C7 General Discussion General C7 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

C7 GS Approach Angle - 15 degree driveway

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 11-06-2018, 11:04 AM
  #1  
HYPRACTV
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
 
HYPRACTV's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jun 2000
Location: Raleigh NC
Posts: 808
Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Default C7 GS Approach Angle - 15 degree driveway

Long time since I've been on this board. Long time since I've owned a Corvette.

I am looking at picking up a C7 GS. Does any know or has anyone measured the approach angle of the C7 GS? Googling around I found 18.5 degrees, however, I am not sure how accurate that is. I looked at a few posts on here as well but all inconclusive.

I have a fairly steep drive way that goes from 8 degrees to 15 degrees before flattening out at the top. I think that I can pull it off using race ramps or perhaps rolling up at an angle but it's gonna be really close.

Any measurements with pics that can be provided would be excellent.

Just found this: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...clearance.html

Thanks!

Last edited by HYPRACTV; 11-06-2018 at 11:15 AM.
Old 11-06-2018, 11:49 AM
  #2  
GoatHead
Pro
 
GoatHead's Avatar
 
Member Since: Dec 2017
Posts: 676
Received 111 Likes on 73 Posts
Default

I have a steep driveway, and that is how I figured how to get my car to the garage. I did this, before I bought the Vette.

The front nose clearance on Stage II GS is about 4 1/4", and the wheel base is about 107". We have a Honda Civic with a very similar wheelbase (106"). I cut a long strip of cardboard and attached it to the front of the Civic to make a nose clearance of 4 1/4". I drove up and down the driveway from different location and angles. I had someone observing and letting me know when the cardboard scrap the driveway. The car cleared the right side of the driveway, front first, with 1/2" to spare on one side and 1" to spare on the other, but I have to drive it slowly and make sure the suspension doesn't bottom out too much. I installed a ProTek skid blade for added security.
The following users liked this post:
HYPRACTV (11-06-2018)
Old 11-06-2018, 12:15 PM
  #3  
69L79
Le Mans Master
 
69L79's Avatar
 
Member Since: May 2001
Location: Hamilton Square NJ, Ocean City N. J. Key Biscayne Fla.
Posts: 8,244
Received 849 Likes on 383 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by HYPRACTV
Long time since I've been on this board. Long time since I've owned a Corvette.

I am looking at picking up a C7 GS. Does any know or has anyone measured the approach angle of the C7 GS? Googling around I found 18.5 degrees, however, I am not sure how accurate that is. I looked at a few posts on here as well but all inconclusive.

I have a fairly steep drive way that goes from 8 degrees to 15 degrees before flattening out at the top. I think that I can pull it off using race ramps or perhaps rolling up at an angle but it's gonna be really close.

Any measurements with pics that can be provided would be excellent.

Just found this: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...clearance.html

Thanks!
Fix your driveway.
The following users liked this post:
rogergcam (12-15-2018)
Old 11-06-2018, 01:58 PM
  #4  
HYPRACTV
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
 
HYPRACTV's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jun 2000
Location: Raleigh NC
Posts: 808
Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Default

Originally Posted by 89L98
Fix your driveway.
If I could only I would have done so 4 years ago. ...and no, moving is not an option.
Old 11-06-2018, 02:30 PM
  #5  
KenHorse
Team Owner
 
KenHorse's Avatar
 
Member Since: Aug 2007
Location: I live my life by 2 rules. 1) Never share everything you know. 2)
Posts: 136,148
Received 2,402 Likes on 1,366 Posts
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '16-'17-'18

Default

Originally Posted by HYPRACTV
Long time since I've been on this board. Long time since I've owned a Corvette.

I am looking at picking up a C7 GS. Does any know or has anyone measured the approach angle of the C7 GS? Googling around I found 18.5 degrees, however, I am not sure how accurate that is. I looked at a few posts on here as well but all inconclusive.

I have a fairly steep drive way that goes from 8 degrees to 15 degrees before flattening out at the top. I think that I can pull it off using race ramps or perhaps rolling up at an angle but it's gonna be really close.

Any measurements with pics that can be provided would be excellent.

Just found this: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...clearance.html

Thanks!
Can't pull into your driveway at a 45 degree angle?
Old 11-06-2018, 02:32 PM
  #6  
HYPRACTV
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
 
HYPRACTV's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jun 2000
Location: Raleigh NC
Posts: 808
Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Default

Originally Posted by KenHorse
Can't pull into your driveway at a 45 degree angle?
That's a fantastic question! I need to go for a test drive and bring it to my house to find out. I don't know anyone off hand with a C7. I guess I can always ask my father in law to try it with his C5.

AP
Old 11-06-2018, 02:40 PM
  #7  
Gearhead Jim
Team Owner
Support Corvetteforum!
 
Gearhead Jim's Avatar
 
Member Since: Sep 2000
Location: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
Posts: 23,940
Received 2,051 Likes on 1,362 Posts
St. Jude Donor '13

Default

As GoatHead implied, there are different front splitter options for the GS and some are lower than others.
Also, ride heights vary significantly from one C7 to another, even with the same options. They can be adjusted somewhat.
Measure carefully and drive in carefully the first few times, especially with a big passenger.

Enjoy the car!
Old 11-06-2018, 03:36 PM
  #8  
vader86
Team Owner
 
vader86's Avatar
 
Member Since: Sep 2001
Location: Athens AL
Posts: 59,654
Received 1,401 Likes on 1,017 Posts
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019

Default

I'd try to pull in catty-corner like at an angle
Old 11-06-2018, 04:13 PM
  #9  
changw1
Instructor
 
changw1's Avatar
 
Member Since: Apr 2017
Location: Richmond VA
Posts: 132
Received 24 Likes on 23 Posts
Default

Turn on the track mode could also help when approaching a steep driveway. I have a GS also.
The following users liked this post:
HYPRACTV (11-06-2018)
Old 12-15-2018, 12:07 AM
  #10  
dony45
Heel & Toe
 
dony45's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jun 2018
Location: California
Posts: 22
Received 6 Likes on 5 Posts
Default C7 GS Approach Angle - 15 degree driveway

I have not scraped the bottom of my car on any drive way except my own and I didn't think it was that steep. The problem is not driving up it since it can take it at an angle but backing out of it I pretty much have to drive straight back and it scrapes the front everytime. Since it scrapes the bottom edge you don't see the damage and it's pretty minor. I figure if it gets bad enough I'll just replace it. That was one of the first thing the dealer told me that it was replaceable. I did see a solution where they make a ramp that you install at the front of your drive way. It has an opening underneath it for water drainage. I didn't like the way it looks so passed on that idea.
Old 12-15-2018, 01:44 PM
  #11  
LIStingray
Melting Slicks
 
LIStingray's Avatar
 
Member Since: Sep 2013
Location: Long Island New York
Posts: 2,299
Received 461 Likes on 284 Posts
Default

The GS with any splitter is fairly intolerant of steep drives - if it really is 15 degrees, which is very steep, you are screwed. the approach angle on a suburban is 15.5 degrees, and it has far more clearance than a C7 without any splitter.
Old 12-16-2018, 10:29 AM
  #12  
RecklessOp
Intermediate
 
RecklessOp's Avatar
 
Member Since: Nov 2017
Posts: 31
Received 17 Likes on 7 Posts
Default

I couldnt tell you the exact angle, but my driveway is steep enough that any time I get a delivery or it's someone's first time at my house, I get the "wow that must be awful in the winter" remark like clockwork. It is brutal. I have a Z51 with front splitter and was terrified the day I drove home from the dealer. Turns out it was fine.

Use the further away side of your garage to park, approach at an angle, and it will be better than you think. Backing out is the only time I hear the air dam scrape, once in a while I'll rub the splitter lip if I'm not careful. I never scrape going up but do spin the tires once in a while at the curb.

Last edited by RecklessOp; 12-16-2018 at 10:31 AM.
Old 12-16-2018, 11:11 AM
  #13  
TXSteveF
Racer
 
TXSteveF's Avatar
 
Member Since: Feb 2018
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 348
Received 175 Likes on 94 Posts
Default

I back in at a 45 degree angle really close to the edge of the driveway where it meets the curb. When the front end gets close I cut It so the front wheel goes up the driveway edge/curb and that raises the front enough to work well. Hope that made some sense. Once I got accustomed to doing this it became really easy.
Old 12-17-2018, 08:31 AM
  #14  
69 L46 4 Speed
Drifting

 
69 L46 4 Speed's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jan 2014
Location: Jefferson City Missouri
Posts: 1,414
Received 452 Likes on 276 Posts

Default

I had a 2013 GS convertible and it scrapped all of the time on the transition from the street to my driveway. So much so that I had to buy a replacement splitter at 30,000 miles because it looked like someone took a cheese grater to it. Now we have a 2019 GS convertible and it does not scrape at all if the tires are at 32 PSI. At 30 the air dam ends just barely scrape. The splitter doesn't even come close to the concrete.
Old 12-17-2018, 10:46 PM
  #15  
Texas1
Instructor
 
Texas1's Avatar
 
Member Since: Feb 2018
Location: Katy TEXAS
Posts: 155
Received 29 Likes on 23 Posts
Default

I have to put a 2x8x8 at the end of my driveway and go at a 45. Without the board I bottom out on the nose.
Old 12-18-2018, 12:37 AM
  #16  
TKgs2010
Le Mans Master
 
TKgs2010's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jul 2010
Location: Syracuse New York
Posts: 5,584
Received 406 Likes on 273 Posts

Default

I have a ZO6 with Level 3 Aero and my front splitter clears by just over 5 1/2". My driveway is fairly steep, but the issue is at the curb where there is a drainage swale where the driveway meets the street. After doing a lot of measuring I found that I can safely get my C6 GS and C7 ZO6 in and out by by going in and out at about a 45 degree departure angle, no Bridjit or ramps needed, as long as I take it slowly.

Get notified of new replies

To C7 GS Approach Angle - 15 degree driveway




Quick Reply: C7 GS Approach Angle - 15 degree driveway



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:55 AM.