Is there demand for a mid-engine Corvette?
10-30-2018, 09:16 AM
#21
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
I agree that the strategy here is to attract an entirely new pool of Corvette buyers, who never seriously considered it before. The Corvette demographic is old and will be dying off quickly over the next decade. Sure, there will be "traditionalists" who won't like it, but I think they will more than be replaced by new buyers if GM gets it right and prices it under anything else comparable, as they've always done.
10-30-2018, 10:37 AM
#22
The C7 is probably the last Corvette for this generation of buyers and they will look at a ME but will never buy one. If the new generation of buyers want a sports car they will buy one that has a proven track record that has been engineered over many years and not a first year unproven introductory model. It will be interesting to see a ME for under a $100K and to do this the GM bean counters will have a lot of work ahead of them.
10-30-2018, 11:01 AM
#23
Bigger Younger World Wide Market
I believe Corvette has a bigger and younger worldwide market in mind for the C8. Just look where ZORA is trademarked.
https://www.corvetteblogger.com/2018...cluding-china/
https://www.corvetteblogger.com/2018...cluding-china/
Just curious if this is just an evolution of the Corvette or if in fact there is a bunch up pent up demand for a mid engine version of the car? The idea of a more affordable Ferrari, Audi R8, etc. sounds enticing but I just wonder how much of the Corvette community actually wanted such a design? Is it something the Corvette designers wanted to build for a long time but just never did so?
10-30-2018, 01:02 PM
#24
Team Owner
As long as GM can keep the price in line with the current generation then I'm all for a ME Corvette but don't expect me to pay a premium just because it's a "ME".
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10-30-2018, 01:36 PM
#25
Burning Brakes
To me, as a 26 year old who can actually afford it, I love the idea of a mid engine Vette. I have always loved Vettes but they have kind of always been perceived as an "old man" car, or at least the base model has.
The ability to have an American v8 with radical mid engine looks, I think will appeal to a newer audience of younger people like me who want something new and fresh.
The ability to have an American v8 with radical mid engine looks, I think will appeal to a newer audience of younger people like me who want something new and fresh.
Last edited by bgspot; 10-30-2018 at 02:17 PM.
10-30-2018, 07:56 PM
#27
Last edited by F4 Phantom; 10-30-2018 at 07:59 PM.
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10-30-2018, 08:03 PM
#28
Melting Slicks
A couple of glasses of red wine ...And a Corvette in the garage is the secret to a long healthy life.
God bless
11-02-2018, 10:56 AM
#31
Sure, new 50-somethings are being created every day, but there are just not as many of them as there used to be. That's why it's important for any product to appeal to the broadest possible age demographic.
11-02-2018, 01:38 PM
#32
Safety Car
Good points Foosh. For everyone one who is super physically fit in the retirement group (and count me in that category), there are many who are the oppsosite, have bad backs so they no longer can get in or out of sports cars or much worse, but even wishing them all medical health for many more decades, there is a compounding demographic of greatly reduced income for most once they retire. In my Corvette club, the number who are buying new Corvettes keeps sinking as more and more are retiring — and can no longer afford one.
The mid engine is going to compensate for this demographic by attracking tons of new, brand-conquest, upper middle class folks in far younger age groups than the C5, the C6, and even the C7 did.
The mid engine is going to compensate for this demographic by attracking tons of new, brand-conquest, upper middle class folks in far younger age groups than the C5, the C6, and even the C7 did.
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11-02-2018, 01:43 PM
#33
Safety Car
Good points Foosh. For everyone one who is super physically fit in the retirement group (and count me in that category), there are many who are the oppsosite, have bad backs so they no longer can get in or out of sports cars or much worse, but even wishing them all medical health for many more decades, there is a compounding demographic of greatly reduced income for most once they retire. In my Corvette club, the number who are buying new Corvettes keeps sinking as more and more are retiring — and can no longer afford one.
The mid engine is going to compensate for this demographic by attracking tons of new, brand-conquest, upper middle class folks in far younger age groups than the C5, the C6, and even the C7 did.
The mid engine is going to compensate for this demographic by attracking tons of new, brand-conquest, upper middle class folks in far younger age groups than the C5, the C6, and even the C7 did.
11-02-2018, 07:35 PM
#34
Safety Car
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11-02-2018, 08:24 PM
#35
Melting Slicks
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11-03-2018, 04:43 AM
#36
Good points Foosh. For everyone one who is super physically fit in the retirement group (and count me in that category), there are many who are the oppsosite, have bad backs so they no longer can get in or out of sports cars or much worse, but even wishing them all medical health for many more decades, there is a compounding demographic of greatly reduced income for most once they retire. In my Corvette club, the number who are buying new Corvettes keeps sinking as more and more are retiring — and can no longer afford one.
Last edited by PurpleLion; 11-03-2018 at 04:44 AM.
11-03-2018, 07:04 AM
#37
Race Director
Today tahoes and escalades cost about the same as corvettes if not more.
usually its the compromises and fear of not having four seats and four doors that people think they have to have that is slowing down sales of two seat sports cars..
corvettes are relatively inexpensive considering what they offer from a performance perspective so they sell in relatively higher unit volume.
many of us learned decades ago the benefits of two seaters and the fact we can not carry more than one passenger is a huge plus in getting out of family transport crap...
i learned that from my dad who has been gone for 29 years and was a 2 seat sports car owner his whole life.
half the american public thinks they have to have four door cuv s to survive the zoombie apocalypse.
i suggest two seat sports cars are the best way to avoid having to deal with any and all zombies (j/k) that may come across in your life.
as a side note...if you dont want to almost double your cost for a corvette...be smart and get the options that you as a person place as a priority...
dont check off every box on the option list...
if you made a good living your whole life and you lived a sensible life...following that same path should put a c8 in your garage without too much of an issue.
im planning a c8 z51with dct npp and mrc...
i dont expect it to cost too much more than todays c7 with the same features or options..add five grand over todays similiarly equipped car and call it a day...
if my butt or back needs a massage ill have my girl do it when i get home...if i need heat or some cooling ill have her either light my *** on fire or blow..(kidding) my opinion use a balanced common sense approach on the option list...
most corvette owners pay in full with cash but if anyone is stressing out you can with todays low interest rates always take out a loan.
Rmember corvettes have pretty decent residuals...its the option list that dreciates at 100percent right away with the exception of performance items on high performance sports cars like corvette....
In my experience and opinion the value retention on z51 corvettes with light luxury options hold their values the best and they sell the fastest on resale...
for those worried about retirement income etc...consider the purchase as a comparative ownership cost experience for a period of time if you are aging out of the sports car market in general to to lack of dexterity coming sooner rather than later...
life truly is about the experiences we have rather than the “things “ we own when we pass on.
Im one year away from the age my never sick dad passed on 29 years ago so in my opinion this balanced perspective has some merit to consider for enjoying the chosen priorities of life.
one trip one journey....
usually its the compromises and fear of not having four seats and four doors that people think they have to have that is slowing down sales of two seat sports cars..
corvettes are relatively inexpensive considering what they offer from a performance perspective so they sell in relatively higher unit volume.
many of us learned decades ago the benefits of two seaters and the fact we can not carry more than one passenger is a huge plus in getting out of family transport crap...
i learned that from my dad who has been gone for 29 years and was a 2 seat sports car owner his whole life.
half the american public thinks they have to have four door cuv s to survive the zoombie apocalypse.
i suggest two seat sports cars are the best way to avoid having to deal with any and all zombies (j/k) that may come across in your life.
as a side note...if you dont want to almost double your cost for a corvette...be smart and get the options that you as a person place as a priority...
dont check off every box on the option list...
if you made a good living your whole life and you lived a sensible life...following that same path should put a c8 in your garage without too much of an issue.
im planning a c8 z51with dct npp and mrc...
i dont expect it to cost too much more than todays c7 with the same features or options..add five grand over todays similiarly equipped car and call it a day...
if my butt or back needs a massage ill have my girl do it when i get home...if i need heat or some cooling ill have her either light my *** on fire or blow..(kidding) my opinion use a balanced common sense approach on the option list...
most corvette owners pay in full with cash but if anyone is stressing out you can with todays low interest rates always take out a loan.
Rmember corvettes have pretty decent residuals...its the option list that dreciates at 100percent right away with the exception of performance items on high performance sports cars like corvette....
In my experience and opinion the value retention on z51 corvettes with light luxury options hold their values the best and they sell the fastest on resale...
for those worried about retirement income etc...consider the purchase as a comparative ownership cost experience for a period of time if you are aging out of the sports car market in general to to lack of dexterity coming sooner rather than later...
life truly is about the experiences we have rather than the “things “ we own when we pass on.
Im one year away from the age my never sick dad passed on 29 years ago so in my opinion this balanced perspective has some merit to consider for enjoying the chosen priorities of life.
one trip one journey....
Last edited by JerriVette; 11-03-2018 at 07:15 AM.
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11-03-2018, 07:08 AM
#38
I currently have a C6. the C7 was very much considered and my wife and I like it but there has just been something stopping us. I guess life has just been too busy and we are very happy with the C6. Also I'm more interested in a new family sized vehicle right now and in my truck hotrod project.
Personally I find the C7 hardtop to be ugly, but the convertable top is perfect looking. Something about the roof line on the hardtop just doesn't look right.
If the C8 can fit a couple of suit cases for a two week road trip, has comfortable seating, attractive smooth styling, a convertable top, at least 300 hp/ft-lbs, cost around 66k base, and has milage that avoids the gas guzzlers tax then I'll be in consideration.
Last edited by flyingbunnys; 11-03-2018 at 07:11 AM.
11-03-2018, 07:34 AM
#39
Race Director
I retired about 15 years ago...lifes good .(for young people in their thirties i suggest reading a simple book by Andrew Bach, the automatic millionaire)..the c7 as great as it was, was evolutionary in many aspects where as the c8 is a revolutionary change.that warrants a purchase...
i believe c5, c6 and c7 corvette owners will get off the sidelines to own and experience the totally new driving experience from a handling standpoint.
Not that the c7 wasnt an amazing handling and performance machine....same for the c6 and c5...
its more along the lines of experiencing a low polar movement of inertia (terms slightly off as its early in the day)..
the driving experience tearing into a corner with that tight immediate turn in is a little more addictive even in street driving just for fun...
that driving feature will pull a lot of c5, c6 and c7 owners into buying c8 s....and it will also in my opinion pull a lot of foreign car customers into the corvette as as well.
buy early as demand will have gm raising the msrp of the c8 every year in a slightly more dramatic fashion than we have seen with the c5, c6 and c7.
I don't expect discounts on msrp by even the third year of c8 production as we have seen in the last three generations and in fact expect mrsp to be held tight without discounts throughout the production run.
i expect msrp escalation over the production run instead...(not obscenely but it will be opposite to previous and recent generations pricing strategy...
gm philosphy on boutique like specialty products are no longer recieving subsidized incentives and those dollars are being devoted to higher volume mainstream products like four door sedans which have taken a nose dive in unit sales...
so much so ford motor company announced its ending production of four door sedans and will bring out only the mustang and new cuvs and trucks.
staying on point....i would NOT expect the usual 5 or 10 percent incentive on third year c8 s...as we have seen with c5, c6 s or c7...but rather the opposite rise in prices
i believe c5, c6 and c7 corvette owners will get off the sidelines to own and experience the totally new driving experience from a handling standpoint.
Not that the c7 wasnt an amazing handling and performance machine....same for the c6 and c5...
its more along the lines of experiencing a low polar movement of inertia (terms slightly off as its early in the day)..
the driving experience tearing into a corner with that tight immediate turn in is a little more addictive even in street driving just for fun...
that driving feature will pull a lot of c5, c6 and c7 owners into buying c8 s....and it will also in my opinion pull a lot of foreign car customers into the corvette as as well.
buy early as demand will have gm raising the msrp of the c8 every year in a slightly more dramatic fashion than we have seen with the c5, c6 and c7.
I don't expect discounts on msrp by even the third year of c8 production as we have seen in the last three generations and in fact expect mrsp to be held tight without discounts throughout the production run.
i expect msrp escalation over the production run instead...(not obscenely but it will be opposite to previous and recent generations pricing strategy...
gm philosphy on boutique like specialty products are no longer recieving subsidized incentives and those dollars are being devoted to higher volume mainstream products like four door sedans which have taken a nose dive in unit sales...
so much so ford motor company announced its ending production of four door sedans and will bring out only the mustang and new cuvs and trucks.
staying on point....i would NOT expect the usual 5 or 10 percent incentive on third year c8 s...as we have seen with c5, c6 s or c7...but rather the opposite rise in prices
Last edited by JerriVette; 11-03-2018 at 07:43 AM.
11-03-2018, 07:47 AM
#40
Melting Slicks
The cost is less of an issue for many if the Corvette can act as one of their two family cars, but for most who have families, hobbies and jobs, that just isn't so. Corvettes hold 2 people, aren't useful in the snow and ice, can't carry large and heavy objects (although storage space is comparable to most compact sedans - which also aren't selling well) and can tow nothing - things every SUV can do in spades; which is why they are dominating the market. I have come to know a huge number of Corvette owners, and for those who work, less than 10% use the Corvette as one of their family's daily drivers - for the other 90% it is an extra car.