It took a long time to ship to Idaho but it came in on Halloween. I was on vacation and could not pick it up until Sat. evening. I was one who was going to wait until the performance version came out but ordered this one in early Oct. Msrp was 54,795. It has red seats and manual. I have a track prepped o2 z with 200 more hp than this c7 and my c5 has only 4k miles and is very cherry except for all the track goodies. The c7 reminds me quite a bit of my c5z when it was stock. C7 torque is down low. The c5z was almost this fast if driven correctly. I have never been one to think the c5 cars were not quality cars and mine is just like new inside as it has only been at track days and stored the rest of the last 12 years. BUT this c7 has a lot going for it. The seats are big improvement. Brakes are better. Transmission shifting is very nice. I would probably take the c5s instrument cluster and old school radio although I am sure I will like all the features of the new panel with use. The 1lt interior is very nice and if you are watching your dollars it is a place to save. The hud is only thing I would like to have had but if I do not do track days... no big deal. Engine idles rough which I am sure is the di. The tires are good for straight line acceleration if warm...if cold they are poor...will spin through first 3 gears if you break them loose. Tires are sticky like track tires. Pick up a lot of loose stuff. Steering is the best I have ever driven. The car hauls *** and is very forgiving. I threw it sidewas on a wet road and it just growled the brakes and straightened out. It is going to be very fast around a racetrack...makes you feel as though you are better than you are. If someone can get a cam designed that opens up the top of the rev range it will run head to head with the stock ls7 cars. Orange peel and surface quality of doors are the same as the c5,6 cars. If chevy would let those doors cure for a year before painting they would look great. How they could schedule that I do not know. I plan on trading this after the hi po version comes out but will definitely enjoy this until then. I was hoping the rear tire noise was going to be improved...no dice.. will try some insulation in wheel wells. Biggest surprise is how little traction the tires have when cool. It corners very flat. Cornering is fine with the tires cold. Definitely needs more rubber in rear if the hp is raised with mods. When I consider that the dollar buys about 1/2 of what it did in 02, the fact that this car was 5k more than a 12 year old model, it is an amazing value. BTW my 02z outcorners, outbrakes, and is faster than my new c7 but it is not a very nice daily driver and I put about $40,000 into mods for my c5 so it should be good. If GM moves the bar any higher with hipo model it will be bad news for the competition. I think I will leave it almost stock. Polish the wheels and longtubes, maybe a tune should do it. Sorry for the rambling nature of this thread.





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Congratulations

 

Congrats Sir! Great color, to include the interior!
Jerry

 

Gorgeous, 'nuf said...

 

It was interesting to read your story. The C5 is the only Corvette model that I have not owned. I have a Z06 and a 427 & a 13' 991 911S. I am waiting for the C7 hipo car. Plan to get the 2016 model.
Thanks for sharing.
Fuze,

 

Thanks for your service to the country Fuze. I was going to buy a c6z at the end of the model run or a used zr1 but the new di engine really intrigued me. I guess it has taken me 8 years to get used to vettes with headlights showing. ha. I will make myself wait until the 2nd year of production on the hipo model whenever it is that they come out. Based on my limited tearing around in this c7, I would say that more hp and bigger tires are going to make the next performance model a monster.

 

Congrats and enjoy in good health!

Refreshing to see a car without black wheels.

 

congrats

 

Congrats! Good choice on a bang for the buck Z51 coupe... I have the same, same MSRP too.

Enjoy it!