Topic: 2007 Corvette Overview. How does it compare to the 2007 GXP, Red line & Opel GT?

[GXPinKC]

http://www.corvetteguys.com/2007-chevrolet-corvette.html

I found this overview on the 2007 Corvette.  Please do not think that I have lost my marbles, well my wife tells me that I have however I am posting this thread in order to bring some perspective on how the 2007 Solstice GXP, 2007 Sky Redline, and the 2007 Opel GT stacked up against the:  2007 Corvette 6.0L V-8 LS2, uh, yes, the 400HP @ 6000 RPM, and 400 lb-ft @ 4400 RPM.  Yes, this one got to 0-60 in a mere 4.5 seconds and handled the Quarter Mile in 13.0 seconds!  And oh, yes, the torque on this baby was 400 lb-ft @ 4400 RPM.  Ok, drum role...the Convertible list was $54,630 and the Coupe list was $46,290.  Uh, the one not to get confused with is the 2007 Z06, uh, it was $72,245.

Now, don't mistake it for the other model, the 2007 7.0 V-8 LS7 that produced 505 HP @6300 RPM and had 470 lb-ft @ 4800 RPM doing the 0-60 in 3.7 sec and Quarter Mile in 11.7 seconds.  You see this one was the top of the line model.

Now, right in the middle of this post, my wife comes in to tell me that our minature Dachshund just drank some sips of Irish Coffee that she stole from Carol's drink.  Well, I was a bit distracted because "Misty" our minature Dachshund usually does not partake in after dinner hard liquor!

So, let's get on with the thread...  Please all you guys and gals who own Kappa's give me some thought on comparison with the 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP, and of course the 2007 Sky Redline, and the 2007 Opel GT.

I will continue on with the thread after hearing some comments.

P.S.  As most all of you are aware, in the October 2006 issue of Motor Trend magazine there was of course this neat article "Reach for the Stars" that proceeded to match the BMW Z4 3.0si, Nissan 350Z Roadster and the 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP.  Well, if you have your copy of the October 2006 Motor Trend and the article on page 66 "Reach for the Stars" Is this the summer of the Solstice? by Kim Reynolds, you might want to pull it out of the closet and review it prior to further discussion on this topic. 

A little homework is necessary to provide the backdrop for this thread!  You see way back then winning that confrontation, the 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP took 1st place, the BMW Z4 3.0si took 2nd place and the Nissan 350Z Roadster, yes, it was in third place.

My best time to 0-60 was a reading of 5.2 seconds that my wife took with a stop watch inside Miss Red Eagle, when I yelled  when the speedometer reached 60!

So, I am not mad, just some preface to lead up to this thread.  Bring it!!!!! 

[Brazen17]

Yup, you've lost your marbles.     Don't forget to give the dog a couple of Advil before going to bed to take the edge off that hangover.   

[1LILNDN]

 Ron ; Well I have to agree with Carol and Brazen17 . I to think there are a few Marbles loose also. You can't compare that vette to Our Kappa's <--------are in a Class of their Own .

[U4EA]

GXPinKC,
Bought my 1st C6 in fall of 2004 (2005 1LT)
Traded it in fall of 2005 for 2006 3LT
Traded 2006 3LT Feb. 2007 for Solstice GXP
Nov. 2007 purchased 2008 4LT Z51 LS3

I have owned both the Corvette and the GXP together the last 3 years. The Corvette was sold last month to be delivered on Christmas Eve. I'm keeping the Solstice, even been looking at the possibility of a second. In three years we (wife and I)
drove the Corvette 3900 miles, during the same period drove the GXP 15,000 miles. Wife did not care for the Corvette, she chose to buy a Mustang GT for a daily driver and leave the Corvette in the garage, but what does she know?

Will miss the GRUNT that the LS3 6.2L produces, but it is more than 3 times the size in displacement than my little NIMBLE 2.0L TORQUE MONSTER. Two totally different cars not in the same class. I've got them both, I'm keeping the SOLSTICE!

Parting shots of the Corvette  

[attachment=1]  
[attachment=2]
[attachment=3]

[wspohn]

Thanks for that article, I hadn't read it before.

The guy assessing the Solstice at the track had exactly the same comment I always have - the steering sucks (he said 'numb')  Wish we had non-power steering, but not sure it would be popular given the large tires!

[smartin]

GXPinKC,
Bought my 1st C6 in fall of 2004 (2005 1LT)
Traded it in fall of 2005 for 2006 3LT
Traded 2006 3LT Feb. 2007 for Solstice GXP
Nov. 2007 purchased 2008 4LT Z51 LS3

I have owned both the Corvette and the GXP together the last 3 years. The Corvette was sold last month to be delivered on Christmas Eve. I'm keeping the Solstice, even been looking at the possibility of a second. In three years we (wife and I)
drove the Corvette 3900 miles, during the same period drove the GXP 15,000 miles. Wife did not care for the Corvette, she chose to buy a Mustang GT for a daily driver and leave the Corvette in the garage, but what does she know?

Will miss the GRUNT that the LS3 6.2L produces, but it is more than 3 times the size in displacement than my little NIMBLE 2.0L TORQUE MONSTER. Two totally different cars not in the same class. I've got them both, I'm keeping the SOLSTICE!

Parting shots of the Corvette 

[attachment=1] 
[attachment=2]
[attachment=3]

Gorgeous vette! I'm jealous!

[DeepBlueGXP]

Hell with the Vette, what are those two vehicles in the garage, that's what I want

[GXPinKC]

Hell with the Vette, what are those two vehicles in the garage, that's what I want

DeepBlueGXP, uh, the one on the left side is a Rolls Royce, I believe.  On the other one, not sure, but it looks kind of like a Lincoln Navigator.  However, just a far feched guess.

[wspohn]

DeepBlueGXP, uh, the one on the left side is a Rolls Royce, I believe.  On the other one, not sure, but it looks kind of like a Lincoln Navigator.  However, just a far feched guess.

Loncoln?? Arghhh....

That is also surely a vintage Rolls or Bentley.

I'd give you points if you could identify the two vehicles in my garage behind the Solstice, but the sig might be a bit of a giveaway!

[smartin]

I still like the Vette!

The others are nice, too!

[JimVonBaden]

Funny how much the nose of the blue car looks like an Opel Manta from around 1971.



Jim

[U4EA]

Hell with the Vette, what are those two vehicles in the garage, that's what I want

[attachment=1]
[attachment=2]

These along with many other vintage vehicles belong to the new owner of the Vette.

[1LILNDN]

They both look like RR Silver Clouds   both around 1958 -62 Maybe  Guessing   I    Can't see the Tag real Clear.   

[melissadunagan]

  The blue Opel Manta reminds me of the late model Corvare.
  And if I had to give up one of my cars I would give up my Solstice before I would give up my 96 Corvette.

[kennysabarese]

2008 model vette had some significant handling improvements over the 2007

[GXPinKC]

Bringing this old thread back that I posted way back on December 12, 2010.  I have never owned a Corvette, however I did purchase a new S.O. 1995 Pontiac Firebird Forumula and of course it was painted Victory Red (Bright Red-Primary), the same color that Pontiac promoted as "Aggressive" on the Kappa's.

The S.O. 1995 Pontiac Firebird was ordered with the Corvette LT1 SFI 5.7 Liter V8 engine, produced 280 horsepower, 325 lbs-ft of low end torque and a 6-speed manual transmission!  Up until the purchase of our 2007 S.O. Pontiac Solstice GXP the 95' Bird was the best sports car I ever owned!!!    

Now, as I have said before, I have never owned a Corvette, but the next best thing...a loaded 1995 Pontiac Firebird Formula!!!

But, surprise, "Miss Red Eagle" I believe is faster and quicker off the line than our '95 Pontiac Firebird Formula!   Anyone out there own a 2007 Corvette or anyone wanting to contribute to this thread please do!

[wspohn]

Up until the purchase of our 2007 S.O. Pontiac Solstice GXP the 95' Bird was the best sports car I ever owned!!!

Except it isn't a sports car.

[LatinVenom]

In OEM form for both cars the Vett will be much faster and will handle better.
Although for the price difference is not really a fair comparison.

[GXPinKC]

GXPinKC,
Bought my 1st C6 in fall of 2004 (2005 1LT)
Traded it in fall of 2005 for 2006 3LT
Traded 2006 3LT Feb. 2007 for Solstice GXP
Nov. 2007 purchased 2008 4LT Z51 LS3

I have owned both the Corvette and the GXP together the last 3 years. The Corvette was sold last month to be delivered on Christmas Eve. I'm keeping the Solstice, even been looking at the possibility of a second. In three years we (wife and I)
drove the Corvette 3900 miles, during the same period drove the GXP 15,000 miles. Wife did not care for the Corvette, she chose to buy a Mustang GT for a daily driver and leave the Corvette in the garage, but what does she know?

Will miss the GRUNT that the LS3 6.2L produces, but it is more than 3 times the size in displacement than my little NIMBLE 2.0L TORQUE MONSTER. Two totally different cars not in the same class. I've got them both, I'm keeping the SOLSTICE!

Parting shots of the Corvette 

[attachment=1] 
[attachment=2]
[attachment=3]

Those who did not go back in this thread to find post #3 by U4EA, I have brought it here for your review!!!

[Buzzardt]

Depends on who owns and drives it. In the states we aren't that snobbish about what is and isn't. If it's low , sleek and fast. It's a sports car. Don't need no fancy name.

[POS VETT]

If I have to pick, I'll give up my M3, my Solstice GXP, my CTS-V, and including my truck, all of them, for either my old C5 Z06 or my current C6 Z06.

As far as American-branded sports/modern muscle cars, I have driven LT1 C4, fourth generation F-body, and SN95 Mustang.  Nothing short of super/ultra cars compare to a C5 or a C6, especially the Z06.  Car magazines show it too.  In one article, a GT500KR couldn't even touch a Grand Sport (or was it a regular C6 coupe ?).  The C6 Z06 would keep up with a '8+ Viper for many thousands less in MSRP.

However, comparing a C6 to a turbocharged Kappa is apples to oranges.  Both can be categorized as sports car, yet one is priced over 50% more than the other or about doubled when compared to the Z06 or 'vert C6.  Personally, I'm still a bit bugged by the Kappa turbo lag; granted it's leaps and bounds over my laggy (stock, with Garret T2Small) '95 and '96 Eagle Talon AWDs, but the lag is still there.

To this day, my eyes can't keep up with the Z06 full-throttle acceleration in first and second gears (the car is stock engine wise).  In autox, cones come up in frames like watching a stop-animation film.  I've also caught myself stop breathing during most part a run.  Even with GMPP upgrade, the Solstice can't do anything remote to this.

Then the suspension; for some reason the Solstice gives out this unstable feeling when cornering, especially when the surface is less than ideal.  While the Z06s needed a firm believe (since they're half numb), the Solstice demands a blind faith.  The way it rocks side to side reminds me of my 1/2-ton Silverado ECSB.  My wife would consistently beg to slow the Solstice down saying the same thing corner after corner, "Please don't trust it just yet".

Then there is ergonomics, fit and finish (interior and exterior), and fun factor.  Ergonomics in my Solstice is less than mediocre; the C5 and C6 are better but that's not saying much.  C5 and C6 are far from exterior-panel-gap-and-alignment queens in the eye of a manufacturing engineer, the Solstice is about the same and yet it has steel panels.  It fits between a C5 and C6 when it comes to interior fit and finish; C5 interior is absolutely horrible. 

When it comes to fun factor, well, what is your definition of fun ?  So far, the Solstice is the first and only convertible in the stable.  It wins the hair-in-the-wind factor since the Z06s are hardtop.  Maybe that's why I looked for one for months and we love the attention; especially after the Status Grinder.  I'm pretty sure the Solstice will have its pictures taken a lot more than even the menacing blacked-out black Z06.  So far the Solstice has been a consistent source of entertainment when parked.  Our favorite is to park it close enough (within earshot and eyesight) while we are having lunch in a restaurant patio, then we people-watch as they walk by the car.  Various comments, body language, and gestures.  While a blacked-out black Z06 draws the same boring oohs and ahhs (plus "how much does that cost ?" if I'm around), the Solstice commands all different and more interesting kinds.

So, will I keep my Solstice ?  Hell yea, for several more years.  Would I replace the Corvette with the Solstice ?  Absolutely not !  Try the other way around.

[Kelu]

Great review POS from someone who owns both.

[kennysabarese]

The long ass wheelbase of the Vette keeps is more stable, but we actually have the same, or slightly longer wheelbase as a 911 so that is not the only reason.

I totally get what you are saying about the unstable nature. Even with swaybars and harder springs and shocks it still is not too stable on the 4 road courses I am on.

But yeah, the Vette is an all out performance car that costs a lot more and has been iterated and perfected for 40 years or something. Of course it's going to be better than a car that had one run and was basically done because Lutz wouldn't work for GM if they didn't build it

I love my Sky cuz it's unique and cheap and lots of fun. If I had more funds the Sky would be a dedicated street car and I'd have something else for the track, but it does the job for both for now.

[Arabas]

as said before by other people, i always considered the kappa as a baby Vette.

[wspohn]

as said before by other people, i always considered the kappa as a baby Vette.

I suppose there might be something to that given that they were both made by GM, but I see them as very different cars.

Saying that is like saying that a Bugeye Sprite is a baby Austin Healey 3000 - made by the same manufacturer, but nonetheless it just isn't true, they were made to be quite different cars and the smaller one is in no way an imitation of the larger one.

To me the Solstice and Corvette are quite different, and the smaller car is more to my taste. To get lots of power with a large V8 is no trick at all. People seem strangely impressed with the 8 litre Vipers notwithstanding the fact that the specific output (BHP/litre) is almost pathetic compared to many other modern cars today.

To get excellent power out of a small package is a really neat trick, and I find the Ecotec to be an impressive technological accomplishment.

The interiors are equally lacklustre, but the exterior styling of the Solstice, particularly the coupe, is a stand out, and to my eye more attractive than the latest generation of Corvette.

I think these cars deserve to be appreciated for what they are, and not as some sort of  Corvette wannabe.