August 25, 2004
In Love
I usually don't include a lot of personal items in here, but I thought it was important that I share something with all of you. I'm in love. Her name is "Vette.
Here's a picture.
She is a C6 and she's absolutely beautiful. I've never really been the type to go for fancy wheels, or to worry too much about what I was driving. Mostly I'm concerned about transportation and let what other people think be damned.
But what a great car! One of the definite perks of working in an automotive company is the opportunity to drive really sweet vehicles on a regular basis. But really, none of the cars I've drive have really affected me quite as strongly as the new 'Vette. The most striking thing for me: I've driven Corvettes before, and they drive like sports cars. That's fine because they're supposed to after all, but it makes them less practical, and in the wrong conditions it makes them dangerous. But the C6 drives like a dream. This was further heightened by the fact that she was (unfortunately) an automatic, but it was the smoothest I've ever seen a sports car be. If you want you can drive very easy and controlled without effort. Acceleration isn't jumpy and turning is smooth. But when you want it, its all there. Pinned to the back of my seat I could feel that she was hardly even warmed up. (Of course, as in accordance with company policies I was always driving in a controlled manner and well within the posted speed limits.) Driving along the videogame-like expanse of Westbound I-696 I knew I could be anywhere on the road that I wanted to in a second, but cruising was still very comfortable.
In fact the engine absolutely screams at 400 HP in a V-8 and yet it still manages mid 20's in Highway mileage. It's better in every way than the C5 and yet costs *less* at a base price of $44,245.
I've had a few days to settle down and have decided not to sell my house and live in the C6. But I did think about it. My few complaints: I didn't like the radio very much. It has the keyless electronic ignition and door system that is currenly in the XLR, which might be nice next year, but still seems a little buggy. I really can't think of anything else, and if I had an extra $44,000 in a drawer, neither of the above would really make me think twice.
But I suppose in the meantime I'll just continue to live with my 10-year old 180,000 mile Honda, and let my love languish unrequited. But perhaps someday in the future we can make it work.
Notes: Pictures produced by my cell phone in unlit garage, which don't really do the car justice. Go to the Chevy site for the good ones.
Corvette commercial which shows young boy driving wildly pulled from the air
Posted by ktismael at August 25, 2004 9:16 PM