The ONLY Problem with Corvettes

Well here goes.

I'm a BMW owner (2002 330i) and I really don't like or even have that much respect for american cars, besides the Dodge Viper, and recently, and to a lesser degree, the Corvette. I saw a Z06 parked on the streets of NYC, and I stopped and took a look around it, and I realized that it really is a very good looking car. But.

Ever wonder why Chevrolet had doesn't show it's normal twelve sided logo on the Corvette? Well I've thought about it, and I've decided that Chevrolet is embarassed to put its logo on a sportscar that is sometimes compared to Lamborghinis and Ferraris and the like. To me, Chevrolet makes cheap cars made for the average American. Would I ever want to buy a quasi-exotic car with the same logo as the Astra van??? or the cavalier??? I think not. This is the same ideaology that the blue oval company that is Ford uses. Would you want to buy a sportscar (Mustang) with the same blue oval as the Taurus??? or the Focus??? I think not. Now I'm really rambling.

Th real reason why I started this thread is to wonder why if Chevrolet was smart enough to hide its logo with the racing flags of the Corvette, then why not hide its interior as well. This is "hide" meaning forget the interior of the cavalier, malibu, and ohers, and employ a radically new world class interior that would proselytize (look it up) wealthy Americans who untl then only bought BMW, Mercedes, Lexus sports cars to go back to the local chevy dealer named Frank and buy him a Corvette. I know I'd do it. Would you???

well, I don't think it would really change my opinion on the vette at all. As a matter of fact, I sort of like the dime store interior....it gives the vette character. They have had cheap interiors since the beginning, just like all of the creaks, rattles, and bad ride quality (though these have been improved on). that is sort of what makes a vette a vette :) I surely wouldn't mind a nicer interior though;)

by the way, there have been rumors of GM allowing Corvette to split off into its own division, free of Chevrolet. Camaro would be produced in this division, if it were ever to come back.

I see those yuppies in their better than thou BMW's on the road. They don't dare pass a Corvette because they don't have the power.

I like the interior in my Corvette. Everything works and it only cost $15K. How can you have more fun than that?

Come on 92BlackLT-1 we're in the 21st century, and we're passed "we golly garsh me i'm all glad and happy that everything in my interior works." Go out and buy a Geo Metro and believe it or not, everything in the interior will probably work. Come on. It's embarassing that America's only supercar (besides Dodge Viper) has an interior tha people make excuses for. Do people make excuses for the interior in BMW's or Mercedes or Lexus??? Problems are found and problems are corrected. Over the years GM has been stubborn in not listening and heeding the advice of the American can consumer.

the interiors aren't that bad....I've got six-way leather power seats, leather wrap steering wheel, CD, Bose 10 speaker stereo, electronic climate control, power everything....there are just more applications of vinyl and plastic than wood and metal in the interior. Ever seen a viper interior?...they are pretty plasticky too, no wood or metal...its just american sportscar interior quality, thats all

I agree with you, the interiors aren't that bad. But when you build a car that is to be compared with the most exclusive of sportscars, "that" is a dangerous word. Imagine if the American sportscar statement was- Well the engine isn't THAT boring... Get my point? In the world of supercars, not one detail is overlooked. Exterior, interior, aerodynamics, ergonomics, performance, braking, etc. Chevrolet should spend a boatload of money on R&D to improve the Corvette's interior. If Corvette put out a world class cabin:
1) you wouldn't mind shelling out some more money
2) you'd see a lot more Corvette's on the street than 3 series convertibles, CLK, etc.

your right, to be compared with other world class sports cars, i.e. Ferrari, they would need to improve the cabin. I just don't see why everyone thinks its terrible:confused: I guess love is just blinding me:)

I like the fact that it's American and it's a Chevy. But I agree. People (I've experienced this) can't admit the fact that they are compairable to Ferrari's in preformance. Same goes to most of the Japanese manufactures. The 'ricers' that go only Japanese (with a few actceptions) are still small compaired to the American hotroders etc. For example, in Detriot, if you drive a BMW, or Honda, most people hate you. lol Names go a long way, too bad. :(

Originally posted by hakka
the interiors aren't that bad....I've got six-way leather power seats, leather wrap steering wheel, CD, Bose 10 speaker stereo, electronic climate control, power everything....there are just more applications of vinyl and plastic than wood and metal in the interior. Ever seen a viper interior?...they are pretty plasticky too, no wood or metal...its just american sportscar interior quality, thats all

People buy corvettes and they are so mass produced because they sell. The price is right and you get what you pay for. For the $45,005 sticker I paid for my car I got everything I wanted out of this car...including the most advanced active handling system produced for street cars today. The engine and interrior are en excellent platform to build on if you want more. If you want to upgrade the interrior like i did you can make a completely customized hand stictched two tone leater interrior, premium grade sound system with DVD player and touch screen monitor, etc that will rival any euro sleds interrior for $7,000 putting the grand total for me up to $52,000.

I really don't care how a vette's interior is as long as it can burn almost any car. I love seeing an awesome 10-second vette and frankly don't care how the interior is unless I see it in a show. If you want a fast car w/ nice insides, either get a vette and work on the interior, or just get a car that boasts about having power and nice interior. I'd rather have a powerful vette w/ nice body/paint and a seat I can sit in, than some foreign p.o.s. that has nice everything and no power. But then, it's all personal preference.

it boggles the mind, why people come and hate on different cars. Dont be mad because your beamer got smoked the other day by a vette. Maybe you should just go out and buy a vette and quit wishing you had one!

I don't think he is "hating" on the Vette. I love Vettes and have a great respect for their tradition and history as an American super car. I do have to agree that the interior could use some upgrading. Even though I go to the track I still have to drive my car everyday on the street and that is when a nice interioir really pays off. No one is questioning the Vettes power or performance, but many of us are just wondering why they won't buid an interior that is a closer match to the quality of the car overall. Despite my hesitations about the Vette it is still on my list as a possible next car with the BMW M3.

Does anyone know anything about the next model Vette? Maybe things will change then?

Vertigo- Very well said! It's great to have a car with world class performance on the track...and still be wonderful for every day driving with its premium interior and excellent ergonomics. My '02 330i's ergonomics as well as interior work perfectly together. Everything seems to be where it should be. Please Chevrolet: Keep America Rolling and entice American buyers to buy American cars by upgrading your interior.

who ever buys a vette for the interior is a poser. If your going to buy a vette its for the performance, looks and prestige. You dont buy a performance car for the interior! unless your a 69 year old man with no women!

Your right you don't buy a performance car for the interior, but most of the worlds performance cars (newer ones anyway) already come with great interiors that match the high quality of the rest of the car. All we are saying is that it would be nice if Chevrolet adopted the same attitude. Maybe just maybe that would increase sales.

sure it would be nice, but who gives a fuck! I dont see anyone say, "ooh theirs a vette, but the enterior sucks." and what do you mean up sales? corvette is one of the best saleing performance cars thats ubove 40k!

Originally posted by Vertigo
but most of the worlds performance cars (newer ones anyway) already come with great interiors that match the high quality of the rest of the car. All we are saying is that it would be nice if Chevrolet adopted the same attitude. Maybe just maybe that would increase sales.


Two things. One, if you want things like the interior to match the exotics of the world, then be prepared for the price to match as well. GM is quite aware of how many Vettes they would sell at $100,000 to $150,000. Since nobody else sells many at that price, why go into a smaller market? As far as increasing sales, where are they going to get the market from? Lambo sells what, maybe 1200 cars per year? Same with Modenas. How many GT2s are sold? Corvette sells 33000 cars per year. They have the vast majority of the performance market as it is. And don't make the mistake of thinking M3s are in the same market as ZO6s.

By the way, how many E46 M3s were sold in their first year?

You have a point, but I disagree. Do you really think that a world class interior for the Corvette would increase the price from around 45K to over 100K??? I'm sure that Corvette owners and prospective buyers would not mind one bit shelling out an extra 3/4/5K for an interior that German auto drivers would be jealous of.

Obviously GM disagrees, and they have done extreme polling of current Vette owners to come up with their conclusions.

Having said that, I've been in a couple of E46 M3s, and I don't feel the interior is as nice as the Vette's. Of course, much like what you said, that is an opinion. And in case you weren't aware, the interior of the Vette is totally unique to the Vette. It doesn't share parts with anything else.

In terms of cost, GM is where they want to be to sell every Corvette they produce. Obviously the buyers agree, as the Vette plant always works at maximum production.:)

Chevy doesnt target the supercar market(100k + club).... It just so happens that the vette performas so well, that alot of people like to throw it into that category. Alot of peoples complaints with chevy is all rooted in how chevy plans to sell their cars....to the masses. They dont plan on making a couple thousand a year.

the corvette's competition disappeared years ago, they just didnt sell... rx7, 300zx, supra...and now that the corvette is one of the last of its kind(affordable sports car) car mags feel the need to compare it to the real super cars. Just remember...Chevy didnt design the vette to be a super luxurious car with a ton of gee-whiz gizmos. They designed it with the best and most affordable sports car(not super car). Sure GM could stick a better interior in...but that was never what the vette was about.... some people take these cars, and their rich histories out of context... there is nothing stellar when you are targeting the masses, or shooting for affordablity.

On another note...wait for caddilacs car to come out, its going to be gm's luxurious sports car, it will have the interior you want

Heh... I think the vettes are soo much better than fbods...talk about horrible interiors.

True super cars dont even have interiors if you ask me..look at Mclarens, f40, or f50s....those are the super cars....

Also remember this, Chevy isnt the only company hiding its top end cars behind different badging... so is honda(acura...why dont we see any honda nsxs in the states?), nissan(infini) and toyota(lexus)

When car manufactuers make cars for the masses it tends to happen.

The old interiors are nice in a vintage way, like a race car, at the very least, serious.

But now they have plastic . Of all the things, use something else. Metal would be nice, but take a lesson from Audi. It could even be lighter, and would be much better. Nothing wrong with the comfort, but the aesthetics should be addressed.

corvettes have extremely well-designed interiors, they are comfortable for long drives, supportive for fast driving, and all controls are placed within reach exactly where your hands fall. the only problem with the interiors is the fact that they have black plastic. if u look through an ecklers catalog, you can buy carbon fiber, woodgrain, or aluminum inserts for the dash, and that eliminates the problem. and ive seen some people paint the consoles silver and vents body color, the options are endless. quit griping about the only flaw you can find on the entire car and actually drive one, you will love it

Originally posted by 327belair
quit griping about the only flaw you can find on the entire car and actually drive one, you will love it

I have to gripe, its a shortcoming. But I don't hate the car! I love Corvettes, especially the Z06. It is faster than a Viper and 911 Turbo, and its much cheaper. I love it. But it should come with the Carbon-Fibre from the factory, dont you agree?

yeah, i agree, but im a bigger fan of brushed aluminum.

Well, in my opinion, if they're going to increase the price of the car, I'd rather they went with more power. The only problem with the interior as far as I'm concerned is that the ashtray area doesn't look quite right.


But at 150mph, who looks?:D

i dunno about the whole faster than a viper thing, but id rather have one anyday

I have to agree...if you can drive a ZO6 faster than a Viper in a straight line, then you ARE the man...look for a career in professional driving.

The only thing that I have to say thats bad about the Corvette is that people compare it to the Cobra R as a lot better than it. But think the R is only a 5.4L compared to the 5.8L vett. That little bit or difference is the only reason the vett does 0-60 in 4 flat instead of 4.5sec. And as for the 10 grand more for the R, that is just into the racing suspension that is on it. So if anyone asked me if Ford could make a quicker car than Chevy then it would definitely be Ford. As for liters for pony's, Ford has it down.:flipa: :flipa: :flipa: :flipa: :flipa: :flipa: :flipa: :flipa: :flipa: :flipa: :flipa: :flipa: :flipa: :flipa: :smoker2: :smoker2: :smoker2: :smoker2: :finger: :finger: :finger: :finger: :finger: :D :D :D :D :sun: :sun: :sun:

the cobra is nice, but a Z06 would tear it a new asshole on a road course. As for your racing suspenson, the Z06 has a damn nice one as well, and it comes with air conditioning and a radio

Ponies per litre? Isn't that some sort of ricer thing?