no C8 until 2021

[chris lake]

just spoke to importers that the US dont recognise the UK enough to release the C8 until mid 2021, one reason being the small volume of RHD cars but surely that applies to japan,australia and south africa as well,short sightedness as by 2021 mclaren et al might have new models out to combat the loss of sales to the C8, (the depreciation alone on a mclaren in 1 year buys a C8) also any back imports wont have a warranty,personally i would put up with left hand drive just like proper vettes to get one early,at least the C7 will increase in value as it was only a 5 year run

[GW65]

Not too much of a surprise. Although the C7 was available in the UK in the first model year, you couldn't get an auto as they decided not to bother with the only-for-one-year non-GM (Aisin?) 8-speed box outside the US. Personally, I'd never buy a first model year of any car anyway - remember the weak diffs and crabk pulley issues on the first year C6s, etc? Unless you want to pay full whack to be a beta tester?

[roscobbc]

Perhaps why the C8 starts for 'only' $62K in the USA - (low-start entry price vs unofficial beta testing role?)

[Soop Dogg]

Had a 2005 C6 (first year for the model) for 8 years and now have had a 2014 C7 (also first year for the model) for nearly 4 years.

Both have been absolutely superb!

That said, I won't be going for a C8 from the first batch, so maybe I don't entirely disagree with you, if only because I'm a little nervous with the mid-engine being such a big change and knowing that this is Chevrolet's first attempt at this...

[C6NL]

GW65 said:

Personally, I'd never buy a first model year of any car anyway - remember the weak diffs and crabk pulley issues on the first year C6s, etc?

On the drag strip with excessive wheel hop the 2005 diff wasn't the best of choice, apart from the drag strip the diffs gave no more problems than other model years. If you abuse your car like an absolute idiot you can break any diff, the newer model years are no exception.

You say "crabk pulley issues", I guess you mean problems with the harmonic balancer ?? If so, that issue has long plagued Corvette owners ever since the C5 came out and on to the C7, that has nothing to do with an early C6.

[wildoliver]

Soop Dogg said:

Had a 2005 C6 (first year for the model) for 8 years and now have had a 2014 C7 (also first year for the model) for nearly 4 years.

Both have been absolutely superb!

That said, I won't be going for a C8 from the first batch, so maybe I don't entirely disagree with you, if only because I'm a little nervous with the mid-engine being such a big change and knowing that this is Chevrolet's first attempt at this...

Your '05 wasn't a red z51 car was it?

[woodsy99]

I’m stuck in the UAE at present with all passenger flights to/from the country cancelled last week until further notice.....
Anyway a friend of mine in Abu Dhabi has ordered a C8 coupe which is scheduled for delivery in mid June this year. Base price for a coupe here is AED 395,000 (incl UAE VAT @5%) and another AED for the convertible - at current exchange rates that is sadly GBP92k for the convertible as the AED is pegged to the US$.
So importing one from here when shipping/import/HMRC charges are factored in makes it a no-no at present, but if you were to be a returning resident and met the HMRC criteria there would be no charges except for the shipping but you would have to keep the car for a minimum 12 months.

So, it may be a proposition for returning residents once the GBP/UAE Dirham exchange rate improves..........

[NMNeil]

chris lake said:

just spoke to importers that the US dont recognise the UK enough to release the C8 until mid 2021, one reason being the small volume of RHD cars but surely that applies to japan,australia and south africa as well,short sightedness as by 2021 mclaren et al might have new models out to combat the loss of sales to the C8,

It could also be that as the mandatory speed limiters on new cars registered in the UK comes into effect in 2022, it may just not be worth it to GM. After 2022 the EU will stop being a lucrative market for all performance cars.

[Soop Dogg]

wildoliver said:

Your '05 wasn't a red z51 car was it?

Nope. It was a Z51 car, but velocity yellow and UK spec.

[NMNeil]

I wonder how they will comply with the 2022 requirement to have all new vehicles in the UK fitted with speed limiters.

[markclow]

I live in Atlanta and I see a C8 every couple of days. Every time I see them I think how big they look.

[Ayahuasca]

I am in UAE and there are loads of these. There was a row of these and some Lambos and I had to do a double take to tell them apart. Nice looking car.

[BIRMA]

Soop Dogg said:

Had a 2005 C6 (first year for the model) for 8 years and now have had a 2014 C7 (also first year for the model) for nearly 4 years.

Both have been absolutely superb!

That said, I won't be going for a C8 from the first batch, so maybe I don't entirely disagree with you, if only because I'm a little nervous with the mid-engine being such a big change and knowing that this is Chevrolet's first attempt at this...

I'm of the same opinion, I'm sorely tempted to buy a RHD C8 when they become available but I've never bought the first batch of any new production run as I don't want to be the Guinea Pig.
To throw more temptations into the mix, Lotus have just brought out the Emira which in V6 manual form satisfies my mid engine lust. I"ve had a Lotus on and off since 1973 so I know what to expect as I've loved and hated every Lotus with equal measure but this new one looks very good indeed.

[Camelot1971]

I was at Ian Allan on Monday having my Camaro serviced and had a look around the 2 C8's they have there (LHD). Looked better in the flesh than in photos and red suited it a lot more than the black (IMO). VERY wide, but the C7 is wide too.

Prefer my Camaro though - better blend of looks, performance and practicality for me (and will probably be rarer than a C8 once RHD comes too).

[BIRMA]

Camelot1971 said:

I was at Ian Allan on Monday having my Camaro serviced and had a look around the 2 C8's they have there (LHD). Looked better in the flesh than in photos and red suited it a lot more than the black (IMO). VERY wide, but the C7 is wide too.

Prefer my Camaro though - better blend of looks, performance and practicality for me (and will probably be rarer than a C8 once RHD comes too).

Good point about the width, it's 1993mm wide that's 148mm wider than my current car. Having said that I do drive mainly twisty A roads so the more narrow B roads may be an issue.