Hameister

Has anyone heard/read anything, regarding when/if, Bowling Green will start building a Grand Sport?

My '13 GS is only a year old, so I'm in no rush to sell it.

I plan to wait until a C7 Grand Sport is released, and at that time, I'll trade in my C6.

Considering how popular the GS was in the C6 line up, I have to believe it will return in the C7, the question is when?

Anyone know?

C8Jake

Hameister

Yeah, I should have researched 1st....I see a number of threads on this subject.

Hey, a mod can delete it if he wishes.

rsl2715

I would say around 2017 or 2018 when they need to spark-up sales.R

6spdg37s

IDK if the GS is going to be necessary in the c7 because the z51 gets you the dry sump oil setup which was a big selling point for the c6 GS.

Hameister

I agree, however the last 2 years of C6 G.M. production reports, (2012 & 2013), show the Grand Sport coupe & vert., accounted for approx. 60% of all Corvette sales.

That's pretty impressive. Haters need not comment, as I've heard them all.

It became obvious that the majority of 'vette buyers preferred the look of the Grand Sport if nothing else.

Based on that, I'm pretty sure that G.M. will want to cash in on that look again. Lots of folks who didn't want, or need, a Z06, or ZR1, didn't mind an extra $6k or so for the Grand Sport look, and I think they'll do it again for the C7.

Just my opinion, since it's the only one I'm entitled too.

Hameister

Sounds about right to me as well.

LFZ

I'd be surprised if GM were to offer these widebody "looks" cars in the C7 lineup considering that the Z06 now has removeable roof, convertible option, and automatic trans option...all those things are what attracts the majority of GS buyers. Therefore, the GS "buyers" will opt for the Z, but if they can't pony up for it...then used market will be their friend or stick with a Stingray.

6spdg37s

Ya the c6 GS was the best dollar value car especially if you were going to be modding it because it did not have the issues with Forced induction that the ls7 had , yet it still had dry sump oil setup, the wide body, and both auto and manual option. plus the removable top.

But I think that from a sales standpoint if they can push those former GS buyers into an 8 speed auto z06 with the removable top, it will financially benefit GM

Hameister

All true, but most GS buyers didn't do so because of the removable roof panel, or because they couldn't get a vert in a Z06, etc. They bought the GS because they simply liked the stance, and look of the wide body. The over whelming majority don't track the car, so the dry sump system was meaningless.

I think that would be a very tough, if not impossible sell. Trying to "push" folks into an additional $25,000 for a car they don't need or want, just to get the wide body is very unlikely imo.

Remember the past Z06 sales were only 4% to 5% of all the 'vettes sold.

Seems to me if BG doesn't produce a C7 GS, they're missing out on a lot of profit.

musclecar6

You bring up a good point. Most people like the look of the GS better than the stock C6. Stands to reason the same will happen with the C7. If that's the case, seems like GM will likely bring out a GS down the line when sales drop off for the C7, just like they did with the C6. There is however, a new wrinkle this time around, with the price point for the C7 Z06 being in the C6 Z06 ball park, not the C6 Zr1. A fully tricked out stingray is getting into the 75/80 grand range, so it's not too big of a leap to just get the Z06 and skip over a GS if it becomes available. Yes, I know the super thrifty types who dissect prices into fraction of pennies will not make the jump to a Z06 in this case, but many will. Especially if they have ever driven a supercharged C6 or C5. It is an awesome experience way beyond a stock C6.

Mike Mercury

When ?

are we past the "if" stage ?

jimmyb

I agree. There's no question (in my mind) that the C6GS cannibalized Z06 sales in a HUGE way the last couple of years of C6 production.

Jimmy

jimmyb

The first couple of years of the C6 Z06 were limited by availability of carbon fiber parts, not lack of market.

Jimmy

JoesC5

I believe you are wrong in your belief that the majority of GS sales were because of the availability of the dry sump system.

I didn't take the time to check every production year of the GS but for the 2013 model year, out of 6644 GS's built, only 1515 had the dry sump oiling system( 22.8%).

I believe that the remaining 77.2% purchased the GS because they preferred the wide body looks over the base C6's looks. I bet you will find similar numbers will prefer the {GS} wide body C7 styling over the base C7.

Even of the 1515 that purchased a GS with the dry sump system, I'm sure that some of those just wanted a GS coupe with a manual transmission, and did not specifically buy a GS coupe with the manual transmission just to get the dry sump system.

I bet that some of those that have purchased a C7 Z51 also did not specifically buy the Z51 because of the dry sump system.

JoesC5

Actually there was no shortage of carbon fiber parts for the Z06. GM had entered into a contract with Toray Composites America Inc. (Tacoma, WA) for enough T600-24K carbon fiber to build 7,000 sets of fenders for each of the first three years. That's all GM planned to build(20% of the total C6 production) each year. Then Vermont Composites tooled up to mold 7,000 sets of fenders each year.

2006----6272
2007----8159
2008----7731

Or, an average of 7,387 Z06's built per year for the first three years. The fact is that the supplier furnished more carbon fiber than GM had originally contracted for.

GM underestimated the market for the Z06 when they were letting out their contracts. They planned on building 7,000 Z06's each year and they had plenty of carbon fiber to meet that goal.

Hameister

I've highlighted an excellent point that you've made. The dry sump was only available with the M6, the A6 got the standard wet sump system.

I fall into that category myself!

I ordered my GS because I just loved the way it looked, and I always enjoy, and prefer a stick over an automatic.
I could not have cared less if it was stock lubrication, or wet sump. I'm sure most owners of the GS M6 feel that way, because only a few actually track their cars.

Here's some 2012 year end production figures the show my numbers are in the ball park...

As always, it's personal choice, but for me, I do hope GM makes a C7 GS.
That will definitely push me over the edge for a new C7.

rotherd31

Right on, Jake

Hameister

Just one mouse click, and you could have left the thread, instead of making a snarky post.

Dudeurgettnavette

I'd like to see one.