Corvette Z06 Price Goes UP
Buy them now, folks, because when the 07 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 comes out, the base price is going up by about $4k to $70k. These cars are hard to come by, if you can get one at all. If you buy a USED one from me, it's going to cost you about $73k, and I'll be making only $1k in the process. 
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posted by Jim at 4:24 PM
1 Comments:
Affordable Horsepower for the Masses
I would just like to comment on the ZO6 article and the Ford article just beneath it. As far as I am concerned, let the Z06 MSRP edge closer to that of the Viper; after all, what young, red-blooded working man who is a true knuckle-busting gear head is going to be able to afford and drive one of these cars? The Viper and Z06 make the upcoming $40k+ Shelby look like a bargain laughably jesting! And who is going to drive a Viper or ‘Vette as a “daily driver” instead of a “showpiece?” Yeah, these are the cars working men dream of and try to live vicariously through by having early 90’s 5.0’s and Z-28’s on jack stands in there driveway or garage, changing out the clutch they blew out after too big a shot of NOS at the track; some of them have to get that car fixed by Monday because if they don’t, they’ll be hitching a ride with one of their friends to work!
When I see anyone driving a high end American sports car, the stereotypical pilot I see is someone retired or, no offense, some clean cut yuppie. Kudos to the retiree…he or she may have certainly earned it….but not some much to the other. I think American automakers have let down America’s working class in two ways; by the aforementioned marketing bad-*ss cars to the wealthy and the lack of mechanical refinement. Horsepower and toque freaks have been let down mechanically for a very long time, even into today—we’ve lost them to WRX STI’s, Lancer Evo’s, and various imports which are much more affordable and available. Being very much of the “old school,” I was blown away when I found that Subaru gets 300 h.p. out of a 2.5 liter engine (apprx. 152 cid) when comparing it to a 1968 383 hp making just 335 hp…and even closer to today’s standards, a 2005 4.6 GT making 300 horsepower. After researching into the history of America vs. country “X,” I see how badly American performance has been outclassed since the 1960’s with the example of the Ferrari 275 with a 4-cammed 3.3L (201 cid) making about 300 horsepower on 1960’s technology! C’mon Big Three…do something!
I wonder if the Big Three, in order to spur their sales, can appeal to the working man’s market by offering basic cars with cool options aimed at the “gear-head.” I remember hearing stories of the 60’s from those who lived it and looking through Chilton’s manuals and seeing all the cool engine, transmission and rear end options available on American muscle cars; on a 66 Coronet, one could choose from two inline sixes, two small blocks, two “mid blocks,” or two “big blocks;” a 904, 727 or 4 speed transmission and a multitude of gear ratios for the rear end. What does a Mustang owner have to choose from in terms of mechanical options? A 3.8 or 4.O V-6 or 4.6 V-8, either with a 5-speed, (6-speed for the Cobra’s) or an automatic. I will very much agree that today’s car are way more advanced and refined than the 60’s predecessors….but they just aren’t as cool with their performance options. Sure, American automakers have brought back the Hemi, Chargers, retro-‘Stang and GTO in order to revive a “horsepower war” but it just isn’t the same as the wars from the 60’s.
Maybe I am just a total nincompoop, but if I could design a sports car for the working masses, I would bring back the old style “order what you want” RWD v-8; I’d offer all sorts of cool engine, transmission and rear end options and offer a few trim models from basic-lighter-weight stripped down trims to more elaborate ones. I would then offer proprietary aftermarket parts that wouldn’t void the warranty, so that the design of the base powertrains were of durable quality and could handle the bolt-on’s, and make the car somewhat “idiot-proof” and easier to work on. Sure, you cannot crawl into an engine bay like you could (as I have done) but don’t underestimate today’s “shade tree mechanic” who is very technical and armed with the same tools and determination of yesteryear’s breed-- except now they have a laptop tucked under their arm! Maybe the world just isn’t the same for auto enthusiasts anymore as gas is expensive and people want quite and comfort; but gosh, so long as there are cars, there will always be a need to tinker, the quest for horsepower and the need for speed.
Thanks for your considerations,
Shawna Roberts
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