The Chevrolet C8 Corvette is an absolute masterpiece by GM. It's the first mid-engined Corvette ever and their first mid-engined car since the Fiero in the 1980s. The C8 is a fine and exotic-looking beast, and coming in at under $60,000, it's great value for money.
However, there are some key issues that must be pointed out that make us reconsider getting one. Let's dive into some reasons why we would buy a C8 Corvette and why we'd look for something else to buy.
10 We'd Buy One: The Looks
The C8 Vette looks insane. The design is beautiful, and it looks like a proper supercar. The sharp, pointy nose and the side profile looks really exotic. GM has really worked their socks off on the design of this car. This is the first time in years GM has designed a mid-engined car, and they've really done their homework.
It's dramatic, aggressive and despite it being mid-engined it still looks like a Corvette with those classic Corvette lines. Its design is one of the reasons why this car is such good value for money.
9 We'd Never Buy One: Engineering Dynamics
Unfortunately, the C8 Corvette does have a few issues in terms of its engineering dynamics. The 8-speed dual-clutch transmission is known to blow and caused a huge issue when this car was originally launched. Then there is the complex encrypted ECU which is a nightmare for tuners.
The C8 cannot handle significant power increases, something that's evident from when the early test car's chassis twisted from a twin-turbocharged engine variant. Of course, this is fixed now, but more enhancements will need to be made for the ZR1 and Z06 models. We would rather drive these resto-mods over the new C8.
8 We'd Buy One: Performance
This thing is quick. Seriously quick. The standard car has 490hp and 465 lb-ft of torque. That is 40hp and 10 lb-ft of torque more than the previous C7 Stingray. In the Z51 pack, the horsepower is increased to 495hp and torque to 470 lb-ft. GM claims it will do 0 to 60 in 2.8 seconds and a top speed of 194 mph.
This performance is insane seeing as it's just as fast as cars double or triple its price tag. It by far set a new benchmark in the car world.
7 We'd Never Buy One: Build Quality
The nicest way to put this is that its build quality is better than it used to be but there are still areas that need addressing. Hats off to GM for the design and their courage to try something new, it's just that there are things that could have been built better. The engine bay lid leaks water into the engine area. Of course, because the cover is transparent with openings for cooling you would expect that, but the C8 gets a bit too much water coming in which is an issue especially when you wash the car.
Then there are issues with the stitching and the seats which get wrinkled easily. There are a few electrical issues with the wiring and the windows. Of course, though the build quality isn't horrid, it is still worth mentioning this because it's not what you expect from a $60,000 car.
6 We'd Buy One: Engine
Under the hood is a naturally aspirated 6.2 liter LT2 V8, the heart of a muscle car in a supercar's body, making it somewhat reminiscent to the great DeTomaso Pantera. It is a loud engine, and it makes a nice muscular noise. It's great to see GM still using such a traditional engine in a new futuristic modern car. The engine itself may be a lot less advanced than what rivals have to offer, but it sure is far more soulful.
The LT2 is essentially the same engine used in the C7 Stingray, just it's a lot more powerful and made for a mid-engine layout. It still has cylinder deactivation features and a dry-sump lubrication feature. There will probably be supercharged variants in the future.
5 We'd Never Buy One: Practicality
This is a supercar, so of course that comes with less practicality than a normal car. However, the Corvette has always been a practical car in some way, and you would think that GM would even try to carry that on in the new C8. Well bad news, it's terrible.
The cargo space in the front and rear is inadequate, there's not even room for a medium-sized bag in either without squashing everything. Inside the cabin it's a bit cramped too. There should be more storage in this car.
4 We'd Buy One: Value For Money
For $59,995 you get a rumbling V8 with supercar power, exotic looks, a cockpit-like interior, and a removable hardtop. This car costs about the same as a base-model Porsche 718 Cayman, yet it has way over 100 more horses. It is a seriously quick car, and it handles well, despite reports of understeer.
It is a very sexy car, and who in their right mind would complain about getting a supercar for sports car money?!
3 We'd Never Buy One: Visibility
The C8 doesn't have great visibility, you can hardly see out the back due to the sloped roofline. Even seeing out the side is a lot harder than in the C7.
The forward visibility is actually worse than the C7 despite the C8 being mid-engined. This makes it a lot harder to drive.
2 We'd Buy One: Refinement
There was once a time period when Corvettes were not so great to drive. They were too noisy, rattly, and uncomfortable. Nowadays, they are far better places to be in since they're quieter, the fit and finish are far better than it used to be and the gearbox, despite its early reliability issues, is very smooth.
It is a somewhat comfortable car that won't make you feel tired of driving or give you a headache. At cruising speeds, you can shut off half the cylinders or put it in cruise.
1 We'd Never Buy One: Interior
The interior of these things is just too complex. It looks awesome but there are far too many buttons all set out in a vertical layout. It's seriously confusing as you don't know what's where. The screen is also a bit of a pain to use, especially on bumpy roads as it's a touchscreen. The passenger can hardly access the infotainment screen.
It full-on cocoons the driver which is great for that cockpit-like feel. It's a shame though that there is a lack of organization with the buttons. Nevertheless, it is still one of the craziest cars of 2020.