The Unexotic Exotic

[91 s-10baja]

http://www.lacar.com/modules.php?nam...rticle&sid=962

The specs speak loud and clear. 430 horsepower rockets this 0-60 in 4.3 seconds. The lightweight composite body panels, hydroformed steel frame with aluminum and magnesium structural and chassis component, and a curb weight of just 3,246 pounds is on par with many of the fastest cars on the road. The interior is form-fitting for two, but not cramped. Oh yes, the top speed is 190 mph in the coupe and just a little under that in the convertible.

In every reasonable means one can think of, this is an exotic supercar - except for one thing. The problem stems from the price. Most cars of this caliber are supposed to be easily in triple digit territory when it comes to dollars. This one small but significant fact prevents the Corvette from taking on the aura of a Ferrari or Lamborghini. Well, that and it does happen to be made right here in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

The question is, can an exotic truly be exotic when so many exist? This has been a nagging problem lately, but one that most companies wish they had.

This generation Vette, and perhaps the previous model, can be confused with some ultra rare Italian job if it weren’t for the badging. Sadly, this for many enthusiasts takes it down a notch or two in their minds. The reality is this is as close as many will ever need to owning a full bore race car.

[87aero]

Originally Posted by 91 s-10baja

http://www.lacar.com/modules.php?nam...rticle&sid=962

The question is, can an exotic truly be exotic when so many exist?

Nope, must make it better than an exotic....

One note. I'm not sure why they list the fuel economy at 11/18.
An automatic convertible is 18/25 on the fueleconomy.gov website

Perhaps he just incorrectly assumed the car only achieves the same fuel economy as other exotics?

[jwrebholz]

You can have your Corvette serviced at any Chevy dealer--and there are HUNDREDS of them. I bet there's half a dozen within a half hour's driving distance of your house right now.
Your Corvette will not cost near as much to maintain as many of those exotics. It doesn't require ludicrously expensive maintenance. THere are no $5,000 oil changes or $20,000 clutch jobs. Hell, you could take your 'Vette to JIFFY LUBE if you had to.

Your Corvette will still turn more heads than a power screwdriver, will still suck the doors off a Porsche 911 or Dodge Viper, but it won't leave anywhere near as large a hole in your pocketbook.

Those things in my mind make the Corvette better than any exotic.

[ZvetteGuy]

the Vette is a mass produced SuperExotic car for those who cannot afford the 100K + price tag that them overpriced 'Exotics' have attached to them... and, the bright side is that the cost of ownership is by far cheaper than any Exotic... gotta love the Chevrolet Smallblock... the little engine that could, did and will do for many years to come!!!

GO CORVETTE!!! GOOOO!!!!

[ZvetteGuy]

Originally Posted by jwrebholz

it won't leave anywhere near as large a hole in your pocketbook.

You beat me to the punch jwrebholz... I would have beaten you if it wasn't for me having to pick my nose for a few seconds...!!!

[91 s-10baja]

Originally Posted by ZvetteGuy

You beat me to the punch jwrebholz... I would have beaten you if it wasn't for me having to pick my nose for a few seconds...!!!

...oooh good idea...............................much better

[Gm786]

Beautiful car indeed! The Chevy Corvette looks very nice in that color. The car is also the best bang for the buck.

[Z16monte]

half the cachet of "exotic" cars is their snob appeal, and theat is based mostly on price and availability. Chevy just makes to many vettes and a too low a price for them to be exotics
Ed

[CaptainDan]

You want an exotic (rare, expensive) one? Then get the Z06 (ZR1). It'll still be cheaper, faster, better built, easier to maintain, better handling, etc, etc, etc, than those "other" exotics. How DOES Ferrarri stay in business?

[skylark68]

Originally Posted by CaptainDan

How DOES Ferrarri stay in business?

Two words: Snob Appeal

[Frankster177]

Ferrari stay in business by having cachet.
Tech, they had OHC from day one.
Plus they are the most famous team in Formula 1 racing and the team with the most wins.

Ferrari builds a limited number of cars per year.

Corvettes are cool.
But compared to Ferrari or Porsche, tough choice.

[coaster.n3rd]

I finally had a chance to get behind the wheel of one of these fine machines over Memorial Day weekend. Let me tell you it was a good time. Every person I passed looked away if only for a moment to see the black 'Vette barreling passed them. I'm not sure if it was the design or the sound of the exhaust that caught their eye, but it is most certainly a head turner.

[61BelAir]

Let the snobs have their overpriced and underpowered exotics. The base model vette beats most of them at the track. How humiliating is that? The only bragging rights some of them have is that their car costed more.

[geozinger]

Originally Posted by Frankster177

Ferrari stay in business by having cachet.
Tech, they had OHC from day one.
Plus they are the most famous team in Formula 1 racing and the team with the most wins.

Ferrari builds a limited number of cars per year.

Corvettes are cool.
But compared to Ferrari or Porsche, tough choice.

My bold for emphasis...

I have to wonder, just what the big deal is about OHC engines, and why do people feel that a OHV engine (like the LS series) is some how a disadvantage? I think it's been proven over and over again that the small block can run with anything, and in the supercar wars, the ZR1 is about to prove it once again.

I had the opportunity to drive a current Z06 (in orange, no less!) a couple of months ago. I have to imagine that car can decisively humiliate the vast majority of regular production cars on a race track. I have to imagine that the ZR1 will take out the tiny minority of what's left over from that original sample. BTW, I had a grin from ear to ear for about a week after. The women at work were wondering what I had been up to...

But, the whole time I drove that car, I never once concerned myself with the method of valve actuation, or anything else of the technical or mechanical issues of the car. I have to admit the traction control did cross my mind once...

I look at the car as the whole package. Whether or not it has some feature that some other car has is only a minor consideration when considering the 'whole' of the car. Valve actuation isn't one of them.

/rant

[Frankster177]

How high in capacity do they have to keep going though? 9, 10, 15 litres?
When other companies do the same or more with less capacity.