Corvette - The Best Kept Sportscar Secret
Discussion
Hi Guys,
Its very quiet on the Vette forum this Christmas ! So I started looking at other forums - specifically TVR cos I used to sell them.
Found one started by a guy who wanted to know what is the best TVR to buy for less than £20K to replace his Porker Boxster S. It is Seven pages long already, and its been all over the place. Don't you just love Porsche and TVR afficionados ?!
So I took off my TVR coat and put on my Corvette mantle. My contribution is on Page 7, by GTO 2 UFO. Wouldn't be surprised if that doesn't unleash a torrent of vitriol !!
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0... S to TVR.....?
(Topic is entitled "Boxster S to TVR").
If it does, I would welcome some backing guys ! About time Vettes stopped being "Best Kept Sportscar Secrets" !!
Happy Christmas,
Chas
Its very quiet on the Vette forum this Christmas ! So I started looking at other forums - specifically TVR cos I used to sell them.
Found one started by a guy who wanted to know what is the best TVR to buy for less than £20K to replace his Porker Boxster S. It is Seven pages long already, and its been all over the place. Don't you just love Porsche and TVR afficionados ?!
So I took off my TVR coat and put on my Corvette mantle. My contribution is on Page 7, by GTO 2 UFO. Wouldn't be surprised if that doesn't unleash a torrent of vitriol !!
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0... S to TVR.....?
(Topic is entitled "Boxster S to TVR").
If it does, I would welcome some backing guys ! About time Vettes stopped being "Best Kept Sportscar Secrets" !!
Happy Christmas,
Chas
Edited by GTO 2 UFO on Sunday 26th December 17:35
!Best kept secret?! I see 10+ a day on my trip into work. There's a forecourt full to the brim of them less than a mile from the office!
They may be rare in the UK but they most certainly are not here in the US. And they're so prevalent because in the US they're dirt cheap (compared to Porsche, etc) so its easy to overlook their shortcomings.
They may be rare in the UK but they most certainly are not here in the US. And they're so prevalent because in the US they're dirt cheap (compared to Porsche, etc) so its easy to overlook their shortcomings.
Hi Fatbutt,
That's the bit we Limey Vette owners don't quite get ! Bunches of Vettes in the US of A at half the price they cost by the time they are landed in the UK.
Realistically the only 2 things that GM needs to do for the UK market is to offer Grand Sports with interiors to Jaguar standard - with RHD - and they would have no competition in the market - provided new ones could be had for about £60 - £65K.
They would also need to ensure that the dealers supporting the product were at least interested in the Brand (R.I.P Stratstone !). Due respect to you Mitch at Bauer Millett !!
Seasons Greetings !
That's the bit we Limey Vette owners don't quite get ! Bunches of Vettes in the US of A at half the price they cost by the time they are landed in the UK.
Realistically the only 2 things that GM needs to do for the UK market is to offer Grand Sports with interiors to Jaguar standard - with RHD - and they would have no competition in the market - provided new ones could be had for about £60 - £65K.
They would also need to ensure that the dealers supporting the product were at least interested in the Brand (R.I.P Stratstone !). Due respect to you Mitch at Bauer Millett !!
Seasons Greetings !
Edited by GTO 2 UFO on Monday 27th December 18:33
GTO 2 UFO said:
Hi Fatbutt,
That's the bit we Limey Vette owners don't quite get ! Bunches of Vettes in the US of A at half the price they cost by the time they are landed in the UK.
Realistically the only 2 things that GM needs to do for the UK market is to offer Grand Sports with interiors to Jaguar standard - with RHD - and they would have no competition in the market - provided new ones could be had for about £60 - £65K.
They would also need to ensure that the dealers supporting the product were at least interested in the Brand (R.I.P Stratstone !). Due respect to you Mitch at Bauer Millett !!
Seasons Greetings !
Is it that the States doesn't supply cars or that UK dealers don't want to hold inventory?That's the bit we Limey Vette owners don't quite get ! Bunches of Vettes in the US of A at half the price they cost by the time they are landed in the UK.
Realistically the only 2 things that GM needs to do for the UK market is to offer Grand Sports with interiors to Jaguar standard - with RHD - and they would have no competition in the market - provided new ones could be had for about £60 - £65K.
They would also need to ensure that the dealers supporting the product were at least interested in the Brand (R.I.P Stratstone !). Due respect to you Mitch at Bauer Millett !!
Seasons Greetings !
Edited by GTO 2 UFO on Monday 27th December 18:33
No shortage of new Vettes.
GTO 2 UFO said:
Realistically the only 2 things that GM needs to do for the UK market is to offer Grand Sports with interiors to Jaguar standard - with RHD - and they would have no competition in the market - provided new ones could be had for about £60 - £65K.
I never knew the motor trade was so simple!The Perana Z-one (essentially a South African built Zagato body with Corvette mechanicals) is due in UK anytime soon with RHD but the price keeps creeping up and the darned thing is being sold without ABS.
http://www.superformance.com/News_View.aspx?Articl...
For your info.
http://www.expomc.com/invsys/invlist.php
2009 Corvette, $39,991 (2010 Corvette $75,000).
'Vettes are cheap and disposable here.
http://www.expomc.com/invsys/invlist.php
2009 Corvette, $39,991 (2010 Corvette $75,000).
'Vettes are cheap and disposable here.
fatbutt said:
For your info.
http://www.expomc.com/invsys/invlist.php
2009 Corvette, $39,991 (2010 Corvette $75,000).
'Vettes are cheap and disposable here.
To quote a work colleague of mine commenting on my car:http://www.expomc.com/invsys/invlist.php
2009 Corvette, $39,991 (2010 Corvette $75,000).
'Vettes are cheap and disposable here.
Him: I've never known anyone with a really flash car.
Me: What about Roy, he's got a 911?
Him: Nah, 911s are ten-a-penny...
Different perspective depending on the side of the pond you live on. I know Vettes are relatively common in the US, but that doesn't stop them being fun cars (and importantly with a fairly large V8!). Over here you also get the "what the Hell is it?" factor too.
GW65 said:
fatbutt said:
For your info.
http://www.expomc.com/invsys/invlist.php
2009 Corvette, $39,991 (2010 Corvette $75,000).
'Vettes are cheap and disposable here.
To quote a work colleague of mine commenting on my car:http://www.expomc.com/invsys/invlist.php
2009 Corvette, $39,991 (2010 Corvette $75,000).
'Vettes are cheap and disposable here.
Him: I've never known anyone with a really flash car.
Me: What about Roy, he's got a 911?
Him: Nah, 911s are ten-a-penny...
Different perspective depending on the side of the pond you live on. I know Vettes are relatively common in the US, but that doesn't stop them being fun cars (and importantly with a fairly large V8!). Over here you also get the "what the Hell is it?" factor too.
GTO 2 UFO said:
Hi Fatbutt,
That's the bit we Limey Vette owners don't quite get ! Bunches of Vettes in the US of A at half the price they cost by the time they are landed in the UK.
Realistically the only 2 things that GM needs to do for the UK market is to offer Grand Sports with interiors to Jaguar standard - with RHD - and they would have no competition in the market - provided new ones could be had for about £60 - £65K.
They would also need to ensure that the dealers supporting the product were at least interested in the Brand (R.I.P Stratstone !). Due respect to you Mitch at Bauer Millett !!
Seasons Greetings !
Well I wish I could agree here but I just can't. Past history has shown that RHD isn't the fundamental reason why the Corvette remains a niche. After all you had the VXR8 being offered new for £35k and it took just short of three years for Vauxhall to clear the 300 or so it brought in. Corvette is designed with Americans, their cities, roads and usage patterns in mind. Most places in the U.S. Would destroy a Porsche in a heartbeat, but there is no denying that the Germans have the edge when it comes to finishing touchs. C7 wil have a greater focus on interior build quality and should hopefully start in the mid £60k's, but RHD is never going to happen. There's no viability in it and if you two used Corvettes at three years old, one RHD and th other LHD I'd actuall suggest the lefty would be worth more. This has already been seen with some Cadillac over the last couple of years.That's the bit we Limey Vette owners don't quite get ! Bunches of Vettes in the US of A at half the price they cost by the time they are landed in the UK.
Realistically the only 2 things that GM needs to do for the UK market is to offer Grand Sports with interiors to Jaguar standard - with RHD - and they would have no competition in the market - provided new ones could be had for about £60 - £65K.
They would also need to ensure that the dealers supporting the product were at least interested in the Brand (R.I.P Stratstone !). Due respect to you Mitch at Bauer Millett !!
Seasons Greetings !
Edited by GTO 2 UFO on Monday 27th December 18:33
I bow to your superior knowledge Mitch but, whenever I quietly suggested to a TVR owner that they might like to consider a Corvette, the answer was invariably: "Like the cars, but I'd want RHD, and the interior is too plasticy".
However, there are very few nowadays who ever "if" a modern Corvette's handling ! And whenever I take the C6 Z06 on a European touring trip with TVR owners, the Corvette is admired when stationary and earns respect when on the move.
You're the man to do it Mitch. Why not start a Topic on the TVR Forum entitled "Don't put a 'Vette engine in a TVR, buy a 'Vette" ? Could result in some converts and new customers for you !
Happy New Year and a Succesful and Prosperous 2011 to one and all,
Chas
However, there are very few nowadays who ever "if" a modern Corvette's handling ! And whenever I take the C6 Z06 on a European touring trip with TVR owners, the Corvette is admired when stationary and earns respect when on the move.
You're the man to do it Mitch. Why not start a Topic on the TVR Forum entitled "Don't put a 'Vette engine in a TVR, buy a 'Vette" ? Could result in some converts and new customers for you !
Happy New Year and a Succesful and Prosperous 2011 to one and all,
Chas
I've got to agree with Chas here. At work I'm surrounded by people who could just as easily be considering a Corvette instead of that Porsche, Aston, Jag, Maserati etc. But the first thing they always cite as a reason not to is the LHD aspect. The next reason is usually the uneducated (or miseducated) "but it doesn't go round corners". And if they get as far as sitting inside one, then they'll sometimes say the interior's plasticky.
GM can do something about two of those things and time will change opinions on the other one.
Everyone I know who knows my Z06 thinks it's great. But despite everything I say on the topic, they won't consider buying one as long as it's LHD.
For as long as I own a LHD Z06, I don't particularly want to see RHD ones launched. But GM would sell loads of them in UK, Australia, India, SA, Japan etc. if it launched a RHD version.
Oh and Chas why've you disappeared from that Boxster vs. TVR thread...?
GM can do something about two of those things and time will change opinions on the other one.
Everyone I know who knows my Z06 thinks it's great. But despite everything I say on the topic, they won't consider buying one as long as it's LHD.
For as long as I own a LHD Z06, I don't particularly want to see RHD ones launched. But GM would sell loads of them in UK, Australia, India, SA, Japan etc. if it launched a RHD version.
Oh and Chas why've you disappeared from that Boxster vs. TVR thread...?
Dr-Bob said:
"Viper" rare in the US and very rare in the UK...... Porsche's and Vettes are COMMON.... LOL!!!!!
I'm off now....
Sadly impractical (hence why they are rare) due to excessively small luggage space and tight/short cabin for midgets only. I'm off now....
Otherwise Id agree, they are also an option. The Gen5 will be interesting to see if they have addressed the above.
The Vette blows the Viper away on both accounts and is therefore the more suitable vehicle to take the title.
ringram said:
Dr-Bob said:
"Viper" rare in the US and very rare in the UK...... Porsche's and Vettes are COMMON.... LOL!!!!!
I'm off now....
Sadly impractical (hence why they are rare) due to excessively small luggage space and tight/short cabin for midgets only. I'm off now....
Otherwise Id agree, they are also an option. The Gen5 will be interesting to see if they have addressed the above.
The Vette blows the Viper away on both accounts and is therefore the more suitable vehicle to take the title.
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