Removable top with a C8?
03-11-2019, 03:54 PM
#21
Pro
So let me ask you something, Jerri. If your son or daughter, or wife was a passenger in your Corvette, and a car ran a red light, hit your Corvette broadside on the passenger side, resulting in severe brain injury to your son, daughter or wife, that could have been prevented with side head bags, is that Targa top still worth it?
Last edited by Tyler_RN_EMT; 03-11-2019 at 03:55 PM.
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03-11-2019, 05:47 PM
#22
Drifting
Unfortunately the C8 will continue the tradition of sacrificing frame rigidity for what amounts to an enhanced sunroof.
The C7 frame's torsional stiffness is inferior to virtually everything else on the road that could be considered a sports car.
The C7 frame's torsional stiffness is inferior to virtually everything else on the road that could be considered a sports car.
03-11-2019, 06:57 PM
#23
03-11-2019, 06:57 PM
#24
It's actually overall a very stiff and responsive car. Just not so compared to exotics of 2019/2020. And given the technology used in the C7 is at least 8 years old and Corvette has historically had generation life cycles significantly longer than most cars out there, they did an overall pretty great job on the C7.
03-11-2019, 08:40 PM
#25
Safety Car
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So let me ask you something, Jerri. If your son or daughter, or wife was a passenger in your Corvette, and a car ran a red light, hit your Corvette broadside on the passenger side, resulting in severe brain injury to your son, daughter or wife, that could have been prevented with side head bags, is that Targa top still worth it?
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03-11-2019, 10:59 PM
#26
Le Mans Master
It's not dumb. You just don't want to think about it.. You know what's dumb? A $60K car that doesn't have head air bags, and a $12K Nissan Versa does. Not that's dumb.
03-11-2019, 11:02 PM
#27
Le Mans Master
03-11-2019, 11:03 PM
#28
Le Mans Master
In this situation of course it would not be.....but if you factor in the chances of this scenario actually happening....Yes it is worth it. You can ALWAYS come up with a scenario where worst case scenarios occur. If you are not willing to weigh your risks vs benefits then a High Performance Sports car should not be on your shopping list. I would check out some Volvo options.
03-12-2019, 04:16 AM
#29
Race Director
Corvettes have extremely rigid chassis and are extremely safe vehicles.
The reason insurance rates are so low in corvettes is based on corvettes excellent safety record.
the made up story that corvettes do not have a rigid chassis is nonsense as is the posed death or brain damage son/daughter scenerio question.
The reason insurance rates are so low in corvettes is based on corvettes excellent safety record.
the made up story that corvettes do not have a rigid chassis is nonsense as is the posed death or brain damage son/daughter scenerio question.
Last edited by JerriVette; 03-12-2019 at 04:34 AM.
03-12-2019, 10:31 AM
#30
Banned Scam/Spammer
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You're still infinitely safer than riding a motorcycle, and tons of people do that...
Last edited by ArmchairArchitect; 03-12-2019 at 10:33 AM.
03-12-2019, 10:56 AM
#32
Drifting
The Alpha-based ATS has a rigidity of about 29000 Nm/deg, so the Camaro is probably higher since it has less glass and a smaller trunk opening.
The competition (Nm/deg):
Alfa 159 - 31.400Nm/degree
Aston Martin DB9 Coupe 27,000 Nm/deg
Aston Martin DB9 Convertible 15,500 Nm/deg
Aston Martin Vanquish 28,500 Nm/deg
Audi TT Coupe 19,000 Nm/deg
Bugatti EB110 - 19,000 Nm/degree
BMW E36 Touring 10,900 Nm/deg
BMW E36 Z3 5,600 Nm/deg
BMW E46 Sedan (w/o folding seats) 18,000 Nm/deg
BMW E46 Sedan (w/folding seats) 13,000 Nm/deg
BMW E46 Wagon (w/folding seats) 14,000 Nm/deg
BMW E46 Coupe (w/folding seats) 12,500 Nm/deg
BMW E46 Convertible 10,500 Nm/deg
BMW X5 (2004) - 23,100 Nm/degree
BMW E90: 22,500 Nm/deg
BMW Z4 Coupe, 32,000Nm/degree
BMW Z4 Roadster: 14,500 Nm/deg
Bugatti Veyron - 60,000 Nm/degree
Chrysler Crossfire 20,140 Nm/deg
Chrysler Durango 6,800 Nm/deg
Chevrolet Corvette C5 9,100 Nm/deg
Dodge Viper Coupe 7,600 Nm/deg
Ferrari 360 Spider 8,500 Nm/deg
Ford GT: 27,100 Nm/deg
Ford GT40 MkI 17,000 Nm/deg
Ford Mustang 2003 16,000 Nm/deg
Ford Mustang 2005 21,000 Nm/deg
Ford Mustang Convertible (2003) 4,800 Nm/deg
Ford Mustang Convertible (2005) 9,500 Nm/deg
Jaguar X-Type Sedan 22,000 Nm/deg
Jaguar X-Type Estate 16,319 Nm/deg
Koenigsegg - 28.100 Nm/degree
Lambo Murcielago 20,000 Nm/deg
Lotus Elan 7,900 Nm/deg
Lotus Elan GRP body 8,900 Nm/deg
Lotus Elise 10,000 Nm/deg
Lotus Elise 111s 11,000 Nm/deg
Lotus Esprit SE Turbo 5,850 Nm/deg
Maserati QP - 18.000 nm/degree
McLaren F1 13,500 Nm/deg
Mercedes SL - With top down 17,000 Nm/deg, with top up 21,000 Nm/deg
Mini (2003) 24,500 Nm/deg
Pagani Zonda C12 S 26,300 Nm/deg
Pagani Zonda F - 27,000 Nm/degree
Porsche 911 Turbo (2000) 13,500 Nm/deg
Porsche 959 12,900 Nm/deg
Porsche Carrera GT - 26,000Nm/degree
Rolls-Royce Phantom - 40,500 Nm/degree
Volvo S60 20,000 Nm/deg
Audi A2: 11,900 Nm/deg
Audi A8: 25,000 Nm/deg
Audi TT: 10,000 Nm/deg (22Hz)
Golf V GTI: 25,000 Nm/deg
Chevrolet Cobalt: 28 Hz
Ferrari 360: 1,474 kgm/degree (bending: 1,032 kg/mm)
Ferrari 355: 1,024 kgm/degree (bending: 727 kg/mm)
Ferrari 430: supposedly 20% higher than 360
Renault Sport Spider: 10,000 Nm/degree
Volvo S80: 18,600 Nm/deg
Koenigsegg CC-8: 28,100 Nm/deg
Porsche 911 Turbo 996: 27,000 Nm/deg
Porsche 911 Turbo 996 Convertible: 11,600 Nm/deg
Porsche 911 Carrera Type 997: 33,000 Nm/deg
Lotus Elise S2 Exige (2004): 10,500 Nm/deg
Volkswagen Fox: 17,941 Nm/deg
VW Phaeton - 37,000 Nm/degree
VW Passat (2006) - 32,400 Nm/degree
Ferrari F50: 34,600 Nm/deg
Lambo Gallardo: 23000 Nm/deg
Mazda Rx-8: 30,000 Nm/deg
Mazda Rx-7: ~15,000 Nm/deg
Mazda RX8 - 30,000 Nm/degree
Saab 9-3 Sportcombi - 21,000 Nm/degree
Opel Astra - 12,000 Nm/degree
Land rover Freelander 2 - 28,000 Nm/degree
Lamborghini Countach 2,600 Nm/deg
Ford Focus 3d 19.600 Nm/deg
Ford Focus 5d 17.900 Nm/deg
Even the Ford Focus hatchback has better structural rigidity than a Corvette.
More torsional stiffness values here. The roofless Corvette compares poorly against anything with a roof.
Last edited by Zaro Tundov; 03-12-2019 at 11:48 AM.
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03-12-2019, 11:21 AM
#33
Melting Slicks
Not sure I'd call all of those cars "the competition". Comparing a $56k starting price Corvette to a McLaren F1? Ferrari F50? Koenigseggs? Porsche 959? Huge 4 door ultra luxury sedans? Little hatchbacks and wagons?
As I scroll through, the ones that are really of note:
Porsche 911 Turbo 996: 27,000 Nm/deg
Porsche 911 Turbo 996 Convertible: 11,600 Nm/deg
Porsche 911 Carrera Type 997: 33,000 Nm/deg
Ferrari 360 Spider 8,500 Nm/deg
Ferrari 430: supposedly 20% higher than 360 (that puts it at about 10,200)
Kinda changes the discussion.
As I scroll through, the ones that are really of note:
Porsche 911 Turbo 996: 27,000 Nm/deg
Porsche 911 Turbo 996 Convertible: 11,600 Nm/deg
Porsche 911 Carrera Type 997: 33,000 Nm/deg
Ferrari 360 Spider 8,500 Nm/deg
Ferrari 430: supposedly 20% higher than 360 (that puts it at about 10,200)
Kinda changes the discussion.
03-12-2019, 12:09 PM
#34
Well first you need to define the use of "stiffness" since torsional stiffness is not the same as bending stiffness.
Plus - if torsional stiffness mattered why does the vette handle so well.
Plus - if torsional stiffness mattered why does the vette handle so well.
03-12-2019, 12:57 PM
#35
Burning Brakes
So let me ask you something, Jerri. If your son or daughter, or wife was a passenger in your Corvette, and a car ran a red light, hit your Corvette broadside on the passenger side, resulting in severe brain injury to your son, daughter or wife, that could have been prevented with side head bags, is that Targa top still worth it?
03-12-2019, 02:24 PM
#37
Advanced
If you think that's stupid, consider this: a $15k Toyota Yaris has head air bags, but a $300k Ferrari doesn't. How stupid is that?
03-13-2019, 02:28 AM
#39
Le Mans Master
Of course, you are forgetting about all the weight added to the structure to accommodate the hole in the roof.
03-13-2019, 02:37 AM
#40
Le Mans Master
