C7 GS finishes 7th in Motor Trends "Best Driver's Car"
09-19-2017, 09:51 AM
#1
C7 GS finishes 7th in Motor Trends "Best Driver's Car"
Understanding it only means as much as the schmucks reviewing them, but the GS did a little worse than I expected:
12th Aston Martin DB11
11th Nissan GT-R NISMO
10th Mazda MX-5 Miata RF Club
9th McLaren 570GT
8th Lexus LC 500
7th Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport
6th Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
5th Mercedes-AMG GT R
Finishing ahead but still to be revealed:
Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE
Ferrari 488 GTB
Porsche 718 Cayman S
Porsche 911 Turbo S
I would have expected the 570GT to finish higher up, otherwise rating the Alfa and the Cayman ahead of the GS? Please! MT's positive bias towards Porsche is becoming legendary.
As for the Camaro - great bang for the buck for sure, but as a car, with that greenhouse / sitting in a bathtub feeling - that alone ruins it for me.
Otherwise, still a respectable finish overall.
http://www.motortrend.com/news/chevr...t-drivers-car/
12th Aston Martin DB11
11th Nissan GT-R NISMO
10th Mazda MX-5 Miata RF Club
9th McLaren 570GT
8th Lexus LC 500
7th Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport
6th Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
5th Mercedes-AMG GT R
Finishing ahead but still to be revealed:
Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE
Ferrari 488 GTB
Porsche 718 Cayman S
Porsche 911 Turbo S
I would have expected the 570GT to finish higher up, otherwise rating the Alfa and the Cayman ahead of the GS? Please! MT's positive bias towards Porsche is becoming legendary.
As for the Camaro - great bang for the buck for sure, but as a car, with that greenhouse / sitting in a bathtub feeling - that alone ruins it for me.
Otherwise, still a respectable finish overall.
http://www.motortrend.com/news/chevr...t-drivers-car/
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sunsalem (09-20-2017)
09-19-2017, 10:02 AM
#2
Drifting
Any list like this is really subjective. There are days when I think a Miata would be a hoot and other days when I think a Challenger would be a great ride. The C7 provides the best of both worlds--a sports car with muscle car power.
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Woodson (09-19-2017)
09-19-2017, 10:48 AM
#4
Drifting
Guess none of you guys told them that the Z06 is "the same thing but more power, peasant"
09-19-2017, 10:53 AM
#5
Dunno, it's in some pretty good company. I wouldn't put the Camaro or the 718 ahead of it, but the Turbo S and Ferrari are stellar cars. They also rate it better than the Aston and the McLaren. As for the Alfa, they aren't ranking reliability. The Alfa is a great car. I love them but just wouldn't want to rely on it.
09-19-2017, 11:06 AM
#7
Le Mans Master
It's pretty rare for a car in it's fifth production year to win best drivers car. They usually vote for the latest and greatest.
I think the Camaro has a real shot at being in the top 2. They love Porsche so my bet is 911 or Cayman S will finish first. I am not sure they will love the new 4 cylinder in the Cayman so I think the 911 will win. But it's not really new either.. So maybe Cayman S?
I think the Camaro has a real shot at being in the top 2. They love Porsche so my bet is 911 or Cayman S will finish first. I am not sure they will love the new 4 cylinder in the Cayman so I think the 911 will win. But it's not really new either.. So maybe Cayman S?
Last edited by thill444; 09-19-2017 at 11:08 AM.
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2cnd Chance (09-19-2017)
09-19-2017, 11:22 AM
#8
Le Mans Master
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JerriVette (09-19-2017)
09-19-2017, 12:13 PM
#9
Le Mans Master
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09-19-2017, 12:25 PM
#10
Melting Slicks
The Cayman is the one that surprised me. Before I bought my Vette last year I drove a lot of cars as I wasn't sure what I wanted. The Cayman S did nothing for me. It felt like it had no soul. I did like it, but didn't love it. Didn't drive any other cars except an SS Camaro on that list, but the Corvette was what grabbed me.
As pointed out, most of those are very new cars. It's amazing the GS is even in the running. These magazines love the new.
As pointed out, most of those are very new cars. It's amazing the GS is even in the running. These magazines love the new.
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2cnd Chance (09-19-2017)
09-19-2017, 12:27 PM
#11
Le Mans Master
Something that stands out to me. I have noticed a tendency for car manufacturers to make cars too stiff. I have experienced this with several cars I test drove and owned recently and Randy Pobst really seems to hit on it. I think many cars these days are being overdampened and I am not sure why. Do they think it is more sporty feeling?? Here are Pobst's comments from the Grand Sport MT best drivers write-up:
RANDY SAYS
RANDY SAYS
“I was pissed at the car in Track mode because it wasn’t taking power, wasn’t putting power down, and bumps were moving the rear around. So many times Corvettes to me feel like they have a hinge in the middle, like the front sticks, and the rear doesn’t. Snap oversteer everywhere. It was super snappy on entry. The steering is very fast, and a little bit on the numb side. This is a long time Corvette personality trait. Since ’84, when you crack the wheel, it turns—big time. The front’s just better than the back, and it has been for about 33 years.
“It’s a whole different car in Sport mode. It’s like a big Miata. It was just a completely different car. The hinge was gone. I almost never broke the rear loose at all. It was a big pussycat. Very easy to go fast with it, and the power never challenged the chassis at all. It didn’t feel soft; it just felt right. I must have gone way faster. It was one-tenth the effort. It could use another 100 horsepower.
“The braking is really incredibly good. I think it really is better than every other car here. I couldn’t believe how deep I could go. Corvette has the brakes figured out.”
“It’s a whole different car in Sport mode. It’s like a big Miata. It was just a completely different car. The hinge was gone. I almost never broke the rear loose at all. It was a big pussycat. Very easy to go fast with it, and the power never challenged the chassis at all. It didn’t feel soft; it just felt right. I must have gone way faster. It was one-tenth the effort. It could use another 100 horsepower.
“The braking is really incredibly good. I think it really is better than every other car here. I couldn’t believe how deep I could go. Corvette has the brakes figured out.”
09-19-2017, 01:21 PM
#12
Melting Slicks
Member Since: Aug 2011
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I was surprised at the Lexus LC coming in at 7th place. Considering how good of a deal I can get on one its tempting to just lease one instead of buying a z06.
09-19-2017, 02:23 PM
#13
Safety Car
Opinions vary.....
These are only opinions. Anyone could post a top 10, top 20 etc and very few would agree with them in the same order. Who cares what someone's opinion is?
These are only opinions. Anyone could post a top 10, top 20 etc and very few would agree with them in the same order. Who cares what someone's opinion is?
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Crew Chief (09-22-2017)
09-19-2017, 03:25 PM
#15
Safety Car
While I certainly respect what Chevrolet has done with the Camaro and the ZL1, the ZL1 1LE is a bit like the ACR, a purpose built track machine and is not something I would want to drive on a daily basis. Don't get me wrong, I have built track focused Corvettes and Camaros before but as they get better and faster for the track they get worse for the street. Than when you have them just perfect for the track they are simply unlivable on the street.
In fact I have a DDer that is sporty but leans toward the utilitarian and comfortable and only drive the Z on weekends. I think something like the ACR and the ZL1 1LE and the upcoming big wing ZR1 are for people that have at least 4 cars. A wife's DDer, their DDer, A fun GT weekend car, and a track car. Most of my working career I have had 6-7 cars and that does allow for some focus existing in each car. But any time there is a "Best" competition you need to get the design basis and criteria nailed down and these magazines never do that. Is the criteria, fastest lap time?, most fun on the track?, most fun on the Angeles Hiway or Tail of the Dragon?, or most fun on the 405 at 6 pm on a Friday heading to Laguna for the weekend? Very different criteria and no single car would win once those criteria are combined.
In fact I have a DDer that is sporty but leans toward the utilitarian and comfortable and only drive the Z on weekends. I think something like the ACR and the ZL1 1LE and the upcoming big wing ZR1 are for people that have at least 4 cars. A wife's DDer, their DDer, A fun GT weekend car, and a track car. Most of my working career I have had 6-7 cars and that does allow for some focus existing in each car. But any time there is a "Best" competition you need to get the design basis and criteria nailed down and these magazines never do that. Is the criteria, fastest lap time?, most fun on the track?, most fun on the Angeles Hiway or Tail of the Dragon?, or most fun on the 405 at 6 pm on a Friday heading to Laguna for the weekend? Very different criteria and no single car would win once those criteria are combined.
09-19-2017, 03:57 PM
#17
Something that stands out to me. I have noticed a tendency for car manufacturers to make cars too stiff. I have experienced this with several cars I test drove and owned recently and Randy Pobst really seems to hit on it. I think many cars these days are being overdampened and I am not sure why. Do they think it is more sporty feeling?? Here are Pobst's comments from the Grand Sport MT best drivers write-up:
RANDY SAYS
RANDY SAYS
http://www.motortrend.com/cars/chevr...911-carrera-s/
If you read/watch this "highly glowing" Grand Sport review it's as though they are testing a different car based on the comments from the "Best Drivers Car" review??
Being they're so inconsistent the question is why? Is it the "new car thing" as some have mentioned? Was the grip down due to it being driven early in the day (as mentioned in another thread) on Laguna Seca when it was 50* and balmy? I'm not getting it??
Last edited by 2cnd Chance; 09-21-2017 at 03:32 PM.
09-19-2017, 04:26 PM
#19
What is a "drivers car" supposed to mean ? Ask 100 different people and get 100 different answers.
09-19-2017, 04:28 PM
#20
I'm more surprised it's down 1.8 seconds on C6 Z07. You'd think chassis refinement, better tires, newer gen mag suspension and so forth would bring it close. Must be the extra weight and being down 50hp.
http://fastestlaps.com/tracks/laguna-seca-post-1988
http://fastestlaps.com/tracks/laguna-seca-post-1988