Gotta love "obsolete"
04-22-2014, 09:54 PM
#21
04-22-2014, 10:14 PM
#22
Drifting
So, I just spent four days at Bob Bondurant taking the Grand Prix road racing course and getting qualified for my SCCA Class A license. I asked them how the GS compared to the new C7's with the Z51 package they now had. They all said the GS was a better track car, more refined, more dialed in, but the new C7 was a better touring car, and would probably get better mileage out in the real world because of the cylinder deactivation. So, I guess it depends on what you're into. I trained for three days in the C7 before we got into the Formula Mazda cars. There is no advantage in the C7 as far as performance is concerned on the track. The suspension is a little too soft in the C7, turn in a little sluggish. The new interior was nice but I've totally redone my interior so there wasn't any advantage there either for me at least. The performance seats were really nice but not as nice as my Caravaggio's. They have to put on Goodyears because they're sponsored by them. Their grip was decent though. The NPP on my GS sounds better than the Borla system they have to put on theirs, again due to sponsorship. But there were some cool features in the new gauge cluster, which compared to my GS is much more advanced.
Last edited by Cyber Greg; 04-22-2014 at 10:23 PM.
04-23-2014, 11:18 AM
#26
Team Owner
Nice peaceful day in your older model Corvette.
04-23-2014, 11:27 AM
#28
Race Car Tech
04-23-2014, 11:28 AM
#29
Race Car Tech
This past Sunday (Easter) I took my '13 silver 6-speed GS coupe to visit my daughter at her college and take her to lunch.
With the keyless fob in my pocket, I entered my garage and unlocked the car at the touch of the door handle. I took the targa roof out, stored it in the back, and closed the hatch, which latched electrically, perfectly and gently.
I sat in the car and pushed the start button. The LS3 fired immediately and the needles swept over the entire faces of the beautiful electronic analog gauges, just like my motorcycle. I pushed the memory seat button and the power seat and steering column moved into place.
I set the magnetic ride to the tour setting.
I set the auto climate control to 68, the factory GPS to her apartment address, the XM satellite radio to Margaritaville, then backed out of the garage and closed the door with my Homelink button.
I took the freeway most of the trip. I watched my speed and the navigation directions on the HUD. I used the trip computer to monitor my mpg in the DIC. I cruised at 65 mph, turning about 1500 rpm and averaging about 27 mpg.
As I approached my daughter's apt I used the Bluetooth to call her, which worked flawlessly. We had a wonderful lunch and as we left the restaurant a father and son told us what a beautiful Corvette we had.
After dropping her off I used some secondary roads to get home so I could play a little, enjoy the handling of the GS and also enjoy hearing the NPP exhaust.
I arrived back home around 4 hours later, smiling and really happy with the beauty, comfort, convenience, fuel economy and performance available in my "obsolete" automobile.
With the keyless fob in my pocket, I entered my garage and unlocked the car at the touch of the door handle. I took the targa roof out, stored it in the back, and closed the hatch, which latched electrically, perfectly and gently.
I sat in the car and pushed the start button. The LS3 fired immediately and the needles swept over the entire faces of the beautiful electronic analog gauges, just like my motorcycle. I pushed the memory seat button and the power seat and steering column moved into place.
I set the magnetic ride to the tour setting.
I set the auto climate control to 68, the factory GPS to her apartment address, the XM satellite radio to Margaritaville, then backed out of the garage and closed the door with my Homelink button.
I took the freeway most of the trip. I watched my speed and the navigation directions on the HUD. I used the trip computer to monitor my mpg in the DIC. I cruised at 65 mph, turning about 1500 rpm and averaging about 27 mpg.
As I approached my daughter's apt I used the Bluetooth to call her, which worked flawlessly. We had a wonderful lunch and as we left the restaurant a father and son told us what a beautiful Corvette we had.
After dropping her off I used some secondary roads to get home so I could play a little, enjoy the handling of the GS and also enjoy hearing the NPP exhaust.
I arrived back home around 4 hours later, smiling and really happy with the beauty, comfort, convenience, fuel economy and performance available in my "obsolete" automobile.
04-23-2014, 03:54 PM
#33
Melting Slicks
Well said!!
No Vette is "obsolete"…..all are different, all are exactly what Chevy meant them to be…. If you have never read the book "All Corvettes are Red"….the story of the development of the C5…. its a great read! In addition to the heart of the story , the development of the C5 ( foundation for the C6 and C7 )there is much that brings to life what the Corvette is and, hopefully, will always be about!
No Vette is "obsolete"…..all are different, all are exactly what Chevy meant them to be…. If you have never read the book "All Corvettes are Red"….the story of the development of the C5…. its a great read! In addition to the heart of the story , the development of the C5 ( foundation for the C6 and C7 )there is much that brings to life what the Corvette is and, hopefully, will always be about!
04-23-2014, 04:06 PM
#34
Melting Slicks
04-23-2014, 04:16 PM
#35
Drifting
The wife had an '01 black convertible with every option except auto trans and I never thought of it as obsolete. Now she has a '11 GS convertible 4LT with all the options except auto. I have a '68 coupe BB with tilt wheel. Guess which one she likes to ride in most? They are never obsolete as long as they bring you joy. Isn't that why you really bought the one you have?
04-23-2014, 05:00 PM
#37
Le Mans Master
04-23-2014, 05:01 PM
#38
what amazes me is that you would mention leaf springs in that tone..like they are some how a hindrance to handling
04-23-2014, 05:03 PM
#39
Melting Slicks
Member Since: Aug 2011
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 2,711
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well said!! No Vette is "obsolete"…..all are different, all are exactly what Chevy meant them to be…. If you have never read the book "All Corvettes are Red"….the story of the development of the C5…. its a great read! In addition to the heart of the story , the development of the C5 ( foundation for the C6 and C7 )there is much that brings to life what the Corvette is and, hopefully, will always be about!
No Vette is "obsolete"…..all are different, all are exactly what Chevy meant them to be…. If you have never read the book "All Corvettes are Red"….the story of the development of the C5…. its a great read! In addition to the heart of the story , the development of the C5 ( foundation for the C6 and C7 )there is much that brings to life what the Corvette is and, hopefully, will always be about!
04-23-2014, 05:04 PM
#40
Supporting Lifetime
Member Since: Sep 2005
Location: Syracuse NY
Posts: 4,014
Received 1,266 Likes
on
507 Posts
2023 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 Corvette of the Year Finalist -- Unmodified
2021 C1 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
2020 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2016 C1 of the Year Finalist
After my initial spring clean-up and inaugural top-down drive of my '07 convertible, I was sitting at a stoplight when a carload of teenage boys pulled up along side. They were arguing over whether my car was the new Stingray or not. You know, as long as there are still folks out there who think it's new . . . . It is.
