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First Test: 2008 Chevrolet Corvette

cpruitt submitted on 08/01/2007 Official AutoSpies Timestamp: 2:14 PM
from: www.motortrend.com

[32] user comments | category: New Cars

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Tags: 2008 Chevrolet Corvette

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First Test: 2008 Chevrolet Corvette

Our test car was a fully broken-in (1275 miles) early-production Z51 coupe, equipped with the NPP dual-mode performance exhaust, which reduces back-pressure by a whopping 80 percent at high engine speeds, adding six peak horsepower and four pound-feet, bringing the totals to 436 and 428, respectively. Naturally, we opted for the revised Tremec six-speed manual transaxle creating what is now the second best performance Corvette. Gearing in the Z51 is nine to 14 percent shorter in the first four gears relative to the base manual, and while the base six-speed paddle-shifted automatic matches the Z51's gearing in first, the other gears are 12 to 25 percent taller. Automatic buyers can opt for a slightly shorter axle ratio (2.73:1 versus 2.56:1), which doesn't have much effect on the performance numbers, but improves in-gear passing acceleration. GM reckons the automatics should trail our Z51 stick by about a tenth to 60 mph, two-tenths and two mph in the quarter. We wheedled and cajoled for a chance to verify these projections using our photo car, but because it was so green (300 miles), GM said no dice. Read Article

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bagwell - 8/1/2007 3:21:54 PM

+1 Boost

go buy a Cadillac if want it to handle/ride like a boat!

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lewishamiltonpimp - 8/1/2007 4:10:29 PM

+1 Boost

You have no clue do you?

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pushrod27 - 8/1/2007 4:56:05 PM

+2 Boost

Ricemaster, you are a fool. I never understood what kind of jackass would waste time and money attaching performance parts to some tiny Asian econobox chick car. What do you end up with? A Civic with a giant rear wing and a screaming, clattering 4-banger motor? WTF? This is motorsport? Who would bother with that when they could enjoy the authorative thrust of the LS3 V8 and it's barritone rumble barking from the exhaust pipes. That's real muscle.

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pushrod27 - 8/1/2007 7:14:45 PM

+1 Boost

I'm not the sort of fellow who concerns himself with the law, i'm from Philly. They don't care what you do around here. There's just too many shootings to waste time enforcing some silly traffic rules. Also, I can afford a few speeding tickets. I prefer a V8 simply for it's sound. Nothing like that rumble.

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pushrod27 - 8/1/2007 7:16:43 PM

+1 Boost

... Not to mention the fact that street racing, for which 'Ricemasters' prepare their cars is highly illegal. Your argument is invalid. Everything fun is illegal. And you can drive as fast as you want at the track day.

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pushrod27 - 8/1/2007 9:25:06 PM

0 Boost

I have no interest in working for anyone but myself. I have a problem with authority, thus my indifference to the law. you don't want me as an employee. I will rob you blind.

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bagwell - 8/1/2007 3:19:06 PM

+2 Boost

best bargain out there!

I'll take mine in Silver or White please...6 speed/Nav/Z51.

another good point -- these things are cheap to fix (unless you have the F55 Mag Suspension)

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stone - 8/1/2007 3:46:33 PM

+1 Boost

Agreed! I'm getting old enough to where I can start looking for my midlife crisis car, and after driving a 2007 C6 vert about 3 weeks ago, I am just about sold. Yeah, the interior was not groundbreaking, but after just a few hours (salesman let me keep it all day), the interior could have been made of wax paper for all I cared. I have driven some pretty quick cars but the C6 literally had my heart thumping and I cannot imagine the new LS3 motor being that much better, but I will drive it once the hype dies down a bit. I will still wait to see what the GTR has to offer, but it will need to be a really, really good car to give me the same feeling I had after spending just a little time in that vette. Plus the vette was a convertible, and you CANNOT have a proper midlife crisis without a drop........

stone

supermoto - 8/1/2007 3:41:41 PM

+1 Boost

Nice car. Wish the interior was better than a Malibu rental car.

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lewishamiltonpimp - 8/1/2007 4:13:56 PM

+1 Boost

12.4 sec quarters for under $50K.

I can see past the interior which I think is a vast improvement over the '07.

SevorbeupstryIsBack - 8/1/2007 5:31:29 PM

+1 Boost

I always loved the Corvette. I want a white one with black interior. I also want a Borla exhaust system. Or whatever you Americans put on Corvettes.

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pushrod27 - 8/1/2007 6:14:20 PM

+1 Boost

For that unmistakable V8 rumble, you could go Borla or Flowmaster for your exhaust. I beleive that Lingenfelter also makes special exhaust pipes for the Corvette. Although i must tell you, the V8 rumble comes free with the car. Corvettes and Mustangs with V8s sound really great from the factory. Anybody here remember that 212 mph C5 Corvette that Car & Driver built with John Lingenfelter back in the late 90's? Just asking.

TehShibbs - 8/1/2007 7:55:13 PM

+1 Boost

Corsa is also a really nice sounding exhaust.

bagwell - 8/1/2007 8:51:06 PM

+1 Boost

you don't want to change the exhaust on this car -- read the review AGAIN to see why!!

lewishamiltonpimp - 8/1/2007 10:04:36 PM

0 Boost

Wow Rice. You are quite ignorant. Too many NOPI weekends I guess.

Get a friggin clue.

pushrod27 - 8/1/2007 10:09:06 PM

0 Boost

I like you Ricemaster. you say stupid things - that's kind of annoying. But you don't get indignant when people tell you you're stupid - that's refreshing.
Anyway... GM was building V8s when soichiro Honda was fixing motorbikes. They know what they're doing. You kill me discounting the technological know-how of Americans. American cars are shitty (for the most part) because the executives are cheap and greedy, and because the workers are lazy and greedy. It's not because Americans lack the insight and ability to build amazing technology. They have just fallen into the habit of doing the bare-minimum to collect their pay. They have no actual dedication.
While the Japanase come from a very disciplined culture and their car companies are very good, let's not forget that Japan originally aquired their technical engineering abilities from Germany as a part of their alliance in WWII. The Japanese studied German technology from tanks, planes, and submarines. German engineers mentored Japanese engineers. And the Japanese business culture is based on what America's used to be. So your precious rice burners have the reviled Germany and USA to thank for their present success.

lewishamiltonpimp - 8/1/2007 10:10:01 PM

0 Boost

Oh and Rice-dufus, modern Mustangs are overhead cam. Some have variable valve timing.

Do some research before posting your wisdom.

SevorbeupstryIsBack - 8/2/2007 3:40:42 AM

+1 Boost

"Borla and Flowmaster cannot mask the crudeness of a pushrod."

I love that crudeness, it feels alive and not boring. The uneven beat is typical for American V8s.

I still think the Americans make the best sounding V8s, not the most sophisticated but so much fun and they all have a rich and warm character.

justthetip - 8/1/2007 7:40:43 PM

+1 Boost

I'm a diehard Ford guy but if I went car shopping tomorrow, I would consider this care heavily. All that performance and gas mileage which compares a BMW 3 series.

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bagwell - 8/1/2007 8:53:04 PM

+1 Boost

except for one thing -- the Corvette would crush the 3 series or M3 in every single performance category. Reliability as well!

infiniti - 8/1/2007 9:00:19 PM

0 Boost

the nissan skyline will rock are world .

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lewishamiltonpimp - 8/1/2007 10:13:35 PM

+1 Boost

'are' world?

Maybe it will rock 'our' world eh? And maybe not.

Less doodling pics of Civics with big wings in class infiniti. Listen to the teacher. People will take you more seriously.

A4ORCE - 8/2/2007 4:17:17 AM

+1 Boost

All your bases are belong to us?

LS430Z06 - 8/2/2007 10:18:33 PM

+1 Boost

OK - As an actual OWNER of a 2006 Z06, I'll add my 2 cents. Yes, Ricemaster is almost correct in that it is not the smoothest riding car on the market. But what kind of suspension/engine mods do you have to add to most imports to have them be remotely competitive at the track. No, not the dragstrip, road racing. I will smoke most every Japanese car at the road course, usually by the first or second turn. And I'm 100% stock.

To Pushrod, Stone, Bagwell - You got it right. Nothing like the rumble of the V8!

Oh - BTW - I also have an LS430, RS330, 2007 Mazda3 and Jeep. Lot's of love for all cars!

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LS430Z06 - 8/2/2007 10:19:32 PM

+1 Boost

I meant RX330.

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JTRacer - 8/3/2007 5:44:23 AM

+1 Boost

On the newest C&D article, regular C6 corvette (the slower 400hp version) just beat new 911 turbo and Audi R8 lapping VIR.

http://www.caranddriver.com/features/13173/the-lightning-lap-2007.html
http://www.caranddriver.com/assets/download/lightninglap_results.pdf

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