drove my first american car today

[John V]

Plastic has this not-so-wonderful property of having a huge thermal coefficient of expansion. Ever notice how huge the body gaps on a 'Vette are in cold weather? Plastic also isn't very good structurally, so the Corvette has to have what amounts to a seperate body and frame. Can't be made a true unibody like a Boxster, 911, et al.

Otherwise, it's brilliant that Chevy uses plastic for the body. The aluminum suspension components are nice, too. The lightweight pushrod V8 with a low CG and compact size due to its lack of overhead camshafts, too. Oh, and the composite leaf springs that cut weight and move what weight they do contribute down low, to keep the Cg of the car low.

Regardless of the car's rather .. unpleasant image, it's a very well engineered car.

[Bavarian Motorist]

I noticed when driving the c6 that I did not really feel it when accelerating. OK, yeah, I felt the torque and power, but in my Boxster, you definitely feel it in a different way.

In the c6, it almost felt like I was in a family sedan w/ 500hp.


But the real reason I want a c6 is because of what I said earlier, that I can either buy a very powerful car and make it handle or I can buy a real handling sports car and spend.....endless amounts making it fast.

Which one seems easier to you?

I really need to drive the c6 again and check for the things I didn't notice last time. Feel and handling will be on my list.


I love my Boxster, though. The other day I was hanging w/ a girl and she knows nothing about cars, but I took her up to redline in first and she said she nearly orgasmed.

Porsche...making girls orgasm since 1950

[Dr. Kill]

Originally Posted by Bavarian Motorist

But the real reason I want a c6 is because of what I said earlier, that I can either buy a very powerful car and make it handle or I can buy a real handling sports car and spend.....endless amounts making it fast.

Your logic is sound, but I think you will find that the C6 is already a very good handling car - especially when ordered with the performance handling package.

A guy I work with sold his Ferrari 348 Challenge edition and bought a new C6 and is very happy. His only complaint is having a difficult time finding a set of slicks.

[Bavarian Motorist]

Originally Posted by Dr. Kill

Your logic is sound, but I think you will find that the C6 is already a very good handling car - especially when ordered with the performance handling package.

A guy I work with sold his Ferrari 348 Challenge edition and bought a new C6 and is very happy. His only complaint is having a difficult time finding a set of slicks.

Yes, you're right. 'Handle' wasn't the right word. 'Road feel' is more like it.

Originally Posted by Eslai

I've driven my friend's C6 (also has a Borla exhaust on it) a few times. It's a VERY different experience from my car.

Big power, but I missed revving the engine--you never need to get over 2000 RPMs in the Vette really. Hell, the thing will idle up a hill in fourth gear!

Hate the cheap interior and all the squeaks and rattles he's got, and the clutch took a while to get used to (and I'm pretty sure that all clutches are hydraulically-assisted these days--the C6 just has a heavier pressure plate than the Boxster probably, and for good reason). The C6 also feels a lot bigger when you're driving it, even though it's really not a big car at all.

He has a big problem with the gear box though. If he tries to shift into third gear quickly, often times the car ends up in a half-engaged state. It's a common report among C6 owners apparently.

Not the car for me, but I love the way it looks and damn, that's a fast car!

Oh, and I'm not diggin' his headless-dwarf steering wheel

That is hilarious




The gear problem could be the CAGS (computer aided gear selection) which forces you to go into 4th gear from first unless you're hitting the gas hard, a way to increase EPA gas mileage so as to avoid the gas guzzler tax.


It is a 20 dollar fix called a cags eliminator if he is interested. I'm pretty sure every c6 owner except him has it


http://www.ledfoote.com/osc/product_info.php?cPath=27&products_id=62

[z12358]

Originally Posted by John V

Plastic has this not-so-wonderful property of having a huge thermal coefficient of expansion. Ever notice how huge the body gaps on a 'Vette are in cold weather? Plastic also isn't very good structurally, so the Corvette has to have what amounts to a seperate body and frame. Can't be made a true unibody like a Boxster, 911, et al.

Otherwise, it's brilliant that Chevy uses plastic for the body. The aluminum suspension components are nice, too. The lightweight pushrod V8 with a low CG and compact size due to its lack of overhead camshafts, too. Oh, and the composite leaf springs that cut weight and move what weight they do contribute down low, to keep the Cg of the car low.

Regardless of the car's rather .. unpleasant image, it's a very well engineered car.

My question was really rhetorical. If other companies thought a plastic body was a good idea, they would have done it too. Personally, I prefer metal.

Z.