Ummm... the experience in this vid here isn't diminished for me by the interior materials.

If this is what falling behind looks like, I'll take it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zbv9Zbv850

Yep, it's the toplevel, overr $100K vette... same interior as available on an LS3 Corvette. At over $100K it simply must spoil the whole sports car experience? Not in my opinion.

I'm surprised Jan could subdue the disgust he should have felt.

Before anyone cries fowl, here's a vid that I really like.

It's a street C5 with 345 HP LS1 on runflats and the non Brembo, PBR "too few piston" brakes. The full race Lotus has AP racing brakes, race tires, and race aero package with rear wing. It's about an 1875 pound car.... just short on thrust.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oqcl...eature=related

Nicer works for me, but not at the expense of the car's availability to a working stiff. I buy perfomance cars for the performance and function. I look out the windshield and occasionally at the guages. My desires don't dictate what I will have to choose from. It will dictate what I'd buy.

 

Back what up? So for $50k more you get some fancier buttons and switches in the dash in the Porsche?

 

I can't leave Charlie out.

2975 pounds, 515 HP...

If it wasn't for the money, it'd be a fun car to put in the driveway.

The interior is rather spartan though...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyEtO...eature=channel

 

Oh yeah man... thanks , time to dust off the Piss2 and go through that thumb masher therapy all over again. I always love watching a full run on the 'ring,

 

OMG Paul, cost no object, my favorite car on the planet!!

Interior is alittle spartan, but in a cool way, not a strippo way.

 

I got a chance to get into the unveil cars at LA as a friend works for Ferrari.

Imagine... no stereo, not even AM radio... no NAV. What were they thinking? $262,306.00 and no freaking radio? They are falling behind Aveo, for crying out loud!
Here's one of the shots I took in the Scuderia:

 

Lets be serious now. Corvette has to walk a livability line to keep it's volume that Ferrari does not. Plenty of Corvettes get driven every day..almost no Ferrari does.

Funny how people keep ignoring my posts showing that delaers are selling Vettes for $15K off sticker. This is a pretty huge issue IMO.

 

FWIW, I will admit I prefer the interior of the C6 to the new Camaro (aside from the Radio).

 

It is ignored because your point is invalid. You are trying to imply that C6's are selling nationwide at $15k off of sticker, and you are using a specific data set that does not reflect the market. You are using extremely biased data. Period.

The economy is in the slump. We're going into winter. We do not know how popular the colors of those cars is in the local area you posted. The C6 is due for replacement and everyone knows it. Next.

The $15k discount one had an $11k dealer discount. That does not properly reflect nationwide conditions. Maybe that dealer moves a lot of inventory of Summer Corvettes (NH, which is known to be a "summer home state, does EXACTLY that). They have some leftovers they want to get rid of now, fast. NH sells jack for Corvettes in Winter. They are willing to discount the crap out of them. Suprised? Next.

That listing is on the Corvette Forum, which is not typical of all dealers nationwide. Next.

There are dealers that sold 2009's all summer over sticker! That was 3 months ago, if the C6 was really that bad, they couldn't have been able to do such a thing. Next.

Those vehicles are 2009s when 2010s are on the way, which kills the value. Next.

Also, most of those were Z51 coupes - and the Grand Sport kills the value of them. So that takes even more away. Next.

A quick search finds what C6's are in stock are selling with only the standard $4k GM discount and no more in most major metrolpolitan dealers. Next.

Yes, the C6 needs an update. I agree with you. But you are attempting to make some broad stroke saying that the sky is falling and they are getting rediculous discounts, and stuff like that really pisses me off. Compare that to other GM vehicles, take into account it is winter and look at all the facts.

 

The only ones getting that big a discount around here are left over 2008s.

 

I don't disagree with anything you are saying.

There is always more to consider than any one feature of a car, particularly in this segment.

Ferrari lost established market share this year, but did pull it together to do well in their new markets. Loss in old markets, gain in newly opened markets.

I believe that for the level of performance delivered, Corvette does deliver creature comforts and is exceptionally good as a daily driver.

Exactly what conclusions can be drawn regarding present market conditions as they pertain to Corvette are not as cut and dried as they seem. The GS will prove to be a well concieved addition to the mix, IMO. Some softness is purely economic condition driven. Corvette has world wide respect as a performance car. However, almost every level of "reward" level vehicle is goin to be hit by a wait and see concern by some buyers.
It's model year changeover ans it's not springtime.

In that instance, swaying some with exceptional pricing can shift the balance to a sustainable handling of a market condition. If dealers are in total blowout mode, it's allocation protection rather than something else..

The Boxter and Cayman are Porsche's response to people wanting to pay less... not pay more. They see the market being in less expensive Porsches, and not 911 pricing. The 911 market attempt at revitalization is through a 4 door, 4 seater. A shot at the BMW 7 market.

The 2 seater market in a down economy is going to be driven in a couple of directions, IMO. Perception and hard performance numbers will drive different intenders.

Some will be brand reputation swayed, and some will be raw performance number driven.
To overstate the deal, some folks think they are in an F1 car when they drive a Miata. Some think the Cayman is the best Porsche can do.

For those that think a Corvette is a heck of a nice peformance coupe can make a hell of a good deal right now. This is not the best situation for GM, but it's a nice window for folks watching their money.

IMO, GM will do best with the Corvette if it's still accessible and delivers the juice.

It's heydays have always been when they were fast compared to the competition. Whenever the respect for Corvette has been lower has corresponded to times when the focus has been on luxo rather than bang for the buck which is based on handling and quickness.

By all means put the most fashionable and touchy feelie interior that makes sense from a financial and customer satisfaction standpoint.

I love the notion and don't see that not happening.

The Cayman that competes with Corvette's base model is $65K. It's slower, but it's the one that's close.

Start Corvette at $65K and loose a big portion of the economy of scale.

The commentary earlier suggests that a magazine calls the Corvette Grand Sport a GT3 competitor. The GT3 is $112,200.00! The GS is $55K!

Maybe Porsche needs to be taken to task for their inability to deliver the goods for a reasonable price, rather than blather that GM is short sheeting the performance buyer because the interior isn't up to snuff.

$57K is max I'll pay for a car performance car, not what I'll pay just for the interior "respectability" over and above the $55K the performance should cost cost me. Afterall, the $55K does come with a functional and ergonomic interior.

IMO, GM kicks Porsche's *** where it counts to me.

 

It's not biased, if you pay more than $10K over sticker, your not looking hard enough.

GM's most expensive trucks don't even sell for $15K off retail. Next.

That was just the first page of the for sale section..there are plenty of 09's out there with similar deals. next.

Actually the ones on Corvette forums typically are the ones with highest allocations and are best at selling Corvettes.

That's also BS. I know someone who bought a JSB 09 Z51 car in September of 08 for $8K off sticker. That was when the 09 was brand new. Unless you order a Corvette, or go to some small town dealer..almost the entire 2009 run has had at least $8000, and normally more off.

There is no difference in the 2010 aside from the Grand Sport. While the grand Sport might seem like some big deal..when you can get Z06's for the same price..it really is not..unless you need an auto or removable top.

Again..if you walk in any GM dealer and pay more than $8K under sticker your stupid. Most don't advertise ridiculous discounts like on Corvette forum, but there is the margin, and they will take an invoice deal to get rid of one in stock.

It should not take $10K-$15K on the hood to get rid of a Z06 or even a base Corvette. What other GM vehicle requires that much money?

Again..talk to your dealer. It's kinda like how Cadillac does things. Most do not advertise insane discounts..but you can get serious money off most if you talk.

 

Much of this discussion has been driven by a gent who can't afford a Camaro, much less a Cayman.

All opinions are worthwhile.

Look at the value of the dollar, the level of the deficit, the small and large business uncertainty... and then make determinations on why end of the year 'vette sales might be soft as the weather gets colder by the day....

Better still, share the business plan that will justify an interior redesign and MSRP jump in this economy on a vihicle late in it's generation cycle?

Make it sound like it was a great idea to the taxpayer as there are very good reasons to show it with results and not a "seemed like a good move at the time"..

 

I don't think the Corvette needs to have a price increase. However it does need improvements that will allow it to sell for close to MSRP without huge discounts on the hood. GM can put 3-4K in content in the car, cut back the rebates, and make the same money,

 

Honestly? If I owned one, I probably would never turn on the stereo anyway.