Let's talk about the C8 vs the GT500

[Hack]

I think at $60k base the C8 wins almost any comparison you can come up with. If I weren't a die hard 3 pedal guy, I would be saving my money for it right now.

Heck, I'm hoping and praying that a manual option will come around in a few years. If it does I will want it.

The C8 isn't going to be as good as Mustang for doing burn outs. For general performance stuff, the C8 should dominate, though.

Sponsored

 

[Hack]

When I was still at GM, my office was very close to the Corvette and Camaro team’s office areas. I walked past Tadge’s office on my way in and out everyday and my team supported his team with competitor information. In getting the program approved for production, Tadge demonstrated how the cost to produce the ME C8 was reasonably incremental to the cost to produce the FE C7. To be honest, he had already made the similar analysis successfully for transition from FE C6 to ME C7, but then there was this little financial crisis thing. He also said then that the pricing of the C8 would be reasonably incremental to the pricing of similar trim / power level C7 models and still be profitable. Trust me, the program would NOT have been green-lit without showing a profit.

Now, I was expecting that to mean C8 would come in around low to mid 70’s...just above Camaro ZL1. But $60k? Probably $65k with Z51? Can’t wait to see pricing on Z06.

It makes sense to me that the cost to build a C8 vs. C7 should be similar, but I thought the DCT would increase the price by more than what it has. Pretty impressive.

 

[Biggus Dickus]

Maybe this will put more pressure on dealers to sell GT500s at MSRP lol

Why buy a GT500 when a ZO6 will probably be about the same price?

 

[tom_sprecher]

I'll give them a couple of years to shake out the bugs on the C8, and then trade in my Mustang for a Z51.

To each his own, but for me the GT500 doesn't have the high impact looks, layout, and overall Wow! factor to justify its MSRP + ADM compared to the C8.

Why buy a GT500 when a ZO6 will probably be about the same price?

^^^ This!

 

[dirty-max]

Why buy a GT500 when a ZO6 will probably be about the same price?

Well considering nobody knows when it will come out exactly and rumors are 2021 lol

 

[Arthonon]

A little off topic, but I wonder what kind of pressure this puts on the Camaro. A nicely equipped 2SS is over $50K, and I can see the new 'Vette potentially reducing sales of the higher-end models. If they're not selling great now, and things get worse, it might contribute to really killing it off permanently.

The only mass-produced performance vehicle Ford has is the Mustang, so it makes sense to keep that, but with Chevy having both the Corvette and Camaro, there might only be room for one, in the current market.

 

[Arthonon]

I think we should all go into a Ford dealer, ask about pricing of a GT500, and then say, "Well, the new C8 Corvette sounds like a better deal, I'll just wait for that." It might help in pricing

 

[Hack]

A little off topic, but I wonder what kind of pressure this puts on the Camaro. A nicely equipped 2SS is over $50K, and I can see the new 'Vette potentially reducing sales of the higher-end models. If they're not selling great now, and things get worse, it might contribute to really killing it off permanently.

The only mass-produced performance vehicle Ford has is the Mustang, so it makes sense to keep that, but with Chevy having both the Corvette and Camaro, there might only be room for one, in the current market.

Agreed. It's possible GM will make the lower versions, but stop making the ZL1 1LE, for example. Who knows though? There are people that like having more cabin room and rear seats. Performance isn't everything to most people. Even those people who are buying performance vehicles don't always buy the vehicle that makes that best number.

 

[5.Oh Crush]

Less than 60k vs 70k+ for the GT500.

To be fair, 70K is Supercharged. Z06 should be compared. I'm sure there won't be 10K stripes or 20K CF option. Its going to come down to options. I'm sure I can get 2020 Corvette 10- 20K under MSRP in 2021.
I really hope I can get the 500 in 1-2 years.

 

[Arthonon]

Agreed. It's possible GM will make the lower versions, but stop making the ZL1 1LE, for example. Who knows though? There are people that like having more cabin room and rear seats. Performance isn't everything to most people. Even those people who are buying performance vehicles don't always buy the vehicle that makes that best number.

Yeah, it's hard to say. But with the Camaro not selling well, and plans already put on hold, this might be the final nail.

Back in the '60s you had Corvette, Camaro, Chevelle, Mustang, Cougar, Charger, Challenger, Duster, Barracuda, Javelin, and a bunch more. The market is different now, and there may not be room for as much variety.

 

[ALUSA]

GM acted really smart. They don’t care losing the current c7 or camaro zl1 sales. They will sell the C8 vette like hot cakes. GM also open the performance gap between the vette and camaro. Since the camaro will never go mid engine, the gap will keep increasing. I hope Ford does their homework well with the new generation mustang line up. They are definitely going to need a hybrid drivetrain to keep up with the competition but also keep the weight down. Difficult times are coming.

 

[bluebeastsrt]

In my mind. There is no comparison. Pony car. Verus Sports car. Front heavy rear drive vs mid engine super car. The Corvette has always been the premium American sports car. One can only imagine what thst thing will do with a 1000 horsepower.

 

[dirty-max]

To be fair, 70K is Supercharged. Z06 should be compared. I'm sure there won't be 10K stripes or 20K CF option. Its going to come down to options. I'm sure I can get 2020 Corvette 10- 20K under MSRP in 2021.
I really hope I can get the 500 in 1-2 years.

That is one thing people are not considering is that the GT500 makes 760hp, the vette makes 495hp and both have a DCT. But for only 10k more you get 265 more hp with the GT500. The GT500 is also a pulley and tune away from being even faster, you have the easy potential of forced induction with the GT500, not to mention its DOHC vs Pushrod. I personally like DOHC engines in sports cars better than pushrod engines. Both cars will be a blast to drive and the GT500 will still be faster in the 1/4 mile it will also be interesting to see how they both fair around a track as well.

 

[martinjlm]

That is one thing people are not considering is that the GT500 makes 760hp, the vette makes 495hp and both have a DCT. But for only 10k more you get 265 more hp with the GT500. The GT500 is also a pulley and tune away from being even faster, you have the easy potential of forced induction with the GT500, not to mention its DOHC vs Pushrod. I personally like DOHC engines in sports cars better than pushrod engines. Both cars will be a blast to drive and the GT500 will still be faster in the 1/4 mile it will also be interesting to see how they both fair around a track as well.

No doubt GT500 has hp advantage now, but there are a couple things we know, a couple things we believe to be true, and a couple of things that have yet to be seen.

WHAT WE KNOW:

• C8 Stingray with Z51 is projected to have faster 0-60 time than GT500. Tadge Juechter says less than 3s for Stingray Z51, Carl Widman says mid-3 second range for GT500.
• C8 Stingray is much lighter that GT500. Press release says dry weight is 3,366. GT500 weight has not been released but since people are talking 4,000 - 4,100 range, we’re talking at least 600 lbs difference. Quarter mile times are not known for either car, but with a 0-60 advantage, mass over the rear wheels, a 600 lb weight advantage, and significant additional downforce via the Z51 package, it is not out of the question that the 495 hp Stingray Z51 could beat the GT500 to the quarter

WHAT WE BELIEVE TO BE TRUE:

• C8 will have at least Grand Sport and Z06 variants coming, possibly a ZR1
• Those variants will all outperform the Stingray, as they do today in C7

WHAT IS YET TO BE SEEN:

• There are indications that C8 will get a larger displacement version of the 4.2TT DOHC that Cadillac calls Blackwing. The 4.2TT version makes 550 hp, so expect a larger displacement version to be significantly over 600 hp. There goes the DOHC vs Pushrod issue
• There are stories of an ICE + Electric version that exceeds 1,000 hp. This is the monster that supposedly delayed introduction because it produced so much frame twist it shattered the glass cover over the engine.

 

[dirty-max]

I see the only reason why the Corvette has a better 0-60 time is because being mid engine it hooks way better than a front engine platform. I dont see it winning in the 1/4 mile. Also the z51 package changes the gearing to more aggressive gearing in the DCT and adds a different rear end as well. I've seen rumors that the z51 package will add additional weight and bring the car closer to 3500/3600lbs but can't confirm this.

Sponsored