I know this topic has been beat to death but tonight I was thinking. i saw an ad for a brand new Lexus SC430 and thought to myself "wait a minute, thats c6 vert territory." We all know I'm no troll, and if you read my posts know I'm looking forward to an '06 Zo6, BUT..it makes me question. " If Lexus can throw a V8 into a coupe with retractable hardtop, top shelf sound system, interior bar none in quality, and excellent paint....why cant chevy?"

The excuse we use to make as C5 owners was cost. Now a fully loaded vert is in the same price bracket. We used to say " we pay for power" but its not like GM has to pay extra to take out the engine and build it like Cartek or a tuner would. The corp. V8 will see use in about 8 platforms while their V8 gets maybe 2?

My question is WHY? Are we too easy on GM? Too loyal to Corvette? What do you think? Honestly????

danny

P.S. I dont plan to buy the Lexus but sometimes I really think we accept things too easily. I love the way Vettes look and go down the road but should we DEMAND quality that matches Japanese car makers? (This being said while acknowledging the vast 2005 improvements)

 

It is not chevy it is GM and that is why they have the XLR

 

From the Lexus website - $12,000 more for the Lexus and only 300 horsepower. No manual transmission. The Lexus is not a Corvette and vice-versa. Why are we comparing these cars?

 

I'm talking with options-vert to vert. Not comparing. I'm talking about value for money, and should we litteraly demand more or are we truly happy? I think the C6 has great improvements but GM didnt quite nail everything. Know what I'm saying? I'd love for them to get it all right 100% because I want American companies to come out on top. Just thoughts not bashing in the slightest degree.

 

H*E*L*L*O !!!!

 

Xpert...Hi? Is this your strange way of attempting contact with the normal universe? JK

 

 

 

Maybe not. In this post "dude" counters "Xpert."

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=919623

 

It would be great to see american car manufacturers begin to build cars with the same consistency and quality as the ricers, ..... but the culture is so different. Is it really possible?

On a technical note, wouldn't a retractable hardtop system add a lot of weight to the car?

 

As a Corvette owner & a Lexus owner (although not the SC430) I can provide my experience.

Lexus - 1st year of ownership...was in for warranty work 14 times, including such minor things at two transmissions, windshield replaced, front-end virbration so bad that it was in 3 times for that.

Corvette - 1st year of ownership...drove it like I stole it & was never at the dealer.

 

My wife has an SC430. It's a wonderful car--to ride in. It's not a driver's car. The V8 is slow to respond, the body has much more flex than a C5 vert, and the steering is very slow. The interior quality beats the Chevy, as does the reliability and dealer service, but it's not a car you'd take on a twisty road for fun.

 

I think you have to decide whether you do or do not want a Corvette.

If all the other considerations loom so large in your mind that you cannot make such a fundamental decision, you have a problem.

It is difficult not to conclude that you just don't have any feeling for what a Corvette "is." Perhaps you should buy something else and spare yourself the anguish.

Good luck whatever you do.

 

i see everyones point. while a retractable hardtop might be nice.....the corvette is a sportscar, not a luxory car (atleast in my eyes). i dont like how it is moving more to please the luxory side. things like that add weight and just take away from the racey side of the car. i dont even like the nav system being in the c6. just my opinion. a nice sound system and power options are good enough to please me. if i wanted luxory i'd buy a lux car.

 

hahaha the lexus sc430 looks like a potato with headlights

 

I think the people that have responded so far are missing Dude's point. It's not a question of how much power or lux the Lexus offers vs. the Vette or even the MSRP of the 2 vehicles. And, Dude should not be appologetic for asking, even demanding, that Z06 power be made available in a vert. This is not being a Troll by any stretch of the imagination. Have the forum members become so intimidated that all we should do is blindly accept whatever bone GM throws our way and provide GM with our unquestioning,undying love.

GM has the Z06 engine and the vert body style already developed. Its not like they have to start from scratch on either component. At worst, they may have to certify this engine/body style combo, but so what. Its all part of car development costs and again much cheaper than having to start from scratch.

The ONLY reason the Z06 does not come in vert form is Dave Hill. The vette vert has one of the stiffest, if not the stiffest frame in the world and should be able to support the Z06 HP/TQ. There are lots of C5 vert owners that have put superchargers, head/cam, or turbos in their verts that have much more power than the C5 Z06 and are happy as heck with their performance/handling. No one is saying the Z06 vert should cost the same as the Z06 hardtop. Charge a few grand more for the vert version. GM already has a pricing difference between coupes and verts. There is certainly demand from buyers for a Z06 vert. Those that want it, will be willing to pay a little more for the pleasure of the topless power.

 

 

The Lexus costs more $58,000.00

The Lexus weighs more 3840 ( a LOT more)

It doesn't even approach a base C6 in performance

300 hp / 14.6 1/4 @98 mph

http://www.fast-autos.net/lexus/lexussc430.html

This comparison is pointless.

With the Lexus you pay for the interior and the smooth ride. With the 'vette you pay for the lightweight, the power and the handling.

Two totally different design philosophies seeking two very different goals and markets.

 

I personally do not want a retractable hardtop. I'd say it would be fine as an option, but I can't see how they'd have that and still offer a manual/auto soft top at the same time without the price going up.

 

guys perhaps I was misleading with the point I was trying to bring across. I dont want the Vette to turn into some luxo cruiser. I am not comparing the 2 performance wise. What I am saying is that GM has claimed to go to great efforts to provide us with a new model that has more refined features.

What I am saying is this....If lexus can use top grain leather, quality plastics, and even through in a power hard top......why cant GM merely match the quality. I dont want wood, I want carbon fiber. I dont want painted plastic I want real aluminum. If other quality car makers can do it why cant GM? See my point? I'm tired of reading magazines about rubbermaid interiors, and squeaks and rattles etc. Being a loyalist, dont you want to read an article one day where they cant find a single serious thing wrong with the car? That would be great, and true to loyality to the brand, give us something to brag about besides "good performance per dollar."

Understand me a lil more now?