First Drive: 2008 Chevrolet Corvette
click above image to view our first drive of the 2008 Chevrolet Corvette
Torque is good! More torque is better. For anyone who likes to drive, an engine with a stratospheric red-line is fun for a while, but a fat torque curve means acceleration is just a squeeze of the right pedal away. Compared to a Ferrari engine, GM's classic small block V-8 may seem crude and unsophisticated, but the latest variation is anything but. The basic architecture of the 2008 Corvette power-plant dates back to 1955, but aside from some of the basic dimensions, this is a whole new beast.
In the engine bay of the C6 Corvette, the new 6.2L LS3 V-8 now cranks out 430 HP @ 5,900 rpm and 424 lb-ft of twisting force @ 4,600 rpm. That's 25 hp more than the pricey and complex Lotus-designed LT5 in the old ZR-1, and the base price of this car starts at about $45K. At its 2008 model intro, GM offered up a base 'Vette with the six-speed manual gearbox to toss around. Find out what the latest version of America's oldest sports car is like after the jump, including a VIDEO.Gallery: First Drive: 2008 Chevy Corvette
Gallery: 2008 Chevrolet Corvette
click on any image to enlarge
It's actually been over a decade since I sampled a Corvette, having skipped over the C5 generation. The last 'Vette I drove was a late C4 model and the transformation over that time period is simply amazing. While C4 'Vettes had tremendous performance relative to competing models of the time, refinement was not part of the equation. From a functional standpoint, the biggest flaw of the C4 was a severe lack of structural integrity. The chassis flexed so much that it did most of the work allowing the wheels to follow the contours of the road, not the suspension.
The intervening years have been good to GM's sports car. The latest C6 is substantially stiffer than any prior iteration, which allows the suspension to be more compliant so that the wheels can do their job with no assist from the chassis. The long and bumpy right hand sweeper on the GM Ride and Handling Loop that had the C4 skittering off toward the grass was no problem for this model. Besides the chassis stiffness, the Magne-Ride variable damping system also plays a part in the phenomenal handling of the Corvette. 
The shift quality of the six speed transaxle wouldn't qualify as silky, but the lever could be moved rapidly through the gates allowing us to make use of the surprisingly quick revving LS3. When the time came to stop, the 'Vette decelerated as though an anchor had been driven into the ground beneath it.
The interior has also been greatly improved relative to older models with clear legible gauges and controls that fall readily to hand. The upgrade of materials found inside the cabin for 2008 was definitely noticeable, as well. Check out the leather covered dash complete with stitching where there once was a sea of plastics. The 2008 Chevrolet Corvette now has better performance than any previous iteration in a form that is actually usable without punishing the driver. This is the base model, people! Hopefully we'll soon get a chance to see what it's like to live with on day to day basis.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Du 12:38PM (9/28/2007)
That's my next car. Velocity Yellow 4LT Coupe w/ Z51 package of course.
In 2008 GM gives the Corvette an interior worthy of the price range (especially with the leather wrapped interior option).
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Andrew 3:21PM (9/28/2007)
No matter how you spin it, this vehicle is still uninspired and lackluster. I was just in Lansing (I was outsourced some aftermarket work on the car), and needless to say, this does not compete with any vehicles in its market except for price. Quite frankly, when you're buying a sports car, you shouldn't be pinching pennies.
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Harrity 3:44PM (9/28/2007)
*sigh*
What "market" does it not compete well in "except for price"?
Price is a pretty big factor in a given market, but even giving a lot of room on price, what else out there beats it? From Porsche, the only cars that are really in the same direct market are the Boxster and the Caymen. Not even close. If you give a bunch of room on price and step up to the 911, you still lose. You have to get to the GT3 or Turbo to "compete" with the Vette.
Or, by compete, did you mean that the Vette's dashboard isn't as nice to fondle as the Boxster's?
Viper = 2x Corvette pricing. Not really in the same "market," unless you are talking Z06.
BMW? Mercedes-Benz? Nothing to bring to the table.
Audi has the R8, which might have a nice Audi interior (hey, what do you expect for $100k+), but it still loses to the Vette.
Toyota? Honda? Mazda? Nissan? (OK, with the GTR, they will finally have something to bring to the table...)
Honestly, with whom does the Vette not compete? Are you talking the F430 / Lambo Gallardo area of the market? If so, that is absurd. Buying a $50k Vette vs. a $150k Ferrari is not "penny pinching." There are LOTS of people who can swing the cash or payments on the Vette who are unable to responsibly try to buy a Ferrari...
It amazes me how people refuse to accept that the Vette is a world class sports car, a terrific performer at any price, and an incredible value.
*shrug*
Jared 4:51PM (9/28/2007)
Andrew you are extremely ignorant. Read any comparos from any magazine in performance area and then come back and blog. You, quite frankly, are an idiot. The 07 and 08 vettes do better in the courses versus porsches, vipers, whatever. The cost half to a quarter of the other "competitors".
Rob 8:06PM (9/28/2007)
So only rich people should drive sports cars?
If given the choice between a better interior or better racing prowess, I'm going to chose the later in my sports car, and the former in my daily driver. When a European car can give me performance EQUAL to the Vette, and Mercedes quality interior for $50k, call me.
bert 1:55PM (9/28/2007)
I've had the opportunity to own an '05 corvette and now an '08. I consider myself a pretty unbiased car guy in terms of makes. I like good cars and it doesn't matter whether it's Japanese, European, and American.
The '08 corvette's steering improvement is not trivial, the car is definately funner to drive. About half a year ago I had traded my '05 vette for a new 335i and preached how much funner the 335i was the drive. The '08 is pretty up there. I'm not an expert driver but I know that in the hands of an expert the C6 corvette is supposedly as fast around tracks (I hate to quote Nurburgring since it has no relevance to what I can do with the car as an average guy) as the 997 GT3.
Especially since the new M3 seems to have gotten a price bump, in the 40-60k range this car simply cannot be beat. I think if you are looking to spend 50k OTD on a car, you can't go wrong with either a 335i or a z51 corvette
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subvet 6:01PM (10/19/2007)
This my third vett after owning a 92 and a 98. Between owning the three corvettes, I've owned a 92 Porsche 944 Turbo, 94 Dodge Stealth Twin Turbo, 94 Z28 Camaro, and 04 BMW Z4 3.0. The 98 convertible vett I had was faster than all of the afore mentioned cars. And C6 is even better. Pretty big torque difference between the 335 and the C6. In fact the BMW M6 makes 387 ft/lbs of torque with a 500 horse V10. The C6 makes 424 ft/lbs and wieghs 700 lbs less for about half the money. The C6 has a top speed of 180 mph. I've had mine up to 155. I found the ride abit rough at that speed. Depends on what your looking for though.
Regards, Bill
DarkKnight67 1:01PM (9/28/2007)
I have one on order, but the strike messed up the delivery date/time. Have to wait another three weeks, at least.
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Jared 4:43PM (9/28/2007)
How can a fourty hour strike delay delivery by two to three weeks. Doesn't add up, someone is giving you a line. I'm in the business I would investigate further.
Lisa Beamer 1:03PM (9/28/2007)
I so want one of these.
But no roof-rack exists for non-convertible version.
I need a way to carry surfboards.
So my search for the perfect car goes on.
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Seminole 1:12PM (9/28/2007)
Get a convertible, put the top down, and stick the board in the passenger seat. :-)
Rob 9:46PM (9/28/2007)
soft racks
Conecrusher 1:16PM (10/04/2007)
No roof Rack?
See the cover of Car and Driver this month.....
Coop 3:54PM (10/19/2007)
My board fits fine on mine. Get the targa top or lay the passenger seat down. Yes it will not carry a longboard but who needs a slow board in a fast car..ha
psarhjinian 1:05PM (9/28/2007)
The most important change they've made is to the steering. It resolves one of the Corvette's long-standing weaknesses when compared to, say, a Cayman or 911.
How GM could do this car so right for so long, but still equip it with such a dead rack is disturbing. Every single GM car I've driven, with very few exceptions (Saab 9-3, for one) had this problem, Corvette and CTS included. The chassis dynamics were sometimes pretty good (not always, but sometimes) but the steering was terrible.
Sometimes I got the feeling that there was a "steering guy" high up the GM hierarchy who felt that they nailed perfect steering in 1968 and that "people don't want things like road feel or a lack of play."
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Vivek 1:05PM (9/28/2007)
Hmmmm didn't know until now that even the base gets the removable top!!
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Du 1:35PM (9/28/2007)
It has for some time, but only the body color one. Glass is extra. Also the car shown is an 3LT because it has HUD.
SPG 1:38PM (9/28/2007)
Good work GM.
This makes up for my hate of the C5 and the fit and finish of my favorite Corvette the C4.
Yes my favorite is the C4, you can start laughing now.
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Robot 1:42PM (9/28/2007)
just saw a flying sunroof on the freeway the other day.
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VetteVert 1:42PM (9/28/2007)
I realize you weren't there to abuse the cars, but.....
short shifting at what sounded like 4k..."killing some michelins"...
Maybe I'm just different, but I didn't get a lot out of that "sports car review". Don't get me wrong, I read this blog religously...I just wanted MORE :)
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