Lemans Blue

Well first of all its a gorgeous machine with all the bells and whistles a person could want. Stereo system was nice, as well as the control panel and gauges, seat was comfortable and all of the interior fit and function was very nice.

Pulling out of the dealership I noticed immediately the fly by wire steering and effortless turning. At first I was not sure what to think, you get absolutely zero road feedback from the system. On the freeway on ramp I gained speed through the curve and I had to make several adjustments to maintain my line, where as in my C5 I just accelerate and it holds the line pretty easy. The power was ok but I expected more out of it, the 8 speed trans seemed sluggish during shifts, but I assume that can be tuned out of it. Overall its a nice car, but it just did not excite me and when I got back into my C5 it just felt like home, so maybe I will install a supercharger and be happy with it.

dvilin

Good luck and enjoy your C5.

C5North

Ok.

Indy-hp

Which driving mode was the C7 in? My Stingray would run rings around my C5 with plenty of road feel in Sport mode.

NSC5

You really need to put it in sport mode for the transmission to provide impressive shifting. The steering feel also changes by mode although it can be set separately from the overall driving mode. Throttle progression (i.e. feel) also varies a lot by mode as do other functions including suspension if you drove a model with MSRC and the suspension changes between modes is much more marked than previous Corvette implementations.

Like other advanced current products you need to spend some time learning about it before making any performance judgments. The C7 can go from very docile in weather mode to very high performance in sport and track modes so you can match its personality to what you want in that particular drive.

I agree that steering is too light in touring mode and I keep my steering (2016 Z06) set to sport regardless of overall mode.

C82LT

Every Stingray I test drove was in Touring. As said above, sport and track modes are where the car’s personality starts to show. Steering tightens up and there is some feedback but not like an old school hydraulic system. This is a complaint for every enthusiast. BMW guys complain about it too.

Lemans Blue

It must have been it tour mode, at the time I did not check to see if there were different modes.

ECSNRBCHARGED

The best part is that they are corvettes.. And superchargers are awesome!

patentcad

It's next to impossible to get a real overview of a car with a 10-20 minute test drive. When they give a car to a magazine for a review, the journalist gets a day or two (or more) with the car. If I was really concentrating, taking notes, etc., it would take me hours in a car to really hear what it's telling me, at least all of it.

If I were you I'd trade the C5 on a current Corvette and put a little faith in the overwhelming automotive opinion of journalists, sports car owner/enthusiasts and auto industry people (who have a lot more experience with cars than you or I do) who seem to agree is the C7 is by far the best Corvette ever built. That's what I generally do when it comes to cars, and that approach has not let me down over 35+ years of buying all kinds of cars. I've owned at least 30, maybe I've been disappointed in a car once (2001 BMW 540i, hated the car).

We all fear change, and trading from a C5 to a C7 is a big change.

Lemans Blue

Agreed.

Foosh

On the steering issue you noted, the car must be properly aligned. The alignments out of BG are all over the map.

I also agree that's it's impossible to properly judge a car on a dealer test drive. I'm very familiar w/ both the C5 and C6, and they are crude by comparison to the C7.

FLATJ

Hey, stick with your C5 if you like...we'll still wave at you!

Kraz8s

So you went and test drove a C7 and didn't know there where different driving modes? Yet you had no trouble navigating your browser to the C7 forum to post some half-cocked review?

That's like going to the beach and being surprised there is water and that it is wet.

SMT1004

I came from a C5 to my current C7, you certainly get a feel and know the personality of your current car over any new one you may look at. The one main trait I have now with my C7 that I did not 'feel' with my C5, confidence. I know exactly what each input will result in. As others mentioned there are so many settings in the C7 that can give it different traits. That being said adding a supercharger to a C5 would be some serious fun, don't forget about all the other upgrades to the drivetrain to support it.

JerryU

Hmm, It's NOT fly by wire! (You probably did not mean that literally!) It's electric assist steering, there is a direct mechanical linkage from your hand to a rack and pinon to the wheels! There are three steering "feel" settings. I like Sport but you can set for even more "feel" (less assist) in Track. I have mine set for Sport no matter what mode I use.

I had two C4's ('88 and '93) and a C6, '08. No way any matched the 460 hp and low end torque of the C7. I have only had standard shifts but look up the 0 to 60 times for whatever you have and the C7!

Yep, wish I had my old '41 Ford Opera Coupe that I stuffed in an Olds engine when I was 17! However, what I remembered as great performance, if I drove it today is no where near that of my Grand Sport!

Corgidog1

Don't forget you are used to your C5 and the C7 is new to you and not broken in. The C7 is miles ahead of the C5. As another poster had indicated, trust in the overall reviews of the C7.

CRABBYJ

So, are you going back to take another spin, this time in other than Tour Mode? Preferably the same C7. Then give us an updated opinion.

Mike Campbell

I've had a C5, a rocket and a hot rod, a C6, a great car, ran rings around my C5 and now a C7, about a light year better than my C6 in every catagory. Guess I'm wrong. Should've kept my C5 with '90 technology. Duh?

lennykoll

Agreed..... after obtaining my 2015 and fitting it out with new A/S ZP tires, wheels (replaced because of plating defects) all around and a complete alignment there was a HUGE difference over the day I bought it.... previous 6K mile owner did NOT pay attention to "details". Dramatic differences when you change modes.... choose your flavor!!

I went from a C3 'vert (and C2 I still have) and considered getting a very nice C6 GS but man, there is just no comparison IMHO.

Jump in, the C7 water is just fine!!

fourmat

Ya was at the dealer getting mine aligned and he had 4 more waiting
all of us under 200 miles, and they were all out some just toe many with camber way out