A budget Corvette?

Posted September 13 2007 12:38 PM by 55Guy
Filed under: Editorials, C6 Corvette

Is the term blasphme? Or could it be a way for younger, less affluent customers to buy a Vette?

Ok, we all know the Corvette market needs an injection of youth. So what can be done to deliver the shot?

What if GM offered a no frills, budget minded Corvette? Take the standard C6 coupe. Yank the LCD navigation/radio screen and install a regular radio unit. Manual seats, no power. Just a straight tilt column, no power. Leave the cruise control. No HUD. Instead of leather, cloth interior. Leather's optional. Vinyl flooring no matter what. to actually keep cost down, just keep the removeable top.

Stick only? Yes/No?

If GM could offer a budget Vette for, say, 32k out the door, what do you think would happen?

Reader Comments:

1. In an interesting discussion about the Saturn Sky's sales growth this year and the Pontiac Solstice's decline, General Motors vice chairman Bob Lutz told Motor Trend that he's not sure why Solstice sales are starting to slip. Saturn sells more Skys per retailer than Pontiac does with the Solstice at its stores.

"I don't know for sure why the Sky sells better," Lutz told the magazine. "I like the Solstice a lot, but many people seem to prefer the Sky. You know, there's a lot of Corvette in the Sky's shape – I think people are drawn to that. In fact, when the [Chevrolet] Corvette's program manager first saw the Sky models he protested – although I got my way!"

Source: Motor Trend

There is a 32K out the door Vette and it's called the Saturn Sky. Say/think what you want, but a lot of Vette owners also own a sol/sky.

scdyne - Posted September 21 2007 03:13 PM

2. I think that you are on to something here. im very young compared to most users on this site. Chevy should do what Nissan and other foreign car makers are doing. Nissan for example has there super car the 350Z for about $28000 just like you described but with out cruse control. 306 HP with the option to upgrade model more $$$ (up to about $40,000) and there is also an option to add some performance parts. I don’t see why Chevy can’t make a no frills Corvette or even tame it down a bit, but would it still be a true corvette.

applesoup1030 - Posted September 25 2007 07:18 PM

3. I think the Camaro should fill in this category. Is there room for something between the Camaro and the Corvette? Probably not. The Sky has Vette-like features, but is missing four cylinders. One of the marketing campaigns for the 1972 Camaro was "If you want a Corvette, but need a back seat(1)."

Actually, I wanted a Camaro, but the bright lights at Chevy quit making them. So I got a used Vette.

Enjoy the Ride!

1. See link below for ad.
http://www.nastyz28.com/camaro/camaro72.html

AutoFREQ - Posted November 22 2007 09:03 AM

4. I DEFINITELY think this is a great idea! I think a lot of current Camaro buyers would buy a Corvette if they could afford one. The high price, doo dads, and luxury appointments are creating the PERCEPTION of the car as an "old man's car"... a rolling mid-life crisis, which actually limits its market appeal.

When the C5 came out I remember reading about the convertible that would be coming out the following year, and the low-budget/high performace hard top they were working on to realease in the 3rd year of production. That hard top was the Z06 and was going to be low frills but with all the hipo and suspension goodies so that a performance driving enthusiast could have a light weight, powerful, nimble track car straight out of the box at a low cost. It was specifically intended for the purpose of getting more Vettes out there in the hands of enthusiasts.

A year later when the convertible came out, I was reading about how they had intended to make a low buck boy racer Vette next year, but that they were selling so many loaded cars, there was no need to forego the high profit options.

Now I'm gonna acknowledge that the years that had the highest sales of Corvette were in the LoPo comfy boulvardier times of the mid 70's & early 80's. But Vettes aren't selling like that these days despite the fact that even a base Corvette is a far better car than anything before...EVER! But the fact is the price point is WAY up for all that technology. And much of that technology is comfort/convenience based... not entirely necessary for a car whose roots and legacy are performance oriented.

There was a time you could order your car for the purpose you intended to use it. I have a friend with a '64 Sting Ray coupe that he actually refers to as an impala with a Corvette body... lowest power motor, auto trans, p/s, p/b, a/c... built for comfort. My '67... nothing but motor!

NOW cars are built to be well-rounded. Able to do it all... comfort, convenience AND performance. But it costs big to be able to do it all. Yeah, I've heard a number of folks in their late 20's and 30's say they love to buy a Vette but it's just out of their price range. I think that's too bad. I bought my Sting Ray when I was 28 back in 1988... no where near a mid life crisis. I just wanted a fast, great handling, relatively inexpensive car.

The Vette should not be an "Old Man's Car". It should be enjoyed by anyone who appreciates its style and performance. It's kinda like seeing all those sweet old couples walking along the beach. Wouldn't we all prefer to be and see bikinis out there rather than moomoos? They say youth is wasted on the young. I hate to think Corvettes may be getting wasted on the old. Just my opinion.

Xtreme67 - Posted April 3 2013 11:08 AM

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