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Thanks for your post OP.... I admit I'm waffling between trading my Macan S for a '23 C8.... the Macan is NEVER boring... it is fun ALL the time... the C8 will be here the first or second week of June... I sold my '19 C7 because of the "it's as exciting as a Buick - until you stick your foot into it..." Now, I'm REALLY unsure!
If you think a small SUV like the Macan is exciting, you'll be in for a treat with the C8.
I am only a few hundred miles in to C8 ownership (I will say I love the car) but I do see the criticisms. I've had a bunch of fun cars as well as the occasional scary car. This is my first Corvette however. (Scary car was a 2012 Boss 302 that when you drove it with the track key it tried to kill you. With the normal key it tried to get you to kill yourself). I didn't find that particularly fun but I think a lot of people equate a squirrely car as fun. I drove my Alfa 4c on Saturday and my C8 Sunday on the same route. The 4c tells you everything that is going on with it. Every ripple in road, every pound of boost and every shift is transmitted to you. It's great for a 30 minute drive and you get home sweating and tired. The C8 may not communicate as much (it doesn't send every message like the 4c but it does send the most important ones) but put it in manual mode and find the right combination of steering/brake adjustment and it's a beast. And after 30 minutes I wanted to keep going and drive farther than my usual weekend drive. I wasn't exhausted or sweaty when I got home. And when I got stuck in traffic on the way back home I turned on the AC/stereo and let it shift itself. Driving it in auto and tour mode won't do it for you if you are used to something more high strung.
I am going to comparison drive my Honda S2000 and 67 corvette today. I got Past the first 500 on the c8 and started using manual mode and it is a bit mundane but very fast. I think my issue is the c8 is the performance delivery is quiet and subdued and I can live with that. Going to have to spend more time fiddling with all the driver mode stuff and other tech. The biggest issue I have is that - ok it’s like sporty luxury performance wise. However my little Toyota pickup rides nicer and the c8 tire rumble is annoying. I find my self dialing different modes but obviously that does not help tire noise. I also fantasize about a skinnier tire conversion- then you could slip and slide and less tire noise- til ya crash!!
I am going to comparison drive my Honda S2000 and 67 corvette today. I got Past the first 500 on the c8 and started using manual mode and it is a bit mundane but very fast. I think my issue is the c8 is the performance delivery is quiet and subdued and I can live with that. Going to have to spend more time fiddling with all the driver mode stuff and other tech. The biggest issue I have is that - ok it’s like sporty luxury performance wise. However my little Toyota pickup rides nicer and the c8 tire rumble is annoying. I find my self dialing different modes but obviously that does not help tire noise. I also fantasize about a skinnier tire conversion- then you could slip and slide and less tire noise- til ya crash!!
Buy non run flats solves ur problem , I have no problem with road noise I enjoy listening to my play list on high volume.
I am only a few hundred miles in to C8 ownership (I will say I love the car) but I do see the criticisms. I've had a bunch of fun cars as well as the occasional scary car. This is my first Corvette however. (Scary car was a 2012 Boss 302 that when you drove it with the track key it tried to kill you. With the normal key it tried to get you to kill yourself). I didn't find that particularly fun but I think a lot of people equate a squirrely car as fun. I drove my Alfa 4c on Saturday and my C8 Sunday on the same route. The 4c tells you everything that is going on with it. Every ripple in road, every pound of boost and every shift is transmitted to you. It's great for a 30 minute drive and you get home sweating and tired. The C8 may not communicate as much (it doesn't send every message like the 4c but it does send the most important ones) but put it in manual mode and find the right combination of steering/brake adjustment and it's a beast. And after 30 minutes I wanted to keep going and drive farther than my usual weekend drive. I wasn't exhausted or sweaty when I got home. And when I got stuck in traffic on the way back home I turned on the AC/stereo and let it shift itself. Driving it in auto and tour mode won't do it for you if you are used to something more high strung.
You have to wait until after the 500 miles to start drawing any conclusions. It's an entirely different car after 500 (assuming you're following break in instructions).
LOL at your "normal key" comment
I’m not really sure what you’re complaining about. The car is exactly what you want when you’re doing spirit driving. Meaning it handles great steering is good, engine is excellent and the shifts perfectly. But when it’s called upon to do it daily driving or civil duties you are complaining that it’s not “on”.
I have had cars that were always “on”. And believe me you get very tired of a car that is always in “on” mode. A daily drive to work will become exhausting with a car that is always on. I’ve had a Porsche GT3, 458 Ferrari and others that were always in that on mode. I drove a friends Lamborghini Diablo and Countach. And believe me after a day of driving it, I was ready to give back to keys. Although it was very fun exciting and engaging, the car was always on. It never gave you a moment to just relax and not be so engaged and aware of all of your surroundings and what was going on with the car. I almost didn’t get to enjoy the car because I never got to relax.
I think the z06 Will be even worse because it will be more extreme the difference. Because it’ll be exactly what you want under spirited driving and on a track if you do that, but when you drive it on a highway or around town it’s basically a C8. With all of the things you are complaining about now. In other words to civil.
Exactly. I came from a Shelby GT350 and reviewers said it perfectly about that car "LETS GO GET DONUTS" the problem is the constant SHOUTING all the time is not fun when coming from traffic after an HPDE or rally run.
The C8 is the closest to that dual mode dual personality car than a lot of other cars - very 911 turbo S.
I am sure this has been brought up a lot already, but it seems like your previous list of cars were all more edgy and visceral, and the C8 is not that. Its very refined. Very capable, but without all that drama and noise and rawness. I had a similar experience when I took two ride-alongs at Sebring... one in a GT350 and the other in a 911 Turbo. Nearly the same lap times, but one was almost violent, the other was so smooth. Guess which was which! That raw drama of the Mustang really appealed to me for a while, but then I got tired of it. My wife definitely got tired of it, so I am specifically looking for something much more refined. I might not like it once I get it, who knows. Best part is, if its not for you, you can sell it at a profit and get something else!!
But... your car is gorgeous, and the photo is one of the best I have ever seen of Rapid Blue, it really shows off the color. Can you post more??
Z Mode in manual mode is my favorite. I use manual 99% of the time.
I can beat that....I use it 100% of the time, with the wick turned up on everything (except suspension. I only set track mode when I get on some great twisties)...as soon as I hit the start button, I press the Zora mode button......it's very cool to be able to completely modify the car's personality with the push of a button.
It doesn't go back to my mode though after unpressing, I think it goes to tour, then I have to turn the **** to mymode, then re-adust the HUD setting and location (even though I've already saved them previously). But that's just a minor irritant, not a huge deal, though I find myself doing it often.
Really it's more about adrenaline and excitement of daily driving. It's lacking in that dept, the sound, the feeling of torque ready to go on demand (unless in manual mode), the feel of the road through the steering wheel....... I'm looking for fun driving pretty much 100% of the time, not only when I'm pushing it at 7/10+. It's an incredibly capable car when needed, just most of the time it's not needed and when not called upon, it seems pedestrian to me. I truly want to get past that. That's actually one of the main reasons I sold the Turbo S. It was either boring or HOLY **** I'M GOING TO DIE with no in between. I really hope Spring Mountain changes my mind, I very much want to fall in love with this car.
Maybe there is something wrong with my car but I have my HUD set (been using Corvette HUD for over 22 years.) and it does not change regardless of the mode I am in. (I only use My Mode and Z Mode)
I had the same "too perfect to the point of being boring" issue with my Mercedes SL 55 AMG. The hydraulic suspension totally eliminated any feel of body roll. This 4370 lb car went 0-60 in 4.1 seconds (outstanding for 2003). The top speed was 202 MPH.Yet, the car felt boring and too isolated, especially compared to my Corvette C5s and Porsche 944 Turbo and my totally analog Datsun 240 Z and 280 Z. I only kept that AMG for about a year, but I still have two supercharged Corvette C5s.
It doesn't go back to my mode though after unpressing, I think it goes to tour, then I have to turn the **** to mymode, then re-adust the HUD setting and location (even though I've already saved them previously). But that's just a minor irritant, not a huge deal, though I find myself doing it often.
Really it's more about adrenaline and excitement of daily driving. It's lacking in that dept, the sound, the feeling of torque ready to go on demand (unless in manual mode), the feel of the road through the steering wheel....... I'm looking for fun driving pretty much 100% of the time, not only when I'm pushing it at 7/10+. It's an incredibly capable car when needed, just most of the time it's not needed and when not called upon, it seems pedestrian to me. I truly want to get past that. That's actually one of the main reasons I sold the Turbo S. It was either boring or HOLY **** I'M GOING TO DIE with no in between. I really hope Spring Mountain changes my mind, I very much want to fall in love with this car.
I agree 100%.
I got my '21 Cayman GTS 4.0 PDK 3 months before I got my '21 C8 HTC Z51 (license plate: BEEST). I have loved the convertible, very quick 0-60 (much faster than the CGTS), but the steering is numb at best and the sound is negligible, even w/ NPPP.
I drove a '22 911 Turbo S & a '22 GT3 at Porsche Experience Ctr in Atlanta 3 weeks ago and found what I was missing. (NOT the Turbo-I like the NA sound.) Since an allocation for a 992 GT3 is near impossible to get, I bought a 991.2 GT3RS w/ Weissach package w/ a lifetime Dundon power race exhaust which added 46 bhp, dyno proven, to the 520 it came with (license plate: MONSTA). And it's LOUD: POW! during gear changes It rev's to 9K. I can feel a pebble in the road through the steering. Amazing!
I'll keep the CGTS since my husband and daughter like it so much; I am strongly considering selling the C8.
Exactly. I came from a Shelby GT350 and reviewers said it perfectly about that car "LETS GO GET DONUTS" the problem is the constant SHOUTING all the time is not fun when coming from traffic after an HPDE or rally run.
The C8 is the closest to that dual mode dual personality car than a lot of other cars - very 911 turbo S.
exactly the point I was making. Never had a 911 turbo s, but I can understand the comparison.
Yea I don’t get this at all. It’s a base model Corvette. It doesn’t matter what you paid, there is zero performance difference between a $67k 1LT Z51 and a loaded up $100k+ version. To complain that it doesn’t give you the thrill of a $180k track focused Porsche is just silly. For that matter, even a $110k Porsche is an unfair comparison. If you can play in that league then why did you buy a C8? Or perhaps a more targeted question - what did you expect? This car at $67k is faster 0-60 than both of those Porsches. It’s not that far behind them on a road course either. And it does it with minimal drama at nearly half to a third the price. But I guess that’s a bad thing.
I agree 100%.
I got my '21 Cayman GTS 4.0 PDK 3 months before I got my '21 C8 HTC Z51 (license plate: BEEST). I have loved the convertible, very quick 0-60 (much faster than the CGTS), but the steering is numb at best and the sound is negligible, even w/ NPPP.
I drove a '22 911 Turbo S & a '22 GT3 at Porsche Experience Ctr in Atlanta 3 weeks ago and found what I was missing. (NOT the Turbo-I like the NA sound.) Since an allocation for a 992 GT3 is near impossible to get, I bought a 991.2 GT3RS w/ Weissach package w/ a lifetime Dundon power race exhaust which added 46 bhp, dyno proven, to the 520 it came with (license plate: MONSTA). And it's LOUD: POW! during gear changes It rev's to 9K. I can feel a pebble in the road through the steering. Amazing!
I'll keep the CGTS since my husband and daughter like it so much; I am strongly considering selling the C8.
Nice, ANY Porsche with an RS in the model name is an E-ticket ride.....Current GT3's are commanding $50-100k in ADM markups.....and they are absolutely getting it......for possibly the last NA flat 6 in a 911....AND a 3-pedal 6 speed manual ? They will be serious collector's items.....
Yea I don’t get this at all. It’s a base model Corvette. It doesn’t matter what you paid, there is zero performance difference between a $67k 1LT Z51 and a loaded up $100k+ version. To complain that it doesn’t give you the thrill of a $180k track focused Porsche is just silly. For that matter, even a $110k Porsche is an unfair comparison. If you can play in that league then why did you buy a C8? Or perhaps a more targeted question - what did you expect? This car at $67k is faster 0-60 than both of those Porsches. It’s not that far behind them on a road course either. And it does it with minimal drama at nearly half to a third the price. But I guess that’s a bad thing.
so c8 went off went off break in last night and I tried the paddle shifters a little and was a bit disappointed and have also been reading this thread…thought about maybe selling c8 as the paddle thing seemed a bit silly. Drove my two other cars today a Honda s 2000 and an old 5 sp 67 big block today just for comparison…then took the c8 out again on my favorite roads using all the paddle mode stuff I thought was kinda silly. OMG ya want visceral, ya wanna be scared on the edge- keep practicing!! This car is amazing and it’s got a warranty!! It is a great car and it’s not boring!! Just push it and it will reward you with that scary feeling of those visceral cars!! Ya just have to go faster!!
I agree 100%.
I got my '21 Cayman GTS 4.0 PDK 3 months before I got my '21 C8 HTC Z51 (license plate: BEEST). I have loved the convertible, very quick 0-60 (much faster than the CGTS), but the steering is numb at best and the sound is negligible, even w/ NPPP.
I drove a '22 911 Turbo S & a '22 GT3 at Porsche Experience Ctr in Atlanta 3 weeks ago and found what I was missing. (NOT the Turbo-I like the NA sound.) Since an allocation for a 992 GT3 is near impossible to get, I bought a 991.2 GT3RS w/ Weissach package w/ a lifetime Dundon power race exhaust which added 46 bhp, dyno proven, to the 520 it came with (license plate: MONSTA). And it's LOUD: POW! during gear changes It rev's to 9K. I can feel a pebble in the road through the steering. Amazing!
I'll keep the CGTS since my husband and daughter like it so much; I am strongly considering selling the C8.
Dear lord......... a GT3RS??? I'd settle for a GT3 . That's out of my league but there's no competition between a C8 and GT3RS if one wants a car thats 'always on'. I too prefer the NA sound and the linear power application vs an FI engine. Not to mention the 9K rev limit!! Congrats, what an amazing car.
I'm learning a lot about the C8 in this thread, it's been really helpful and Z mode w/manual shift has definitely changed things for the better vs MyMode in Auto which is how I'd mostly been driving when I made my boring comment.
This is pure speculation, since I have not even driven one of these yet, but I am betting that if you find this car boring, you are not driving it at the limit. The limits are just much higher, and you have to really scare yourself to hit them.
Folks are latching on to the word, "boring," to mean things that weren't intended. The C8 is by no means "boring." It was a reference to the relative level of "driver involvement." As a die-hard manual transmission lover and owner of two nice manual sports cars, as well as a C8, I know exactly what that means.
The C8 is far easier to drive at the limit because it requires less driver involvement. For manual die-hards, the experience of gear rowing, and clutch pedal coordination is a big part of the involvement part, and a great source of fun or us whether driving fast or slow. It takes more involvement and more skill than the C8, which just makes everything easy, even in manual mode that only requires a finger flick.
I'm learning a lot about the C8 in this thread, it's been really helpful and Z mode w/manual shift has definitely changed things for the better vs MyMode in Auto which is how I'd mostly been driving when I made my boring comment.
After I read this thread and your comments, along with all the others, it got me thinking - since I brought my C8 home last September I have never pushed the accelerator all the way to the floor. I haven't needed to - it gets by anything I've needed it to pass on the road without pressing that pedal to the floor. So off I went. I live in a rural area and a state highway with a 55MPH speed limit is at the end of my road. It's usually pretty free of traffic. I pulled up to the stop sign, hit the Z mode button, looked both ways and saw nothing was coming, pulled out on that road, and once I was straight I pressed the accelerator all the way to the floor. OMG! It laid me back in the seat and I was so firmly planted to the road I wasn't the least bit nervous - but I was amazed at just how quickly I hit 100MPH. That's when I slowed down very quickly because I don't like to drive that fast on public roads.
I also haven't tried launch control yet either and won't until I get to Ron Fellows at the end of the summer. I don't have many places I feel comfortable doing it and absolutely want to try it for the first time on a closed course. I use my paddle shifters a lot on all the curvy roads around here and I really like being in control of my RPMs and the feel of no body roll in curves. Have you been to Ron Fellows C8 owner's school yet?
Folks are latching on to the word, "boring," to mean things that weren't intended. The C8 is by no means "boring." It was a reference to the relative level of "driver involvement." As a die-hard manual transmission lover and owner of two nice manual sports cars, as well as a C8, I know exactly what that means.
The C8 is far easier to drive at the limit because it requires less driver involvement. For manual die-hards, the experience of gear rowing, and clutch pedal coordination is a big part of the involvement part, and a great source of fun or us whether driving fast or slow. It takes more involvement and more skill than the C8, which just makes everything easy, even in manual mode that only requires a finger flick.
Spoiler
I understand the whole extra involvement thing, just taking the **** out of it because it always cracks me up.
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.
, with the wick turned up on everything (except suspension. I only set track mode when I get on some great twisties)...as soon as I hit the start button, I press the Zora mode button......it's very cool to be able to completely modify the car's personality with the push of a button.
