| Re: Fun Semi Daily Driver? | <– Date –> <– Thread –> |
From: Adam Green (FlatCrank gmail.com)
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| Date: Sun, 5 Jan 2014 10:33:06 -0800 (PST) | |
I'm not sure if you're directing the picky-arse attack at me, but I won't ignore the contradiction of defending GM against the "haters" at the same time as saying "not horrible" should be considered a "huge" for GM.
In any case, if you go sit in a Stingray, you'll see the cabin trim is a hodgepodge mishmash of parts bin plastic -- better by far than the C6, which would be horrible in a rental car today, but still a head-scratcher "what were they thinking" as soon as you glance at the console around the shifter or the cheesey controls around the hvac and nav. The C7 even sports some high end composite materials with compound curves and intricate fit and design ... right beside generic binnacle storks that would make a $15K Hyundai owner cringe ... it doesn't make sense to me that a car they tried to fully modernize still turns out to have the steering wheel off an X-Box game console or the shifter off, well, a Corvette ... at least unchanged as Corvettes go for the last decade or two ... the gearbox really needs to be a new unit capable of close ratios and with a much more precise shifter feel. There's some rather detailed discussion of the how's and why's of the existing transaxle that it simply cannot accommodate a modern design and 7 ratios, so sooner or later GM needs a new three-pedal box.
The scuttlebut is that GM is readying a dual clutch that will probably arrive in the Caddy first -- and some of the Caddy's only heighten the shortcomings (sorry, terrible twist of words) of the Vette ... I don't like the bejeweled aesthetics of the CTS, but there's no denying it's a legitimate rival to BMW and Mercedes. If GM can deliver the new Caddys, it surely could have leaned over the cubicle dividers long enough to get the same materials and design buttoned into the cabin of the Stingray.
All that said, I'll compliment the exterior design of the Stingray as worthy of comparison to a F12 (no, seriously!) ... especially in the silhouette and around the front quarters, and there are aspects to the California-esque rump of the F12 that could have been better penned with an eye to the Vette lines, in my humble. That's not to say I'd kick the F12 out of bed.
Back inside the Stingray, the thumb-sized gaps around the doors, the exposed fasteners, the Lazy-Boy seats, and the visible compromises to production line engineering are far too evident in a day when cars like the Volt are simply better built and (far) less expensive ... and most of the Volt dollars go into the power train, not the cabin. GM has the bright people and the world class facilities, they just didn't bring their A game to this first iteration of the flagship, so I'm not buying it. That's the way the ball bounces. : )
Adam
On Sun, Jan 5, 2014 at 8:56 AM, Fellippe Galletta <fellippe.galletta [at] gmail.com> wrote:
Low rent cabin?I've been around a lot of real picky in the a*** car guys who have hated on Vette interiors since the dawn of time, and only complimented the car as a "good enough track car, cheap,good value, decent looks, etc.".Most have acknowledged the interior of the C7 is finally nice. Perhaps never as nice as a legitimate european supercar, but not horrible nonetheless. I would consider that huge for GM.
I'd say I have to agree for the most part it is decent.FGOn Sat, Jan 4, 2014 at 11:36 PM, Adam Green <FlatCrank [at] gmail.com> wrote:
I won't bore the F-Troop with Vette stories, but this 40 page thread has details of the numerous and on-going production fiasco that is GM.I have a couple of closet Corvette friends, mostly using them as stripper track cars -- the 505hp C6 Z06 is a helluva lot of car for the money and with some minor and well-known upgrades, can be a very reliable track car for half the price of a good 911 GT3 setup, and peanuts compared to a Scuderia or Challenge Stradale. I had ordered the C7 Stingray with exactly that game plan in mind: a thoroughly modern Millicent makeover but still the "analog" of modern sports cars compared to the all electronic Porsche and Ferraris -- a third pedal and just a smart diff to put the power down. But the cabin is still low rent and the mid-life crisis image meant it would be a track car only. I appreciate and respect the 60 year history of the Corvette -- I consider it the only car deserving of mention in the same sentence as the 911 in terms of racing pedigree of a single type vehicle. I also think of it, as a visitor to the USA, as a "when in Rome" driving experience. Not that I'll drive a Yugo if I go to Russia ...Once the quality problems became evident, I just have no interest in the roll of the dice on paint quality or the time sink of visits to have the dealer finish building the car. If I'm going to have an unreliable money pit and time sink of a car, it's going to be an Italian thoroughbred, dammit!AdamOn Sat, Jan 4, 2014 at 4:18 PM, LS <lashdeep [at] yahoo.com> wrote:Adam, is Audi making the new Vette?
I haven't heard a peep about the build quality problems on the C7. Then again I have seen only one on the street so far.
This is very unlike the "recent" GM as the engineering and build quality of the C5 and C6 have put their European counterparts to shame.
All of my exotic car buddies secretly own Vettes as their track cars and they actually are bulletproof. 98 Coupe, '12 Grand Sport, '08 Z06 and a '99 Coupe...all are also Ferrari and/or Lambo owners.
Everybody has a "reliable" car story.
Vettes might be the closest to functional perfection out there right now.
Lightweight, maintenance free, ultra reliable, 30mpg hwy, incredible track performance, superb racing pedigree, trunk space, easy to drive, no maintenance, no repairs, no maintenance, no repairs, sound, sound...
I just CANNOT see myself ever owning a Vette.
Not sure why...maybe they are just too good and devoid of any character???
LS
centralwines-spirits est 1934625 e street nwwashington, dc 20004
From: Adam Green <FlatCrank [at] gmail.com>Sent: Saturday, January 4, 2014 12:48 PM
Subject: Re: [Ferrari] Fun Semi Daily Driver?
I think that advertisement is a bait-n-switch (a common practice in these markets and something frequently noted in corvetteforum C7 discussion) and it reflects the loss of interest in the "old" Corvette at the same time as the "new" Corvette has really screwed the sales pooch because of atrocious build quality production problems, so GM is in a bit of a void of their own making till they reinvent their Corvette factory (mostly by sacking incompetent union pay-check recipients, in my humble.) I ordered the C7, but found it impossible to go ahead with the car till they solve all kinds of production issues (neglecting to add fluids to the transaxle, hand touch-ups to paint blemishes, runs in the paint, grossly excessive "orange peel" from incorrect curing processing, misalignment of body panels, incorrect operation the hatch release, malfunctioning electronics and dash instrumentation, mediocre leather and stitching, misaligned and ill-fitting cabin trim from design, thumb sized cabin trim gaps around the doors, just to mention the more common examples that lead to me pulling the plug and waiting, and hoping that GM gets their A into G for the Z06 version at the end of 2014.)AdamOn Sat, Jan 4, 2014 at 9:24 AM, Fellippe Galletta <fellippe.galletta [at] gmail.com> wrote:
Found this on a different forum talking about the new Z/28 Camaro:Too good to be true?FGOn Sat, Jan 4, 2014 at 8:21 AM, Larry T <l02turner [at] comcast.net> wrote:
http://lists.ferrarilist.com/mailman/options/ferrari/fellippe.galletta%40gmail.comDitto - IMO the original headlights (as in Lotus) look better but I know they feel it necessary to update things to attract new buyers... still a great daily driver.
Sincerely, LarryOn 1/3/2014 10:19 PM, Robert W. Garven Jr. wrote:
I know your joking but the miata is one of the best sports cars still out there, perfect for my wife and then I get to drive it. The new one is more manly, I cant image a better handling car except for the lotusfor twice the money. This car even has a decent trunk, unfortunately no spare! The top has only 3 pieces and is a marvel of japanese efficiency! It will turn on a dime....
Robert W. Garven Jr.
"The Ferrari is a dream - people dream of owning this special vehicle and for most people it will remain a dream apart from for those lucky few." Enzo Ferrari
On Jan 2, 2014, at 10:08 PM, LS wrote:
I see nothing in your pic except for a sexy red machine...SORRY!
LS
centralwines-spirits est 1934
625 e street nw
washington, dc 20004
From: Robert W. Garven Jr. <rgarven [at] gmail.com>
To: LS <lashdeep [at] yahoo.com>
Cc: The FerrariList <ferrari [at] ferrarilist.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 2, 2014 9:28 PM
Subject: Re: [Ferrari] Fun Semi Daily Driver?
LD,
It has everything but great engine sound but with the extra 10K you could throw a exhaust on it!If any of you have never driven one of these you are missing out faster than the 308 and as much fun,folding top sweet GB... My wifes second one the first one got crunched.... no four seats though!
<Dino & Miata.jpg>
Robert W. Garven Jr.
"The Ferrari is a dream - people dream of owning this special vehicle and for most people it will remain a dream apart from for those lucky few." Enzo Ferrari
_________________________________________________________________On Jan 2, 2014, at 3:30 PM, LS wrote:
What would you guys get?
The wife needs something somewhat interesting for three days a week.
1. $40-45k
1a. At least mid 20s MPG Hwy
1b. Low Maintenance and Zero Repairs
1c. 4 seats and a decent trunk
2. High Performance
3. Manual trans
4. Great engine sound
5. Interesting...
LS
centralwines-spirits est 1934
625 e street nw
washington, dc 20004
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- Justin Bell Compares the 911 and Corvette...Re: Fun Semi Daily Driver?, (continued)
- Justin Bell Compares the 911 and Corvette...Re: Fun Semi Daily Driver? LS, January 5 2014
- Re: Justin Bell Compares the 911 and Corvette...Re: Fun Semi Daily Driver? Larry T, January 5 2014
- Re: Justin Bell Compares the 911 and Corvette...Re: Fun Semi Daily Driver? Doug & Terri, January 5 2014
- Re: Fun Semi Daily Driver? Fellippe Galletta, January 5 2014
- Re: Fun Semi Daily Driver? Adam Green, January 5 2014
- Re: Fun Semi Daily Driver? Erik Nielsen, January 5 2014
-
Re: Fun Semi Daily Driver? Adam Green, January 2 2014
- Re: Fun Semi Daily Driver? Doug & Terri, January 3 2014
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