So, never cared for corvettes before honestly, but I loved the new look. I ordered a 2015 coupe and hope to get it next week as the car has finished being made not and waiting for delivery. Anyhow, I have ppl keep saying that since I live on a hilly dirt road i'm going to have terrible problems just getting up and down the road. So, I did a little search and I do see problems reporting of the previous versions of the car scraping the front on speedbumps, hills, driveways etc. Has anyone had serious issues with the front end grinding into the ground?

 

the c7 is much higher....than prev gens...

stop reading so much and go enjoy the car...LOL

the c7 does not scrape in stock form...

 

For what its worth my C6 scraped coming in my driveway at an angle. The C7 does not scrape which is a welcomed feature of the new car. Usually the scraping noise is just that "a noise" and doesn't harm the car. You may have issues in extreme cases but show us pics and we should be able to tell pretty easily if you may have an issue.

 

My c6 scraped as well, I live on a country road and I do also have a steep driveway the clearance will be no problem at all.

My C6 scraped many times during the day I have yet to hear the new car scrape.

You will be fine, buy with confidence.

 

Good deal, sounds like I will have less of an issue then others seem to think. Excited to have the car soon and see for myself.

 

Umm, no it's not. My C7 is set to factory height, as was my C6, and I had to have my driveway modified to accommodate the C7. The bottom of the car scraped at the crest of the driveway. And I have to start up it slowly from a stop, or the bottom of the fangs will scrape. I also have to be more careful at the intersections that have drainage dips.

But to the OP, you just have to be careful.

 

Also, in most cases (not all but most), the scraping noise is some flexible plastic air dams under the nose of the car. They do make an obnoxioux noise when they scrape, but they are made to be easily and relatively cheap to replace. Scraping them does not hurt the car.

 

My C5 scraped badly leaving my driveway. No problem with my 7. The nose even fits over most curbing (thank heavens).

 

On one of my test drives, the front air dam scraped loudly when leaving and entering the dealer's lot.

I made a thing out of wood to check the speed bumps in places I normally drive. It was a straight piece of wood the length of the C7 wheelbase with an upright on each end set at the clearance I measured under a C7 on a dealer's showroom. I found several places I wouldn't be able to drive a C7 without scraping the bottom of the car.

 

I think we can all find a spot or two we couldn't drive a C7. In my experience, they would be very very rare. I've never scraped the bottom of my car (frame and other components other then flex plastic parts) to date and it is fully lowered on stock bolts with an ACS splitter. The flex air dam(s) under the car can scrape from now till hell freezes over and it won't hurt the car. A full set of replacements for a C6 were about ~$150. I wouldn't think they would be more expensive for a C7.

 

I believe you are just going to have to face the fact that there will be an occasional scraping, mostly from the air-dam. Transitioning from roads with a high crown and curbing designed to control water run-off will only add to the problem. One time I was turning off a road into a parking lot with a steep driveway where I experienced scraping of the rear bumper where the exhaust is. So, it's always on my mind now to watch for such conditions. If I see an area that is questionable, I'll abort the turn and find an alternate.

 

Something to be aware of. Taking driveway inclines at an angle helps considerably, same with intersection drainage dips. Speed bumps, avoid if at all possible. My base C7, stock height, has not scraped with over 1,600 miles.

 

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned this yet...

I can't speak for the C7 as I have a C5 (lowered about 1.5") but...

Learning HOW to negotiate steep drives, intersections and speed-bumps makes all the difference in the world.

Just be sure to approach them at an angle. For example, if you're trying to turn onto a steep drive that is perpendicular to the road you're on:

Stay as close to perpendicular to the drive as you can until your front tire makes the transition, then you can turn into the drive so you're parallel to it. this will negate the overhang of the nose almost completely. Kind of hard to explain in words...

This video shows the proper technique, even though his car is so low it still scrapes, and you can even take it at more of an angle than he did.

Also here is a thread, where someone else explains with pictures:
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22507

In short, if you approach at an angle, you will cause your front tire to hit before the nose of the car. This works for speed bumps too. If you're having trouble with the MIDDLE of the car dragging on "crests" (tall speed bumps too), just try to make sure the car is at an angle when the center goes over. This way your front tire on one side will be on the crest at the same time as your rear tire on the other side.

Once you learn how to do it, you can mitigate almost all "rubs". Having said that, it sounds like a factory C7 has plenty of clearance for most drives and speed bumps.

Don't let something like that detour you from getting a Vette. It's not that big of a deal whatsoever. Promise.

 

LOL! Posted while I was posting...

 

my C6 scraped due to the splitter being made of hard plastic, and being lower to the ground. The C7 has flexible rubber under the front spoiler. Mine does not scrape. Car appears to be higher.

 

Finally a good point. To the original poster....folks making generalizations about previous models need to identify the specific car. If you take a Z06 Grand Sport or Zr1 and lower it.....man you are low.

One poster above says his cars height is at factory settings. That means nothing. Look at any number of C7s...... see any factory cars at the same height? They are all over the place.

One thing you can do is actually raise the car...just the opposite process of lowering it assuming you have some room on the bolts.

In my case my C5 and C6 GS scrapped the bottom of my driveway unless I angled and backed in. Neither where ever lowered or ever adjusted. I've dropped the C7 all the way on the stock bolts and I have more clearance then either of the previous models. I think you will be fine.

However dirt roads have ruts. Wet, dirt, ruts the road can change daily.

Enjoy your car.

 

Thanks everyone. Dealer actually called me an hour ago and said the car is ready to be picked up. They just need to install the spoiler on it, so tomorrow I finally get my new corvette.

 

Really??? Back bumper? I don't know of many cars that will not scrape if the back bumper of the Vette scrapes.

 

I drove my C5 for 15+ years until I sold it yesterday because my C7 is "on the truck". I've been scrapping for all that time and never did any damage. Don't worry and just enjoy your new car. The C5 had three piece plastic dam or air diverter and even that is still in good shape.

 

I find that the air dam scrapes even with relatively mild speed bumps. With that said, as a previous poster mentioned it's really not a big deal...

Haven't had anything other than that scrape for any reason.