5 Things I HATE about the C7 Grand Sport!!!
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- Опубликовано: 26 июл 2024
- In this video I go over 5 things about the car that I don't like. As an owner for 3 years and over 12k miles, I think I have some good perspective to offer. All of these are fairly minor, as this car is fantastic, but they are things that you wouldn't really run into until you actually own the car.
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Hi Fred, great video and I completely agree with you! In fact during each segment I was fairly accurately predicting beforehand what specific annoyance you were going to state. Full disclosure, I owned a 2016 Stingray 1LT 7MT and recently I upgraded to a 2019 Z06 1LZ 7MT. So I have experience with two different manual C7s and you nailed it! Now, I don't have the camera issue you have because my base trim level doesn't carry that option. However I still feel your pain (and even more so without the camera) when it comes to parking. Kudos to you for being honest and objectively stating the flaws you've found in a vehicle purchase that was not cheap. Just people tend to try to validate their purchase by pretending that the vehicle is perfect. So good job on summarizing the flaws the C7 has. Overall, the C7 is a fantastic performance value offering and is so much fun to drive but there are definitely flaws future Corvette engineers can learn from and improve. Cheers!
Hi Caleb,
Thanks for reaching out, and it's nice to hear that what I said resonates for you (as someone with plenty of C7 experience). You hit the nail on the head, that a lot of people try to justify/validate their purchase (and I don't blame them for being defensive), but I was surprised by the number of negative comments people have sent me in that regard.
Several Chevy/Vette armchair fanboys have tried to rake me over the coals on the parking cameras, saying "I must not know how to drive"...."they've never had issues"...."driver issue, not the car"... But in reality, it's just an area where the car is not up to par for what you pay, or even in comparison to other similar performance cars.
The funny part is that's fine. My disclaimer (stated a few times in the video), is that I absolutely LOVE the car, and I consider these to all be minor, and none of them even come close to overshadowing what a joy it is to drive. Glad you could see through to the points I was making, and realize I was being objective. :)
Congrats on the Z btw! How do you like it compared to the Stingray you had?
Thanks for reaching out, and for the kind words, really appreciate it!
Have a great day man!
-Fred
I purchased a 2019 GS 7-speed manual just the second GM announced that the C8 couldn't be had with a manual transmission. After 8K miles driving it I couldn't be happier with its outstanding performance on all levels. Love my Grand Sport.
That's awesome man! I respect and like the C8 for what it is, but I'm out to have the most fun possible, not shave off milliseconds, so I'm with you, the M7 is the way to go. I'm glad I got one, and hope to keep this car for a long time, even when I buy my next car!
@@FredsFullThrottle ..Not sure what the big deal is with the manual. I run my C7GS at a 3 mile road course and only use 3rd and 4th all the way to 138mph. I'm going to sell mine because I want to go back to a Porsche 911 with a PDK like my Macan S has.
@@raymondlarimore2341 Hi Raymond, thanks for reaching out. By all accounts if you're tracking the car frequently, a manual won't be as fast in any situation as an auto/dct/pdk.
My comment above was "I'm out to have the most fun possible, not shave off milliseconds", and for me that means a bit more engagement by using the stick. The PDK is awesome though, and having used one in a GT3 on track at PEC ATL, I can easily say that if I bought a P-car for the track I'd get one. I think manuals are one of those things that people either swear by, or don't care about. Sounds like you're looking for outright speed on the track, so a PDK/DCT probably makes more sense for you. Good luck!
@@FredsFullThrottle ..I agree but its totally driver dependent. Not that many driver are that fast is these cars. There is no feel in the steering or feedback from the car until it too late.It takes a very good driver to drive one fast. I can outrun many of them including my own with my 08VW GT1 with Olins, lsd, race tires and 330 whp. You can drive this car hard with no fear.
@@raymondlarimore2341 Agree with you there. I've seen a number of spec-miatas destroy otherwise much faster cars for just that reason.
I'm just beginning to dabble in track stuff with cars (limited by money), but am an expert class motorcycle trackday rat. There are people out there on very "underpowered" bikes that whip everyone on liter bikes. Have a nice day man!
Totally agree with you on all your excellent points. I've experienced the same on my 2019 GS manual 7-Speed but I still love it to death.
Thank you! Love the 7 speed, so much fun!
Great job Mr Fred! Your video is not what I expected...this is Very informative...Your YT lead photo is misleading bc at first glance I thought you were a C7 hater. In reality you are the exact opposite! I agree with your last point about shifting. I actually am replacing my OEM shifter with an aftermarket MGW short throw. Will be interesting to see the difference it makes...thx again
Hi Sig,
Thanks for reaching out! Glad the video resonated for you, and you found it informative! One of the challenges with YT in general is if you strike "medium" level tone in your thumbnail and title, no one clicks on it. I don't want to be clickbait-y, and try to always make sure my videos deliver on what they say, but I have to balance that with something that grabs the attention of the viewer. Unfortunately controversy and sensationalism are currently the "order of the day" on YT, if you want to get seen.
This is why several times in the video I make it clear that I love the car, and that these things are very small annoyances versus dealbreakers. If I'd titled the video "5 small annoyances for the C7..." I don't think it would have sold well unfortunately.
My apologies for the aggressive title, I'm glad you checked it out and found it interesting! I try to make all of my content in an upbeat, truthful but objective way, with a good sense of humor mixed in. Just filmed a video today about No Lift Shift that should be pretty informative too.
Oh, that's interesting to hear about the aftermarket short throw, if you think of it, can you respond here and let me know what you think of it? Would be very interested to hear firsthand! Hopefully it has nice crisp action.
Thanks for stopping by, and have a nice day!
-Mr. Fred (I love that name you used)
Great video. I am looking at getting a 2019 GS as we speak. I have been in a Charger Scat Pack Widebody and it will determine based on the outside temperature if the heated seats and steering wheel should be on or not. So, on a cold day you get in and the seat is already warm (assuming you remote start). Quite a nice feature. Of course you can go in settings and turn the heated seats off and they won't come on automatically in cold weather if you want to just always select manually.
Hi Dads Garage,
Thanks for reaching out! Congrats on the Scat Pack, those are awesome cars, sound amazing! Definitely fancier than the C7 GS in regards to the creature comforts. The GS does have heated seats (and ventilated for summer), but you have to turn them on each time. Not sure if 3LT had a heated wheel, I only have the 2LT, but absolutely love the car! As I mention in the video, the fact that these are my biggest complaints speak to how fantastic the car is. Good luck on your search, you will love the car! Are you keeping the Charger too?
-Fred
@@FredsFullThrottle It is actually kind of a long story. LOL. I ordered another WB Scat and they keep postponing delivery. So, in my frustration I started looking at the C7's. I have always wanted one. But, to answer your question I will be trading it. My 2 concerns on the C7 are can I adapt my lifestyle to such a different car. In that, I can carry a lot of stuff and 5 people with me. The other thing is the C7 prices are so high now. Funny as I watch RUclips videos from a year or 2 ago prices are so much higher now. Kind of afraid of the prices dropping and fining myself underwater. Any thoughts on that?
@@DadsGarageDIY Ahh, thanks for the backstory there, I hear you! I can't speak to if it can fit your needs such as carrying 5 people, but at least the back does fit a ton of cargo. I've consistently been amazed how much storage it has, though to be fair I have never really put it to the test.
The price conversation is going to be an interesting one in the coming years. I can't give guidance on which way it'll go, but I think there are factors on both sides. As the chip supply starts ramping up (there's already some signs that it's recovering already), it'll ease pressure on used cars. I think specialty/sports cars though will see a big swing depending on the car. The C7 specifically is the last front engine, crossplane V8 in a vette. Combine that with examples with a manual transmission (like my car), and I think values will not drop back to where they were. As less and less gas cars are made, especially with a manual, some of these cars will likely retain high prices (not just Chevy, but Porsche and other brands as well).
I think there'll always be a market for these cars, but it's anyone's guess on how much it drops when new car supply opens up.
Good luck though, I hope you find the right one at a good price!
-Fred
@@FredsFullThrottle Great thoughts Fred. Thanks a lot. Much appreciated! -Tim
Great video. Love the C7!
Thanks JR, much appreciated! Yes, agreed, it's an amazing car, and these are honestly far outweighed by how good the car is!
Have a nice night!
-Fred
Great edit for a 80subs channel keep going 🤝🤝
Thanks man, I really appreciate it! Every so often I get a comment like this and it totally makes my day! Hope you have a great day, and thanks for that little boost to my confidence!!!
Fred's Full Throttle No problem ! I can also tell you that I’m a french viewer I guess I’m the first ! 😂❤️
Great video, you should talk about prices on Stingrays vs GS vs Zo6 ,,
That's a great idea, especially because I have a pretty good barometer for the different models, and some solid reasons why I chose what I did, and why others choose what they choose.
I'll add that to my list of videos to make. I'm saving up ideas like that for during the winter when I can't drive the car because of snow, so keep an eye out once it gets cold out!
I've had C2 - C7 they ALL had mechanical problems because they are a Chevy. It's the nature of the beast. I don't sweat the computer stuff as long as it doesn't have mechanical issues and leave me stranded. My current C7 had transmission issues and rear end issues. It's not a Porsche, OH! have had two of those, NO issues. One complaint with the C7 is the oil change reminder. Even if you don't use the car, you get reminded to change the oil. 1000 miles? If I had to rely on a car in an emergency, it's not the Vette. It's just a toy.
Hi John,
Nice to hear from you as always!
You do raise some good points. Knock on wood, my C7 has been mostly trouble free so far. The only things that've happened are a pulley in the serpentine belt needed replacement for corrosion (nothing else in the engine had it, not sure why that pulley), and in my 2nd year of ownership the front hubs had some minor corrosion that needed to be scrubbed off. I noticed it because the front wheels would make clicking noises when turning (not the shuddering from the ackerman effect when turning sharp, this was a mechanical clicking noise, and is a known issue with C7 GS/Z's).
C2's are my favorite looking Vette, followed by the C7, then C3. Congrats on having owned many!
Have a nice day!
-Fred
@@FredsFullThrottle If you want a reliable car, it's a Toyota/Honda. 60,000 miles just needed pads. If it were not for these two manufactures think how bad GM/Ford would be.
@@johnmoorhousedecorated-nam899 I hear ya! My '07 Tacoma was incredibly reliable (ruclips.net/video/qYz1CHsZSbQ/видео.html) which is why I replaced it with another Tacoma. If I want to make it from A to B, Toyota is my first choice. Agreed on Honda too.
I have a 2019 GS 24,000 miles. I’ve replaced 3x wheels already at $600/wheel. I love the design too much to buy aftermarket. Great car, it snaps necks all day.
Wow, that's awesome to have put that many miles on it already! I'm slacking! I think I just crossed 13 or 14k. Sorry to hear about the wheels, but I agree with you, I love how they look! Did you keep the old ones? I'd probably try to make them into a coffee table or something for decorating my garage. Agreed on the neck snapping, the amount of thumbs up, "Nice car!", and people taking pics is awesome, it really stands out!! Keep on enjoying the car man!!
I have one too GS Collector, had to replace two rear wheels and two rear tires. I am so glad didn't cost anything, had a policy for that. I just can not believe how bad the rims are.
Westcoast has a set of new wheels for 1,500, and I'm glad I got my set and it looks identical to my Original GM wheels.
@@chrisluminare3076 Thanks! Link? I’m in Hawaii so might not be worth it with shopping. They’re forged?
@@FredsFullThrottle I have 2 Grandsport one black (25k miles ) one white ( 29k miles) purchased them squeaky new but me and my wife just can't stop driving them, especially in the summer with the top down. I can't wait for summer.
When you pull into your garage instead of looking in the rear camera. Just pick a point on the wall to your left or right and when your head aligns with it, stop the car you do realize you’re driving a sports car correct.
As a owner of my 4th C7 (12019 C7 Stingray, and 3 Grandsports. Currently Owned 3 Grandsports and overall am very happy. Rims issues sucks, but I made a claim with GM and wa fortunate to receive a $2,500 to purchase new rims, process was helllllaaaa long but I fought hard. I then purchased 12 new RIMS from an aftermarket company and very happy, no more cracked RIMS 😅. So I have 12 GM Rims available lol😮.
OVERALL CHICKS DIG SUPER CAR LOOKING CORVETTES AND THATS GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME. IF U WANT PIECE OF MIND BUY THE 5K WARRANTY LIKE I did and your cover upto 125k.
Regarding rev match: So when these companies do "fuel efficiency and emissions test" they do it in most frugal mode. Rev matching and blipping throttle might mean more or less 1 mpg or so less, so unfortunately they turn it off. And in customer delivery cars, they are required to start in the same mode in which emissions and stuff was tested in (i.e. default normal mode with rev match etc OFF and TC, ESP ON)- so a legislation thing. My Elantra N does the same but wish it would stay ON. I wonder if any car has that feature where rev match stays on during restart- if it does it was probably tested that way.
BTW I love your channel and your vette.
Thanks man, really appreciate it!
My Mini Cooper S had rev match always on, but that's an interesting point, wouldn't surprise me if that's why it doesn't keep it on.
Looking forward to Friday!
-Fred
After pushing the start button I immediately activate the Rev Match lever and lift up on the E-Brake button. Automatic reflex moves everytime I get in my Grand Sport. I purchased a black market override switch for the Rev Match problem but am too chicken to install it fearful that I might void the new car warranty!
Ha, same thing on the rev match paddles, it's habit! I don't use the parking brake hardly at all, other than parking with the car running, but I get you. I don't mind the paddle thing, and like you wouldn't change anything that might affect warranty (though mine's finally out), or the reliability. Same with the skip shift mod people do, I wouldn't trust it.
I do this too, it’s like climbing into an airplane and going through your flight checklist! Love it
I would take a look at Forgestar wheels. They test their products and many people use them for racing etc. I got a set for my z06 and they are fantastic!
Hi Camonly,
Thanks for the tip! Fingers crossed I don't need to replace mine (so far so good), but that's good to know. I definitely would go forged, and I've heard good things a few times about them. Nice to hear from a Z06 owner directly versus word of mouth. Thanks for reaching out!
-Fred
@@FredsFullThrottle No problem! They cost me about 1950 for all 4 rims. Can't imagine 1500 just to replace one of yours! Yikes. Good luck, hope they last you!
Fred, I enjoyed your video. I just purchased my first Vette; a 2018 GS with a manual transmission. Here’s my issue: how can you do a “5 things I hate” video of the GS and not include the 1-4 skip shift issue? I understand why GM added this and how to get around it, but as a new owner of this car, this is the #1 thing I hate about this car. I do love the car overall.
Hi Jonathan!
That's a good point, BUT, the easy fix (and why I rarely run into it) is to just shift at a bit higher RPM. I must do that naturally because I only run into the skip shift maybe once or twice per driving season, naturally I must just rev a bit higher before shifting. I have played around with the limits of when it will engage (and the numbers escape me offhand), but I'd suggest taking a look at what RPM you naturally shift at, then add like 300 RPM and see if that helps. From there you can increment. Unless you're really low RPM, I'd imagine just another second of throttle is all you'd need to miss it. Hope that helps! I just haven't run into it much, which is why I didn't think to include it. :)
-Fred
I WATCHED YOUR VID..IN ITS ENTIRETY..I GOT MY 18 GR.SPORT EARLIER IN THE YEAR..I TOTALLY AGREE WITH U ABOUT THE DIFFR. DRIVE MODES..WHAT I CANNOT FIGURE OUT IS WHAT MODE IS BEST 4 A 0-60 TIME??
Hey Scott, Congrats on the GS!!! Glad you love it! As far as the drive modes, I am torn between what is best. Sport vs Track. My thought is that Sport is a bit more compliant with the suspension, allowing the car to rock back and compress/squat when you floor it from a dig. I think since Track is firmer, it would act more rigid and may have trouble hooking up, making the rear tires skip a bit during the initial bite. That's just my guess though. I think the engine power and fueling is roughly the same between the two, though I think the exhaust is slightly more open on Track (just my impression, I could be wrong). This year was my first time spending a lot of time in track mode, and while I like the steering/suspension feel better at higher speeds, I think it might not hook up from a stop quite as easily. Just a guess though, have you seen any differences? The thing I've found that has the biggest impact is tire temp, and pavement temp. As you've probably found, unless the tires are pretty warm, and the pavement is warm and clear of grit, it's very easy to burn out, even with TCS turned on. However, in the middle of summer, on some scorching pavement with hot tires, the car hooks up like a rocket. Very satisfying to do, and very repeatable. It's taken me time to get my clutch actuation just right, but man it flies when you do!!! Thanks for the comment, let me know what you've found works best!
@@FredsFullThrottle well thancs 4 the timely responce..mr.fred.have a great christmas..we must remember the reeel teason 4 this holidy..yeah..mine i forgot 2 say is the automatic ..no matter how hard i try..i can not get it 2 make a burn out from a dead stop!!!im an ole gear head been having street rods since the mid 70-s...i miss my ole 71-SS-454 EL CAMINO/WITH THE TURBO 400 AUTOM..I COOD LITRALLY LIGHT UP THOSE TIRES WITH NOT EVEN TRYING THAT HARD!!I DO LOVE THIS CAR THOUGH....IM IN CENTRAL OR..ITS BEEN GARAGED NOW 4 APROX.2 MONTHS..EARLIER IN THE WEEK IT WAS IN THE SINGLE DIDGITS IN THE MORNING..= aprox. 4500 ft. elv...can not wait 2 take it out of jail..prob..april.
If your paying over 1500 to replace one wheel, you need to reevaluate your life's decisions
Number one thing I HATE about C7 Grand Sport: They go for $53-58k and a Z06 is about $59-60k! so for only $6-7k more you can get an actual Z06 with 650hp,,, been watching the prices for a good while now too.
At the time I was buying new it was a $15k difference, which was more than what I was willing to spend. The GS doesn't have the heat soak/cooling issues that the Z has, and most reviews say the GS is better balanced, wonder if that's playing into the prices like you're seeing. They're both great cars, hope you get one!!
Get a GS. Z06 sucks.
Katech can solve your HP issues with their 427 LT1 engine.
@@davidarmstrong3989 Whoa, I hadn't heard of their LT1 before (haven't looked much at aftermarket because I've been so pleased with the car). Wow. That thing looks amazing. Now that my car is out of warranty, I should do a little digging on that...
@@FredsFullThrottle for sure. More click bait! 👍🏻
So Fred if you only use your car on weekends and put 3500 miles per year on it, what is your daily driver?
I only drive in town since the Pandemic, and use it going to the Gym 7 days a week since I am retired from work.
I drive a 3 year old BMW M240i that I bought a tune kit for and it has 400hp and an 8 speed ZF auto.
Fred where is the best place to buy a low mileage GS manual. Where is the best deals on pre owned from the big dealers?
Also, I would buy the 18 inch rims with 40 profile tires to make up some of the diameter and no worry about pot holes.
Hi Zenjitsuman,
My daily is a Mini Cooper S, but I barely drive at all for "normal stuff" since I have been working from home for over a year due to the Pandemic. Last year I was just shy of 4k miles on the Vette with only driving on weekends, and at that it wasn't every weekend. This year hoping for substantially more, I"m already signed up for a clinic at Lime Rock Park in May, so that will be fun, and I have several events I'm eyeing for later this year.
I'm not sure as to the best place to buy a low mile GS, since I haven't looked to buy one, but MacMulkin in Nashua, NH might be able to source one since they're the 2nd largest Vette dealer in the country (and where I bought mine).
Though the video mentions the rim issue, it doesn't stop me from driving every bit I can, or worrying about it very much. If I need to buy new wheels, I'll deal with that when it happens.
Thanks for reaching out, have a nice weekend!
That settles it. I'm trading in my corvette for a mini cooper.
Hahaha, let's not get....crazy. Better solution, get both!
In all seriousness none of these complaints are anything serious, just little things that stood out to me. The MINI is my daily so it's top of mind for me, but the C7 is a better car in pretty much every aspect that matters to me.
Get the electric one.........
@robertstancliffsr9575 the only person that needs something electric to ride is the woman of the household.
I keep hearing about engine failure caused by cylinder deactivation 8 too 4 back and forth stresses out the engine what do you think Fred?
Hi MultiTroy63,
Thanks for reaching out. I did some digging on this back when I made this video, and when I was considering the car. You're right, and this isn't even a Corvette exclusive issue. For a while, a number of Chevy's v8 platform vehicles with the "Eco" mode that engages cylinder deactivation have had significant issues. I don't recall the exact cause, but I believe it was something to do with the valve lifters. However, the easy fix/solution here is to just never use Eco mode. All versions of the C7 that have Eco mode are at risk, but you can control what mode the car goes into, so I personally never use eco mode, and haven't had issues. It'd be nice if I could remove that mode from the menu, but I don't think that's possible. However I'm past 16k miles now, with not a single fault, issue, or problem. Love the car, and I would just suggest if you get one (or have one), just stay away from eco mode and you don't have to worry about that problem.
Hope this helps!
-Fred
@@FredsFullThrottle I thought it would automatically go ECO mode I wonder what Brinks of Speed is talking about ordering a deactivate module from Amazon but many vehicles trucks cars vettes with 6.2 and I guess other engines are blowing up out of the blue he interviewed a chevy mechanic and he said they are changing motors all the time
@@MultiTroy63 Interesting. No, it doesn't automatically go in ECO mode (at least in the C7). What it does though is when you're driving in that mode, it will be in V8 mode until you meet certain conditions, such as consistent speed, stable throttle input (usually people do it in cruise control), and what RPM the motor is in. Then it will automatically switch in and out of V4 mode, kind of at will/random. I did test it a few times early into ownership of the car, just to see how it worked.
@@FredsFullThrottle Fred you might want too take a look at Brink of Speed here on you tube the headline says what every c7 owner must do to avoid catastrophic engine failure
I broke 2 spoilers on cars while parking. One was the same day I just had it painted..backin to parking spots now..lol
Oh man Shaun, that's awful. I once had a very close call on my front splitter with a concrete parking curb at a restaurant. My splitter *just* made it over it, but it rubbed on the bottom. Thankfully I stopped as soon as I felt it, so it was only a couple inches of overhang, and more importantly, thankfully I didn't have the carbon (mine's just the plastic one), so the damage was non-existent. It scared me though, now I only back in or park like 2 feet out from anything. No chances taken anymore. Sorry to hear what happened to your car, hopefully those were the only times that'll happen.
Have a nice day, and thanks for reaching out!
-Fred
Trade it in for a tractor, all your problems solved.
Haha, I already have a tractor, so I'm all set there! All my complaints are really fairly minor, and I absolutely love the car.
@@FredsFullThrottle what color is that, looks like Admiral Blue and a 2017.
@@scram8188 Sorry for the delay, just saw this. Yes, Admiral Blue Metallic on a 2017. Looks amazing in the sunlight!
@@FredsFullThrottle I thought so, I have a 2017 Z06 in Admiral Blue, it is beautiful, especially in the sun.
@@scram8188 One of the coolest parts of that color is that it varies so much depending on the light. There are times it looks like a deep navy non-metallic, all the way up to nearly electric blue in the right sunshine. I also love that it's a heritage color that at least in name goes as far back as the C4's (maybe earlier?). I've seen pics of a C4 in ABM next to a C7 in ABM, and the color is pretty close, so I think that's a cool 'nod' to the past as well. Congrats on the car, had I had the money for the Z I'd have gone for it at the time, though I love the GS as well!
Well, I hate that my wife’s old 08 Audi S5 had a way better backup camera than my 19 GS!
So basically if you want to drive like you shouldn’t on the street, leave it in Tack mode #1
It’s stressful to make a decision as to whether or not to replace one damaged wheel with 4 new ones? Definitely a first world problem!
I’m looking into getting one of these cars myself, I’d say to that part of the video 12:57 just stop before it gets to red if it doesn’t leave your ass end of the car too far back out of the lane if you have to pull straight in, I’d not, as you said, just back in everywhere
The rim problem you mentioned isn’t because the rims are weak. They get dented or bent because Chevy made them too large diameter and hence the tires are too low profile. Most modern cars sell better when they come with large wheels, but this is aesthetic only. If you change wheels, consider getting forged 18” rims like the Chevy C7.R race car. Sure they’re smaller wheels, but the added tire sidewall will not only make it more dent resistant, but also lighter and handle better and ride smoother.
Hey Kevin, thanks for the point of clarification, and you're right. Looking at the C7.R, C8.R and honestly most other racecars I can think of, they have significantly taller sidewalls than what gets sold to the public. I follow a few Corvette Track groups on social media, and most replace their wheels with something a bit more well suited for the task at hand, and the high stresses from track driving. Hopefully I don't dent mine, but if I do, I would strongly consider a smaller wheel, for better strength. My car is to be driven, not just cruised with. ;)
Thanks man!
This statement is completely incorrect from an engineering perspective. And yes the wheels are in fact week because the material used, low pressure cast aluminum, can’t handle the relevant forces on a car designed for this purpose. If they were forged or even flow forged (like most other high performance cars with similar wheel set ups) they’d be fine. Look at the new 911 gt3. Do you think they put large wheels and low profile tires on 200k dollar near race car of relatively limited production to help sales.... or perhaps Porsche with its new sub 7min Nurembergring lap time monster has figured handling and indeed racing figured out. If you don’t like Porsche look at lambo, Ferrari, Bugatti - insert any other high performance car name here - and the trend continues. So they are either worried about sales or.... wheel stability and handling dynamics at high speeds. 🤔🤔🤔🤔
Anyway, an 18inch set up will improve ride quality because they have more capacity to adsorb (bounce) on rough roads and will likely give you better launch because the extra side wall increases traction - watch a top fuel drag car wheels in slomo and watch them twist. However those things will come at the cost of significantly decreased cornering ability and stability and lateral grip (think road course - really what this car is made for). Watch that same drag car turn at the end of the track, tires wobbling and bouncing, then envision going around corners twice in your GS. Not a good look.
Anyway it’s a fantastic car - mine is a 19 in elk heart lake blue. And if youre interested in a replacement wheel with the right setbacks for these cars check out MRR fs01s. They are flow forged, similar in style to factory, look fantastic and won’t crack. Good luck
@@FredsFullThrottle Hi, Fred. Thundrune's response is on the right track about cast wheels, flow formed wheels, and forged wheels. I've been looking into getting a second set of wheels to swap my tires easily. You really want strong, forged wheels for a high performance car with a sport suspension. Unfortunately these tend to be fully custom and, therefore, very expensive. Forged wheels are stronger and lighter than cast wheels and have their metal particles aligned with a "grain" versus the more amorphous arrangement of metal particles in cast wheels. I think there's a video here on the differences in these manufacturing processes and their end results. The cost of custom forged wheels can be breathtaking but I think its probably a good way to ensure strong wheels. I kind of like the look of the Signature forged wheels and BC Forged wheels. I have a Z51 which doesn't seem to have the same issues that the Grand Sport has occasionally experienced with wheel dents or cracks but I think the combination of wider, heavier wheels and tires with lighter wheels just may not mix well with potholes on public roads. Especially if you always drive in Track mode.
Hi @@Tubes12AX7k, Thanks for the info. In the year or so since the original comment, I've learned a lot more about wheels, and (slowly) have learned how little I actually knew. Totally agree with Thundrune and your points. Thanks for the details on the reasons forged is stronger, that's helpful. For now I've lucked out without needing to replace mine, but if I ever have to, then Forged is the way I'll go. I appreciate you taking the time to reach out and provide the info. Have a nice day!
-Fred
After driving Ford Mustangs for over 20 years I recently purchased a used 2017 Grand Sport with the 3LT options package. GM has remained in the dark ages when it comes to refinements in the electronics. My 2015 Mustang GT has a driver assist mode the warns you when getting close to something. Sadly lacking on the GS. Blind spot warning mirrors would also be more than helpful. I could go on in depth about the INFOTAINMENT system. Sad, sad. For a car that is twice the price of the Mustang GT I'd have expected many more niceties like lighted door sills, lights under the dash for driver and passenger, lights in the door panels, lighted cup holders. Yeah, its a performance sports car, but sheesh.........how about looking around at what other manufacturers are doing and asking people what they want.
Haha, I'm with you Eddie. It's a bit odd, that even other cars in GM's lineup have some of those features, but the Vette didn't (at least as the C7). That said, fortunately my whole list of downsides above still are incredibly minor compared to the enjoyment and fun I get from the car. Whenever I travel I try to rent a sports car, frequently it ends up being Mustangs or Challengers, and the most recent 5.0 GT I drove (a 2019 back in 2019) was a great car, and agreed, it had all the "standard" things that just help make it a nice place to be. Also loved how it sounded! But I digress.
Congrats on the GS, same year as mine. Mine's a 2LT, and have loved it since day 1 (missing options and all!). Hope you get out and drive it as much as possible!
I’ve owned a bunch of Mustangs as well from ‘93-‘17, and Mustangs are just not the same experience as a Corvette. Last weekend at ECR all the Mustangs I was around broke and had issues. All the corvettes keep having fun and running fast laps. I bought my GS for the engine, manual gearbox, and handling not for nanny devices and entertainment system. Be careful asking for nanny devices and other electronic aids, it ruins the car, reliability, and driving experience. Simpler the design the better.
@@davidarmstrong3989 I agree with you, I'm not interested in any more nannies, and honestly I rarely ever use the entertainment system. Unless I'm on the highway I never use the stereo, and instead drive windows down so I can hear the motor, no need for anything else!
Your point of a simpler design is well made, I haven't heard of people having anywhere near as many mechanical problems on the GS as the Z, and I think long term that will work in my favor. Plus, the car is so darn fast stock, I think few people really can reach the limit driving this car, even on a track. The car is more capable than I'll ever be (though that won't stop me from trying to improve!).
Thanks for the comment!
@@FredsFullThrottle I sold my GT3 RS for ‘17 GS with manual gearbox. Looked at getting another Camaro. 6th Gen Camaro is amazing, but in the end found a GS with 1,300 miles on it. Female owned. What sealed the deal was KATECH and their 427. That is my future plan with car and many track events.
@@davidarmstrong3989 That's awesome man! I just looked it up, and other than the price it looks amazing. Let me ask you this, if your GT3 had been manual (like the non-RS), would you still go GS? A GT3 (probably a 991.2 in manual) is on my long term goal list, but I'll be keeping the GS. The GS was as "close" to the GT3 as I felt I could get for the money I had.
So far no problem with the wheels and that's after driving it from the east coast to the west coast. Knock on wood.
That's awesome man! Yeah, I haven't had any issues myself, even after some fairly rough tarmac during autocross! Fingers crossed my luck holds out!
Check those wheels. I used polish on inside, rag caught on cracks, and had white lines. One wheel had two cracks, other rear had one, both rear.
There is a class action over the wheels.. however, not sure where you buy your parts, $550-600 for the rear 20x12" wheels from GM Parts suppliers. not cheap but not over a grand. Front view? Drive it more and get to know it. I've put 12K+ in 14 months on on mine.. no parking issues every. Have had an Audi and Volvo, neither retained their seat heat/cool settings.
Thanks Tom. I knew about the class action, but that's good to know the wheels are less than what I thought. I hadn't dug too deep because I haven't had issues, so I appreciate the perspective.
I'm at around the same mileage as you, and the issue isn't the miles, it's that I rarely park it anywhere. If I take my time it's not a problem, just not something I do frequently. It's a weekend only car for me, so I generally pull out of the garage, go out for a couple hours, then come back and park. I don't take it on errands or anything else.
My wife's Volvo XC 60 does retain the heated seat setting, as she always leaves it on so when I drive it I usually notice how hot I'm getting a few minutes later! Certainly lots of cars don't retain settings, all I'm saying is that also a lot do, and either I'd expect a $74k car to include it, or I'd be happy to pay the difference so it could.
At the end of the day, these are all very very minor things compared to how much I love the car, it's the best car I've ever owned for sure. None of that detracts from how fun it is to drive!
what color is that for the corvette?
Hi Ernesto,
Thanks for reaching out, it's Admiral Blue Metallic.
Have a nice day!
-Fred
My 15 Z has a button “s mode” that turns on and off the rev matching it doesn’t do what the c7 does
The camera thing is a fair assessment
Oh that's cool! Thanks for reaching out, nice to hear from you!
What are your thoughts on the new Z?
-Fred
@@FredsFullThrottle I’d have to drive one to give you a fair comment on the car!
What do you think about a 27 year old buying a 2017 C7 Grandsport, Decent Credit, 80k a year salary?
Hi Whuss Gudd,
Thanks for reaching out! It's a fairly loaded question, but I'll do my best to quickly summarize my thoughts.
First, congrats on being where you're at at your age. Good credit and good pay at that age is awesome, you're well ahead of where I was at that age (I'm 39 now).
As to the main question, I'd say a few overall things, and then a couple little qualifiers. Biggest thing would be I don't recommend stretching your finances/living expenses if that's what's needed to make it work. If you have all your expenses covered at the end of the month, and find yourself with a surplus of money that you're free to spend, that's the ideal situation to be in. But before going for a car, I'd do a bit more. I'd look to invest a solid chunk of it in your retirement (especially at a relatively young age). It's not fun to spend up front, but trust me, later in life when you start seeing the compounding interest kick in and that money snowballs, there's not much of a better feeling. All that said, if you still have some money left over after that, and the car won't impact your day to day living finances, then I don't see any issue with it.
$80k (assuming filing single, but your circumstances may vary obviously), puts you in the 22% tax bracket (at least in 2022). That means roughly $62,400 take home.
My best advice in this regards would be to save up so you can make a significant deposit on the car, and have a smaller car loan. My C7 is a 2017 as well, and when I bought it, I put $40k down (took me 6 years to save that much), and then financed the other roughly $24k. This put my payments at or just under $400/month, which felt "reasonable" to me. The time saving up also helped me be really sure that it was what I wanted. When the time came to get the bank check and go give it to the dealer, it was a real "am I sure I want this?" moment, which by then I was sure of.
Long story short (sorry I rambled a bit), the C7 is a fantastic car. If you're good with budgeting and managing your money (you sound like you've got a smart head on your shoulders), and it won't harm your other expenses, then I don't see any issue if cars are something you're passionate about. If you can't quite swing it without impacting your finances, or taking a huge loan (big monthly payment), then my recommendation would be to save up a bit to get a big down payment, so the loan is smaller and the monthly cost is more manageable.
Lastly, not sure if it will help, but I actually detailed all the specifics on how I found ways to save money and afford the car. Feel free to check it out if that sounds interesting, maybe it will help. ruclips.net/video/pmPYQe4OBnA/видео.html
Either way, good luck, the C7 is an amazing car, and I'm sure you'll enjoy it if you buy one.
-Fred
@@FredsFullThrottle Thanks for the long detailed information it helped a lot! Best answer I've ever got
@@whussgudd My pleasure man. Best of luck with getting the car, let me know how it turns out! - Fred
@@FredsFullThrottle will do brother
Fred u went from lovin this car too hatein it lol thats theway it works lol.4real thou.they All do that.
Hi Chris,
Thanks for reaching out. If you look through my channel, you'll see that I absolutely adore the car, and even in this video I mention that none of these 5 gripes are even that big, or prevent me from enjoying the car. The C7 GS is one of the best cars I've ever driven, and I absolutely love it. However, people also want to know the things owners don't like, which is what I put in this video.
Have a nice day,
-Fred
Are the prices ever going to get back to pre-covid levels? I want a C7 GS but refuse to pay the inflated outrageous prices. I had a guy that wanted to sell me a 1984 corvette about 4 years ago for $5,000, now they go for $12,000 to $15,000!!
Hi Richard,
Sports car prices are slowly easing a bit, but as you point out the whole market is inflated right now. It's hard to say if it'll ever get back down to where it was before, because there are starting to be less and less true enthusiast cars being made, especially with manual transmissions. You can't go wrong with a C7 GS, mine is sublime, easily one of the best cars I've ever driven. Good luck on the search!
-Fred
@@FredsFullThrottle Thanks, guess I'll see what happens this year. 2017 or 2019 GS? which one would you recommend?
@@Drumbeat52 Mine's a '17, and I've had no issues with it. Considering there were no changes between the model years, and most owners baby their cars and put minimal mileage on them, I wouldn't hesitate with any year. A slightly older car may help knock the price down versus the newer ones. People tend to be worried about a "first year" car, but the powertrain and drivetrain are the same as the Stingray, and the chassis/suspensions are all Z06, both of which had been out for years before the GS's were made in '17. All things being equal, sure the newer car is probably the better buy, but I'd have no hesitation on the older ones if the right spec comes along for you. I plan to own mine for a long time, and I've driven it a lot already, and it's truly a sublime car. Let me know what you end up getting!
@@FredsFullThrottle I will.
wheels =/= tires
Rubber = tires
Wheels = the rim
Also there are classifications to provide you with some guidance on the performance of a tire.
Hi Kyle, thanks for reaching out! I don't disagree with any of the above. However, I went back and watched the video again as I'm not sure what point you're trying to elaborate on. I totally understand the different between wheels, tires, and rims. My comments in the video are due to the known issue (that even had a class action lawsuit) regarding the brittle nature of the *wheels* of these cars. My only comment I could pick up about tires, was when I mentioned the cost of replacing a single wheel (if it cracked). My thought was that if something happened that cracked a wheel, it's important to inspect the tires too to make sure the rubber itself isn't damaged, pinched, cracked, or missing a chunk. That might be obvious if you hit a curb or something, but from a pothole it might not be. The point was that the costs to "be sure" that everything is fixed, IE replace all 4 wheels and 4 tires get very expensive.
And I was mentioning that wheels themselves (to the extent I searched and did my research) don't seem to have a universal certification for different ratings, strengths, or performance limitations. Tires obviously have the speed ratings (the GS comes with (Y) rated tires for 186+ mph), but looking at several brands of forged wheels, even top shelf stuff like HRE's, I can find no such guarantee of strength or durability ratings.
That's all I was trying to comment on, apologies if my phrasing didn't make sense. Offhand I'm not worried about the tires holding up (unless one got damage somehow), specifically it's the wheels I was talking about.
Buy new set of wheels. I just got my set last 2 months. I had 3 cracked wheels within 24,000 that it has. GM only replaced 1 wheel the other 2, I paid out of pocket cost me $3,000. I had to pay for 3 new tires, and 2 wheels . This is ridiculousl, and it's a money pit. GM has to really reimburse all cracked wheels customer. I was afraid of going any long trips on my GM Wheels, but now since I got my aftermarket wheel, it's a normal driven car, i hit small portholes and no cracked rims. Plus aftermarket rims look exactly like the original GM Wheel. BUY A NEW SET AND THANK ME LATER.
Hi Chris,
Thanks for reaching out! I'm with you, (knock on wood) I haven't had any cracks/issues yet, but after hearing a few stories like what you shared, I think aftermarket is the only way to go, especially because OEM reintroduces the same risk, and I could be repeating the experience soon after. Which brand did you end up with?
Thanks for the comment!
-Fred
Watch next: 5 Things I LOVE about the C7 Grand Sport !!! ruclips.net/video/Rr0dLME5gsw/видео.html
I AM RIGHT NOW...TWASS..8-DEGR..THIS MORN...
@@scottbarker9058 Yeah, I can't wait to get my car out, gonna feel like a long winter, but hopefully the time passes quickly!
So let me get this straight when you shut off your car the rev match turns off? Them bastards how dare they you’re lucky you don’t hurt your shoulder doing that I would sue General Motors if you start having shoulder problems. So let me ask you one more time just so I understand if you shut the car off you actually have to lift your left arm up about 10 inches and pull that paddle, wow that’s just like unbelievable. I hope you don’t develop severe shoulder problems. How dare they?
Nit picking non of the things you dont like is just nit picking
Not sure I follow what you mean. Each of the things I covered are things I don't like about the car (and still don't). For people considering a C7 it lets them know the type of things that owners like myself criticize. Also, I think it's important that I stressed that none of them are really big in the grand scheme, and the car is truly great. But that doesn't mean there's an issue with highlighting the things I don't like.
Have a nice day,
-Fred
Cylinder deactivation sucks.
First thing I noticed........ disorganized garage lol
What can I say, it's a working garage, and I spend more time driving my cars/bikes than I do caring about putting in cabinets. I'm planning to build a separate garage just for fun cars, which won't have all my woodworking, yard, and house tools/supplies in it, but that's a year or two away.
@@FredsFullThrottle just giving ya a hard time, mine is no better lol
@@MR-uk7iy Hey man, sorry the first reply came across a bit defensive. Lol, you wouldn't believe how much crap some viewers give me about my shelves being not as organized as they'd like. I appreciate you making it clear you were joking, it's not always super easy to tell with text. I'm right there with you man, nice to know I'm not alone. Have a great evening!
-Fred
@@FredsFullThrottle no worries, great video by the way, I keep going back and forth between c6 Z06 or the c7 grand sport , wish I could have both worlds but I gotta choose.
@@MR-uk7iy If you haven't already, poke around in my backlog, I have a bunch of videos about the C7 GS. Specifically, to offset this video, I have a 5 things I love one: ruclips.net/video/Rr0dLME5gsw/видео.html
That said, I apologize my video quality and even just my screen presence isn't as good in those videos versus my current stuff (it was roughly 2 years ago).
The short answer is that the C7 is a truly remarkable car, and the negatives (for me) are so minor compared to how great it is. I've driven a lot of more exotic/faster things, Porsches (GT3's), Lamborghini's, etc... and keep coming back to what a complete bargain (relatively) the C7 GS is. If you have opportunity to try both cars before you decide, that'd be a great way to know for sure which one you like better. The C6Z will have more power, however due to the clever E-diff, suspension and other tricks in the C7, the C7 on a track is the faster way around, pretty much across the board, and still has enough power to pin you back in the seat.
If you have any questions along the way, feel free to reach out, my email is fredsfullthrottle@gmail.com, happy to answer or share my impressions. I'll put it this way, I have a reservation in on a C8 Z06, and I'm doing everything I can to figure out a way to keep my C7 despite the new car, beacuse it's *that good*.
Anyway, have a nice day man, good luck with the search, and let me know what you pick!
-Fred
Wah wah wha..you want a little cheese with that whine!? Don't like it...sell it.. some people would kill to have a vette....
Haha, clearly you didn't listen to much of the video...it's a fantastic car, and my complaints are minor (as stated in the video). Chill out dude.
Horrible excuses.
Haha, clearly you missed the statement where I said these are all minor issues and that I love the car...
Take a deep breath dude...