S2K

I have heard it stated in many ways and times that GM is trying to go after the "younger" crowd with the C7. That they are trying to reverse the image of an "old guy's" car, etc. I am curious as to what we think the age group is that GM is after? I am not sure what the absolute cheapest version of this car will cost, but let's say after TTL you aren't escaping for less than $50k. Exactly how many youngsters have this to include insurance? Of course you will find folks in their 20's and even teens, but if you look at the average income across the entire country and I think you come out at about the cost of a Corvette or less. This is someone's ENTIRE income for the year. I don't care if 15 teens jump on this thread saying how they are putting down a deposit, I just cannot fathom there are enough folks in this "younger" bracket to buy up this car no matter how much they may love it. I am not saying GM is targeting teens, but this gets to my question as to what age are we thinking here?

I am 41 now and I bought my C6 when I was 34. Was I in the "young" crowd then? Also, is there something about the C7 that would appeal to a younger crowd than the C6 did? Is this a new strategy that they didn't have at the time the C6 was released? In the end I just don't see GM having done anything different with this C7 in terms of age appeal that they didn't do when the C6 was released. Given the economy is even worse now and the cost of the car will be higher and I just don't see the market as having expanded more with the younger set versus 2005.

alanhang

the person they are going after is the young upwardly mobile consumer who would opt for a z4, audi tt cayman, bmw 3 series etc. They would be in their 30s to 40's and wanting an upscale looking hot sports car. They have it in the new c7.

alanhang

also if you go to a lot of vette shows presently you mostly see older guys. A lot of these guys are starting to die off. Just like the cadillac guys were. Cts and cts v lowered the age from nearly dead, to getting ahead

ls1121

anyone under 60

Garret

Monkey D. Luffy

DaveFerrari458

I don't think they are going bottom fishing and after those cars. None of those car you mentioned are really that "upscale". They are going more after the 911, Jaguar F, GTR crowd.

And when they say young I would assume over 35 crowd. This car is not in the price range and budget of majority of the nation let alone someone in their 20's. Not that there is not always exception to the rules.

j3studio

There's that old saying:

"You can sell an old man a young man's car, but you can't sell a young man an old man's car."

S2K

How is this any different than what they were doing with the C6?

nevillej

I think they are targeting the 27-40 year olds who might make 60K+ a year but have not yet had their disposable income depleted by purchasing a home or supporting a family. They want to sway them away from a Boxster or BMW and get them in an American car that's been tweaked to grab their attention and I believe it does "grab" one's attention.

alanhang

didnt say 20's. You are wrong also about who they are going after as you might have noticed there was an etc after. Corvette breaks down into very distinct price points. Not everyone can afford the zr1. But lots of guys in their thirties who could afford say a bmw 335is, can also afford the new vette in the lower model price point. For the first time in awhile, im enjoying the corvette forum, because that new c7 every time I look at it, it gets better and better.

DaveFerrari458

$60K/Year???? LOL.....try more like $160K/year.

alanhang

no, 60 is fine as a lot of people will lease them or have their businesses cover some of the costs of leasing or financing.

Stingray23

If you like fuzzy dice, chrome wheels, and had a mullet, then this isnt the car for you.

DaveFerrari458

One has to be a financial idiot to buy or lease a $60K+ car on a $60K/year income. That's like someone making $180K/year buying or leasing a Ferrari.

clayton1

I havent seen it anywhere but I also havent read all the threads so Im just gonna ask here...What size wheels for the C7? 19/20s?

Reciprocal

Alanhang is just giving opinions that originate from his own observations of the world as seen through the eyes of youth and inexperience. He sees an old guy driving a Corvette, feels the unfairness that such a driver is too old to appreciate fully the performance capability to deserve having it, yet understands the impression the car has on his peers which he covets. For GM, it's easy to see why they would want to target that younger audience. To keep the car competitive with Ferrari and Porsche in an ongoing sense is very expensive. The price of the top level Vettes were approaching $100k, in the case of the ZR1 even more. But the younger audience sought by GM cares little about racing, probably doesn't follow it. By simply withdrawing from the competition with 911, 458, R8 and even GT-R, they can concentrate on the e-package and social networking trends the younger audiences truly care about, and position the car against the lower end imports like the cayman, 3 series etc. Later when the time is right, GM can bring out the performance model to the smaller hardcore audience at which point, new is old again. Cycle of life.

bladex10

A guy in his 20's can afford this car if he has good credit and a decent job. Its not an expensive car in terms of todays market. Average SUVs/Trucks cost around $40k new now. All you see are young guys driving them. Whats another $10-15k if they want a badass new Corvette? I'd say a guy with a decent down payment and a $50k a year income can afford one of these cars if its their dream car.

roundlight lover

Ever hear the term "Young and Dumb" ???
Now you're gitiin' it.......
Now git jiggy widdit...... sure he'll have one soon. And his kids too.....

S2K

Ah yes, and we now have the very thinking that has kept people in extreme debt and defaulted mortgages. All we need to do now is buy the car with a credit card and pay 20% interest. The American dream brought you to by Government Motors.