RobLupella wrote:
Richard Casto wrote:
Much of it they got right. My complaints are...
* I think I read that the various collections of "scoops" are functional (taken from the C6R??), but I think the contrast of black against body color doesn't work. I personally think they cause the eye to focus on the scoops too much. So much so that it takes away from "the good stuff". I think they should have been more naturally integrated and don't need the special treatment (color and whatever "style" element they used.) Since they focused visually so much on the scoops, I wonder if they somewhat said "place a scoop here, now figure out a use for it."
* The rear of the car seems too tall in general. The front looks quite low and aggressive, but it just ramps up and up the farther it goes back. It hurts the proportions of the car.
* Outside of the height issue, I think the entire rear is a mess. I think if you are someone like Lamborghini you can get away with that type of craziness (because that is what you expect from them and that is the niche they play to)
I am sure that mechanically and from a drivers perspective it is great. I just can't believe they missed so badly on the styling. I know it is hard to be critical of any marque that you love, but what is the consensus within the Corvette community?
Richard
As opposed to the supreme beauty of the Porch 914
Oh, absolutely. I have long come to terms with its styling quirks. No buttons to push there thank you. Let me pile on. Slab sided, odd shaped and unloved (except by the faithful), the 914 is pretty much the Pontiac Aztek of Porsches. Additionally, it doesn't help when the car next to you in the show room in the iconic 911. Then heap on that you are considered to be a bastard child (Porsche & VW). Imagine how the Chevy faithful would howl if the next Corvette was really a 500 HP Geo Metro! (Which would still be kind of cool). If there are any positives I can say that the 1970's Porsche colors were awesome compared to the bland of today and that oddly enough the quirky styling has stood up well over time. Thank God it wasn't a product of the 1980's as I couldn't bear to see it hobbled even further with typical 1980's interior!
I think I am coming across a bit too much like Les. Too much grumpy old man, get off my lawn, I push peoples buttons just to watch them explode. So let me talk about some of the positives (which there are many) for the Corvette. I have no doubt that mechanically it is superb. I occasionally like to rag on the continued use of the pushrod motor, but I also get it (I enjoy wearing a mechanical watch and not a quartz). The motor is compact, light, modern, has high performance and gets good mileage. I expect that mechanically overall it is an improvement on the already great C6. What else is there to say? From a mechanical design, driving dynamics, pure fun factor and bang for the buck, Chevy continues to get it right generation after generation.
From a styling perspective, I think it is hard to do "angular" right. While I still have some issues with some of their angular styling elements, It think that mostly they got it right. I think particularly the hood, front fenders, roof line, doors (not crazy about the lower area on the doors)and even the rear fender (other than its contribution to the height of the rear) are all very good. I am not a fan of what designers are doing with headlights these days (Ferrari 458 for example), but I think they did a good job with the headlights and even while I think the rear of the car is a mess, I think they did a good job of mixing "angular" with the traditional round corvette tail lights. I haven't seen the interior design, but hear they focused heavily on trying to get past the stereotypical "corvette" issues of substandard material, etc. That if they are going to try to play in the territory of Porsche, Ferrari, etc. that they had to step up the game on interior quality. Maybe they have?
But... with all of that said, I still stand by my other comments about the C7 styling. Overall, given how excellent the car is, it is somewhat a shame. For example, if I was a powertrain or vehicle dynamics engineer on the C7 team and I had put all of my blood sweat and tears into the car to make it as good as I could, I would have thought "You have got to be kidding me" when I looked at the styling of finished car. It could have easily have been "legendary" and not just "excellent".
Richard
_________________
Richard Casto
1972 Porsche 914
2013 Honda Fit Sport
2015 Honda Fit EX
http://motorsport.zyyz.comMoney can't buy happiness, but somehow it's more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than a Kia.
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. It perfectly rev matches on the downshift, but only 500ms after you wanted it to have done so 
(I do think Kim tries a bit too hard however).