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Hello everyone, I was just thinking about the ME and GM’s possible FE and ME production. I was thinking is this going to wreck the corvette name of they do this? Or is it going to drive prices of the C7 down even more? If they do this does that mean that ME corvettes will be more expensive than expected? Now I know they have been spotted with mundane brakes and tires but they’re just test mules. (Just to clarify I am not against the mid engine, I am going to buy one regardless.) feel free to add if you agree or disagree!
I am just going to throw this out there.....when it comes to GM and mid-engine cars do we all remember the Fiero debacle and the price and fighting it cost the consumer? GM has a habit of putting mid-engine cars out there without enough research and development.
Something they did ONCE 35 years ago has no relevance to today. I'm dumbfounded as to why anyone wold think the example of the Fiero in this context could rationally be woven into this conversation.
I am just going to throw this out there.....when it comes to GM and mid-engine cars do we all remember the Fiero debacle and the price and fighting it cost the consumer? GM has a habit of putting mid-engine cars out there without enough research and development.
Porsche seems to be selling okay with two different platforms(Boxster/Cayman and the 911) as does Ferrari with it's front engine and mid engine platforms.
AMG has the front engine GT and I hear that they are also going to offer a mid engine soon.
A 1.6-liter V6 hybrid engine with direct injection and electrically assisted turbocharging
I am just going to throw this out there.....when it comes to GM and mid-engine cars do we all remember the Fiero debacle and the price and fighting it cost the consumer? GM has a habit of putting mid-engine cars out there without enough research and development.
Something they did ONCE 35 years ago has no relevance to today. I'm dumbfounded as to why anyone wold think the example of the Fiero in this context could rationally be woven into this conversation.
Is everyone aware that Kodak once had 33,000 employees, but only 1,700 today, that Kodak invented the digital camera, that it was the first company with $1,000,000,000 in annual revenues?
But they made a life-threatening mistake by staying with their old technology.
GM is going to go bold, jump to, and catch the next swinging branch and take the Corvette, albeit in a very different way, into a super-exciting, economically viable future.
Ya know my first new car was an 88 Fiero GT. The car was fun, Black, had a V6 and a 5 spd manual. I had no issues with mine and sold it to a friend in 91 when I got a Firebird Formula and he had that car for about 10 years without much issue at all. I will say by the time he sold it the interior was pretty worn out, seats were ok but the visors were toast, and some of the switch gear had broken. Maybe we were lucky ones that got a great build.
... is this going to wreck the corvette name of they do this? Or is it going to drive prices of the C7 down even more?...
Fist off, no.
And second off... possibly/probably initially. But I believe this (prices dropping) has historically happened to most generations of a car when the next generation (or model) is released. Especially if the next generation is perceived as an improvement and/or revolution.
The mid engine car is not going to be a Corvette in my opinion. Thru the history of the Mustang, and the Porsche, they had similar outlines to their predecessors. This will have zero in common with anything.
It's a new design car, it needs it's own distinct name and branding.If this is the end of the Corvette moniker, then they can be damned proud their finest modern generation car was the C6 and the C7, a transitional model to a radical new style.
I am just going to throw this out there.....when it comes to GM and mid-engine cars do we all remember the Fiero debacle and the price and fighting it cost the consumer? GM has a habit of putting mid-engine cars out there without enough research and development.
The original Fiero design included most of the features that GM eventually added to the last iteration of the Fiero. These features were removed from the initial Fiero version due to cost considerations.
Ya know my first new car was an 88 Fiero GT. The car was fun, Black, had a V6 and a 5 spd manual. I had no issues with mine and sold it to a friend in 91 when I got a Firebird Formula and he had that car for about 10 years without much issue at all. I will say by the time he sold it the interior was pretty worn out, seats were ok but the visors were toast, and some of the switch gear had broken. Maybe we were lucky ones that got a great build.
PC
Then we both were lucky. I had my white 88 Fiero GT from new until I could afford a new ‘05 C6 Coupe. Your description is apt, a fun car to own although it was underpowered. Which was no big deal because It handled like a go cart with its all new suspension. That is why I’m so excited about getting a Corvette ME to replace my C7. GM, not Pontiac, killed the 1989 Fiero which was to be even better than the 88 Fiero GT to bring it closer to direct competition with Chevrolet and Corvette. Pontiac lost, and we all lost out IMO.
P.S. Bought the Fiero new at a fire sale ~24% off MSRP and sold it as noted above at ~80% what I paid for it. A well maintained all year DD that could handle up to 6”-8” of road snow in winters around here in SE PA.
The original Fiero design included most of the features that GM eventually added to the last iteration of the Fiero. These features were removed from the initial Fiero version due to cost considerations.
Pontiac, noted for innovation, wanted to make a great 2 seater ME but it was true that costs containment, with resulting GM parts bin use, resulted in a 4cyl so-so result. Thus, until the 86-88 GT and Formula, GM had Pontiac build the Fiero as a two seater, cheap commuter car targeted specifically at young female drivers with economy as its focus. AND IT WORKED. Never ever saw many male drives in one until the GT V6 appeared, and by the 88 it was too late to save it..
Pontiac, noted for innovation, wanted to make a great 2 seater ME but it was true that costs containment, with resulting GM parts bin use, resulted in a 4cyl so-so result. Thus, until the 86-88 GT and Formula, GM had Pontiac build the Fiero as a two seater, cheap commuter car targeted specifically at young female drivers with economy as its focus. AND IT WORKED. Never ever saw many male drives in one until the GT V6 appeared, and by the 88 it was too late to save it..
Yes, sort of like the Corvair. By the time that it had evolved into a great little car, it was too late to save it!
Ya know my first new car was an 88 Fiero GT. The car was fun, Black, had a V6 and a 5 spd manual. I had no issues with mine and sold it to a friend in 91 when I got a Firebird Formula and he had that car for about 10 years without much issue at all. I will say by the time he sold it the interior was pretty worn out, seats were ok but the visors were toast, and some of the switch gear had broken. Maybe we were lucky ones that got a great build.
PC
I bought an 87 GT for my daughter when she was 14, and drove it until she got her license at 16. I sold it to a friend when she went to college, he eventually sold it because his hockey sticks wouldn't fit. We all loved it. The only problem was changing front spark plugs on the side mounted V-6. Not at all worried about the new ME, and yes I am getting an early production first year.
I wanted one but instead purchased the Toyota MR2 my first new car. Loved that car back in the day. While going through school I worked at Budget Rent A Car and we had V6 Fiero”s, C4 Corvettes and I remember racing the hell out of those cars. I thought the V6 GT at the time was a very cool car, was not a fan of the 4. Today GM is a much better engineering/manufacturing company and I trust the new ME will be nicer than the C7, Just like the C7 is better than the C6. I can’t wait to have one in my garage.
[left]Hello everyone, I was just thinking about the ME and GM’s possible FE and ME production. I was thinking is this going to wreck the corvette name of they do this?
Only if GM completely screws the pooch with the ME.
IMO, that's extremely unlikely.
No U.S. manufacturer has more experience AND success building a high-powered Sportscar.
I think it's a safe bet the ME will live up to expectations.
Or is it going to drive prices of the C7 down even more?
Hard to say for certain...it will all depend on Supply & Demand.
FWIW, I believe Demand will be very high...at least initially.
If they do this does that mean that ME corvettes will be more expensive than expected?
Needless to say there will be some ungodly amounts of ADM tacked on by unscrupulous dealers unless GM puts the kibosh to it.
08-21-2018, 09:54 AM
Am I the only one that’s worried?
I had my white 88 Fiero GT from new until I could afford a new ‘05 C6 Coupe. Your description is apt, a fun car to own although it was underpowered. Which was no big deal because It handled like a go cart with its all new suspension. That is why I’m so excited about getting a Corvette ME to replace my C7. GM, not Pontiac, killed the 1989 Fiero which was to be even better than the 88 Fiero GT to bring it closer to direct competition with Chevrolet and Corvette. Pontiac lost, and we all lost out IMO. 
