A week with a C6 'vette
Discussion
I was planning a trip to the States and thought that I should order something representative of the Colonies, and preferably V8. I called Hertz to see if I could get a GT350H, but they told me most of them have been pulled from the fleet to be sold. Anyway, I got talked in to renting one of their special edition ‘vettes. Not my first choice, but having a lot of seat time in a ’65 C2, I was interested to see how the genre had fared.
First impressions were mixed. Any bias-free visual impact was blown out of the window by the fact it was yellow. With chrome rims. Undeterred, we packed our bags which is where I thought the first problems would arise. My girlfriend had brought a frankly laughable amount of kit in 2 bags (“Excess baggage sir? Second counter on the end...) and yet the car swallowed everything without a grumble. The boot is really large, but quite shallow and flat. The whole glass piece lifts which makes it really easy to pack effectively. I was stunned.
The first impressions of climbing in were really positive. Ok, it’s no Audi inside, but all the chat on here would have one believe the interior was made out of yoghurt pots. Far from it. It was very comfortable for me (6’3”) and had decent quality leather and lovely exposed stitching. Ok, some of the plastics were a bit low rent, but it felt more luxurious than say a 996. The dials were well laid out for visibility and the trip computer displayed a wealth of information including tyre pressure (all round), transmission fluid temp etc etc.
Chevrolet are obviously working on the active exhaust game as when I pressed the obligatory engine start button the car started with a WHOOMPH that was quite unexpected. Maybe they back the ‘vettes in to a tight space on purpose... Although our car was fitted with the 6sp auto box, I was quite keen to get stuck in at this point. First impressions were pretty good. Decent ride, acceptable steering and excellent AC, quiet with seemingly little slack in the controls. The overwhelming initial impression was one of big engine, small body. Even the smallest squeeze of the throttle resulted in the car surging forward, regardless of the gear. I was worried that this may be an Audi-type trick where all the performance was delivered in the first half-inch of throttle travel. I needn’t have worried.
Driving from Vegas to Reno, we took a low-key approach to leaving the city. An hour later, we left the third or fourth town on the trip. I dropped it in to 2nd (paddles make no sense – both paddles change down with a tug and up with an awkward thumb tab – why?) and planted it. This thing is big league quick... Really, unremittingly FAST. The V8 pulls from the word go, but as it starts to get hold of the cam and the exhaust valves open, it really just bludgeons ahead. The crazy gearing sanitises the experience somewhat, but once I got into the groove 3rd and 4th gear runs were pulling us from 40 to 160mph in 2 big, noisy lunges. On one pass, I kept it pinned and it passed 170 like it was never going to stop. The noise was everything you had hoped it would be, and yet strangely slightly unfulfilling which kept me ragging it. If I have a criticism of the performance, it is only that the power tails off above 5500rpm. But then it is on standard pipes and induction.
On the flip side of this crazy, elastic performance is the fuel economy. Due to the frankly ridiculous gearing, 90mph in top was about 1700rpm. I reset the fuel counter before I left Vegas and we did the 450 miles to Reno at an average of abut 100mph. Sometime 80, sometimes 160, slow within 15 miles of any town. And she returned 27.7mpg! I was just stunned. Combine that with a proper size fuel tank, and we were getting 420miles out of a tank.
Having really understood what the car was capable of delivering, the colour stopped bothering me and I started picturing it in a gunmetal grey, or something similar. The C6 really is a handsome beast; at first I thought it was a bit phallic, but they have pared the weight of the C5 and got a really taut shape out of it. The C7 will be fantastic if they keep developing a similar theme...
I was totally sold. I would buy one tomorrow if I was in that market place. God only knows what the 7 litre version must feel like!
And yes, I did get a speeding ticket, though he reduced the speed to 90mph “cause you’re a Brit. And I don’t mean that racially or nuthin’.” Thank you.
First impressions were mixed. Any bias-free visual impact was blown out of the window by the fact it was yellow. With chrome rims. Undeterred, we packed our bags which is where I thought the first problems would arise. My girlfriend had brought a frankly laughable amount of kit in 2 bags (“Excess baggage sir? Second counter on the end...) and yet the car swallowed everything without a grumble. The boot is really large, but quite shallow and flat. The whole glass piece lifts which makes it really easy to pack effectively. I was stunned.
The first impressions of climbing in were really positive. Ok, it’s no Audi inside, but all the chat on here would have one believe the interior was made out of yoghurt pots. Far from it. It was very comfortable for me (6’3”) and had decent quality leather and lovely exposed stitching. Ok, some of the plastics were a bit low rent, but it felt more luxurious than say a 996. The dials were well laid out for visibility and the trip computer displayed a wealth of information including tyre pressure (all round), transmission fluid temp etc etc.
Chevrolet are obviously working on the active exhaust game as when I pressed the obligatory engine start button the car started with a WHOOMPH that was quite unexpected. Maybe they back the ‘vettes in to a tight space on purpose... Although our car was fitted with the 6sp auto box, I was quite keen to get stuck in at this point. First impressions were pretty good. Decent ride, acceptable steering and excellent AC, quiet with seemingly little slack in the controls. The overwhelming initial impression was one of big engine, small body. Even the smallest squeeze of the throttle resulted in the car surging forward, regardless of the gear. I was worried that this may be an Audi-type trick where all the performance was delivered in the first half-inch of throttle travel. I needn’t have worried.
Driving from Vegas to Reno, we took a low-key approach to leaving the city. An hour later, we left the third or fourth town on the trip. I dropped it in to 2nd (paddles make no sense – both paddles change down with a tug and up with an awkward thumb tab – why?) and planted it. This thing is big league quick... Really, unremittingly FAST. The V8 pulls from the word go, but as it starts to get hold of the cam and the exhaust valves open, it really just bludgeons ahead. The crazy gearing sanitises the experience somewhat, but once I got into the groove 3rd and 4th gear runs were pulling us from 40 to 160mph in 2 big, noisy lunges. On one pass, I kept it pinned and it passed 170 like it was never going to stop. The noise was everything you had hoped it would be, and yet strangely slightly unfulfilling which kept me ragging it. If I have a criticism of the performance, it is only that the power tails off above 5500rpm. But then it is on standard pipes and induction.
On the flip side of this crazy, elastic performance is the fuel economy. Due to the frankly ridiculous gearing, 90mph in top was about 1700rpm. I reset the fuel counter before I left Vegas and we did the 450 miles to Reno at an average of abut 100mph. Sometime 80, sometimes 160, slow within 15 miles of any town. And she returned 27.7mpg! I was just stunned. Combine that with a proper size fuel tank, and we were getting 420miles out of a tank.
Having really understood what the car was capable of delivering, the colour stopped bothering me and I started picturing it in a gunmetal grey, or something similar. The C6 really is a handsome beast; at first I thought it was a bit phallic, but they have pared the weight of the C5 and got a really taut shape out of it. The C7 will be fantastic if they keep developing a similar theme...
I was totally sold. I would buy one tomorrow if I was in that market place. God only knows what the 7 litre version must feel like!
And yes, I did get a speeding ticket, though he reduced the speed to 90mph “cause you’re a Brit. And I don’t mean that racially or nuthin’.” Thank you.
Edited by WTFWT on Friday 26th September 20:48
WTFWT said:
On the flip side of this crazy, elastic performance is the fuel economy. Due to the frankly ridiculous gearing, 90mph in top was about 1700rpm. I reset the fuel counter before I left Vegas and we did the 450 miles to Reno at an average of abut 100mph. Sometime 80, sometimes 160, slow within 15 miles of any town. And she returned 27.7mpg! I was just stunned. Combine that with a proper size fuel tank, and we were getting 420miles out of a tank.
And don't forget thats US gallons which are smaller than imperial measures, so thats 33.2 UK MPGEdited by WTFWT on Friday 26th September 20:48
Online convertor
WTFWT said:
I was planning a trip to the States and thought that I should order something representative of the Colonies, and preferably V8. I called Hertz to see if I could get a GT350H, but they told me most of them have been pulled from the fleet to be sold. Anyway, I got talked in to renting one of their special edition ‘vettes. Not my first choice, but having a lot of seat time in a ’65 C2, I was interested to see how the genre had fared.
First impressions were mixed. Any bias-free visual impact was blown out of the window by the fact it was yellow. With chrome rims. Undeterred, we packed our bags which is where I thought the first problems would arise. My girlfriend had brought a frankly laughable amount of kit in 2 bags (“Excess baggage sir? Second counter on the end...) and yet the car swallowed everything without a grumble. The boot is really large, but quite shallow and flat. The whole glass piece lifts which makes it really easy to pack effectively. I was stunned.
The first impressions of climbing in were really positive. Ok, it’s no Audi inside, but all the chat on here would have one believe the interior was made out of yoghurt pots. Far from it. It was very comfortable for me (6’3”) and had decent quality leather and lovely exposed stitching. Ok, some of the plastics were a bit low rent, but it felt more luxurious than say a 996. The dials were well laid out for visibility and the trip computer displayed a wealth of information including tyre pressure (all round), transmission fluid temp etc etc.
Chevrolet are obviously working on the active exhaust game as when I pressed the obligatory engine start button the car started with a WHOOMPH that was quite unexpected. Maybe they back the ‘vettes in to a tight space on purpose... Although our car was fitted with the 6sp auto box, I was quite keen to get stuck in at this point. First impressions were pretty good. Decent ride, acceptable steering and excellent AC, quiet with seemingly little slack in the controls. The overwhelming initial impression was one of big engine, small body. Even the smallest squeeze of the throttle resulted in the car surging forward, regardless of the gear. I was worried that this may be an Audi-type trick where all the performance was delivered in the first half-inch of throttle travel. I needn’t have worried.
Driving from Vegas to Reno, we took a low-key approach to leaving the city. An hour later, we left the third or fourth town on the trip. I dropped it in to 2nd (paddles make no sense – both paddles change down with a tug and up with an awkward thumb tab – why?) and planted it. This thing is big league quick... Really, unremittingly FAST. The V8 pulls from the word go, but as it starts to get hold of the cam and the exhaust valves open, it really just bludgeons ahead. The crazy gearing sanitises the experience somewhat, but once I got into the groove 3rd and 4th gear runs were pulling us from 40 to 160mph in 2 big, noisy lunges. On one pass, I kept it pinned and it passed 170 like it was never going to stop. The noise was everything you had hoped it would be, and yet strangely slightly unfulfilling which kept me ragging it. If I have a criticism of the performance, it is only that the power tails off above 5500rpm. But then it is on standard pipes and induction.
On the flip side of this crazy, elastic performance is the fuel economy. Due to the frankly ridiculous gearing, 90mph in top was about 1700rpm. I reset the fuel counter before I left Vegas and we did the 450 miles to Reno at an average of abut 100mph. Sometime 80, sometimes 160, slow within 15 miles of any town. And she returned 27.7mpg! I was just stunned. Combine that with a proper size fuel tank, and we were getting 420miles out of a tank.
Having really understood what the car was capable of delivering, the colour stopped bothering me and I started picturing it in a gunmetal grey, or something similar. The C6 really is a handsome beast; at first I thought it was a bit phallic, but they have pared the weight of the C5 and got a really taut shape out of it. The C7 will be fantastic if they keep developing a similar theme...
I was totally sold. I would buy one tomorrow if I was in that market place. God only knows what the 7 litre version must feel like!
And yes, I did get a speeding ticket, though he reduced the speed to 90mph “cause you’re a Brit. And I don’t mean that racially or nuthin’.” Thank you.
Great write up First impressions were mixed. Any bias-free visual impact was blown out of the window by the fact it was yellow. With chrome rims. Undeterred, we packed our bags which is where I thought the first problems would arise. My girlfriend had brought a frankly laughable amount of kit in 2 bags (“Excess baggage sir? Second counter on the end...) and yet the car swallowed everything without a grumble. The boot is really large, but quite shallow and flat. The whole glass piece lifts which makes it really easy to pack effectively. I was stunned.
The first impressions of climbing in were really positive. Ok, it’s no Audi inside, but all the chat on here would have one believe the interior was made out of yoghurt pots. Far from it. It was very comfortable for me (6’3”) and had decent quality leather and lovely exposed stitching. Ok, some of the plastics were a bit low rent, but it felt more luxurious than say a 996. The dials were well laid out for visibility and the trip computer displayed a wealth of information including tyre pressure (all round), transmission fluid temp etc etc.
Chevrolet are obviously working on the active exhaust game as when I pressed the obligatory engine start button the car started with a WHOOMPH that was quite unexpected. Maybe they back the ‘vettes in to a tight space on purpose... Although our car was fitted with the 6sp auto box, I was quite keen to get stuck in at this point. First impressions were pretty good. Decent ride, acceptable steering and excellent AC, quiet with seemingly little slack in the controls. The overwhelming initial impression was one of big engine, small body. Even the smallest squeeze of the throttle resulted in the car surging forward, regardless of the gear. I was worried that this may be an Audi-type trick where all the performance was delivered in the first half-inch of throttle travel. I needn’t have worried.
Driving from Vegas to Reno, we took a low-key approach to leaving the city. An hour later, we left the third or fourth town on the trip. I dropped it in to 2nd (paddles make no sense – both paddles change down with a tug and up with an awkward thumb tab – why?) and planted it. This thing is big league quick... Really, unremittingly FAST. The V8 pulls from the word go, but as it starts to get hold of the cam and the exhaust valves open, it really just bludgeons ahead. The crazy gearing sanitises the experience somewhat, but once I got into the groove 3rd and 4th gear runs were pulling us from 40 to 160mph in 2 big, noisy lunges. On one pass, I kept it pinned and it passed 170 like it was never going to stop. The noise was everything you had hoped it would be, and yet strangely slightly unfulfilling which kept me ragging it. If I have a criticism of the performance, it is only that the power tails off above 5500rpm. But then it is on standard pipes and induction.
On the flip side of this crazy, elastic performance is the fuel economy. Due to the frankly ridiculous gearing, 90mph in top was about 1700rpm. I reset the fuel counter before I left Vegas and we did the 450 miles to Reno at an average of abut 100mph. Sometime 80, sometimes 160, slow within 15 miles of any town. And she returned 27.7mpg! I was just stunned. Combine that with a proper size fuel tank, and we were getting 420miles out of a tank.
Having really understood what the car was capable of delivering, the colour stopped bothering me and I started picturing it in a gunmetal grey, or something similar. The C6 really is a handsome beast; at first I thought it was a bit phallic, but they have pared the weight of the C5 and got a really taut shape out of it. The C7 will be fantastic if they keep developing a similar theme...
I was totally sold. I would buy one tomorrow if I was in that market place. God only knows what the 7 litre version must feel like!
And yes, I did get a speeding ticket, though he reduced the speed to 90mph “cause you’re a Brit. And I don’t mean that racially or nuthin’.” Thank you.
Edited by WTFWT on Friday 26th September 20:48
Did you snap any pics?
WTFWT said:
And yes, I did get a speeding ticket, though he reduced the speed to 90mph “cause you’re a Brit. And I don’t mean that racially or nuthin’.” Thank you.
Edited by WTFWT on Friday 26th September 20:48
Legendary!How fast were you actually going/ what was the fine? Do their fines put points on your licence?
So a big V-8 doing everywhere from 80-170 and still getting 27/US & 33/UK MPG. Perhaps that will teach folks that a 6L or 7L V-8 can actually weigh the same and be all around smaller than some Euro V-6s. It may also lend credence to the fact that what many call "advanced" simply means "complicated" when referring to some Euro-engines.
Now, let me get into my German car and head for the store.
Now, let me get into my German car and head for the store.
Jimbeaux said:
So a big V-8 doing everywhere from 80-170 and still getting 27/US & 33/UK MPG. Perhaps that will teach folks that a 6L or 7L V-8 can actually weigh the same and be all around smaller than some Euro V-6s. It may also lend credence to the fact that what many call "advanced" simply means "complicated" when referring to some Euro-engines.
Now, let me get into my German car and head for the store.
If true, which from my experience of recent US sports cars, it ain't!Now, let me get into my German car and head for the store.
DSM2 said:
Jimbeaux said:
So a big V-8 doing everywhere from 80-170 and still getting 27/US & 33/UK MPG. Perhaps that will teach folks that a 6L or 7L V-8 can actually weigh the same and be all around smaller than some Euro V-6s. It may also lend credence to the fact that what many call "advanced" simply means "complicated" when referring to some Euro-engines.
Now, let me get into my German car and head for the store.
If true, which from my experience of recent US sports cars, it ain't!Now, let me get into my German car and head for the store.
Good write up - I keep loking at C6s for when I sell my Chimaera but keep telling myself I really can't live day to day with LHD hence I keep turning back to a T350 or at a push a 355.
My other concern I guess is like your first one with the reports of cheap interiors, glad to hear they're not 'that' bad!
My other concern I guess is like your first one with the reports of cheap interiors, glad to hear they're not 'that' bad!
Zippee said:
Good write up - I keep loking at C6s for when I sell my Chimaera but keep telling myself I really can't live day to day with LHD hence I keep turning back to a T350 or at a push a 355.
My other concern I guess is like your first one with the reports of cheap interiors, glad to hear they're not 'that' bad!
O.k the interior might not bee up to ero standards.But they are pretty robust.But its the bullet proof reliability of them.Servicing can be done by yourself.Just a simple oil and filter change.Thats why the L.S unit is a popular engine conversion.My other concern I guess is like your first one with the reports of cheap interiors, glad to hear they're not 'that' bad!
BLUETHUNDER said:
Zippee said:
Good write up - I keep loking at C6s for when I sell my Chimaera but keep telling myself I really can't live day to day with LHD hence I keep turning back to a T350 or at a push a 355.
My other concern I guess is like your first one with the reports of cheap interiors, glad to hear they're not 'that' bad!
O.k the interior might not bee up to ero standards.But they are pretty robust.But its the bullet proof reliability of them.Servicing can be done by yourself.Just a simple oil and filter change.Thats why the L.S unit is a popular engine conversion.My other concern I guess is like your first one with the reports of cheap interiors, glad to hear they're not 'that' bad!
We rented a C6 convertible from Hertz when last in Vegas and drove to Grand Canyon, did Route 66 and...ahem...when the wife was left back at the hotel and my friend came along, some more spirited driving.
I would buy one in a second - fuel economy was great, very comfortable, not much buffeting at all (you sit very low in the car and I am 6'2) and that noise *grinning even now*
I thought the build quality was actually great since, as a true sad case car nut, we went all over the car looking and poking at things
I would buy one in a second - fuel economy was great, very comfortable, not much buffeting at all (you sit very low in the car and I am 6'2) and that noise *grinning even now*
I thought the build quality was actually great since, as a true sad case car nut, we went all over the car looking and poking at things
The rental cost for the 10 days was about $2400 all in.
I was doing about 105 mph when the cop pulled me, but he told me he had me at 98. After we had chatted for a bit, he told me that he would write me up for 90. Smaller fines that way apparently. Once I got over the shock of the cop approaching me with his hand on his pistol, he was charm personified and managed to refrain from any of the condescending bulls
t that comes with s stop from the UK traffic police.
I did take a pic on my mobile - I'll upload it later. TBH, it's a yellow C6 with chrome rims...
The mpg did shock me; it is possible the trip computer was overly optimistic, but it seemed to tally with what I had to put back in the tank.
I didn't mention that it oversteers ludicrously at will. Obviously!
I was doing about 105 mph when the cop pulled me, but he told me he had me at 98. After we had chatted for a bit, he told me that he would write me up for 90. Smaller fines that way apparently. Once I got over the shock of the cop approaching me with his hand on his pistol, he was charm personified and managed to refrain from any of the condescending bulls
t that comes with s stop from the UK traffic police.I did take a pic on my mobile - I'll upload it later. TBH, it's a yellow C6 with chrome rims...
The mpg did shock me; it is possible the trip computer was overly optimistic, but it seemed to tally with what I had to put back in the tank.
I didn't mention that it oversteers ludicrously at will. Obviously!
WTFWT said:
The rental cost for the 10 days was about $2400 all in.
I was doing about 105 mph when the cop pulled me, but he told me he had me at 98. After we had chatted for a bit, he told me that he would write me up for 90. Smaller fines that way apparently. Once I got over the shock of the cop approaching me with his hand on his pistol, he was charm personified and managed to refrain from any of the condescending bullst that comes with s stop from the UK traffic police.
I did take a pic on my mobile - I'll upload it later. TBH, it's a yellow C6 with chrome rims...
The mpg did shock me; it is possible the trip computer was overly optimistic, but it seemed to tally with what I had to put back in the tank.
I didn't mention that it oversteers ludicrously at will. Obviously!
Saying a US cop acted gentile goes against the proper PH stereotype and shall not be tolerated.I was doing about 105 mph when the cop pulled me, but he told me he had me at 98. After we had chatted for a bit, he told me that he would write me up for 90. Smaller fines that way apparently. Once I got over the shock of the cop approaching me with his hand on his pistol, he was charm personified and managed to refrain from any of the condescending bulls
t that comes with s stop from the UK traffic police.I did take a pic on my mobile - I'll upload it later. TBH, it's a yellow C6 with chrome rims...
The mpg did shock me; it is possible the trip computer was overly optimistic, but it seemed to tally with what I had to put back in the tank.
I didn't mention that it oversteers ludicrously at will. Obviously!
Jimbeaux said:
WTFWT said:
The rental cost for the 10 days was about $2400 all in.
I was doing about 105 mph when the cop pulled me, but he told me he had me at 98. After we had chatted for a bit, he told me that he would write me up for 90. Smaller fines that way apparently. Once I got over the shock of the cop approaching me with his hand on his pistol, he was charm personified and managed to refrain from any of the condescending bullst that comes with s stop from the UK traffic police.
I did take a pic on my mobile - I'll upload it later. TBH, it's a yellow C6 with chrome rims...
The mpg did shock me; it is possible the trip computer was overly optimistic, but it seemed to tally with what I had to put back in the tank.
I didn't mention that it oversteers ludicrously at will. Obviously!
Saying a US cop acted gentile goes against the proper PH stereotype and shall not be tolerated.I was doing about 105 mph when the cop pulled me, but he told me he had me at 98. After we had chatted for a bit, he told me that he would write me up for 90. Smaller fines that way apparently. Once I got over the shock of the cop approaching me with his hand on his pistol, he was charm personified and managed to refrain from any of the condescending bulls
t that comes with s stop from the UK traffic police.I did take a pic on my mobile - I'll upload it later. TBH, it's a yellow C6 with chrome rims...
The mpg did shock me; it is possible the trip computer was overly optimistic, but it seemed to tally with what I had to put back in the tank.
I didn't mention that it oversteers ludicrously at will. Obviously!
Awesome cars aren't they?! I rented one last year and had a blat from Orlando to Miami and back over a couple of days, fantastic!!
Next year we're going to hire one and do Las Vegas to Los Angeles.
Oh, that LS3 engine, the 6.2 V8, is the same one as in the latest Vauxhall VXR8 :thumbup
Few pics here. I have a video too, showing the brutal acceleration, but I better not post it here
Next year we're going to hire one and do Las Vegas to Los Angeles.
Oh, that LS3 engine, the 6.2 V8, is the same one as in the latest Vauxhall VXR8 :thumbup
Few pics here. I have a video too, showing the brutal acceleration, but I better not post it here
Edited by Arese on Tuesday 30th September 15:05
Edited by Arese on Tuesday 30th September 15:06
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