H82BFST

GM is doing it with the Malibu. Taking the current one and labeling it a Chevy Classic or Malibu Clasic.

So, why not take the current C5, de-option it a bit, smack it with a $32-40K price tag and call it a Corvette Classic for a few year?

This should take out the wanna-be's in that price category such as the Cobra, EVO, etc. GM doesn't have the Fbody anymore to fill the entry level performance market anyways.

What do you guys think?

Butta

Sweet idea!!!! Come on GM!!! Probably will never happen though. :(

DanielW

i'm sorry but there's a bigger chance of the C6 having a 10000hp jet engine than that happening.

vett-ish

I don't know, the day you begin to cheapen the vette is the day it loses its savvy. :nonod:

funshipone

Great Idea GM already is making plans for introduction 2006 called Soltice or however you spell the name?

zphantom

Thanks for trying to make the move from C5 to C6 harder by attempting to make my '02 worthless. :)

H82BFST

I know I don't need to tell you that you don't buy a car (new) as a short term investment. ;)

LongTimer

I would much rather see GM apply the Holden Multi-car-on-a-single-production line technique to offer a multi-model corvette line. At minimum would be a $65-70k world beater (maybe mid engine) and the "current" C6 model. If a vette model were to be targeted at a lower market, that vette should be very different. Perhaps that little mid engined Vauxal / Opel, re-engineered with more power to directly compete with the 350Z. I understand it already handles extremely well.

P.S. NO VETTE Trucks or SUVs please.


[Modified by LongTimer, 10:55 PM 9/26/2003]

H82BFST

When I was thinking about the Vette Classic, I was NOT thinking about a different platform "another but smaller" Corvette, etc. (Definitely NEVER EVER SUVs, etc)

My thought process was, "Hey GM, all the R&D, all the tooling, etc has been already paid for on the C5. The C5 is still EXCELLENT even by todays new whipper snapper standards so if the XLR can be produced in the same plant as the C5, then why not continue the C5 revised"

I understand that this wouldn't happen as many would fee it cheapens their status symbol, but for those of us who can't see buying a 50K just to beat the snot out of it, it would be a great alternative. (Without having to go to the competition)


[Modified by H82BFST, 5:16 PM 9/26/2003]

vette-freak

They looked into it already. In 97, I was prevelidged to set in a FRC at the plant that had cloth seats & hand crank windows along with 17" rims all around. I was told that GM scrapped the idea for fear of standard vettes not selling due to the price difference ($6000 difference from a coupe) & people wouldn't justify the price increase for standard equipted coupes & verts. The FRC was almost a "dropped" line also for lack of sales until the z-06 platform was taken up. I was told that the z-06 line was originally to be used on coupes but the FRC was lighter & the GM sponsered race teams were modifying them to begin with. So thank the racing teams for saving the FRC.


[Modified by vette-freak, 5:54 PM 9/26/2003]

LongTimer

I think I understand your position. My position is that a multi model vette line must offer distinctly different sports cars. There have been lengthy discussions here and on other sites about the possibility of a multi model Corvette division being spun off by GM. I am in favor of this and suggested the possibility here in the past. I was flamed - to the extreme.

Regardless, I feel a multi model corvette line MUST be diverse - not compete against itself. It MUST offer the very best performance value in each market it enters. I don't see how a smaller vette could use a significant number of parts and engineering from either a C5 or a C6. If I misunderstand, and you are suggesting the continuance of a de-contented C5, I agree with a previous post that it would not sell well. These days even Civics have PDL, PW, CC, ABS, etc. The market expectation at even $30k is there for these aminities. IMO

GDP

Horrible idea.

Didn't they already attempt this with the Hard Top? None of them would sell.

Tenderfoot

:withstupid:

Jinx

GM has done this "classic" thing before -- remember the Lumina? They kept building it for the rental market after they replaced it in the consumer market with the Impala.

It's a horrible idea.

In the case of the Malibu (and the Lumina before it), hundreds of thousands and perhaps millions of people experience General Motors in the form of an obsolete unloved product.

In the case of Corvette, a lingering C5 simply wouldn't be competitive. We're not getting a C6 because GM feels generous.

Way to turn around the reputation, boys.

Anyway, where would they build it? They need the Bowling Green line for C6 production.

GM sells all the Corvettes they can build. Watering down the brand offering a lower-profit antiquated car serves no purpose and is a logistical nightmare besides.

Keep in mind this C5 would be competing with all the used C5s already out there. Oh, you didn't want any resale value on your C5, did you?

.Jinx

bigblockbob

Crack Kills!!!!
Edit: I am at 383 posts! HeHe.. :D


[Modified by bigblockbob, 10:38 PM 9/26/2003]

Hurricane

Great points! :iagree:

Scissors

That is quite possible the worst idea I have ever heard. I am dumber for having read it. I award you no points and may God have mercy on your soul.

Kevin93

Sounds like burning off excess inventory is what I think.

More than anything else, the Corvette has always been about innovation and pushing limits, and not looking back for anything more than minor styling cues.


[Modified by Kevin93, 9:26 AM 9/28/2003]

Tom/99

I would love to see a lot of the now standard features become options. They could really drop the price if they did away with the power windows, door locks, seat, automatic climate control, etc.

Jinx

I don't know where this thinking comes from, but it's not the real world.

This is bullocks. How does the price drop? Crank windows require additional engineering, more space in the doors, and at this point when basically every vehicle in the entire GM lineup has power windows, the parts for crank windows will be MORE expensive!

And in general, options increase the inventory and build complexity, thus increase cost.

Besides, for all the whining about it, only about two hundred people are ever going to buy a car so underequipped, no matter the price.

Where's the big savings?

I would love to see this outmoded "bare bones" thinking die.

.Jinx