First Drive: 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
More Power, More Style, More Refinement...Less Money?More Power, More Style, More Refinement...Less Money?
By Jeff Bryan
What a daunting
task, redesigning the Corvette — a true American legend. Millions of rabid and
critical fans, eager to see what you've come up with, ready to judge it with the
utmost harshness. No amount of marketing hype or fat rebates will get you out of
this one if you screw it up. And simply creating a great performance car just
won't cut it — this thing has to perform just as well on the street as it does
at the track. It has to be luxuriously comfortable, easy to drive, wickedly fast
and up to its competitors' standards of quality and refinement.
The
Corvette was last redesigned in 1997, and designated the C5, which stands for
Corvette, fifth-generation. The C5 was a radical departure from the C4, which
had been around since 1984. A success, the C5, but not perfect. It was fraught
with squeaks and rattles, so-so ergonomics and a clunky shifter that was more
Chevette than Corvette. Rather than start over with a clean slate, the
engineers wanted to take the best of the C5 and create a car that does more
things well than any other performance car. They set about infusing massive
amounts of refinement and performance, while also addressing every single
imperfection they could find. At first glance, the C6 appears to be little more
than a styling refresh. Dig deeper, though, and one quickly realizes that the C6
is much more.
Blah, blah, blah, you say. Bottom line, is it still a chick
magnet? We must honestly say that yes, the latest Vette is still a chick (and
guy) magnet. The C6 looks muscular and classy at the same time, without seeming
overwrought. The convertible, in particular, is downright sexy. Exposed
headlamps, not seen on a Corvette since 1962, combine with a lean grille to
create a distinctive "face." The jury's still out on the new headlamps, though.
The look is a slight bit fussy to our eyes. The back end looks like a C5 rump
after careful liposuction. The new look is tight, but we can't help but wonder
why Chevy didn't follow the latest trend toward "retro" style, and bring back
more styling cues from the past.
Pure joy resides under the C6's hood.
The new 6.0-liter LS-2 V8 powers the new Vette, and sweet it is. We're talking
400 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. Now, big numbers can do big things,
and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that this is one fast car.
According to Chevrolet, zero to 60 mph happens in an adrenaline-rush of 4.2
seconds, and if you keep yer foot in it, you'll soon see a top speed of 186 mph.
The sound of the engine is very "big-block" with a distinctive roar that builds
progressively, and the deep exhaust note is pulse-quickening without being
obnoxious. Power delivery is silky-smooth, and amazingly linear. The optional
automatic transmission is a willing player, and well programmed to provide firm
and timely shifts. The standard six-speed manual, however, is the big shocker
here. The clutch is smoother and lighter, and the shift feel is — dare we say —
"Miata-like" in its snick-snick shift quality. Even the shift knob is perfectly
shaped. The overall visceral impression is uniquely American, quite addictive
and just plain hot.
OK, so she's fast. There's gotta be a catch, and it's
probably in the handling department. Sorry, the Chevy folks did their homework
here, too. Out on the track, the C6 is downright thrilling. Most telling,
however, is how easy it is to pilot at speed. The traction and stability control
systems have been carefully programmed to extend a very gentle helping hand, and
only when truly necessary. The chassis successfully rides that fine line between
capable and forgiving, and makes for a fun companion regardless of your skill
level. The steering doesn't have quite the intimate feel of some of the
Corvette's competitors, but most drivers will never find fault with
it.
Three suspension setups are available, and it's important to note
that not one single suspension part was carried over from the C5. The standard
setup provides an amazingly comfortable and controlled ride, while also
retaining precise handling abilities. The optional F55 Magnetic Selective Ride
Control suspension is able to detect road surfaces and adjust the shock damping
rates almost instantly. The result is an even more comfortable ride than the
base suspension, and better control during aggressive maneuvers. The Z51 package
is your ticket to "Z06-like" performance. This package includes more aggressive
dampers and springs, larger stabilizer bars, shorter transmission gearing and
larger cross-drilled brake rotors. Though each package feels distinctly
different, all three still provide amazingly good ride quality. Even in Z51
form, the Vette would make a perfectly acceptable daily driver.
Luckily,
there's more to the C6 than a big engine, slick suspension and pretty face. The
interior is better — shockingly so. Everything from materials quality to overall
ergonomics is vastly improved. The seats provide great support while also
remaining supremely cushy for the tushy. There's plenty of headroom, which helps
the cockpit feel open and airy. The straightforward climate control setup is one
of the best we've ever seen — and light-years ahead of anything else in the
General's parts bin. Likewise, the optional touchscreen navigation system is a
cinch to operate. The gauge cluster is a veritable work of art with dials that
appear to float before you. Our only gripe with the cockpit is with the button
clusters that flank the aforementioned gauges. They're almost totally hidden by
the steering wheel rim, and not exactly lined up with it, either. Thankfully,
these buttons control rarely used functions, such as head-up display adjustments
and the trip computer.
The standard removable top is — and you may want
to make sure you're sitting down for this — easy to remove and install, and can
be handled by one person. Gone are the days of erector-set tools and ill-fitting
connectors. Even the top storage brackets in the rear hatch were carefully
engineered to keep a firm — and quiet — grasp of the stowed top. The doors click
shut with a firm solidity, and the ride is much quieter than before, with nary a
squeak or rattle to be heard.
Whether you're sitting at a traffic signal,
or kissing the apex of a curve on a deserted back road, the new Corvette just
feels right. The handling is spot-on, the powertrain is smooth and
scary-fast, the look is classy and the ergonomics are top-notch. Perhaps the
most fascinating aspect of the new Corvette is that the base price is actually
less than last year's. The team charged with creating the C6 mixed good
'ol American ingenuity and tenacity with a heartfelt respect for a legend. The
result is a world-class automobile worthy of the name
Corvette.
Ready to buy? You can ensure that you're
getting the best deal possible by comparing local dealer quotes on a
2005 Chevrolet Corvette by visiting the Chevy page at Edmunds.
From Edmunds.com
Looking for a 2005 Chevy Corvette? Yahoo! Autos
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