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2014 Corvette StingRay

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NewYorkBuck;2292150; said:
The first caveat is this is the first American car in sometime that I actually like the exterior styling of.

That said, price independent I would take almost any German car over it in a heartbeat, and that includes my diesel Jetta. As Akak said above, this is a personal preference, but its one based on empirical evidence, for me at least. I just dont have any confidence in the build quality, durability, or driver engagement of any American made car, and unfortunately that includes the Corvette. As Porsche engineer Harm Legaay has said, just adding horsepower to a car is just about the easiest thing you can do, and it seems whenever the US wants to mint a supercar, they just add displacement and HP. Eg, the latest variation of the Viper develops 640 HP, but needs a stupid 8.4 L to do so. My 911TT develops 510 HP, but requires only 3.6 L to accomplish this (almost twice the HP/L - my 1987 944 made more HP/L for Gods sake), and as a result I get 27 MPG on the highway. Further, I have seen examples of my car with over 350,000 miles on the original engine and trans (and CLUTCH in one example). For as many as we make, I doubt there are many American cars on the road with 500+ HP and 300,000+ original miles, save models pre 1970.

On build quality, durability, and driver engagement, I would take almost any German car over any American car, in a heartbeat. Take the Teutonic offerings out of the mix, and Id take almost any Japanese car over almost any American car. Of course, the boarders of exactly where cars are made and designed has become quite blurred over recent years, but this is still the way I feel.
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Yeah, I'm not going to argue with any of that ('cept maybe the diesel Jetta part). But, it's not at all my point.

Corvettes.... are not trying to be 911's. They aren't trying to be Audi R8's. They are not trying to be Ferarri's. And I know it sounds like I'm trying to put them on a pedestal and say, "This is the American sports car" -- that's not it either. And it actuality, American Sports cars are a relatively rare thing...

Actually, take your last sentence...

Of course, the boarders of exactly where cars are made and designed has become quite blurred over recent years,
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Thing is, if "forever" is "recent" relative to purpose built sportscars in this country, I agree. What was the first "American Sports car? Nash-Healy? What's the coolest? AC Cobra? Certainly some very un-American aspects to them.

At any rate, its not surprising that Corvette and Viper have a lot of similarities, and of course, they begin to blur the line with European Sports cars on one side, and muscle cars on the other... Mustang, Camaro, on and on and on...

Anyway, Corvettes and Vipers have big assed engines because, well, they're supposed to. I don't have a problem with it, it's supposed to be that way.

So, its cool, I'm glad its cool. I hope Max buys one and loves it.
 
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AKAK;2292205; said:
So, its cool, I'm glad its cool. I hope Max buys one and loves it.
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Actually, among other things this is well said. Just because I have my own automotive proclivities I dont want anyone to take that as Im crapping on yours. IMO cars are like women - many different models, sizes, speeds, costs, colors, and countries of origin. Some gents just like one type, and others another. Its all good to me.
 
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Apache;2291772; said:
For me, I love the early 60's versions and the late 60's early 70 versions as well.
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I am right there with you on the early versions. Brings back memories of each of the prom queen court riding into and around the football stadium on the backs of one of them......mmmmmmm
 
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Vette

Simple man here:

Just give me a 2014 Stingray and a 1962 Vette Convertible, and a 1971 Corvette and a 1969 Fastback Mustang or a vintage Shelby and I am happy....well then you can add a 1960 Impala convertible (my first car), white with powder blue trim and interior....

Just me.......
 
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