New Corvette adds luxury, keeps power

[Rob]

New Corvette adds luxury, keeps power

By KEN WICKLIFFE
For The Star Press

Steve Greene of New Castle began dreaming of owning a Corvette when he was 16 years old, but the low-slung sports car always seemed a little too impractical.

The current generation of the Corvette, which debuted in model year 2005, changed his thinking.

"The older models were a little harder to get into and out of," he said. "The current model is a whole lot more appealing."

Steve and his wife, Leslie, found the 2007 'Vette so appealing, in fact, they decided to break down and buy one.

The Greenes recently took delivery of their dream car -- a red Corvette coupe -- at Oliver Family Motors, a full-line GM dealer in New Castle.

The car has been everything they had expected.

"The best way to describe how it rides and drives is to say it's a luxury car with a whole lot of power and fantastic handling," Steve said. "I can't believe the responsiveness of this car as you go down the road."

A long list of interior features and performance extras add to the driving appeal, he said.

"The 'heads-up' display is a great feature," Steve said. "Information such as the speed, engine RPMs and cornering g-forces are projected on the windshield so you do not have to look down to check the gauges."

Optional on some Corvette models and standard on others, the heads-up display can also display data from the car's navigation system as well as engine temperature, oil pressure and other readings.

The Greenes' Corvette also has a six-speed automatic transmission with a "paddle shifter" feature that allows the driver to shift gears manually if desired.

"We like being able to sit back and drive it as an automatic, or shift gears manually if we want," Leslie said. "You have the advantages of both an automatic and a stick shift."

The transmission includes protection features that prevent the driver from accidentally over-revving the engine, Steve added.

A fully manual six-speed gearbox is also available.

Most people do not buy a 400-horsepower sports car for its fuel economy, but the Corvette is surprisingly good on gas, the Greenes said.

"At a constant 55 miles per hour, the car's trip computer says it's getting 35 miles per gallon," Steve said. "So far we've been averaging about 26 miles per gallon, overall."

Ed Stoops, sales consultant at Walker Family Motors, said the Corvette coupe's standard removable roof is a favorite feature among buyers.

"You have the hard top for security, but the whole roof panel comes off to give the feel of a convertible," he said. "When it's off, the roof panel stores in the car, but there's still plenty of storage space for luggage or other things."

Five different Corvette models have base prices from $44,995 to $77,500.

The $44,995 Corvette coupe comes standard with a six-liter, 400-horsepower V8 engine, six-speed manual transmission, removable body-color roof panel, seven-speaker audio system, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather interior, xenon HID (high-intensity discharge) headlights and numerous other features.

At $53,335, the Corvette convertible has the same features as the coupe as well as a power-folding convertible top with a glass rear window.

The $66,995 Indy 500 Pace Car edition Corvette, which is also a convertible, comes with special 10-spoke painted aluminum wheels, a Bose audio system and Indy 500 emblems on the car's front fenders and seats.

The Corvette Z06, which has a base price of $70,000, has a hand-built 505-horsepower, seven-liter V8 engine as well as carbon-fiber front fenders, wheel housings and floorboards to reduce weight.

Priced at $77,500, the Ron Fellows Limited Edition Corvette Z06 features unique exterior graphics and a special red-and-black interior.
In addition, every Corvette Z06 bearing his name is personally autographed inside its leather console by Corvette racing driver Ron Fellows.



Ken Wickliffe for The Star Press