Hillbilly65

I don’t have a dog in this fight because I wouldn’t mind if GM did build both cars. I would most likely own one of each at some point.
I know it has been reported that the last C7 will be auctioned off. Would they do that if there was going to be a C8 FE car?
Did they auction off the last C6?
IDK
just thinking out loud.

thanks

Mikec7z

they usually auction last cars, yes, its not always public, but Hendrick and a few others are always willing to pay extra, and bid war each-other for the car.

Foosh

Yes, you are right. I thought it was later, but I'm completely willing to admit to being in error when I am. That's rare here, perhaps even unprecedented in this thread.

Skid Row Joe

Zerv, PCMIII, Shaka, and the Skank will all have at least 6 years of eating crow here.

PCMIII

Yeah, that is why ZR1 production is already scheduled for July.

vetteLT193

if they use the same platform they can test using C7 bodies. Heck, when the c5 was in testing they were openly driving a C5 that looked like a C4.

My guess is we wont see the mules of a potential c8 FE. It will be a mild refresh. New hood, fenders, wheels, bumpers, seats and minor interior tweaks. It will get the same LT2 as the ME. Styled like the c8 ME and logos to match. It will be C4 esque, the 1984 and 1996 were the same car but not really. It will be just updated enough to call it a c8 while keeping costs as low as possible.

Red67John

For decades, GM model changeover traditionally took place around late July to early August, depending upon how much time was needed to retool and resupply the plant. In fact, my 67 is a July 5 build, just one week from the end of C2 production. A ZR1 build in July means nothing to us at this point.

Red67John

GM is not going to invest in “restyling” the C7 FE while investing all in on the C8 ME. That makes absolutely zero business sense.

VETTE-NV

Are we still talking about cars?

vetteLT193

What? Yes it does. The platform is great. Abandoning it is what makes zero business sense. Especially considering current sales numbers. 1LT stingrays sell. If they abandon the C7 platform it will be the shortest use of a platform since the first gen. The ME will have great numbers for the track but when the vast majority of buyers just want a great, fun, fast, good looking car the FE still makes sense.

It certainly might get dumped but if I am GM I'm building FE base models and FE ZR1s until the ME takes hold, then I'm sunsetting the FE with a collector edition bang

Alwyn678

Ouch

Foosh

Do you think a vehicle has a low cost to produce just because you've been building it for a long time? If so, you're wrong.

The profit margin on Corvettes at its price point depends upon volume production, which means ordering parts at a big discount because you're building a lot of them. When you're only building half as many, there goes your profit margin, unless you significantly raise your prices, which kills sales. It's called economy of scale.

If you're Ferrari, Lambo, or Porsche, you don't have to care as much. They command prices that support expensive parts. The C7 supply chain was negotiated years ago at volume discounted prices. Those contracts are near their expiration point, and new contracts have been negotiated for the ME parts based upon big volume production.

It makes zero business sense to split Corvette sales into two totally different platforms, with different parts and supply chains. The market for 2-seat sports cars is very limited, and Corvette's competitors are more than likely going to hold on to their share, but that market is not going to grow. It will more than likely continue to shrink even more than the overall car market, which continues to shrink.

jefnvk

You mean like this? Do we really think there won't be one of these in the next few months here?

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a2...dition-europe/

jefnvk

You mean, a 232 day stockpile of cars even paired with discounts that bring base models under $50k?

http://gmauthority.com/blog/2019/04/...tte-c8-reveal/

This is one thing the FE enthusiasts still haven't had a good answer for: if the FE is going to continue to sell well enough to keep it in production, why isn't it selling now?

Red67John

And as the GM Authority post states: Overall Corvette sales have been on a steady decline since the introduction of the Corvette C7 for the 2014 model year, a circumstance that is explained by high initial demand for the C7 during the first year of its launch, followed by a gradual drop-off thereafter. In 2018, Chevy sold 18,781 Corvettes compared to 25,079 in 2017, 29,995 in 2016 and 33,329 in 2015.

So again, there is no logical business sense to splitting the Corvette market in half to hang onto a struggling car. GM is taking a big gamble, but they are are all in on the ME C8.

RapidC84B

The first post in this thread, that I made. States the C7, and last FE Corvette is done, yet this dumb thread has reverted to "maybe a super secret FE C8 is coming..." Good gosh folks.

And FWIW the early C5 mules were disguised as Camaros not C4s. They had one at the NCM.

Foosh

Before the internet, I attributed a much higher degree of average intelligence in the population of humans. I also used to be optimistic about the human race.

FringbirdAloha

Why would I want a C7 when a C8 is a mid-engine layout for the same amount of money?

ByByBMW

Over the last 20 years, a friend of mine and myself have gone from 80% of the population doesn't have the brains God gave a cucumber to 95%+ and it increases every year.

1SG_Ret

Initially, I was very excited to see ME come to the Corvette. Now, after some time to think about it, I am lamenting the FE design's demise.

While I do understand GM's reasons for having only one Corvette version, I ruminate about how nice it would be to have a choice between a FE or a ME model for each model year going forward.

I often wondered if Corvette was given it's own department but sold in Chevrolet dealerships in a separate area (in the same way BMW is considering with the MINI brand). How great that would be to choose between a FE or ME Corvette when shopping.

Using Ferrari models to compare (as GM seems to use Ferrari for many design cues IMO) the buying dilemma we'd be faced with each time we buy. This is a real first world problem.. Knowing this will never happen, but still a nice "pipe-dream".

As an aside, if I had to pick one of the above, I'd opt for the 812.