Drove a Corvette for the first time today

Oh Haha · 11-09-2013, 03:24 PM

I helped a friend perform the 30,000 mile service on his 04 996 Turbo today with another Pelican(ChemMan). Suprisingly easy to do, btw.

While taking a break, he let us drive his latest purchase, a 2008 Corvette with the auto gearbox with flappy paddle shifters.

I have never even ridden in a Vette, let alone drive one so I was pretty stoked to have the chance. I have to say, I was impressed with the power and general feel of the car. We didn't go crazy as we were on public roads but it gets up and goes like mad.

I liked the paddle shifter setup which seemed to work quite well with very quick changes up and down. His also has the exhaust option with a valve that opens up at certain RPMs that allow free flow exhaust. The change in tone and volume is pretty cool. I felt like a hooligan which is probably why I won't be getting one of these. I know that I would get into trouble.

If you haven't driven one I suggest you give it a try.

jwgn777 · jwgn777's Garage

I agree with you . I had owned 3 of them. Definitely the best bang for you buck.

speeder · speeder's Garage

Umm, did you drive the 996tt? That's the one I want to hear about.

Oh Haha · 11-09-2013, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speeder

Umm, did you drive the 996tt? That's the one I want to hear about.

I have driven that a couple of times. Also, drove ChemMan's heavily modified 01.

Both are extremely fast but the 01 is stupid quick. No drama, just plant your foot and go.

I have not been a big fan of the watercooled 911s but I really think next year will find one on my garage.

Rusty Heap · Rusty Heap's Garage

yeah but it's still a chevy.

plastic and rattling.

no offense.

just my experience.

sorta like living in a mobile home trailer park, it's all good and seems classy while living there.

ZOO · 11-10-2013, 03:50 AM

It is ok to be a fan of Corvettes AND Porsches.

I loved my C4. Great track car. The build quality was great where it counted mechanically, but I would agree that the interior left a little something to be desired.

cashflyer · 11-10-2013, 04:25 AM

I loved the V8 torque in my C4, but overall I hated the car.
Between it and my 911SC, I liked the SC much, much better.

Christien · Christien's Garage

I don't love corvettes, but I have been won over to a large degree by driving a few at the track. They are definitely less "plastic and rattling" than the rest of the GM lineup. That said, they're still nowhere near the fit and finish of a Porsche.

onewhippedpuppy · 11-10-2013, 05:33 AM

Huge performance for the money. The C6 Z06 that I drove was stupid fast. A sub-$20k C5 Z06 would be a fun little toy.

quattrorunner · quattrorunner's Garage

Z06 is a fast good sounding car, but not as fast as an sc with a turbo engine.

Jim Bremner · 11-10-2013, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quattrorunner

Z06 is a fast good sounding car, but not as fast as an sc with a turbo engine.

Yes, but the don't need to spool up to be fast. I have driven a very wicked gemballa enhanced 930 that was the fastest thing that I've ever driven. It was stupid fast. But I think that a z06 on a tight track would be a faster car. The Gemballa car tried to kill me at 20 mph. I made a right hand turn at a stop light. It went from making 150 hp at 2,000 rpm to making 400 at 2,400 turning the car hard into the curb. I saved it but just stupid amounts of power with little warning.

quattrorunner · quattrorunner's Garage

True, the corvette has great low end torque. But there are really good modern turbo chargers available that qual the on off nature of the early turbos.

Jim Bremner · 11-10-2013, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quattrorunner

True, the corvette has great low end torque. But there are really good modern turbo chargers available that qual the on off nature of the early turbos.

Yup, and they fit Corvettes!

quattrorunner · quattrorunner's Garage

Good point

ted · ted's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oh Haha

While taking a break, he let us drive his latest purchase, a 2008 Corvette with the auto gearbox with flappy paddle shifters.

I liked the paddle shifter setup which seemed to work quite well with very quick changes up and down. His also has the exhaust option with a valve that opens up at certain RPMs that allow free flow exhaust. The change in tone and volume is pretty cool. I felt like a hooligan which is probably why I won't be getting one of these. I know that I would get into trouble.

If you haven't driven one I suggest you give it a try.

A few months ago I took a test drive in a similar Vette.
C6 Grand Sport.

The paddle shift worked OK on the up shifts but I thought it was a bit sluggish on the down shifts.
This is nothing compared to the BMW dual clutch paddle shift auto set up that throws mathcing engine revs on downshifts.

The factory exhaust cut out was less impressive to me.
It worked and it was noisy, in traffic I'm sure other cars on the freeway could hear it open as well.

At 65 mph on the freeway when you went to full throttle the first thing I noticed was the muffler by pass opened up well before the car actually started to accelerate.
It sounded like obnoxious unmuffled engine noise first, and then a good 2 second delay as the trans/torque converter and engine both spooled up and then the Vette started to accelerate.

After that drive I decided for around half price I'd prefer another low mile C5Z.