Introduced in early 1997, the new Corvette is generation number five in the line--thus the C5 designation--and the first complete redesign since 1984. The Convertible version came along about six months later, and the new car immediately started collecting honors, including the 1998 North American Car of the Year award.While the basic concept is the same as it was back in 1953--a two-seat plastic-bodied all-American sports car--the C5 shares almost nothing with the previous-generation Corvettes. The wheelbase is longer, the track is wider, structural rigidity is far higher, and there are far fewer pieces in the whole assembly, which improves rigidity and quality. The LS1 V8 engine is potent. It produces 345 horsepower and 350 foot-pounds of torque. With its aerodynamically inspired broad hindquarters, the styling of the Corvette has been controversial. The convertible version looks a bit more graceful, particularly when the top is down. If stares of envy are part of your sports car enjoyment, it's hard to imagine a better choice than the ragtop Vette. This year, Chevrolet introduced the Corvette Hardtop to the lineup. With its fixed roof, the hardtop offers drivers a basic Corvette that is pure in performance. It presents a slightly different profile than the Corvette Coupe. The Hardtop comes standard with the six-speed manual gearbox, Z51 suspension, a 3.42 limited-slip rear axle and Goodyear Eagle F1 tires. The new hardtop retails for $38,777, the coupe starts at $39,171 and the convertible goes for $45,579. (All prices include $580 destination charge.) Two suspension options are available for coupe and convertible: Electronically controlled damping adds $1,695, the Z51 performance handling package adds $350. Leather seats add $625. There are several new options available for 1999 Coupe and Convertible models: A $375 Head-Up Display projects key instrument readouts onto the windshield. Twilight Sentinel provides delayed shutoff of the headlights to help you find your way to your front door. A $350 power telescoping steering column allows better positioning of the steering wheel for drivers of different heights; as on all models, the steering wheel also offers a manual tilt adjustment.
The Corvette offers a comfortable cabin, something that wasn't always true with previous-generation models. Low door sills and narrow side rails make getting in and out far easier than in the old days and there's more room for the driver and passenger. There's also a real trunk, something that's been absent from Corvettes for a long time. The other major element of improvement is the elimination of the rattles and stress squeaks that have haunted Vettes for so long. Wind noise is noticeably absent from the convertible. Handsome analog dials have replaced the old digital displays. The convertible top is simple to flip up or down and it stows neatly under a flap that folds flat at the forward edge of the trunk lid. The top is made of high-quality material with a glass rear window. The top seals well--there were no leaks in our car wash test or our high-speed wind test. There is more interior noise in the convertible than the coupe and the coupe isn't exactly quiet. However, this is a sports car and noise--particularly the calculated growl of that terrific new V8 --is part of the deal. If you want quiet, go to the library. |
