I'm getting the bug for a new vette. My C6 GS vert is still a great car but with the release of the C8, now I'm wondering if I should go with a C7.
I had decided early on not to buy a C7 because of the following:

1. AFM - don't like it as much for the complexity of the mechanical's as anything.
2. Thought it might be to electronically confusing.
3. The A8 issues have me worried.
4. Wife doesn't like the tail lights and yes she gets a vote, don't go there.
5. C6 GPS was awful, is the C7 GPS any easier to use?

Anything I missed? Thoughts?

 

All the reasons you stated above apply equally to the C8. The real question is do you want a front/mid or mid engine car? You'll get a better deal on a C7.

 

I have a ME car, a Porsche Boxster, great car by the way. Great deals haven't really kicked in yet here in AZ. But I haven't asked either.

Edit, well not all of them apply, no A8 in the C8.

 

Personally, I love my C7 Convertible, it feels so much more responsive than my C6. I liked my C6 also and kept it for 8 years, but the C7 is undeniably more refined. I am taking a wait and see attitude about the C8. From what I have seen so far, I like the coupe but I am not so fond of the renderings of the convertible. Those 2 "horns" for lack of a better word bother me and I am wondering if it will inhibit vision and make the car feel like a glorified targa with the roof off. We'll see on that one.

The A8 transmission issue seems to be mitigated now, it was as simple as changing to a different fluid. A transmission flush on those seems to have solved the problem. I have had 2 C7s and neither ones had this issue.

When I had my C6, I had an after market Kenwood stereo, GPS, etc., that was very nice, so I am not familiar with the C6 GPS to compare. Having said that, we have not had any problems with the GPS on our C8. Maybe you do not like the readout, that is a personal preference, but it seems to work fine.

I think getting away from the round tail lights was an attempt to attract younger buyers; I.E. an attempt to break out of the traditional mold. They are OK with me, but some may not care for them.

I am not sure what you mean by electronically confusing. To me the controls on the C7 are more user friendly than those that were on the C6, and I definitely am not a geek. As with any new car today, it takes a little studying of the owners manual to understand all of the modes. The heads up is wonderful as is the PDR and the front parking camera.

I will see the C8 for real in a couple of weeks at the Corvette Caravan. Until then it is difficult to make a fair comparison.

 

The GLOBAL B wiring platform and the frame concern me. I want to know what the reactions are going to be for the launch car buyers?

 

I just picked up a '19 manual Z51. No manual was the top reason on a long list of reasons why no C8 for me. You should ask your wife what she prefers.

 

As i am sure you are pleasantly aware, a loaded c6 GS in vert or coupe form is commanding $40k or more in the used market. The MARKET sees real value in the c6 GS to keep it priced at similar or even higher pricing than later model used c7's.

honestly, if all you are looking at is a c7 GS or stingray, save your bucks and enjoy the c6 GS ride. it really is hard to tell the difference in a similarly powered c6 or c7 in Wal-mart parking lot drag races or pushing the hud g force meter past 1 on interstate cloverleafs. C7 Cameras do make the car easier to park. if you want to buy new: improve the breed, the C7Z06 is an interstellar improvement in horsepower that you will notice and smile about every time you drive the car. It is the winner and still performance bargain champion; or buy a ZR1 if you must say you have the bestest and money is no object. The c7 Z06 is still lightyears ahead of the c6 Z06 in performance, versatility (vert or A8 options) and RELIABILITY.

A8, add a RANGE AFM disabler and you have the equivalent of the GM-built ZR1 motor with NO AFM installed, which is to say A8 problems are a thing of the past on both the ZR1 and other C7's with the RANGE AFM disabler.

I thought the ZR1 was primo, until i learned the GM confederacy of dunces put TWO radiators right in front of the front wheels, and covered both, not with metal screens, but with that cheap plastic fender liner material with openings for airflow. The way sticky summer tires throw rocks, ZR1 owners are already reporting radiator piercings, and busted fender liner "grillework".

AFM, or now DFM in the C8. Unless you buy the ZR1 you are going to live with the Dunces dumbing down corvettes engines until they switch from fossil fuel to electric motors.

Port injection; your C6 GS with port injection keeps the back of your valves nice and clean and free from carbon deposits with detergent gasoline washing over them. Your motor will stay that way (meaning no horsepower loss from carbon buildup keeping the valves partially open) for the life of the engine. the C7 Direct Injection motor does no such thing, and even if you want to collect the excess oil floating back there with a catch can, GM will void your warranty if their service techs see the catch can and you have a warranty issue. Of course the ZR1 engine ONLY has port injection for valve cleansing AND Direct Injection.

Electronically confusing. That is what owners manuals and the Corvette forum is for. I went into the menus to set the exhaust to stay in Track mode all the time, and then i had to manually turn on the HD function of the radio in the menu screens; but that is all i did with the drivers information center.

Nav: Who pays for update discs on an antiquated the day it was installed car GPS when their phone nav apps are upgraded every month?

I've bought 4 c6 vettes in all three flavors and 2 C7's: z51 and Z06. The C7 Z06 is the winner by a smile and a mile due to the horsepower and torque. Every one of the six vettes i've owned have had zero mechanical defects, but of course both the C7's have had the RANGE AFM disabler installed from mile one.

the forum is like a tv drama medical show. After visiting here too long, or watching the disease du jour on the medical show, you think you may be coming down with the symtoms noted. it ain't so. 170,000 c7's at production end and only handfuls of problems reported here.

 

You got me there. On you NAV question, have you tried Android Auto or Apple CarPlay? Its so much better than any factory Nav and as you probably know the C7/C8 have it.

 

You can drive a C7 today but won't be able to drive the C8 for a few months out. I have yet to see the new C8 in person - only pictures - so the final choice would be once a fair side by comparison was made (if it were me). However there are great deals on the C7 currently so there's that to consider. Also the AFM range disabler works great with the A8 - and it will be the last of the FE corvettes (as far as we know)...

All things considered - buy whichever one your heart desires and don't look back

 

Correct no A8 in the C8, however you have an entire list of potential issues from a totally new and different ground up sportscar. In other words, we don't even know what we don't know in regard to what issues the C8 may have.
Besides, from quite a few accounts, the new fluid/flush has fixed the A8 issues.

I won't consider purchasing a C8 until at least the 3rd model year 2022.

 

I currently own a C5 and just picked up a C7 GS a few weeks ago. I too was on the fence about the C8, but decided to snag a low mileage C7 and drive it for the next couple of years. At which point, I may decide to move on to a C8 and part with either the C7, C5 or both. I have never driven a C6, so I can't speak to your experience, but the C7 is light years beyond the C5. Both put a smile on my face when I drive them. I don't find the electronics in the C7 to be overly complicated and I've yet to use the navigation. I have, however, used Apple CarPlay and Waze to navigate to a few places and found the integration clean and simple. I decided on an M7 over the A8, but it sounds like the issues in the auto have been sorted out.

Honestly, best advice...go drive a C7 and spend some time in the cabin. If you find you really like it, several dealers will ship to your door at very little cost (if any).

 

Both.

 

Just get the c8 you're already bitching about a car you dont even own yet...

 

I am on a limited data plan (1 Gig/month) so prefer not to use the data on GPS functions. Just a personal preference.

 

I think you should focus on what you and your wife want, rather than what you don't like. Every production car has features that someone likes and doesn't like, and even the most reliable cars have their issues. If you want a convertible and manual trans, go with the C7; otherwise, I think the C8 is worth the wait.

You still can use the Android Auto or Apple CarPlay even on a limited data plan. I am also on a limited data plan. I connect to Android Auto and only use the NAV when I don't know how to get to a place or I need alternate routes because of traffic. This should limit your data consumption.

 

Go test drive one. That will eliminate any concerns and the *** is not visible while you're in it.

 

Screw the c6 gps system and its intermittent clock.

 

And don't forget the 6 part user manual in the C6 sticky that was done to make the instructions and use more easily understood. https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...rough-5-a.html

 

Get a C7, and get it with a MT GPS is fine for the basics.

 

OP, Both #1 and #3 on your list are taken car of if you buy and use a Range device. It's simple plug and play. It stops the A8 from going into 4 cylinder mode which is pretty much the cause of the A8 issues. And with a triple flush of the new fluid you're good to go.
As for #2, the electronics, I don't use everything that's available in the C7, but what I do use, is very easy to understand.
#4, the tail lights, she has to get over it. The C8 rear looks more like the C7 than the C6. Hate to point it out, but the C6 rear end with those round tail lights is old school. Time to move on.
#5. The GPS in the C7 (I have a 2014) is easy to use, but it's not very informative. It gives you turn directions like any GPS, but lacks the other typical calculations that are shown on other GPS are not given. I want to point out that I haven't had an update performed on my C7 GPS so it's possible they corrected that in later years. Still, for a 2014 GPS, I'm disappointed in it even if it does get me from point A to B. It seems Corvette spent a lot of time integrating the GPS to the HUD system which I guess is kind of cool, but I would rather have had all the distance and time calculations found in almost any other GPS system.
As for the C8, it's new, it's cool but if you're turned off about the A8 issues, are you sure you want an all new transmission, an all new frame, and all new engine placement, an all new electronics ( I mean just about everything) and all new body panels.