I'm not trying to start a flame war. Just hear me out. I know I have to decide this for myself, but I find it helpful to get my thoughts out of my head and listen to feedback. I like this forum for its congeniality.:smile-new:
I now know (after the latest test drive) I must have MSRC in my Z51 equipped C7. Unofficially, Canadian GS prices start about 3700 over a similarly equipped Z51/MRSC. It's certainly within realm of doable. Cost is not the issue. Though I would certainly not be getting the Z07 package were I to choose the GS, because....
I don't go to the track. I get my jollies on lovely narrow mountain roads at my disposable all over this province (near and far away). I certainly don't "need" the increased limits of the GS... it's plenty easy enough to get into trouble/kill myself/harm others if I was trying to push even a base Stingray on these mountains. It would also be cheaper in the long run with replacing the smaller brakes and narrower tires of the Stingray vs the GS. Again, cost not the issue, but it's worth mentioning.
It's also worth mentioning the thought of driving the wide body car with its 285s up front and 335s in the rear in even light rain (yes, Virginia, some of us drive our sports cars in the wet), and likelihood of losing grip all too easily. Remember, my region of Canada = US Pacific Northwest. It rains a lot here.
So, "practically" speaking (can you believe anyone attempting to argue logic when choosing a 460hp, RWD, 2 seater?!), the Z51 makes more sense. Cheaper to buy, cheaper to maintain, virtually no dynamic penalties for my driving needs, and possibly even a bit more usable as a daily driver given the tires.
BUT.... I'd be willing (like most of you, I'd imagine), to forego any considerations for rationality and worship at the temple of LUST. That's why we buy these things and not Chevy Cruzes, right?
Except.... my eyes can't seem to reconcile (what I consider to be) the visual hodgepodge that is the C7 wide body GS or Z06. The cheap front fender flare additions, the way the rear flares' roundedness seems to clash when added to the foundation of the Stingray's sharp creases. I do much prefer the grille and side skirts on the wide bodied cars, but that's an easy thing to rectify with the aftermarket.
I'm not asking for people to say "YEAH, you go girl!" (er, I'm a guy), or "EFF YOU, anyone who doesn't like flares is un-American!" (which I am, obviously). I'm just trying to see if anyone else is perhaps in the same shoes as me: looking at getting a Corvette, can afford a model above a Z51 (though I admit a Z06 is outside my own budget) optioned just the way they want, but steps back and goes..... I dunno.
[side note: I have practiced this behaviour before. I chose a Boxster GTS over the Spyder last year because 1) the long gearing of all Porsches makes even 330 hp in a 3000 lb roadster too easy to go ballistic in, I certainly don't feel like the car needs the additional 45 hp of the Spyder, and 2) I MUCH preferred the beautiful lines of the standard Boxsters over the double hump of the Spyder. I appear to be in the minority there, but it's true]
For fairness, I think the wide body look is best suited to darker cars/metallics, and they HAVE to be lowered. The wheel gap is comically truck-like. If I went GS, it would be Black Rose, or (against my own argument) Arctic White. Why? Because I think the narrow body also looks best in Arctic White. Especially like this:
![]()
*swoon*
Ok, you may now commence telling me I'm crazy. Thanks for listening, everyone.
I now know (after the latest test drive) I must have MSRC in my Z51 equipped C7. Unofficially, Canadian GS prices start about 3700 over a similarly equipped Z51/MRSC. It's certainly within realm of doable. Cost is not the issue. Though I would certainly not be getting the Z07 package were I to choose the GS, because....
I don't go to the track. I get my jollies on lovely narrow mountain roads at my disposable all over this province (near and far away). I certainly don't "need" the increased limits of the GS... it's plenty easy enough to get into trouble/kill myself/harm others if I was trying to push even a base Stingray on these mountains. It would also be cheaper in the long run with replacing the smaller brakes and narrower tires of the Stingray vs the GS. Again, cost not the issue, but it's worth mentioning.
It's also worth mentioning the thought of driving the wide body car with its 285s up front and 335s in the rear in even light rain (yes, Virginia, some of us drive our sports cars in the wet), and likelihood of losing grip all too easily. Remember, my region of Canada = US Pacific Northwest. It rains a lot here.
So, "practically" speaking (can you believe anyone attempting to argue logic when choosing a 460hp, RWD, 2 seater?!), the Z51 makes more sense. Cheaper to buy, cheaper to maintain, virtually no dynamic penalties for my driving needs, and possibly even a bit more usable as a daily driver given the tires.
BUT.... I'd be willing (like most of you, I'd imagine), to forego any considerations for rationality and worship at the temple of LUST. That's why we buy these things and not Chevy Cruzes, right?
Except.... my eyes can't seem to reconcile (what I consider to be) the visual hodgepodge that is the C7 wide body GS or Z06. The cheap front fender flare additions, the way the rear flares' roundedness seems to clash when added to the foundation of the Stingray's sharp creases. I do much prefer the grille and side skirts on the wide bodied cars, but that's an easy thing to rectify with the aftermarket.
I'm not asking for people to say "YEAH, you go girl!" (er, I'm a guy), or "EFF YOU, anyone who doesn't like flares is un-American!" (which I am, obviously). I'm just trying to see if anyone else is perhaps in the same shoes as me: looking at getting a Corvette, can afford a model above a Z51 (though I admit a Z06 is outside my own budget) optioned just the way they want, but steps back and goes..... I dunno.
[side note: I have practiced this behaviour before. I chose a Boxster GTS over the Spyder last year because 1) the long gearing of all Porsches makes even 330 hp in a 3000 lb roadster too easy to go ballistic in, I certainly don't feel like the car needs the additional 45 hp of the Spyder, and 2) I MUCH preferred the beautiful lines of the standard Boxsters over the double hump of the Spyder. I appear to be in the minority there, but it's true]
For fairness, I think the wide body look is best suited to darker cars/metallics, and they HAVE to be lowered. The wheel gap is comically truck-like. If I went GS, it would be Black Rose, or (against my own argument) Arctic White. Why? Because I think the narrow body also looks best in Arctic White. Especially like this:
*swoon*
Ok, you may now commence telling me I'm crazy. Thanks for listening, everyone.
