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Loved the pics of the C6 and the very first one I saw in person, I bought. That was in 2004. I'm on my 4th C6 and can't say the C8 is pulling me that hard. While I am intrigued, I'm still waiting until at least the 2023 model year before I look hard again at a C8.
I owned a C6 coupe in Carlisle Blue. I really liked the car, but I thought the wide bodies were much more striking in their appearance.
The C8 may have looked better if the engine was in the front.
Even Dr. Porsche knew the right place for an engine was in the middle! He built his 1st sports car as a ME, a 356. But it was too expensive for 1948 Germany recovering from the war. He was forced to build the production cars with VW parts! He's probably laughing that the IMSA 911's had to move the engine to the middle to be competitive!
I have been a Corvette fan since I was a kid (I'm 40, so C4 generation including the ZR-1 are the first I really "lusted" after). Grew up around the Corvette club and friends with all generations/ages/body styles. My parents ordered 1997 Coupe and 1998 Convertible Vettes new when the C5 came out and I was in love. I still own the 1997 Coupe 6-speed (just hit 30k miles). That car is just like a broken in leather jacket to me...it just "fits." However I never liked the C6 as much as the C5 when it came out, I was one of the old school who felt it was blasphemy to get rid of the pop up headlights (I've since grown to appreciate the C6 a lot) and the C7 was always a cool car but for some reason never spoke to me enough to buy one (although it has grown on me as well, but still think the rear is meh). In fact I decided to buy a 2016 Jaguar F-Type R convertible instead of a Z06 back in '16.
When news broke that the C8 would likely be "automatic" only I said I don't care what it looks like, I'm not interested, a Vette should have a manual. I was on a cruise in Alaska when the reveal was streamed and I missed dinner and dealt with spotty wi-fi just to watch...I was in love immediately. Emailed my dealer buddy that night telling him to put me down for his first allocation. Still wasn't thrilled or sold on the DCT-only however. But then I got to drive one last spring including track driving I got out of the car even more in love. Additionally I felt that as cool as it looked in pictures it was hands down much more attractive in person. I've come to believe it really just doesn't photograph all that well as I've never loved any of the pics I've shot of the cars. The pics just don't do the lines and presence justice.
I don't "love" the C8 in any way but I'm still buying one based on its mid-engine configuration, specifications and amenities including and especially the power retractable hardtop. It will be the first American brand new car I've ever bought and I've bought a lot of new cars over the past 50 years. I'm having to hold my nose a bit since it doesn't have features that I expect on modern cars.
The only car I've ever "loved" was the white, pristine, low mileage 1963 Mercedes 300SL convertible that was offered on consignment at Aristocrat Motors in Kansas City Missouri in 1969. The asking price was $7,500. I tried to convince my father that it was a good investment but he declined. I was driving a hand-me-down silver 1956 190SL hardtop convertible at the time.
Where I came from was 1999 Dodge Viper GTS a bare bones muscle machine. The Corvette was refined and had the exotic look, the style, the mid engine and that's why I got it. Then on top of all that it was priced right. How could you go wrong.
Even Dr. Porsche knew the right place for an engine was in the middle! He built his 1st sports car as a ME, a 356. But it was too expensive for 1948 Germany recovering from the war. He was forced to build the production cars with VW parts! He's probably laughing that the IMSA 911's had to move the engine to the middle to be competitive!
Let’s face it long front hood, short deck designs look best, think of the 300SL Gullwing or the Ferrari 365 GT/4 Daytona. However, the front engine C7 reached its limits. My 2019 Stingray with warm tires would loose traction when you would floor it at 30mph.
Having said that, when I saw the reveal live on the web, I knew it was going to be a hit. I ordered a black car, mostly to make the rear end look less busy, and have a more monochromatic look, without ordering body colored accents.
This car is clearly to appeal to a younger buyer. When my son and I were at the 2020 24 Hours at Daytona, they had a large C8 display. Ed Piatek, Corvette’s chief engineer (Tadge Juetchter is Executive Chief Engineer) came over to talk. My son mentioned he had one on order and I interjected that he was a Porsche conquest sale. He quickly called over Harlan Charles and it became very apparent from their dialogue that they were purposely positioning the car to a new and wider buyer demographic, which has worked.
Let’s face it long front hood, short deck designs look best, think of the 300SL Gullwing or the Ferrari 365 GT/4 Daytona. However, the front engine C7 reached its limits. My 2019 Stingray with warm tires would loose traction when you would floor it at 30mph.
Having said that, when I saw the reveal live on the web, I knew it was going to be a hit. I ordered a black car, mostly to make the rear end look less busy, and have a more monochromatic look, without ordering body colored accents.
This car is clearly to appeal to a younger buyer. When my son and I were at the 2020 24 Hours at Daytona, they had a large C8 display. Ed Piatek, Corvette’s chief engineer (Tadge Juetchter is Executive Chief Engineer) came over to talk. My son mentioned he had one on order and I interjected that he was a Porsche conquest sale. He quickly called over Harlan Charles and it became very apparent from their dialogue that they were purposely positioning the car to a new and wider buyer demographic, which has worked.
i agree. I have never cared for vettes and when I told my wife i wanted to order one she initially made a joke that I was officially an old man now. The way it’s taking off - I consider their new target market and younger demographic attention an absolute win! I’m in line for my C8 HTC behind a serviceman in the navy. Definitely drawing a new audience.
I don't "love" the C8 in any way but I'm still buying one based on its mid-engine configuration, specifications and amenities including and especially the power retractable hardtop. It will be the first American brand new car I've ever bought and I've bought a lot of new cars over the past 50 years. I'm having to hold my nose a bit since it doesn't have features that I expect on modern cars.
The only car I've ever "loved" was the white, pristine, low mileage 1963 Mercedes 300SL convertible that was offered on consignment at Aristocrat Motors in Kansas City Missouri in 1969. The asking price was $7,500. I tried to convince my father that it was a good investment but he declined. I was driving a hand-me-down silver 1956 190SL hardtop convertible at the time.
Placed the order the moment ordering opened up July 2019. Looks, Performance & Price broke my brain!
Nothing touches this........ Nothing!
Friends made fun of me, "pre-ordering a Vette"..."no discount"...."no timing on exactly when you get it"
I remember them saying they'll pick one off the lot in 2020 at a huge discount.
I heard that again for 2021 and hearing right now for 2022..... Good luck!
Yeah, I thought about the C8 not having adaptive cruise control during Monday's 400 mile road trip to visit my mother. We haven't owned a vehicle without adaptive cruise control since 2014 and its the main feature I'll miss on the C8. It would be different if the C8 was going to be an occasional car and/or or mainly used on fun twisty roads but our plan is to use it as a daily driver and on multi-thousand mile road trips. If the C8 doesn't get adaptive cruise control by the time my number comes up which will likely be for a 2022, I plan to accept it anyway and sell it if I can't tolerate not having it.
Last edited by Geezer1; 03-27-2021 at 12:09 PM.
Reason: punctuation
Yeah, I thought about the C8 not having adaptive cruise control during Monday's 400 mile road trip to visit my mother. We haven't owned a vehicle without adaptive cruise control since 2014 and its the main feature I'll miss on the C8. It would be different if the C8 was going to be an occasional car and/or or mainly used on fun twisty roads but our plan is to use it as a daily driver and on multi-thousand mile road trips. If the C8 doesn't get adaptive cruise control by the time my number comes up which will likely be for a 2022, I plan to accept it anyway and sell it if I can't tolerate not having it.
funny, I feel spoiled like that with the auto-high beams. If I’m driving a car without it - I really miss it since I live outside the city
The majority of people that think it doesn't look like a vette and dislike the looks will be dead in 10 years. That's coming from me, a guy that's 64 years old.
03-26-2021, 04:12 PM
