I am a bit of a Europhile. Over the last couple of years, I’ve read a lot of articles and heard a lot of talk about how Corvettes balance fun driving dynamics with reliability and affordability. That seems like an appealing combination to me after years of dealing with fussy old German machines. My first car, for instance, was a 1970 Porsche 914 – a spritely old roadster that was roadworthy exactly 50% of the time.
But now, living in Los Angeles, I’m in the market for a daily driver that can get me from A to B with minimal fuss while still satisfying my need for speed. This search has led me to Corvette. To me, Chevys have always been the official brand of “freedom ain’t free” with an extra side of chintzy plastic for their interiors. With that in mind, I’d like to think owning my first American car would be an excellent horizon-broadening experience. Beyond the stigmas, I know that Corvettes are simple, light, and fast. All great attributes. So, I’m setting off to drive ten Corvettes in ten days with an aim to learn: do I actually like Corvettes? And if so, do I like Corvettes enough to drive one every day?
Day 1
Anaheim, California
Is it going to rain? This feels a little too cold and foggy for the Southland. I am probably just nervous. This is my first test drive, first Corvette, and it’s a convertible with a manual transmission linked to a V8 that makes 400 horsepower. Thankfully, the owner is friendly, chill, and sends me off alone for the drive.
Behind the wheel, I’m reminded that the name Corvette invariably recalls images of men of a certain age trying to rekindle the magic of their youth through the magic of engine displacement. I’m 25 so would this be my quarter-life-crisis car? Amazingly this C6 convertible is the second unmodified Corvette I have encountered. Its stock exhaust is still in place and there are no mods in sight.
I’m thinking that if this Vette were a person, her name would be Stephanie. And Stephanie is undeniably sexy by means of a lot of fiberglass over good genes. However, unlike the Porsche 911s of the world, Stephanie is approachable, reliable, and a whole lot of fun.
There’s no mistaking the C6, as it was the first Corvette with fixed headlights since the C1 of the early ‘60s. The C6 is perhaps the most elegant modern Corvette – that coke bottle beltline, the four taillights, the quad exhaust and simple rag top all collaborate to create a design that has aged remarkably well.
This car’s exciting!
Weirdly, it’s like that time you accidentally bumped into a girl on the way out of some night club. You tried apologizing only to have her smile, take you by the hand, and lead you back into the club and onto the dance floor. It’s the best kind of surprise. The steering is light, the 6-liter V8 is smooth and torquey, and the shifter is more precise and engaging than any American shifter I’ve driven.
An encouraging start, then. The Interior was better maintained, quieter, and more comfortable than I might’ve imagined for a 15-year-old Motown sports car.
Honestly, though, no one cares about comfort in a Vette. Crucially, a stock C6 is exhilarating without being terrifying and comfortable without being too cosseting. In handling, the C6 oversteers in a very forgiving and progressive manner. All in all – it’s a lot of fun.
Back at the dealer, the salesman tells me that it will take some doing to make this Corvette work for me as finding financing for a car over ten years old is a difficult endeavor. That’s alright. I’m enticed but not sold. Plus, there are more Corvettes to experience. On to Corvette number two.
This will be an interesting series. It seems that everything written about Corvettes comes from the dedicated fans of the cars. I look forward to a look by fresh eyes and am genuinely curious how you will find the cars to be.
I had never noticed the trivia factoid about the exposed headlights.
This will be fun reading for the next ten days.
While not a Corvette van, I do have to admit that after driving a 2014 Stingray convertible a few times, my opinion of the Corvette has changed considerably. From reading your statements it sounds as if you have also been pleasantly surprised to discover what a Corvette can offer.
Great premise and well written article. I look forward to a fun series!
I haven’t driven a Corvette more recent than an early build C4. I’m looking forward to this series.
I had a lot of seat time in Malaise C3s. Those mostly felt like an Impala with a better suspension and less interior room.
I grew up in a Euro household, riding in Opels, Audis and Mercs as a kid, branching into VWs on my own, then graduating to BMWs and Porsches and finally, finally I bought a Corvette. All I can say is I shouldn’t have waited so long.
I’ve now built out a SpecCorvette http://www.speccorvette.com and am having the time of my life using this car like it was meant.
Also I prefer German but am intrigued by Corvette. I have briefly driven one C5 and two C6 Corvettes over the years – all were manuals and I was impressed by all three cars.
There is one and only one Corvette I might like to own and I will be anxious to learn if it is on your radar and what you think of it. Fun series here.
It’s gonna be a Corvette Summer here at CC! Looking forward to reading more, I’m not really a Corvette guy either but one does wonder if one has been missing out sometimes. This’ll be a good enough proxy for now, hoping the other nine are just as good and it doesn’t turn out that this was the best of the bunch and is now gone.
Very much looking forward to this, more of a real person review as opposed to auto journos. I have wanted one for a long time and by the time I am able to get it I will be the stereotypical old guy. I won’t get hung up on whatever false image that may project to others, I just want to drive what I want.
Since this will be a DD I am guessing the 96 LT4 will not be sampled.
I had a 1965 Stingray roadster (with both tops) back in 1974. I loved the car, but sold it for $2500 to get the down payment for my first house. What a mistake.
I’m looking now for another Vette, but that ’65 is out of my price range. Maybe a C5 will show up that I fall in love with at the right price. I’ll be 77 this Fall, so it’s not too late!
I would take any Corvette of any generation except a C1 or a C8. The mid engine no manual transmission C8 abomination is no Corvette.
Many people who are fans of sports cars but not fans of Chevrolet have described the C6-C7 as almost feeling like a size XL Miata. They mean it as a complement.
I am always ambivalent about Corvettes. Growing up in the 1960’s, the name evokes real magic. Todd and Buzz crossing the country on Route 66. They were always one of the fastest and most reliable sports cars available. They did seem to lose their mojo back in the late 70’s into the 80’s and they got fairly, or unfairly, tagged as a mid life crisis mobile. I have had Datsun Z cars but there were always older Vettes within reach, price-wise. Which is one of the greatest things about them. There are so many different years to choose from. So if you really want a Vette you can find something you’ll like, especially if you don’t mind turning your own wrenches. I’m a 65 year old guy that used to ride Harleys, the perfect guy to buy a Vette. But I find that a Mustang suits my needs and desires better. And I’m still messing around with Jags. I really should take the plunge and buy one before it’s too late. I’m going to enjoy this series.