06 Vette gets a test drive
Gearbox has been doing well these days and as a result quite a few very nice cars have been showing up in the parking lot. Last I checked we have a couple M3s an M5 an 06 Mustang GT a Lotus Elise, Viper, my R32 and as of a couple days ago a very nice black Corvette Coupe.
Lunch time rolled around and I managed to get shotgun in the vette. I have to say I was pretty surprised with the fit and finish. The doors were lightweight but closed with a satisfying robotic precision that is certainly not a feature of earlier Corvettes. The interior design is still not really on par with the Europeans but it was a real step up from past Chevys as well. A little but too curvy to match the exterior of the car in my opinion. I would have liked to see a few more straight lines slash across the landscape like the very slick vents that flank the front tires. Design aside this car is very modern with all the features that you would expect from a luxury car and a few you wouldn't. My personal favorite was the heads up display. Very cool.
At any rate I was excited to just go for a ride and was pleasantly surprised when my friend offered me a little test drive. At first I took it easy just to get a feel for the ride and how quickly it wanted to accelerate. I was surprised to find that for around town driving this was a great car! The suspension was a little more firm than most daily drivers but it was definitely biased towards comfort. I can say from experience that this is the right call for any car that you aren't taking to the track on a regular basis. Sometimes the R32 can start to shake your teeth on the (admittedly few) rough patches of the Texas road system.
So we took this big black beauty out to a little straightaway that is very much not a public road. (and my little secret so don't ask) and launched her a couple times. First with me in the passenger seat and then in the drivers seat. I have to say the passengers seat is quite a ride. I think the car inspires so much confidence from the drivers side that you neglect to feel the raw kick as is powers it's way effortlessly to 100mph. And when you hit 100, you really are just getting started with this car. It was just begging me to keep my foot on the floor.
So of course we had to take it out to my favorite little "c" shaped drag that is a bit longer to feel what it's like in a corner and really see what it would be like to open her up.
Wow. That's exactly what it was like. That car immediately outclassed me, it was willing to go places at speeds I was not ready for in any way shape or form. I quickly drove right up to the edge of my ability and of course, since this wasn't *my* brand new Vette, backed down immediately. My friend and I had a blast anyway ripping up and down this little stretch a few more times until our adrenaline fix was fully sated.
My last bit of fun was seeing the car perform on the highway and realizing that even at 80mph you can punch it and watch the other cars on the road disappear behind you. This car is smooth and powerful in just about every way I can think to describe it. Not to mention it's a bargain at 40k. Thanks for the ride Mike! Next stop, my other friends Twin Turbo 1000(?!!?!) hp Z05... I think am actually afraid to be in that car, but it's not gonna stop me.
Lunch time rolled around and I managed to get shotgun in the vette. I have to say I was pretty surprised with the fit and finish. The doors were lightweight but closed with a satisfying robotic precision that is certainly not a feature of earlier Corvettes. The interior design is still not really on par with the Europeans but it was a real step up from past Chevys as well. A little but too curvy to match the exterior of the car in my opinion. I would have liked to see a few more straight lines slash across the landscape like the very slick vents that flank the front tires. Design aside this car is very modern with all the features that you would expect from a luxury car and a few you wouldn't. My personal favorite was the heads up display. Very cool.
At any rate I was excited to just go for a ride and was pleasantly surprised when my friend offered me a little test drive. At first I took it easy just to get a feel for the ride and how quickly it wanted to accelerate. I was surprised to find that for around town driving this was a great car! The suspension was a little more firm than most daily drivers but it was definitely biased towards comfort. I can say from experience that this is the right call for any car that you aren't taking to the track on a regular basis. Sometimes the R32 can start to shake your teeth on the (admittedly few) rough patches of the Texas road system.
So we took this big black beauty out to a little straightaway that is very much not a public road. (and my little secret so don't ask) and launched her a couple times. First with me in the passenger seat and then in the drivers seat. I have to say the passengers seat is quite a ride. I think the car inspires so much confidence from the drivers side that you neglect to feel the raw kick as is powers it's way effortlessly to 100mph. And when you hit 100, you really are just getting started with this car. It was just begging me to keep my foot on the floor.
So of course we had to take it out to my favorite little "c" shaped drag that is a bit longer to feel what it's like in a corner and really see what it would be like to open her up.
Wow. That's exactly what it was like. That car immediately outclassed me, it was willing to go places at speeds I was not ready for in any way shape or form. I quickly drove right up to the edge of my ability and of course, since this wasn't *my* brand new Vette, backed down immediately. My friend and I had a blast anyway ripping up and down this little stretch a few more times until our adrenaline fix was fully sated.
My last bit of fun was seeing the car perform on the highway and realizing that even at 80mph you can punch it and watch the other cars on the road disappear behind you. This car is smooth and powerful in just about every way I can think to describe it. Not to mention it's a bargain at 40k. Thanks for the ride Mike! Next stop, my other friends Twin Turbo 1000(?!!?!) hp Z05... I think am actually afraid to be in that car, but it's not gonna stop me.
posted by Jeramy Cooke at 9:36 AM
3 Comments:
This post has been removed by a blog administrator.
I suppose you're talking about Wardwells new car? Sounds cool!
Yep, it was quite a ride. :) It looks like 400hp is my new high water mark for driving skill. I'll need a lot more hours in a car like that before I am ready to step up to anything faster.
I hope to do a chain of car reviews soon. I'll probably be reviewing the r32 next. Then hopefully brian will let me drive the M5.
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