Chevrolet Z06 Recieves Price Hike, New Color Added to Corvette Line

  • Thread starter Thread starter YSSMAN
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YSSMAN
I still don't see how the reviews of the Z06, and even the regular Vette, have it pegged with a horrible ride. Quite frankly, I'd say it is quite nice, and it will behave much the same as any regular car on sub-par pavement.

...Keep in mind, I live in Michigan, which has argueably the worst roads in the lower 49 states...
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Keep in mind that Famine lives in England, where the roads are probably worse than Michigan, and where they publish British car magazines that test American cars on British roads. The car does not handle poor tarmac as well as others, because it was not made to be driven on this kind of road. Read those reviews, that's what they will complain about the car.

I've been to Michigan often, the roads aren't that bad...
 
I've read some of the reviews, and of course they have their reasons for pegging the car with a poor ride. I'm certain that the low-profile run-flat tires do have something to do with the poor quality, so that could be part of the case.

As for bad roads in Michigan, it does depend greatly where you are. You were the one who spent time in Kalamazoo, correct? Yes, the city roads really are not that bad (and I think that could be the case in any city), but it is the average rural and suburban road that has some problems. Roads are usually repaired in five-year cycles here in Michigan, often leaving the road to fall apart in the process, maybe recieving a few patches here and there, and then moving on.

Of course, I haven't been to England (but the family and I are considering a trip, soon... If not, for the Olympics in 2012) so I really cannot compare apples to apples here.
 
exigeracer
Keep in mind that Famine lives in England, where the roads are probably worse than Michigan, and where they publish British car magazines that test American cars on British roads. The car does not handle poor tarmac as well as others, because it was not made to be driven on this kind of road. Read those reviews, that's what they will complain about the car.

I've been to Michigan often, the roads aren't that bad...
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It's not so much the quality of the tarmac, although it can be poor, so much as the amount of camber and 'crowning' we have a lot of. It's these factors that upset a Vette's (and seemingly most US sports/muscle cars) suspension composure. It's a comment you read in road tests again and again.
 
I've been to Kalamazoo, but that was the closest town of reference. Ever heard of Three Rivers? Very rural. That's near where I usually am near, but I've been to K-zoo, Grand Rapids, Holland, Lansing, Detroit, etc as well as some areas of England outside of London. Things like road conditions are things that I notice when in a car. I'm not complaining or anything, I'm just saying that the roads are different in England, it's something that strongly afects a car's performance and in the end the opinion of the car.
 
Yeah, I live about 15 mins outside of Grand Rapids, and I grew up in the northeastern (more rual/suburban) part of Kent County. Roads aren't great, but as Cracker pointed out, we do have the crown issues here as well. The road that had it the worst was just recently fixed, thankfully, as it was begining to upset my Vee-Dub.
 
@Famine: Forgot about that, RE: the Z06's ride, which has been pegged as pretty bad by a number of publications.

But the point still stands that it serves perfectly well as a highway cruiser on US highways, probably better in regular form than in Z06 form, though. :lol:

RE: Elise/Exige owners you know? I wish I had your friends. Or your brother. :lol:
 
TheCracker
Chassis number 1 as well - the jammy b*stard! :drool:
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Atom would still win.

Though this is a good point. The Atom and the 240R are both mental, mental track cars. How can tiny, tinpot companies, stuffed away in the English countryside - each Atom is made over 4 months by 7 guys in a shed in Somerset - make these utterly bonkers cars which are still perfectly at home on our roads, but the world's largest/second-largest (delete as appropriate) car manufacturer can only make its flagship performer work on the track (where it's still outperformed by the Rural Rollerskate)?

I mean, look at the Ariel Atom. Just look at it. But you can still drive it to work quite happily. The Z06 looks like a big comfy cruiser, but blitzes the track and breaks your spine if you try to drive it on the road.

What does Ariel have available that Chevrolet don't?
 
Famine

What does Ariel have available that Chevrolet don't?
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It's more like what they don't have that makes the difference -

Boards of directors, accounts departments, marketing bods, focus groups, emotional and mechanical history that drags it down like a pair of concrete slippers, a supposed need for it to be able to carry a set of golf clubs and have beverage holders, etc, etc.
 
They have the ability to take a "risk" whereas GM can't really afford to market and sell something that looks like a scaffolding accident.

I'm all for a core driving experience, but I would prefer a windscreen and a roof. Oh yeah, doors are kind of cool.

No matter how you cut it, the Ariel is not a daily driver. It is impossible. Still, no doubt absurdly capable machines.
 
You could use the Atom as a daily driver, but you'd have to be crazy. I seem to recall there being enough space for A bag of groceries in the car, but good luck getting the back of Lays and the crate of eggs home in one piece...
 
TheCracker
It's more like what they don't have that makes the difference -

Boards of directors, accounts departments, marketing bods, focus groups, emotional and mechanical history that drags it down like a pair of concrete slippers, a supposed need for it to be able to carry a set of golf clubs and have beverage holders, etc, etc.
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👍 Spot on.

Exactly why Gordon Murray left during the build up of the SLR... too many cooks... :lol: ...or at least, that's what most of us assume... :dopey:
 
Before I continue I should again point out that I quite like Corvettes and half considered a C5 for my next car (if only for curiousity value)...

exigeracer
They have the ability to take a "risk" whereas GM can't really afford to market and sell something that looks like a scaffolding accident.
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But still, as a package it whups the Z06 on the track and yet behaves on the road - something which, judging by European magazine reviews, the Z06 doesn't do on our roads (though it seems not so hindered on the US's roads).

exigeracer
I'm all for a core driving experience, but I would prefer a windscreen and a roof. Oh yeah, doors are kind of cool.
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[Australian]You poofter![/Australian]

exigeracer
No matter how you cut it, the Ariel is not a daily driver. It is impossible. Still, no doubt absurdly capable machines.
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YSSMAN
You could use the Atom as a daily driver, but you'd have to be crazy.
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That's the thing though - it is. You can get up in the morning, get dressed, put your jacket in the "boot", put your helmet and shoggles on and hammer it to work. At the end of the day you can hop back into it and blast home again. And return 35mpg. That's most people's daily drive.

You wouldn't take it shopping, no, but I can't think of many people who'd take a Corvette shopping. In fact, our narrower standard parking spaces would make this an absolutely absurd idea.


Still, a £25,000 metalwork project made by 7 yokels in a shed can outperform GM's flagship and survive the drive home. I'd have thought that with all the hindrances of committees and playing it safe, GM's car would at least have been a comfy ride back from the circuit...
 
Famine
You wouldn't take it shopping, no, but I can't think of many people who'd take a Corvette shopping.
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Actually you would be quite surprised how many people go shopping in their Corvettes, and this isn't a new thing, this has been going on since 1953.

Every time I'm at the local Meijer (large food/etc chain in Michigan) I often see a Corvette or two out there, occasionally with the folks loading up a few bags into the trunk... Or if they are smart, into the passenger seat... What am I saying, they will fit in the trunk, it is actually quite large on the coupe/hardtop.
 
Famine
You wouldn't take it shopping, no, but I can't think of many people who'd take a Corvette shopping.
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Dentists and people experiencing mid-life crises. Same type of people who use 911 Carrera's for such duties, but the level of richness is different.
 
...I've seen 360 Modenas at Meijer as well, but that only happened once, and I assume they were running in for a half-gallon of milk and a bottle of soda.
 
YSSMAN
Actually you would be quite surprised how many people go shopping in their Corvettes, and this isn't a new thing, this has been going on since 1953.
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I didn't say it didn't happen - just that I can't think of many people who would do it. As I said, our parking spaces are narrower as standard and, coupled with the Z06's reported arthritis-inducing ride, it'd be an absolutely stupid idea in the UK.

Though we DO have stupid people here too.

Point was that most people's daily drive is to and from work. On their own. With not a lot of luggage. There's absolutely no reason you can't consider the Atom a daily driver, with the possible exception of any day it rains or snows. But only if you're a big wet Jessie.
 
Uhm people, I was under the impression that a car you could not drive if it was raining would rule it out as a daily driver.

Famine - I can see your point. GM should be able to create a car good on any surface or road type (track, b/a-road, auto-x), but they seemed to miss it. Is it the chassis that can't handle the tossing or the suspension that has to deal with the chassis? Who's the real hero down there?
 
exigeracer
Uhm people, I was under the impression that a car you could not drive if it was raining would rule it out as a daily driver.
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You can drive it in rain just as you'd ride a motorbike in rain. The only reason you wouldn't is if you're a big girl's blouse.

exigeracer
Famine - I can see your point. GM should be able to create a car good on any surface or road type (track, b/a-road, auto-x), but they seemed to miss it. Is it the chassis that can't handle the tossing or the suspension that has to deal with the chassis? Who's the real hero down there?
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I can't imagine it'd be the chassis, because the C6 doesn't suffer similarly.

I guess they just didn't test it on Britain's shoddy roads - I expect they didn't think we'd have car enthusiasts here or something.
 
Or perhaps that as a LHD only car that would probably be expensive to convert they didn't really care, especially considering the more heated competition in Britain from TVR.
 
Famine
I can't imagine it'd be the chassis, because the C6 doesn't suffer similarly.

I guess they just didn't test it on Britain's shoddy roads - I expect they didn't think we'd have car enthusiasts here or something.
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Nah, their main market is the USA,and outside of Pennsylvania the roads are fairly decent.
 
Yeah, I mean what kind of contribution did Britain give to the automotive world? Vauxhall? Pffft...

I don't think a car you cannot drive a third of the days would be considered daily driver.

"Morning boss!"

"Did you walk to work?"

"No, I drove"

"oh..."
 
exigeracer
whereas GM can't really afford to market and sell something that looks like a scaffolding accident.
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I nearly spat out my coffee when I read that :lol:

Famine
[Australian]You poofter![/Australian]
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And again :lol:


I see the Atom as a daily drive much like I see people using motorbikes as daily drivers, but If I had a Corvette (any model) or an Atom I would not use them as daily's.
 
No, Porsche's track monster is the GT3RS, and that rides like a go cart on shopping cart wheels. :lol:

The Z06 probably suffers what most "sports versions" of cars suffer. They tune the crap out of everything on the standard car to provide the best compromise of ride, grip, stiffness and handling.

Then they just slap stiffer stuff and bigger wheels on the premium version. :lol:

-----

And anything your wife/girlfriend wouldn't ride with you in to the movies doesn't count as a daily driver. Of course, if your wife is a bigger petrolhead than you and would actually get in an Atom in the rain, then you're one lucky bugger. :lol:
 
...I was reading the Top Gear comparo of the Z06 vs Viper vs GT500 last night, and I realised there weren't any complaints about the ride overall. The Vette ended up winning on it's ease of use compared to the others, with better interior quality, and better ergonomics compared to the Ford and Dodge.
 
Where did the comparison take place? Not in the UK I'm guessing.
 

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