dbirdhouse1

This is my 6th (and last, retiring in a couple of years) Vette (1 C5, 3 C6's, 2nd C7); '14 torch red conv 7mt z51.....and I have figured out why;
it's a grown up version of my first real driver, my '92 Miata....I get a similar feel in a more capable/comfortable package, comfortable, capable performer without a lot of extras (my '92 was basic, no air, no electric windows, no radio, not even a limited slip)....it's been 17 years since I last owned it.......does yours take you back to a previous car different than a Vette?

Maxpowers

It doesn't remind me of a single car but rather the best of a few. For me its a combo of my Nissan Z (RWD, fairly raw sports car), and my Audi S5 (V8 power, great driving feel, comfortable).

Bill Dearborn

I've been driving Vettes since January of 1972 when I purchased a 69 427 390 Horse Roadster. My 71 LS6 454 coupe was probably the most raw of all of them. It had solid lifters, a brutal torque curve and in stock trim could easily run over 150 mph although the front end started getting a little light at that speed. Since then I had an 86, a 97, an 03Z, an 08Z and now the 15 Z06. It is a lot more comfortable than that 71 but in terms of the feel of raw power it, the 03Z and the 08Z are pretty close and all of them would run away and hide from the 71.

I have driven some of the early Miatas and they handle nice but I am more of the sort that wants to have a huge hammer available when I am driving. When a bigger hammer comes along I usually find a way to get one.

As for this being your last Vette because you retired. Don't count on it. I retired 10 years ago and have had 3 different Vettes during my retirement. Being retired just gives you more opportunity to hammer the hell out of them.

Bill

Rooster OG

It takes me back to my first Vette. Oh wait. That was a Chevette. So no, not in the slightest.

rcooper

Mine does, it reminds me that all of them were old, unsophisticated and no where near as cool as I thought they were.

Vetteman Jack

Take me back to a car different than a Vette - not really. None of them were anyway near as capable as my Vettes were, although some were fun to drive.

deerfeeder

I retired 8 years ago and bought myself a nicely modded 2000 vert from a forum member, yellow/black with black wheels. Wife said she wouldn't be caught dead in that thing because it stuck out too much. After enjoying riding in that one, she said if you want a newer one, go ahead and get one, but keep this one. Well after twisting my arm, I picked up a 10 GS red/tan 3 Lt vert from another member, more fun. 2 years ago started looking for a C3 to go with the other 2, looked and looked, wife said why don't you just go and order a new one like you really want, but keep these 2, so..... after more arm twisting ordered a Shark Gray/red 3 Lt vert Z51, more fun and still getting older..... Finally found my freshly restored C3 vert this spring and thought I was done. Well, when the discounts on the 16 Z06's came out 3 weeks ago, guess what happened?? Arm is getting sore, so 2 days ago traded in 10 GS and picked up Red/Black Z06 Z07 with comp seats. WHAT A BEAST!!!!!! So in the words of Jimmy Valvano.... DONT EVER GIVE UP, DONT EVER GIVE UP. Don't let it be your last!!! Enjoy yourself as long as you can and as long as you are able to.
Dave

alamo1974

My 1966 SS396 Chevelle in high school. Parents knew what a Corvette was and that wouldn't happen. Wished I had it today. I know the ride and the comforts would not be there, but it was my first sport car.

dbirdhouse1

My first four cars were:

'67 green bug
'71 gold pinto
'72 AMC gremlin
'71 brown pinto

all sticks, all less than 1000 bucks each and got me through undergrad and most of grad school

dbirdhouse1

hope it wasn't the same with girlfriends and wives

jcp911s

Retired in 2007, and bought a 2016 C7... retirement simply means you can get rid of a lot of crap you don't need anymore, and buy stuff you do need!

I own a bunch of older sportscars, and I love each of them, but my C7 reminds me of how much technology has moved forward.

My Z51 would kick the S$%T out of a Ferrari supercar of 15 years ago, and yet is totally comfortable for a 7-hour drive, and is dead reliable as a DD.

Pretty impressive indeed

roadbike56

Good thread. Yes, my C7 reminds me of my first Corvette, a 69 roadster that I modded the engine to meet LT1 specs. I loved the 4 speed stick and neck snapping performance of that first Vette. The follow up 79 and 04 were automatics. I liked them, especially the 04, but I wanted that manual transmission and neck snapping performance. The C7 has the advantage of offering the power but in a totally comfortable package. The C3 also had a modified suspension that was raw. It wasn't a long distance car. The C7 can offer better handling, but has the MRC shocks to allow a smooth comfortable ride when I want it.