would you buy a cheaper c7 corvette?

Gillbot

Lifer
Jan 11, 2001
28,830
17
81
Umm, yeah. Never gonna happen. You'll be lucky if it's 3000 lbs stock.

I think the C6 was like 3200 lbs?

I don't think it'll happen either. That's what the Camaro is for, then people get old and upgrade into a Corvette.
 

Dr. Detroit

Diamond Member
Sep 25, 2004
8,345
791
126
The last budget Corvette was the introduction of the 1999 Fixed Roof Coupe - a design the general public was not too keen on as they only lasted 3 model years.

I don't see them doing this - on a budget, buy a Camaro. Why water down the HALO car.

No chance this car if made will weigh more than 100lbs less than a standard Stingray.
 

JackBurton

Lifer
Jul 18, 2000
15,993
14
81
The budget Corvette is the base Corvette. If people can't afford it, they can look at Camaro's. GM shouldn't be compromising with the Corvette brand. It's bad enough they offer a V6 Camaro.
 
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phucheneh

Diamond Member
Jun 30, 2012
7,306
5
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Would I buy it? No. (not hate, just a general statement. fuck, I'm too poor, even if I wanted it)

But as a general idea? I like it. As the resident 'corvette-detractor,' I see them as effective track toys, and notsomuch as good daily drivers. A stripper model really embraces what I like most about the car and throws away the fluff that just annoys me.

Look at power to weight in your small cars: Miata is about 15:1 (pounds:hp), BRZ/FRS is about 14:1. That's the delicate end of the spectrum. The V6 Mustang that can be had with the decent handling package is 11.5:1. V6 Camaro is about the same.

So...throw something in the middle. Or at least match the 'pony' levels with the Corvette handling. Hmm, let's call worst case 3200 and 350hp...that's 9.1:1. Go (IMO) best case at 3000/400hp...7.5:1. Not playing on-paper racer here, but going off of my own experiences...300-350hp in even a 3500-3800lb car ain't no freakin' slouch. Ditch 500lbs, maybe even add some more power...that would be some fun shit. I don't think they want to 'sully' the Corvette name, though.

Hell, I'd take the Camaro V6 engine in a 'Vette chassis. Give it power-nothing (roll-up windows!), cheaper wheels...anything you could cut back on while maintaining handling, braking, and some semblance of an interior...I bet you could pass the 3000lb mark. Wonder how cheaply it could be built?

...what would you rather have for 30k; a nicely-equipped 200hp BR-Z, or a gutted 330hp Corvette?

The budget Corvette is the base Corvette. If people can't afford it, they can look at Camaro's. GM shouldn't be compromising with the Corvette brand. It's bad enough they offer a V6 Camaro.

You're old. ;P

The Camaro is a turd. The low price of the V6 model is its saving grace. And I don't see the Corvette as some kind of sacred nameplate. Wouldn't they have already sullied it...I dunno, over thirty years ago? When they sold it as a 3500lb car with a 165hp V8?
 
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Viper GTS

Lifer
Oct 13, 1999
38,107
433
136
Even gutted there is no way this would be 30k.

There's a reason the Miata and toyobaru twins are priced so similarly, the idea that Chevrolet could somehow pull 40 or 50 percent out of the C7 at will is ludicrous. I say 45k absolute minimum if it happens at all, which I seriously doubt.

Viper GTS
 
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JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,542
921
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Even gutted there is no way this would be 30k.

There's a reason the Miata and toyobaru twins are priced so similarly, the idea that Chevrolet could somehow pull 40 or 50 percent out of the C7 at will is ludicrous. I say 45k absolute minimum if it happens at all, which I seriously doubt.

Viper GTS

I tend to agree with you. Who is this car aimed at anyway? :confused: G35/37 owners? Perhaps...
 

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,542
921
126
People who'd otherwise be shopping Mustang GT or Camaro SS I guess, I mean a loaded GT is basically 40k these days right?

Viper GTS

True, but the Corvette has always skirted on those two markets anyway and Chevy doesn't want the Corvette to cut into the Camaro market too much.
 

phucheneh

Diamond Member
Jun 30, 2012
7,306
5
0
Even gutted there is no way this would be 30k.

There's a reason the Miata and toyobaru twins are priced so similarly, the idea that Chevrolet could somehow pull 40 or 50 percent out of the C7 at will is ludicrous. I say 45k absolute minimum if it happens at all, which I seriously doubt.

Viper GTS

Didn't a base C5 cost like 40k? I wanna say a base C6 used to be like 45k. I see that C6's are up to 50 now...

Just seems like if you took out all the electric shit, gave it halogen headlights, ect....I don't see why it couldn't be a 30-35k car.

I wouldn't say it's aimed at G37 owners. GM really doesn't have anything there, honestly. They've got some luxury cars, and they've got plenty of ability to produce ~300hp engines, but there's no RWD platform other than the Camaro, is there? Maybe when the new Grand National comes out...

I would say the 'cheap' version would be aimed at someone who wants a Miata-like simple, fun to drive vehicle, but in a bigger format. Not all of us can fit into Miatas. :( Or people coming from the other direction- they want the power of a Mustang/Camaro...with handling.

As much as we all generally claim the Corvette is a 'performance bargain,' I think GM makes bank on them. Let's face it- there's less interior to make, the body is cheap (on the base, at least; some have CF, don't they?), the drivetrain is relatively simple...

Compare a 50k basemodel Corvette with other 50k cars...you're between a 528 and 535 Bimmer (or you could get the extra-sporty 'almost an M' version of a 3-series). You could get an M37 (or M37x). A Mercedes...or some sort (okay, I don't keep up with Mercedes).

Point being, it just sure seems like a lot more money goes into building a 50k luxo-sport sedan.
 

MixMasterTang

Diamond Member
Jul 23, 2001
3,167
176
106
Didn't a base C5 cost like 40k? I wanna say a base C6 used to be like 45k. I see that C6's are up to 50 now...

Just seems like if you took out all the electric shit, gave it halogen headlights, ect....I don't see why it couldn't be a 30-35k car.

I wouldn't say it's aimed at G37 owners. GM really doesn't have anything there, honestly. They've got some luxury cars, and they've got plenty of ability to produce ~300hp engines, but there's no RWD platform other than the Camaro, is there? Maybe when the new Grand National comes out...

Chevrolet SS
 

phucheneh

Diamond Member
Jun 30, 2012
7,306
5
0
Actually, I think CTS is what I forgot.

The SS is the 'let's try a Holden again' car, right? Are they known for handling prowess?
 

Midwayman

Diamond Member
Jan 28, 2000
5,723
325
126
They should do it and not give it the corvette name plate. I'd be interested. Its not like the corvette is much of a luxury car anyways. The more likely move is they strip it, call it a light weight 'track' model and charge more for it.
 

Imported

Lifer
Sep 2, 2000
14,679
23
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They should do it and not give it the corvette name plate. I'd be interested. Its not like the corvette is much of a luxury car anyways. The more likely move is they strip it, call it a light weight 'track' model and charge more for it.

Doesn't Porsche do that? o_O