I was lucky enough to have a test drive yesterday - C6 MN6 Z51. I was surprized that the suspension was more forgiving of road imperfections than I had expected from this forum. All, in all, a great test drive. No complaints but I do have one question: I would like to "heel and toe" brake and change (down) gears for the road competition use that the Z51 is supposed to accommodate. The accelerator pedal is spaced away from and behind the plane of the brake pedal and so heel and toeing seems not to be possible without some modification. Not an issue for more normal driving but perhaps some of you sport minded members could enlighten me.

As a general observation of a new member, is it because the Corvette attracts more aggressive drivers that some (fortunately not all) posts are overly aggressive compared with some of the more polite forums I have known? Am I potentially going to be typecast as young and aggressive when I take delivery of my first Vette? I am not trying to be castigating or provocative and I would seriously like to know the general perception of Vette owners. A non-Vette pal of mine typecasts Vette drivers as borderline financially in balacing the budget to meet the car payments at the expense of other responsibilities. Surely not true in general. I would like to think that the Vette and this forum attracts a cross section of incomes, professions, and personalities! I must say that a least one thread I have seen would give the impression of absence of the more liberal side of the political spectrum!

 

Boulderdash! I am 68 . Can afford any car. Have a 04 Yykon xl also. love to drive the mountain roads in AZ CA NM UT CO Retired and My wife And I love to Hit the road.

 

IMHO - I think you will find that many Corvette owners that purchase new are well-off and could buy among many different cars. I am paying cash for mine and could have chosen among most any car, but wanted a Corvette due to its history and american heritage.

 

It is great to buy a super AMERICAN Corvette.

 

IMHO - I think you will find that many Corvette owners that purchase new are well-off and could buy among many different cars. I am paying cash for mine and could have chosen among most any car, but wanted a Corvette due to its history and american heritage.

 

The C6, like previous Corvettes, was designed with heel-toeing in mind. I do it every day in my C5. The idea is that you're close to the gas pedal when applying the brakes, not when the pedals are in their at-rest position. Different people heel-toe slightly differently (sort of like holding a pen) but the main idea is to match revs up with part of your foot on the gas while the other part of your foot is braking. It's a gratifying experience when you get it down.

Here's a link with a few pics of it. http://www.driftsession.com/drift_te...oeshifting.htm

You might also look at racingflix.com and check out some of the Japanese comparison test videos. Often they have a driver footwell camera that shows it.

 

I haven't driven a C6 yet, but have driven several ZO6s; didn't find heel and toe downshifting to be a problem. The pedals are spaced a little differently and, for me, not as well-spaced as in my M3, but I don't think it will be a problem; probably just a matter of practice.

 

I'm 58, and just traded in my BMW Z4 3.0L for the new C6. Also currently have an Audi A6 Quattro 2.7L twin turbo. Before that, a BMW 528i and a BMW Z3 2.8L. I'm not financing the new C6...paying the difference cash. As far as the forum, IMHO, 90% of the posters are extremely polite,courteous, and helpful, about 7% tend to be a bit aggressive in their style of posts, and about 3% seem to have never progressed beyond adolescence. These are personal estimates, but are probably at least as accurate as most political polls. I think this is likely typical of most message boards...maybe even better than most.

This is probably the most active Corvette message board around...I've checked all the others...while having an excellent mix of both experienced and novice Corvette owners. Stick around...I think you'll like it!

Stan

 

I've owned Corvettes since 1959, I'm 67, and can afford to drive most anything under $100K which is where I arbitrarily draw the line. The C6 is my next car of choice and I expect to place my order this coming Wednesday.

 

Thanks RichyRich and elh0102. I do have experience of heel and toe shifting in Formula 2000 cars on the track and so I do not need instruction on technique. I see that you have not actually driven a C6 and the C5 may have a different set up. I found on the test drive that the brake pedal travel was so short that it was not possible to reach the accelerator pedal with the SIDE of the foot.

I think someone who has an C6 and is planning to compete will tell me what adjustments or modifications, if any, are needed. Thanks, anyway, for your posts.

 

On my M3, when the brake pedal is full down, it is almost on the same plane as the accelerator pedal, so it's a very easy roll with the right side of the foot. I noticed on the C5 ZO6 cars I drove that, as you mentioned, the brake is definitely above the accelerator, but not outside my reach. But then foot size and shoe type are also involved. If I have the problem you mention with the C6, then a little work is going to be required; I'm counting on my big feet!

 

I was probably in the category of borderline financially in terms of balancing my budget when I bought my first vette new at the age of 25, but I was single then, so it didn't make that much difference.

Although I don't have great wealth now, I could probably have paid cash for the C6 I just bought if I took a month or so to liquidate some assets. Instead, I chose to leave my investments where they are, drawing a modest 7% to 8% and pay for the car with a 3-yr loan that's costing me 3.9%.

The reason I chose a vette was because I've been a vette fan for 37 years and I like the amount of bang for the buck. I want a moderate amount of good looks and features, which the vette also has. I've also been vetteless for 5 and a half years.

 

I appreciate your thoughts, Stan. Thanks. I must say that the replies I have had have been very courtious and helpful.

 

I believe that i read an article recently about a car owner survey and one of the items were income etc....The typical Corvette owner has an average annual income of $123,000.00 and the car is not purchased as their "daily driver" .

 

In my 96 I have to do the roll (which I hate because of the chance of slippage). I've never actually driven a C6 but from sitting in one it seemed like the best way would be to brake with the heel and hit the gas with the toe... kind of inverted but it felt like it would work well. Hopefully I'll know for sure some day.

 

Anyone who typecasts people based on car ownership is going to make themselves look silly. Our group covers the entire spectrum. From those who still live with their parents and the only expense they have is their Corvette (I think I'm most jealous of this group), to those who can buy a new Corvette, and have 650 HP Lingenfelter TT motor dropped in on a whim, to those who struggle to make their lease payments. I paid cash for my C5, but by the same token, could not pay cash for a Viper. This board was much more friendly 4-1/2 years ago when I joined up because it was a smaller group. With a larger group, you get more anonymity, arrogant, anonymous, keyboard warriors. But, still overall, it's a fairly civil group, thanks in large part to "just the right amount" of moderator interraction. Attending events like the annual "Cruise Ins" goes a long way in keeping things civil. You are less likely to make an *** of yourself when you will be meeting people face to face.

You are correct in that this board does not reflect the 50/50 split we see in this country WRT politics. There is a bias here towards the Conservative side and that is because those who can afford Corvettes tend to be achievers instead of slackers. How's that for stereotyping (even though there is some accuracy)

p.s. what kind of car does your "non Corvette" driving friend own?

 

I mange my paymints and stil aford my home. So I dont beelive you can cast Vet oners in to one cat agory. Aftr I mak my house payd I can stil have da cash to get my likor. Just lok at my home



But we r kind of raw in the thinkin. Most Vet own ers dont read SakesPear or listen to any of dat clasic musik. so maybe uz is right abot that. Well that iz the way it iz in Texas any waz.

Seriously.. are you kidding? Where did your friend get that kind of info? The Porsche club?

 

"In my 96 I have to do the roll "

LOL, I mis-read this to say, I am 96 and have to do the roll, I thought, Hey, there is hope for me after all. Corvette owner demographics is an interesting topic, I would like to see an actual age distribution. However, I think your point about aggressiveness is accurate, age nonwithstanding.

 

As I recall, with the C5's the average age was oldest with pewter. 53, as I recall, my age. I just sold my '99 Mag Red C5 today, and the DSOM is supposed to be here before halloween!

 

Ummm. So liberals are underachievers and the exceptions tend to buy other expensive cars? It's a good thing we don't have polls on the forum about politics. Well, I mentioned my friend as an example of the way we tend to typecast groups based on very few samples. Anyway, I did not want to cause any offence in my original post and I am reassured that this forum has a very wide range of people who manage to pool their ideas with only occasional offensive comments. Thanks for the replies.