 1,217
From: Here
Pilot of Beer Force 1
Tampa Regional Coordinator
CI 4-5-6-7-8 Veteran
Organizer St. Jude Fundraiser
I believe in the Beer Fairy
drove a friends when he got it he was also the same guy who let me drive his C7....
for me personally too much crap, electronics, touch screen etc. I never used the HUD in my C6Z06, and the factory NAV is useless so even more stuff in the C8 doesn't impress me.
I found the DCT kind of annoying and the weird exhaust note during shifts was odd.
I didn't romp on it as it was not my car but much like the C7 it felt slow but I guess after driving my Z I should have expected that.
The brakes are incredible I will say that.
I didn't find the passenger seat as confining as I would have thought based on photos.
The seats were nice and I had plenty of legroom.
I must say I like the styling more than the C7 especially the HTC.
as much as I hoped I would love it I'm not there
for me personally too much crap, electronics, touch screen etc. I never used the HUD in my C6Z06, and the factory NAV is useless so even more stuff in the C8 doesn't impress me.
I found the DCT kind of annoying and the weird exhaust note during shifts was odd.
I didn't romp on it as it was not my car but much like the C7 it felt slow but I guess after driving my Z I should have expected that.
The brakes are incredible I will say that.
I didn't find the passenger seat as confining as I would have thought based on photos.
The seats were nice and I had plenty of legroom.
I must say I like the styling more than the C7 especially the HTC.
as much as I hoped I would love it I'm not there
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,576
Likes: 85
From: Sumter SC
I haven't street driven one but on the track I find the display and control switch wall just distracting. I didn't like the C7 and after I drove a C8 on the track I cancelled my order and will stick with my C6s. Car does understeer but it was manageable overall I am not a fan of anything newer then the C6.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 11,351
Likes: 2,445
From: Eastern
I was actually awe struck by the C8 when it was unveiled. I have seen a few around town in the past months. Maybe it's just me, but the more I see them, the less impressed I have become at the look of them. Would I own one, of course, but I'm not done loving my C6 just yet.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 352
Likes: 255
From: McKinney, Texas
I was actually awe struck by the C8 when it was unveiled. I have seen a few around town in the past months. Maybe it's just me, but the more I see them, the less impressed I have become at the look of them. Would I own one, of course, but I'm not done loving my C6 just yet.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,596
Likes: 360
There have been a lot of changes to the Corvette styling going from the C6 to the C7 to the C8. For me, the C6 is the pinnacle of styling for the Corvette as it was about a far as it could go evolutionary. The C7 looks modern and I guess, at my age, "modern" looks "boy-racer' on the Corvette. But make no mistake, the C7 is a better car in every way when compared to the C6. The same is true for the C8. And the C8 has successfully dragged my *** into the "modern" world.
I've owned a black 2016 C7 'vert since new that I haven't driven since I bought my first C6 ZR1. I might as well sell it. The only thing better to me is the handling and the....well, that's about it. I started to say interior since that's what everyone else says but no, I actually like the interior of the Centennial a little better than my C7 (beautiful red/ebony). I don't really care for the digital dash, the boy racer rear end, and I ABHORE the A8 tranny...what a turd.
As for the C8? Well, ya lost me on this one GM but I'm sure the kids will buy em up.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 25,105
Likes: 3,156
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
I agree 100% except for that last sentence. I'm still happily stuck in the old world!
I've owned a black 2016 C7 'vert since new that I haven't driven since I bought my first C6 ZR1. I might as well sell it. The only thing better to me is the handling and the....well, that's about it. I started to say interior since that's what everyone else says but no, I actually like the interior of the Centennial a little better than my C7 (beautiful red/ebony). I don't really care for the digital dash, the boy racer rear end, and I ABHORE the A8 tranny...what a turd.
As for the C8? Well, ya lost me on this one GM but I'm sure the kids will buy em up.
I've owned a black 2016 C7 'vert since new that I haven't driven since I bought my first C6 ZR1. I might as well sell it. The only thing better to me is the handling and the....well, that's about it. I started to say interior since that's what everyone else says but no, I actually like the interior of the Centennial a little better than my C7 (beautiful red/ebony). I don't really care for the digital dash, the boy racer rear end, and I ABHORE the A8 tranny...what a turd.
As for the C8? Well, ya lost me on this one GM but I'm sure the kids will buy em up.
I loved my C6 but find my C7 much better in every way over the C6...but it is not a ZR1. C6 feels old fashioned compared to the C7 and C8. NTTAWWT
Glad I can have both.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 2,311
Likes: 251
From: Baltimore Maryland
I'm seeing C8's a bit more. In fact, more than any other Corvettes. I even know a diehard Mercedes guy who just got one.
I have to admit C8s catch my eye right away . . . something that never happens with the C7, which I still do not find as attractive as my C6 GS.
The supposedly better C7 interior did not really do it for me either, but the C8 interior looks really really good.
Ironically, I seeing some reviews that say the C7 is better than the C8 on the track.
I still like my GS coupe 6-speed manual. But I would like to drive a C8.
With two small storage areas rather than the practical hatchback in my coupe, I doubt I'd ever buy one.
But I wouldn't say never . . . . something I said right away about the C7.
I have to admit C8s catch my eye right away . . . something that never happens with the C7, which I still do not find as attractive as my C6 GS.
The supposedly better C7 interior did not really do it for me either, but the C8 interior looks really really good.
Ironically, I seeing some reviews that say the C7 is better than the C8 on the track.
I still like my GS coupe 6-speed manual. But I would like to drive a C8.
With two small storage areas rather than the practical hatchback in my coupe, I doubt I'd ever buy one.
But I wouldn't say never . . . . something I said right away about the C7.
Last edited by csf; Aug 2, 2021 at 10:43 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,260
Likes: 324
From: Florida
There have been a lot of changes to the Corvette styling going from the C6 to the C7 to the C8. For me, the C6 is the pinnacle of styling for the Corvette as it was about a far as it could go evolutionary. The C7 looks modern and I guess, at my age, "modern" looks "boy-racer' on the Corvette. But make no mistake, the C7 is a better car in every way when compared to the C6. The same is true for the C8. And the C8 has successfully dragged my *** into the "modern" world.
My C6 is the end of the line for me and Corvettes, but I agree with you about the C6 being the pinnacle of styling. Besides, in a few short years, it's going to go the way of the Mustang Mach E!