Topic: Car and Driver tests the C8

[Guest]

Post content deleted at request of original poster.

[johngenx]

The BASE car rips off 11.2 at 122?  HOLY HELL.

I commend GM for essentially building a new NSX. The live-able usable super car.

[dirtyjeffer]

The BASE car rips off 11.2 at 122?  HOLY HELL.

I commend GM for essentially building a new NSX. The live-able usable super car.

agreed...you can't argue with it's performance chops, all the while keeping the value quotient strong, something the last generation of NSX abandoned.

[ChaosphereIX]

I commend GM too for what they have accomplished. A very, very good first outing in the segment. Wow this thing is fast off the line.

That being said, there are some common complaints I have seen with the reviews I have read: cheap materials in the B and C touch points, the cockpit is very Top Gun and not a refined as, say, an Italian car or a Porsche - understandable, it is a Corvette. Also read that it tends to understeer more than desired, but perhaps some chassis tuning will iron that out in time. Finally, apparently the $60k price tag buys you a car you don't want, everyone should opt for the Z51 and sport exhaust etc. The base car will be very underwhelming. The car seems to have a lot more chassis than engine, so the real car you will lust after will be the new Z06 or ZR1 (hopefully with torque vectoring hybrid power and a street version of the C8R DOHC flat-plane crank engine...that thing sounds just MEAN).

Criticisms aside, this thing is out-NSX'ing the new NSX. Well done GM.

[rrocket]

Criticisms aside, this thing is out-NSX'ing the new NSX. Well done GM.

On price...I'd agree.

[rrocket]

Wait until the Z06 drops.

1000hp hybrid or bust!   

[Gurgie]

More than enough car for us on public roads... hell, even on the track most of us probably could only wring out 8/10's of it's full potential 

[Sir Osis of Liver]

This is pretty damned epic.

[quadzilla]

That being said, there are some common complaints I have seen with the reviews I have read: cheap materials in the B and C touch points, the cockpit is very Top Gun and not a refined as, say, an Italian car or a Porsche - understandable, it is a Corvette.

If people want more refinement then they need to open up their wallets. The amount of car you get for the price is incredible. Some people are never happy.

[johngenx]

A mid engined super car for under $100K in Canada?  I'll take a few hard plastics.

I've been binging videos of this car and what I think without seeing it or driving it...

1. It looks amazing. I love the looks of the C7, but this is gorgeous. Clean and modern and will cause many snapped necks in traffic.

2. I like the fighter plane cockpit interior. It's different and passengers can suck it up. The material compromises are less than I thought GM would have to bring to keep the price low.

3. The LT2 engine isn't a screamer but makes sweet noise and 495 normally aspirated V-8 ponies in a world of turbo sixes and fours?  Yeah!!!

4.  Who in the hell designs chassis at GM?  We aren't they famous?  GMs been building some of the best handling cars money can buy lately. And then selling them to the public at bargain prices.

5. Can GM have all their engineers and product designs serve time with the Camaro/Corvette gangs?  They need this kind of passion infused into all their products.

[OliverD]

A mid engined super car for under $100K in Canada?  I'll take a few hard plastics.

How much would you have to pay to get better interior materials though? I feel like at this price point the difference would be fairly incremental, and probably well worth it even if only to prevent that from being a talking point in all the reviews.

Regardless, the interior is probably still nicer than a Tesla's.

[Jaeger]

A mid engined super car for under $100K in Canada?  I'll take a few hard plastics.

How much would you have to pay to get better interior materials though? I feel like at this price point the difference would be fairly incremental, and probably well worth it even if only to prevent that from being a talking point in all the reviews.

Regardless, the interior is probably still nicer than a Tesla's.

Agreed on both points.  Still - pretty staggering value here overall.  The thing that blows me away most - thought not a headliner for this car, understandably - is the ride quality.  There is ZERO penalty to pay in terms of ride comfort for all this performance.  I can say that I am well past ever again putting up with a harsh and jittery ride in any car, sporting or otherwise.  Excellent performance, outstanding ride comfort, impressive styling, comparative bargain price - I'll take those four right now even if the interior isn't all it should be.  Mad props to GM.  When one of these rolls by it will render every 911 invisible.

[dirtyjeffer]

A mid engined super car for under $100K in Canada?  I'll take a few hard plastics.

How much would you have to pay to get better interior materials though? I feel like at this price point the difference would be fairly incremental, and probably well worth it even if only to prevent that from being a talking point in all the reviews.

Regardless, the interior is probably still nicer than a Tesla's.

Agreed on both points.  Still - pretty staggering value here overall.  The thing that blows me away most - thought not a headliner for this car, understandably - is the ride quality.  There is ZERO penalty to pay in terms of ride comfort for all this performance.  I can say that I am well past ever again putting up with a harsh and jittery ride in any car, sporting or otherwise.  Excellent performance, outstanding ride comfort, impressive styling, comparative bargain price - I'll take those four right now even if the interior isn't all it should be.  Mad props to GM.  When one of these rolls by it will render every 911 invisible.

agreed (and i love 911s)...but it would be interesting if they have a "Prestige" trim or something...make it $5k more for some nicer inside bits (is that enough to up the quality level)??...for example, want the track package??...get the Z51 package for $5k for various go fast bits (example)...don't need the track stuff, get the Prestige package for $5k for leathers, aluminum trim, etc (example)...just a thought.

[Fobroader]

Less than $100K for a mid engined car with super car chops, the reliability of an LS engine, the proper sound of a V8 and it looks good, damn GM, you done good!!

[Jaeger]

They have that already man. You’re making it sound like the interior is covered in plastic. It’s not. This about managing expectations.

As has been said, $100k creates some expectations regarding interior quality.  The C8 is pretty much straight A's everywhere else.  Not here.  Nobody has said it's garbage Tupperware quality.  But some have noted that it is a bit less than expected / hoped for in terms of interior quality in a six figure car.

[johngenx]

There's lots of cars for you dash strokers.  The Corvette is a performance car, period.  The car's interior is pretty damned nice, the hard plastics are in places you have to really look.

Listening to Matt banging off shifts with the dual clutch also has me convinced  I'd fall in love with the transmission too.

Man, I can't believe this car is here.  For most of my life I've read rumours about the mid engined Corvette.  Imagine if we'd had a Fiero kinda POS in the 80s instead of this?  It might have killed the Vette and the world would have missed out on some amazing cars, including the C8...

[Fobroader]

There's lots of cars for you dash strokers.  The Corvette is a performance car, period.  The car's interior is pretty damned nice, the hard plastics are in places you have to really look.

Listening to Matt banging off shifts with the dual clutch also has me convinced  I'd fall in love with the transmission too.

Man, I can't believe this car is here.  For most of my life I've read rumours about the mid engined Corvette.  Imagine if we'd had a Fiero kinda POS in the 80s instead of this?  It might have killed the Vette and the world would have missed out on some amazing cars, including the C8...

You can sit on the side of the track with your on fire 458 and point out the merits of the leather covered dash and soft close ash tray to the firefighters 

[Arthur Dent]

Besides the usual for GM ugly steering wheel the interior looks good to me. From everything I've read this a home run.

[Great_Big_Abyss]

Where is this six figures talk coming from?  I thought the Corvette was starting at $69 998 in Canada?  2LT and 3LT are $80k and $85k respectively....

[Hannibalsmith]

They have that already man. You’re making it sound like the interior is covered in plastic. It’s not. This about managing expectations.

As has been said, $100k creates some expectations regarding interior quality.  The C8 is pretty much straight A's everywhere else.  Not here.  Nobody has said it's garbage Tupperware quality.  But some have noted that it is a bit less than expected / hoped for in terms of interior quality in a six figure car.

When I reach under the seat to fish out the toonie that rollout out of my track pants...I expect my hands to brush up against material that feels like silk...