Why no advanced safety technology??
02-26-2017, 12:04 PM
#1
Why no advanced safety technology??
Why doesn't the Corvette offer state of the art safety features like lane change warning and emergency braking. For those who want a bare bones track car, it would simply be an option that would cost around $1500. Most Chevrolets offer these features. Back up collision warning in my wife's car saved me from a nasty accident.
Popular Reply
02-26-2017, 03:09 PM
Melting Slicks
The problem with much of the new technology is it encourages laziness and inattention - it warns you when you're going out of your lane - emergency brakes when you're not paying attention. Yes, we all get distracted occasionally but people tend to do it more when we know some external device will save us. How about being fully engaged in the driving experience?
The Tesla driver in his "self-driving" car who died last year - 100% relied on the self-driving technology - so much so that he was watching a movie on his iPad.
Most of the technology on the C7 either enhances the driver experience or makes our cars more controllable (active handling, traction control, etc.). I think it does a great job balancing advanced technology, weight, and the experience of driving a world class sports car.
Now I'm going out for a drive!
The Tesla driver in his "self-driving" car who died last year - 100% relied on the self-driving technology - so much so that he was watching a movie on his iPad.
Most of the technology on the C7 either enhances the driver experience or makes our cars more controllable (active handling, traction control, etc.). I think it does a great job balancing advanced technology, weight, and the experience of driving a world class sports car.
Now I'm going out for a drive!
02-26-2017, 12:11 PM
#2
Le Mans Master
Tough crowd here - so expect nothing but responses like, the vette is a driver's car and I don't need no stink'in driver assists...
It has traction control, ABS, air bags, and all the mandates stuff. Just wait for the gooberment to make us all safer and car more expensive than anyone can afford.
That being said, my dail drivers has all the stuff and it pretty much works well. Does make me lazy and I have to keep telling myself which car I am driving so I don't get lazy.
Collision Avoidance
Lane Detection Warning
Going to bump something
Cross traffic
Adaptive Cruise
All goodness and not that I have them I would want them on the next DD I buy. And some pretty budget cars these days come with them all. So it if it were an option of the Vette I would have sprung for it - but it is not.
It has traction control, ABS, air bags, and all the mandates stuff. Just wait for the gooberment to make us all safer and car more expensive than anyone can afford.
That being said, my dail drivers has all the stuff and it pretty much works well. Does make me lazy and I have to keep telling myself which car I am driving so I don't get lazy.
Collision Avoidance
Lane Detection Warning
Going to bump something
Cross traffic
Adaptive Cruise
All goodness and not that I have them I would want them on the next DD I buy. And some pretty budget cars these days come with them all. So it if it were an option of the Vette I would have sprung for it - but it is not.
Last edited by Flame Red; 02-26-2017 at 12:12 PM.
02-26-2017, 12:16 PM
#3
Safety Car
Would be nice to have some or all of those new advanced safety options. GM is holding the price down on the corvette. Guess you will have to buy a Honda or Toyota to get all those nice features.
02-26-2017, 12:23 PM
#4
To GM's credit, the designers and engineers have strived to maintain the Corvette as a "driver's car," for those interested primarily in lightweight, powerful, and reasonably-priced sports cars. Almost everything else available on the market weighs about 1/4 ton more.
They've stayed pretty true to the original philosophy by holding the line on adding the latest technology and creature comforts, by being stingy about adding any extra weight, and by continually lightening things up as much as possible. Over the years, safety requirements have demanded certain adds, and consumers have demanded others, but GM has tried to hold the line on the Corvette, which is a good thing.
In the not-too-distant future, I suspect we'll be arguing about why GM doesn't offer a self-driving C9.
They've stayed pretty true to the original philosophy by holding the line on adding the latest technology and creature comforts, by being stingy about adding any extra weight, and by continually lightening things up as much as possible. Over the years, safety requirements have demanded certain adds, and consumers have demanded others, but GM has tried to hold the line on the Corvette, which is a good thing.
In the not-too-distant future, I suspect we'll be arguing about why GM doesn't offer a self-driving C9.
Last edited by Foosh; 02-26-2017 at 12:45 PM.
The following 11 users liked this post by Foosh:
AdventurePoser (03-10-2017),
Boiler_81 (02-26-2017),
L8ter (02-26-2017),
Maxie2U (02-26-2017),
nytrorcr (02-26-2017),
and 6 others liked this post.
02-26-2017, 12:45 PM
#5
Le Mans Master
I for one am glad GM allocated resources to features like MSRC, eLSD, fiberglass composite panels, 50/50 weight distribution, the awesome LT1 engine, etc...
The following 8 users liked this post by Maxpowers:
berk4422 (02-28-2017),
blkvet6 (02-26-2017),
Corvette ED (02-26-2017),
Crossed Flags Fan (02-26-2017),
Kent1999 (02-26-2017),
and 3 others liked this post.
02-26-2017, 12:46 PM
#6
I find the whole notion of 'safety features' in a 190 mph Stingray a bit of a face palm, but then I'm probably far too jaded.
02-26-2017, 12:52 PM
#7
Pro
The C7 already has more technology than many of us want.
The following 5 users liked this post by jclarksnakes:
-HAIRBALL- (02-26-2017),
GR Jay (02-26-2017),
joeybsyc (02-26-2017),
seijack (03-10-2017),
speedlink (03-01-2017)
02-26-2017, 01:21 PM
#9
Safety Car
Member Since: Feb 2016
Location: Bainbridge Island WA
Posts: 4,980
Received 3,818 Likes
on
1,614 Posts
Tadge has said there's no room left over for the C7, but has hinted that the next generation might cave to consumer desires. I wouldn't be surprised if the government mandated lane change warning and blind spot indicators in the future. But it's going to add to the expense and add to the weight. So you have to bounce your thread against two more oft-appearing ones: "Why can't they lower the weight?" and "What about this price creep?" Every one of those things you're asking for requires a mini radar set pointed in the right direction, a place to stash them, and a wiring harness to carry the signals.
Good - Fast - Cheap: Pick any two.
Good - Fast - Cheap: Pick any two.
The following 4 users liked this post by mschuyler:
02-26-2017, 01:21 PM
#10
Moderator
Tadge has already answered the fundamental question when addressing Blind Spot Detection:
Tadge answered:
Many of the questions on this forum relate to trade-offs in the vehicle design process. Side Blind Zone is a perfect example.
Generally speaking, we tend to err on the side of not having a lot of alerts that would interfere with the joy of driving. The SBZ feature was just emerging as a feasible customer feature as we were designing the 7th generation Corvette. We thought very carefully about including it in the program since we knew other vehicles were going to offer it. SBZ uses sensors located on the rear outboard corner of the car, just behind the fascia. That is precisely the location we needed to package our race-derived transmission and differential coolers. Having heat exchangers in the back corners interfered with both the physical space need for the sensors and disrupted their performance. In the end, we prioritized vehicle performance over a new feature that we were not sure would be a strong customer desire. We have gotten similar feedback from several customers asking the same question. SBZ does seem to be gaining good acceptance from customers so, although not feasible in the short term, we will strongly consider that customer desire in our future plans.
Many of the questions on this forum relate to trade-offs in the vehicle design process. Side Blind Zone is a perfect example.
Generally speaking, we tend to err on the side of not having a lot of alerts that would interfere with the joy of driving. The SBZ feature was just emerging as a feasible customer feature as we were designing the 7th generation Corvette. We thought very carefully about including it in the program since we knew other vehicles were going to offer it. SBZ uses sensors located on the rear outboard corner of the car, just behind the fascia. That is precisely the location we needed to package our race-derived transmission and differential coolers. Having heat exchangers in the back corners interfered with both the physical space need for the sensors and disrupted their performance. In the end, we prioritized vehicle performance over a new feature that we were not sure would be a strong customer desire. We have gotten similar feedback from several customers asking the same question. SBZ does seem to be gaining good acceptance from customers so, although not feasible in the short term, we will strongly consider that customer desire in our future plans.
02-26-2017, 01:32 PM
#11
^^^ Yes, the "joy of driving" what a concept. I absolutely detest the collision avoidance nonsense on my truck. At least the lane departure crap can be turned off but the front collision crap cannot.
02-26-2017, 01:43 PM
#12
Why doesn't the Corvette offer state of the art safety features like lane change warning and emergency braking. For those who want a bare bones track car, it would simply be an option that would cost around $1500. Most Chevrolets offer these features. Back up collision warning in my wife's car saved me from a nasty accident.
Last edited by OneGrand1; 02-26-2017 at 01:56 PM.
02-26-2017, 01:53 PM
#13
Team Owner
Member Since: Sep 2005
Location: Big Bend Country, TX
Posts: 29,114
Received 2,186 Likes
on
1,337 Posts
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15- '16-'17-‘18-‘19-'20-'21
NCM Lifetime Member
.................
I hope not !
02-26-2017, 02:08 PM
#15
02-26-2017, 02:12 PM
#16
Safety Car
Member Since: Feb 2016
Location: Bainbridge Island WA
Posts: 4,980
Received 3,818 Likes
on
1,614 Posts
Got to agree. I was traveling about 55 mph a few days ago on a major two lane in my CTS Vsport. A car turned in front of me. I was under control doing just fine. It wasn't really a problem for either one of us, and the damn collision alarm starts flashing. It was distracting to the point of danger. I was concentrating on this joint maneuver of ours and had to contend with this sudden beeping. In hindsight I suppose it happened because our closing speed was a little faster than it was comfortable with, but it damn near caused an accident rather than avoided it. It has gone off several times now and I have NEVER been in any real danger.
02-26-2017, 02:15 PM
#17
Don't cry, I really don't think you'll see that on the "Corvette," if it survives into that era. However, if there is still something resembling today's car, there will be a few people here posting threads asking why not. 
02-26-2017, 02:18 PM
#18
Got to agree. I was traveling about 55 mph a few days ago on a major two lane in my CTS Vsport. A car turned in front of me. I was under control doing just fine. It wasn't really a problem for either one of us, and the damn collision alarm starts flashing. It was distracting to the point of danger. I was concentrating on this joint maneuver of ours and had to contend with this sudden beeping. In hindsight I suppose it happened because our closing speed was a little faster than it was comfortable with, but it damn near caused an accident rather than avoided it. It has gone off several times now and I have NEVER been in any real danger.
No need for safety features at 190 on the track. But you've never done that. At 55 on a crowded interstate, everyone could use some help. I'll bet that Dale, Jr. would agree with me. My friend, who is an SCCA driver of a Ferrari agrees.
Last edited by Steve Garrett; 03-01-2017 at 10:27 PM. Reason: Merged Posts-use the Muti Quote button (the middle icon) in the lower right hand corner of each post to make your replies look like this!
02-26-2017, 02:41 PM
#19
The same arguments are hurling us toward self-driving cars.
The following users liked this post:
Boiler_81 (02-26-2017)
02-26-2017, 02:43 PM
#20
Safety Car
Member Since: Feb 2016
Location: Bainbridge Island WA
Posts: 4,980
Received 3,818 Likes
on
1,614 Posts
(Sigh) WHY the totally uncalled for personal attack? I have no idea why you would take offense at a story I shared in agreement with another poster pointing out a deficiency in one of GM's gizmos. Are you just angry that no one is agreeing with your need for "safety" crap on a Corvette? As I have been driving more than fifty years I certainly don't need affirmation from some internet stranger who is crying that he doesn't have more nanny features on a vette. It's not gonna happen on a C7. Get over it. 