Nael

I know this may be a really dumb question to ask, but I wanted to know what makes the corvette cost as much as it does.
In comparison with the Camaro SS, the Corvette is around $18k more expensive (base prices for both)
Both cars have the same engine, similar interior / luxury, similar track capabilities and similar track times.
The only true difference I see is the body (aerodynamics), and weight (material used).
Is this really worth 18 grand, or am I missing something?

movinlow

I suggest you drive one and decide for yourself if the price is worth the difference

Nael

I agree with you, driving experience and overall feel could be much better. But, statistically speaking, what makes the corvette more expensive?

Iconic

I'm sure GM has an official media relations type answer like R&D and such. I've always surmised it's because that is the price that the market will bear. Much like the optional paint such as Long Beach red is $995 on a Vette, but on any other GM vehicle it's called Siren red optioned at $395 and it's the same exact paint code.

A no optioned Grand Sport and a loaded ZL1 Camaro (supercharged LT4 650 HP) are about the same price. Just prior to my last Vette order I thought about the ZL1 for a moment, then realized that I would have to drive it. Edge Grand Sport Corvette.

cowboy casey

R and D
better equipment
Looks

Snowwolfe

Companies are free to charge what they want, for any reason they want. Consumers are free to pay these prices, or not.

roadbike56

R&D expenses for the Camaro are spread over approximately two times the cars compared to Corvette for any given years sales. Add to that the cost of the machinery to manufacture parts is spread over half as many Corvettes as Camaros, then the cost of composite panels that are not in the Camaro.
Consider that Camaro benefits from the R&D put into Corvette that Camaro then "borrows" to lower their per/unit cost. Americans love R&D but hate to pay for it. Those costs have to be recouped somewhere and Corvette is the halo car that gets hit with many of those development costs.

ironman77

The reason is a vette is better built than a Camaro and tuned better. Let's use this formula, if you drove a mustang,camaro or a Challenger you would be driving home a Challenger by far, dodge by far has them beat in the the pony car area. The Challenger stands out and it is a built better by far and the driving experience is outstanding just like the Vette in its category.
One reason sales feel to floor on Camaro and mustang is because it feels blah driving, the formula does not work
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Kevin A Jones

I agree with others, as to R&D costs and the distribution of such account for quite a bit of it. And even though there's similarities there's substantial differences in materials as well and cost of these materials.

proexpert

it's called the Corvette tax

2cnd Chance

what???

OP the Vette is far better engineered. Just compare the stamped steel of the Camaro chassis and suspension to the aluminum structure and suspension pieces of the Corvette, among others...

evoroadster

Just a guess but a transaxle, composite body panels and an all aluminum chassis come to mind. Don't forget the butt-load of panache!

Nael

In that sense, you are truly correct. However, am I paying $18k extra because it costed GM more money to make the car, or because the car is better?
What I want to know is if the corvette really is better, or not.

Nael

That is very untrue. In sales, the three are ranked accordingly: 1. Mustang 2. Camaro 3. Challenger
The only car's sales that are to the floor is the challenger's.
Second, a corvette isn't actually tuned better than a Camaro. You can search up stock dyno's for Camaro vs. Corvette and you will realize the camaro packs a little more horsepower than the corvette does.

Kevin A Jones

Just the point I was making in my above post. Comparing even a base C7 to the most sofisicated Camaro is like comparing apples to bananas.

Kevin A Jones

Whether it's better or not depends on individual preference, however it's definitely very different and cost more to build than a Camaro.

Maxpowers

Better at what?

CP

The Vette is a low production vehicle. The per unit cost is higher.

Snowwolfe

You are starting to sound like someone who just wants to debate. Better, or not, in what categories?

The only person who can state which is a better car for you, is YOU.
You are on a Corvette forum so answers will be biased. If you visit a Camaro forum the same holds true.

z28lt1

Does the Corvette cost more to build then the Camaro? Almost certainly. Is the cost difference between the two complete a factor of build costs? Probably not.

Also, there is a lot of funny money that goes into the accounting for these things. If an engine was developed for the Corvette, and then a couple of years later modified and adapted to the Camaro, where did the cost of designing the engine get allocated to?

Finally, seems like a bunch of people weighing in on the thread who have never driven an Alpha platform Camaro