C8 Corvette

[Coal Dragger]

C7 Corrvette was amazing, this is even more amazing. I realize the baby boomers may not embrace this due to the mid engine, but sorry to say this, the youngest baby boomers are 55, the oldest baby boomers are 73 years old. 60s/70s is getting a wee bit old for a sports car. This is a car that is built for GenX and even older Gen Y’s. The term “game changer” is way over used, but this may in fact represent a game changer.

I’m in GenX, and have sufficient income for a decent C8. I am seriously contemplating how to make one fit in my stable in a few years. Don’t want to pay scalpers prices or be a beta tester.

[bp7178]

Then pump the brakes and wait a year or so.

[Coal Dragger]

That’s the plan.

Probably have to accept the reality that I need a different vehicle type though.

[Diamondback]

That’s the plan.

Probably have to accept the reality that I need a different vehicle type though.

Hard to fit hi-rail gear onto a sportscar... though I've long thought that if someone could make appropriate arrangements, running a hi-rail equipped performance car as a hotshot extra would be a hell of a shortcut in a Cannonball Run.

[Coal Dragger]

Not to mention putting all the high rail gear on would totally screw up the handling. I’ll leave high rails to the track inspectors.

[FromMyColdDeadHand]

Will I only be able to take SBRs and pistols to the range? My McClaren will let me take two supermodels at the same time....

The GPS based system to protect the nose would be cool if it were cloud based...

[The Dumb Gun Collector]

Man, this car in grey would look amazing. If they come out with one with a manual transmission (spare me the logic lesson, I enjoy manual transmissions) I might have to call the credit union.

[Coal Dragger]

As a matter of fact the configurator has a couple shades of metallic grey...

I also enjoy a manual, but the take rate is so low that I wouldn’t hold my breath on one being offered. Also not sure how satisfying a manual would be in the C8, all those linkages to the transmission way out back to the shift lever in the cabin might make it feel pretty numb and vague. Same for the clutch pedal. I know it can be pulled off, as the Europeans and Japanese managed it, but also at a higher cost.

[Honu]

Gen 2 if I was to get one

But more a Porsche guy first

Never been a better fan of anything but a few early years but for what other stuff cost this looks pretty game changing and sure it would be insane once they start putting turbos in and tuning them

Hoping brakes and suspension is designed to handle future performance

[ramairthree]

I sympathize with the conundrum of the cost of vehicles vs income now compared to the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, but the Corvette is not the only vehicle to suffer this cost inflation. In the grand scheme of things $60K is not unusual for a vehicle, a 1/2 ton pickup or large SUV can easily approach that number and exceed it; and those sell like hot cakes.

Ramairthree is absolutely correct about the difference in automotive priorities among younger auto enthusiasts with money, and on a larger scale the smaller percentage of the younger population that is even interested in cars. I don’t know what the answer to this problem is. For my wife it was getting her behind the wheel of something with over 400hp with a good suspension and responsive steering. She totally gets it now. Unfortunately most non interested people wouldn’t even test drive a sports car given a chance.

There’s another problem in my view of marketing high performance cars in this country, and we’re seeing it happen in Europe now too: overzealous policing. When I was growing up in the mid 90’s a guy could get pulled over doing way over the speed limit and just get a ticket and an ass chewing. Now days you get a felony charge if you’re not careful. So we have all these ridiculously capable cars and for most of us, no where to use them to their potential without exposing ourselves to significant legal jeaopardy.

Oh yes. It applies to a lot more than a Corvette and a Camaro and cars in general.

In 1968 a SS Camaro, SS Rolex Sub, and year of tuition, room, board, and books at a four year university would take about 1900, 125, and 750 hours of minimum wage respectively.
Now would be about 5300, 1200, and 3300 hours.
Median income for an American four year university graduate has gone from above, to the same as, to now slightly lower than the median American income.

In 1968 about the median annual income would have bought Junior four years at university, a new Mustang GT fastback, and a SS Sub or GMT as sweet graduation presents at about 8k. Then his median income, being one of the about 12,5% of college graduates would have been 9k a year instead of 8k.

Now, you would have coughed up 150k to get Junior a four year degree, Mustang GT, and SS Sub. This would require about 2.5 times the median income now of 60k, and median income for one of the 35% of the population with a degree is 55K.

If junior is a fit, studly, hard working, determined dude with determination and 98+ percentile IQ he can knock out four years as a SEAL, Ranger Bn guy, Green Beret, etc., then get his degree on the GIBill, start at 75k, be over 100k in a few years, and then MBA or MD his way to some 350k a year and more and not think twice about it. All of the above are just a few more hurdles he will crush to knock out the American Dream.

If junior is an average IQ guy with average physical potential and average grit - he has it way harder than the same cat did in 1968. Not even looking at benefits, med coverage, legal and societal pitfalls, meritocracy replaced by quotas and social justice, company and employer turmoil, retirement, etc.

It’s like someone took the American Dream, a fair piñata you used to be able to work your ass off for and swing for the wall and hit the shit out of, then reap the spoils-
And put it real high up, you can’t even hit it if you jump. You have to climb the tree, hang from the branch by one arm and hit it with the other, and then get back down and try to get some leftover candy the dudes on the ground were scarfing while you were still up in the tree.

Sooner or later the dude in the tree is going to get pissed, and instead of climbing down he is going to jump right on the guys stealing his candy and then start swinging the bat at them.