Corvette C7 acceleration underwhelming?
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
There is more to the story than just the rear axle ratio.
If the OP is used to 300-400hp in a 2800 lb car (import)? we have the answer.
Try a C4, they can feel fast and get passed by a jogger. lol
If the C7 didnt feel refined guys would complain even more about it.
Some want a racy feel, others complain its too loud and that super big express latte doesnt fit the cupholder right.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 169
Likes: 36
From: Norfolk VA
Sounds like GM has gone the way of the Euro cars, tall diff gear low trans gears that explains a lot...add a flat torque curve, very little drama indeed
If the OP is used to 300-400hp in a 2800 lb car (import)? we have the answer.
Try a C4, they can feel fast and get passed by a jogger. lol
If the C7 didnt feel refined guys would complain even more about it.
Some want a racy feel, others complain its too loud and that super big express latte doesnt fit the cupholder right.
If the OP is used to 300-400hp in a 2800 lb car (import)? we have the answer.
Try a C4, they can feel fast and get passed by a jogger. lol
If the C7 didnt feel refined guys would complain even more about it.
Some want a racy feel, others complain its too loud and that super big express latte doesnt fit the cupholder right.
Last edited by nightroddersp; Jul 4, 2018 at 08:32 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 2,195
Likes: 479
From: Bonita Springs Florida
I fully understand where you are coming from. Although we may disagree on whether the C7 acceleration is under whelming, I do agree w/ what what you said about what each of us desires from the car we drive.
I was shopping for another car and thought I'd give the Audi TTS a try. I asked the salesman to show me what the car could do and he scared the hell out me. Car was fast and rode on rails around corners which firmly believed we were going into a ditch @ the speed we were traveling.. All this mayhem was accomplished at speeds that would put me in jail if I played like that in traffic.
Loved the car's interior and layout, but when I was driving, I was under whelmed. While the published 1/4 mile and 0-60 numbers looked impressive, driving the car just didn't translate. Car was not responsive when I touched the accelerator and it only started to perk up if I kept the RPM's high.(which meant manually paddle shifting to a lower gear each time I want to have some fun). I explained this to the salesman as I demonstrated how poor the throttle response was in that car.
I took him for a ride in my Mini Cooper (w/ a JCW tune), to demonstrate how much more responsive the little 4 cyl car was. He was impressed as I touched the accelerator and bounced him around the cabin (all while keeping the car close to normal traffic speeds).
Point being it can be more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow.
For me the C7 is pretty darn responsive and can demonstrate it's power even when kept within posted speed limits (although in a different way than the MINI). I cannot dive the C7 w/ the same amount of "hooliganism" in traffic as I can w/ the MINI and not get arrested, however, IMO the C7 isn't underwhelming (especially when comparing it to the Audi TTS)..
As an aside, I find that cars w/ published torque numbers lower than their published HP numbers tend to underwhelming (when wanting a "fun"and "responsive" car to drive). Also much depends on how early than torque is delivered in the RPM range (earlier is better). Torque is where the fun is.
I was shopping for another car and thought I'd give the Audi TTS a try. I asked the salesman to show me what the car could do and he scared the hell out me. Car was fast and rode on rails around corners which firmly believed we were going into a ditch @ the speed we were traveling.. All this mayhem was accomplished at speeds that would put me in jail if I played like that in traffic.
Loved the car's interior and layout, but when I was driving, I was under whelmed. While the published 1/4 mile and 0-60 numbers looked impressive, driving the car just didn't translate. Car was not responsive when I touched the accelerator and it only started to perk up if I kept the RPM's high.(which meant manually paddle shifting to a lower gear each time I want to have some fun). I explained this to the salesman as I demonstrated how poor the throttle response was in that car.
I took him for a ride in my Mini Cooper (w/ a JCW tune), to demonstrate how much more responsive the little 4 cyl car was. He was impressed as I touched the accelerator and bounced him around the cabin (all while keeping the car close to normal traffic speeds).
Point being it can be more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow.
For me the C7 is pretty darn responsive and can demonstrate it's power even when kept within posted speed limits (although in a different way than the MINI). I cannot dive the C7 w/ the same amount of "hooliganism" in traffic as I can w/ the MINI and not get arrested, however, IMO the C7 isn't underwhelming (especially when comparing it to the Audi TTS)..
As an aside, I find that cars w/ published torque numbers lower than their published HP numbers tend to underwhelming (when wanting a "fun"and "responsive" car to drive). Also much depends on how early than torque is delivered in the RPM range (earlier is better). Torque is where the fun is.
Thanks to my MAC my well written (IMO LOL) response to you is gone! 
Anyway, I was just saying that it's all making sense now. The Corvette is not really a light car. If all you are making is around 400HP, that is only 100HP more than many of the lower end cars I've driven which are usually around 300HP but weigh 2800-3200 LBs. The next factor I missed was power band. I needed to consider WHERE the 400HP was being delivered.
As for C7 being fast. I have no doubts there but I'm very obsessed with the visceral nature of performance cars. I'd rather be the slowest guy at each car meet, if my car is the most fun to drive at every meet. For me cars are very personal. It's about what brings ME joy, which is the FEELING I get and the emotion I get from driving. So my focus is on driving dynamics that bring me joy:
Being pressed hard into the seat as I accelerate
Being pressed hard to the side as I do a high G turn
Being able to feel like the car will go wherever I want it; decreasing radius turn? BRING IT ON!
Controlled chaos might be the word some would use for this. See, I have no interest in old school muscle cars that are visceral for sure but make you feel like you are about to die. I may feel like I COULD die if I ever disrespect the car, but I should feel confident that as long as I'm alert and engaged, I'll be OK. Kind of like jogging by the edge of a cliff. Stop paying attention and you could go over but pay attention and you are fine...even if you stumble...however...you STILL are near a cliff so, you can never really fully relax. Old muscle cars to me could be like running by the edge. Any second you could fall and be done with.
Anyway, I was just saying that it's all making sense now. The Corvette is not really a light car. If all you are making is around 400HP, that is only 100HP more than many of the lower end cars I've driven which are usually around 300HP but weigh 2800-3200 LBs. The next factor I missed was power band. I needed to consider WHERE the 400HP was being delivered.
As for C7 being fast. I have no doubts there but I'm very obsessed with the visceral nature of performance cars. I'd rather be the slowest guy at each car meet, if my car is the most fun to drive at every meet. For me cars are very personal. It's about what brings ME joy, which is the FEELING I get and the emotion I get from driving. So my focus is on driving dynamics that bring me joy:
Being pressed hard into the seat as I accelerate
Being pressed hard to the side as I do a high G turn
Being able to feel like the car will go wherever I want it; decreasing radius turn? BRING IT ON!
Controlled chaos might be the word some would use for this. See, I have no interest in old school muscle cars that are visceral for sure but make you feel like you are about to die. I may feel like I COULD die if I ever disrespect the car, but I should feel confident that as long as I'm alert and engaged, I'll be OK. Kind of like jogging by the edge of a cliff. Stop paying attention and you could go over but pay attention and you are fine...even if you stumble...however...you STILL are near a cliff so, you can never really fully relax. Old muscle cars to me could be like running by the edge. Any second you could fall and be done with.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 196
Likes: 31
My initial reaction was similar to the OP, after picking up my '19 GS. But after waiting on the break-in period, and first 1,000 mile service, I was able to open it up and was more than satisfied with the car's performance. Somewhat like the OP, a car's acceleration, as opposed to top end speed, appeals to me a lot. It's much more fun for me to accelerate quickly, then drive at speeds that will get me a reckless driving ticket (althougth I suppose in a LEO's opinion, my rapidly accelerating might constitute reckless driving!). I've owned quite a few high performance vehicles, including two Nissan GT-R's, two Audi S4's (and on S5), two Cadillac CTS-V's, a Lotus Evora 400, MB C63 AMG, Maserati Granturismo Sport, GMC Syclone, and Buick Grand National. After all those vehicles, I was never really interested in the Corvette. Until I saw the '19 Grand Sport in Sebring Orange on the dealer's showroom floor. It's not the quickest or the fastest vehicle I've ever owned. But it seems to do a lot of things really well, and I love the looks and the interior cabin layout. To the OP, I would say give the Grand Sport a bit more consideration, and if it doesn't "do it" for you, step up to the Z06, and if that's not sufficient, you can always go for the ZR1. Or another vehicle make/model. Don't try to talk yourself into a vehicle. Get what you really like.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 12,260
Likes: 4,749
From: SE WI
Just had my brand new 2019 Grand Sport out this afternoon for its first real drive on well paved curvy roads (close to Road America). Coming from a 2004 Z06 I was concerned that it would be as fun in the twisties. Well It's a ******* beast. The engine could pull out of a corner exit in 3rd or 4th and just grunt right up to RPM with very hard acceleration. So I am having a completely different experience here and I am not really getting on it too hard because it just has over 1100 miles. The engine is a torque monster and just keeps pulling. I am not a fan of straight line acceleration. It bores me so I prefer to turn all day long. It's a manual trans so I have complete control of the torque band. I love this car. The tires are very sticky and the car has zero roll. The performance exhaust was music to my ears. I tried to listen to the radio but I just kept turning it off.
Last edited by Zjoe6; Jul 4, 2018 at 04:31 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 2,012
Likes: 955
From: Central Commiefornia
If the C7 is "undewhelming", maybe a Dodge Hellcat might be more to your liking for acceleration, but will DEFINITELY leave you "underwhelmied" on a road course
Zjoe6 said it... the overall performance of the C7 is thrilling and definitely not "underwhelming" to me.
Zjoe6 said it... the overall performance of the C7 is thrilling and definitely not "underwhelming" to me.
Last edited by jimmbbo; Jul 4, 2018 at 07:29 PM.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 5,277
Likes: 509
IDK how you can say straight-line acceleration of a 280 HP G35 that weighs 3,500 lbs +/- is comparable to a 460 HP C7 that weighs 3,300 lbs +/-. I had a G35 Coupe once, and they're not remotely close.
Go test drive a Z06 if the Stingray/GS doesn't seem to be enough for street driving.
Finally, I can't fathom how a car with a center of gravity a foot higher (Camaro ZL-1) is going to feel more planted in any curve than any of the Corvette variants. That's just simple physics.
Go test drive a Z06 if the Stingray/GS doesn't seem to be enough for street driving.
Finally, I can't fathom how a car with a center of gravity a foot higher (Camaro ZL-1) is going to feel more planted in any curve than any of the Corvette variants. That's just simple physics.
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 28
Likes: 5
Underwelming acceleration..... haters gonna hate.....ballers gonna ball.... rollers gonna roll! Trolling the corvette community in this thread for sure. Who actually goes on a site geared toward a particular car and then goes right at the community? Wait....I know.... a big troll. Vettes are awesome. Can you find a faster car? yes. Slower? yes. But for everyone on the site, the chosen car for some level of joy is a Vette.
E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 35,004
Likes: 12,393
From: NE South Carolina
Ok, not to defend the OP, but I was shocked at how uneventful the Grand Sport’s acceleration felt on my test drive.
Until I peeked at the speedometer and realized I was doing triple digits. On surface streets.
The C7 doesn’t throw you against the seat because the car has zero squat upon acceleration. NONE. The sensation of speed isn’t as evident as in larger and heavier cars with softer suspension. But blink, and you’re in land in jail speed.
Until I peeked at the speedometer and realized I was doing triple digits. On surface streets.
The C7 doesn’t throw you against the seat because the car has zero squat upon acceleration. NONE. The sensation of speed isn’t as evident as in larger and heavier cars with softer suspension. But blink, and you’re in land in jail speed.
The C7, i've had a Z51 and now Grand Sport are tame compared to the high hp cars i have driven like "back in the day" my friends '67 427 435 hp Vette. Recall when he said get on it as we were on a straight entrance ramp to a little traffic highway. It tried to change lanes on the 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd! Expected that with the tires back then but looking at the specs the 0 to 60 times were ~5 seconds! The Grand Sport gets there in ~3.6! If the OP is "an expert' perhaps he should turn off the nannies and he'll see it can spin out of control quickly! The car is so well balanced and handles the torque so well you don't feel it. My favorite short run is turning a corner in 2nd onto a straight 3/4 mile road between two farm fields with no homes and often no traffic. The 2nd to 3rd shift comes quickly as does redline in 3rd as your at a very confident triple digits!
Now if the OP wants to scare himself he should try something like my street rod (no not mine thanks unless he has a ProStock license!) It's 3000 lbs with 53% of those on the rear wheels. Power is a NA 502 cid engine set back in the chassis with long tube headers, 3 inch pipes and straight through Borlas. It has coilovers and an adjustable 4 bar link rear in a very rigid chassis. But even those sticky 16.5 section width Mickey Thomsons can loose traction on a 0 to 60 run if one is on a poorer road surface. It has posi so the tire that hooks up will steer the car in the opposite direction. You have about 1/2 second to lift or your in a ditch! Yep even a well equipped car without nannies can be scary! It's 0 to 60 time is a bit better than the Grand Sport but it seems much faster!
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 10,084
Likes: 3,056
From: CA
Ok, not to defend the OP, but I was shocked at how uneventful the Grand Sport’s acceleration felt on my test drive.
Until I peeked at the speedometer and realized I was doing triple digits. On surface streets.
the C7 doesn’t throw you against the seat because the car has zero squat upon acceleration. NONE. The sensation of speed isn’t as evident as in larger and heavier cars with softer suspension. But blink, and you’re in land in jail speed.
I’ve driven and ridden in Audi R8 and Nissan GTR, and they “felt” similar as in the car’s don’t seem THAT fast, but you look over at the car next to you and suddenly realize they’re several bus length behind you.
Until I peeked at the speedometer and realized I was doing triple digits. On surface streets.
the C7 doesn’t throw you against the seat because the car has zero squat upon acceleration. NONE. The sensation of speed isn’t as evident as in larger and heavier cars with softer suspension. But blink, and you’re in land in jail speed.
I’ve driven and ridden in Audi R8 and Nissan GTR, and they “felt” similar as in the car’s don’t seem THAT fast, but you look over at the car next to you and suddenly realize they’re several bus length behind you.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 793
Likes: 142
From: Texas
Fell in love with C7 and was looking at getting one. Possibly Z06. Finally got to drive a C7 but only the Grand Sport or base model without Z51 package. So in track mode, I floored the manual trans car and was underwhelmed. It moved fast but I thought it would be more violent considering the 500+ HP, track mode and tons of torque. Now, this car was no slouch for sure but acceleration was somewhat aggressive at most. I was not thrown back in the seat and pressed into the seat as I winded through the gears. Is this normal? Now, I had a 130LB passenger and most of my hard acceleration experience has been with no passengers, but how much can 130LBs matter in terms of the viceral feeling under hard acceleration?
Now some context. My experience is somewhat limited. Most of my experience with high performance vehicles is on the extreme side; Gallardo, Murcielago, 458 Ferrari, V10 M5, Replica Cobra with Roush 500HP engines, or on the lower side like 320HP NA flat 6 Porche, 300 HP G35, Base model Camaro from 2016.. So I don't know what a "heavy" 500HP RWD sport car is supposed to feel like. Never driven a comparable Mustang or Audi or anything between 3200 and 3500 LBs with near 500HP. So are you surprised that I was underwhelmed? Maybe I need to look up power to weight on all these cars and see where the C7 stacks up?
Also, forget about power. If I want the most nimble and fast Chevy for really technical tracks. A car that does the best for a bunch of fast and tight turns (not sweepers but winding country roads that might make many drivers nervous without the right cars). Which is the one to get? C7 or Camaro ZL1? Let's say you were going to be forced to race at incredible speeds around a winding mountain road were if you slide of the road you will fall thousands of feet to your death....which car would you drive? Stock Z06 or Stock ZL1? How about if you were going to drive at safer speeds but would have your girlfriend in the car who would dump you if you scare her too much...which would you drive? This means...which care FEELS the most stable in sharp fast turns even if it's not necessarily ACTUALLY more stable? Just because a car maybe giving you a LOT of feedback that your mind takes as instability, that does not mean the traction levels are any less. What you FEEL is not a scientific measure of traction levels. So:
Which one has traction and stability levels that are like being on rails?
Which one FEELS like it's on rails even if it's not?
Thanks in advance!
BTW...as if this was not tough enough already...I just checked out the ZR1....damn!! I feel like I need them both!
Also, if I was to create a dream car, it would be based on a Lotus car as for handling, but pull to 60MPH in 3 seconds or less, be obnoxiously loud WHEN you beat on it, but reasonable at idle, have a reasonable street mode that feels OK for comfort, but driven hard in a "track mode" would give a lot of feedback and be very viceral (push you back in seat, aggressive gear shifts), put a smile on your face just cruising town. Priorities are in order: HANDLING (on rails, precise), HARD acceleration, loud (sounds angry).
Now some context. My experience is somewhat limited. Most of my experience with high performance vehicles is on the extreme side; Gallardo, Murcielago, 458 Ferrari, V10 M5, Replica Cobra with Roush 500HP engines, or on the lower side like 320HP NA flat 6 Porche, 300 HP G35, Base model Camaro from 2016.. So I don't know what a "heavy" 500HP RWD sport car is supposed to feel like. Never driven a comparable Mustang or Audi or anything between 3200 and 3500 LBs with near 500HP. So are you surprised that I was underwhelmed? Maybe I need to look up power to weight on all these cars and see where the C7 stacks up?
Also, forget about power. If I want the most nimble and fast Chevy for really technical tracks. A car that does the best for a bunch of fast and tight turns (not sweepers but winding country roads that might make many drivers nervous without the right cars). Which is the one to get? C7 or Camaro ZL1? Let's say you were going to be forced to race at incredible speeds around a winding mountain road were if you slide of the road you will fall thousands of feet to your death....which car would you drive? Stock Z06 or Stock ZL1? How about if you were going to drive at safer speeds but would have your girlfriend in the car who would dump you if you scare her too much...which would you drive? This means...which care FEELS the most stable in sharp fast turns even if it's not necessarily ACTUALLY more stable? Just because a car maybe giving you a LOT of feedback that your mind takes as instability, that does not mean the traction levels are any less. What you FEEL is not a scientific measure of traction levels. So:
Which one has traction and stability levels that are like being on rails?
Which one FEELS like it's on rails even if it's not?
Thanks in advance!
BTW...as if this was not tough enough already...I just checked out the ZR1....damn!! I feel like I need them both!
Also, if I was to create a dream car, it would be based on a Lotus car as for handling, but pull to 60MPH in 3 seconds or less, be obnoxiously loud WHEN you beat on it, but reasonable at idle, have a reasonable street mode that feels OK for comfort, but driven hard in a "track mode" would give a lot of feedback and be very viceral (push you back in seat, aggressive gear shifts), put a smile on your face just cruising town. Priorities are in order: HANDLING (on rails, precise), HARD acceleration, loud (sounds angry).
1. Corvette ZR1
2. Viper ACR
3. Camaro ZL1
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,048
Likes: 300
From: FL
"Seat of the pants" often isn't that great of a speed indicator. Also people perceive performance often by the rate of change of acceleration, rather than the acceleration itself. So turbo cars, and cars with peaky torque curves feel faster than they are. The Corvette engine has a broad and relatively flat torque curve.
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 53
Likes: 18
From: Norman Okla
I own a '14 Z51. For me, there is so much more to the car than straight line speed. The car accelerates fast, but I know that there are lots of cars out there that are faster - and I don't care. The car is the whole package: it has stunning looks (as you all know from the constant staring it receives from people), it is comfortable to drive, sounds awesome, and it absolutely has the best HANDLING of any car I have ever driven. 460hp in a well designed car will stay with about anything on twisty roads or track.
E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 35,004
Likes: 12,393
From: NE South Carolina
Ah yes, rate of change of acceleration, “jerk!” A parameter key to elevator design, cam design and the “wild mouse, etc” amusement park ride design! Last edited by JerryU; Jul 5, 2018 at 11:09 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 1,051
Likes: 690
Most of these newer small displacement direct injection turbos of today does a fantastic job of masking their deficiencies as "features" using super short first 3 gears and a short final drive on a 7-10 speed auto. Makes the sensation of going fast, but you're not really going fast.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 196
Likes: 31
"Seat of the pants" often isn't that great of a speed indicator. Also people perceive performance often by the rate of change of acceleration, rather than the acceleration itself. So turbo cars, and cars with peaky torque curves feel faster than they are. The Corvette engine has a broad and relatively flat torque curve.
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Houston, Texas
If you take the thrifty path, get a z51 and put a SC, long tube headers and a professional tune on her and you have a beast.
But if you can, get the Z06 or ZR1 and let all know you are king of the road. I prefer to fly under the radar, or I'm cheap depending on the excuse I'm using that day.
I have driven the Lotus Exige on the track and it is an answer to your quest but terribly uncomfortable. I have a S2000 with a SC and it handles like a dream and will throw you all over the cockpit including the seat.
But if you can, get the Z06 or ZR1 and let all know you are king of the road. I prefer to fly under the radar, or I'm cheap depending on the excuse I'm using that day.
I have driven the Lotus Exige on the track and it is an answer to your quest but terribly uncomfortable. I have a S2000 with a SC and it handles like a dream and will throw you all over the cockpit including the seat.