Thought I'd post these up here.

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So I guess one set of stripes wasn't good enough.

Does this mean the C6 is going away? Or just that GM is doing anything it takes to get a markup?

Well I'm not rushing out to get one.

I like the look, though I think the color scheme is too much a departure from the theme.

Here's blue one, happy now

http://www.leftlanenews.com/chevrolet-corvette-grand-sport.html

Saw one in person last night at the dealer when I was looking at the trucks. Nice looking car. It was a black coupe with the roof panel removed. which you can't do with a Z06.

Sitting next to it was a 2010 Camaro SS.
Sweet looking ride.

There's a couple nice one's at the dealership that sponsors us. A red vert, yellow coupe with the 4LT leather package and a couple other coupes. Fully loaded they are a bit pricey but I think an awesome car that gives you the middle of the road Vette with the option of taking the roof panel off. Handling and performance is better than the base model Vette but falls far short of what it should have been in my opinion. I would seriously consider one of these in the future when it comes time to buy a new model Corvette. I love the overall look of the car, but the price tag is just too much for me now.

A base C6 w/ the GS option is the one I'm Jonesin' for. GS = tranny cooler, diff cooler, dry sump, Zo6 brakes (not the best, but better) and the waay cool fender flares.

Helluva car IMO! Built for the track.

those flares are riduculous looking (too thick imo).

are those from the factory? reason being is the GS i saw at BG this year didnt have flares on it.

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Same as the Z06

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Why? Didn't you see that Car and Driver lapped Grattan in a Grand Sport at 1:30.xx? Seems like I've seen your C4 do it two seconds faster. And mine 3 seconds faster. Just not on the same day ;)

it looked like this only black

A friend of mine got one about a month ago, mineral gray.
He wanted Z06 performance, but with an auto trans. Fantastic car with good performance yet all of the creature comforts.

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When I see the GS pictures it makes me feel funny....kinda like climbin' up the rope in gym class.

I saw the C&D write up but I would like a shot at driving the GS w/ Hoosiers. The red beast will be in the low 26's at Grattan next year. (even if I only get 8 laps )

Like most factory Vette wheels those are absolutely hideous.
Those spokes are like built in curb feelers. Rest of the car is a blast Im sure.

Without the skunk stripe it's kinda like ready, fire, aim. Why wouldn't they at least offer it in Admiral blue with the stripes with red guts ? One of the best looking Corvettes ever jmho and I know it sounds nasty but it works on the C4 at least. I would have striped them all offered in Red White, Black, Admiral blue etc. oh well I ain't in charge LOL

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I guess each has their own likes and dislikes, but in-person the wheels look pretty good and the chrome or polished variety are awesome in my opinion.

meh, those gills look awful imho, rest of the car is just bland

FYI

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isnt the 6-speed manual supposed to have a dry sump oiling system? This Vettes has the battery there?

Yes, maybe they relocated the tank, or it's prototype.

Make mine Torch Red!

I think they goofed up just putting the LS3 in it. They should have taken the LSA motor from the CTS-V and strapped that bad boy in it and slotted it between the Z06 and ZR1. They totally killed that amazing widebody look with a stock LS3 motor. Just doesn't do it justice. Plus the Grand Sport is sorta of always been a Special Vette name.

COST is the reason. The LSA is just a detuned LS9, it still costs a mint to build.

I was at Sebring when they announced the GS. This is what the customer base has been asking for - Z06 look, but with the comfort of the base C6 and an automatic transmission.

The performance is there with the Z06 and the ZR1, they needed something more affordable, so your suggestion of slotting it between the two wasn't going to fix that.

The Carbon does slot between them, tho.

For me, the GS is a nice balance. With the lower performance, insurance isn't getting beat up. And really, if 436hp doesn't light you up, just a little, there are bigger issues at hand. Even with your mods, your 2k vert isn't much different than the LS3. And I can own one here in CA!

Grand Sport has history, no question, but it is the right name for this. Perhaps they could have dubbed it "SS," but that would have caused all sorts of sales issues for Germany, where all references to the old NAZI party are banned! So GS connects nicely back to the history. And really, it doesn't diminish the name... in fact, Buick used the GS logo in the late 60s...

bogus, I can see your point. To me, the base C6 body just doesn't look that good and when you put the hood and widebody kit on it the change is dramatic. My car is fast but to me no where near fast enough. Just to me, 436HP just isn't enough!!LOL

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I completely agree with Andy. Price. I see your point but price is what drive's my purchasing ability when it comes to new Corvettes.

I know that the next new car I buy is going to be a C6. Up until recently, it was a base Corvette, Z06, or ZR1. There is not a chance in hell that I could afford a Z06, let alone a ZR1. The base Corvette is easily in reach for me when I am ready to pull the trigger.

Then the Grand Sport showed up. It's a C6, has color options I like, has the wide body, wide wheels, Z06 brakes and suspension, and the cost stays down due to the base 6.2L LS offering.

This means that I can reach up to the Grand Sport and get the things I like about the Z06, in a streetable car that I can afford.

Otherwise, I'd be stuck with the base Corvette as my only option. The pricing, and options of the Grand Sport, I think make it the best value of ALL of them.

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lets run some numbers....

The GS option is about $5k. Not bad, really. Good value, when you think about it. So that means a new C6 GS is about $55k out the door.

A base Z06 is $80k. A base ZR1 is $105k. The Carbon fits between, about $90k.

Even if the stock GS is slow, you can put a mangacharger on it and get the power you want, for another $8k.

Short of the chassis improvements (aluminum vs steel), I don't see the real benefit of owning a Zxx, short of bragging rights.

The GS will get nearly 30mpg highway. The Z06, about 26 and the ZR1, about 22. I would be using the GS as a highway traveler, so that 30mpg starts to look real attractive. 4 miles more per gallon = 80 more miles to a tank = 2.5 gallons saved per tank over the Z06. At $3.50 a gallon, that's 10.00 per tank.

A drive that we would take, from SoCal to Sebring, FL, this would add up FAST. At 30mpg, it would use 84 gallons of gas to cover 2500 miles. It would use 96 gallons at 26mpg, 12 more, at $3.50 for premium, that's $42 one way. To me, that's some pocket change.

Then comes the insurance. I haven't checked on a Zxx of any kind, but a base C6 would only increase my insurance by about $300 a year. I don't think I would get away that light on either Z-car.

Then comes maintenance. Anytime you increase power, you increase wear. Early Z06s were having gearbox issues, IIRC... but even beyond that, the LS3 puts out less torque, so the clutch should hold up longer. And if it does fail, I have even stronger options to replace it with that should last for about ever!

There is more to a car than just the power output, that's all I am saying.

And yes, there are times when a car can be built ignorantly to some ungodly power output. Sure, have fun... but remember, those outputs then start to effect drivability. They become prone to over heating and you are at the mercy of suspect aftermarket components.

I spoke with Dave McClellan a couple of years back at Sebring. He is now on the board of directors of Mosler Automotive. They make a mid-engined supercar based off of C5 components. Dave and I were looking over the car, and he said (paraphrased), "I have encouraged the Mosler team to use factory components whenever possible. They are tested for durability in ways that the aftermarket just can't compete. Sure, some of that hot rod stuff is neat, but is it durable?"

Some aftermarket firms to through testing... Edelbrock is one, they have 3 engine dyno cells and their own CARB legal smog test rolling dyno. They put cars on the streets with their bits in them for a year before they go on the market. And the parts stay on the car after the test, just to make damned sure the thing will work after. If the part fails at the 14th month, they have a lead to issue a fix.

So many complexities... so many things to keep in mind!

Bogus, now that is the best I have ever seen a discussion put into perspective on a vette forum. I can't even begin to come back with anything to that!

Why, thank you!

I always try to be thorough... don't always succeed, tho...

I will follow, personal need of a car trumps everything. That's why there are so many different types of cars out there!

Wow these pics are lovely and this car is awesome...

good timing on the thread revival

My friend took his 2011 GS Corvette down the drag strip last Friday night

time? speed?

13.0 @ 118

He, and everyone else there on street tires, was having a lot of trouble hooking up.

his lack of traction was made up on the big end...