Just got back from the Corvette Experience at the NCM. I was able to get a good feel for the C8 at speed and in corners. This car is very forgiving and quite easy to drive. I've owned C3 thru C7 with a C6 and C7 Z06 in my garage now. I have driven several mid engined cars so driving this one was not alien to me. I did experience some understeer in a few turns but easy to control. I will be anxiously awaiting a forced induction version.

 

right with ya there. If I had a C7 or GS? I would've upgraded to a C8. Just wouldn't give up the LT4 torque for the C8 LT2.

 

Congratulations. Looks great. I was just in Niceville. Love the air museum. Too bad it’s closed now.

 

Think many people are going from C7 Z06 to C8. can you give some comparisons since you have seat time in both?

 

Apples and oranges. The C7 Z06 will definitely out accelerate the C8 which is why I'm holding out for a boosted C8 be it TT or SC. As for handling the C8 tends to under steer when pushed hard whereas the C7 will kick the tail out in an over steer. I am by no means a track expert. I would put my ranking as novice at best. When I did the Spring Mountain class with the their C7 Z06, I had one or two over steer incidents. Nothing major but attention getters. Having driven front engine/rear drive cars for most of my driving years, I knew how to control the over steer. I had my F430 for 2 years with no track time and no situations that put me in an under steer situation. When I got caught up in a couple of situations on the track with the C8, it took me a second to figure out that the corrective measures are different when you enter a turn too hot. As I posted in the OP, it's a very forgiving car much like the C7 if you're not completely stupid.

I will not be giving up my C7 Z06 when I'm ready to pull the trigger on a C8 if that tells you anything. I will say the forward visibility in the C8 is way better than the C7 but rear visibility is tough. Mirrors and cameras are your friend. I knew the rear vis was going to be bad as I had experienced the same with my F430. I adapted to the square steering wheel immediately. I'm not sure what seats the museum motorsports cars are using but adjusting the seat back to accommodate the helmet was uncomfortable. I like to have the seat back in a more upright position but the head rest padding pushed the back of the helmet too far forward for me to get a good line of sight. That required reclining the seat back more than I'm used to. Since day to day driving won't require a helmet it's not a big concern. The new displays are clear and easy to read at a glance. The jury is still out for me on the HVAC controls. I was really hoping for a floating console.

My hope is team Corvette builds a twin turbo HTC version as that will be my preference. I can only wait and see. I was very impressed with Corvette's first production mid engine and the high end exotics have a new competitor now.

 

Thanks for sharing this. I hope to get a C8 one of these days if I like them enough!!!!

 

Sounds like a very polite way of expressing your disappointment.

 

rob I didn't take the OP that way. Sounds like the C8 is exactly what is to be expected. An ME high powered sportscar with world-class performance... if I understand his explanation of impressions.

The problem is going backwards in acceleration for a C7 Z06 (or comparable vehicle) owner. Power junkies like me (and probably many of us) aren't "excited" about a car that putting your foot down is slower from XX to XXX mph. The C8 is a nice median between pedestrian C7 LT1 acceleration to the higher powered models. The C8 on the street launches hard especially when using the Launch Control. It's like a Cheetah. Bit runs out of steam on the move (rolling acceleration).

When you out of a turn in the C7Z (or comparable car) and put your foot down you want that rush of power to force you back and keep going as you fly up to the braking point. The current C8 is lacking in that regard because of the lower HP. Smoothness and taller gearing after 2nd gear. 3rd is longer and 4th. If the car got into 5th at 100 wot I think it would feel stellar for 90% of us. It doesn't and 5th is forever. Look at the 60 to 130 times (a good indicator of that rush feel on the move).

I too look forward to a 700+ hp C8Z. I am on the list (#41) at Criswell w/Furman... very excited. Hoping for 2023.

 

Very informative, 2-post reviews. Appreciate your insights and observations.

 

Yup,I get it.

 

You would be wrong. If Chevrolet offers a forced induction HTC version, it will reside in my garage. I knew going in the acceleration would not be the same as my Z06. Off the line the C8 gets up pretty well. It just didn't have the same rush from 60 to 120 MPH like a boosted car gives you. That's ok for those content with having under 500hp. Out of the 4 vehicles I currently own, only one is not supercharged and under 500bhp and that would be my 2019 Silverado Z71. My DD is a Charger Hellcat.

One other thing I forgot to mention in the comparison is the DCT in the C8. Very crisp shifts and in unison with the exhaust note, the car talks to you quite nicely. You get a good feel of where you are gear wise. I didn't even bother using the paddles, it's that good.
So it's not that I was disappointed, quite the contrary. The overall impression I got from the C8 is very positive. Enough so that I want one. I just want more HP than the base car.

Hope this clears things up a little.

Funny side note: The instructors named the car I was in "Dale". The reason should be obvious to any Earnhardt fans. Three is also my lucky number and my F430 was also black on black.

 

Really?
Struck me a honest, accurate description of C8 considering OP's owned C6/7 and F car for comparison.

Thanks for write-up OP, found it quite enlightening from one who'd know.

 

I think it is really good to hear honest reviews like this from people who have lots of experience with Corvette's. OP, did the car you drive have stock suspension/alignment settings, or were they aligned for track?

 

The instructors said they were stock settings. We did drive in track mode.

 

I REALLY like the DCT tranny in my C8. Every day I drive this car, I love it even more. It feels very fast, and I’m not at 500 miles yet.