Actually, I drive my C6 to the office BECAUSE it gets significantly better mileage than my Camaro SS. (Also because it is one heck of a lot more fun to drive.)

 

I thought you were going to suggest that they use the DI 3.6 engine. As I read, looking for where you suggested it, I was thinking to myself, it's a bit of a bastardization, but I'll bet it would sell, and I'll bet it would be a riot to drive.

Honestly, that engine would make a 3000lb car pretty darn fast! Plus, with a lighter engine, Corvette could handle even better than it does now!

Is it a bastardization? Yeah, probably, but the original Corvette had a six. I'd get over it.

 

It would not be hard at all to spiff up the Vette's green image. The LS3 Corvette is already featured in this month's Road and Track in an article on efficient performance cars.

I'd really like to see an LS3 Vette with all the bells and whistles GM can offer in terms of green technology. Add cylinder deactivation, and if it's possible, scale down the dual-mode hybrid technology from the SUV's (I hope they're already trying to make this happen for other smaller vehicles). Add on the carbon fiber and other light weight bits from the Z06 and ZR1, and you have a really efficient push-rod V8 sports car. I can't imagine a better halo for GM to go along with the Volt. Add to that the fact that a lot of this could trickle down to the Camaro, and you have a win-win situation.

 

Wouldn't AFM be enough to make it greener and mean...?

 

Yeah, but what of other costs. One of my coworkers used to daily drive a C6, one of the reasons he dumped it was because he got tired of putting new tires on it every year at $1500+ a pop. Granted he drove like a maniac most of the time contributing to the extreme wear, but still. Also factor in the extra depreciation of the extra miles on the car, most people use corvettes as weekend toys only, but if you daily drive it, you don't care about depreciation or maintenance costs.

If both of your cars are relative toys with expensive tires and compromises built in then so be it though. I doubt you'd be as enthusiastic about driving the vette if it had hard skinny tires and a lethargic / lazy tune in it.

 

A dumb idea... ok thanks.

I guess the BMW 650i Coupe is dumb also. Check out the specs on that car...

• 360hp/360tq 4.8L V8 with Double-VANOS steplessly variable valve timing.
• 18 x 8.0 V-Spoke (Style 248) cast alloy wheels, with 245/45R-18 run-flat all-season tires
• 3814 lbs curbweight
• 15/22-23MPG
• Starting at $76,600 MSRP

Or Maybe the Porsche 911 Carrera?

• 325hp/273tq 3.6L Flat 6 with VarioCam Plus (aka VVT)
• 18" wheels
• 3,075 lbs curbweight
• 18/24-26 MPG
• Starting at $73,500 MSRP

Maybe the Jaguar XK Coupe?

• 300hp/310tq 4.2L V8 with variable cam phasing
• 18x8.5f/9.5r wheels
• 3,671 lbs curbweight
• 16/25 MPG
• Starting at $75,500

I'd like to list a Mercedes, but I can't decide between the CLK, CL, SLK, or SL? None perform anywhere near what a Corvette does until you step up to the AMG package cars.

However, plenty of people use these different car as daily drivers. Yes, they are expensive, but some of the people who can afford them do care about gas mileage also.

I would also like to include a convertible Corvette "XFE" model. The XFE name is just what the Cobalt is called. A different name would be better, but I don't know what to call it.

What does GM have to compare now? Only the upcoming CTS Coupe and that's a stretch. The XLR is kinda close, but is only available with the folding hardtop. The Camaro is FAR from in the same league.

 

I think it's a good concept...but I feel like the turbo-4 Solstice/Sky kind of already fill that need?

 

I don't drive "like a maniac", so I don't go through tires as fast as your coworker does. In fact, the stock tires are wearing very well, and I'm impressed. Maintenance costs? Not very many, trust me! It uses Mobil 1, and oil changes are few and far between, if you follow the computer's recommendation. What other costs are there? I've had it a year, and there has been only one oil change. No other costs.

Agreed, a lot of Corvette owners just want to admire their new car in the garage, but I bought mine to drive (and yes, admire). Corvettes have the best resale value of all mass-manufactured cars, but I'm not worried about resale value anyway. I'm not gonna save it for the next guy!

 

Corvettes ride pretty rough compared to most other cars on the road. Maybe that has something to do with why they aren't driven more often?

 

It would be interesting to see a lightweight Corvette, but for better handling, not for better fuel economy. Take the base LS3 -- maybe slightly enhanced -- and put in the weight saving technologies of the Z06 and ZR1. If the dual mode muffler adds weight, don't put it in.

I wonder how many they'd sell, though? Most Corvette buyers like luxury....

 

no. that's like making a Camaro XFE, it aint got a 15mpg V8 it aint worth selling.

 

Now you're talking about the C5 FRC, pre-Z06 days. You could make such a car even lighter then the Z06 really since it wouldn't need the dry sump tank, and maybe you leave out the bigger brakes too. But as with the C5 FRC, the market for stripper vettes probably just isn't that big, and might peeve Z06 owners since such a car would start stepping on their toes for a lot less money (just add LTs, cam and tune and you'd have more then stock Z06 power)

 

I would suggest that you drop by your local Chevy dealer and test drive a new or used C6. Your opinion will change, I believe.

 

My dad has a C6. I've driven it plenty. It rides about as nice as my Silverado. And that's with the suspension set to the softest setting. Both are 2005 models. The truck has 22k miles on it and the C6 has 13k. The truck needs tires, and I don't believe the runflats on the Vette will last as long as my truck's tires did.

I've read that the ZR1 will be using softer springs and swaybars to allow the Magnetic Shocks to work better. Maybe it will be an improvement?

 

Yes, I'm sure you feel a C6 rides the same as a Silverado. No sense in trying to sway your opinion there, although one is a full size truck and the other is a sportscar. Sure, you can believe what you want . . . .

The fact that a tire is a runflat has no effect on its treadwear. You might have heard that the GY Supercar tires on the Z-51 and Z06 wear out quicker than the C6 tires, and that is true. . . because of softer rubber compound in the tread, not because it is a runflat.

The F-55 (magnetic shocks) option has been available for several years as an option, and has been refined enough to use as standard equipment on the ZR1. It will probably become the norm soon on all Corvettes. Since the Corvette is an evolutionary platform, yes, I would consider it an improvement. Why bother, otherwise?