So it has been shouted on magazine covers and on TV
shows that there's a new Corvette and it's awesome. The news from
Bankrate's road test is that the enthusiast press hasn't been lying.
In almost all regards, the 2005 Corvette is a perfect
sports car, even overcoming some of the impracticality inherent
in a two-seater. After spending a week behind the wheel of a yellow
coupe, trying very hard to spot faults, the only regret was when
the car had to be returned to Chevrolet.
But if the Corvette were only about all-out speed,
it would be a failure as a car. Instead, the Corvette takes that
power and refines it into a vehicle that does everything equally
well. It even gets outstanding fuel mileage for a V8 sports car.
It's EPA rated at 18 to 26 miles per gallon, and our test car
delivered an average of 23 mpg under admittedly hard use.
Handling is super precise. This car goes where the
driver points, and does so without shaking its two occupants like
a rickety roller coaster. That's thanks to a new suspension that
even in standard mode is a model blend of handling capabilities
and smooth highway ride. There are two optional suspensions, the
Z51, which dials back the highway ride a bit in favor of higher
cornering ability, and the F55 adjustable suspension that allows
the driver to choose several different ride characteristics.
On the exterior, the new Corvette is easily spotted
by its exposed headlights, which replaced the hideaway headlights
that were a Corvette feature since 1963. The overall styling is
evolutionary, but there are subtle yet significant differences
from last year's car. The 2005 is shorter and narrower -- about
the same dimensions as a Porsche Carerra -- yet rides on a longer
wheelbase. Those shifts in dimensions, along with a drop in weight,
also contribute to the new Corvette's improved ride and handling
characteristics.
In the cockpit, there's more room for the two occupants,
and the seating position of the driver is improved for better
visibility. In the coupe, which is really a hatchback, there's
22 cubic feet of cargo room -- more than in some conventional
sedans.
There are a number of new, high-tech features, some
significant and some trivial.
Most significant is an improved Active Handling
System that can sense when a driver is about to lose control and
apply the brakes on an individual wheel or cut engine power so
the car remains on track. It's a seamless system that can rarely
be felt when in operation, and there's a competition mode that
allows the driver more control in certain situations.
On the trivial side is the end of the conventional
door handles inside and out. Electronic touch pads and buttons
release the door locks. In case of a power loss, there are levers
on the floor that will also open the doors. The Corvette also
has keyless ignition. As long as the key fob is within a certain
range, the car can be started or turned off with a dash-mounted
button.
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Corvette interior
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New to the Corvette option list is a satellite navigation
system and factory installed XM satellite radio. On the convertible,
a power top has returned as an option for the first time since
1962.
Overall fit and finish in the new Corvette is top
notch and on our test car, which had 4,000 miles on the odometer,
there were no squeaks or rattles present -- a bugaboo on virtually
every previous Corvette.
Searching for nits: The interior, though very comfortable,
is plain and still has a Chevrolet feel to the surfaces. The four-speed
automatic transmission could use a manual-shift mode like other
sports cars. And the electronic door locks could be dropped as
an unnecessary gadget.
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Corvette convertible
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But at a base price of $44,510 for the coupe and
$52,245 for the convertible, the Corvette continues to be the
performance car bargain. Right now, Chevy dealers are getting
list price for the coupes and even above list for the convertible.
If you don't have to have one right now, the Corvette should become
an even bigger bargain once pent-up demand is met.
At anything even approaching list price, the Corvette
delivers a combination of performance and style can't help but
bring a smile to the driver's face every day.
Specifications:
| Base list price, including delivery charge: |
$44,510 |
| Engine: |
6-liter V8 |
| Horsepower: |
400 @ 6000 rpm |
| Transmission: |
4-speed automatic |
| Chassis: |
Rear-wheel-drive |
| Basic warranty: |
3 years/36,000 miles |
| Fuel economy: |
18/26 mpg EPA est., 22 mpg observed |
| Special factory lease/finance: |
5.9 percent finance rate |
-- Posted: Feb. 15, 2005
