Hi, all,

So the very first Chevrolet dealer in the nation to have the new mid-engine Corvette on display is in La Mesa, California, just outside the east San Diego city limits. It will be there tomorrow, July 23, 2019, if you’re in the southland, can’t wait until it gets to a dealer nearer you and want to take a little scenic drive.

I went by there today and took a large number of pictures to present here. As you can see from the photos, there were a lot of enthusiasts there, quite a few driving Porsches.

I wasn’t too enthusiastic seeing photos of the test mules over the past couple years and my expectations were muted. The car looked very generic to me.

But that all changed when I watched the reveal with my Corvette club. I was, like most of my fellow members and many of you, blown away by the design and features of the 8th generation Corvette. Wow, GM, what a great design!

One of my favorite car designs is the Ferrari 458 series. Sleek and elegant, it has great lines. As I watched the reveal, I saw the same ethos in the C8, with distinctly Corvette styling cues. A little C2, a little C5, C6 and C7. But something new and exciting that rivals and even surpasses the 458 in terms of styling.

I went to the dealer because I had a few concerns about the doors with their air scoop appendages. And I wondered about the seating comfort and headroom, particularly with a helmet on. I was also nervous about the amount of luggage space for those weekend getaways.

Let me say that, after looking the car over, sitting in it and talking with the GM onsite reps, I think this car will be a home run for GM. Sure, some folks don’t like the idea of no manual. But the consolation is a sub-3 second 0-60 time. Take that Porsche, Ferrari, Lambo and McLaren! Some folks, me included, weren’t too thrilled with the back end at first, which actually looks pretty nice in person. But I figure it will be said Porsches, Ferraris, Lambos and McLarens who’ll be seeing a lot of that back end on the track, anyway.

I hope you find the photos and information useful.



















This is a standard 22" carry-on suitcase. The hood was touching the top of the suitcase as it closed, but it did close securely. We tried it on its side and it did not fit.





































The suitcase fit easily with plenty of room left over for other things.















These mirrors also have blind spot alerts built in.





Very roomy interior. There were some very tall guys getting in and sitting comfortably.















Oh, and those funny looking things on the right side of the seat backs? Side impact airbags.